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Safety features of your vehicle
Main components of occupant
detection system
A detection device located within thefront passenger seat.
Electronic system to determine whether the front passenger air bag system
should be activated or deactivated.
A warning light located on the instru- ment panel which illuminates the words
PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF" indicat-
ing the front passenger air bag system
is deactivated.
The instrument panel air bag warning light is interconnected with the occupant
detection system.
The ODS is designed to detect the pres-
ence of a properly-seated front passen-
ger and determine if the passenger's
front air bag should be enabled (may
inflate) or not. The purpose is to help reduce the risk of
injury or death from an inflating air bag to
certain front passenger seat occupants,
such as children, by requiring the air bag
to be automatically turned OFF.
For example, if a child restraint of the
type specified in the regulations is on the
seat, the occupant detection sensor can
detect it and cause the air bag to turn
OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants
who are properly seated and wearing the
seat belt properly, should not cause the
passenger air bag to be automatically
turned OFF. For small adults it may be
turned OFF, however, if the occupant
does not sit in the seat properly (for
example, by not sitting upright, by sitting
on the edge of the seat, or by otherwise
being out of position), this could cause
the sensor to turn the air bag OFF.
Always be sure that you and all vehicle
occupants are seated and restrained
properly (sitting upright with the seat in
an upright position, centered on the seat
cushion, with the person's legs comfort-
ably extended, feet on the floor, and
wearing the safety belt properly) for the
most effective protection by the air bag
and the safety belt. The ODS may not function properly if
the passenger takes actions which can
affect the detection system. These
include:
(1) Failing to sit in an upright position.
(2) Leaning against the door or center console.
(3) Sitting towards the sides or the front of the seat.
(4) Putting legs on the dashboard or resting them on other locations.
(5) Improperly wearing the safety belt.
(6) Reclining the seat back.
(7) Unauthorized replacement of seat cover.
(8) Covering seat with blanket
