2012 ridgeline - american honda motor...

2012 RidgelineOwner’s Manual

(Unlinked)

This document does not contain hyperlinks and may be formatted for printing instead of web use. This is due to changes

in content and specifications of the vehicle that happen throughout the model year. This manual will be replaced with a

hyperlinked version at the end of the model year.

P/N 00X31-SJC-© 2011 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. - All Rights Reserved 6600

This owner’s manual should be considereda permanent part of the vehicle and shouldremain with the vehicle when it is sold.

This owner’s manual covers all models ofthe Ridgeline. You may find descriptions ofequipment and features that are not on yourparticular model.

Images throughout this owner’s manual(including the front cover) representfeatures and equipment that are available onsome, but not all, models. Your particularmodel may not have some of these features.

The information and specifications includedin this publication were in effect at the timeof approval for printing. Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. reserves the right, however, todiscontinue or change specifications ordesign at any time without notice andwithout incurring any obligation whatsoever.

Owner’s Identif ication

POUR CLIENTS CANADIENAVIS IMPORTANT: Si vous avezbesoin d’un Manuel du Conducteuren français, veuillez demander àvotre concessionnaire decommander le numéro de pièce33SJCC60

OWNER

ADDRESS

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE

DEALER NAME DEALER NO.

ADDRESS

OWNER’S SIGNATURE

DEALER’S SIGNATURE

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE/TERRITORY ZIP CODE/POSTAL CODE

(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE/TERRITORY ZIP CODE/POSTAL CODE

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Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty bookletthoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rightsand responsibilities.

As you read this manual, you willfind information that is preceded bya symbol. Thisinformation is intended to help youavoid damage to your vehicle, otherproperty, or the environment.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is toread this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls andconvenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle soyou can refer to it at any time.

Maintaining your vehicle according to the Maintenance Minder shown inthe instrument panel helps to keep your driving trouble-free while itpreserves your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep inmind that your dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the manysystems unique to your vehicle. Your dealer is dedicated to your satisfactionand will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns.

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2012 Honda Ridgeline was a wiseinvestment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

Introduction

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Event Data RecordersThis vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR).The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations, such as an air bag deploymentor hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR isdesigned to record data related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time, typically 30 secondsor less. The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such data as:

How various systems in your vehicle were operating;Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were buckled/fastened;How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or brake pedal; and,How fast the vehicle was traveling.

These data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.NOTE: EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data are recorded by theEDR under normal driving conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) are recorded.However, other parties, such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of personally identifyingdata routinely acquired during a crash investigation.

To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. Inaddition to the vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special equipment, canread the information if they have access to the vehicle or the EDR.

The data belongs to the vehicle owner and may not be accessed by anyone else except as legally required or with thepermission of the vehicle owner.

Introduction

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－

California Proposition 65 Warning

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birthdefects or other reproductive harm.

Service Diagnostic RecordersThis vehicle is equipped with service-related devices that record information about powertrain performance. The datacan be used to verify emissions law requirements and/or help technicians diagnose and solve service problems. It mayalso be combined with data from other sources for research purposes, but it remains confidential.

California Perchlorate Contamination Prevention ActThe airbags, seat belt tensioners, and CR type batteries in this vehicle may contain perchlorate materials specialhandling may apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/

WARNING:

Introduction

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Your safety, and the safety of others,is very important. And operating thisvehicle safely is an importantresponsibility.

To help you make informeddecisions about safety, we haveprovided operating procedures andother information on labels and inthis manual. This information alertsyou to potential hazards that couldhurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical orpossible to warn you about all thehazards associated with operating ormaintaining your vehicle. You mustuse your own good judgement.

You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms,including:

This entire book is filled with important safety information please read itcarefully.

how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

These signal words mean:

on the vehicle.preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

three signal words: , , or .

such as Important Safety Reminders or ImportantSafety Precautions.

InstructionsSafety Section

Safety LabelsSafety Messages

Safety Headings

A Few Words About Safety

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

iv

You CAN be HURT if you don’t followinstructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLYHURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLYHURT if you don’t follow instructions.

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In addition to these characteristics, your vehicle’s pickup bed area allows you to carry more cargo and has the dual-action tailgate to handle the items easily.

These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a highcenter of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have asignificantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantlymore likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wearseat belts.

Overloading or improperly loading cargo could affect your handling and the vehicle’s stability, and could result in acrash. Make sure the cargo is properly loaded and all items are secured in the pickup bed area.

For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read ‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page of this manual and thesection on page . Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of

control, a crash, or rollover.

Your vehicle has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use only on pavement. Higher groundclearance has many advantages for off-highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and roughterrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier. Your vehicle also has a relatively shortwheelbase, allowing it to respond quicker to the steering wheel than other vehicles with a longer wheelbase.

308270

Off-Highway Driving Guidelines

Important Handling Information

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(fluid capacities and tire pressures)

(seat belts, SRS, and child protection)

(main controls)

(indicators, gauges, multi-information display, dashboard, and steering column)

(fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading)

( )

(engine and transmission operation)

(minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)

(flat tire, jump starting, overheating, and fuses)

(vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls)

(warranty and contact information)

(how to order)

climate control, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control, HomeLink , and other convenience items

Contents

................................................................................................................................................Index . I

..................................................Service Information Summary . last page

............................................................Driver and Passenger Safety . 5

...............................................................................................Your Vehicle at a Glance . 3

.......Instruments and Controls . 59

.......................................................................Before Driving . 247

..............Features . 145

.........................................................................................Driving . 269

.................................................Maintenance . 313

........................................Taking Care of the Unexpected . 361

..............................................Technical Information . 387

..................Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada only) . 405

..................................................................................Authorized Manuals (U.S. only) . 409

IND

EX

1

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How to operate the heating and airconditioning system, the audiosystem, and other conveniencefeatures.

A convenient reference to thesections in this manual.

A quick reference to the maincontrols in your vehicle.

Explains the purpose of eachinstrument panel indicator and gauge,and how to use the controls on thedashboard and steering column.

The proper way to start the engine,shift the transmission, and park; pluswhat you need to know if you’replanning to tow a trailer.

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,and technical information.

How to order manuals and othertechnical literature.

A summary of the information youneed when you pull up to the fuelpump.

The Maintenance Minder showsyou when you need to take yourvehicle to the dealer for maintenanceservice. There is also a list of thingsto check and instructions on how tocheck them.

A summary of the warrantiescovering your new vehicle, and howto contact us for any reason. Refer toyour warranty manual for detailedinformation.

This section covers several problemsmotorists sometimes experience,and details how to handle them.

Important information about theproper use and care of your vehicle’sseat belts, an overview of thesupplemental restraint system, andvaluable information on how toprotect children with child restraints.

What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to loadluggage and other cargo.

Contents

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Driver and Passenger Safety

Instruments and Controls

Features

Before Driving

Driving

Maintenance

Technical Information

Warranty and CustomerRelations(U.S. and Canada only)

Authorized Manuals(U.S. only)

Index

Service Information SummaryTaking Care of the Unexpected

Overview of Contents

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CONTINUED: If equipped

Your Vehicle at a GlanceY

ourV

ehicleata

Glance

3

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE

MIRROR CONTROLS

ACCESSORY POWER SOCKETS

FUEL FILL DOORRELEASE HANDLE

POWER DOOR LOCKMASTER SWITCH

(P.134)

(P.103)

(P.128)

INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORSGAUGES

(P.62)(P.76)

PARKING BRAKERELEASE HANDLE(P.132)

(P.139)

Vehicle with navigation system is shown.

PARKING BRAKE PEDAL(P.132) (P.136)

CENTER CONSOLE

AUXILIARY INPUT JACK

AUDIO SYSTEM(P.159)

PASSENGER’S FRONTAIRBAG

HEATING/COOLINGCONTROLSCLIMATE CONTROLSYSTEM

GLOVE BOX(P.138)

(P.9, 25)

(P.146)

(P.152)

(P.205)

DRIVER’S FRONTAIRBAG(P.9, 25) (P.213)

(P.254)

(P.250)

REARVIEW MIRROR WITHCOMPASS

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▼

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Only on vehicles equipped with navigation system. Refer to the navigation system manual.

