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2009 HUMMER H2 Owner Manual M


Seats and Restraint System ............................. 1-1
Head Restraints ......................................... 1-2
Front Seats ............................................... 1-4
Rear Seats .............................................. 1-10
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-20
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-40
Airbag System ......................................... 1-67
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-80
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks ...................................... 2-10
Windows ................................................. 2-19
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-23
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-27
Mirrors .................................................... 2-47
Object Detection Systems .......................... 2-50
OnStar® System ...................................... 2-54
Universal Home Remote System ................ 2-57
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-64
Sunroof .................................................. 2-68
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
.......................... 3-4
...................................... 3-22
........ 3-29
.................. 3-46
....................................... 3-72


Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s)


Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle Towing


Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
....... 4-2
................................................... 4-50
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-11
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-47
Four-Wheel Drive ..................................... 5-48
Front Axle ............................................... 5-49
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-56
Tires ...................................................... 5-57
Appearance Care ................................... 5-102
Vehicle Identification ............................... 5-109
Electrical System .................................... 5-109
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-117
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
........... 7-2
........................... 7-14
........... 7-16
Index ................................................................ 1


Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy


Maintenance Schedule


Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer/retailer or from:


Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com


Propriétaires Canadiens On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français auprès de concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante:


Helm Incorporated P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
helminc.com


Index To quickly locate information about the vehicle use the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found.


©2008 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.


GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, HUMMER, the name HUMMER, H2 and the H2 Design are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. GM reserves the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for HUMMER wherever it appears in this manual. This manual describes features that may or may not be on your specific vehicle. Read this manual from beginning to end to learn about the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures, symbols, and words work together to explain vehicle operation. Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.


Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15952375 A First Printing


ii


Safety Warnings and Symbols


A circle with a slash through it is a safety symbol which means “Do Not,” “Do not do this” or “Do not let this happen.”


A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about things that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore the warning.


{ CAUTION:


These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.


A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by the vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. The notice tells what to do to help avoid the damage. There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use the same words, CAUTION or Notice.


Vehicle Symbols The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage, or indicator. M : This symbol is shown when you need to see your owner manual for additional instructions or information.


Cautions tell what the hazard is and what to do to avoid or reduce the hazard. Read these cautions.


* : This symbol is shown when you need to see a service manual for additional instructions or information.


iii


Vehicle Symbol Chart Here are some additional symbols that may be found on the vehicle and what they mean. For more information on the symbol, refer to the index.


9 : Airbag Readiness Light # : Air Conditioning ! : Antilock Brake System (ABS) g : Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar® $ : Brake System Warning Light " : Charging System I : Cruise Control B : Engine Coolant Temperature O : Exterior Lamps


+ : Fuses


i : Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer


j : LATCH System Child Restraints * : Malfunction Indicator Lamp : : Oil Pressure


} : Power


/ : Remote Vehicle Start > : Safety Belt Reminders


7 : Tire Pressure Monitor


_ : Tow/Haul Mode


F : Traction Control


M : Windshield Washer Fluid


# : Fog Lamps . : Fuel Gage


iv


Section 1


Seats and Restraint System


Head Restraints ...............................................1-2
Front Seats ......................................................1-4
Power Seats ..................................................1-4
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-5
Heated Seats .................................................1-6
Memory Seat and Mirrors ................................1-6
Power Reclining Seatbacks ..............................1-8
Rear Seats .....................................................1-10
Heated Seats ...............................................1-10
Split Folding Rear Seat .................................1-11
Bucket Seats (Reclining Seatbacks) .................1-13
Third Row Seat ............................................1-14
Safety Belts ...................................................1-20
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-20
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-25
Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-34
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-39
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-39
Child Restraints .............................................1-40
Older Children ..............................................1-40
Infants and Young Children ............................1-43


Child Restraint Systems .................................1-47
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-50
Lower Anchors and Tethers for


Children (LATCH) ......................................1-51


Securing a Child Restraint in a


Rear Seat Position ....................................1-62


Securing a Child Restraint in the


Right Front Seat Position ............................1-64
Airbag System ...............................................1-67
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-69
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-72
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-73
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-74
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-74
Airbag Off Switch ..........................................1-76
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-79
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped


Vehicle ....................................................1-79
Restraint System Check ..................................1-80
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-80
Replacing Restraint System Parts


After a Crash ............................................1-81


1-1


Head Restraints The front seats have adjustable head restraints in the outboard seating positions.


