
03
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Securing a Child Restraint System  with a lap/shoulder belt
 WARNING
ALWAYS place a rearward-facing Child  
Restraint System in the rear seat of the 
vehicle. 
Placing a rearward-facing child restraint  
in the front seat can result in serious 
injury or death if the Child Restraint 
System is struck by an inflating air bag. 
When not using the LATCH system, all  
Child Restraint Systems must be secured 
to a rear seat with the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt.
OHI038145
Automatic locking mode
Since all passenger seat belts move  
freely under normal conditions and 
only lock under extreme or emergency 
conditions (emergency locking mode), 
you must manually pull the seat belt all 
the way out to shift the retractor to the 
“Automatic Locking” mode to secure a 
Child Restraint System. 
The “Automatic Locking” mode will  
help prevent the normal movement of 
the child in the vehicle from causing 
the seat belt to loosen and compromise 
the Child Restraint System. To secure a 
Child Restraint System, use the following 
procedure. 
To install a Child Restraint System on the  
rear seats, do the following: 
1.  Place the Child Restraint System on a  rear seat and route the lap/shoulder  
belt around or through the Child 
Restraint System, following the Child 
Restraint System manufacturer’s 
instructions. Make sure the seat belt 
webbing is not twisted.
 Information
When using the rear center seat belt, you  
should also refer to the “Rear Seat Belt – 
Passenger’s 3-point system” section in this 
chapter.  

Safety system
3-40
OOS037030N
2.  Make sure to insert the belt into the  guide (1) and check that the seat belt  
is not twisted. 
OHI038146
3.  Fasten the lap/shoulder belt latch  into the buckle. Listen for the distinct  
“click” sound.
 Information
Position the release button so that it is easy  
to access in case of an emergency.
OHI038147
4.  Pull the shoulder portion of the  
seat belt all the way out. When the 
shoulder portion of the seat belt 
is fully extended, it will shift the 
retractor to the “Automatic Locking” 
(child restraint) mode.    

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OHI038148
5.  Slowly allow the shoulder portion of  the seat belt to retract and listen for  
an audible “clicking” or “ratcheting” 
sound. This indicates that the retractor 
is in the “Automatic Locking” mode. 
If no distinct sound is heard, repeat 
steps 3 and 4.
6.  Remove as much slack from the belt  as possible by pushing down on the 
Child Restraint System while feeding 
the shoulder belt back into the 
retractor.
7.   Push and pull on the Child Restraint 
System to confirm that the seat belt 
is holding it firmly in place. If it is not, 
release the seat belt and repeat steps 
2 through 6.
8.  Double check that the retractor is in  the “Automatic Locking” mode by 
attempting to pull more of the seat 
belt out of the retractor. If you cannot, 
the retractor is in the “Automatic 
Locking” mode.
If your Child Restraint System 
manufacturer instructs or recommends 
you to use a tether anchor with the lap/ 
shoulder belt, refer to the previous pages 
for more information. 
 Information
When the seat belt is allowed to retract to  
its fully stowed position, the retractor will 
automatically switch from the “Automatic Locking” mode to the emergency lock 
mode for normal adult usage. 
 WARNING
If the retractor is not in the “Automatic  
Locking” mode, the child restraint 
can move when your vehicle turns or 
stops suddenly. A child can be seriously 
injured or killed if the child restraint 
is not properly anchored in the car, 
including manually pulling the seat belt 
all the way out to shift the retractor to 
the “Automatic Locking” mode.  
To remove the Child Restraint System,  
press the release button on the buckle 
and then pull the lap/shoulder belt out of 
the Child Restraint System and allow the 
seat belt to retract fully.
 WARNING
If a child restraint is installed in the  
second row center seat, move the 
second row seat far back as possible, to 
minimize contact with the front center air bag.  