To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.If equipped

On models with navigation system.On models without navigation system.

1 :2 :3 :4 :5 :

Your Vehicle at a Glance

4

Vehicle with navigation system is shown.

(P.31)REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS

HEADLIGHT CONTROL DIAL

STEERING WHEELADJUSTMENT

SEAT HEATERS

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFFINDICATOR

SEL/RESET BUTTON

INFO ( ) BUTTONSELECT BUTTON

INTERIOR LIGHT CONTROLSWITCH

CRUISE CONTROLS

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON

MULTI-CONTROL LEVER(WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS/TURN SIGNALS/HEADLIGHT HIGH BEAMS)(P.94)

(P.95)

MOONROOF SWITCH(P.131)

FOG LIGHTS

BED LIGHT SWITCH

(P.99)

(P.126)

(P.99)

(P.76)

(P.76)

(P.76)

(P.76)TRIP/RESET BUTTON(P.76)

(P.97)

INFO ( ) BUTTON

(P.203)

(P.210)

INSTRUMENT PANELBRIGHTNESS (P.98)

VTM-4 LOCK

SHIFT LEVER

VOICE CONTROL BUTTONS

HORN(P.144)

(P.221)

(P.142)

(P.273)

(P.278)

BLUETOOTHHANDSFREELINKSYSTEM VOICECONTROL BUTTONS

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA)OFF SWITCH (P.294)

2

2

4

45

2

2

5

4

3

1

4

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－

This section gives you importantinformation about how to protectyourself and your passengers. Itshows you how to use seat belts. Itexplains how your airbags work. Andit tells you how to properly restraininfants and children in your vehicle.

.........Important Safety Precautions . 6.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 7

.......................................Seat Belts . 8...........................................Airbags . 9

.........Protecting Adults and Teens . 11.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 11

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 14

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 155. Fasten and Position the

.............................Seat Belts . 166. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 17.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 18...Additional Safety Precautions . 19

Additional Information About Your.................................Seat Belts . 20

..Seat Belt System Components . 20......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 21

Automatic Seat Belt...............................Tensioners . 22

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 22Additional Information About

...........................Your Airbags . 23......Airbag System Components . 23

How Your Front Airbags.........................................Work . 25

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 28How your Side Curtain Airbags

.........................................Work . 30..How the SRS Indicator Works . 30

How the Side Airbag Off......................Indicator Works . 31

How the Passenger Airbag Off......................Indicator Works . 31

.............................Airbag Service . 32...Additional Safety Precautions . 33

Protecting Children General................................Guidelines . 34

All Children Must Be...............................Restrained . 34

All Children Should Sit in a.................................Back Seat . 35

The Passenger’s Front Airbag.........Can Pose Serious Risks . 35

If You Must Drive with Several...................................Children . 37

If a Child Requires Close..................................Attention . 37

...Additional Safety Precautions . 38Protecting Infants and Small

...................................Children . 39.......................Protecting Infants . 39

.........Protecting Small Children . 40.....................Selecting a Child Seat . 41....................Installing a Child Seat . 42

...............................With LATCH . 43.........With a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 46

..............................With a Tether . 48...........Protecting Larger Children . 51

...............Checking Seat Belt Fit . 51..................Using a Booster Seat . 52

When Can a Larger Child Sit in.........................................Front . 53

...Additional Safety Precautions . 54.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 55

...................................Safety Labels . 56

Driver and Passenger SafetyD

riverand

Passenger

Safety

5

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－You’ll find many safetyrecommendations throughout thissection, and throughout this manual.The recommendations on this pageare the ones we consider to be themost important.

A seat belt is your best protection inall types of collisions. Airbags aredesigned to supplement seat belts,not replace them. So even thoughyour vehicle is equipped with airbags,make sure you and your passengersalways wear your seat belts, andwear them properly (see page ).

Children age 12 and under shouldride properly restrained in a backseat, not the front seat. Infants andsmall children should be restrainedin a child seat. Larger childrenshould use a booster seat and a lap/shoulder belt until they can use thebelt properly without a booster seat

(see pages ).

While airbags can save lives, theycan cause serious or fatal injuries tooccupants who sit too close to them,or are not properly restrained.Infants, young children, and shortadults are at the greatest risk. Besure to follow all instructions andwarnings in this manual.

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Evenone drink can reduce your ability torespond to changing conditions, andyour reaction time gets worse withevery additional drink. So don’t drinkand drive, and don’t let your friendsdrink and drive, either.

Engaging in mobile phoneconversation or other activities thatkeep you from paying close attention

to the road, other vehicles andpedestrians could lead to a crash.Remember, situations can changequickly, and only you can decidewhen it is safe to divert attentionaway from driving.

Having a tire blowout or amechanical failure can be extremelyhazardous. To reduce the possibilityof such problems, check your tirepressures and condition frequently,and perform all regularly scheduledmaintenance (see page ).

Excessive speed is a major factor incrash injuries and deaths. Generally,the higher the speed, the greater therisk, but serious injuries can alsooccur at lower speeds. Never drivefaster than is safe for currentconditions, regardless of themaximum speed posted.16

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315

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

Restrain All Children

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

Don’t Drink and Drive

Pay Appropriate Attention to theTask of Driving Safely

Keep Your Vehicle in SafeCondition

Control Your Speed

Important Safety Precautions

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Your vehicle is equipped with manyfeatures that work together toprotect you and your passengersduring a crash.

Some features do not require anyaction on your part. These include astrong steel framework that forms asafety cage around the passengercompartment, front and rear crushzones, a collapsible steering column,and tensioners that tighten the frontseat belts in a crash.

However, you and your passengerscan’t take full advantage of thesefeatures unless you remain sitting inthe correct position and

. In fact, some safetyfeatures can contribute to injuries ifthey are not used properly.

The following pages explain how youcan take an active role in protectingyourself and your passengers.

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

always wearyour seat belts

Driver

andP

assengerSafety

7

(7)

(10)

(5)

(11)

(10)

(2)

(6)(8) (9) (12) (3)

(8)

(7)

(4)(9)

(2)(1)

(1) Safety Cage(2) Crush Zones(3) Seats and Seat-Backs(4) Head Restraints(5) Collapsible Steering Column(6) Seat Belts(7) Front Airbags(8) Side Airbags(9) Side Curtain Airbags(10) Door Locks(11) Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners(12) Occupant Position Detection

System (OPDS) Sensors

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Your vehicle is equipped with seatbelts in all seating positions.

Seat belts are the single mosteffective safety device for adults andlarger children. (Infants and smallerchildren must be properly restrainedin child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properlyincreases the chance of seriousinjury or death in a crash, eventhough your vehicle has airbags.

The pickup bed is not equipped withseats or seat belts. Do not let anyoneride in the pickup bed as they caneasily be thrown out and be killed orseriously injured.

In addition, most states and allCanadian provinces and territoriesrequire you to wear seat belts.

Your seat belt system also includesan indicator on the instrument paneland a beeper to remind you and yourpassengers to fasten your seat belts.

Keep you connected to the vehicleso you can take advantage of thevehicle’s built-in safety features.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Help protect you in almost everytype of crash, including:

frontal impactsside impactsrear impactsrollovers


Seat Belts Why Wear Seat Belts

8

Not wearing a seat belt properlyincreases the chance of seriousinjury or death in a crash, eventhough your vehicle has airbags.

Be sure you and yourpassengers always wear seatbelts and wear them properly.

Allowing passengers to ride inthe pickup bed or on the tailgatecan result in death or seriousinjury in a crash.

Make sure all passengers ridein a seat and wear a seat beltproperly.

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Your vehicle has a supplementalrestraint system (SRS) with frontairbags to help protect the heads andchests of the driver and a front seatpassenger during a moderate tosevere frontal collision (see page

for more information on howyour front airbags work).

Your vehicle also has side airbags tohelp protect the upper torso of thedriver or a front seat passengerduring a moderate to severe sideimpact (see page for moreinformation on how your side airbagswork).

