WARNING
• The front air bags ordinarily will not in-
flate in the event of a side impact, rear
impact, rollover, or lower severity fron-
tal collision. Always wear your seat belts
to help reduce the risk or severity of in-
jury in various kinds of accidents.
• The front passenger air bag and front
passenger supplemental knee air bag will
not inflate if the passenger air bag status
light is lit. For additional information,
see “Front passenger air bag and status
light” (P. 1-65). •
The seat belts and the front air bags are
most effective when you are sitting well
back and upright in the seat. The front air
bags inflate with great force. Even with
the INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System,
if you are unrestrained, leaning forward,
sitting sideways or out of position in any
way, you are at greater risk of injury or
death in a crash. You may also receive
serious or fatal injuries from the front air
bag if you are up against it when it in-
flates. Always sit back against the seat-
back and as far away as practical from
the steering wheel or instrument panel.
Always properly use the seat belts. •
The driver and front passenger seat belt
buckles are equipped with sensors that
detect if the seat belts are fastened. The
INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System
monitors the severity of a collision and
seat belt usage then inflates the air bags
as needed. Failure to properly wear seat
belts can increase the risk or severity of
injury in an accident.
• The front passenger seat is equipped
with an occupant classification sensor
(weight sensor) that turns the front pas-
senger air bag and front passenger
supplemental knee air bag OFF under
some conditions. This sensor is only used
in this seat. Failure to be properly seated
and wearing the seat belt can increase
the risk or severity of injury in an acci-
dent. For additional information, see
“Front passenger air bag and status
light” (P. 1-65).
• Keep hands on the outside of the steer-
ing wheel. Placing them inside the steer-
ing wheel rim could increase the risk that
they are injured when the front air bag
inflates.
WRS0031
1-56Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System
1. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact androllover supplemental air bag inflators 2. 2nd row outboard seat-mounted side im-
pact supplemental air bag modules (pas-
senger’s side shown; driver’s side similar) 3. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and
rollover supplemental air bags
4. Front central seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bag (if so equipped)
5. Air bag Control Unit (ACU)
6. Pressure sensors in door (driver's side shown; front passenger side similar)
7. Supplemental front-impact air bag modules
8. Crash zone sensor
9. Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bags
10. Occupant classification system control unit
11. Occupant classification sensor (weight sensor – located on passenger seat
frame)
12.
Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (front seats)
13.Satellite sensors (passenger’s side shown;
driver’s side similar)
14.Front seat-mounted side-impact supple-
mental air bag modules
15. Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (2nd row outboard seats)
LRS3491
1-62Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
The INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System
monitors information from the crash zone
sensor, the Air bag Control Unit (ACU), seat
belt buckle sensor and occupant classifica-
tion sensor (weight sensor). Inflator opera-
tion is based on the severity of a collision and
seat belt usage for the driver. For the front
passenger, the occupant classification sensor
is also monitored. Based on information from
the sensor, only one front air bag may inflate
in a crash, depending on the crash severity
and whether the front occupants are belted
or unbelted. Additionally, the front passenger
air bag and front passenger supplemental
knee air bag may be automatically turned off
under some conditions, depending on the
weight detected on the passenger seat and
how the seat belt is used. If the front passen-
ger air bag and front passenger supplemental
knee air bag are OFF, the front passenger air
bag status light will be illuminated. For addi-
tional information, see “Front passenger air
bag and status light” (P. 1-65). One front air
bag inflating does not indicate improper per-
formance of the system.
If you have any questions about your air bag
system, it is recommended that you visit an
INFINITI retailer to obtain information about
the system. If you are considering modifica-
tion of your vehicle due to a disability, youmay also contact INFINITI. Contact informa-
tion is contained in the front of this Owner's
Manual.
When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud
noise may be heard, followed by the release
of smoke. This smoke is not harmful and does
not indicate a fire. Care should be taken to
not inhale it, as it may cause irritation and
choking. Those with a history of a breathing
condition should get fresh air promptly.
