CHILD RESTRAINT AND
SEATBELT MAINTENANCE
Inspect the vehicle seatbelts and childrestraint systems periodically to make surethey work properly and are not damaged.Inspect the vehicle seatbelts to make surethere are no nicks, tears or cuts. Replace ifnecessary. All vehicle seatbelt assemblies,including retractors, buckles, front seatbeltbuckle assemblies, buckle supportassemblies (slide bar-if equipped),shoulder belt height adjusters (ifequipped), shoulder belt guide on seatback(if equipped), rear inflatable seatbelts (ifequipped), child restraint LATCH andtether anchors, and attaching hardware,should be inspected after a crash. Readthe child restraint manufacturer'sinstructions for additional inspection andmaintenance information specific to thechild restraint.
We recommend that all seatbeltassemblies in use in vehicles involved in acrash be replaced. However, if the crashwas minor and an authorized dealer findsthat the belts do not show damage andcontinue to operate properly, they do notneed to be replaced. Seatbelt assembliesnot in use during a crash should also beinspected and replaced if either damageor improper operation is noted.
Properly care for seatbelts. See Cleaningthe Interior (page 163).
SEATBELT EXTENSION
WARNING: Persons who fit intothe vehicle's seatbelt should not use anextension. Unnecessary use could resultin serious personal injury in the event ofa crash.
WARNING: Only use extensionsprovided free of charge by our dealers.The dealer will provide an extensiondesigned specifically for this vehicle,model year and seating position. The useof an extension intended for anothervehicle, model year or seating positionmay not offer you the full protection ofyour vehicle's seatbelt restraint system.
WARNING: Never use seatbeltextensions to install child restraints.
WARNING: Do not use a seatbeltextension with an inflatable seatbelt.
WARNING: Do not use extensionsto change the way the seatbelt fitsacross the torso, over the lap or to makethe seatbelt buckle easier to reach.
If, because of body size or driving position,it is not possible to properly fasten theseatbelt over your lap and shoulder, anextension that is compatible with theseatbelts is available free of charge fromour dealers. Only use our seatbeltextensions made by the original equipmentseatbelt manufacturer with our seatbelts.Ask your authorized dealer if your extensionis compatible with your vehicle restraintsystem.
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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
WARNING: Airbags do not inflateslowly or gently, and the risk of injuryfrom a deploying airbag is the greatestclose to the trim covering the airbagmodule.
WARNING: All occupants of yourvehicle, including the driver, shouldalways properly wear their safety belts,even when an airbag supplementalrestraint system is provided. Failure toproperly wear your safety belt couldseriously increase the risk of injury ordeath.
WARNING: Always transportchildren 12 years old and under in theback seat and always properly useappropriate child restraints. Failure tofollow this could seriously increase therisk of injury or death.
WARNING: Never place your armover the airbag module as a deployingairbag can result in serious arm fracturesor other injuries.
WARNING: Airbags can kill orinjure a child in a child seat. Never placea rear-facing child seat in front of anactive airbag. If you must use aforward-facing child seat in the frontseat, move the seat upon which the childseat is installed all the way back.
WARNING: Do not attempt toservice, repair, or modify the airbagsupplemental restraint systems or itsfuses as you could be seriously injuredor killed. Contact your authorized dealeras soon as possible.
WARNING: Several airbag systemcomponents get hot after inflation. Toavoid risk of injury, do not touch themafter inflation.
WARNING: If the airbag hasdeployed, the airbag will not functionagain and must be replacedimmediately. If the airbag is not replaced,the unrepaired area will increase the riskof injury in a crash.
The airbags are a supplemental restraintsystem and are designed to work with thesafety belts to help protect the driver andright front passenger from certain upperbody injuries. Airbags do not inflate slowly;there is a risk of injury from a deployingairbag.
Note:You will hear a loud bang and see acloud of harmless powdery residue if anairbag deploys. This is normal.
