2015 Chevrolet Express Owners Manual

the driver side mirror. The center position is neutral.

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2-14

Keys, Doors, and Windows

Windows

{ Warning

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

Manual Windows Operate the manual windows by turning the hand crank on each door to raise or lower the side door windows.

Power Windows

{ Warning

Children could be seriously injured or killed if caught in the path of a closing window. Never leave keys in a vehicle with children. See Keys on page 2-1.

If the vehicle has power windows, the controls are on each of the front doors. The driver door has a switch for the passenger window also. The power windows will work when the ignition has been turned to ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY, or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See Retained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 9-19. Press the switch to lower the window. Pull up on the front edge of the switch to raise the window.

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Express-Down The driver window switch also has an express-down feature that allows the window to be lowered without holding the switch. Press fully and release the window switch marked AUTO to activate the express-down mode. This mode can be canceled at any time by pulling up on the switch. To open the window part way, lightly tap the switch until the window is at the desired position.

Keys, Doors, and Windows

2-15

Swing-Out Windows

Rear Swing‐Out Windows

The vehicle also has rear swing‐out windows. The rear swing-out windows work the same way as the side swing‐out window, but the latch is located at the bottom edge of the window.

Side Swing-Out Window To open the side door swing-out window, pull up on the latch at the edge of the window. Swing the window out and push down on the latch to lock the window into place. To close the window, pull the latch toward you and push down on the latch to lock it.

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Keys, Doors, and Windows

Enhanced Technology Glass The vehicle may be equipped with Enhanced Technology Glass (ETG). ETG is part of the overall occupant protection system on passenger and crew vans. ETG may help keep passengers sitting next to these fixed windows from being ejected through the glass in some, but not all crashes. Even with this glass, safety belts must still be worn at all times. For passenger and crew vans, use only ETG glass approved for the vehicle for replacement when damaged.

The following table shows laminated glass location, based on vehicle model and options.

Vehicle Configuration

ETG Locations

12- and 15-Seat Passenger Vans

Long Wheelbase Cargo Vans Crew Vans

Sliding door forward window and rear-most side windows Rear-most side windows Sliding door forward window

Sun Visors To block out glare, swing down the sun visors. You can also swing them to the side.

Visor Vanity Mirror The vehicle may have visor vanity mirrors, with or without lamps. Lift the mirror cover to turn the lamps on, if equipped.

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Seats and Restraints

3-1

Seats and Restraints

Head Restraints

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

Front Seats

Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . 3-3
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . 3-3

Rear Seats

Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

Safety Belts

Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
How to Wear Safety Belts

Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Safety Belt Use During

Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15

Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . 3-16
Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Replacing Safety Belt System

Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-16

Adding Equipment to the

Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . 3-26
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . 3-27
Replacing Airbag System

Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-27

Airbag System

Child Restraints

Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . 3-19
When Should an Airbag

Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20

What Makes an Airbag

Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21

How Does an Airbag

Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21

What Will You See after an

Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Airbag On-Off Switch . . . . . . . . 3-23
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped

Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26

Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Infants and Young

Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Child Restraint Systems . . . . . 3-32
Where to Put the Restraint . . . 3-34
Lower Anchors and Tethers

for Children (LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36

Replacing LATCH System

Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-42

Securing Child Restraints

(Rear Seat) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-43

Securing Child Restraints

(Front Passenger Seat) . . . . 3-45

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3-2

Seats and Restraints

Head Restraints On vehicles with factory installed seats, the front seats have built-in head restraints that are not adjustable in the outboard seating positions.

Front Seats

Seat Adjustment { Warning

You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a driver seat while the vehicle is moving. Adjust the driver seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

To adjust the seat: 1. Lift the bar under the front edge

of the seat cushion to unlock the seat.

2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar.

3. Try to move the seat back and

forth to be sure the seat is locked in place.

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Power Seat Adjustment

Reclining Seatbacks

{ Warning

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

To adjust a power seat, if available, use the controls on the front of the seat: . Move the center knob to the right or left to move the seat forward or rearward.

. Move the center knob up or

down to raise or lower the seat. . Move the right or left lever up or down to raise or lower the front or rear of the seat cushion.

Seats and Restraints

3-3

To recline the seatback: 1. Lift the lever on the inboard side

of the seat.

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

3. Push and pull on the seatback to

make sure it is locked.

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

2. Push and pull on the seatback to

make sure it is locked.

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3-4

Seats and Restraints

{ Warning

Sitting in a reclined position when the vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even when buckled up, the safety belts cannot do their job. The shoulder belt will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt 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 the safety belt properly.

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

Rear Seats

Removing the Rear Seat Disconnect the mini-latch plates for the lap-shoulder belts on the bench seat to be removed.

1. To do this, press the tip of a key

into the release hole of the safety belt buckle while pulling up on the safety belt.

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Seats and Restraints

3-5

3. Pull the pin handle up to

disengage the pin from the retaining clip, and then pull the pin out.

4. Repeat this procedure for the

other pins.

5. Pull the seat rearward about

5 cm (2 in), and then lift the seat from the floor rails.

6. Remove the seat from the

vehicle.

2. Locate the pins.

On a three-passenger seat there are two pins on the inboard sides of the rear seats.

The left side pin has a gray cap with a black “L” marked on it.

Three-Passenger Seat

Three-Passenger Seat

The right side pin has a black cap with a white “R” marked on it. On a four-passenger seat, each half of the seat has a set of pins. The left side has a set marked “L,” and the right side has a set marked “R.” If the vehicle has floor mats, the pins are under a flap that has been cut into the mat.

