2020 INFINITI QX50 Owner's Manual

The purpose of the regulation is to help re-
duce the risk of injury or death from an inflat-
ing air bag to certain front passenger seat
occupants, such as children, by requiring the
air bag to be automatically turned OFF. Cer-
tain sensors are used to meet the require-
ments.
The occupant classification sensor in this ve-
hicle is a weight sensor. It is designed to
detect an occupant and objects on the seat
by weight. For example, if a child is in the
front passenger seat, the INFINITI Advanced
Air Bag System is designed to turn the front
passenger air bag OFF in accordance with
the regulations. Also, if a child restraint of the
type specified in the regulations is on the
seat, its weight and the child’s weight can be
detected and cause the air bag to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who
are properly seated and using the seat belt as
outlined in this manual should not cause the
front passenger air bag to be automatically
turned OFF. For small adults it may be 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 posi-
tion), this could cause the sensor to turn the
air bag OFF. Always be sure to be seated andwearing 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 a rear seat.
INFINITI also recommends that appropriate
child restraints and booster seats be properly
installed in a rear seat. If this is not possible,
the occupant classification sensor is designed
to operate as described above to turn the
front passenger air bag OFF for specified
child restraints as required by the regulations.
Failing to properly secure child restraints and
to use the ALR mode may allow the restraint
to tip or move in a collision or sudden stop.
This can also result in the passenger air bag
inflating in a crash instead of being OFF. For
additional information, refer to “Child re-
straints” in this section.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied,
the front 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 of the object’s weight de-
tected by the occupant classification sensor.
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, con-
trary to the instructions in this manual. Al-ways be sure that you and all vehicle occu-
pants are seated and restrained properly.
Using the front passenger air bag status light,
you can monitor when the front passenger air
bag is automatically turned OFF.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
front passenger air bag status light is illumi-
nated (indicating that the air bag is OFF), it
could be that the person is a small adult, or is
not sitting on the seat properly or not using
the seat belt properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front
seat, the front 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. If the air bag status light
is not illuminated (indicating that the air bag
might inflate in a crash), it could be that the
child restraint or seat belt is not being used
properly. Make sure that the child restraint is
installed properly, the seat belt is used prop-
erly and the occupant is positioned properly.
If the air bag status light is still not illumi-
nated, reposition the occupant or child re-
straint in a rear seat.
If the front passenger air bag status light will
not illuminate even though you believe that
the child restraint, the seat belts and the oc-
cupant are properly positioned, it is recom-
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-55

mended that you take your vehicle to an
INFINITI retailer. An INFINITI retailer can
check system status by using a special tool.
However, until you have confirmed with a
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
front passenger air bag status light will take a
few seconds to register a change in the front
passenger seat status. This is normal system
operation and does not indicate a malfunc-
tion.
If a malfunction occurs in the front passenger
air bag system, the supplemental air bag
warning light
, located in the meter and
gauges area of the instrument panel, will be
illuminated (blinking or steadily lit). Have the
system checked. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Normal operation
In order for the occupant classification sen-
sor system to classify the front passenger
based on weight, please follow the precau-
tions and steps outlined below:
Precautions
∙ Make sure that there are no objects weighing over 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) hanging on
the seat or placed in the seatback pocket. ∙ Make sure that a child restraint or other
object is not pressing against the rear of
the seatback.
∙ Make sure that a rear passenger is not pushing or pulling on the back of the front
passenger seat.
∙ Make sure that the front passenger seat or seatback is not forced back against an
object on the seat or floor behind it.
∙ Make sure that there is no object placed under the front passenger seat.
Steps 1. Adjust the seat as outlined in the “Seats” section of this manual. Sit upright, lean-
ing against the seatback, and centered
on the seat cushion with your feet com-
fortably extended to the floor.
2. Make sure there are no objects on your lap.
3. Fasten the seat belt as outlined in the “Seat belts” section of this manual. Front
passenger seat belt buckle status is
monitored by the occupant classification
system, and is used as an input to deter-
mine occupancy status. So, it is highly
recommended that the front passenger
fasten their seat belt. 4. Remain in this position for 30 seconds
allowing the system to classify the front
passenger before the vehicle is put into
motion.
5. Ensure proper classification by checking the front passenger air bag status light.
NOTE:
This vehicle’s occupant classification sensor
system generally keeps the classification
locked during driving, so it is important that
you confirm that the front passenger is
properly classified prior to driving. However,
the occupant classification sensor may re-
calculate the weight of the occupant under
some conditions (both while driving and
when stopped), so front passenger seat oc-
cupants should continue to remain seated as
outlined above.
Troubleshooting
If you think the front passenger air bag status
light is incorrect: 1. If the light is ON with an adult occupying the front passenger seat:
∙ Occupant is a small adult — the air bag light is functioning as intended. The front
passenger air bag is suppressed.
1-56Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

