Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
60 Seats and Restraints
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
The roof-rail airbags for the driver,front outboard passenger, andsecond row outboard passengersare in the ceiling above the sidewindows.
{Warning
If something is between an
occupant and an airbag, the
airbag might not inflate properly
or it might force the object into
that person causing severe injury
or even death. The path of an
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
inflating airbag must be kept
clear. Do not put anything
between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put
anything on the steering wheel
hub or on or near any other
airbag covering.
Do not use seat accessories that
block the inflation path of a
seat-mounted side impact airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof
of a vehicle with roof-rail airbags
by routing a rope or tie⇣down
through any door or window
opening. If you do, the path of an
inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked.
When Should an Airbag
Inflate?
This vehicle is equipped withairbags. SeeAirbag System057.Airbags are designed to inflate if theimpact exceeds the specific airbagsystem’sdeploymentthreshold.
Deployment thresholds are used topredict how severe a crash is likelyto be in time for the airbags toinflate and help restrain theoccupants. The vehicle haselectronic frontal sensors that helpthe airbag system determine theseverity of the impact. Deploymentthresholds can vary with specificvehicle design.
Frontal airbags are designed toinflate in moderate to severe frontalor near-frontal crashes to helpreduce the potential for severeinjuries, mainly to the driver's orfront outboard passenger's headand chest.
Whether the frontal airbags will orshould inflate is not based primarilyon how fast the vehicle is traveling.It depends on what is hit, thedirection of the impact, and howquickly the vehicle slows down.
Frontal airbags may inflate atdifferent crash speeds depending onwhether the vehicle hits an objectstraight on or at an angle, and
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
64 Seats and Restraints
According to accident statistics,children are safer when properlysecured in a rear seat in the correctchild restraint for their weightand size.
Whenever possible, children aged12 and under should be secured inarearseatingposition.
Never put a rear-facing child seat inthe front. This is because the risk tothe rear-facing child is so great,if the airbag inflates.
{Warning
Achildinarear-facingchild
restraint can be seriously injured
or killed if the passenger frontal
airbag inflates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to
the inflating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the
passenger frontal airbag inflates
and the passenger seat is in a
forward position.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger airbag(s), no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the
airbag(s) are off.
Never put a rear-facing child
restraint in the front seat, even if
the airbag is off. If securing a
forward-facing child restraint in
the front outboard passenger
seat, always move the seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure child restraints in the rear
seat. Consider using another
vehicle to transport the child
when a rear seat is not available.
The passenger sensing system isdesigned to turn off the frontoutboard passenger frontal airbagand knee airbag if:
.The front outboard passengerseat is unoccupied.
.The system determines that aninfant is present in a childrestraint.
.Afrontoutboardpassengertakes his/her weight off of theseat for a period of time.
.There is a critical problem withthe airbag system or thepassenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensingsystem has turned off the frontoutboard passenger frontal airbagand knee airbag, the off indicatorwill light and stay lit to remind youthat the airbags are off. SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator099.
The passenger sensing system isdesigned to turn on the frontoutboard passenger frontal airbagand knee airbag anytime the system
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
Seats and Restraints 65
senses that a person of adult size issitting properly in the front outboardpassenger seat.
When the passenger sensingsystem has allowed the airbags tobe enabled, the on indicator will lightand stay lit as a reminder that theairbags are active.
For some children, includingchildren in child restraints, and forvery small adults, the passengersensing system may or may not turnoff the front outboard passengerfrontal airbag and knee airbag,depending upon the person’sseating posture and body build.Everyone in the vehicle who hasoutgrown child restraints shouldwear a safety belt properly—whether or not there is an airbag forthat person.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light099for more information,
including important safety
information.
If the On Indicator Is Lit for a
Child Restraint
The passenger sensing system isdesigned to turn off the frontoutboard passenger frontal airbagand knee airbag if the systemdetermines that an infant is presentin a child restraint. If a child restrainthas been installed and the onindicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint fromthe vehicle.
3. Remove any additional itemsfrom the seat such as blankets,cushions, seat covers, seatheaters, or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraintfollowing the directionsprovided by the child restraintmanufacturer and refer toSecuring Child Restraints (Withthe Safety Belt in the FrontSeat)083orSecuring ChildRestraints (With the Safety Beltin the Rear Seat)081.
5. If, after reinstalling the childrestraint and restarting thevehicle, the on indicator is stilllit, turn the vehicle off. Thenslightly recline the vehicleseatback and adjust the seatcushion, if adjustable, to makesure that the vehicle seatbackis not pushing the childrestraint into the seat cushion.
Also make sure the childrestraint is not trapped underthe vehicle head restraint.If this happens, adjust the headrestraint. SeeHead Restraints045.
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
66 Seats and Restraints
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing systemmay or may not turn off theairbags for a child in a childrestraint depending upon thechild’ssize.Itisbettertosecure the child restraint in arear seat. Never put arear-facing child restraint in thefront seat, even if the onindicator is not lit.
