
2-4
Vehicle Information, Consumer Information and Reporting Safety Defects
1. Inside door handle .................................
5- 32
2.
 Po
 wer window switches
 ...................... 5-58
3.
 Po
wer window lock button /
 ............... 5-60
Electr
onic child safety lock button
 ......5-
36
4.
 Side view mirr
or folding button
 .................5-56
5.
 Side view mirr
or control switch
 .................5-56
6.
 Centr
al door lock switch
 ...................... 5-
33
7.
 Instrumen
t panel illumination control 
switch
 ...................................................... 4-5
8.
 Lane Saf
ety button
 ................................ 7
-19
9.
 Po
wer Liftgate open/close button
 ......5-
7010. ESC (Electronic S
tability Control) OFF 
button
 .................................................... 6-44
11.
 EPB (Electronic P
arking Brake)  
switch
 .................................................... 6-35
12.
 St
eering wheel
 ......................................5-42
13.
 St
eering wheel tilt/telescopic switch.. 5-43
14.
 Fuse bo
x
 ................................................9-42
15.
 Hood r
elease lever
 ................................5-67
16.
 Seat .......................................................... 3-3
INTERIOR OVERVIEW 
The actual shape may differ from the illustration.
OTMA020001C  

Seats & Safety System
3. Seats & Safety System
Important safety precautions ........................................................................\
... 3-2Always wear your seat belt ........................................................................\
.................. 3-2
R estrain all children ........................................................................\
.............................. 3
-2
Air bag hazards
 ........................................................................\
..................................... 3
-2
Driver distraction
 ........................................................................\
.................................. 3
-2
Control your speed
 ........................................................................\
............................... 3
-2
Keep your vehicle in safe condition
 ........................................................................\
.... 3-2
Seats ........................................................................\
.......................................... 3-3Safety precautions ........................................................................\
...............................3-4
Fr ont seats ........................................................................\
..................................... .......3-5
Rear seats
 ........................................................................\
........................................... 3-
10
Head Restraints
 ........................................................................\
.................................. 3-
14
Seat warmers
 ........................................................................\
.....................................
.3-18
Air ventilation seat........................................................................\
..............................3-20 Rear Occupant Alert (ROA)
 ........................................................................\
................. 3-
21
Seat belts ........................................................................\
.................................3-23Seat belt safety precautions ........................................................................\
..............3-23
Sea t belt warning light ........................................................................\
....................... 3
-24
Seat belt restraint system
 ........................................................................\
.................. 3-
25
Additional seat belt safety precautions
 ..................................................................... 3-
31
Care of seat belts........................................................................\
................................ 3-33
Child Restraint System (CRS) ........................................................................\
. 3-34Children Always in the Rear ........................................................................\
............... 3-34
Selecting a Child R estraint System (CRS) ................................................................. 3-
35
Installing a Child Restraint System (CRS)
 ................................................................. 3-
37
Air bag - supplemental restraint system .......................................................3-45Where are the air bags? ........................................................................\
..................... 3-47
H ow does the air bags system operate? .................................................................. 3-50
Wha
t to expect after an air bag inflates
 ................................................................... 3-53
Occupan
t Classification System (OCS)
 ..................................................................... 3-54
Wh
y didn’t my air bag go off in a collision?
 ............................................................. 3-60
SRS car
e
 ........................................................................\
.....................................
 .........3-65
Additional safety precautions........................................................................\
........... 3-66
Air bag warning labels...........................................................\
.................................... 3-66
This chapter provides you with important information about how to protect yourself and your 
passengers. It explains how to properly use your seats and seat belts, and how your air bags work. 
Additionally, this chapter explains how to properly restrain infants and children in your vehicle. 
3  

Seats & Safety System
3-2
You will find many safety precautions 
and recommendations throughout this 
section, and throughout this manual. 
The safety precautions in this section are 
among the most important.
Always wear your seat belt
A seat belt is your best protection in all 
types of accidents. Air bags are designed 
to supplement seat belts, not replace 
them. So even though your vehicle is 
equipped with air bags, ALWAYS make 
sure you and your passengers wear your 
seat belts, and wear them properly.
Restrain all children
All children under age 13 should ride 
in your vehicle properly restrained in a 
rear seat, not the front seat. Infants and 
small children should be restrained in 
an appropriate Child Restraint System. 
Larger children should use a booster 
seat with the lap/shoulder belt until they 
can use the seat belt properly without a 
booster seat.
Air bag hazards
While air bags can save lives, they can 
also cause serious or fatal injuries to 
occupants who sit too close to them, or 
who are not properly restrained. Infants, 
young children, and short adults are at 
the greatest risk of being injured by an 
inflating air bag. Follow all instructions 
and warnings in this manual.
Driver distraction
Driver distraction presents a serious and 
potentially deadly danger, especially for 
inexperienced drivers. Safety should be 
the first concern when behind the wheel 
and drivers need to be aware of the wide 
array of potential distractions, such as 
drowsiness, reaching for objects, eating, 
personal grooming, other passengers, 
and using mobile phones.Drivers can become distracted when 
they take their eyes and attention off 
the road or their hands off the wheel to 
focus on activities other than driving. 
To reduce your risk of distraction and an 
accident:
•	
ALWAYS set up your mobile devices 
(i.e., MP3 players, phones, navigation 
units, etc.) when your vehicle is 
parked or safely stopped.
•	 ONLY use your mobile device when 
allowed by laws and conditions permit 
safe use. NEVER text or email while 
driving. Most countries have laws 
prohibiting drivers from texting. Some 
countries and cities also prohibit 
drivers from using handheld phones.
•	 NEVER let the use of a mobile device 
distract you from driving. You have a 
responsibility to your passengers and 
others on the road to always drive 
safely, with your hands on the wheel 
as well as your eyes and attention on 
the road.
Control your speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash 
injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher 
the speed, the greater the risk, but 
serious injuries can also occur at lower 
speeds. Never drive faster than is safe 
for current conditions, regardless of the 
maximum speed posted.
Keep your vehicle in safe 
condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical 
failure can be extremely hazardous. To 
reduce the possibility of such problems, 
check your tire pressures and condition 
frequently, and perform all regularly 
scheduled maintenance.
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS    