However, if the occupant is not a small adult,
then this may be due to the following condi-
tions that may be interfering with the weight
sensors:∙ Occupant is not sitting upright, leaning against the seatback, and centered on
the seat cushion with his/her feet com-
fortably extended to the floor.
∙ A child restraint or other object pressing against the rear of the seatback.
∙ A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger seat.
∙ Forcing the front seat or seatback against an object on the seat or floor
behind it.
∙ An object placed under the front passen- ger seat.
∙ An object placed between the seat cush- ion and center console or between the
seat cushion and the door.
If the vehicle is moving, please come to a stop
when it is safe to do so. Check and correct
any of the above conditions. Restart the ve-
hicle and wait 1 minute. NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the front passenger air bag status
light will remain lit for about 7 seconds ini-
tially.
If the light is still ON after this, the person
should be advised not to ride in the front
passenger seat and the vehicle should be
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
2. If the light is OFF with a small adult, child or child restraint occupying the front
passenger seat.
This may be due to the following condi-
tions that may be interfering with the
weight sensors:
∙ Small adult or child is not sitting upright, leaning against the seatback, and cen-
tered on the seat cushion with his/her
feet comfortably extended to the floor.
∙ The child restraint is not properly in- stalled, as outlined in the “Child re-
straints” section of this manual.
∙ An object weighing over 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) hanging on the seat or placed in the seat-
back pocket. ∙ A child restraint or other object pressing
against the rear of the seatback.
∙ A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger seat.
∙ Forcing the front seat or seatback against an object on the seat or floor
behind it.
∙ An object placed under the front passen- ger seat.
∙ An object placed between the seat cush- ion and center console.
If the vehicle is moving, please come to a stop
when it is safe to do so. Check and correct
any of the above conditions. Restart the ve-
hicle and wait 1 minute.
NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the front passenger air bag status
light will remain lit for about 7 seconds ini-
tially.
If the light is still OFF after this, the small
adult, child or child restraint should be repo-
sitioned in the rear seat and the vehicle
should be checked as soon as possible. It is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for this service.
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-57

3. If the light is OFF with no front passen-ger and no objects on the front passen-
ger seat the vehicle should be checked. It
is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for this service.
Other supplemental front-impact air bag
precautions
WARNING
∙ Do not place any objects on the steering wheel pad or on the instrument panel.
Also, do not place any objects between
any occupant and the steering wheel or
instrument panel. Such objects may be-
come dangerous projectiles and cause in-
jury if the front air bags inflate.
∙ Immediately after inflation, several front air bag system components will be hot.
Do not touch them; you may severely
burn yourself.
∙ No unauthorized changes should be made to any components or wiring of the
supplemental air bag system. This is to
prevent accidental inflation of the
supplemental air bag or damage to the
supplemental air bag system. ∙ Do not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle’s electrical system, suspen-
sion system or front end structure. This
could affect proper operation of the
front air bag system.
∙ Tampering with the front air bag system may result in serious personal injury.
Tampering includes changes to the steer-
ing wheel and the instrument panel as-
sembly by placing material over the
steering wheel pad and above the instru-
ment panel or by installing additional
trim material around the air bag system.
∙ Removing or modifying the front passen- ger seat may affect the function of the air
bag system and result in serious personal
injury. ∙ Modifying or tampering with the front
passenger seat may result in serious per-
sonal 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. Addi-
tionally, do not stow any objects under
the front passenger seat or the seat cush-
ion and seatback. Such objects may inter-
fere with the proper operation of the oc-
cupant classification sensor (weight
sensor).
∙ No unauthorized changes should be made to any components or wiring of the seat
belt system. This may affect the front air
bag system. Tampering with the seat belt
system may result in serious personal
injury.
1-58Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