Help keep you in a good positionshould the airbags ever deploy. Agood position reduces the risk ofinjury from an inflating airbag andallows you to get the bestadvantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannotcompletely protect you in everycrash. But in most cases, seat beltscan reduce your risk of seriousinjury.

Always wearyour seat belt, and make sure youwear it properly.

Help keep you from being thrownagainst the inside of the vehicleand against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown outof the vehicle.

25

28

CONTINUED


Airbags

What you should do:

Driver

andP

assengerSafety

9

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The rest of this section gives moredetailed information about how youcan maximize your safety.

The most important things you needto know about your airbags are:

They are designed to supplementthe seat belts.

Remember, however, that no safetysystem can prevent all injuries ordeaths that can occur in a severecrash, even when seat belts areproperly worn and the airbags deploy.

Always wearyour seat belt properly, and situpright and as far back from thesteering wheel as possible whileallowing full control of the vehicle. Afront passenger should move theirseat as far back from the dashboardas possible.

To do their job, airbags mustinflate with tremendous force. Sowhile airbags help save lives, theycan cause minor injuries or moreserious or even fatal injuries ifoccupants are not properlyrestrained or sitting properly.

In addition, your vehicle has sidecurtain airbags to help protect theheads of the driver, front passenger,and passengers in the outer rearseating positions during a moderateto severe side impact or rollover (seepage for more information on howyour side curtain airbags work).

30


Airbags do not replace seat belts.

What you should do:

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

Airbags offer no protection in rearcollisions, or minor frontal or sidecollisions.

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－See pages for importantguidelines on how to properlyprotect infants, small children, andlarger children who ride in yourvehicle.

The following pages provideinstructions on how to properlyprotect the driver, adult passengers,and teenage children who are largeenough and mature enough to driveor ride in the front.

After everyone has entered thevehicle, be sure the doors are closedand locked. Before driving, be surethe tailgate is also closed.

Your vehicle has a door andtailgate open indicator on

the instrument panel to indicatewhen any door or the tailgate is nottightly closed.

Your vehicle also has anIn-Bed Trunk open

indicator to show when the In-BedTrunk lid is not tightly closed (seepage ).

Your vehicle also has a tailgate, In-Bed Trunk, and door open indicatoron the multi-information display toindicate when the tailgate, the In-Bed Trunk, or a specific door is nottightly closed. You will see theappropriate indicator(s) andmessage(s) for each condition.

You will also hear a beep when youturn the ignition switch to the ON(II) position, and each time you openany door, the tailgate, or the In-BedTrunk with the key in the ON (II)position.

Your vehicle also has atailgate and door open

indicator on the information displayto indicate when the tailgate or aspecific door is not tightly closed.You will see the appropriateindicator(s) for each condition.

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75

CONTINUED

On models with navigation system

On models without navigation system

Protecting Adults and Teens

Introduction

Close and Lock the Doors1.

Driver

andP

assengerSafety

11

11/09/14 17:33:56 31SJC660_018

When one or more doors are open,the ‘‘DOOR OPEN’’ message willcome on.

When the In-Bed Trunk is not tightlyclosed, the ‘‘TRUNK OPEN’’message will come on.

When the tailgate is not tightlyclosed, the ‘‘TAILGATE OPEN’’message will come on.


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Adjust the driver’s seat as far to therear as possible while allowing you tomaintain full control of the vehicle.Have a front passenger adjust theirseat as far to the rear as possible.

Locking the doors reduces thechance of someone being thrown outof the vehicle during a crash, and ithelps prevent passengers fromaccidentally opening a door andfalling out.

Locking the doors also helps preventan outsider from unexpectedlyopening a door when you come to astop.

This vehicle has auto door locking/unlocking features. See page forhow to set them.

When the In-Bed Trunk, tailgate,and one or more doors are nottightly closed, the ‘‘DOOR, TRUNK& TAILGATE OPEN’’ message willcome on.

104

CONTINUED


Adjust the Front Seats2.

Driver

andP

assengerSafety

13

11/09/14 17:34:08 31SJC660_020

If you sit too close to the steeringwheel or dashboard, you can beseriously injured by an inflating frontairbag, or by striking the steeringwheel or dashboard.

Adjust the driver’s seat-back to acomfortable, upright position,leaving ample space between yourchest and the airbag cover in thecenter of the steering wheel.

Passengers with adjustable seat-backs should also adjust their seat-back to a comfortable, uprightposition.

Once your seat is adjusted correctly,rock it back and forth to make sure itis locked into position. See page

for how to adjust the front seats.If you cannot get far enough awayfrom the steering wheel and stillreach the controls, we recommendthat you investigate whether sometype of adaptive equipment may help.

The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration and TransportCanada recommend that driversallow at least 10 inches (25 cm)between the center of the steeringwheel and the chest. In addition toadjusting the seat, you can adjust thesteering wheel up and down (seepage ).99

119

On RT, DX, VP, and Sport models


Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

14

Sitting too close to a frontairbag can result in seriousinjury or death if the frontairbags inflate.

Always sit as far back from thefront airbags as possible.

11/09/19 18:03:35 31SJC660_021

Adjust the driver’s head restraint sothe center of the back of your headrests against the center of therestraint.

Reclining a seat-back so that theshoulder part of the belt no longerrests against the occupant’s chestreduces the protective capability ofthe belt. It also increases the chanceof sliding under the belt in a crashand being seriously injured. Thefarther a seat-back is reclined, thegreater the risk of injury.

When a passenger is seated in therear center seating position, makesure the center head restraint isadjusted to its highest position.

Properly adjusted head restraintswill help protect occupants fromwhiplash and other crash injuries.Have passengers adjust their head

restraints properly as well. Tallerpersons should adjust their restraintas high as possible.

See page for how to adjust themanual adjustable seat-back, andpage for the power adjustableseat-back.

See page for how to adjust thehead restraints and how the driver’sand front passenger’s active headrestraints work.

120

121

123


Adjust the Head Restraints4.

Driver

andP

assengerSafety

15

Reclining the seat-back too farcan result in serious injury ordeath in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to anupright position, and sit wellback in the seat.

Improperly positioning headrestraints reduces theireffectiveness and you can beseriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints arein place and positioned properlybefore driving.

11/09/14 17:34:24 31SJC660_022

Position the lap part of the belt aslow as possible across your hips,then pull up on the shoulder part ofthe belt so the lap part fits snugly.This lets your strong pelvic bonestake the force of a crash and reducesthe chance of internal injuries.

Insert the latch plate into the buckle,then tug on the belt to make sure thebelt is securely latched. Check thatthe belt is not twisted, because atwisted belt can cause seriousinjuries in a crash.

If necessary, pull up on the belt againto remove any slack, then check thatthe belt rests across the center ofyour chest and over your shoulder.

This spreads the forces of a crashover the strongest bones in yourupper body.

If the seat belt touches or crossesyour neck, or if it crosses your arminstead of your shoulder, you need toadjust the seat belt anchor height.

Fasten and Position the SeatBelts

5.


16

Improperly positioning the seatbelts can cause serious injuryor death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts areproperly positioned beforedriving.

11/09/14 17:34:30 31SJC660_023

CONTINUED

This could causevery serious injuries in a crash.

See page for additionalinformation about your seat beltsand how to take care of them.

The front seats have adjustable seatbelt anchors. To adjust the height ofan anchor, squeeze the two releasebuttons, and slide the anchor up ordown as needed (it has fourpositions).

After all occupants have adjustedtheir seats and head restraints, andput on their seat belts, it is veryimportant that they continue to situpright, well back in their seats, withtheir feet on the floor, until thevehicle is safely parked and theengine is off.

Using a seatbelt that is not working properly canresult in serious injury or death.Have your dealer check the belt assoon as possible.

Sitting improperly can increase thechance of injury during a crash. Forexample, if an occupant slouches,lies down, turns sideways, sitsforward, leans forward or sideways,or puts one or both feet up, thechance of injury during a crash isgreatly increased.

If a seat belt does not seem to workproperly, it may not protect theoccupant in a crash.

20


Never place the shoulder portion of alap/shoulder belt under your arm orbehind your back.

