2020 INFINITI Q50 sensor

2020 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 2

THE INFINITI ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM
All 2020 INFINITI vehicles are equipped with the INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System
(AABS) for the driver and front passenger seats. Typically, this system incorporates
dual-stage inflators*, and monitors information from various crash sensors, and the
occupant classification sensor.

The front passenger air bag may be automatically turned OFF under some
conditions, depending on the information provided by the occupant classification
sensor. If the front passenger air bag is OFF, the front passenger air bag status light
will be illuminated (if the seat is unoccupied, the light will not be illuminated, but the
air bag will be OFF). See your vehicle owner’s manual for additional information on
the operation of the front passenger air bag.

The front passenger air bag status light does not indicate a malfunction of the front
passenger air bag. If the front passenger air bag status light is illuminated while an
adult occupies the seat, the occupant may need to shift his or her seating position
so the system can turn ON the front passenger air bag and turn OFF the status light.
See your owner’s manual for proper seating positions.

Remember, all air bags are supplemental restraint systems. You must properly use
seat belts and child restraints; as explained in the vehicle owner’s manual and your
child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF AN AIR BAG: YOU’RE SEAT BELT
Your chances of surviving a collision will improve greatly if one simple piece of
advice is followed: always wear your seat belt. Do not count on just the air bags for
occupant protection; they are merely a supplemental restraint system.

Seat belts help to protect the occupants of your vehicle during collisions in which the
air bags are not designed to activate. In addition, in situations where the air bags
are activated, seat belts enhance their effectiveness and can help reduce the risk
of injury from an inflating air bag. Seat belts will also help protect the occupants of
your vehicle during multiple-impact collisions, while the air bags work only one time if
a collision is severe enough to activate them. Please see the SEAT BELT SAFETY and
CHILD SAFETY sections of this guide and the vehicle owner’s manual for more
information.


*Dual-stage inflators vary the inflation rate based on the severity of the collision (for example,
less forceful inflation for moderate impacts and a higher inflation force for more severe
impacts). In addition, based on
information from the seat belt buckle sensors that detect
whether the seat belts are fastened, the
deployment of the front air bags is adjusted. Based
on the crash severity and whether or not the front occupants are belted or unbelted only one
front air bag may inflate in a crash.

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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 may
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 the seat, the occupant
classification sensors can detect it and cause the air bag to turn OFF. See the
vehicle owner’s manual for more information about the specific occupant
classification system type in your vehicle. The occupant classification sensor is only

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used in the front passenger seat. Failure to be properly seated and wearing the seat
belt can increase the risk or severity of injury in an accident.

Front passenger seat adult occupants who are properly seated and using the seat
belt as outlined in the vehicle’s owner manual should not cause the passenger air
bag to be automatically turned OFF. However if the occupant takes his/her weight
off the seat cushion (for example, by not sitting upright, by sitting on an edge of the
seat, or by otherwise being out of position), this could cause the sensor to turn the air
bag OFF. Always be sure to be seated and wearing the seat belt properly for the
most effective protection by the seat belt and supplemental air bag. Infiniti
recommends that pre-teens and children be properly restrained in the rear seat.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the passenger air bag is designed not to
inflate in a crash. However, heavy objects placed on the seat could result in air bag
inflation, because the occupant classification sensor detects the weight. Other
conditions could also result in air bag inflation, such as if a child is standing on the
seat, or if two children are on the seat, contrary to the instructions in the vehicle’s
owner’s manual.

If an adult occupant is in the seat but the passenger air bag status light is illuminated
(indicating that the air bag is OFF), it could be that the person is a small adult, or not
sitting on the seat properly.

If a child restraint must be used in the front seat, the passenger air bag status light
may or may not be illuminated, depending on the size of the child and the type of
child restraint being used. Always make sure that the child restraint is installed
properly, the seat belt is being used properly and the occupant is positioned
properly. See the vehicle owner’s manual for more information about the specific
occupant classification system type in your vehicle. If necessary, your INFINITI retailer
can check the system by using a special tool. Until you have confirmed with your
retailer that your air bag is working properly, reposition the occupant or child
restraint in a rear seat.

The INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System and passenger air bag status light will take a
few seconds to register a change in the passenger seat status. This is normal system
operation and does not indicate a malfunction.

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HOW AND WHEN FRONT AIR BAGS WORK
While the inner workings of a supplemental front air bag system are complicated,
understanding what makes the front air bags deploy is rather easy: the vehicle’s
front air bag sensor system is designed to detect rapid deceleration usually
associated with moderate to severe frontal collisions within a limited range of angles.
Air bags are designed not to deploy in low-severity collisions. The vehicle’s
deceleration rate is related to various factors, such as speed of the vehicles
involved, the weight and stiffness of the vehicles/objects involved, contact
locations, and the angle of impact, to name a few. Once the sensor system is
activated, the front air bags inflate with a harmless gas almost instantly.
The front air bags will not usually activate in side-impact collisions, rear-end collisions,
rollovers, while driving on rough roads, or during hard braking. However,
deceleration rates in some situations can be similar to those found in frontal impacts
and may result in front air bag activation.

WHEN THE FRONT AIR BAGS INFLATE
Please remember, for the supplemental front air bags to be most effective, you must
always buckle up and sit at a suitable distance back to allow room for the air bags
to inflate. For the front air bags to do their job, they must inflate with great force. As
mentioned earlier in this guide, this may cause serious or even fatal injury if, for
example, you are unrestrained, out of position in any way, sitting or leaning too close
to the steering wheel or dashboard during inflation. Even when seated properly,
there is a possibility of injury from an inflating front air bag. This usually consists of
minor skin abrasions or burns, but may be more serious. Overall, these injuries are
minimal compared to the injuries the front air bags are designed to prevent. When a
front air bag inflates, a fairly load noise may be heard, followed by the release of
smoke. This smoke is not harmful and does not indicate a fire. Care should be taken
not to inhale it, as it may cause temporary irritation and choking. Those with a history
of a breathing condition should get fresh air promptly.

REPLACING THE AIR BAGS
Air bags are not reusable. After a collision in which your air bags have activated,
have the respective air bag system inspected and replaced by your INFINITI retailer
as soon as possible.
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.

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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 or other
authorized repair facility 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