If the Off Indicator Is Lit for an
Adult-Sized Occupant
If a person of adult-size is sitting inthe front outboard passenger seat,but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sittingproperly in the seat. Use thefollowing steps to allow the systemto detect that person and enable thefront outboard passenger frontal andknee airbags:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove any additional materialfrom the seat, such asblankets, cushions, seatcovers, seat heaters, or seatmassagers. Also removelaptops or other electronicdevices.
3. Place the seatback in the fullyupright position.
4. Have the person sit upright inthe seat, centered on the seatcushion, with legs comfortablyextended.
5. Restart the vehicle and havethe person remain in thisposition for two tothree minutes after the onindicator is lit.
{Warning
If the front outboard passenger
airbag is turned off for an
adult-sized occupant, the airbag
will not be able to inflate and help
protect that person in a crash,
resulting in an increased risk of
serious injury or even death. An
adult-sized occupant should not
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.
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
68 Seats and Restraints
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 systemfrom working properly. Theoperation of the airbag system canalso be affected by changing anyparts of the front seats, safety belts,airbag sensing and diagnosticmodule, steering wheel, instrumentpanel, any of the airbag modules,ceiling or pillar garnish trim, theinside rearview mirror, front sensors,side impact sensors, or airbagwiring.
Yo u r d e a l e r a n d t h e s e r v i c e m a n u a lhave information about the locationof the airbag sensors, sensing anddiagnostic module and airbagwiring.
In addition, the vehicle has apassenger sensing system for thefront outboard passenger position,which includes sensors that are partof the passenger's seat. Thepassenger sensing system may notoperate properly if the original seat
trim is replaced with non-GMcovers, upholstery or trim, or withGM covers, upholstery or trimdesigned for a different vehicle. Anyobject, such as an aftermarket seatheater or a comfort enhancing pador device, installed under or on topof the seat fabric, could alsointerfere with the operation of thepassenger sensing system. Thiscould either prevent properdeployment of the passengerairbag(s) or prevent the passengersensing system from properlyturning off the passenger airbag(s).SeePassenger Sensing System063.
If the vehicle has rollover roof-railairbags, seeDifferent Size Tiresand Wheels0318for additionalimportant information.
If you have to modify your vehiclebecause you have a disability andhave questions about whether themodifications will affect the vehicle'sairbag system, or if you havequestions about whether the airbagsystem will be affected if the vehicle
is modified for any other reason, callCustomer Assistance. SeeCustomer Assistance Offices0366.
Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not needregularly scheduled maintenance orreplacement. Make sure the airbagreadiness light is working. SeeAirbag Readiness Light099.
Caution
If an airbag covering is damaged,
opened, or broken, the airbag
may not work properly. Do not
open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any
opened or broken airbag
coverings, have the airbag
covering and/or airbag module
replaced. For the location of the
airbags, seeWhere Are the
Airbags?059.Seeyourdealer
for service.
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
Seats and Restraints 71
Infants and Young
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needsprotection! This includes infants andall other children. Neither thedistance traveled nor the age andsize of the traveler changes theneed, for everyone, to use safetyrestraints. In fact, the law in everystate in the United States and inevery Canadian province sayschildren up to some age must berestrained while in a vehicle.
{Warning
Children can be seriously injured
or strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck. The
shoulder belt can tighten but
cannot be loosened if it is locked.
The shoulder belt locks when it is
pulled all the way out of the
retractor. It unlocks when the
shoulder belt is allowed to go all
the way back into the retractor,
but it cannot do this if it is
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
wrapped around a child’sneck.
If the shoulder belt is locked and
tightened around a child’sneck,
the only way to loosen the belt is
to cut it.
Never leave children unattended
in a vehicle and never allow
children to play with the safety
belts.
Every time infants and youngchildren ride in vehicles, they shouldhave the protection provided byappropriate child restraints. Neitherthe vehicle's safety belt system norits airbag system is designedfor them.
Children who are not restrainedproperly can strike other people,or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
{Warning
Never hold an infant or a child
while riding in a vehicle. Due to
crash forces, an infant or a child
will become so heavy it is not
possible to hold it during a crash.
For example, in a crash at only
40 km/h (25 mph), a 5.5 kg (12 lb)
infant will suddenly become a
11 0 k g ( 2 4 0 l b ) f o r c e o n a p e r s o n ' s
arms. An infant or child should be
secured in an appropriate
restraint.
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
72 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.
Chevrolet SS Sedan Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S.-10122752) -2017 - crc - 8/31/16
Seats and Restraints 73
{Warning
Ayoungchild'shipbonesarestill
so small that the vehicle's regular
safety belt may not remain low on
the hip bones, as it should.
Instead, it may settle up around
the child's abdomen. In a crash,
the belt would apply force on a
body area that is unprotected by
any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal
injuries. To reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injuries during a
crash, young children should
always be secured in appropriate
child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
Rear-Facing Infant Seat
Arear-facingchildrestraintprovidesrestraint with the seating surfaceagainst the back of the infant.
The harness system holds the infantin place and, in a crash, acts tokeep the infant positioned in therestraint.
Forward-Facing Child Seat
Aforward-facingchildrestraintprovides restraint for the child'sbody with the harness.