Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
In Brief 13
To r e t u r n t h e s e a t b a c k t o a n u p r i g h tposition:
1. Lift the lever fully withoutapplying pressure to theseatback, and the seatbackreturns to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatbackto make sure it is locked.
SeeReclining Seatbacks055.
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be foldeddown to increase cargo space.
SeeRear Seats057.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraintsfor all occupants are installed andadjusted properly.
To a c h i e v e a c o m f o r t a b l e s e a t i n gposition, change the seatbackrecline angle as little as necessarywhile keeping the seat and the headrestraint height in the properposition.
SeeHead Restraints052andSeatAdjustment053.
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections forimportant information on how to usesafety belts properly:
.Safety Belts059.
.How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly060.
.Lap-Shoulder Belt061.
.Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren (LATCH System)084.
Passenger Sensing
System
United States
Canada
The passenger sensing systemturns off the front outboardpassenger frontal airbag and kneeairbag under certain conditions. Noother airbag is affected by thepassenger sensing system. SeePassenger Sensing System071.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
52 Seats and Restraints
Head Restraints
{Warning
With head restraints that are not
installed and adjusted properly,
there is a greater chance that
occupants will suffer a neck/
spinal injury in a crash. Do not
drive until the head restraints for
all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
Front Seats
The front seats have adjustablehead restraints in the outboardseating positions.
Adjust the head restraint so that thetop of the restraint is at the sameheight as the top of the occupant'shead. This position reduces thechances of a neck injury in a crash.
The height of the head restraint canbe adjusted. Pull the head restraintup to raise it. Try to move the headrestraint to make sure that it islocked in place.
To l o w e r t h e h e a d r e s t r a i n t , p r e s sthe button, located on the top of theseatback, and push the headrestraint down. Try to move thehead restraint after the button isreleased to make sure that it islocked in place.
The front seat outboard headrestraints are not removable.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Seats and Restraints 53
Rear Seats
The vehicle's rear seats haveadjustable head restraints in theoutboard seating positions.
The height of the head restraint canbe adjusted. Pull the head restraintup to raise it. Try to move the headrestraint to make sure that it islocked in place.
To l o w e r t h e h e a d r e s t r a i n t , p r e s sthe button, located on the top of theseatback, and push the headrestraint down. Try to move thehead restraint after the button isreleased to make sure that it islocked in place.
If you are installing a child restraintin the rear seat, see“Securing aChild Restraint Designed for theLATCH System”underLowerAnchors and Tethers for Children(LATCH System)084.
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment
Manual Seats
{Warning
Yo u c a n l o s e c o n t r o l o f t h e
vehicle if you try to adjust a driver
seat while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the driver seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
54 Seats and Restraints
To a d j u s t a m a n u a l s e a t :
1. Pull up on the handle at thefront of the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desiredposition and release thehandle.
3. Try to move the seat back andforth to be sure it is locked inplace.
Seat Height Adjuster
If available, move the lever up ordown to manually raise or lowerthe seat.
Power Seat Adjustment
To a d j u s t a p o w e r s e a t , i f e q u i p p e d :
.Move the seat forward orrearward by sliding the controlforward or rearward.
.Raise or lower the front part ofthe seat cushion by moving thefront of the control up or down.
.Raise or lower the entire seat bymoving the rear of the control upor down.
To a d j u s t t h e s e a t b a c k , s e eReclining Seatbacks055.
To a d j u s t t h e l u m b a r s u p p o r t , s e eLumbar Adjustment054.
Lumbar Adjustment
If equipped, press the front or rearof the switch to increase ordecrease lumbar support. Releasethe switch when the desired level ofsupport is reached.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
62 Seats and Restraints
4. If equipped with a shoulder beltheight adjuster, move it to theheight that is right for you. See“Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster”in this section for instructionson use and important safetyinformation.
5. To make the lap part tight, pullup on the shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pullstitching on the safety beltthrough the latch plate to fullytighten the lap belt on smalleroccupants.
To u n l a t c h t h e b e l t , p u s h t h e b u t t o non the buckle. The belt shouldreturn to its stowed position.
Always stow the safety belt slowly.If the safety belt webbing returnsquickly to the stowed position, theretractor may lock and cannot bepulled out. If this happens, pull thesafety belt straight out firmly tounlock the webbing, and thenrelease it. If the webbing is stilllocked in the retractor, see yourdealer.
Before a door is closed, be sure thebelt is out of the way. If a door isslammed against a safety belt,damage can occur to both thesafety belt and the vehicle.
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
The vehicle has a shoulder beltheight adjuster for the driver andright front passenger seatingpositions.