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The vehicles are equipped with a Supplemental Air Bag System for the driver’s seat and  
front passenger’s seats. 
The front air bags are designed to supplement the three-point seat belts. For these air  
bags to provide protection, the seat belts must be worn at all times when driving. 
You can be severely injured or killed in an accident if you are not wearing a seat belt.  
Air bags are designed to supplement seat belts, but do not replace them. Also, air bags 
are not designed to deploy in every collision. In some accidents, the seat belts are the 
only restraint protecting you.
 WARNING
AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 
ALWAYS use seat belts Child Restraint Systems - every trip, every time, everyone!  
Even with air bags, you can be seriously injured or killed in a collision if you are 
improperly belted or not wearing your seat belt when the air bag inflates. 
NEVER place a child in any Child Restraint System or booster seat in the front  
passenger seat, unless the air bag is deactivated. 
An inflating air bag could forcefully strike the infant or child causing serious or fatal  injuries. 
ABC - Always Buckle Children under age 13 in the back seat. It is the safest place  
for children of any age to ride. If a child age 13 or older must be seated in the front 
seat, he or she must be properly belted and the seat should be moved as far back as possible. 
All occupants should sit upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered  
on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet 
on the floor until the vehicle is parked and the vehicle is turned off. If an occupant 
is out of position during an accident, the rapidly deploying air bag may forcefully 
contact the occupant causing serious or fatal injuries. 
You and your passengers should never sit or lean unnecessarily close to the air bags  
or lean against the door or center console. 
Move your seat as far back as possible from front air bags, while still maintaining  
control of the vehicle. 

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 WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury or  
death from an inflating curtain air bag, 
take the following precautions: •	 All seat occupants must wear  
seat belts at all times to help keep 
occupants positioned properly.
•	 Properly secure Child Restraint 
System as far away from the door as possible.
•	 Do not place any objects over the air 
bag. Also, do not attach any objects 
around the area where air bag 
inflates such as the door, side door 
glass, front and rear pillar, roof side 
rail. 
•	 Do not hang other objects except 
clothes, especially hard or breakable objects.  
In an accident, these may cause  
vehicle damage or personal injury.
•	 Do not allow passengers to lean their 
heads or bodies onto doors, put their 
arms on the doors, stretch their arms 
out of the window, or place objects 
between the doors and seats.
•	 Do not open or repair the side curtain air bags.How does the air bags system  
operate?
OOS037063N
The SRS consists of the following  
components: 
(1)  Driver’s front air bag module
(2)  Passenger’s front air bag module
(3)  Side air bag modules
(4)  Curtain air bag modules
(5)  Retractor pre-tensioner
(6)  Air bag warning light
(7)  SRS control module (SRSCM)/  Rollover sensor
(8)  Front impact sensors
(9)  Side impact sensors (acceleration)
(10) Side impact sensors (pressure)
(11) Seat belt buckle sensor
(12) Emergency fastening device system
(13) Occupant classification system
The SRSCM (Supplemental Restraint  
System Control Module) continually 
monitors all SRS components while the 
ignition switch is ON to determine if a 
crash impact is severe enough to require 
air bag deployment or pre-tensioner seat 
belt deployment.  

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3-49
•	
In addition to inflating in serious side  
collisions, vehicles equipped with a 
rollover sensor, side and/or curtain air 
bags will inflate if the sensing system 
detects a rollover. 
When a rollover is detected, curtain  
air bags will remain inflated longer to 
help provide protection from ejection, especially when used in conjunction 
with the seat belts. (if equipped with a 
rollover sensor)
•	 To help provide protection, the air 
bags must inflate rapidly. The speed 
of air bag inflation is a consequence 
of extremely short time in which 
to inflate the air bag between the 
occupant and the vehicle structures 
before the occupant impacts those 
structures. This speed of inflation 
reduces the risk of serious or 
lifethreatening injuries and is thus a 
necessary part of air bag design. 
However, the rapid air bag inflation  can also cause injuries which can 
include facial abrasions, bruises and 
broken bones because the inflation 
speed also causes the air bags to 
expand with a great deal of force.
•	 There are even circumstances under 
which contact with the air bag can 
cause fatal injuries, especially if the 
occupant is positioned excessively 
close to the air bag.
You can take steps to reduce the risk of 
being injured by an inflating air bag. The 
greatest risk is sitting too close to the air 
bag. An air bag needs space to inflate. 
It is recommended that drivers sit as far 
as possible between the center of the 
steering wheel and the chest while still 
maintaining control of the vehicle.
 WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious injury or  
death from an inflating air bag, take the 
following precautions: •	 NEVER place a child restraint in the  
front passenger seat. 
Always properly restrain children  
under age 13 in the rear seats of the 
vehicle.
•	 Adjust the front passenger’s and 
driver’s seats as far to the rear as 
possible while allowing you to 
maintain full control of the vehicle.
•	 Hold the steering wheel with 
hands at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions.
•	 Never place anything or anyone 
between the air bag and the seat 
occupant.
•	 Do not allow the front passenger 
to place their feet or legs on the 
dashboard. 

