2023 CHEVROLET EXPRESS warning

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 37
Warning (Continued)
most effective when you are sitting well
back and upright in the seat with both
feet on the floor.
Occupants should not lean on or sleep
against the door or side windows in
seating positions with seat-mounted side
impact airbags and/or roof-rail airbags.
{Warning
Children who are up against, or very
close to, any airbag when it inflates can
be seriously injured or killed. Always
secure children properly in the vehicle. To
read how, seeOlder Children 045 or
Infants and Young Children 046.
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument panel, which shows the airbag
symbol. The system checks the airbag electrical
system for malfunctions. The light tells you
if there is an electrical problem. See
Airbag
Readiness Light 075.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the center of
the steering wheel.
If the vehicle has a front outboard passenger
frontal airbag, it is in the passenger side
instrument panel.
Driver Side Shown, Passenger Side Similar

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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38 Seats and Restraints
If the vehicle has seat-mounted side impact
airbags for the driver and front outboard
passenger, they are in the sides of the
seatbacks closest to the door.
Driver Side Shown, Passenger Side Similar
If the vehicle has a single seating row and it
has roof-rail airbags for the driver and front
outboard passenger, the roof-rail airbags are
in the ceiling above the side windows.
Driver Side Shown, Passenger Side Similar
If the vehicle has two seating rows, roof-rail
airbags for the driver, front outboard
passenger, and second row outboard
passengers are in the ceiling above the side
windows. If the vehicle has three or more
seating rows, roof-rail airbags for the driver,
front outboard passenger, and second and
third row outboard passengers are in the
ceiling above the side windows.
{Warning
If something is between an occupant and
an airbag, the airbag might not inflate
properly or it might force the object into
that person causing severe injury or even
death. The path of an inflating airbag
must be kept clear. Do not put anything
between an occupant and an airbag, and
do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any
other airbag covering.
Do not use seat accessories that block the
inflation path of a seat-mounted side
impact airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof of a
vehicle with roof-rail airbags by routing a
rope or tie‐down through any door or
window opening. If you do, the path of
an inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16547501) - 2023 - CRC - 6/10/22
40 Seats and Restraints
Airbags supplement the protection provided
by seat belts by distributing the force of the
impact more evenly over the
occupant's body.
Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are
designed to help contain the head and chest
of occupants in the outboard seating
positions in the first, second, and third rows,
if equipped. The rollover capable roof-rail
airbags are designed to help reduce the risk
of full or partial ejection in rollover events,
although no system can prevent all such
ejections.
But airbags would not help in many types
of collisions, primarily because the
occupant's motion is not toward those
airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag Inflate?
0 39.
Airbags should never be regarded as
anything more than a supplement to seat
belts.What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates?
After frontal and seat-mounted side impact
airbags (if equipped) inflate, they quickly
deflate, so quickly that some people may
not even realize the airbags inflated.
Roof-rail airbags (if equipped) may still be at
least partially inflated for some time after
they inflate. Some components of the airbag
module may be hot for several minutes. For
location of the airbags, see Where Are the
Airbags? 037.
The parts of the airbag that come into
contact with you may be warm, but not too
hot to touch. There may be some smoke
and dust coming from the vents in the
deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not
prevent the driver from seeing out of the
windshield or being able to steer the
vehicle, nor does it prevent people from
leaving the vehicle.
{Warning
When an airbag inflates, there may be
dust in the air. This dust could cause
breathing problems for people with a
history of asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is
safe to do so. If you have breathing
problems but cannot get out of the
vehicle after an airbag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door.
If you experience breathing problems
following an airbag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors (if equipped
with power door locks), turn on the interior
lamps and hazard warning flashers, and shut
off the fuel system after the airbags inflate.
The feature may also activate, without
airbag inflation, after an event that exceeds
a predetermined threshold. After turning the
ignition off and then on again, the fuel
system will return to normal operation; the

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 41
doors can be locked, the interior lamps can
be turned off, and the hazard warning
flashers can be turned off using the controls
for those features. If any of these systems
are damaged in the crash they may not
operate as normal.
{Warning
A crash severe enough to inflate the
airbags may have also damaged
important functions in the vehicle, such
as the fuel system, brake and steering
systems, etc. Even if the vehicle appears
to be drivable after a moderate crash,
there may be concealed damage that
could make it difficult to safely operate
the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt to
restart the engine after a crash has
occurred.In many crashes severe enough to inflate
the airbag, windshields are broken by
vehicle deformation. Additional windshield
breakage may also occur from the front
outboard passenger airbag.
.Airbags are designed to inflate only once.
After an airbag inflates, you will need
some new parts for the airbag system.
If you do not get them, the airbag
system will not be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will
include airbag modules and possibly other
parts. The service manual for the vehicle
covers the need to replace other parts.
.The vehicle has a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records
information after a crash. See
Vehicle
Data Recording and Privacy 0262 and
Event Data Recorders 0262.
.Let only qualified technicians work on the
airbag systems. Improper service can
mean that an airbag system will not work
properly. See your dealer for service.
Airbag On-Off Switch
If the instrument panel has one of the
switches pictured in the following
illustrations, the vehicle has an airbag on-off
switch that you can use to manually turn
on or off the front outboard passenger
airbag. No other airbag is affected by the
airbag on-off switch.
United States

