2016 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 THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WORKS
The front passenger seat is equipped with an Occupant Classification Sensor that turns the front
passenger air bag OFF under some conditions. The occupant classification sensor detects an
occupant and objects on the seat by weight. For example, if a child is in the front passenger
seat, the Advanced Air Bag System is designed to turn the passenger air bag OFF in accordance
with U.S. regulations. In addition, if a child restraint of the type specified in the regulations is on
2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 6
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. INFINITI recommends the replacement of air bags by your INFINITI retailer 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 INFINITI
parts. The use of counterfeit replacement air bags or used or salvaged air bags is a potential
serious safety problem and may not provide the same level of protection in a crash.
OTHER SPECIFICS ABOUT AIR BAGS
Do not position the front passenger seat so it contacts the rear seat. If the front passenger
seat does contact the rear seat, the air bag system may determine a sensor malfunction has
occurred and the front passenger air bag status light may illuminate and the supplemental air
bag warning light may flash.
If the supplemental air bag warning light in the instrument panel continues to remain ON or
flashes after you start the vehicle, see your INFINITI retailer as soon as possible.
After inflation, air bag components are hot, so avoid contact.
Do not place objects on or near the steering wheel or instrument panel where the air bags
inflate.
Never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
Do not place objects with sharp edges on the seat. Also, do not place heavy objects on the
seat that will leave permanent impressions in the seat. Such objects can damage the seat or
the occupant classification sensor. This can affect the operation of the air bag system and
result in serious personal injury.
Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot steam cleaners) on the seat. This can damage the
seat or occupant classification sensors. This can also affect the operation of the air bag
system and result in serious personal injury.
Modifying or tampering with the front passenger seat may result in serious personal injury.
For example, do not change the front seats by placing material on the seat cushion or by
installing additional trim material, such as seat covers, on the seat that are not specifically
designed to assure proper air bag operation. Additionally, do not stow any objects under the
front passenger seat, or on the seat cushion, or store luggage behind the seat that may
contact the seatback, or hang heavy objects from the seatback, or the seatback pocket. Such
objects may interfere with the proper operation of the occupant classification sensor.
See the vehicle owner’s manual for other important information on safety, seats, seat belts,
and the supplemental restraint system. WELL BACK AND UPRIGHT
