2011 Chevrolet VOLT Owners Manual

additional information.

The engine may start to provide energy for heating and cooling, independent of the vehicle being plugged in or completely charged.

. Vehicle range may decrease if the vehicle is not plugged into an electrical outlet. If the vehicle is plugged in, much of the energy needed to support this feature will be provided from the utility, not from the high voltage battery.

Laws in some communities may restrict the use of features that remotely start the engine. For example, some laws may require a person using the remote start feature to have the vehicle in view when doing so. Check local regulations for any requirements on remote starting of vehicles. With the remote start feature, the RKE transmitter functions will have an increased range of operation. However, the range may be less while the vehicle is running.

Other conditions can affect the performance of the transmitter. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑2 for additional information. Activating the Remote Start To heat or cool the passenger compartment using remote start: 1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the

vehicle.

2. Press Q on the RKE transmitter;

the doors will lock.

3. Within five seconds press and

hold B until the turn signal lamps flash or for approximately four seconds. Pressing B again during a remote start will turn the feature off.

Remote start will automatically shut off after 10 minutes unless a time extension is done. While the remote start is active, the parking lamps will turn on and remain on.

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Keys, Doors and Windows

. Press the POWER O button on the center stack, with the brake pedal applied, then press the POWER O button again to turn the vehicle off.

Conditions in Which Remote Start May Not Work Conditions in which a remote start may not occur include: . An open hood. . Vehicle propulsion system

fault conditions, including an emission control system malfunction.

. High voltage battery fault

conditions.

A second remote start or extension will not occur if the fuel level is low.

After entering the vehicle during a remote start, press the POWER O button on the center stack with the brake pedal applied to operate as normal. The remote start can be initiated two separate times between driving. For each remote start, the passenger compartment will be heated or cooled for 10 minutes. Extending the Time To extend the time of the first remote start, repeat the steps for activating remote start. Remote start can only be extended one time between driving. Canceling Remote Start To cancel a remote start, do any of the following: . Aim the RKE transmitter at the vehicle and press and hold B until the parking lamps turn off. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.

During a remote start, conditions in which a remote start may be canceled include: . Vehicle propulsion system or

high voltage battery fault conditions. Low engine oil pressure.

. Engine coolant temperature that

is too high.

Door Locks

{ WARNING Unlocked doors can be dangerous.

. Passengers, especially

children, can easily open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. The chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash is increased if the doors are not locked. So, all passengers should wear safety belts properly and the

(Continued)

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Keys, Doors and Windows

2-9

Power Door Locks

The power door lock switches are on the center stack. Q (Lock): Press to lock the doors. K (Unlock): Press to unlock the doors.

Delayed Locking This vehicle may have a delayed locking feature. If delayed locking is enabled, a chime will sound to indicate a door or hatch is open when the doors are locked with the power door lock switch. The doors will automatically lock and the theft-deterrent system will arm after all doors are closed and five seconds have passed. Press the lock button again to make the doors lock immediately. Press the unlock switch to cancel the delayed lock operation. To enable this feature, see “Power Door Locks” in Vehicle Personalization on page 5‑48. To arm and disarm the theft-deterrent system, see Anti-Theft Alarm System on page 2‑12.

WARNING (Continued)

doors should be locked whenever the vehicle is driven.

. Young children who get into

unlocked vehicles may be unable to get out. A child can be overcome by extreme heat and can suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Always lock the vehicle whenever leaving it.

. Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked door when slowing or stopping the vehicle. Lock the doors to help prevent this from happening.

To lock or unlock the door, use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter or the key from outside the vehicle. Use the door lock knob or switch from inside the vehicle.

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Keys, Doors and Windows

Automatic Door Locks

Safety Locks

Automatic Door Lock The doors are programmed to automatically lock when the shift lever is moved out of P (Park). The automatic door lock feature cannot be disabled. Automatic Door Unlock The doors can be programmed to automatically unlock when the shift lever is moved into P (Park). See “Power Door Locks” in Vehicle Personalization on page 5‑48.

Lockout Protection If the power door lock switch is pressed when the driver door is open and the vehicle is on, all the doors will lock and then the driver door will unlock. This feature can also be enabled to function when the vehicle is off. To enable this feature, see “Unlocked Door Anti Lock Out” in Vehicle Personalization on page 5‑48.