Front air bags, along with the use of seat
belts, help to cushion the impact force on the
face and chest of the front occupants. They
can help save lives and reduce serious injuries.
However, an inflating front air bag may cause
facial abrasions or other injuries. Front air
bags, other than the driver’s and front pas-
senger’s supplemental knee air bags, do not
provide restraint to the lower body.
Even with INFINITI Advanced Air Bags, seat
belts should be correctly worn and the driver
and passenger seated upright as far as prac-
tical away from the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel. The front air bags inflate quickly
in order to help protect the front occupants.
Because of this, the force of the front air bag
inflating can increase the risk of injury if the
occupant is too close to, or is against, the
front air bag module during inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a
collision.
The front air bags operate only when the
ignition switch is placed in the ON position.
After placing the ignition switch in the ON
position, the supplemental air bag warning
light illuminates. The supplemental air bag
warning light will turn off after about 7 sec-
onds if the system is operational.
1-64Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
Front passenger air bag and status light
WARNING
The front passenger air bag and front pas-
senger supplemental knee air bag are de-
signed to automatically turn OFF under
some conditions. Read this section care-
fully to learn how it operates. Proper use of
the seat, seat belt and child restraints is
necessary for most effective protection.
Failure to follow all instructions in this
manual concerning the use of seats, seat
belts and child restraints can increase the
risk or severity of injury in an accident.
Status light
The front passenger seat is equipped with an
occupant classification sensor (weight sen-
sor) that turns the front passenger air bag
and front passenger supplemental knee air
bag on or off depending on the weight ap-
plied to the front passenger seat. The status
of the front passenger air bag and front pas-
senger supplemental knee air bag (ON or
OFF) is indicated by the front passenger air
bag status light
which is located on the
instrument panel.
After the ignition switch is placed in the ON
position, the front passenger air bag status
light on the instrument panel illuminates for
about 7 seconds and then turns off or re-
mains illuminated depending on the front
passenger seat occupied status. The light op-
erates as follows:
LRS0865
Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-65
CONDITIONDESCRIPTION PASSENGER AIR BAG
STATUS LIGHT () FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND FRONT PASSENGER
SUPPLEMENTAL KNEE AIR BAG STATUS
Empty Empty front passenger seat ON (illuminated) INHIBITED
Nobody/Somebody Bag or Child or Child Restraint or
Small Adult in front passenger seat ON (illuminated)
INHIBITED
Adult Adult in the front passenger seat OFF (dark) ACTIVATED
In addition to the above, certain objects
placed on the front passenger seat may also
cause the light to operate as described above
depending on their weight.
For additional information, see “Normal opera-
tion” (P. 1-67) and “Troubleshooting” (P. 1-68).
Front passenger air bag
The front passenger air bag and front pas-
senger supplemental knee air bag are de-
signed to automatically turn OFF when the
vehicle is operated under some conditions as
described below in accordance with U.S.
regulations. If the front passenger air bag and
front passenger supplemental knee air bag
are OFF, they will not inflate in a crash. The
driver air bag and other air bags in your ve-
hicle are not part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation 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 bags to beautomatically turned OFF. Certain sensors are
used to meet the requirements.
The occupant classification sensor in this ve-
hicle is a weight sensor. It is designed to
detect an occupant and objects on the seat
by weight. For example, if a child is in the
front passenger seat, the INFINITI Advanced
Air Bag System is designed to turn the front
passenger air bag and front passenger
supplemental knee air bag OFF in accor-
dance with the regulations. Also, if a child
restraint of the type specified in the regula-
tions is on the seat, its weight and the child’s
weight can be detected and cause the air
bags to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who
are properly seated and using the seat belt as
outlined in this manual should not cause the
front passenger air bag and front passenger
supplemental knee air bag to be automati-
cally turned OFF. For small adults it may be
turned OFF, however, if the occupant takes
his/her weight off the seat cushion (for ex-ample, by not sitting upright, by sitting on an
edge of the seat, or by otherwise being out of
position), this could cause the sensor to turn
the air bags OFF. Always be sure to be
seated and wearing the seat belt properly for
the most effective protection by the seat belt
and supplemental air bag.