The airbags inflate and deflate rapidlyupon activation. After airbag deployment,it is normal to notice a smoke-like, powderyresidue or smell the burnt propellant. Thismay consist of cornstarch, talcum powder(to lubricate the bag) or sodiumcompounds (for example, baking soda)that result from the combustion processthat inflates the airbag. Small amounts ofsodium hydroxide may be present whichmay irritate the skin and eyes, but none ofthe residue is toxic.
While the system is designed to helpreduce serious injuries, contact with adeploying airbag may also cause abrasionsor swelling. Temporary hearing loss is alsoa possibility as a result of the noiseassociated with a deploying airbag.Because airbags must inflate rapidly andwith considerable force, there is the risk ofdeath or serious injuries such as fractures,facial and eye injuries or internal injuries,particularly to occupants who are not
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properly restrained or are otherwise out ofposition at the time of airbag deployment.Thus, it is extremely important thatoccupants be properly restrained as faraway from the airbag module as possiblewhile maintaining vehicle control.
Routine maintenance of the airbags is notrequired.
DRIVER AND PASSENGER
AIRBAGS
WARNING: Do not place your armson the airbag cover or through thesteering wheel. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injury.
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
The driver and front passenger airbagsdeploy during significant frontal and nearfrontal crashes.
The driver and passenger front airbagsystem consists of:
•Driver and passenger airbag modules.
· Crash sensors and monitoringsystem with readiness indicator.See Crash Sensors and AirbagIndicator (page 37).
Passenger Airbag On and OffSwitch (If Equipped)
WARNING: Your vehicle may havean airbag deactivation switch. Beforedriving, always look at the switch tomake sure it is in the appropriateposition. Failure to put the switch in theproper position can increase the risk ofserious injury or death in a crash.
Note:The passenger airbag on and offswitch may be on vehicles with no rearseats.
Switching the Passenger Airbag Off
WARNING: If the light does notilluminate when the passenger airbagswitch is off and you switch the ignitionon, have the passenger airbag switchserviced immediately by a qualifiedtechnician.
WARNING: To avoid switching onthe airbag, always remove the ignitionkey with the switch in the off position.
WARNING: NEVER use a rearwardfacing child restraint on a seat protectedby an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it,DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILDcan occur.
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1. Insert the ignition key into thepassenger airbag on and off switch,turn the switch to off and hold it in offwhile removing the key.
2. When you switch the ignition on andthe passenger airbag switch is in theoff position, the off light illuminatesbriefly, momentarily shuts off and thenturns back on. This indicates that thepassenger airbag is deactivated.
Switching the Passenger Airbag BackOn
WARNING: The seatbelts for thedriver and right front passenger seatingpositions are specifically designed tooperate together with the airbags incertain types of crashes. When youswitch off your airbag, you not only losethe protection of the airbag, you alsomay reduce the effectiveness of yourseatbelt system. If the passenger doesnot meet the requirements stated in theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration or Transport Canadadeactivation criteria, switching off theairbag can increase the risk of seriousinjury or death in a crash.
WARNING: If your vehicle has rearseats, always transport children who are12 and younger in the rear seat. Alwaysuse seatbelts and child restraintsproperly. Do not place a child in a rearfacing infant seat in the front seat unlessyour vehicle is equipped with an airbagon and off switch and the passengerairbag is turned off. This is because theback of the infant seat is too close to theinflating airbag and the risk of a fatalinjury to the infant when the airbaginflates is substantial.
WARNING: If the passenger airbagoff light is illuminated when thepassenger airbag switch is on and theignition is on, have the passenger airbagswitch serviced immediately by aqualified technician.
The passenger airbag remains off until youswitch it back on.
1. Insert the ignition key into thepassenger airbag on and off switch andturn the switch to on.
2. The off light briefly illuminates whenyou switch the ignition on. Thisindicates that the passenger airbag isoperational.
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The passenger side airbag should alwaysbe on (the airbag off light should not beilluminated) unless the passenger is aperson who meets the requirements statedeither in Category 1, 2 or 3 of the NationalHighway Traffic SafetyAdministration/Transport Canadadeactivation criteria which follows.