No one should sit in a seat with aninoperative seat belt.

Maintain a Proper SittingPosition

6.

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RELEASEBUTTONS

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In addition, an occupant who is out ofposition in the front seat can beseriously or fatally injured in a crashby striking interior parts of thevehicle or being struck by aninflating front airbag.

If you are pregnant, the best way toprotect yourself and your unbornchild when driving or riding in avehicle is to always wear a seat belt,and keep the lap part of the belt aslow as possible across the hips.

When driving, remember to situpright and adjust the seat as farback as possible while allowing fullcontrol of the vehicle. When ridingas a front passenger, adjust the seatas far back as possible.

This will reduce the risk of injuriesto both you and your unborn childthat can be caused by a crash or aninflating front airbag.

Each time you have a checkup, askyour doctor if it’s okay for you todrive.

Advice for Pregnant Women


18

Sitting improperly or out ofposition can result in seriousinjury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back inthe seat, with your feet on thefloor.

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If they do, they could be veryseriously injured in a crash.

If they do, they couldbe killed or very seriously injuredin a crash.

They could bekilled or injured in a crash, orbecome ill or even die from carbonmonoxide poisoning if engineexhaust enters the cap.

A passenger who is notwearing a seat belt during a crashor emergency stop can be thrownagainst the inside of the vehicle,against other occupants, or out ofthe vehicle.

If they do, theycould be very seriously injured in acrash.

Devices intended to improveoccupant comfort or reposition theshoulder part of a seat belt canreduce the protective capability ofthe seat belt and increase thechance of serious injury in a crash.

Carrying hard or sharpobjects on your lap, or driving witha pipe or other sharp object inyour mouth, can result in injuriesif your front airbag inflates.

If yourhands or arms are close to anairbag cover, they could be injuredif the airbag inflates.

Objects onthe covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’could interfere with the properoperation of the airbags or bepropelled inside the vehicle andhurt someone if the airbags inflate.

If a side airbag or aside curtain airbag inflates, a cupholder or other hard objectattached on or near the door couldbe propelled inside the vehicle andhurt someone.

Improperly replacingor covering front seat-back coverscan prevent your side airbags frominflating during a side impact.


Additional Safety PrecautionsNever let passengers ride in thearea in front of a folded-up rearseat.

Never let passengers ride in thepickup bed.

Never let passengers ride inside atruck cap (shell).

Passengers should not stand up orchange seats while the vehicle ismoving.

Two people should never use thesame seat belt.

Do not put any accessories on seatbelts.

Do not place hard or sharp objectsbetween yourself and a frontairbag.

Keep your hands and arms awayfrom the airbag covers.

Do not attach or place objects onthe front airbag covers.

Do not attach hard objects on ornear a door.

Do not cover or replace front seat-back covers without consultingyour dealer.

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Your seat belt system includes lap/shoulder belts in all seating positions.The front seat belts are alsoequipped with automatic seat belttensioners.

If the indicator comes on or thebeeper sounds when the driver’s seatbelt is latched and there is no frontseat passenger and no items on thefront seat, something may beinterfering with the monitoringsystem. Look for and remove:

Any items under the frontpassenger’s seat.

Any object(s) hanging on the seator in the seat-back pocket.

Any object on the floor that istouching the rear of the seat-back.

If no obstructions are found, haveyour vehicle checked by a dealer.

The seat belt systemincludes an indicator on the

instrument panel and a beeper toremind you and your passengers tofasten your seat belts.

This system monitors the front seatbelts. If you turn the ignition switchto the ON (II) position before yourseat belt is fastened, the beeper willsound and the indicator will flash. Ifyour seat belt is not fastened beforethe beeper stops, the indicator willstop flashing but remain on.

If a front passenger does not fastentheir seat belt, the indicator willcome on about 6 seconds after theignition switch is turned to the ON(II) position.

If either the driver or a frontpassenger does not fasten their seatbelt while driving, the beeper willsound and the indicator will flashagain at regular intervals.

You will also see a ‘‘FASTEN SEATBELT’’ or ‘‘FASTEN PASSENGERSEAT BELT’’ message on the multi-information display (see page ).

When no one is sitting in the frontpassenger’s seat, or an infant orsmall child is riding there, theindicator may not come on and thebeeper may not sound.

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Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt System Components

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All seat belts have an emergencylocking retractor. In normal driving,the retractor lets you move freely inyour seat while it keeps sometension on the belt. During a collisionor sudden stop, the retractorautomatically locks the belt to helprestrain your body.

The seat belts in all positions exceptthe driver’s have a lockable retractorthat must be activated to secure achild seat (see page ).

The lap/shoulder belt goes overyour shoulder, across your chest,and across your hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latchplate into the buckle, then tug on thebelt to make sure the buckle islatched (see page for how toproperly position the belt).

To unlock the belt, press the redPRESS button on the buckle. Guidethe belt across your body so that itretracts completely. After exiting thevehicle, be sure the belt is out of theway and will not get closed in thedoor.

If the shoulder part of the belt ispulled all the way out, the lockableretractor will activate. The belt willretract, but it will not allow thepassenger to move freely.

To deactivate the lockable retractor,unlatch the buckle and let the seatbelt fully retract. To refasten theseat belt, pull it out only as far asneeded.

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Lap/Shoulder Belt

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Allowing a child to play with aseat belt or wrap one aroundtheir neck can result in seriousinjury or death.

Instruct children not to play withany seat belt and make sureany unused seat belt a childcan reach is buckled, fullyretracted, and locked.

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If a seat belt is worn during a crash,you should have your dealer inspectthe belt, and replace it if necessary.A belt that has been worn during acrash may not provide the same levelof protection in a subsequent crash.

The dealer should also inspect theanchors for damage and replacethem if needed. If the automatic seatbelt tensioners activate during acrash, they must be replaced.

If the tensioner is activated, the SRSindicator comes on and the tensionermust be replaced.

For safety, you should check thecondition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull each belt out fully, and look forfrays, cuts, burns, and wear. Checkthat the latches work smoothly andthe belts retract easily. If a belt doesnot retract easily, cleaning the beltmay correct the problem (see page

). Any belt that is not in goodcondition or working properly willnot provide good protection andshould be replaced as soon aspossible.

Honda provides a limited warrantyon seat belts. See your

booklet fordetails.

For added protection, the front seatbelts are equipped with automaticseat belt tensioners. When activated,the tensioners immediately tightenthe belts to help hold the driver anda front passenger in position.

The tensioners can be activatedduring a collision in which the frontairbags . In this case, theairbags would not be needed, but theadditional restraint could be helpful.

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HondaWarranty Information

do not deploy


Seat Belt Maintenance

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

22

Not checking or maintainingseat belts can result in seriousinjury or death if the seat beltsdo not work properly whenneeded.

Check your seat belts regularlyand have any problemcorrected as soon as possible.

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CONTINUED

Airbag System Components

Additional Information About Your AirbagsD

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(1)

(3)

(5)

(4)

(5)

(6)(10)

(13)(9) (8) (2)

(16)

(4)

(15)

(16)

(8)

(14) (7)(12)

(14)(11)

(1) Driver’s Front Airbag(2) Passenger’s Front Airbag(3) Control Unit(4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners(5) Side Airbags(6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor(7) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors

(12) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors Control Unit/OPDS Sensors Control Unit

(13) SRS Indicator(14) Side Curtain Airbags(15) Roll Rate Sensor(16) Side Impact Sensors (Second)

(8) Front Impact Sensors(9) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator(10) Side Impact Sensors (First)(11) Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors

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Weight sensors that monitor theweight on the front passenger’sseat. If the weight is about 65 lbs(29 kg) or less (the weight of aninfant or small child), thepassenger’s front airbag will beturned off (see page ).

A rollover sensor that can detect ifyour vehicle is about to roll overand signal the control unit todeploy both side curtain airbags(see page ).

A sophisticated electronic systemthat continually monitors andrecords information about thesensors, the control unit, theairbag activators, the seat belttensioners, and driver and frontpassenger seat belt use when theignition switch is in the ON (II)position.