{ CAUTION:


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.


1-2


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.


Push down on the head restraint after the button is released to make sure that it is locked in place. The head restraints are not designed to be removed. The rear seat has head rests that can be adjusted up and down.


Pull the head restraint up to raise it. To lower the head restraint, press the button, located on the top of the seatback, and push the restraint down.


1-3


On a vehicle with power seats, the controls used to operate them are located on the outboard side of the seats. To adjust the seat, do any of the following: (cid:129) Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the


control forward or rearward.


(cid:129) Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by


moving the front of the control up or down.


(cid:129) Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by


moving the rear of the control up or down.


(cid:129) Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire


control up or down.


On seats with power reclining seatbacks, the control is located behind the power seat control on the outboard side of the seats. See “Power Reclining Seatbacks” under Power Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-8. A vehicle with a memory function allows seat settings to be saved and recalled. See Memory Seat and Mirrors on page 1-6 for more information.


Front Seats


Power Seats


Driver Seat with Power Seat Control, Power Recline,


and Power Lumbar shown


1-4


Power Lumbar


If the seats have power lumbar, the controls used to operate this feature are located on the outboard side of the seats.


To increase lumbar support, press and hold the front of the control. To decrease lumbar support, press and hold the rear of the control. To raise the height of the lumbar support, press and hold the top of the control. To lower the height of the lumbar support, press and hold the bottom of the control.


Release the control when the lower seatback reaches the desired level of lumbar support. The vehicle may have a memory function which allows seat settings to be saved and recalled. See Memory Seat and Mirrors on page 1-6 for more information. Keep in mind that as the seating position changes, as it may during long trips, so should the position of the lumbar support. Adjust the seat as needed.


1-5


(cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) Heated Seats On vehicles with heated front seats, the controls are located on the driver and passenger doors. I (Heated Seatback): Press to turn on the heated seatback. J (Heated Seat and Seatback): Press to turn on the heated seat and seatback. The light on the button will come on to indicate that the feature is working. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium, and low and to turn the heat to the seat off. Indicator lights will show the level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low. The heated seats will be canceled 10 seconds after the ignition is turned off. To use the heated seat feature after restarting the vehicle, press the heated seat or seatback button again.


Memory Seat and Mirrors If the vehicle has this feature, the controls for the memory function are located on the driver door.


1: Saves the seating position for driver 1.


2: Saves the seating position for driver 2.


S : Programs and recalls the easy exit position. These buttons are used to program and recall memory settings for the driver seat and both the driver and passenger outside mirrors. The settings for these features can be saved for up to two drivers.


1-6


To store the memory settings: 1. While the vehicle is in P (Park), adjust the driver seat, including the seatback recliner, lumbar, and side wing area, and both outside mirrors to a comfortable position.


2. Press and hold button 1 until a double chime sounds to let you know that the position has been stored.


A second seating and mirror position can be programmed by repeating Steps 1 and 2 and pressing button 2. To recall the memory positions, the vehicle must be in P (Park). Press and release either button 1 or button 2
corresponding to the desired driving position. A single chime will sound and the memory position will be recalled. To stop recall movement of the memory seat feature at any time, press one of the memory buttons or power seat controls.


Easy Exit Seat To store the seat exit position: 1. Press and release the button 1. The seat will move


to the stored memory position.


