2023 HONDA CRV Owners Manual

64
uuAirbags uFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe Driving
■When front airbags should not deploy
Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts and
help save lives, not to prevent minor scrape s, or even broken bones that might occur
during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.
Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration
causes a driver or front passenger to move toward the front of the vehicle. Side
airbags and side curtain airb ags have been specifically designed to help reduce the
severity of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which
can cause the driver or passenger to move toward the side of the vehicle.
Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a rear
impact. Front airbags cannot provide any si gnificant protection and are not designed
to deploy in such collisions.
Rollovers: In a rollover, your best form of protection is a seat belt or, if your vehicle
is equipped with a rollover sensor, both a se at belt and a side curtain airbag. Front
airbags, however, are not designed to deploy in a rollover as they would provide
little if any protection.
■When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might caus e one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object
that causes a sudden deceleration in th e vehicle chassis. Since the impact is
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.
■When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage
appears severe
Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they
had deployed.

Continued65
uuAirbags uFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe DrivingThe airbags have advanced features to he lp reduce the likelihood of airbag related
injuries to smaller occupants. The driver’s advanced airbag system includes a
seat position sensor.
Based on information from this sensor and the
severity of the impact, the advanced airbag
system determines the optimal deployment of
the driver’s airbag.
The front passenger’s ad vanced airbag system
has weight sensors. The sensors are used for
occupant classification to activate or
deactivate the front passenger’s airbag.
For adult size occupant s, the system will
automatically activate the front passenger’s
airbag. If a small adult sits in the front
passenger seat and the system does not
recognize him/her as an adult, see
2 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator P. 76
■Advanced Airbags1Advanced Airbags
If there is a problem with the driver’s seat position
sensor or the passenger’s s eat weight sensors, the
SRS indicator will come on, and in the event of a
crash, the airbag will deploy (regardless of the driver’s
seating position or passenger’s occupant
classification) with a force corresponding to the
severity of the impact. 2 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
Indicator P. 75
For the advanced front airbags to work properly,
confirm that:
•The occupant is sitting in an upright position,
wearing the seat belt prope rly and the seat-back is
not excessively reclined.
•The occupant is not leaning against the door or
center console.
•The occupant’s feet are plac ed on the floor in front
of them.
•There are no objects ha nging from the front
passenger’s seat.
•Only small, lightweight objects are in the seat-back
pocket.
•The steering wheel and passenger’s side dashboard
are not obstructed by any object.
•No liquid has been spille d on or under the seat.
Driver’s
Seat
Position
Sensor
Passenger’s Seat
Weight Sensors

uuAirbags uFront Airbags (SRS)
66
Safe Driving
We advise against allowing a child age 12 or under to ride in the front passenger’s
seat. However, if you do allow a small child or infant to ride in the front passenger’s
seat, the system is designed to automaticall y deactivate the front passenger’s airbag.
Do not let a small child or infant ride in the front passenger’s seat if the airbag does
not automatically deactivate.1 Advanced Airbags
•There is no child seat or other object pressing
against the rear of the seat or seat-back.
•There is no rear passenger pushing or pulling on
the back of the front passenger’s seat.
•There are no objects placed under or beside the
front passenger’s seat . Improperly positioned
objects can interfere with the advanced airbag
sensors.
•The head restraint is not contacting the roof.
2 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator P. 76
•The floor mat behind the front passenger’s seat is
set in the correct position evenly on the floor. An
improperly placed mat can interfere with the
advanced airbag sensors. 2Floor Mats P. 645

67
uuAirbags uKnee Airbags
Continued
Safe Driving
Knee Airbags
The knee SRS airbags inflate in a moderate -to-severe frontal collision to help keep
the driver and/or front passenger in the pr oper position and to help maximize the
benefit provided by the vehicle’s other safety features.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indica tes that the airbag is designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them . Seat belts are the occupant’s primary
restraint system.
The knee airbag for the driver and the one for
the front passenger are housed under the
steering column and the glove box
respectively.
Both are marked SRS AIRBAG.
■Housing Locations
1Knee Airbags
Do not attach accessories on or near a knee airbag as
they can interfere with the proper operation of the
airbag, or even hurt someone if the airbag inflates.
The driver and fr ont passenger should not store any
items under the seat or be hind their feet. The items
can interfere with proper airbag deployment in the
event of a moderate to se vere frontal collision and
may result in inadequate protection.
Housing
Location
Housing
Location

68
uuAirbags uKnee Airbags
Safe DrivingThe driver’s and front passenger’s knee airbag
deploy at the same time as the driver’s and
front passenger’s airbag respectively.
■Operation
When
inflated
Knee
Airbag
When
inflated
Knee Airbag

69
uuAirbags uKnee Airbags
Safe Driving
■When knee airbags de ploy with little or no visible damage
Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object
that causes a sudden deceleration in th e vehicle chassis. Since the impact is
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.
■When knee airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage
appears severe
Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they
had deployed.

70
uuAirbags uSide Airbags
Safe Driving
Side Airbags
The side airbags help protect the torso and pelvis of the driver, front passenger, or
an outer rear seat occupant during a moderate-to-severe side impact.
The side airbags are housed in the outside
edge of the driver's, passenger's, and rear
outer passenger's seat-backs.
Each are marked SIDE AIRBAG.
■Housing Locations
1Side Airbags
Do not attach accessories on or near the side airbags.
They can interfere with the proper operation of the
airbags, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.
Do not cover or replace th e seat-back covers without
consulting a dealer.
Improperly replacing or covering seat-back covers can
prevent your side airbag s from properly deploying
during a side impact.
Make sure you, your front seat passenger and rear
outboard occupants always sit upright. Leaning into
the path of a side airbag can prevent the airbag from
deploying properly and increa ses your risk of serious
injury.
Side airbag deploy ment is controlled by a pressure
sensor inside each front door . Damage or changes to
the inside or outside of the doors may negatively
affect side airbag deployment. Contact an authorized
dealer before ch anging or repairing a front door.
Housing
Location
Housing
Location

71
uuAirbags uSide Airbags
Continued
Safe DrivingWhen the sensors detect a moderate-to-
severe side impact, the control unit signals the
side airbag on the impact side to immediately
inflate.
■Operation
When
inflated
Side
Airbag
Side
Airbag
When
inflated