2014 Infiniti Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 3
EFFECTIVE USE OF SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS
Seat belts and supplemental air bags are most effective when vehicle occupants are sitting
upright and well back in the seat with both feet on the floor. Keep in mind that air bags inflate
with great force. Being unrestrained, leaning forward, sitting sideways, or being out of position in
any way puts you at a greater risk of injury or death in a crash. You may also receive serious or
fatal injuries from the air bag system if you are up against it when it inflates. Always sit back
against the seatback with both feet on the floor and as far away as practical from the steering
wheel or instrument panel and always wear your seat belt. Please see the SEAT BELT SAFETY
section of this guide and the vehicle owner’s manual for more information.
HOW AND WHEN FRONT AIR BAGS WORK
While the inner workings of a supplemental front air bag system are complicated, understanding
what makes the front air bags deploy is rather easy:
the vehicle’s front air bag sensor system is
designed to detect rapid deceleration usually associated with moderate to severe frontal
collisions within a limited range of angles
. The vehicle’s deceleration rate is related to various
factors, such as speed of the vehicles involved, the weight and stiffness of the vehicles/objects
involved, contact locations, and the angle of impact, to name a few. Once the sensor system is
activated, the front air bags inflate with a harmless gas almost instantly.
2014 Infiniti Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 4
The front air bags will not usually activate in side-impact collisions, rear-end collisions, rollovers,
while driving on rough roads, or during hard braking. However, deceleration rates in some
situations can be similar to those found in frontal impacts and may result in front air bag
activation.
WHEN THE FRONT AIR BAGS INFLATE
Please remember, for the supplemental front air bags to be most effective, you must always
buckle up and sit at a suitable distance back to allow room for the air bags to inflate. For the
front air bags to do their job, they must inflate with great force. As mentioned earlier in this
guide, this may cause serious or even fatal injury if, for example, you are unrestrained, out of
position in any way, sitting or leaning too close to the steering wheel or dashboard during
inflation. Even when seated properly, there is a possibility of injury from an inflating front air bag.
This usually consists of minor skin abrasions or burns, but may be more serious. Overall, these
injuries are minimal compared to the injuries the front air bags are designed to prevent. After the
front air bags have inflated, you may notice a light smoke within the cabin. This is a normal by-
product of the rapid chemical reaction necessary to inflate the front air bags and, although
harmless, it may cause minor irritations.
REPLACING THE AIR BAGS
Air bags are not reusable. After a collision in which your air bags have activated, have the
respective air bag system inspected and replaced by your Infiniti retailer as soon as possible.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expressed concern regarding
reports of counterfeit replacement air bags installed in vehicles. Visit www.nhtsa.gov
for more
information. We recommend the replacement of air bags by your NISSAN dealer to ensure that
you receive new original equipment replacement parts. Counterfeit replacement air bags may
not be made to the standards of quality, reliability and durability of Genuine NISSAN parts. The
use of counterfeit replacement air bags or used or salvaged air bags are a potential serious
safety problem and may not provide the same level of protection in a crash.
OTHER SPECIFICS ABOUT AIR BAGS
ƒ
If the air bag warning light continues to remain on or flashes after you start the vehicle, see
your Infiniti retailer as soon as possible.
ƒ After inflation, air bag components are hot, so avoid contact.
ƒ Do not place objects on or near the steering wheel or dashboard where the air bags inflate.
ƒ Never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat of a vehicle equipped
with a front passenger air bag.
ƒ See the vehicle owner’s manual for other important information. WELL BACK AND UPRIGHT