Adjust the height so the shoulderportion of the belt is on the shoulderand not falling off of it. The beltshould be close to, but notcontacting, the neck. Impropershoulder belt height adjustmentcould reduce the effectiveness ofthe safety belt in a crash. SeeHowto Wear Safety Belts Properly060.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Seats and Restraints 75
Warning (Continued)
ride in the front outboard
passenger seat, if the passenger
airbag off indicator is lit.
Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation
Safety belts help keep thepassenger in position on the seatduring vehicle maneuvers andbraking, which helps the passengersensing system maintain thepassenger airbag status. See“Safety Belts”and“Child Restraints”in the Index for additionalinformation about the importance ofproper restraint use.
Athicklayerofadditionalmaterial,such as a blanket or cushion,or aftermarket equipment such asseat covers, seat heaters, and seatmassagers can affect how well thepassenger sensing systemoperates. We recommend that younot use seat covers or otheraftermarket equipment except whenapproved by GM for your specific
vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment tothe Airbag-Equipped Vehicle075for more information aboutmodifications that can affect howthe system operates.
The on indicator may be lit if anobject, such as a briefcase,handbag, grocery bag, laptop,or other electronic device, is put onan unoccupied seat. If this is notdesired, remove the object fromthe seat.
{Warning
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicleshould be serviced. There are partsof the airbag system in severalplaces around the vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual haveinformation about servicing thevehicle and the airbag system. Topurchase a service manual, seeService Publications OrderingInformation0316.
{Warning
For up to 10 seconds after the
vehicle is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you
are close to an airbag when it
inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change thevehicle's frame, bumper system,height, front end, or side sheetmetal may keep the airbag system
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Seats and Restraints 77
Replacing Airbag System
Parts after a Crash
{Warning
Acrashcandamagetheairbag
systems in the vehicle.
Adamagedairbagsystemmay
not properly protect you and your
passenger(s) in a crash, resulting
in serious injury or even death. To
help make sure the airbag
systems are working properly
after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible.
If an airbag inflates, you will need toreplace airbag system parts. Seeyour dealer for service.
If the airbag readiness light stays onafter the vehicle is started or comeson when you are driving, the airbagsystem may not work properly. Havethe vehicle serviced right away. SeeAirbag Readiness Light011 0.
Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrownbooster seats should wear thevehicle’ssafetybelts.
The manufacturer instructions thatcome with the booster seat state theweight and height limitations for thatbooster. Use a booster seat with alap-shoulder belt until the childpasses the fit test below:
.Sit all the way back on the seat.Do the knees bend at the seatedge? If yes, continue. If no,return to the booster seat.
.Buckle the lap-shoulder belt.Does the shoulder belt rest onthe shoulder? If yes, continue.If no, try using the rear safetybelt comfort guide, if available.See“Rear Safety Belt ComfortGuides”underLap-Shoulder Belt061.Ifacomfortguideisnotavailable, or if the shoulder beltstill does not rest on theshoulder, then return to thebooster seat.
.Does the lap belt fit low andsnug on the hips, touching thethighs? If yes, continue. If no,return to the booster seat.
.Can proper safety belt fit bemaintained for the length of thetrip? If yes, continue. If no,return to the booster seat.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
80 Seats and Restraints
{Warning
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag when
it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the front
outboard seat. Secure a
rear-facing child restraint in a rear
seat. It is also better to secure a
forward-facing child restraint in a
rear seat. If you must secure a
forward-facing child restraint in
the front outboard seat, always
move the front passenger seat as
far back as it will go.
Child restraints are devices used torestrain, seat, or position children inthe vehicle and are sometimescalled child seats or car seats.
There are three basic types ofchild restraints:
.Forward-facing child restraints
.Rearward-facing child restraints
.Belt-positioning booster seats
The proper child restraint for yourchild depends on their size, weight,and age, and also on whether thechild restraint is compatible with thevehicle in which it will be used.
For each type of child restraint,there are many different modelsavailable. When purchasing a childrestraint, be sure it is designed to beused in a motor vehicle. If it is, therestraint will have a label saying thatit meets federal motor vehicle safetystandards. The restraintmanufacturer's instructions thatcome with the restraint state theweight and height limitations for aparticular child restraint. In addition,there are many kinds of restraintsavailable for children with specialneeds.
{Warning
To r e d u c e t h e r i s k o f n e c k a n d
head injury in a crash, infants and
toddlers should be secured in a
rear-facing child restraint until age
two, or until they reach the
maximum height and weight limits
of their child restraint.