2021 NISSAN SENTRA Owners Manual

SSS0162SSS0159

NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System
(front seats)
1. Top tether anchor
2. Rear seat belts
3. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact androllover supplemental air bag
4. Head restraints/headrests
5. Front seat belts
6. Pressure sensors in door (driver’s side shown; front passenger side similar)
7. Supplemental front-impact air bags
8. Front crash zone sensor
9. Driver and passenger supplemental knee air bags
10. Front seats
11. Occupant classification sensor (weight sensor)
12. Satellite crash zone sensor
13. Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (front seats shown; rear outboard seats
similar)
14. Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag
LRS3248
1-52Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

15. Rear seats
16. LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers forCHildren) system
17. Rear outboard seat-mounted side- impact supplemental air bag
18. Satellite crash zone sensor

collision are similar to those of a higher
severity frontal impact. They may not in-
flate in certain frontal collisions. Vehicle
damage (or lack of it) is not always an indi-
cation of proper front air bag system op-
eration.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System
monitors information from the crash zone
sensor, the Air bag Control Unit (ACU). Infla-
tor operation is based on the severity of a
collision and seat belt usage for the driver.
For the front passenger, the occupant clas-
sification sensor is also monitored. Based
on information from the sensor, only one
front air bag may inflate in a crash, depend-
ing on the crash severity and whether the
front occupants are belted or unbelted. Ad-
ditionally, the front passenger air bag and
passenger knee air bag may be automati-
cally turned off under some conditions, de-
pending on the weight detected on the
front passenger seat and how the seat belt
is used. If the front passenger air bag and
passenger knee air bag are OFF, the pas-
senger air bag status light will be illumi-
nated. For additional information, refer to
“Front passenger air bag and status light” in
this section. One front air bag inflating does
not indicate improper performance of the
system.If you have any questions about your air
bag system, it is recommended that you
visit a NISSAN dealer to obtain information
about the system. If you are considering
modification of your vehicle due to a dis-
ability, you may also contact NISSAN. Con-
tact information is contained in the front of
this Owner's Manual.
When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud
noise may be heard, followed by the re-
lease of smoke. This smoke is not harmful
and does not indicate a fire. Care should be
taken to not inhale it, as it may cause irrita-
tion and choking. Those with a history of a
breathing condition should get fresh air
promptly.
Front air bags, along with the use of seat
belts, help to cushion the impact force on
the face and chest of the front occupants.
They can help save lives and reduce seri-
ous injuries. However, an inflating front air
bag may cause facial abrasions or other
injuries. Front air bags do not provide re-
straint to the lower body.
Even with NISSAN Advanced Air Bags, seat
belts should be correctly worn and the
driver and front passenger seated upright
as far as practical away from the steering
wheel or instrument panel. The front air
bags inflate quickly in order to help protectthe front occupants. Because of this, the
force of the front air bag inflating can in-
crease the risk of injury if the occupant is
too close to, or is against, the front air bag
module during inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly af ter a
collision.
The front air bags operate only when the
ignition switch is placed in the ON posi-
tion.
Af ter placing the ignition switch in the
ON position, the supplemental air bag
warning light illuminates. The supple-
mental air bag warning light will turn off
af ter about 7 seconds if the system is
operational.
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Front passenger air bag and status
light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag and pas-
senger knee air bag are designed to au-
tomatically turn OFF under some con-
ditions. Read this section carefully to
learn how it operates. Proper use of the
seat, seat belt and child restraints is
necessary for most effective protec-
tion. Failure to follow all instructions in
this manual concerning the use of
seats, seat belts and child restraints
can increase the risk or severity of in-
jury in an accident.Status light
The front passenger seat is equipped with
an occupant classification sensor (weight
sensor) that turns the front passenger air
bag and passenger knee air bag on or off
depending on the weight applied to the
front passenger seat. The status of the
front passenger air bag and passenger
knee air bag (ON or OFF) is indicated by the
front passenger air bag status light
which is located on the instrument panel.
Af ter the ignition switch is placed in the
"ON" position, the front passenger air bag
status light on the instrument panel illumi-
nates for about 7 seconds and then turns
off or remains illuminated depending on
the front passenger seat occupied status.
The light operates as follows:
) FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND PASSENGER KNEE AIR BAG STATUS
Empty Empty front passenger seat ON (illuminated) INHIBITED
Nobody/Somebody Bag or Child or Child Restraint or
Small Adult in front passenger seat ON (illuminated) INHIBITED
Adult Adult in the front passenger seat OFF (dark) ACTIVATED
In addition to the above, certain objects
placed on the front passenger seat may
also cause the light to operate as de-
scribed above depending on their weight. For additional information, refer to “Normal
operation” and “Troubleshooting” in this
section.
LRS0865