∙ It is recommended that you visit anINFINITI retailer for work on and around
the front air bag. It is also recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for in-
stallation of electrical equipment. The
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
wiring harnesses* should not be modified
or disconnected. Unauthorized electrical
test equipment and probing devices
should not be used on the air bag system.
∙ A cracked windshield should be replaced immediately by a qualified repair facility.
A cracked windshield could affect the
function of the supplemental air bag
system.
*The SRS wiring harness connectors are yel-
low and orange for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the front air bag
system and guide the buyer to the appropri-
ate sections in this Owner’s Manual.
Front seat-mounted side-impact
supplemental air bag and roof-
mounted curtain side-impact and
rollover supplemental air bag
systems
The side air bags are located in the outside of
the seatback of the front seats. The curtain
air bags are located in the side roof rails in
both rows. All of the information, cautions
and warnings in this manual apply and must
be followed. The side air bags and curtain air
bags are designed to inflate in higher severity
side collisions, although they may inflate if
the forces in another type of collision are similar to those of a higher severity impact.
They are designed to inflate on the side
where the vehicle is impacted. They may not
inflate in certain side collisions.
Curtain air bags are also designed to inflate in
certain types of rollover collisions or near
rollovers. As a result, certain vehicle move-
ments (for example, during severe off-
roading) may cause the curtain air bags to
inflate.
Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not always an
indication of proper side air bag and curtain
air bag operation.
When the side air bags and curtain air bags
inflate, a fairly loud noise may be heard, fol-
lowed by 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 irritation and choking. Those with a
history of a breathing condition should get
fresh air promptly.
Side air bags, along with the use of seat belts,
help to cushion the impact force on the chest
of the front occupants. Curtain air bags help
to cushion the impact force to the head of
occupants in the front and rear outboard
seating positions in all rows. They can help
save lives and reduce serious injuries. How-
ever, an inflating side air bag or curtain air
LRS2501
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-59

bag may cause abrasions or other injuries.
Side air bags and curtain air bags do not
provide restraint to the lower body.
The seat belts should be correctly worn and
the driver and front passenger seated upright
as far as practical away from the side air bag.
Rear seat passengers should be seated as far
away as practical from the door finishers and
side roof rails. The side air bags and curtain
air bags inflate quickly in order to help protect
the occupants. Because of this, the force of
the side air bags and curtain air bags inflating
can increase the risk of injury if the occupant
is too close to, or is against, these air bag
modules during inflation. The side air bag will
deflate quickly after the collision is over.
The curtain air bag will remain inflated for a
short time.
The side air bags and curtain air bags oper-
ate only when the ignition switch is placed in
the ON position.
After placing the ignition switch in the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7 sec-
onds if the system is operational.WARNING
∙ Do not place any objects near the seat-back of the front seats. Also, do not place
any objects (an umbrella, bag, etc.) be-
tween the front door finisher and the
front seat. Such objects may become
dangerous projectiles and cause injury if
a side air bag inflates.
∙ Right after inflation, several side air bag and curtain air bag system components
will be hot. Do not touch them; you may
severely burn yourself.
∙ No unauthorized changes should be made to any components or wiring of the side
air bag and curtain air bag systems. This
is to prevent damage to or accidental in-
flation of the side air bag and curtain air
bag systems.
∙ Do not make unauthorized changes to your vehicle’s electrical system, suspen-
sion system or side panel. This could af-
fect proper operation of the curtain air
bag systems. ∙ Tampering with the side air bag system
may result in serious personal injury. For
example, do not change the front seats
by placing material near the seatbacks or
by installing additional trim material,
such as seat covers, around the side air
bag.
∙ It is recommended that you visit an INFINITI retailer for work on and around
the side air bag and curtain air bag. It is
also recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for installation of elec-
trical equipment. The SRS wiring har-
nesses* should not be modified or discon-
nected. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices should
not be used on the side air bag or curtain
air bag systems.
*The SRS wiring harness or connectors are
yellow or orange for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the side air bags
and curtain air bag system and guide the
buyer to the appropriate sections in this
Owner’s Manual.
1-60Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