2. Adjust the seat to the desired exit position. 3. Press and hold the exit button until a double chime sounds to let you know that the position has been stored. A second seat exit position can be programmed by repeating Steps 1 through 3 and pressing button 2.


B (Easy Exit Seat): To use the seat exit position: (cid:129) Press the exit button on the memory control.


If this feature is activated in the DIC, removing the key from the ignition will move the seat to the exit position.


See “Easy Exit Seat” under DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-64 for more information on activating this feature in the DIC.


1-7


(cid:129) Power Reclining Seatbacks The front seats have power reclining seatbacks. The control used to operate the seatbacks is located on the outboard side of the seats.


{ CAUTION:


Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.


CAUTION:


(Continued)


To recline the seatback, press the control toward the rear of the vehicle. To raise the seatback, press the control toward the front of the vehicle.


1-8


(cid:129) (cid:129) CAUTION:


(Continued)


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


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


1-9


Rear Seats


Heated Seats


M (Heated Seat): To heat the seat cushion, press the button with the heated seat symbol. A heated seat symbol will be shown in the RSA display to indicate that the feature is on. Press the button to cycle through the temperature settings of high, medium, and low, and to turn it off. Indicator bars next to the symbol will designate the level of heat selected: three for high, two for medium, and one for low. The heated seats are off when the ignition is off.


On vehicles with rear outboard heated seats, the buttons used to control this feature are located on the Rear Seat Audio (RSA) panel.


Driver Side RSA Heated


Seat Button shown


1-10


Split Folding Rear Seat The split bench and bucket seats can be folded to provide more cargo space. Folding the Seatbacks The seatbacks are equipped with rearward folding head rests (SUV only). When the seatback is being folded down, the head rest will automatically fold rearward. To fold the rear seat: 1. Make sure that nothing is under or in front of


the seat.


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.


3. Pull the seatback forward and fold it down until it


is flat. If the seatback cannot fold flat because it interferes with the cushion, try moving the front seat forward and/or bringing the front seatback more upright.


4. Repeat the steps for the other half of the split


bench seat.


2. Pull up on the strap


loop located at the rear of the seat cushion and pull the seat cushion up and fold it forward.


{ CAUTION:


Using the third row seating position while the second row is folded, or folded and tumbled, could cause injury in a sudden stop or crash. Be sure to return the seat to the passenger seating position. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.


1-11


CAUTION:


(Continued)


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 return the seat(s) to the upright position: 1. Lift the seatback up and push it rearward all


the way.


2. Lower the seat cushion until it latches into position. 3. Pull forward on the seatback and up on the seat


cushion to make sure the seat is securely in place.


4. Return the head rest (SUV only) to the upright


position.


Returning the Seat(s) to an Upright Position


{ CAUTION:


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.


{ CAUTION:


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


CAUTION:


(Continued)


1-12


Bucket Seats (Reclining Seatbacks) Vehicles with bucket seats have a manual reclining seat back function.


To recline the seatback: 1. Lift the recline lever. 2. Move the seatback to the desired position, 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 an upright position: 1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the


seatback and the seatback will return to the upright position.


2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is


locked.


The lever used to operate them is located on the outboard side of the seat(s).


1-13


Third Row Seat Entering or Exiting the Third Row Seat If the vehicle has a third row seat, it is intended for two passengers and has only two designated seating positions. A second row split folding rear seat must be folded down before entering or exiting the third row. See “Folding the Seatbacks” under Split Folding Rear Seat on page 1-11 earlier in this section for instructions. The third row seatback can be folded and the entire seat can be tilted or removed from the vehicle.


Folding the Seatback To fold the seatback: 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.


1. Pull up on the release


lever labeled 1, located on the rear of the seatback, and push the seatback forward.


1-14


Unfolding the Seatback


{ CAUTION:


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.


To return the seatback to the passenger position:


1. Pull up on the release


lever labeled 1 and then pull up on the seatback until the seatback locks into the upright position.