Seats & Safety System
3-4
Safety precautions
Adjusting the seats so that you are sitting 
in a safe and comfortable position plays 
an important role for the safety of the 
driver and passengers, along with seat 
belts and air bags when in an accident. 
 WARNING
Do not use a cushion that reduces 
friction between the seat and the 
passenger. The passenger’s hips may 
slide under the lap portion of the seat 
belt during an accident or a sudden 
stop.
Serious or fatal internal injuries could 
result because the seat belt cannot 
operate properly.
Air bags
You can take steps to reduce the risk 
of being injured by an inflating air bag. 
Sitting too close to an air bag greatly 
increases the risk of injury in the event 
the air bag inflates.
The National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) recommends 
that drivers allow at least 10 inches 
(25cm) between the center of the 
steering wheel and their chest.
 WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury or 
death from an inflating air bag, take the 
following precautions:
•	Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the 
rear as possible maintaining the 
ability to control the vehicle.
•	 Adjust the front passenger seat as far 
to the rear as possible.
•	 Hold the steering wheel by the rim 
with hands at the 9 o’clock and 3 
o’clock positions to minimize the risk 
of injuries to your hands and arms.
•	 NEVER place anything or anyone 
between you and the air bag.
•	 Do not allow the front passenger to 
place feet or legs on the dashboard 
to minimize the risk of leg injuries.
Seat belts
Always fasten your seat belt before 
starting any trip. At all times, passengers 
should sit upright and be properly 
restrained. Infants and small children 
must be restrained in appropriate Child 
Restraint Systems. Children who have 
outgrown a booster seat and adults must 
be restrained using the seat belts.
 WARNING
Take the following precautions when 
adjusting your seat belt:
•	NEVER use one seat belt for more 
than one occupant.
•	 Always position the seatback upright 
with the lap portion of the seat belt 
snug and low across the hips.
•	 NEVER allow children or small infants 
to ride on a passenger’s lap.
•	 Do not route the seat belt across your 
neck, across sharp edges, or reroute 
the shoulder strap away from your 
body.
•	 Do not allow the seat belt to become 
caught or jammed.    

03
3 -7
Seat belts must be snug against your 
hips and chest to work properly. When 
the seatback is reclined, the shoulder 
belt cannot do its job because it will not 
be snug against your chest. Instead, 
it will be in front of you. During an 
accident, you could be thrown into the 
seat belt, causing neck or other injuries.
The more the seatback is reclined, 
the greater chance the passenger’s 
hips will slide under the lap belt or the 
passenger’s neck will strike the shoulder 
belt.
OTM030040
Seat cushion height
To change the height of the seat cushion:
•	Push down the lever several times, to 
lower the seat cushion.
•	 Pull up the lever several times, to raise 
the seat cushion.
Power adjustment (if equipped)
The front seat can be adjusted by using 
the control switches located on the 
outside of the seat cushion. Before 
driving, adjust the seat to the proper 
position so that you can easily control 
the steering wheel, foot pedals and 
controls on the instrument panel.
 WARNING
NEVER allow children in the vehicle 
unattended. The power seats are 
operable when the vehicle is turned off.
NOTICE
To prevent damage to the seats:
•	Always stop adjusting the seats when 
the seat has been adjusted as far 
forward or rearward as possible.
•	 Do not adjust the seats longer than 
necessary when the vehicle is turned 
off. This may result in unnecessary 
battery drain.
•	 Do not operate two or more seats at 
the same time. This may result in an 
electrical malfunction.   