The vast majority of drivers and passengersare much safer with an airbag thanwithout. To do their job and reduce the riskof life threatening injuries, airbags mustopen with great force, and this force canpose a potentially deadly risk in somesituations, particularly when a front seatoccupant is not properly buckled up. Themost effective way to reduce the risk ofunnecessary airbag injuries withoutreducing the overall safety of the vehicleis to make sure all occupants are properlyrestrained in the vehicle, especially in thefront seat. This provides the protection ofseatbelts and permits the airbags toprovide the additional protection they weredesigned to provide. If you choose todeactivate your airbag, you are losing thevery significant risk reducing benefits ofthe airbag and you are also reducing theeffectiveness of the seatbelts, becauseseatbelts in modern vehicles are designedto work as a safety system with theairbags.
National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration Deactivation Criteria(Excluding Canada)
WARNING: This vehicle hasspecial energy management seatbeltsfor the driver and right front passenger.These particular seatbelts arespecifically designed to work withairbags to help reduce the risk of injuryin a crash. The energy managementseatbelt gives or releases additionalseatbelt webbing in some accidents to
reduce the concentration of force on anoccupant's chest and to reduce the riskof certain bone fractures and injuries tounderlying organs. In a crash, if the airbagis off, this energy management seatbeltmight permit the passenger wearing theseatbelt to move forward enough tohave a serious or fatal injury. The moresevere the crash, and the heavier theoccupant, the greater the risk. Make surethe airbag is on for any passenger whodoes not qualify under the NationalHighway Traffic Safety Administrationdeactivation criteria.
1.Infant. An infant (less than 1 year old)must ride in the front seat because:
•The vehicle has no rear seat.
•The vehicle has a rear seat too smallto accommodate a rear-facing infantseat.
•The infant has a medical conditionwhich, according to the infant'sphysician, makes it necessary for theinfant to ride in the front so that thedriver can constantly monitor thechild's condition.
2.Child age 1 to 12. A child age 1 to 12 mustride in the front seat because:
•The vehicle has no rear seat.
•Although children ages 1 to 12 ride inthe rear seat(s) whenever possible,children ages 1 to 12 sometimes mustride in the front because no space isavailable in the rear seat(s) of thevehicle.
•The child has a medical conditionwhich, according to the child'sphysician, makes it necessary for thechild to ride in the front seat so that thedriver can constantly monitor thechild's condition.
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3. Medical condition. A passenger has amedical condition which, according to hisor her physician:
•Causes the passenger airbag to posea special risk for the passenger.
•Makes the potential harm from thepassenger airbag in a crash greaterthan the potential harm from turningoff the airbag and allowing thepassenger, even if belted, to hit thedashboard or windshield in a crash.
Transport Canada Deactivation Criteria(Canada Only)
WARNING: This vehicle hasspecial energy management seatbeltsfor the driver and right front passenger.These particular seatbelts arespecifically designed to work withairbags to help reduce the risk of injuryin a crash. The energy managementseatbelt gives or releases additionalseatbelt webbing in some accidents toreduce the concentration of force on anoccupant's chest and to reduce the riskof certain bone fractures and injuries tounderlying organs. In a crash, if the airbagis off, this energy management seatbeltmight permit the passenger wearing theseatbelt to move forward enough tohave a serious or fatal injury. The moresevere the crash, and the heavier theoccupant, the greater the risk. Make surethe airbag is on for any passenger whodoes not qualify under the NationalHighway Traffic Safety Administrationdeactivation criteria.
1.Infant: An infant (less than 1 year old)must ride in the front seat because:
•My vehicle has no rear seat.
•The rear seat in my vehicle cannotaccommodate a rear-facing infantseat.
•The infant has a medical conditionwhich, according to the infant'sphysician, makes it necessary for theinfant to ride in the front seat so thatthe driver can monitor the infant'scondition.