Automatic front seat belttensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect amoderate to severe front impact,side impact, or if your vehicle isabout to rollover.

Sensors that can detect whether achild is in the passenger’s sideairbag path and signal the controlunit to turn the airbag off (seepage ).

Sensors that can detect whetherthe driver’s seat belt and the frontpassenger’s seat belt are latchedor unlatched (see page ).

A driver’s seat position sensor thatmonitors the distance of the seatfrom the front airbag. If the seat istoo far forward, the airbag willinflate with less force (see page

).

Your airbag system includes:

Two SRS (supplemental restraintsystem) front airbags. The driver’sairbag is stored in the center ofthe steering wheel; the frontpassenger’s airbag is stored in thedashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRSAIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Two side airbags, one for thedriver and one for a frontpassenger. The airbags are storedin the outer edges of the seat-backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDEAIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Two side curtain airbags, one foreach side of the vehicle. Theairbags are stored in the ceiling,above the side windows. The frontand rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDECURTAIN AIRBAG’’ (see page

).

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Additional Information About Your Airbags

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CONTINUED

During a frontal crash, your seat beltrestrains your lower body and torso,and the front airbag helps protectyour head and chest.

Although both airbags normallyinflate within a split second of eachother, it is possible for only oneairbag to deploy.

This can happen if the severity of acollision is at the margin, orthreshold, that determines whetheror not the airbags will deploy. Insuch cases, the seat belt will providesufficient protection, and thesupplemental protection offered bythe airbag would be minimal.

Only the driver’s airbag can deploy ifthere is no passenger in the frontseat, or if the advanced airbagsystem has turned the passenger’sairbag off (see page ).

If the rate of deceleration is highenough, the control unit will inflatethe driver’s and front passenger’sairbags, at the time and with theforce needed.

If you ever have a moderate tosevere frontal collision, sensors willdetect the vehicle’s rapiddeceleration.

An indicator on the instrumentpanel that alerts you to a possibleproblem with your airbag systemcomponents (see page ).

An indicator on the instrumentpanel that alerts you that thepassenger’s side airbag has beenturned off (see page ).

An indicator on the dashboard thatalerts you that the passenger’sfront airbag has been turned off(see page ).

Emergency backup power in caseyour vehicle’s electrical system isdisconnected in a crash.

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How Your Front Airbags Work

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Your vehicle is equipped with dual-stage, multiple-threshold frontairbags (SRS). During a frontal crashsevere enough to cause one or bothfront airbags to deploy, the airbagscan inflate at different rates,depending on the severity of thecrash, whether or not the seat beltsare latched, and/or other factors.Front airbags are designed tosupplement the seat belts to helpreduce the likelihood of head andchest injuries in frontal crashes.

After a crash, you may see whatlooks like smoke. This is actuallypowder from the airbag’s surface.Although the powder is not harmful,people with respiratory problemsmay experience some temporarydiscomfort. If this occurs, get out ofthe vehicle as soon as it is safe to doso.

The total time for inflation anddeflation is less than a second, sofast that most occupants are notaware that the airbags deployed untilthey see them lying in their laps.

After inflating, the front airbagsimmediately deflate, so they won’tinterfere with the driver’s visibility,or the ability to steer or operateother controls.


Dual-Stage, Multiple-ThresholdFront Airbags (SRS)

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CONTINUED

Your front airbags are also advancedairbags. The main purpose of thisfeature is to help prevent airbag-caused injuries to short drivers andchildren or small-statured adults whoride in front.

The driver’s advanced front airbagsystem includes a seat positionsensor under the seat. If the seat istoo far forward, the airbag willinflate with less force, regardless ofthe severity of the impact.

The passenger’s advanced frontairbag system has weight sensorsunder the seat. Although Hondadoes not encourage carrying aninfant or small child in front, if thesensors detect the weight of aninfant or small child (up to about 65lbs or 29 kg), the system willautomatically turn the passenger’sfront airbag off.

If there is a problem with the sensor,the SRS indicator will come on, andthe airbag will inflate in the normalmanner regardless of the driver’sseating position.

Failure to follow these instructionscould damage the sensors or preventthem from working properly.

For both advanced airbags to workproperly:

Occupants must sit upright andwear their seat belts properly.

Do not spill any liquids on orunder the seats, cover the sensors,or put any objects or metal itemsunder the front seats.

Objects placed or pushed underthe front passenger’s seat maycause the sensor to malfunction,increasing the risk of injury in acrash.


Advanced Airbags

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DRIVER’S SEAT POSITION SENSOR PASSENGER’S SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR

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Hanging heavy items on the frontpassenger seat, or placing heavyitems in the seat-back pocket.

Moving the front seat forciblyback against cargo on the seat orfloor behind it.

A rear passenger pushing orpulling on the back of the frontpassenger’s seat.

When the passenger airbag getsturned off by the weight sensors, a‘‘passenger airbag off’’ indicator inthe center of the dashboard comeson (see page ).

Be aware that objects placed on thepassenger’s seat can also cause theairbag to be turned off.

If you ever have a moderate tosevere side impact, sensors willdetect rapid acceleration and signalthe control unit to instantly inflateeither the driver’s or the passenger’sside airbag.

To ensure that the passenger’sadvanced front airbag system willwork properly,

This includes:

If the weight sensors detect there isno passenger in the front seat, theairbag is automatically turned off.However, the passenger airbag offindicator in this situation will notcome on.

Also, make sure the floor mat behindthe front passenger’s seat is hookedto the floor mat anchor (see page

). If it is not, the mat mayinterfere with the proper operationof the sensors and operation of theseat.

Back seat passengers should notwedge objects or intentionallyforce their feet under the frontpassenger seat.

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How Your Side Airbags Work

do not do anythingthat would increase or decrease theweight on the front passenger’s seat.

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To get the best protection from theside airbags, front seat occupantsshould wear their seat belts and situpright and well back in their seats.

Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoffsystem designed primarily to protecta child riding in the front passenger’sseat.

If the side airbag off indicator comeson (see page ), have thepassenger sit upright. Once thepassenger is out of the airbag’sdeployment path, the system willturn the airbag back on, and theindicator will go out.

There will be some delay betweenthe moment the passenger movesinto or out of the airbag deploymentpath and when the indicator comeson or goes off.

A front seat passenger should notuse a cushion or another object as abackrest. It may prevent the cutoffsystem from working properly.

Although Honda does not encouragechildren to ride in front, if theposition sensors detect a child hasleaned into the side airbag’sdeployment path, the airbag will shutoff.

Objects placed on the frontpassenger seat can also cause theside airbag to be shut off.

The side airbag may also shut off if ashort adult leans sideways, or alarger adult slouches and leanssideways into the airbag’sdeployment path.

Only one airbag will deploy during aside impact. If the impact is on thepassenger’s side, the passenger’sside airbag will deploy even if thereis no passenger.

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Side Airbag Cutoff System

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11/09/25 10:49:37 31SJC660_036

A rollover sensor monitors thedegree and rate your vehicle may rollover and automatically deploy theside curtain airbags and activate thefront seat belt tensioners (see page

).

In a rollover toward the frontpassenger’s side of the vehicle, bothside curtain airbags will inflate andthe front seat belt tensioners willactivate even if there are nooccupants on that side of the vehicle.

To get the best protection from theside curtain airbags, occupantsshould wear their seat belts and situpright and well back in their seats.

When you turn the ignition switch tothe ON (II) position, this indicatorcomes on for several seconds thengoes off. This tells you the system isworking properly.

If the indicator comes on at anyother time, or does not come on at all,you should have the system checkedby your dealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator does not comeon after you turn the ignitionswitch to the ON (II) position.

If the indicator comes on orflashes on and off while you drive.

If the indicator stays on after theengine starts.

In a moderate to severe side impact,sensors will detect rapid accelerationand signal the control unit toinstantly inflate the side curtainairbag.

The SRS indicator alerts you to apotential problem with your airbagsystem components.

