Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
4 Introduction
R:Fuse Block Cover Lock
Location
+: Fuses
j:ISOFIX/LATCH System Child
Restraints
Q: Keep Fuse Block Covers
Properly Installed
|: Lane Change Alert
@:Lane Departure Warning
A:Lane Keep Assist
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
X:Park Assist
~:Pedestrian Ahead Indicator
O:Power
7:Rear Cross Traffic Alert
I:Registered Technician
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Seat Belt Reminders
I: Side Blind Zone Alert
h:Stop/Start
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
a: Under Pressure
V:Vehicle Ahead Indicator
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
36 Seats and Restraints
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Front Seats
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . 39
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Seat Belts
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
How to Wear Seat BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Seat Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 50
Seat Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . 54
When Should an AirbagInflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Passenger Sensing System . . . 58
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . 63
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . 63
Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Infants and Young Children . . . . 66
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . . . 68
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . 70
Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) . . . . 71
Replacing LATCH System Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Securing Child Restraints (With
the Seat Belt in the
Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the
Front Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
38 Seats and Restraints
Rear Seats
The vehicle's rear seats have
adjustable head restraints in the
outboard seating positions.
The height of the head restraint can
be adjusted. Pull the head restraint
up to raise it. Try to move the head
restraint to make sure that it is
locked in place.
To lower the head restraint, press
the button, located on the top of the
seatback, and push the head
restraint down. Try to move the
head restraint after the button is
released to make sure that it is
locked in place.
If you are installing a child restraint
in the rear seat, see“Securing a
Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System” underLower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) 071.Front Seats
Seat Adjustment
Manual Seats
{Warning
You can lose control of the
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.
To adjust a manual seat:
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Seats and Restraints 39
1. Pull up on the handle at thefront of the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the
handle.
3. Try to move the seat back and forth to be sure it is locked in
place.
Seat Height Adjuster
If available, move the lever up or
down to manually raise or lower
the seat.
Power Seat Adjustment
{Warning
The power seats will work with
the ignition off. Children could
operate the power seats and be
injured. Never leave children
alone in the vehicle.
To adjust a power seat, if equipped:
.Move the seat forward or
rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward. .
Raise or lower the front part of
the seat cushion by moving the
front of the control up or down.
. Raise or lower the entire seat by
moving the rear of the control up
or down.
To adjust the seatback, see
Reclining Seatbacks 039.
Reclining Seatbacks
{Warning
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
42 Seats and Restraints
Remote Start Auto Heated
Seats
If equipped and turned on, when it is
cold outside the heated seats can
be turned on automatically during a
remote vehicle start. The heated
seats will be canceled when the
ignition is turned on. Press the
heated seat controls to use the
heated seats after the vehicle is
started.
The heated seat indicator lights do
not turn on during a remote start.
The temperature performance of an
unoccupied seat may be reduced.
This is normal.
SeeVehicle Personalization 0115
and
Remote Vehicle Start 020.
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Reminder
If equipped, the message REAR
SEAT REMINDER LOOK IN REAR
SEAT displays under certain
conditions indicating there may be
an item or passenger in the rear
seat. Check before exiting the
vehicle.
This feature will activate when a
second row door is opened while
the vehicle is on or up to 10 minutes
before the vehicle is turned on.
There will be an alert when the
vehicle is turned off. The alert does
not directly detect objects in the rear
seat; instead, under certain
conditions, it detects when a rear
door is opened and closed,
indicating that there may be
something in the rear seat.
The feature is active only once each
time the vehicle is turned on and off,
and will require reactivation by opening and closing the second row
doors. There may be an alert even
when there is nothing in the rear
seat; for example, if a child entered
the vehicle through the rear door
and left the vehicle without the
vehicle being shut off.
The feature can be turned on or off.
See
Vehicle Personalization 0115.
Folding the Seatback
Either side of the seatback can be
folded down for more cargo space.
Fold a seatback only when the
vehicle is not moving.