INFINITI recommends that pre-teens and
children be properly restrained in a rear seat.
INFINITI also recommends that appropriate
child restraints and booster seats be properly
installed in a rear seat. If this is not possible,
the occupant classification sensor is designed
to operate as described above to turn the
front passenger air bag and front passenger
supplemental knee air bag OFF for specified
child restraints as required by the regulations.
Failing to properly secure child restraints and
to use the ALR mode may allow the restraint
to tip or move in a collision or sudden stop.
This can also result in the front passenger air
bag and front passenger supplemental knee
air bag inflating in a crash instead of being
1-66Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
OFF. For additional information, see “Child
restraints” (P. 1-28).
If the front passenger seat is not occupied,
the front passenger air bag and front passen-
ger supplemental knee air bag are designed
not to inflate in a crash. However, heavy
objects placed on the seat could result in air
bag inflation, because of the object’s weight
detected by the occupant classification sen-
sor. Other conditions could also result in air
bag inflation, such as if a child is standing on
the seat, or if two children are on the seat,
contrary to the instructions in this manual.
Always be sure that you and all vehicle occu-
pants are seated and restrained properly.
Using the front passenger air bag status light,
you can monitor when the front passenger air
bag and front passenger supplemental knee
air bag are automatically turned OFF.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the
front passenger air bag status light is illumi-
nated (indicating that the front passenger air
bag and front passenger supplemental knee
air bag are OFF), it could be that the person is
a small adult, or is not sitting on the seat
properly or not using the seat belt properly.
If a child restraint must be used in the front
seat, the front passenger air bag status light
may or may not be illuminated, depending onthe size of the child and the type of child
restraint being used. If the front passenger air
bag status light is not illuminated (indicating
that the front passenger air bag and front
passenger supplemental knee air bag might
inflate in a crash), it could be that the child
restraint or seat belt is not being used prop-
erly. Make sure that the child restraint is in-
stalled properly, the seat belt is used properly
and the occupant is positioned properly. If the
front passenger air bag status light is still not
illuminated, reposition the occupant or child
restraint in a rear seat.
If the front passenger air bag status light will
not illuminate even though you believe that
the child restraint, the seat belts and the oc-
cupant are properly positioned, it is recom-
mended that you take your vehicle to an
INFINITI retailer. An INFINITI retailer can
check system status by using a special tool.
However, until you have confirmed with a
retailer that your air bag is working properly,
reposition the occupant or child restraint in a
rear seat.
The INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System and
front passenger air bag status light will take a
few seconds to register a change in the front
passenger seat status. This is normal system
operation and does not indicate a
malfunction.If a malfunction occurs in the front passenger
air bag system, the supplemental air bag
warning light
, located in the meter and
gauges area of the instrument panel, will be
illuminated (blinking or steadily lit). Have the
system checked. It is recommended that you
visit an INFINITI retailer for this service.
Normal operation
In order for the occupant classification sen-
sor system to classify the front passenger
based on weight, please follow the precau-
tions and steps outlined below:
Precautions
• Make sure that there are no objects weigh- ing over 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) hanging on the seat
or placed in the seatback pocket (if so
equipped).
• Make sure that a child restraint or other object is not pressing against the rear of the
seatback.
• Make sure that a rear passenger is not pushing or pulling on the back of the front
passenger seat.
• Make sure that the front passenger seat or seatback is not forced back against an ob-
ject on the seat or floor behind it.
• Make sure that there is no object placed under the front passenger seat.
Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-67
Steps
1. Adjust the seat as outlined in “Seats”(P. 1-2). Sit upright, leaning against the
seatback, and centered on the seat cush-
ion with your feet comfortably extended
to the floor.
2. Make sure there are no objects on your lap.
3. Fasten the seat belt as outlined in “Seat belts” (P. 1-17). Front passenger seat belt
buckle status is monitored by the occu-
pant classification system, and is used as
an input to determine occupancy status.