22


How Your Side Curtain AirbagsWork

How the SRS IndicatorWorks

In a Side Impact

In a Rollover

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SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG

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CONTINUED

This indicator alerts you that thepassenger’s front airbag has beenshut off because weight sensorsdetect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less(the weight of an infant or smallchild) on the front passenger’s seat.It does there is a problemwith the airbag.

You will also see a ‘‘CHECKAIRBAG SYSTEM’’ message on themulti-information display (see page

).This indicator alerts you that thepassenger’s side airbag has beenautomatically shut off. It doesmean there is a problem with yourside airbags.

When you turn the ignition switch tothe ON (II) position, the indicatorshould come on for several secondsand then go off (see page ). If itdoesn’t come on, stays on, or comeson while driving without a passengerin the front seat, have the systemchecked.

You will also see a ‘‘PASSENGERSIDE AIRBAG OFF’’ message on themulti-information display (see page

).

If you see any of these indications,the airbag system components maynot work properly when you needthem.

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How the Passenger Airbag OffIndicator Works

How the SideAirbag OffIndicator Works

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Canada

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR

U.S.

U.S. Canada

Ignoring the SRS indicator canresult in serious injury or deathif the airbag systems ortensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by adealer as soon as possible ifthe SRS indicator alerts you toa possible problem.

11/09/14 17:36:37 31SJC660_038

Your airbag systems are virtuallymaintenance free, and there are noparts you can safely service.However, you must have yourvehicle serviced if:

Any airbagthat has deployed must bereplaced along with the controlunit and other related parts. Anyseat belt tensioner that activatesmust also be replaced.

Be aware that objects placed on thefront seat can cause the indicator tocome on.

If no weight is detected on the frontseat, the airbag will be automaticallyshut off. However, the indicator willnot come on.

The passenger airbag off indicatormay come on and off repeatedly ifthe total weight on the seat is nearthe airbag cutoff threshold.

If an adult or teenage passenger isriding in front, move the seat as farto the rear as possible, and have thepassenger sit upright and wear theseat belt properly.

If the indicator comes on with nofront seat passenger and no objectson the seat, or with an adult ridingthere, something may be interferingwith the weight sensors. Look forand remove:

Any items under the frontpassenger’s seat.

Any object(s) touching the rear ofthe seat-back.

If no obstructions are found, haveyour vehicle checked by a dealer assoon as possible.

Any object(s) hanging on the seator in the seat-back pocket.

We recommend against the use ofsalvaged airbag systemcomponents, including the airbag,tensioners, sensors, and controlunit.

Do not try to remove or replaceany airbag by yourself. This mustbe done by an authorized dealer ora knowledgeable body shop.


Airbag Service

An airbag ever inflates.

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Together, airbags andseat belts provide the bestprotection.

Tampering could causethe airbags to deploy, possiblycausing very serious injury.

If water oranother liquid soaks into a seat-back, it can prevent the side airbagcutoff system from workingproperly.

This could make thedriver’s seat position sensor or thefront passenger’s weight sensorsineffective. If it is necessary toremove or modify a front seat toaccommodate a person withdisabilities, first contact HondaAutomobile Customer Service at(800) 999-1009 in the US, orHonda Customer Relations at 1-888-9-HONDA-9 in Canada.

Even if yourairbags do not inflate, your dealershould inspect the driver’s seatposition sensor, the frontpassenger’s weight sensors, thefront seat belt tensioners, and allseat belts and their anchors wornduring a crash to make sure theyare operating properly.

Take your vehicle to anauthorized dealer as soon aspossible. If you ignore thisindication, your airbags may notoperate properly.


Additional Safety PrecautionsDo not attempt to deactivate yourairbags.

Do not tamper with airbagcomponents or wiring for anyreason.

Do not expose the front passenger’sseat-back to liquid.

Do not remove or modify a frontseat without consulting yourdealer.

If your vehicle has a moderate tosevere impact.

The SRS indicator alerts you to aproblem.

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－

－－

If you have children, or ever need todrive with a child in your vehicle, besure to read this section. It beginswith important general guidelines,then presents special information forinfants, small children, and largerchildren.

To reduce the number of childdeaths and injuries, every state,Canadian province and territoryrequires that infants and children beproperly restrained when they ride ina vehicle.

(see pages ).(see pages ).

Children depend on adults to protectthem. However, despite their bestintentions, many adults do not knowhow to protect childpassengers.

Each year, many children are injuredor killed in vehicle crashes becausethey are either unrestrained or notproperly restrained. In fact, trafficcollisions are the number one causeof death of children age 12 andunder.

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properly

Protecting Children General Guidelines

All Children Must Be Restrained

Infants and small children must berestrained in an approved child seatthat is properly secured to thevehicle

Larger children must be restrainedwith a lap/shoulder belt and ride ona booster seat until the seat belt f itsthem properly

34

Children who are unrestrainedor improperly restrained can beseriously injured or killed in acrash.

Any child too small for a seatbelt should be properlyrestrained in a child seat. Alarger child should be properlyrestrained with a seat belt anduse a booster seat if necessary.

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－

Front airbags have been designed tohelp protect adults in a moderate tosevere frontal collision. To do this,the passenger’s front airbag is quitelarge, and it can inflate with enoughforce to cause very serious injuries.

If the vehicle seat istoo far forward, or the child’s head isthrown forward during a collision, aninflating front airbag can strike thechild with enough force to kill orvery seriously injure a small child.

Whenever possible,larger children should sit in the backseat, on a booster seat if needed, andbe properly restrained with a seatbelt (see page for importantinformation about protecting largerchildren).

Even though your vehicle has anadvanced front airbag system thatautomatically turns the passenger’sfront airbag off under certaincircumstances (see page ), pleasefollow these guidelines:

Ifthe airbag inflates, it can hit the backof the child seat with enough forceto kill or very seriously injure aninfant.

According to crash statistics,children of all ages and sizes aresafer when they are restrained in aback seat.

The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration and TransportCanada recommend that all childrenaged 12 and under be properlyrestrained in a back seat. Somestates have laws restricting wherechildren may ride.

Children who ride in the back areless likely to be injured by strikinginterior vehicle parts during acollision or hard braking. Also,children cannot be injured by aninflating front airbag when they ridein the back.

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CONTINUED


Small ChildrenPlacing a forward-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passenger’s front airbag canbe hazardous.

Larger ChildrenChildren who have outgrown childseats are also at risk of being injuredor killed by an inflating passenger’sfront airbag.

Never put a rear-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passenger’s front airbag.

Infants

All Children Should Sit in a BackSeat

The Passenger’s Front AirbagCan Pose Serious Risks

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－

To remind you of the passenger’sfront airbag hazards, and thatchildren must be properly restrainedin a back seat, your vehicle haswarning labels on the dashboard(U.S. models) and on the front visors.Please read and follow theinstructions on these labels.


Canadian Models

U.S. Models

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SUN VISORS DASHBOARD

SUN VISORS

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－

Many parents say they prefer to putan infant or a small child in the frontpassenger seat so they can watch thechild, or because the child requiresattention.

Placing a child in the front seatexposes the child to hazards in afrontal collision, and paying closeattention to a child distracts thedriver from the important tasks ofdriving, placing both of you at risk.

Your vehicle has a back seat wherechildren can be properly restrained.If you ever have to carry a group ofchildren, and a child must ride infront:

Place the largest child in the frontseat, provided the child is largeenough to wear the lap/shoulderbelt properly (see page ).

If a child requires close physicalattention or frequent visual contact,we strongly recommend that anotheradult ride with the child in the backseat. The back seat is far safer for achild than the front.

Move the vehicle seat as far to therear as possible (see page ).

Have the child sit upright and wellback in the seat (see page ).

Make sure the seat belt is properlypositioned and secured (see page

).

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If You Must Drive with SeveralChildren

If a Child Requires CloseAttention

Protecting Children General GuidelinesD

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－

During a crash, thebelt could press deep into the childand cause serious or fatal injuries.

If they do, theycould be very seriously injured in acrash.

Children who play in vehiclescan accidentally get trapped inside.Teach your children not to play inor around vehicles. Know how tooperate the emergency In-BedTrunk opener and decide if yourchildren should be shown how touse this feature (see page ).

Opening orclosing the tailgate could causeaccidental injuries.

