
40
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Components
Safe Driving
The front, front side, and side curtain 
airbags are deployed according to the 
direction and severity of impact. Both side 
curtain airbags are deployed in a rollover. 
The airbag system includes:aTwo SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) 
front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored 
in the center of the steering wheel; the 
front passenger’s airbag is stored in the 
dashboard. Both are marked SRS 
AIRBAG.bTwo side airbags, one for the driver and 
one for a front passenger. The airbags are 
stored in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.cTwo side curtain airbags, one for each 
side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored 
in the ceiling, above the side windows. 
The front and rear pillars are marked 
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.
dAn electronic control unit that continually 
monitors and records information about 
the sensors, the airbag activators, the 
seat belt tensioners, and driver and front 
passenger seat belt use when the ignition 
switch is in ON 
(w*1.
eAutomatic front seat belt tensioners. The 
driver’s and front passenger’s seat belts 
incorporate sensors that detect whether 
or not they are fastened.fA driver’s seat position sensor. If the seat 
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate 
with less force.gWeight sensors in the front passenger’s 
seat. The front passenger’s airbag will be 
turned off if the weight on the seat is 65 
lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant 
or small child).
hImpact sensors that can detect a 
moderate-to-severe front or side impact.iAn indicator on the dashboard that alerts 
you that the front passenger’s front 
airbag has been turned off.jSensors that can detect if a child or small 
statured adult is in the deployment path 
of the front passenger’s side airbag.kAn indicator on the instrument panel that 
alerts you to a possible problem with your 
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.lAn indicator on the instrument panel that 
alerts you that the front passenger’s side 
airbag has been turned off.mSafing SensornA rollover sensor that detects whether 
the vehicle is about to roll over.*1: Models with the smart entry system have an 
ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an 
ignition switch. 

45
uuAirbagsuFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe Driving
Your front airbags have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of airbag 
related injuries to smaller occupants.
The driver’s advanced front airbag system 
includes a seat position sensor.
If the seat is too far forward, the airbag 
inflates with less force, regardless of the 
severity of the impact.
The passenger’s advanced front airbag system 
has weight sensors.
Although we recommends against carrying an 
infant or small child in front, if the sensors 
detect the weight of a child (up to about 65 
lbs or 29 kg), the system will automatically 
turn off the passenger’s front airbag.■Advanced Airbags
1Advanced Airbags
If there is a problem with the driver’s seat position 
sensor, the SRS indicator will come on and the airbag 
will inflate with full (normal) force, regardless of the 
driver’s seating position.
For both advanced front airbags to work properly:•Do not spill any liquid on or under the seats.•Do not put any object under the passenger’s seat.•Make sure any objects are positioned properly on 
the floor. Improperly positioned objects can 
interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.•All occupants should sit upright and wear their seat 
belts properly.•Do not place any cover over the passenger side 
dashboard.
Driver’s 
Seat 
Position 
Sensor
Passenger’s 
Seat 
Weight 
Sensors 

uuAirbagsuSide Airbags
48Safe Driving
To reduce the likelihood that a front passenger may be injured by an inflating side 
airbag, the passenger side airbag is automatically turned off when:
•The height sensors detect a child or short-statured adult is seated in the front 
passenger seat.
•The position sensor detects that the front passenger is leaning into the 
deployment path of the side airbag.
When the side airbag cutoff system is activated, the side airbag off indicator comes 
on.2Side Airbag Off Indicator P. 52If the side airbag off indicator comes on, have the passenger sit upright. A few 
seconds after the passenger is sitting properly, the side airbag will automatically be 
turned on, and the indicator will go off.
If the front passenger is a child, stop when it is safe to do so, and have the child sit 
properly restrained in a rear seat.■Side Airbag Cutoff System■Side Airbag Off Indicator
1Side Airbag Cutoff System
The sensors that monitor the front passenger’s height 
and body position may not work if:•The seat-back is wet•The passenger is touching a metal or other 
electrical conductive object•A seat cushion is on the seat•The passenger is wearing excessively thick clothing
Sensor that 
monitors the 
passenger’s height.
Sensor that monitors the 
passenger’s position. 

