
3
3. Safety  system
Important safety precautions ........................................................................... 3-2
Always wear your seat belt  .......................................................................................... 3-2
Restrain 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  .................................................................................................................. 3-3
Safety precautions  ....................................................................................................... 3-4
Front seats  .................................................................................................................... 3-5
Rear seats  ................................................................................................................... 3-10
Headrest.......................................................................................................................3-13
Seat warmers and air ventilation seats  ...................................................................... 3-17
Seat belts  ......................................................................................................... 3-20
Seat belt safety precautions  ...................................................................................... 3-20
Seat belt warning light  ................................................................................................ 3-21
Seat belt restraint system  .......................................................................................... 3-22
Additional seat belt safety precautions  .................................................................... 3-28
Care of seat belts........................................................................................................3-30
Child Restraint System (CRS)  .......................................................................... 3-31
Children always in the rear  ......................................................................................... 3-31
Selecting a Child Restraint System (CRS)  .................................................................3-32
Installing a Child Restraint system (CRS)..................................................................3-34
Air bag - supplemental restraint system  .......................................................3-42
Where are the air bags?  ............................................................................................ 3-44
How does the air bags system operate?  ................................................................... 3-47
What to expect after an air bag inflates  ................................................................... 3-51
Occupant Classification System (OCS)  ..................................................................... 3-51
Why didn’t my air bag go off in a collision?  ..............................................................3-57
Why didn’t my air bag go off in a collision?  ..............................................................3-58
SRS care  ...................................................................................................................... 3-63
Additional safety precautions................................................................................... 3-64 
Air bag warning labels............................................................................................... 3-64
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. 

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 cellular 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 

03
3-5
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.
Front seats
The front seat can be adjusted by using  
the control lever (or knob) or 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
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. 

Safety system
3-8
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.
OOS037005
Forward and rearward adjustment
To move the seat forward or rearward: 
1.  Push the control switch forward  or 
rearward.
2.  Release the switch once the seat   reaches the desired position.
OOS037006
Seatback angle
To recline the seatback: 
1.  Push the control switch forward or 
rearward.
2.  Release the switch once the seatback  reaches the desired position.   

03
3-17
OOS037018
Adjusting the height up and down
To raise the headrest: 
1.  Pull it up to the desired position (1). 
To lower the headrest: 
1.  Push and hold the release button (2) on the headrest support.
2.  Lower the headrest to the desired  position (3).
OOSEV038029
Removal/Reinstallation
To remove the headrest: 
1.  Raise the headrest as far as it can go.
2.  Press the headrest release button (1) while pulling the headrest up (2).
To reinstall the headrest:
1.  Put the headrest poles into the holes  (3) while pressing the release button  (1).
2.  Adjust the headrest to the appropriate  height.
 WARNING
Make sure the headrest locks in position  
after adjusting it to properly protect the 
occupants.
Seat warmers and air ventilation  
seats
Front seat warmers (if equipped)  
Seat warmers are provided to warm the  
seats during cold weather.
 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.   

Safety system
3-20
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. 

Safety system
3-28
Additional seat belt safety  
precautions
Seat belt use during pregnancy  
The seat belt should always be used  
during pregnancy. The best way to 
protect your unborn child is to protect 
yourself by always wearing the seat belt. 
Pregnant women should always wear  
a lap-shoulder seat belt. Place the 
shoulder belt across your chest, routed 
between your breasts and away from 
your neck. Place the lap belt below your 
belly so that it fits SNUGLY across your 
hips and pelvic bone, under the rounded 
part of the belly.
 WARNING
•	 A pregnant woman or a patient is  
more vulnerable to any impacts on 
the abdomen during an abrupt stop 
or accident. If you are in an accident 
while pregnant, we recommend you 
consult your doctor.
•	 To reduce the risk of serious injury or 
death to an unborn child during an 
accident, pregnant women should 
NEVER place the lap portion of the 
seat belt above or over the area of 
the abdomen where the unborn child 
is located. Seat belt use and children
Infant and small children
Most countries have child restraint  
laws which require children to travel 
in approved child restraint devices, 
including booster seats. The age at 
which seat belts can be used instead of 
child restraints differs among countries, 
so you should be aware of the specific 
requirements in your country, and 
where you are travelling. Infant and 
child restraints must be properly placed 
and installed in a rear seat. For more 
information refer to the “Child Restraint 
Systems” section in this chapter.
 WARNING
ALWAYS properly restrain infants  
and small children in a child restraint 
appropriate for the child’s height and 
weight. 
To reduce the risk of serious injury or  
death to a child and other passengers, 
NEVER hold a child in your lap or arms 
when the vehicle is moving. The violent 
forces created during an accident tear 
off the child from and throw the child 
against the interior of the vehicle. 
Small children are best protected  
from injury in an accident when 
properly restrained in the rear seat by 
a child restraint system that meets the 
requirements of the Safety Standards of 
your country. Before buying any child 
restraint system, make sure that it has 
a label certifying that it meets Safety 
Standards of your country. The restraint 
must be appropriate for your child’s 
height and weight. Check the label on 
the child restraint for this information. 
Refer to the “Child Restraint Systems” 
section in this chapter. 

03
3-29
Larger children
Children under age 13 and who are  
too large for a booster seat should 
always occupy the rear seat and use the 
available lap/shoulder belts. A seat belt 
should lie across the upper thighs and 
be snug across the shoulder and chest 
to restrain the child safely. Check belt fit 
periodically. A child’s squirming could 
put the belt out of position. In the event 
of an accident, children are afforded the 
best safety restrained by a proper Child 
Restraint System in the rear seats. 
If a larger child over age 13 must be  
seated in the front seat, the child must 
be securely restrained by the available 
lap/shoulder belt and the seat should be 
placed in the rearmost position. 
If the shoulder belt portion slightly  
touches the child’s neck or face, try 
placing the child closer to the center 
of the vehicle. If the shoulder belt still 
touches their face or neck, they need to 
be returned to an appropriate booster 
seat in the rear seat.
 WARNING
•	 Always make sure larger children’s  
seat belts are worn and properly 
adjusted.
•	 NEVER allow the shoulder belt to 
contact the child’s neck or face.
•	 Do not allow more than one child to 
use a single seat belt. Seat belt use and injured people  
A seat belt should be used when an  
injured person is being transported. 
Consult a physician for specific 
recommendations. One person per belt 
Two people (including children) should  
never attempt to use a single seat belt. 
This could increase the severity of 
injuries in case of an accident. 
Do not lie down 
Sitting in a reclined position when the  
vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. 
Even when buckled up, the protections 
of your restraint systems (seat belts 
and/or air bags) are greatly reduced by 
reclining your seatback. 
Seat belts must be snug against your  
hips and chest to work properly.  
During an accident, you could be thrown  
into the seat belt, causing neck or other injuries. 
The more the seat back is reclined, the  
greater the chance for the passenger’s 
hips to slide under the lap belt or the 
passenger’s neck to strike the shoulder belt.
 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.
•	 Driver and passengers should always 
sit well back in their seats, properly 
belted, and with the seatbacks 
upright.