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uuFor Safe Driving uYour Vehicle’s Safety Features
Safe Driving
Your Vehicle’s Safety Features
The following checklist will help you take an active role in protecting yourself and
your passengers.
1 Your Vehicle’s Safety Features
Your vehicle is equipped wi th many features that
work together to help protect you and your
passengers during a crash.
Some features do not require any action on your part.
These include a strong steel framework that forms a
safety cage around the passenger compartment,
front and rear crush zones, a collapsi ble steering
column, and tensioners that tighten the front seat
belts in a sufficient crash.
However, you and your passe ngers cannot take full
advantage of these features unless you remain seated
in the correct position and always wear your seat
belts. In fact, some safety features can contribute to
injuries if they are not used properly.
67891011
Safety Cage
Crush Zones
Seats and Seat-Backs
Head Restraints
Collapsible Steering Column
Seat Belts
Front Airbags
Side Curtain Airbags
Seat Belt Tensioners Side Airbags
6
7
7
8
8
99
10
11
Door Locks
10
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uuFor Safe Driving uYour Vehicle’s Safety Features
Safe DrivingFor the safety of you and your passengers, make a habit of checking these items
each time before you drive.
• After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure all doors and the tailgate are
closed and locked. Locking the doors and the tailgate helps prevent an occupant
from being ejected and an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door or the
tailgate.
2 Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside P. 99
•Adjust your seat to a position suitable for driving. Be sure the front seats are
adjusted as far to the rear as possible while allowing the driver to control the
vehicle. Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious or fatal injury in a
crash.
2 Adjusting the Seats P. 133
•Adjust head restraints to the proper position. Head restraints are most effective
when the center of the head restraint alig ns with the center of your head. Taller
persons should adjust their head restraint to the highest position.
2 Adjusting the Head Restraints P. 135
•Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly. Confirm that any
passengers are properly belted as well.
2 Fastening a Seat Belt P. 35
•Protect children by using seat belts or chil d seats according to a child’s age, height
and weight.
2 Child Safety P. 54
■Safety Checklist1Safety Checklist
If the door and ta ilgate open indicator is on, a door
and/or the tailgate is not completely closed. Close all
doors and the tailgate tightly until the indicator goes
off. 2 Door and Tailgate Open Indicator P. 75
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uuSeat Belts uFastening a Seat Belt
36
Safe Driving
3. Position the lap part of the belt as low as
possible across your hips, then pull up on
the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part
fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic
bones take the force of a crash and reduces
the chance of internal injuries.
4. If necessary, pull up on the belt again to
remove any slack, then check that the belt
rests across the center of your chest and
over your shoulder. Th is spreads the forces
of a crash over the strongest bones in your
upper body.1 Fastening a Seat Belt
To release the belt, push the red PRESS button then
guide the belt by hand until it has retracted
completely.
When exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of
the way and will not get ca ught by closing the door.
3WARNING
Improperly positioning the seat belts can
cause serious injury or death in a crash.
Make sure all seat belts are properly
positioned before driving.Lap belt
as low as
possible
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uuChild Safety uProtecting 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 unatte nded, 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.1 Protecting 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 pa ssenger’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. 2 Safety Labels P. 67
3WARNING
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.
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Safe Driving
Exhaust Gas Hazard
Carbon Monoxide Gas
The engine exhaust from this vehicle contains carbon monoxide, a colorless,
odorless, and highly toxic gas. As long as you properly maintain your vehicle, carbon
monoxide gas will not get into the interior.
■Have the exhaust system in spected for leaks whenever
• The exhaust system is m aking an unusual noise.
• The exhaust system may have been damaged.
• The vehicle is raised for an oil change.
When you operate a vehicle with the tailgate open, airflow can pull exhaust gas into
the interior and create a hazardous conditio n. If you must drive with the tailgate
open, open all the windows and set the heating and cooling system
*/climate control
system* as shown below.
1. Select the fresh air mode.
2. Select the mode.
3. Set the fan speed to high.
4. Set the temperature control to a comfortable setting.
Adjust the heating and cooling system
*/climate control system* in the same manner
if you sit in your parked ve hicle with the engine running.
1Carbon Monoxide Gas
An enclosed area such as a garage can quickly fill up
with carbon monoxide gas.
Do not run the engine with the garage door closed.
Even when the garage door is open, drive out of the
garage immediately afte r starting the engine.
3WARNING
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and
even kill you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that
expose you to carbon monoxide.
* Not available on all models
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67
Safe Driving
Safety Labels
Label Locations
These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that can cause serious injury or death. Read these labels
carefully.
If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except for the U. S. dashboard label which may be removed by the owner), contact a dealer
for a replacement.
U.S. models only Dashboard
Sun Visor
U.S. models Canadian models
Radiator Cap
DoorjambsU.S. models
Canadian models
Doorjambs
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75
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
*1:Models with the smart entry system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanation
Door and Tailgate
Open Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds if you turn
the ignition switch to ON
(w*1, then
goes off.
●Comes on if any door or the tailgate is
not complete ly closed.
●The beeper sounds and the indicator
comes on if any door or the tailgate is
opened while driving.
●Goes off when all doors and the tailgate are closed.
Electric Power
Steering (EPS)
System Indicator
●Comes on when you turn the ignition
switch to ON
(w*1, and goes off when
the engine starts.
●Comes on if there is a problem with the
EPS system.
●Stays on constantly or does not come on at all
- Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
2 If the Electric Power Steering (EPS) System
Indicator Comes On P. 419
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uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
*1:Models with the smart entry system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanation
Starter System
Indicator*
●Comes on for a few seconds when you
set the power mode to ON, then goes
off.
●Comes on if the starter system has a
problem.
●As a temporary measure, press and hold the
ENGINE START/STOP button for up to 15 seconds
while pressing the brake pedal and clutch pedal
(manual transmission only), and manually start the
engine. Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
●The turn signal indica tors blink when you
operate the turn signal lever.
●If you press the hazard warning button,
both indicators and al l turn signals blink
at the same time.
●Does not blink or blinks rapidly - A turn signal
light bulb has blown. Change the bulb immediately.
2 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 372, 375
High Beam Indicator●Comes on when the high beam
headlights are on.—
Lights On Indicator
●Comes on whenever the light switch is
on, or in AUTO* when the exterior lights
are on.
●If you remove the key from the ignition switch*, or
set the power mode* to VEHICLE OFF (LOCK) while
the exterior lights are on, a chime sounds when the
driver’s door is opened.
Fog Light Indicator*●Comes on when the fog lights are on.—
U.S.
Canada
* Not available on all models