The rear door safety locks prevent passengers from opening the rear doors from inside the vehicle. Press o { to activate the rear door safety locks. The LED light (A) comes on when activated. Press o { again to deactivate the safety locks.

Doors

Hatch

{ WARNING

Exhaust gases can enter the vehicle if it is driven in Extended Range Mode with the hatch open, or with any objects that pass through the seal between the body and the hatch. Engine exhaust contains Carbon Monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or smelled. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If the vehicle must be driven in Extended Range Mode with the hatch open:

. Do not operate in Mountain

Mode if driving with the hatch open.

. Close all of the windows.

(Continued)

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Keys, Doors and Windows

2-11

WARNING (Continued)

. Fully open the air outlets on

the instrument panel.

. Adjust the Climate Control

system to a setting that brings in only outside air and set the fan speed to the highest setting. See Automatic Climate Control System on page 8‑1.

For more information about carbon monoxide, see Engine Exhaust on page 9‑28.

To open the hatch, with all doors unlocked, press the button on the underside of the hatch and lift up.

Use the inside pull handle to lower and close the hatch. Always close the hatch before driving. Do not press the button while closing the hatch; it will unlock again.

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Keys, Doors and Windows

Vehicle Security This vehicle has theft-deterrent features; however, they do not make it impossible to steal.

Anti-Theft Alarm System This vehicle has an anti-theft alarm system. Arming the System To arm the system, close all of the windows and doors and then: . Press Q on the RKE transmitter. . Or, lock the vehicle using the power door lock switch in the center stack if Unlocked Door Anti Lock Out is turned off. See “Unlocked Door Anti Lock Out” under Vehicle Personalization on page 5‑48 for more information. The alarm automatically arms after about 30 seconds.

Pressing Q on the RKE transmitter a second time will bypass the 30-second delay and immediately arm the system. Disarming the System To disarm the system, press K on the RKE transmitter. Turning off the System Alarm If there is an attempt to open the doors, hatch, or hood without first pressing K on the RKE transmitter, the system alarm will be activated. The exterior lamps will flash and the horn will sound for about 30 seconds. To turn off the system alarm: . Press K on the RKE transmitter. . Or, start the vehicle by pressing POWER O on the center stack with the brake pedal applied and the RKE transmitter in the vehicle.

Charge Cord Theft Alert To arm or disarm the charge cord theft alert, lock or unlock the vehicle with the RKE transmitter. If there is an attempt to remove the charge cord while the vehicle is locked, the system alarm will be activated. To turn off the system alarm, press K on the RKE transmitter.

Immobilizer See Radio Frequency Statement on page 13‑26 for information regarding Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and Industry Canada Standards RSS-210/220/310.

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Immobilizer Operation This vehicle has a passive theft-deterrent system. The system does not have to be manually armed or disarmed. The vehicle is automatically immobilized when the vehicle is turned off. The system is automatically disarmed when the vehicle is started with a valid RKE transmitter in the vehicle. The RKE transmitter uses electronic coding that matches an immobilizer control unit in the vehicle and automatically disarms the system. Only a correct transmitter can be used to turn the vehicle on.

Keys, Doors and Windows

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Exterior Mirrors

Convex Mirrors

{ WARNING

The security light in the instrument cluster comes on if there is a problem with arming or disarming the theft-deterrent system. When trying to start the vehicle, the security light comes on briefly when the vehicle is turned on. If the vehicle does not start and the security light stays on, there is a problem with the system. Attempt to turn the vehicle off and try it again. Do not leave the RKE transmitter in the vehicle.

A convex mirror can make things, like other vehicles, look farther away than they really are. If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you could hit a vehicle on the right. Check the inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before changing lanes.

The passenger side mirror is convex shaped. A convex mirror's surface is curved so more can be seen from the driver seat.

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Keys, Doors and Windows

Power Mirrors

Controls for the outside power mirrors are on the driver door.

To adjust a mirror: 1. Move the selector switch to

L (left) or R (right) to choose the driver or passenger mirror.

2. Press the arrows on the control pad to move each mirror in the desired direction.

3. Return the selector switch to the

center position.

