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 .....................................................................................................................3-7
Head Restraints ............................................................................................................3-9
Seat Warmers ..............................................................................................................3-12
Seat Belts .......................................................................................................... 3-14Seat Belt Safety Precautions ..................................................................................... 3-14
Seat Belt Warning Light ..............................................................................................3-15
Seat Belt Restraint System ........................................................................................ 3-16
Additional Seat Belt Safety Precautions ...................................................................3-20
Care of Seat Belts ....................................................................................................... 3-22
Child Restraint System (CRS) ......................................................................... 3-23Children Always in the Rear ....................................................................................... 3-23
Selecting a Child Restraint System (CRS) ................................................................. 3-24
Installing a Child Restraint System (CRS) ................................................................. 3-25
Air Bag - Advanced Supplemental Restraint System .................................... 3-31Where Are the Air Bags? ............................................................................................ 3-33
How Does the Air Bag System Operate? ...................................................................3-36
What to Expect After an Air Bag Inflates ..................................................................3-39
Occupant Classification System (OCS) .................................................................... 3-40
Why Didn’t My Air Bag Go Off in a Collision? .......................................................... 3-46
SRS Care .................................................................................................................... 3-50
Additional Safety Precautions ................................................................................... 3-51
Air Bag Warning Labels .............................................................................................. 3-51
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.
3-3
03
Front seats
(1) Forward and backward
(2) Seatback angle
(3) Seat cushion height
(4) Head restraint
(5) Seat warmerRear seats
(6) Head restraint
(7) Seatback folding
SEATS
OQX039001N
Safety System
3-4
Safety Precautions
Adjusting the seats so that you are sitting
in a safe, comfortable position plays an
important role in driver and passenger
safety together with the seat belts and
air bags 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 (25
cm) 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 while maintaining
the ability to maintain full control of
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 the steering wheel 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. Adults and children who
have outgrown a booster seat 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.