Safety system
3-52
Main components of the Occupant  
Classification System •	
A detection device located within the  
front passenger seat cushion.
•	 Electronic system to determine 
whether the passenger air bag 
systems should be activated or 
deactivated.
•	 An indicator light located on the 
instrument panel which illuminates 
the words “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” 
indicating the front passenger air bag 
system is deactivated.
•	 The instrument panel air bag indicator 
light is interconnected with the OCS.
The OCS is designed to help detect 
the presence of a properly-seated 
front passenger and determine if the 
passenger’s front air bag should be 
enabled (may inflate) or not. 
The purpose 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 requiring 
the air bag to be automatically turned 
OFF. 
For example, if a child restraint of the  
type specified in the regulations is on the 
seat, the occupant classification sensor 
can detect it and cause the air bag to 
turn OFF. 
Front passenger seat adult occupants  
who are properly seated and wearing the 
seat belt properly, should not cause the 
passenger air bag to be automatically 
turned OFF. For smaller adults it may turn 
OFF, however, if the occupant does not 
sit in the seat properly (for example, by 
not sitting upright, by sitting on the edge 
of the seat, or by otherwise being out of 
position), this could cause the sensor to 
turn the air bag OFF. You will find the “PASSENGER AIR BAG 
OFF” indicator on the overhead console 
panel. This system detects the conditions 
1-4 in the following table and activates or 
deactivates the front passenger air bag based on these conditions. 
Always be sure that you and all vehicle  
occupants are seated properly and 
wearing the seat belt properly for the 
most effective protection by the air bag 
and the seat belt. 
The OCS may not function properly if the  
passenger takes actions which can affect 
the classification system. These include: •	
Failing to sit in an upright position.
•	 Leaning against the door or center  console.
•	 Sitting towards the sides of the front 
of the seat.
•	 Putting their legs on the dashboard or 
resting them on other locations which 
reduce the passenger weight on the 
front seat.
•	 Wearing the seat belt improperly.
•	 Reclining the seatback.
•	 Wearing thick clothes like ski wear or 
hip protection wear.
•	 Putting an additional thick cushion on 
the seat.
•	 Putting electrical devices (e.g. 
notebook, satellite radio) on the seat 
with inverter charging. 

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Condition and operation in the front passenger Occupant Classification System
Condition detected by the 
occupant classification system Indicator/Warning light Devices
“PASSENGER 
AIR BAG OFF” 
indicator light SRS warning 
light Front 
passenger air  bag
1.  Adult *1
Off Off Activated
2.  Infant *2
 or child restraint 
system with 12 months old  *3 *4On Off Deactivated
3.  Unoccupied On Off Deactivated
4.  Malfunction in the system Off On Activated
*1 :  The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the  
front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as a child depending on his/her 
physique and posture.
*2 :  Do not allow children to ride in the front passenger seat. When a larger child who has 
outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front passenger seat, the system may 
recognize him/her as an adult depending upon his/her physique or sitting position.
*3 :  Never install a child restraint system on the front passenger seat.
*4 :  The PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicator may turn on or off when a child above 12 
months to 12 years old (with or without child restraint system) sits in the front passenger 
seat. This is a normal condition.