Folding Mirrors

Manual Foldaway Mirrors The mirrors can be folded inward toward the vehicle to prevent damage when going through an automatic car wash. Push the mirror outward to return it to the original position.

Heated Mirrors The vehicle may have heated mirrors. = (Rear Window Defogger): Press to heat the outside rearview mirrors. See “Rear Window Defogger” under Automatic Climate Control System on page 8‑1 for more information.

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Keys, Doors and Windows

2-15

Interior Mirrors

Windows

Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror The vehicle has an automatic dimming inside rearview mirror. Automatic dimming reduces the glare from the headlamps of the vehicle behind you. The dimming feature and the indicator light come on each time the vehicle is started. Hold the mirror in the center to adjust it. Cleaning the Mirror Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror. Use a soft towel dampened with water.

{ WARNING

Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather.

The vehicle aerodynamics are designed to improve fuel economy performance. This may result in a pulsing sound when either rear window is down and the front windows are up. To reduce the sound, open either a front window or the sunroof (if equipped).

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Keys, Doors and Windows

Power Windows

{ WARNING

Leaving children in a vehicle with the RKE transmitter is dangerous for many reasons; children or others could be badly injured or even killed. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The windows will function with the RKE transmitter in the vehicle and they could be seriously injured or killed if caught in the path of a closing window. Do not leave the RKE transmitter in a vehicle with children. When there are children in the rear seat, use the window lockout button to prevent unintentional operation of the windows.

Express‐Down/Up Windows Windows with an express-down or up feature allow the window to be lowered or raised without holding the switch. The driver window has express-down and up; the passenger and rear windows have only express-down. Pull a window switch up or push it down all the way, release it, and the window goes up or down automatically. Stop the window by pushing or pulling the switch. Express Window Anti-Pinch Feature If any object is in the path of the window when the express-up is active, the window will stop at the obstruction and auto-reverse to a preset factory position. Weather conditions such as severe icing may also cause the window to auto-reverse. The window will return to normal operation once the obstruction or condition is removed.

The window switches on the driver door control all windows in the vehicle. Each passenger door has a switch that controls only that window. Press the front of the switch to open the window. Pull the switch up to close it. The power windows work when the vehicle is on, or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 9‑21.

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Express Window Anti-Pinch Override In an emergency, the anti-pinch feature can be overridden in a supervised mode. Hold the window switch all the way up to the second position. The window will rise for as long as the switch is held. Once the switch is released, the express mode is re-activated. In this mode, the window can still close on an object in its path. Use care when using the override mode. Programming the Power Windows Programming the power windows may be necessary if the 12-volt battery has been disconnected or discharged. To program the window: 1. Close all doors with the vehicle

on, or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 9‑21.

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2-17

2. Pull the window switch to

completely close the window. Continue to hold the window switch two seconds after the window is closed.

3. Repeat for each window. Window Lockout

Press o { to activate the rear window lockout switch. The LED light (A) comes on when activated. Press o { again to deactivate the lockout switch.

Sun Visors

The rear window lockout switch is on the driver door. This feature prevents the rear passenger windows from operating, except from the driver position.

Pull the sun visor down to block glare. Detach the sun visor from the center mount to pivot to the side window, or to extend along the rod, if available.

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Keys, Doors and Windows

2 NOTES

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Seats and Restraints

3-1

Child Restraints

Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Infants and Young

Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . 3-44
Where to Put the Restraint . . . 3-46
Lower Anchors and Tethers

for Children (LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47

Replacing LATCH System

Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-54

Securing Child Restraints

(Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54

Securing Child Restraints

(Front Passenger Seat) . . . . 3-56

Seats and Restraints

Head Restraints

Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Front Seats

Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6

Rear Seats

Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

Safety Belts

Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
How to Wear Safety Belts

Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Safety Belt Use During

Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . 3-23

Safety System Check . . . . . . . . 3-23
Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Replacing Safety Belt System

Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-24

Airbag System

Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . 3-27
When Should an Airbag

Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29

What Makes an Airbag

Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30

How Does an Airbag

Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31

What Will You See After an

Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31

Passenger Sensing

System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33

Servicing the Airbag-Equipped

Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37

Adding Equipment to the

Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . 3-38
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . 3-39
Replacing Airbag System

Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-39

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Front Seats The vehicle's front seats have adjustable head restraints in the outboard seating positions.