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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42 Seats and Restraints
Canada and Mexico
This switch should only be turned to the
OFF position if the person in the front
outboard passenger position is a member of
a passenger risk group identified by the
national government as follows:
Infant. An infant (less than 1 year old) must
ride in the front seat because:
.My vehicle has no rear seat;
.My vehicle has a rear seat too small to
accommodate a rear-facing infant seat; or
.The infant has a medical condition which,
according to the infant's physician, makes
it necessary for the infant to ride in the
front seat so that the driver can
constantly monitor the child's condition. Child age 1 to 12. A child age 1 to 12 must ride
in the front seat because:
.My vehicle has no rear seat;
.Although children ages 1 to 12 ride in the
rear seat(s) whenever possible, children
ages 1 to 12 sometimes must ride in the
front because no space is available in the
rear seat(s) of my vehicle; or
.The child has a medical condition which,
according to the child's physician, makes
it necessary for the child to ride in the
front seat so that the driver can
constantly monitor the child's condition.
Medical Condition. A passenger has a
medical condition which, according to his or
her physician:
.Causes the passenger airbag to pose a
special risk for the passenger; and
.Makes the potential harm from the
passenger airbag in a crash greater than
the potential harm from turning off the
airbag and allowing the passenger, even if
belted, to hit the instrument panel or
windshield in a crash.
{Warning
If the front outboard passenger frontal
airbag is turned off for a person who is
not in a risk group identified by the
national government, that person will not
have the extra protection of an airbag. In
a crash, the airbag will not be able to
inflate and help protect the person sitting
there. Do not turn off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag unless the
person sitting there is in a risk group.
United States

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 43
Canada and Mexico
To turn off the front outboard passenger
frontal airbag, insert the ignition key into
the airbag on-off switch, push in, and move
the switch to the OFF position.
The airbag OFF light will come on and stay
on to let you know the front outboard
passenger airbag is off. See Airbag On-Off
Light 076. The front outboard passenger
airbag will remain off until you turn it back
on again.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever comes
on and stays on, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag
system. For example, the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag could inflate
even though the airbag on-off switch is
turned off.
To help avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right away. See
Airbag Readiness Light 075 for more
information, including important safety
information.
United States
Canada and Mexico
To turn the front outboard passenger airbag
on again, insert the ignition key into the
airbag on-off switch, push in, and move the
switch to the ON position.
The front outboard passenger frontal airbag
is now enabled, and may inflate. See Airbag
On-Off Light 076.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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44 Seats and Restraints
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should be
serviced. There are parts of the airbag
system in several places around the vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the vehicle and
the airbag system. To purchase a service
manual, seePublication Ordering
Information 0260.
{Warning
For up to 10 seconds after the vehicle is
turned off and the battery is
disconnected, an airbag can still inflate
during improper service. You can be
injured if you are close to an airbag
when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the airbag
system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to
do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change the vehicle's
frame, bumper system, height, front end,
or side sheet metal may keep the airbag
system from working properly.
The operation of the airbag system can also
be affected by changing, including
improperly repairing or replacing, any parts
of the following:
.Airbag system, including airbag modules,
front or side impact sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module, or airbag wiring
.Front seats, including stitching, seams or
zippers
.Seat belts
.Steering wheel, instrument panel, ceiling
trim, or pillar garnish trim
.Inner door seals, including speakers
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about the location of the airbag
modules and sensors, sensing and diagnostic
module, and airbag wiring along with the
proper replacement procedures.
If the vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags,
see Different Size Tires and Wheels 0216 for
additional important information. If the vehicle must be modified because you
have a disability and have questions about
whether the modifications will affect the
vehicle's airbag system, or if you have
questions about whether the airbag system
will be affected if the vehicle is modified for
any other reason, call Customer Assistance.
See
Customer Assistance Offices 0254.
Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need regularly
scheduled maintenance or replacement.
Make sure the airbag readiness light is
working. See Airbag Readiness Light 075.
Caution
If an airbag covering is damaged, opened,
or broken, the airbag may not work
properly. Do not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any opened or
broken airbag coverings, have the airbag
covering and/or airbag module replaced.
For the location of the airbags, see Where
Are the Airbags? 037. See your dealer for
service.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 45
Replacing Airbag System Parts
after a Crash
{Warning
A crash can damage the airbag systems
in the vehicle. A damaged airbag system
may not properly protect you and your
passenger(s) in a crash, resulting in
serious injury or even death. To help
make sure the airbag systems are
working properly after a crash, have
them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
If an airbag inflates, you will need to
replace airbag system parts. See your dealer
for service.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after
the vehicle is started or comes on when you
are driving, the airbag system may not work
properly. Have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness Light 075.
Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster
seats should wear the vehicle’s seat belts.
Refer to How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
0 29.
The manufacturer instructions that come
with the booster seat state the weight and
height limitations for that booster. Use a
booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until
the child passes the fit test below:
.Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the
knees bend at the seat edge? If yes,
continue. If no, return to the booster seat.
.Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the
shoulder belt rest on the shoulder? If yes,
continue. If no, try using the rear seat
belt comfort guide, if available. See “Rear
Seat Belt Comfort Guides” under
Lap-Shoulder Belt 031. If a comfort guide
is not available, or if the shoulder belt
still does not rest on the shoulder, then
return to the booster seat.
.Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the
hips, touching the thighs? If yes, continue.
If no, return to the booster seat.
.Can proper seat belt fit be maintained for
the length of the trip? If yes, continue.
If no, return to the booster seat.
Q: What is the proper way to wear seat belts?
A: An older child should wear a lap-shoulder
belt and get the additional restraint a
shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder
belt should not cross the face or neck.
The lap belt should fit snugly below the
hips, just touching the top of the thighs.
This applies belt force to the child's
pelvic bones in a crash. It should never
be worn over the abdomen, which could
cause severe or even fatal internal
injuries in a crash.