Driver and passenger supplemental
knee air bag
The knee air bag is located in the knee bolster,
on the driver’s and passenger’s side.All of the
information, cautions and warnings in this
manual apply and must be followed. The
knee air bag is designed to inflate in higher
severity frontal collisions, although it may in-
flate if the forces in another type of collision
are similar to those of a higher severity fron-
tal impact. It may not inflate in certain colli-
sions. Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not always an
indication of proper knee air bag operation.
When the knee air bag inflates, a fairly loud
noise may be heard, followed by 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 irritation and
choking. Those with a history of a breathing
condition should get fresh air promptly.
The knee air bag helps to cushion the impact
force on the knees of the driver and passen-
ger. It can help reduce serious injuries. How-
ever, an inflating knee air bag may causeabrasions or other injuries. The knee air bag
provides restraint to the lower body.
The knee air bag inflates quickly in order to
help protect the occupants. Because of this,
the force of the knee air bag inflating can
increase the risk of injury if the occupant is
too close to, or is against, this air bag module
during inflation. The knee air bag will deflate
quickly after the collision is over OR the knee
air bag will remain inflated for a short time.
The knee air bag operates only when the ig-
nition switch is placed in the ON position.
After placing the ignition switch in the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7 sec-
onds if the system is operational.WARNING
∙ Do not place any objects between the
knee bolster and the driver’s or passen-
ger’s seat. Such objects may become dan-
gerous projectiles and cause injury if a
knee air bag inflates.
∙ Right after inflation, the knee air bag system components will be hot. Do not
touch them; you may severely burn
yourself.
Driver’s side
LRS3037
Passenger’s side
LRS3218
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-61

∙ No unauthorized changes should be madeto any components or wiring of the knee
air bag system. This is to prevent damage
to or accidental inflation of the knee air
bag system.
∙ Do not make unauthorized changes to your vehicle’s electrical system or sus-
pension system. This could affect proper
operation of the knee air bag system.
∙ Tampering with the knee air bag system may result in serious personal injury. For
example, do not change the driver knee
bolster or install additional trim material
around the knee air bag.
∙ It is recommended that you visit an INFINITI retailer for work on and around
the knee air bag. It is also recommended
that you visit an INFINITI retailer for in-
stallation of electrical equipment. The
SRS wiring harnesses* should not be
modified or disconnected. Unauthorized
electrical test equipment and probing de-
vices should not be used on the knee air
bag system. *The SRS wiring harness or connectors are
yellow or orange for easy identification.
When selling your vehicle, we request that
you inform the buyer about the knee air bag
system and guide the buyer to the appropri-
ate sections in this manual.
Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (front
and rear outboard seats)
WARNING
∙ The pretensioner(s) cannot be reused af-
ter activation. They must be replaced to-
gether with the retractor and buckle as a
unit.
∙ If the vehicle becomes involved in a colli- sion but pretensioner(s) are not acti-
vated, be sure to have the pretensioner
system checked and, if necessary, re-
placed. It is recommended that you visit
an INFINITI retailer for this service.
∙ No unauthorized changes should be made to any components or wiring of the pre-
tensioner system. This is to prevent dam-
age to or accidental activation of the pre-
tensioner(s). Tampering with the
pretensioner system may result in serious
personal injury. ∙ It is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer for work on and around
the pretensioner system. It is also recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for installation of electrical equip-
ment. Unauthorized electrical test
equipment and probing devices should
not be used on the pretensioner system.
∙ If you need to dispose of the pretension- er(s) or scrap the vehicle, it is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI re-
tailer for this service. Incorrect disposal
procedures could cause personal injury.
The pretensioner system may activate with
the supplemental air bag system in certain
types of collisions. Working with the seat belt
retractor, the pretensioner(s) help tighten the
seat belt when the vehicle becomes involved
in certain types of collisions, helping to re-
strain front seat occupants.
The pretensioner(s) are encased within the
seat belt retractor and to the seat belt anchor
affixed to the floor of the vehicle. These seat
belts are used the same way as conventional
seat belts.
When pretensioner(s) activate, smoke is re-
leased and a loud noise may be heard. This
smoke is not harmful and does not indicate a
fire. Care should be taken not to inhale it, as it
1-62Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system