3-2

Seats and Restraints

Head Restraints { WARNING

With head restraints that are not installed and adjusted properly, there is a greater chance that occupants will suffer a neck/ spinal injury in a crash. Do not drive until the head restraints for all occupants are installed and adjusted properly.

Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant's head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

To raise or lower the head restraint, press the button located on the side of the head restraint and pull up or push the head restraint down and release the button.

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Pull and push on the head restraint after the button is released to make sure that it is locked in place. The front seat outboard head restraints are not designed to be removed.

Rear Seats The vehicle's rear seats have adjustable head restraints in the outboard seating positions.

The height of the head restraint can be adjusted. Pull the head restraint up to raise it. Try to move the head restraint to make sure that it is locked in place.

Seats and Restraints

3-3

To lower the head restraint, press the button, located on the top of the seatback, and push the head restraint down. Try to move the head restraint after the button is released to make sure that it is locked in place. If you are installing a child restraint in the rear seat, see “Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System” under Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 3‑47.

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3-4

Seats and Restraints

Front Seats

Seat Adjustment

{ WARNING You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

To adjust the seat position: 1. Pull the handle at the front of the

seat cushion to unlock it. 2. Move the seat forward or rearward and release the handle.

3. Try to move the seat back and

forth to be sure it is locked in place.

Seat Height Adjuster

Move the lever up or down to raise or lower the seat.

Reclining Seatbacks { WARNING You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

{ WARNING

If either seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatbacks to be sure they are locked.

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{ WARNING

Sitting in a reclined position when the vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even when buckled up, the safety belts cannot do their job when reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash, the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.

(Continued)

To recline the seatback:

1. Lift the lever. 2. Move the seatback to the desired position, and then release the lever to lock the seatback in place.

3. Push and pull on the seatback to

make sure it is locked.

To return the seatback to the upright position: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the seatback, and the seatback returns to the upright position.

2. Push and pull on the seatback to

make sure it is locked.

Seats and Restraints

3-5

WARNING (Continued)

For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear the safety belt properly.

Do not have a seatback reclined if the vehicle is moving.

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Seats and Restraints

Heated Front Seats { WARNING

If you cannot feel temperature change or pain to the skin, the seat heater may cause burns even at low temperatures. To reduce the risk of burns, people with such a condition should use care when using the seat heater, especially for long periods of time. Do not place anything on the seat that insulates against heat, such as a blanket, cushion, cover, or similar item. This may cause the seat heater to overheat. An overheated seat heater may cause a burn or may damage the seat.

Auto Heated Seats

If available, the controls are on the center stack. To operate, the vehicle must be on.

Press M or L to heat the driver or passenger seat cushion and seatback. Press the button once for the highest setting. With each press of the button, the heated seat will change to the next lower setting, and then the off setting. Three lights indicate the highest setting and one light the lowest.

If available, the controls can be accessed while the vehicle is on by pressing the CLIMATE button on the center stack.

Press the touch screen M AUTO or L AUTO button. The button color will change to green when this feature is on.

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Seats and Restraints

3-7

The temperature performance of an unoccupied seat may be reduced. This is normal. The heated seats will not turn on during a remote start unless the heated seats feature is enabled in the vehicle personalization menu. See “Remote Start Auto Heat Seats” under Vehicle Personalization on page 5‑48 for more information.

When the vehicle is on, this feature will automatically activate the heated seats at the level required by the vehicle's interior temperature. The active high, medium, low, or off heated seat level will be indicated by the manual heated seat button lights on the center stack. Use the manual heated seat buttons on the center stack to turn auto heated seats off. If the passenger seat is unoccupied, the auto heated seats feature will not activate that seat. The auto heated seats feature can be programmed to always be enabled when the vehicle is on. See “Auto Heated Seats” under Vehicle Personalization on page 5‑48 for more information.

Remote Start Heated Seats When it is cold outside, the heated seats can be programmed to turn on automatically during a remote vehicle start. Unless the auto heated seats feature is available and enabled, the heated seats will be canceled when the vehicle is turned on. If the vehicle has auto heated seats and the feature is enabled, the seat heating level will automatically change to the level required by the vehicle's interior temperature. The indicator lights on the heated seat buttons do not turn on during a remote start.