Tilting the Seat 1. Fold the seatback forward using the instructions


listed previously.


2. Unlatch the seat from the floor by pulling up on the lever labeled 2, located on the rear of the seat.


3. Lift the rear of the seat up from the floor and push it forward until it locks into place. The seat cannot be unlatched from the floor unless the seatback is folded down.


The seat will now remain locked in the upright position.


2. Push forward on the seatback to make sure it is


locked into position.


1-15


Returning the Seat from a Tilted to an Upright Position


To return the seatback to an upright position:


{ CAUTION:


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.


1. Pull the lever labeled 3 toward you. 2. While still holding lever 3 toward you, grasp the top


of the seat and pull it toward you slightly.


3. Release lever 3 and pull the seat completely down. 4. Push down on the seat firmly. Try pulling it up to


be sure it is locked into place.


1-16


5. Pull up on the release


lever labeled 1 and then pull up on the seatback until the seatback locks into the upright position.


Removing the Seat To remove the seat: 1. Open the liftgate. 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.


2. Fold the seatback


forward onto the seat cushion by using the lever labeled 1. The seat cannot be removed unless the seatback is folded.


3. Pull up on the release lever labeled 2, at the rear of the seat, to unlatch the rear of the seat from the floor, and lift the rear of the seat up from the floor.


1-17


Installing the Seat


{ CAUTION:


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.


{ CAUTION:


A seat that is not locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.


4. Squeeze the release handle while pulling the seat


out of the slots on the floor.


5. Roll the seat out of the vehicle while holding the


rear of the seat up.


1-18


{ CAUTION:


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 install the seat: 1. Slide the front wheels into the slots on the floor while holding the rear of the seat up. The front latches should lock into place. If the latches do not lock, try tilting the rear of the seat upward.


2. Once the latches are engaged, pull up on the lever


labeled 3 to allow the seat to drop into place.


3. Pull up on the lever labeled 1 to return the seatback


to its upright position.


4. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked


into place. The seatback cannot be raised to the upright position unless the seat is secured to the floor.


1-19


Safety Belts


Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts.


{ CAUTION:


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.


1-20


{ CAUTION:


People riding on the tailgate (if equipped) can easily lose their balance and fall even when the vehicle is operated at low speeds. Falling from a moving vehicle may result in serious injuries or death.


{ CAUTION:


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 your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.


Your vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle your safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-32.


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


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 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!


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


1-21


Put someone on it.


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


1-22


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


or the instrument panel...


1-23


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.


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.


or the safety belts! 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.


1-24


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 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone.


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 1-40 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-43. 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. First, before you or your passenger(s) wear a safety belt, there is important information you should know.


1-25


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. 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.


1-26


Q: What is wrong with this?


{ CAUTION:


You can be seriously hurt if your 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.


A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give as


much protection this way.


1-27


Q: What is wrong with this?


{ CAUTION:


You can be seriously hurt if your 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.


1-28


Q: What is wrong with this?


{ CAUTION:


You can be seriously injured if your 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 your belt into the buckle nearest you.


A: The belt is buckled in the wrong buckle.


1-29


{ CAUTION:


You can be seriously injured if your 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.


Q: What is wrong with this?


A: The belt is over an armrest.


1-30


Q: What is wrong with this?


{ CAUTION:


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.


1-31


{ CAUTION:


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.


Q: What is wrong with this?


A: The belt is behind the body.


1-32


Q: What is wrong with this?


{ CAUTION:


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/retailer to fix it.


A: The belt is twisted across the body.


1-33


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


1-34


3. 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 1-39. Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.


4. 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. Slide the latch plate up the safety belt webbing when the safety belt is not in use. The latch plate should rest on the stitching on the safety belt, near the guide loop on the side wall. 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 belt and the vehicle.


1-35


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 will need to be replaced, and probably other new parts for the vehicle’s safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-81.


Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide for each outside passenger position in the second row seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide to the safety belt:


1-36


1. Remove the guide from its storage pocket on the


side of the seat.


2. Place the guide over the belt, and insert the


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


3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.


The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top.


1-37


{ CAUTION:


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.


1-38


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 into its storage pocket on the side of the seat. Make sure you remove the comfort guide from the safety belt before you fold a rear seat down.


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.


Safety Belt Extender If the safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer/retailer 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.


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. 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.


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Child Restraints


Older Children


Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts.


1-40


The manufacturer’s 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 below fit test: (cid:129) 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.


(cid:129) Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder belt


rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, try using the rear safety belt comfort guide. See “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-34 for more information. If the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the booster seat.


(cid:129) Does the lap belt fit low and snug on the hips,


touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.


(cid:129) Can proper safety belt fit be maintained for the length of the trip? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat. If you have the choice, a child should sit in a position with a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.


(cid:129) { CAUTION:


Never do this. Never allow two children to wear the same safety belt. The safety belt can not properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, the two children can be crushed together and seriously injured. A safety belt must be used by only one person at a time.


Q: What is the proper way to wear safety 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. Also see “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-34. According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in a child restraint system or infant restraint system secured in a rear seating position. In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strike other people who are buckled up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need to use safety belts properly.


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{ CAUTION:


Never do this. Never allow a child to wear the safety belt with the shoulder belt behind their back. A child can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, the child would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. The child could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. The child 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.


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Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle.


{ CAUTION:


Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle and never allow children to play with the safety belts.


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. Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate child restraints. Children who are not restrained properly can strike other people, or can be thrown out of the vehicle.


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{ CAUTION:


Never do this. Never hold an infant or a child while riding in a vehicle. Due to crash forces, an infant or a child will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it during a crash. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12 lb (5.5 kg) infant will suddenly become a 240 lb (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. An infant should be secured in an appropriate restraint.


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{ CAUTION:


Never do this. Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the right front seat. Secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat. It is also better to secure a forward-facing child restraint in a rear seat. If you must secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go.


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{ CAUTION:


To reduce the risk of neck and head injury during a crash, infants need complete support. This is because an infant’s neck is not fully developed and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing child restraint settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants should always be secured in rear-facing child restraints.


Q: What are the different types of add-on child


restraints?


A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the


vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height, and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used. For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs.


1-46


{ CAUTION:


A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries during a crash, young children should always be secured in appropriate child restraints.


Child Restraint Systems


A rear-facing infant seat (A) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant.


The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.


A forward-facing child seat (B) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness.


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Securing an Add-On Child Restraint in the Vehicle


{ CAUTION:


A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. Secure the child restraint properly in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that child restraint and the instructions in this manual.


A booster seat (C-D) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.


1-48


To help reduce the chance of injury, the child restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child restraint systems must be secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by the LATCH system. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-51 for more information. A child can be endangered in a crash if the child restraint is not properly secured in the vehicle. When securing an add-on child restraint, refer to the instructions that come with the restraint which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in the vehicle — even when no child is in it.


Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint


{ CAUTION:


A child can be seriously injured or killed in a crash if the child is not properly secured in the child restraint. Secure the child properly following the instructions that came with that child restraint.


1-49


Where to Put the Restraint According to accident statistics, children and infants are safer when properly restrained in a child restraint system or infant restraint system secured in a rear seating position. We recommend that children and child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children, who are large enough, using safety belts. A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.


{ CAUTION:


A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates and the passenger seat is in a forward position. Even if the airbag switch has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off.


CAUTION:


(Continued)


1-50


CAUTION:


(Continued)


Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.


When securing a child restraint in a rear seating position, study the instructions that came with your child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle. Wherever a child restraint is installed, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision or sudden stop and injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even when no child is in it.


Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) The LATCH system holds a child restraint during driving or in a crash. This system is designed to make installation of a child restraint easier. The LATCH system uses anchors in the vehicle and attachments on the child restraint that are made for use with the LATCH system. Make sure that a LATCH-compatible child restraint is properly installed using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. When installing a child restraint with a top tether, you must also use either the lower anchors or the safety belts to properly secure the child restraint. A child restraint must never be installed using only the top tether and anchor. In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint that has LATCH attachments. The child restraint manufacturer will provide you with instructions on how to use the child restraint and its attachments. The following explains how to attach a child restraint with these attachments in your vehicle. Not all vehicle seating positions or child restraints have lower anchors and attachments or top tether anchors and attachments.


1-51


Lower Anchors


Top Tether Anchor


Lower anchors (A) are metal bars built into the vehicle. There are two lower anchors for each LATCH seating position that will accommodate a child restraint with lower attachments (B).


A top tether (A, C) anchors the top of the child restraint to the vehicle. A top tether anchor is built into the vehicle. The top tether attachment (B) on the child restraint connects to the top tether anchor in the vehicle in order to reduce the forward movement and rotation of the child restraint during driving or in a crash. Your child restraint may have a single tether (A) or a dual tether (C). Either will have a single attachment (B) to secure the top tether to the anchor.


1-52


Some child restraints that have a top tether are designed for use with or without the top tether being attached. Others require the top tether always to be attached. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If the child restraint does not have a top tether, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available. Lower Anchor and Top Tether Anchor Locations


i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.


j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors.


Second Row — SUT


60/40 Bench


Second Row — SUV


60/40 Bench


Second Row — Bucket


i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.


j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors.


i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.


j (Lower Anchor): Seating positions with two lower anchors.


1-53


i (Top Tether Anchor): Seating positions with top tether anchors.


Third Row — SUV


For SUV models with a second row 60/40 bench seat, there are exposed metal anchors for the center and passenger side seating positions. For SUT models with a second row 60/40 bench seat, there are exposed metal anchors for the center seating position. For models with second row bucket seats, there are exposed metal anchors for both seating positions.


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Second Row — SUV 60/40 Bench


For SUV models with a second row 60/40 bench seat, the top tether anchors are located at the bottom rear of the seat cushion for each position in the second row. Be sure to use the anchor located nearest to the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.


Second Row — SUT 60/40 Bench


For SUT models with a second row 60/40 bench seat, the top tether anchor is located at the bottom rear of the seat cushion for the center position in the second row. You may need to fold the seatback of the passenger side seat forward in order to access this anchor.


Second Row — Bucket


For models with second row bucket seats, the top tether anchors are located at the bottom rear of the seat cushion for each position in the second row. Be sure to use the anchor located nearest to the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.


1-55


Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System


{ CAUTION:


If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to anchors, the child restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Install a LATCH-type child restraint properly using the anchors, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with the child restraint and the instructions in this manual.


Third Row — SUV


For SUV models with third row seating, the top tether anchor is located at the bottom rear of the seat cushion for the passenger side seating position in the third row. Do not secure a child restraint in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be attached, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top tether must be attached. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-50 for additional information.


1-56


{ CAUTION:


Do not attach more than one child restraint to a single anchor. Attaching more than one child restraint to a single anchor could cause the anchor or attachment to come loose or even break during a crash. A child or others could be injured. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries during a crash, attach only one child restraint per anchor.


{ CAUTION:


Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck and the safety belt continues to tighten. Buckle any unused safety belts behind the child restraint so


CAUTION:


(Continued)


CAUTION:


(Continued)


children cannot reach them. Pull the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock, if your vehicle has one, after the child restraint has been installed.


Notice: Do not let the LATCH attachments rub against the vehicle’s safety belts. This may damage these parts. If necessary, move buckled safety belts to avoid rubbing the LATCH attachments. Do not fold the empty rear seat with a safety belt buckled. This could damage the safety belt or the seat. Unbuckle and return the safety belt to its stowed position, before folding the seat.