So, it is highly recommended that the
front passenger fasten their seat belt.
4. Remain in this position for 30 seconds allowing the system to classify the front
passenger before the vehicle is put into
motion.
5. Ensure proper classification by checking the front passenger air bag status light.NOTE:
This vehicle’s occupant classification sensor
system generally keeps the classification
locked during driving, so it is important that
you confirm that the front passenger is
properly classified prior to driving. However,
the occupant classification sensor may re-
calculate the weight of the occupant under
some conditions (both while driving and
when stopped), so front passenger seat oc-
cupants should continue to remain seated as
outlined above.
Troubleshooting
If you think the front passenger air bag status
light is incorrect:
1. If the light is ON with an adult occupyingthe front passenger seat:
• Occupant is a small adult — the front pas- senger air bag status light is functioning as
intended. The front passenger air bag and
front passenger supplemental knee air bag
are suppressed.
However, if the occupant is not a small adult,
then this may be due to the following condi-
tions that may be interfering with the weight
sensors: • Occupant is not sitting upright, leaning
against the seatback, and centered on the
seat cushion with his/her feet comfortably
extended to the floor.
• A child restraint or other object pressing against the rear of the seatback.
• A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger seat.
• Forcing the front seat or seatback against an object on the seat or floor behind it.
• An object placed under the front passenger seat.
• An object placed between the seat cushion and center console or between the seat
cushion and the door.
If the vehicle is moving, please come to a stop
when it is safe to do so. Check and correct
any of the above conditions. Restart the ve-
hicle and wait 1 minute.
NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the front passenger air bag status
light will remain lit for about 7 seconds
initially.
1-68Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system
If the light is still ON after this, the person
should be advised not to ride in the front
passenger seat and the vehicle should be
checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
2. If the light is OFF with a small adult, childor child restraint occupying the front pas-
senger seat.
This may be due to the following condi-
tions that may be interfering with the
weight sensors:
• Small adult or child is not sitting upright, leaning against the seatback, and centered
on the seat cushion with his/her feet com-
fortably extended to the floor.
• The child restraint is not properly installed, as outlined in “Child restraints” (P. 1-28).
• An object weighing over 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) hanging on the seat or placed in the seat-
back pocket.
• A child restraint or other object pressing against the rear of the seatback.
• A rear passenger pushing or pulling on the back of the front passenger seat.
• Forcing the front seat or seatback against an object on the seat or floor behind it. • An object placed under the front passenger
seat.
• An object placed between the seat cushion and center console.
If the vehicle is moving, please come to a stop
when it is safe to do so. Check and correct
any of the above conditions. Restart the ve-
hicle and wait 1 minute.
NOTE:
A system check will be performed during
which the front passenger air bag status
light will remain lit for about 7 seconds
initially.
If the light is still OFF after this, the small
adult, child or child restraint should be repo-
sitioned in a rear seat and the vehicle should
be checked as soon as possible. It is recom-
mended that you visit an INFINITI retailer for
this service.
3. If the light is OFF with no front passenger and no objects on the front passenger
seat, the vehicle should be checked. It is
recommended that you visit an INFINITI
retailer as soon as possible.
Other supplemental front-impact air bag
precautions
WARNING
• Do not place any objects on the steering
wheel pad or on the instrument panel.
Also, do not place any objects between
any occupant and the steering wheel or
instrument panel. Such objects may be-
come dangerous projectiles and cause in-
jury if the front air bags inflate.
• Immediately after inflation, several
front air bag system components will be
hot. Do not touch them; you may se-
verely burn yourself.
• No unauthorized changes should be
made to any components or wiring of the
supplemental air bag system. This is to
prevent accidental inflation of the
supplemental air bag or damage to the
supplemental air bag system.
• Do not make unauthorized changes to
your vehicle's electrical system, suspen-
sion system or front end structure. This
could affect proper operation of the
front air bag system.
Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system1-69