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Seats and Restraints

Rear Seats

Folding the Seatback { WARNING

If either seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always push and pull on the seatbacks to be sure they are locked.

{ WARNING

A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.

To fold the seatback down: Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts and return them to their normal stowed position before folding a rear seat.

A. Safety Belt Guide B. Safety Belt Storage Clip 1. Remove the safety belt from the safety belt guide (A) and place it in the storage clip (B). The safety belt should remain in the storage clip while the seatback is in the folded position.

2. Pull the seatback release lever

to unlock the seatback. A tab near the lever raises when the seatback is unlocked. 3. Fold the seatback forward.

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Seats and Restraints

3-9

2. Raise the seatback and push it

rearward to lock it into place. A tab near the seatback release lever retracts when the seatback is locked.

3. Push and pull the top of the

seatback to be sure it is locked into position.

4. Return the safety belt to the

safety belt guide after raising the seatback.

Keep the seat in the upright, locked position when not in use.

To raise the seatback:

Raising the Seatback Notice: Damage to the safety belt or rear seat locking mechanism can occur if the safety belt is caught between the rear seatback and the seat locking mechanism. The safety belt must be out of the way when the rear seat is raised to the upright, locked position. If the safety belt is damaged, see your dealer and have it replaced.

A. Seatback Locking Mechanism B. Safety Belt Storage Clip 1. Make sure the safety belt is in

the storage clip (B) before raising the seatback. The safety belt should not cross the seatback locking mechanism (A) when raising the seatback.

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3-10

Seats and Restraints

Safety Belts This section of the manual describes how to use safety belts properly. It also describes some things not to do with safety belts.

{ WARNING

Do not let anyone ride where a safety belt cannot be worn properly. In a crash, if you or your passenger(s) are not wearing safety belts, the injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected from the vehicle. You and your passenger(s) can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passenger(s) are restrained properly too.

{ WARNING

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in the vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.

This vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle the safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 5‑17 for additional information.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing safety belts. Here is why: You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without safety belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot!

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Seats and Restraints

3-11

Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels.

Put someone on it.

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.

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Seats and Restraints

With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense. Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I am wearing a safety belt?

A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety belt or not. But your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. And you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down.

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...

or the instrument panel...

or the safety belts!

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Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why

should I have to wear safety belts?

A: Airbags are supplemental

systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.

Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in a crash — even one that is not your fault — you and your passenger(s) can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 40 km (25 mi) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 65 km/h (40 mph). Safety belts are for everyone.

Seats and Restraints

3-13

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This section is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and infants. If a child will be riding in the vehicle, see Older Children on page 3‑40 or Infants and Young Children on page 3‑42. Follow those rules for everyone's protection. It is very important for all occupants to buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted people are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Occupants who are not buckled up can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.

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3-14

Seats and Restraints

First, before you or your passenger(s) wear a safety belt, there is important information you should know.

Sit up straight and always keep your feet on the floor in front of you. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs.

Q: What is wrong with this?

In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones and you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The shoulder belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash.

A: The shoulder belt is too loose.

It will not give as much protection this way.

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{ WARNING

Q: What is wrong with this?

{ WARNING

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You can be seriously hurt if the shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit snugly against your body.

You can be seriously hurt if the lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs.

A: The lap belt is too loose. It will

not give nearly as much protection this way.

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Seats and Restraints

Q: What is wrong with this?

{ WARNING

Q: What is wrong with this?

You can be seriously injured if the belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not on the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle the belt into the buckle nearest you.

A: The belt is buckled in the wrong

buckle.

A: The belt is over an armrest.

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{ WARNING

Q: What is wrong with this?

{ WARNING

Seats and Restraints

3-17

You can be seriously injured if the belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied on the abdomen, not on the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests.

You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.

A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times.

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Seats and Restraints

Q: What is wrong with this?

{ WARNING

Q: What is wrong with this?

You can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, you would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. Your body could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. You might also slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.

A: The belt is twisted across

the body.

A: The belt is behind the body.

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Seats and Restraints

3-19

2. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index.

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. If the shoulder portion of a passenger belt is pulled out all the way, the child restraint locking feature may be engaged. If this happens, let the belt go back all the way and start again.