2.Child age 12 or under: A child age 12 orunder must ride in the front seat because:
•My vehicle has no rear seat.
•Although children age 12 and under ridein the rear seat whenever possible,children age 12 and under have nooption but to sometimes ride in thefront seat because rear seat space isinsufficient.
•The child has a medical condition that,according to the child's physician,makes it necessary for the child to ridein the front seat so that the driver canmonitor the child's condition.
3.Medical condition: A passenger has amedical condition that, according to his orher physician:
•Poses a special risk for the passengerif the airbag deploys.
•Makes the potential harm from thepassenger airbag deployment greaterthan the potential harm from turningoff the airbag and experiencing a crashwithout the protection offered by theairbag.
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Proper Driver and Front PassengerSeating Adjustment
WARNING: National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)recommends a minimum distance of atleast 10 in (25 cm) between anoccupant's chest and the driver airbagmodule.
To properly position yourself away fromthe airbag:
•Move your seat to the rear as far as youcan while still reaching the pedalscomfortably.
•Recline the seat slightly (one or twodegrees) from the upright position.
After all occupants have adjusted theirseats and put on seatbelts, it is veryimportant that they continue to sitproperly. Properly seated occupants situpright, lean against the seat back, andcenter themselves on the seat cushion,with their feet comfortably extended onthe floor. Sitting improperly can increasethe chance of injury in a crash event. Forexample, if an occupant slouches, liesdown, turns sideways, sits forward, leansforward or sideways, or puts one or bothfeet up, the chance of injury during a crashis greatly increased.
Children and Airbags
WARNING: Do not place arearward facing child restraint in front ofan active airbag. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injuryor death.
Children must always be properlyrestrained. Accident statistics suggest thatchildren are safer when properly restrainedin the rear seating positions than in thefront seating position. Failure to followthese instructions may increase the risk ofinjury in a crash.
CRASH SENSORS AND
AIRBAG INDICATOR (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING: Modifying or addingequipment to the front end of the vehicle(including frame, bumper, front end bodystructure and tow hooks) may affect theperformance of the airbag system,increasing the risk of injury. Do notmodify the front end of the vehicle.
Your vehicle has a collection of crash andoccupant sensors which provideinformation to the restraints controlmodule. The restraints control moduledeploys (activates) the front safety beltpretensioners, driver airbag and passengerairbag. Based on the type of accident, therestraints control module will deploy theappropriate safety devices.
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The restraints control module alsomonitors the readiness of the above safetydevices plus the crash sensors. Thereadiness of the safety system is indicatedby a warning indicator light in theinstrument cluster or by a backup tone ifthe warning light is not working. SeeInstrument Cluster (page 53). Routinemaintenance of the airbag is not required.
A difficulty with the system is indicated byone or more of the following:
The readiness light will notilluminate immediately after theignition is turned on.
•The readiness light will either flash orstay lit.
•A series of five beeps will be heard. Thetone pattern will repeat periodicallyuntil the problem, the light or both arerepaired.
If any of these things happen, evenintermittently, have the supplementalrestraint system serviced at an authorizeddealer immediately. Unless serviced, thesystem may not function properly in theevent of a crash.
The safety belt pretensioners and theairbag supplemental restraint system aredesigned to activate when the vehiclesustains frontal deceleration sufficient tocause the restraints control module todeploy a safety device.
The fact that the safety belt pretensionersor airbags did not activate in a crash doesnot mean that something is wrong with thesystem. Rather, it means the restraintscontrol module determined the accidentconditions (such as crash severity, beltusage) were not appropriate to activatethese safety devices.
•The design of the front airbags is toactivate only in frontal and near-frontalcrashes (not rollovers, side impacts orrear impacts) unless the crash causessufficient frontal deceleration.
•The design of the safety beltpretensioners is to activate in frontalor near-frontal crashes and may deployin rollovers if the vehicle is equippedwith roll stability control.
AIRBAG DISPOSAL
Contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible. Airbags must be disposed of byqualified personnel.
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