Front passenger air bag
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF when the vehicle is
operated under some conditions as de-
scribed below in accordance with U.S. regu-
lations. If the front passenger air bag is OFF,
it will not inflate in a crash. The driver air bag
and other air bags in your vehicle are not
part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation is to help
reduce the risk of injury or death from an
inflating air bag to certain front passenger
seat occupants, such as children, by requir-
ing the air bag to be automatically turned
OFF. Certain sensors are used to meet the
requirements.
The occupant classification sensor in this
vehicle 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 NISSAN Ad-
vanced Air Bag System is designed to turn
the front passenger air bag OFF in accor-
dance with the regulations. Also, if a child
restraint of the type specified in the regula-
tions 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 and pas-
senger knee 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 ex-
ample, 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 front passenger air bag and
passenger knee 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.
NISSAN recommends that pre-teens and
children be properly restrained in a rear
seat. NISSAN also recommends that ap-
propriate child restraints and booster
seats be properly installed in a rear seat. If
this is not possible, the occupant classifica-
tion sensor is designed to operate as de-
scribed above to turn the front passenger
air bag and passenger knee 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 colli-
sion or sudden stop. This can also result in
the passenger air bag and passenger kneeair bag inflating in a crash instead of being
OFF. For additional information, refer to
“Child restraints” in this section.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied,
the front passenger air bag and passenger
knee air bag are 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 detected by
the occupant classification sensor. Other
conditions could also result in air bag infla-
tion, 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 pas-
senger air bag and passenger knee air bag
are automatically turned OFF.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
front passenger air bag status light is illu-
minated (indicating that the front passen-
ger air bag and passenger knee air bag are
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.
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If a child restraint must be used in the front
seat, the front passenger air bag status
light may or may not be illuminated, de-
pending on the size of the child and the
type of child restraint being used. If the air
bag status light is not illuminated (indicat-
ing that the front passenger air bag and
passenger knee 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 properly and
the occupant is positioned properly. If the
air bag status light is still not illuminated,
reposition the occupant or child restraint in
arearseat.
If the front passenger air bag status light
will not illuminate even though you believe
that the child restraint, the seat belts and
the occupant are properly positioned, it is
recommended that you take your vehicle
to a NISSAN dealer. A NISSAN dealer can
check system status by using a special
tool. However, until you have confirmed
with a dealer that your air bag is working
properly, reposition the occupant or child
restraint in a rear seat.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System and
front passenger air bag status light will
take a few seconds to register a change inthe front passenger seat status. This is nor-
mal system operation and does not indi-
cate a malfunction.
If a malfunction occurs in the front passen-
ger air bag system, the supplemental air
bag warning light
, located in the me-
ter and gauges area of the instrument
panel, will be illuminated (blinking or
steadily lit). Have the system checked. It is
recommended that you visit a NISSAN
dealer for this service.
Normal operation
In order for the occupant classification
sensor system to classif y the front passen-
ger based on weight, please follow the pre-
cautions 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 classifica-
tion system, and is used as an input to
determine occupancy status. So, it is
highly recommended that the front pas-
senger fasten their seat belt.
4. Remain in this position for 30 seconds allowing the system to classif y the front
passenger before the vehicle is put into
motion.
5. Ensure proper classification by checking the front passenger air bag status light.
Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-57

NOTE:
This vehicle’s occupant classification
sensor system generally keeps the clas-
sification 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 recalculate the
weight of the occupant under some con-
ditions (both while driving and when
stopped), so front passenger seat occu-
pants 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 occupyingthe front passenger seat:
• Occupant is a small adult — the air bag light is functioning as intended. The front
passenger air bag and passenger knee
air bag are suppressed. However, if the occupant is not a small
adult, then this may be due to the following
conditions 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 be-
hind 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. Re-
start the vehicle 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
initially.
If the light is still ON af ter 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 a NISSAN dealer 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 restraints”
section of this manual.
• An object weighing over 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) hanging on the seat or placed in the seat-
back pocket.
1-58Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system