{ WARNING

You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it.

Lap-Shoulder Belt All seating positions in the vehicle have a lap-shoulder belt. The following instructions explain how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly. 1.

If the seat has a safety belt guide, and the safety belt is not routed through the guide, slide the edge of the belt webbing through the opening on the guide. Be sure the belt is not twisted.

4. Push the latch plate into the

buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 3‑23. Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.

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Seats and Restraints

5. To make the lap part tight, pull

up on the shoulder belt. It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safety belt through the latch plate to fully tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants.

To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. The belt should return to its stowed position. Before a door is closed, be sure the safety belt is out of the way. If a door is slammed against a safety belt, damage can occur to both the safety belt and the vehicle.

Safety Belt Pretensioners This vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for front outboard occupants. Although the safety belt pretensioners cannot be seen, they are part of the safety belt assembly. They can help tighten the safety belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal, near frontal, or rear crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. And, if the vehicle has side impact airbags, safety belt pretensioners can help tighten the safety belts in a side crash or a rollover event. Pretensioners work only once. If the pretensioners activate in a crash, they need to be replaced, and other new parts for the vehicle's safety belt system may be required. See Replacing Safety Belt System Parts After a Crash on page 3‑24.

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Seats and Restraints

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There is one guide, if equipped, for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. When using a comfort guide, remove the safety belt from the seat‐mounted guide before using the comfort guide. To install a comfort guide to the safety belt:

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides This vehicle may have rear safety belt comfort guides. If not, they are available through your dealer. The guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed and properly adjusted, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head.

2. Place the guide over the belt,

and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.

1. Remove the guide from its

storage clip on the interior body trim next to the rear seat.

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Seats and Restraints

{ WARNING

A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

3. The belt should not be twisted

and it should lie flat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top.

4. Buckle, position, and release

the safety belt as described previously in this section. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.

To remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze the belt edges together so that the safety belt can be removed from the guide. Slide the guide back into its storage clip located on the interior body trim next to the side of the seatback.

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Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts.

A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.

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Safety System Check Now and then, check that the safety belt reminder light, safety belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system parts that might keep a safety belt system from doing its job. See your dealer to have it repaired. Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away. Make sure the safety belt reminder light is working. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 5‑17 for more information. Keep safety belts clean and dry. See Safety Belt Care on page 3‑24.

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly.

Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle's safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer will order you an extender. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information, see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender.

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Seats and Restraints

Safety Belt Care Keep belts clean and dry. { WARNING

Do not bleach or dye safety belts. It may severely weaken them. In a crash, they might not be able to provide adequate protection. Clean safety belts only with mild soap and lukewarm water.

Replacing Safety Belt System Parts After a Crash

{ WARNING

A crash can damage the safety belt system in the vehicle. A damaged safety belt system may not properly protect the person using it, resulting in serious injury or even death in a crash. To help make sure the safety belt systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible.

After a minor crash, replacement of safety belts may not be necessary. But the safety belt assemblies that were used during any crash may have been stressed or damaged. See your dealer to have the safety belt assemblies inspected or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the safety belt system was not being used at the time of the crash. Have the safety belt pretensioners checked if the vehicle has been in a crash, or if the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the vehicle or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 5‑18.

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Airbag System The vehicle has the following airbags: . A frontal airbag for the driver. . A frontal airbag for the right front

passenger.

. A knee airbag for the driver. . A knee airbag for the front

passenger.

. A seat-mounted side impact

airbag for the driver.

. A seat-mounted side impact

airbag for the right front passenger.

. A roof-rail airbag for the driver

and the passenger seated directly behind the driver.

. A roof-rail airbag for the right

front passenger and the passenger seated directly behind the right front passenger.

All of the airbags in the vehicle will have the word AIRBAG embossed in the trim or on an attached label near the deployment opening. For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the middle part of the steering wheel for the driver and on the instrument panel for the right front passenger.

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With knee airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the lower portion of the instrument panel. With seat-mounted side impact airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear on the side of the seatback closest to the door. With roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear along the headliner or trim. Airbags are designed to supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Even though today's airbags are also designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating bag, all airbags must inflate very quickly to do their job.