Even very youngchildren learn how to unlockvehicle doors, turn on the ignitionswitch, and open the windows,which can lead to accidental injuryor death.

If you are not wearing aseat belt in a crash, you could bethrown forward and crush thechild against the dashboard or aseat-back. If you are wearing aseat belt, the child can be tornfrom your arms and be seriouslyhurt or killed.

If a child wraps a loose

seat belt around their neck, theycan be seriously or fatally injured.(See pages and for how toactivate and deactivate thelockable retractor.)

Leaving children withoutadult supervision is illegal in moststates, Canadian provinces andterritories, and can be veryhazardous.

This can preventchildren from accidentally fallingout (see page ).

For example, infants and smallchildren left in a vehicle on a hotday can die from heatstroke. Achild left alone with the key in theignition switch can accidentally setthe vehicle in motion, possiblyinjuring themselves or others.

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Additional Safety Precautions


Never put a seat belt over yourselfand a child.

Never let two children use thesame seat belt.

Lock all doors and the In-BedTrunk when your vehicle is not inuse.

Teach your children not to play onthe pickup bed.

Keep vehicle keys/remotetransmitters out of the reach ofchildren.

Never hold an infant or child onyour lap.

Make sure any unused seat beltthat a child can reach is buckled,the lockable retractor is activated,and the belt is fully retracted andlocked.

Do not leave children alone in avehicle.

Use the childproof door locks toprevent children from opening therear doors.

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CONTINUED

An infant must be properlyrestrained in a rear-facing, recliningchild seat until the child reaches theseat maker’s weight or height limitfor the seat, and the child is at leastone year old.

Only a rear-facing child seat providesproper support for a baby’s head,neck, and back.

Two types of seats may be used: aseat designed exclusively for infants,or a convertible seat used in the rear-facing, reclining mode.

If placedfacing forward, an infant could bevery seriously injured during afrontal collision.

A rear-facing child seat can be placedin any seating position in the backseat, but not in the front.

If the passenger’s front airbaginflates, it can hit the back of thechild seat with enough force to kill orseriously injure an infant.

When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent thedriver or a front passenger frommoving their seat as far back asrecommended, or from locking theirseat-back in the desired position.

It could also interfere with properoperation of the passenger’sadvanced front airbag system.

Protecting Infants

Child Seat Type

Do not put a rear-facing child seat ina forward-facing position.

Never put arear-facing child seat in the frontseat.

Rear-facing Child Seat Placement

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In any of these situations, westrongly recommend that you installthe child seat directly behind thefront passenger’s seat, move the seatas far forward as needed, and leave itunoccupied. Or, you may wish to geta smaller rear-facing child seat.

Many states, Canadian provinces andterritories allow a child one year ofage or older who also meets theminimum size and weightrequirements to transition from arear-facing child seat to a forwardfacing seat. Know the requirementswhere you are driving and follow thechild seat instructions. Many expertsrecommend use of a rear-facing seatup to age two, if the child’s height

and weight are appropriate for arear-facing seat.

If the vehicle seat is toofar forward, or the child’s head isthrown forward during a collision, aninflating airbag can strike the childwith enough force to cause veryserious or fatal injuries.

We strongly recommend placing aforward-facing child seat in a backseat, not the front.

We also recommend that a smallchild use the child seat until the childreaches the weight or height limitfor the seat.

Of the different seats available, werecommend those that have a five-point harness system as shown.

Protecting Infants and Small Children

Protecting Small Children

Child Seat Type

Placing a forward-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passenger’s airbag can behazardous.

Child Seat Placement

40

Placing a rear-facing child seatin the front seat can result inserious injury or death during acrash.

Always place a rear-facing childseat in the back seat, not thefront.

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CONTINUED

If it is necessary to put a forward-facing child seat in the front, movethe vehicle seat as far to the rear aspossible, and be sure the child seat isfirmly secured to the vehicle and thechild is properly strapped in the seat.

Even with advanced front airbagsthat automatically turn thepassenger’s front airbag off (seepage ), a back seat is the safestplace for a small child.

Most child seats are LATCH-compatible (Lower Anchors andTethers for CHildren). Some have arigid-type connector, while othershave a flexible-type connector. Bothare equally easy to use. Someexisting and previously owned childseats can only be installed using theseat belt. Whichever type youchoose, follow the child seatmanufacturer’s use and careinstructions as well as theinstructions in this manual. Properinstallation is key to maximizing yourchild’s safety.

In seating positions and vehicles notequipped with LATCH, a LATCH-compatible child seat can be installedusing the seat belt and a top tetherfor added security. This is becauseall child seats are required to bedesigned so that they can be securedwith a lap belt or the lap part of alap/shoulder belt.

In addition, the child seatmanufacturer may advise that a seatbelt be used to attach a LATCH-compatible seat once a child reachesa specified weight. Please read thechild seat owner’s manual for properinstallation instructions.

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Protecting Infants and Small Children, Selecting a Child Seat

Selecting a Child Seat

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Placing a forward-facing childseat in the front seat can resultin serious injury or death if thefront airbag inflates.

If you must place a forward-facing child seat in front, movethe vehicle seat as far back aspossible, and properly restrainthe child.

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After selecting a proper child seatand a good place to install the seat,there are three main steps ininstalling the seat:

All child seats must besecured to the vehicle with the lappart of a lap/shoulder belt or withthe LATCH (Lower Anchors andTethers for CHildren) system. Achild whose seat is not properlysecured to the vehicle can beendangered in a crash.

After installing a childseat, push and pull the seatforward and from side-to-side toverify that it is secure.

A child seat secured with a seat beltshould be installed as firmly aspossible. However, it does not needto be ‘‘rock solid.’’ Some side-to-side

movement can be expected andshould not reduce the child seat’seffectiveness.

If the child seat is not secure, tryinstalling it in a different seatingposition, or use a different style ofchild seat that can be firmly secured.

Make sure the child is properlystrapped in the child seataccording to the child seat maker’sinstructions. A child who is notproperly secured in a child seatcan be seriously injured in a crash.

The following pages provideguidelines on how to properly installa child seat. A forward-facing childseat is used in all examples, but theinstructions are the same for rear-facing child seats.

Make sure the child seat meets thefollowing three requirements:

The child seat is the correct typeand size for the child.

The child seat is the correct typefor the seating position.

The child seat is compliant withFederal Motor Vehicle SafetyStandard 213 or Canadian MotorVehicle Safety Standard 213.

Selecting a Child Seat, Installing a Child Seat

Installing a Child SeatImportant considerations whenselecting a child seat

Properly secure the child seat tothe vehicle.

Make sure the child seat is firmlysecured.

Secure the child in the child seat.

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2.

3.

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To install a LATCH-compatible childseat:

Make sure there are no objectsnear the anchors that couldprevent a secure connectionbetween the child seat and theanchors.

When using the tether strap onthe child seat, attach the tetherstrap hook to the center tetheranchor before installing the childseat to the lower anchors for theLATCH system, because thecenter tether anchor is positionedbehind the child seat.

If needed, move the seat beltbuckle or tongue away from thelower anchors.

Whenever using the center tetheranchor point, make sure to pushdown the head restraint to the lowestposition, route the strap over theseat-back, then around the upperguide before attaching the tetherstrap hook to the center tetheranchor (see page ).

The location of each lower anchor isindicated by a small button above theanchor point.

The lower anchors are locatedbetween the seat-back and seatbottom, and are to be used only witha child seat designed for use withLATCH.

Your vehicle is equipped withLATCH (Lower Anchors andTethers for CHildren) at the rearseats.

1.

2.

3.

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On the center seating position

Installing a Child Seat

Installing a Child Seat withLATCH

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BUTTON

CENTER TETHER ANCHOR

LATCHANCHORPOINTS

UPPER GUIDE

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Make sure the head restraint is inthe lowest position. Lift the cover,then route the tether strap aroundthe upper guide. Route the tetherstrap downward properly, makingsure the strap is not twisted, thenattach the strap hook to the centertether anchor.

Place the child seat on the vehicleseat, then attach the seat to thelower anchors according to thechild seat maker’s instructions.

