
Maintenance
Index Emergency situations Driver assistance system
Driving your vehicle
Convenient features
Instrument cluster
Seats & Safety System Vehicle Information, Consumer Information and 
Reporting Safety Defects Foreword
Table of contents
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
I
8  

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    

3-3
03
Front seat
(1)
 Forw
ard and rearward
(2)
 Seatback angle
(3
)
 Seat cushion angle
(4
)
 Seat cushion heigh
 t
(5)
 Seat cushion length*
(
6)
 Lumbar support (Driv
 er’s seat)*
(7)
 Seat w
armer*
(8)
 Air ven
tilation seat*
(9) Head restraints 2nd row seat
(10) Seatback angle
(11) Head restraints
(12) Seat warmer*
(13) 2nd row seat remote folding switch*
*: if equipped
SEATS
The information provided may differ depending on which functions are   applicable to your vehicle.
OTMA030001   

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
3-5
Front seats
 WARNING
Take the following precautions when 
adjusting your seat:
•	NEVER attempt to adjust the seat 
while the vehicle is moving. The seat 
could respond with unexpected 
movement and may cause loss 
of vehicle control resulting in an 
accident.
•	 Do not place anything under the 
front seats. Loose objects in the 
driver’s foot area could interfere 
with the operation of the foot pedals, 
causing an accident.
•	 Do not allow anything to interfere 
with the normal position and proper 
locking of the seatback.
•	 Do not place a cigarette lighter on 
the floor or seat. When you operate 
the seat, gas may exit out of the 
lighter causing a fire.
•	 Use extreme caution when picking 
up small objects trapped under the 
seats or between the seat and the 
center console. Your hands might be 
cut or injured by the sharp edges of 
the seat mechanism.
•	 If there are occupants in the rear 
seats, be careful while adjusting the 
front seat position.
•	 Make sure that the seat is locked in 
place after the adjustment. If not, 
the seat might move unexpectedly 
resulting in an accident.
 CAUTION
To prevent injury:
•	Do not adjust your seat while 
wearing your seat belt. Moving the 
seat cushion forward may cause 
strong pressure on your abdomen.
•	 Do not allow your hands or fingers to 
get caught in the seat mechanisms 
while the seat is moving.   

Seats & Safety System
3-6
Manual adjustment
The front seat can be adjusted by using 
the levers 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.
OTM030038
Forward and rearward adjustment
To move the seat forward or rearward:
1.
 Pull up the seat slide adjus
tment lever 
and hold it.
2.
 Slide the seat t
o the position you 
desire.
3.
 Release the le
ver and make sure the 
seat is locked in place. Move forward 
and rearward without using the lever. 
If the seat moves, it is not locked 
properly.
OTM030039
Seatback angle
To recline the seatback:
1.
 Lean f
orward slightly and lift up the 
seatback lever.
2.
 Care
fully lean back on the seat and 
adjust the seatback to the position 
you desire.
3.
 Release the knob and mak
e sure the 
seatback is locked in place.
Reclining seatback
Sitting in a reclined position when the 
vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. 
Even when buckled up, the protections 
of your restraint system (seat belts 
and/or air bags) is greatly reduced by 
reclining your seatback.
 WARNING
NEVER ride with a reclined seatback 
when the vehicle is moving.
Riding with a reclined seatback 
increases your chance of serious or fatal 
injuries in the event of a collision or 
sudden stop.
Drivers and passengers should ALWAYS 
sit well back in their seats, properly 
belted, and with the seatbacks upright.    

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.