Seats & Safety System
3-18
OTM030071
Removal/Reinstallation
To remove the head restraint:
1.
 Raise the head res
traint as far as it can 
go.
2.
 Press the head r
estraint release button 
(1) while pulling the headrest up (2).
To reinstall the head restraint:
1.
 Put the head res
traint poles into the 
holes (3) while pressing the release 
button (1).
2.
 Adjus
t the head restraint to the 
appropriate height.
Seat warmers (if equipped)
Seat warmers are provided to warm the 
seats during cold weather.
During mild weather or under conditions 
where the operation of the seat warmer 
is not needed, keep the seat warmers 
OFF.
 WARNING
The seat warmers can cause a SERIOUS 
BURN, even at low temperatures and 
especially if used for long periods of 
time.
Passengers must be able to feel if the 
seat is becoming too warm so they can 
turn it off, if needed.
People who cannot detect temperature 
change or pain to the skin should 
use extreme caution, especially the 
following types of passengers:
•	 Infants, children, elderly or disabled 
persons, or hospital outpatients.
•	 People with sensitive skin or who 
burn easily.
•	 Fatigued individuals.
•	 Intoxicated individuals.
•	 People taking medication that can 
cause drowsiness or sleepiness.
 WARNING
NEVER place anything on the seat 
that insulates against heat when the 
seat warmer is in operation, such as a 
blanket or seat cushion. This may cause 
the seat warmer to overheat, causing a 
burn or damage to the seat.    

03
3-23
SEAT BELTS
This section describes how to use the 
seat belts properly. It also describes 
some of the things not to do when using 
seat belts.
Seat belt safety precautions
Always fasten your seat belt and make 
sure all passengers have fastened their 
seat belts before starting any trip. Air 
bags are designed to supplement the 
seat belt as an additional safety device, 
but they are not a substitute. Most 
countries require all occupants of a 
vehicle to wear seat belts.
 WARNING
Seat belts must be used by ALL 
passengers whenever the vehicle is 
moving. Take the following precautions 
when adjusting and wearing seat belts:
•	Children under the age of 13 should 
be properly restrained in the rear 
seats.
•	 Never allow children to ride in the 
front passenger seat, unless the air 
bag is deactivated. If a child is seated 
in the front passenger seat, move 
the seat as far back as possible and 
properly restrain them in the seat.
•	 NEVER allow an infant or child to be 
carried on an occupant’s lap.
•	 NEVER ride with the seatback 
reclined when the vehicle is moving.
•	 Do not allow children to share a seat 
or seat belt.
•	 Do not wear the shoulder belt under 
your arm or behind your back. •	
Never wear a seat belt over fragile 
objects. If there is a sudden stop or 
impact, the seat belt can damage it.
•	 Do not use the seat belt if it is 
twisted. A twisted seat belt will not 
protect you properly in an accident.
•	 Do not use a seat belt if the webbing 
or hardware is damaged.
•	 Do not latch the seat belt into the 
buckles of other seats.
•	 NEVER unfasten the seat belt 
while driving. This may cause loss 
of vehicle control resulting in an 
accident.
•	 Make sure there is nothing in the 
buckle interfering with the seat belt 
latch mechanism. This may prevent 
the seat belt from fastening securely.
•	 No modifications or additions 
should be made by the user which 
will either prevent the seat belt 
adjusting devices from operating to 
remove slack, or prevent the seat 
belt assembly from being adjusted to 
remove slack.
 WARNING
Damaged seat belts and seat belt 
assemblies will not operate properly. 
Always replace:
•	Frayed, contaminated, or damaged 
webbing.
•	 Damaged hardware.
•	 The entire seat belt assembly after it 
has been worn in an accident, even 
if damage to webbing or assembly is 
not apparent.   

03
3-27
Rear Seat Belt – Passenger’s 3point 
system with convertible locking 
retractor
This type of seat belt combines the 
features of both an emergency locking 
retractor seat belt and an automatic 
locking retractor seat belt. Convertible 
retractor type seat belts are installed 
in the rear seat positions to help 
accommodate the installation of child 
restraint systems. Although a convertible 
retractor is also installed in the front 
passenger seat position, NEVER place 
any infant/child restraint system in the 
front seat of the vehicle.
To fasten your seat belt:
Pull the seat belt out of the retractor 
and insert the metal tab into the buckle. 
There will be an audible “click” when 
the tab locks into the buckle. When 
not securing a child restraint, the seat 
belt operates in the same way as the 
driver’s seat belt (Emergency Locking 
Retractor Type). It automatically adjusts 
to the proper length only after the lap 
belt portion of the seat belt is adjusted 
manually so that it fits snugly across your 
hips.
When the seat belt is fully extended from 
the retractor to allow the installation of 
a child restraint system, the seat belt 
operation changes to allow the belt to 
retract, but not to extend (Automatic 
Locking Retractor Type). Refer to the 
“Using a Child Restraint System” section 
in this chapter.
OHI038142
To release your seat belt:
Press the release button (1) in the locking 
buckle.
When it is released, the belt should 
automatically draw back into the 
retractor. If this does not happen, check 
the belt to be sure it is not twisted, then 
try again.
NOTICE
Although the seat belt retractor provides 
the same level of protection for seated 
passengers in either emergency 
or automatic locking modes, the 
emergency locking mode allows seated 
passengers to move freely in their seat 
while keeping some tension on the belt. 
During a collision or sudden stop, the 
retractor automatically locks the belt to 
help restrain your body.
To deactivate the automatic locking 
mode, unbuckle the seat belt and allow 
the belt to fully retract.