1-57


1.4. Route and attach, but do not tighten, the top


tether according to your child restraint instructions and the following instructions:


If your child restraint has a single tether, route the tether over the seatback.


Second Row Center Position — SUT


1. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that the top tether be attached, attach the top tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:


1.1. To access the top tether anchor, raise


the passenger side seat cushion by pulling up on the strap loop at the rear of the seat cushion and fold the seat cushion forward. Then fold the seatback forward. See Split Folding Rear Seat on page 1-11 for additional information.


1.2. Place the child restraint in the center seating


position.


1.3. Find the top tether anchor at the rear base of


the center seat.


1-58


If your child restraint has a dual tether, route the tether over the seatback.


1.5. Return the rear passenger side seatback to its


upright position. You may have to move the child restraint to a temporary position to do this. Ensure that the seatback locks and the safety belt is routed properly. Then lower the seat cushion until the seatback and the seat cushion lock into position.


2. Attach the lower attachments to the lower anchors.


If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual.


2.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired


seating position.


2.2. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on


the child restraint to the lower anchors.


3. Tighten the top tether.


{ CAUTION:


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.


4. Push and pull the child restraint in different


directions to be sure it is secure.


1-59


Second and Third Row Positions — SUV and SVA Special Edition 1. Attach and tighten the lower attachments to the


lower anchors. If the child restraint does not have lower attachments or the desired seating position does not have lower anchors, secure the child restraint with the top tether and the safety belts. Refer to your child restraint manufacturer instructions and the instructions in this manual.


1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired


seating position.


1.2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 1.3. Attach and tighten the lower attachments on


the child restraint to the lower anchors.


2. If the child restraint manufacturer recommends that


the top tether be attached, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchor, if equipped. Refer to the child restraint instructions and the following steps:


2.1. Find the top tether anchor. 2.2. Route, attach, and tighten the top tether


according to your child restraint instructions and the following instructions:


If the position you are using does not have a headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, route the tether over the seatback.


1-60


If the position you are using has an adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, raise the headrest or head restraint and route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and in between the headrest or head restraint posts.


3. Push and pull the child restraint in different


directions to be sure it is secure.


If the position you are using does not have a headrest or head restraint and you are using a dual tether, route the tether over the seatback.


If the position you are using has an adjustable headrest or head restraint and you are using a single tether, raise the headrest or head restraint and route the tether under the headrest or head restraint and in between the headrest or head restraint posts.


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Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position When securing a child restraint in a rear seating position, study the instructions that came with the child restraint to make sure it is compatible with this vehicle. If the child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-51
for how and where to install the child restraint using LATCH. If a child restraint is secured in the vehicle using a safety belt and it uses a top tether, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-51 for top tether anchor locations. Do not secure a child seat in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. If the child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the safety belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say.


1-62


If more than one child restraint needs to be installed in the rear seat, be sure to read Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-50. 1. Put the child restraint on the seat. 2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder


portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.


3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.


4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of


the retractor to set the lock.


5. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. When installing a forward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.


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6. If the child restraint has a top tether, follow the child


restraint manufacturer’s instructions regarding the use of the top tether. See Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-51 for more information.


7. Push and pull the child restraint in different


directions to be sure it is secure.


To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and let it return to the stowed position. If the top tether is attached to a top tether anchor, disconnect it.


Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position This vehicle has airbags. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-50. There is a switch in the glove box that you can use to turn off the right front passenger frontal airbag. See Airbag Off Switch on page 1-76 for more information, including important safety information. A label on the sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.


{ CAUTION:


A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag inflates and the passenger seat is in a forward position. Even if the airbag switch has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off. If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.


1-64


{ CAUTION:


If the airbag readiness light ever comes on when you have turned off the airbag, it means that something may be wrong with the airbag system. The right front passenger’s airbag could inflate even though the switch is off. If this ever happens, do not let anyone whom the national government has identified as a member of a passenger airbag risk group sit in the right front passenger’s position (for example, do not secure a rear-facing child restraint in the right front passenger’s seat) until you have your vehicle serviced. See Airbag Off Switch on page 1-76 and Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-32 for more on this, including important safety information.