Continued
51
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
Safe Driving
■When the passenger airbag off 
indicator comes on
The indicator comes on to alert you that the 
passenger’s front airbag has been turned off.
This occurs when the front passenger’s weight 
sensors detect 65 lbs (29 kg) or less, the 
weight of an infant or small child, on the seat.
Infants and small children should always ride properly restrained in a back seat.
2Child Safety P. 54Objects placed on the seat can also cause the indicator to come on.
If the front passenger seat is empty, the passenger’s front airbag will not deploy and 
the indicator will not come on.■Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
1Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
If the indicator comes on with no front passenger and 
no objects on the passenger’s seat, or with an adult 
riding there, something may be interfering with the 
weight sensors, such as:•An object hanging on the seat or in the seat-back 
pocket.•A child seat or other object pressing against the 
rear of the seat-back.•A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of 
the front passenger’s seat.•The front seat or seat-back is forced back against 
an object on the seat or floor behind it.•An object placed under the front passenger’s seat.
If none of these conditions exist, have your vehicle 
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The passenger airbag off indicator may come on and 
goes off repeatedly if the total weight on the seat is 
near the airbag cutoff threshold.
U.S. CanadaModels with audio 
touch screenModels without audio 
touch screen
U.S. Canada 

uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
52Safe Driving
■When the side airbag off indicator comes on
This indicator comes on if the passenger’s side 
airbag has been turned off because the 
passenger is too small to be sitting in the front 
seat, is slouching or not sitting upright, or has 
leaned into the airbag’s deployment path.
Unless the passenger is a smaller statured 
adult or a child, the indicator should go off 
when the passenger returns to a proper 
upright sitting position.*1: Models with the smart entry system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an 
ignition switch.■Side Airbag Off Indicator
1Side Airbag Off Indicator
When you turn the ignition switch to ON 
(w*1, the 
indicator should come on for a few seconds and then 
go out. If it doesn’t come on, stays on, or comes on 
while driving without a passenger in the front seat, 
have the system checked by a dealer as soon as 
possible.
Canada
U.S. 

54Safe Driving
Child SafetyProtecting Child PassengersEach year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are 
either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the 
number one cause of death of children aged 12 and under.
To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state, Canadian province 
and territory requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride 
in a vehicle.
Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat. This is because:
•An inflating front or side airbag can injure 
or kill a child sitting in the front seat.
•A child in the front seat is more likely to 
interfere with the driver’s ability to safely 
control the vehicle.
•Statistics show that children of all sizes and 
ages are safer when they are properly 
restrained in a rear seat.
3
WARNING
Children who are unrestrained or 
improperly restrained can be seriously 
injured or killed in a crash.
Any child too small for a seat belt should be 
properly restrained in a child seat. A larger 
child should be properly restrained with a 
seat belt, using a booster seat if necessary.1Protecting Child Passengers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
and Transport Canada recommend that all children 
aged 12 and under be properly restrained in a rear 
seat. Some states or provinces/territories have laws 
restricting where children may ride. 

55
uuChild SafetyuProtecting Child Passengers
Safe Driving
•Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an 
approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the lap belt 
portion of the lap/shoulder belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.
•Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the 
event of a collision.
•Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would 
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.
•Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very 
seriously injured in a crash.
•Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.
•Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather when 
the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate 
vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.
1Protecting Child Passengers
To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle 
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.
To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag 
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning 
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the 
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions 
on these labels.
2Safety Labels P. 67
3
WARNING
Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or 
wrap one around their neck can result in 
serious injury or death.
Instruct children not to play with any seat 
belt and make sure any unused seat belt a 
child can reach is buckled, fully retracted, 
and locked. 

56
uuChild SafetyuSafety of Infants and Small Children
Safe Driving
Safety of Infants and Small ChildrenAn infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the 
infant reaches the seat maker’s weight or height limit for the seat, and the infant is 
at least one year old.
■Positioning a rear-facing child seat
Child seats must be placed and secured in a 
rear seating position.
When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front 
passenger from moving their seat all the way back, or from locking their seat-back 
in the desired position.
It can also interfere with proper operation of the passenger’s advanced front airbag 
system.
2Airbags P. 39If this occurs, we recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front 
passenger’s seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied. 
Or, you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.■Protecting Infants
1Protecting Infants
Rear-facing child seats should never be installed in a 
forward facing position.
Always refer to the child seat manufacturer’s 
instructions before installation.
3
WARNING
Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front 
seat can result in serious injury or death 
during a crash.
Always place a rear-facing child seat in the 
rear seat, not the front.