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Seats and Restraints

Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system:

{ WARNING

{ WARNING

{ WARNING

You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing a safety belt — even if the vehicle has airbags. Airbags are designed to work with safety belts, but do not replace them. Also, airbags are not designed to deploy in every crash. In some crashes safety belts are the only restraint. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑29. Wearing a safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Airbags are “supplemental restraints” to the safety belts. Everyone in the vehicle should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person.

Airbags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Do not sit unnecessarily close to any airbag, as you would be if you were sitting on the edge of the seat or leaning forward. Safety belts help keep you in position before and during a crash. Always wear a safety belt, even with airbags. The driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle. 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.

Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder belts offer protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle's safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Always secure children properly in the vehicle. To read how, see Older Children on page 3‑40 or Infants and Young Children on page 3‑42.

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Seats and Restraints

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Where Are the Airbags?

There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument cluster, 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 on page 5‑18 for more information.

The driver knee airbag is below the steering column. The right front passenger knee airbag is below the glove box.

The driver frontal airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel. The right front passenger frontal airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger side.

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WARNING (Continued)

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.

Driver Side Shown, Passenger

Driver Side Shown, Passenger

Side Similar

Side Similar

The seat-mounted side impact airbags for the driver and right front passenger are in the side of the seatbacks closest to the door.

The roof-rail airbags for the driver, right front passenger, and second 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 (Continued)

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When Should an Airbag Inflate? Frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near frontal crashes to help reduce the potential for severe injuries mainly to the driver's or right front passenger's head and chest. However, they are only designed to inflate if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment thresholds are used to predict how severe a crash is likely to be in time for the airbags to inflate and help restrain the occupants. Whether the frontal airbags will or should deploy is not based on how fast your vehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit, the direction of the impact, and how quickly your vehicle slows down.

Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash speeds. For example:

If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits a moving object. If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits an object that does not deform. If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole), the airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall). If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle, the airbags could inflate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.

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Thresholds can also vary with specific vehicle design. Frontal airbags are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts. In addition the vehicle has dual‐stage frontal airbags. Dual‐stage airbags adjust the restraint according to crash severity. Frontal knee airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near frontal impacts that exceed a predetermined deployment threshold. The vehicle has electronic frontal sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, dual-stage airbags inflate at a level less than full deployment. For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.

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Seats and Restraints

The vehicle has seat-mounted side impact airbags and roof-rail airbags. See Airbag System on page 3‑25. Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags are intended to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes. In addition, these roof‐rail airbags are intended to inflate during a rollover or in a severe frontal impact. Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags will inflate if the crash severity is above the system's designed threshold level. The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design. Roof-rail airbags are not intended to inflate in rear impacts. A seat‐mounted side impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck. Both roof‐rail airbags will deploy when either side

of the vehicle is struck or if the sensing system predicts that the vehicle is about to roll over, or in a severe frontal impact. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inflated simply because of the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For frontal airbags, inflation is determined by what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows down. For seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags, deployment is determined by the location and severity of the side impact. In a rollover event, roof‐rail airbag deployment is determined by the direction of the roll.

What Makes an Airbag Inflate? In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing the bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inflator, the airbag, and related hardware are all part of the airbag module. Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with knee airbags, there are airbag modules below the steering column and below the glove box. For vehicles with seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are airbag modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to the door. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows that have occupant seating positions.

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What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impact airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly that some people may not even realize an airbag inflated. Roof-rail airbags may still be at least partially inflated for some time after they deploy. Some components of the airbag module may be hot for several minutes. For location of the airbag modules, see What Makes an Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑30.

How Does an Airbag Restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside of the vehicle. Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Frontal airbags with knee airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's body, stopping the occupant more gradually.

Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper 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 and second rows. 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. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑29 for more information. Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts.

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Seats and Restraints

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

WARNING (Continued)

WARNING (Continued)

problems following an airbag deployment, you should seek medical attention.

The vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock the doors, turn on the interior lamps and hazard warning flashers, and shut off the fuel system after the airbags inflate. You can lock the doors, turn off the interior lamps and hazard warning flashers by using the controls for those features.

{ 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 attempting to restart the vehicle 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 right front passenger airbag. . Airbags are designed to inflate

only once. After an airbag