If your child restraint has the LATCH system, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-51
for how and where to install the child restraint using LATCH. If a child restraint is secured using a safety belt and it uses a top tether, see Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) on page 1-51 for top tether anchor locations.


Do not secure a child restraint in a position without a top tether anchor if a national or local law requires that the top tether be anchored, or if the instructions that come with the child restraint say that the top strap must be anchored. In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top tether, and that the tether be attached. You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. 1. Move the seat as far back as it will go before


securing the forward-facing child restraint. If you have no other choice but to install a rear-facing child restraint in this seat, make sure the airbag is off once the child restraint has been installed. When the airbag off switch has turned off the right front passenger frontal airbag, the off indicator in the airbag off light should light and stay lit when you start the vehicle. See Airbag Off Light on page 3-33.


2. Put the child restraint on the seat.


If the seat has a safety belt guide, remove the safety belt from the guide by sliding the webbing through the opening on the guide. Do not secure the child restraint with the safety belt routed through the guide.


1-65


3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder


portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how.


4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.


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5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of


the retractor to set the lock.


If you turned the airbag off with the switch, turn on the right front passenger airbag when you remove the child restraint from the vehicle unless the person who will be sitting there is a member of a passenger airbag risk group. See Airbag Off Switch on page 1-76 for more information, including important safety information. Airbag System The vehicle has the following airbags: (cid:129) A frontal airbag for the driver. (cid:129) A frontal airbag for the right front passenger. (cid:129) A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the passenger


seated directly behind the driver.


(cid:129) A roof-rail airbag for the right front passenger and


the passenger seated directly behind the right front passenger.


The vehicle may have the following airbags:


If your vehicle has a third row seat, it will have third row roof-rail airbags.


All of the airbags in your 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. With roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG will appear along the headliner or trim.


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6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint, pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. When installing a forward-facing child restraint, it may be helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.


7. Push and pull the child restraint in different


directions to be sure it is secure.


To remove the child restraint, unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and let it return to the stowed position.


(cid:129) { CAUTION:


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 the airbag, as you would be if you were sitting on the edge of your seat or leaning forward. Safety belts help keep you in position before and during a crash. Always wear your 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 roof-rail airbags.


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


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You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing your safety belt — even if you have 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 your only restraint. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? on page 1-72. Wearing your 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 your vehicle should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person.


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Where Are the Airbags?


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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 your vehicle. To read how, see Older Children on page 1-40 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-43.


There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol.


The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.


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 3-32 for more information.


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The right front passenger’s frontal airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.


Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar


The roof-rail airbags for the driver, right front passenger, and second row outboard passengers are in the ceiling above the side windows.


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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. 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.


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Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar


If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags and a third row passenger seat, the airbags are located in the ceiling above the rear windows for the outboard passenger positions in the third row.


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 your 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 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.


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.


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(cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) 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 roof-rail airbags, there are airbag modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side windows that have occupant seating positions.


Your vehicle has roof-rail airbags. See Airbag System on page 1-67. 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. 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 frontal impacts, near-frontal impacts, or rear impacts. 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. 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 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.


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What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? After the frontal 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 1-73. 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.


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 distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually. 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, second, and third rows, if equipped with a third row seat. 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 1-72 for more information. Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts.


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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, turn the interior lamps on, and turn the hazard warning flashers on when the airbags inflate. You can lock the doors, turn the interior lamps off, and turn the hazard warning flashers off by using the controls for those features.


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. (cid:129) 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 on page 7-16 and Event Data Recorders on page 7-17. Let only qualified technicians work on the airbag systems. Improper service can mean that an airbag system will not work properly. See your dealer/retailer for service.


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