Some LATCH-compatible seatshave a rigid-type connector asshown above.

Other LATCH-compatible seatshave a flexible-type connector asshown above.

Whatever type you have, followthe child seat maker’s instructionsfor adjusting or tightening the fit.

5.

4.


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Flexible typeRigid type

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Lift the head restraint (see page), then route the tether strap

over the seat-back and throughthe head restraint legs.Lift the cover, then route thetether strap around the upperguide. Route the tether strapdownward properly, making surethe strap is not twisted, thenattach the strap hook to the tetheranchor on the outside of the seatbottom (see page ).

Push and pull the child seatforward and from side-to-side toverify that it is secure.

Tighten the strap according to theseat maker’s instructions.

6. 7.

8.

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Outer Position Center Position TETHER ANCHORTETHER ANCHOR

UPPER GUIDE UPPER GUIDE

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When not using the LATCH system,all child seats must be secured to thevehicle with the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt.

With the child seat in the desiredseating position, route the beltthrough the child seat accordingto the seat maker’s instructions,then insert the latch plate into thebuckle and remove any slack fromthe lap portion of the belt.

To activate the lockable retractor,slowly pull the shoulder part of thebelt all the way out until it stops,then let the belt feed back into theretractor.

After the belt has retracted, tug onit. If the belt is locked, you will notbe able to pull it out. If you can pullthe belt out, it is not locked, andyou will need to repeat these steps.

In addition, the lap/shoulder belts inall seating positions except thedriver’s have a lockable retractorthat must be activated to secure achild seat.

If you intend to install the child seatin the rear center seating positionand use the tether strap foradditional security, make sure topush down the head restraint to thelowest position and hook the tetherstrap hook to the anchor beforesecuring the child seat with the lap/shoulder belt. Refer to page forhow to route the tether strapproperly.

1. 2.

3.

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Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Belt


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After confirming that the belt islocked, grab the shoulder part ofthe belt near the buckle, and pullup to remove any slack from thelap part of the belt. Remember, ifthe lap part of the belt is not tight,the child seat will not be secure.

Push and pull the child seatforward and from side-to-side toverify that it is secure enough tostay upright during normal drivingmaneuvers. If the child seat is notsecure, unlatch the belt, allow it toretract fully, then repeat thesesteps.

To remove slack, it may help toput weight on the child seat, orpush on the back of the seat whilepulling up on the belt.

To deactivate the lockable retractorand remove a child seat, unlatch thebuckle, unroute the seat belt, and letthe belt fully retract.

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When using a tether anchor, alwayshook the tether strap through theupper guide to route it properly.

Since a tether can provide additionalsecurity to the lap/shoulder beltinstallation, we recommend using atether whenever one is required oravailable.

Each outer seating position has atether anchor at the outside of theseat bottom. The center seatingposition has a tether anchor betweenthe lower anchors for the LATCH-compatible child seat. Each anchorpoint is shown above.

Lift the cover, then hook thetether strap through the upperguide as shown.

After properly securing the childseat (see page ), lift the headrestraint, then route the tetherstrap over the seat-back andthrough the head restraint legs.

A child seat with a tether can beinstalled in any seating position inthe back seat.

1.

2.

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Installing a Child Seat with aTether

Using an Outer Tether Anchor

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COVER CENTERTETHERANCHOR

OUTERTETHERANCHOR

OUTER TETHER ANCHOR

UPPER GUIDE

UPPER GUIDE

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Route the tether strap downwardproperly, making sure the strap isnot twisted.

Attach the tether strap hook to theouter tether anchor on the outsideof the seat bottom.

Make sure to attach the tether straphook to the anchor before installingthe child seat, because the tetheranchor is positioned behind the childseat.

Place the child seat on the rearseat.

Push down the rear center headrestraint to the lowest position.

Route the tether strap over theseat-back, lift the cover, then hookthe tether strap through the upperguide as shown.

Route the tether strap downwardproperly along the seat-back,making sure the strap is nottwisted.

Tighten the strap according to theseat maker’s instructions.

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Using the Center Tether Anchor

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UPPER GUIDE


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Attach the tether strap hook to thecenter tether anchor between thelower anchors for the LATCH-compatible child seat.

Properly secure the child seat (seepage ), then tighten the tetherstrap according to the seat maker’sinstructions.

Whenever using the tether strap,make sure to route the strap throughthe upper guide before attaching thetether strap hook to the tetheranchor. If the tether strap is notrouted properly and secured, thechild seat may not be secured. Thiscould lead to serious injury or death.

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UPPER GUIDE

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The following pages giveinstructions on how to check properseat belt fit, what kind of boosterseat to use if one is needed, andimportant precautions for a childwho must sit in front.

To determine if a lap/shoulder beltproperly fits a child, have the childput on the seat belt, then askyourself:

Does the child sit all the way backagainst the seat?

Do the child’s knees bendcomfortably over the edge of theseat?

When a child reaches therecommended weight or height limitfor a forward-facing child seat, thechild should sit in a back seat on abooster seat and wear the lap/shoulder belt.

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Protecting Larger Children

Checking Seat Belt Fit

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Allowing a child age 12 or underto sit in front can result in injuryor death if the passenger’s frontairbag inflates.

If a child must ride in front,move the vehicle seat as farback as possible, use a boosterseat if needed, have the childsit up properly and wear theseat belt properly.

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Does the shoulder belt crossbetween the child’s neck and arm?

Is the lap part of the belt as low aspossible, touching the child’sthighs?

Will the child be able to stayseated like this for the whole trip?

If you answer yes to all thesequestions, the child is ready to wearthe lap/shoulder belt correctly. Ifyou answer no to any question, thechild needs to ride on a booster seat. A child who has outgrown a forward-

facing child seat should ride in aback seat and use a booster seatuntil the lap/shoulder belt fits themproperly without the booster.

Some states, Canadian provinces andterritories also require children touse a booster seat until they reach agiven age or weight (e.g., 6 years or60 lbs). Be sure to check currentlaws in the states, provinces and

territories where you intend to drive.

A child may continue using a boosterseat until the tops of their ears areeven with the top of the vehicle’s orbooster’s seat-back. A child of thisheight should be tall enough to usethe lap/shoulder belt without abooster seat.

If a child who uses a booster seatmust ride in front, move the vehicleseat as far back as possible and besure the child is wearing the seatbelt properly.

Booster seats can be high-back orlow-back. Whichever style you select,make sure the booster seat meetsfederal safety standards (see page

) and that you follow the boosterseat maker’s instructions.

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Protecting Larger Children

Using a Booster Seat

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If you decide that a child can safelyride up front, be sure to:

Carefully read the owner’s manual,and make sure you understand allseat belt instructions and all safetyinformation.

Move the vehicle seat to the rear-most position.

Have the child sit up straight, backagainst the seat, and feet on ornear the floor.

Check that the child’s seat belt isproperly and securely positioned.

Physically, a child must be largeenough for the lap/shoulder belt toproperly fit (see pages and ). Ifthe seat belt does not fit properly,with or without the child sitting on abooster seat, the child should not sitin front.

To safely ride in front, a child mustbe able to follow the rules, includingsitting properly, and wearing the seatbelt properly throughout a ride.

A side airbag also poses risks. If anypart of a larger child’s body is in thepath of a deploying side airbag, thechild could receive possibly seriousinjuries.

If the passenger’s front airbaginflates in a moderate to severefrontal collision, the airbag can causeserious injuries to a child who isunrestrained, improperly restrained,sitting too close to the airbag, or outof position.

The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration and TransportCanada recommend that all childrenage 12 and under be properlyrestrained in the back seat.

Of course, children vary widely. Andwhile age may be one indicator ofwhen a child can safely ride in front,there are other important factors youshould consider.

Supervise the child. Even a maturechild sometimes needs to bereminded to fasten the seat belt orsit properly.

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Physical Size

Maturity

When Can a Larger Child Sit inFront

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This could resultin serious neck injuries during acrash.

This couldcause very serious injuries duringa crash. It also increases thechance that the child will slideunder the belt in a crash and beinjured.

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