Caution
Folding a rear seat with the seat
belts still fastened may cause
damage to the seat or the seat
belts. Always unbuckle the seat
belts and return them to their
normal stowed position before
folding a rear seat.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Seats and Restraints 45
When riding in a vehicle, you travel
as fast as the vehicle does. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you keep
going until something stops you.
It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the seat belts!
When you wear a seat belt, you and
the vehicle slow down together.
There is more time to stop because
you stop over a longer distance and,
when worn properly, your strongest
bones take the forces from the seat
belts. That is why wearing seat belts
makes such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Seat Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicleafter a crash if I am wearing a
seat belt?
A: You could be—whether you are
wearing a seat belt or not. Your
chance of being conscious
during and after a crash, so you
can unbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why
should I have to wear seat
belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only. They work with
seat belts —not instead of them.
Whether or not an airbag is
provided, all occupants still have
to buckle up to get the most
protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in
all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing seat belts.
How to Wear Seat Belts
Properly
Follow these rules for everyone's
protection.
There are additional things to know
about seat belts and children,
including smaller children and
infants. If a child will be riding in the
vehicle, see Older Children 064 or
Infants and Young Children 066.
Review and follow the rules for
children in addition to the following
rules. It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing seat belts.
There are important things to know
about wearing a seat belt properly.
.
Sit up straight and always keep
your feet on the floor in front of
you (if possible).
. Always use the correct buckle
for your seating position.
. Wear the lap part of the belt low
and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs. In a crash,
this applies force to the strong
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Seats and Restraints 47
Always use the correct buckle for
your seating position.
Never route the lap or shoulder belt
over an armrest.
{Warning
The seat belt can be pinched if it
is routed under plastic trim on the
seat, such as trim around the rear
seatback folding handle or side
airbag. In a crash, pinched seat
belts might not be able to provide
adequate protection. Never allow
seat belts to be routed under
plastic trim pieces.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle
have a lap-shoulder belt.
The following instructions explain
how to wear a lap-shoulder belt
properly.1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see
“Seats” in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull
the belt across you. Do not let
it get twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock
if you pull the belt across you
very quickly. If this happens, let
the belt go back slightly to
unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a
passenger belt is pulled out all
the way, the child restraint
locking feature may be
engaged. See Child Restraint
Systems 068. If this occurs, let
the belt go back all the way
and start again. If the locking
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
50 Seats and Restraints
system will need to be replaced.
SeeReplacing Seat Belt System
Parts after a Crash 051.
Do not sit on the outboard seat belt
while entering or exiting the vehicle
or at any time while sitting in the
seat. Sitting on the seat belt can
damage the webbing and hardware.
Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides
Rear seat belt comfort guides may
provide added seat belt comfort for
older children who have outgrown
booster seats and for some adults.
When installed on a shoulder belt,
the comfort guide positions the
shoulder belt away from the neck
and head.
Comfort guides are available
through your dealer for the rear
outboard seating positions.
Instructions are included with the
guides.
Seat Belt Use During
Pregnancy
Seat belts work for everyone,
including pregnant women. Like all
occupants, they are more likely to
be seriously injured if they do not
wear seat belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a
lap-shoulder belt, and the lap
portion should be worn as low as
possible, below the rounding,
throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is
to protect the mother. When a seat
belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a
crash. For pregnant women, as for
anyone, the key to making seat
belts effective is wearing them
properly.
Seat Belt Extender
If the vehicle's seat belt will fasten
around you, you should use it.
But if a seat belt is not long enough,
your dealer will order you an
extender. When you go in to order it,
take the heaviest coat you will wear,
so the extender will be long enough
for you. To help avoid personal
injury, do not let someone else use
it, and use it only for the seat it is
made to fit. The extender has been
designed for adults. Never use it for
securing child restraints. For more
information on the proper use and fit
of seat belt extenders see the
instruction sheet that comes with
the extender.
Safety System Check
Periodically check the seat belt
reminder, seat belts, buckles, latch
plates, retractors, shoulder belt