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3-6

Seats and Restraints

7. For the second- and third-row

seats, stow the safety belt latch by attaching the clip on the safety belt latch to the trim just inside the side door.

For the last row of seats, stow the safety belt latch plate on the clip at the window trim. Roll the mini-latch into the safety belt webbing and then hook the safety belt latch plate on the clip.

Reinstalling the Rear Seats

{ Warning

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.

{ Warning

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

1. Position the seat into the open

slots in both rails. Push the seat forward in the rail, hooking both seat bases onto the pins inside of the rails.

2. Locate the hole in the rail to

3.

install the locking pins at the rear of the seat base. If the vehicle has floor mats, pull the flap that has been cut into the mat. Insert the locking pins into the seat base and push the seat to line up the pins with the base. On a three-passenger seat, the pin with the black cap marked “R” must be installed on the right side and the pin with the gray cap marked “L” on the left side. On a four-passenger seat, the pins marked “R” must be installed on the half of the seat on the right side. The pins marked “L” must be installed on the half of the seat on the left side.

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Seats and Restraints

3-7

6.

If the vehicle has a floor mat, put the flap back to its original position.

7. Repeat this procedure for the

other seat base.

8. Connect the mini-latch plates for

the lap-shoulder belts by inserting the latch plates into the mini-buckles attached at the outboard positions of the bench seat. Do not twist the belts.

9. Check that all locking pins are

locked into place before operating the vehicle.

Three-Passenger Seat

Three-Passenger Seat

4. Push the pin(s) marked “R” down

5. Push the pin(s) marked “L” down

until they are in the retaining clip.

until they are in the retaining clip.

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3-8

Seats and Restraints

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

{ Warning

Do not let anyone ride where a safety belt cannot be worn properly. In a crash, if you or your passenger(s) are not wearing safety belts, injuries can be much worse than if you are wearing safety belts. You can be seriously injured or killed by hitting things inside the vehicle harder or by being ejected from the vehicle. In addition, anyone who is not buckled up can strike other passengers in the vehicle. It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, passengers riding in these areas

(Continued)

Warning (Continued)

are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow passengers to ride in any area of the vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Always wear a safety belt, and check that all passenger(s) are restrained properly too.

This vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle the safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 5-14.

Why Safety Belts Work

When riding in a vehicle, you travel as fast as the vehicle does. If the vehicle stops suddenly, you keep going until something stops you. It could be the windshield, the instrument panel, or the safety belts! When you wear a safety belt, you and the vehicle slow down together. There is more time to stop because you stop over a longer distance and, when worn properly, your strongest bones take the forces from the

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safety belts. That is why wearing safety belts makes such good sense. Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I am wearing a safety belt?

A: You could be — whether you are

wearing a safety belt or not. Your chance of being conscious during and after a crash, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.

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.

Also, in nearly all states and in all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing safety belts.

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This section is only for people of adult size. There are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and infants. If a child will be riding in the vehicle, see Older Children on page 3-28 or Infants and Young Children on page 3-30. 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.

Seats and Restraints

3-9

There are important things to know about wearing a safety belt properly.

. Sit up straight and always keep

your feet on the floor in front of you.

. Always use the correct buckle

for your seating position.

. Wear the lap part of the belt 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

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3-10

Seats and Restraints

would apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries.

. Wear the shoulder belt 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.

{ Warning

You can be seriously injured, or even killed, by not wearing your safety belt properly. . Never allow the lap or

shoulder belt to become loose or twisted.

. Never wear the shoulder belt

under both arms or behind your back.

. Never route the lap or shoulder belt over an armrest.

Lap-Shoulder Belt All seating positions in the vehicle have a lap-shoulder belt. If you are using a rear seating position with a detachable safety belt and the safety belt is not attached, see “Reinstalling the Rear Seats” under Rear Seats on page 3-4 for instructions on reconnecting the safety belt to the mini-buckle. 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.

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Seats and Restraints

3-11

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 3-15. Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the height that is right for you. See “Safety Belt Height Adjuster” later in this section for instructions on use and important safety information.

4.

5. To make the lap part tight, pull

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

To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. The belt should return to its stowed position. 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 safety belt and the vehicle.

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3-12

Seats and Restraints

Safety Belt Height Adjuster The vehicle has a safety belt height adjuster for the driver and front outboard passenger positions. Adjust the height so the shoulder portion of the belt is on the shoulder and not falling off of it. The belt should be close to, but not contacting, the neck. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. See How to Wear Safety Belts Properly on page 3-9.

To move it down, pull on the center adjuster control labeled PULL. You can move the height adjuster up just by pushing up on the shoulder belt guide. After the adjuster is set to the desired position, try to move it down without pushing in to make sure it has locked into position. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides This vehicle may have rear safety belt comfort guides. The guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed and properly adjusted, the comfort guide positions the shoulder belt away from the neck and head.

The comfort guides for the right rear outboard seating positions of three-passenger bench seats are stored in a pocket on the side of the seatback.

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Seats and Restraints

3-13

Comfort Guide Installation and Removal (Pocket Style) To install:

Adjustable comfort guides are available through your dealer for the left rear outboard seating positions of the three-passenger bench seats and for the outboard seating positions of the four-passenger bench seats. For these seating positions, the adjustable comfort guide attaches to a loop on the outboard side of the seatback.

2. Place the guide over the belt,

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

1. Locate the guide in a pocket on

the side of the seatback.

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3-14

Seats and Restraints

Warning (Continued)

and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat. The elastic cord must be behind the belt with the plastic guide on the front.

{ Warning

A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder

(Continued)

4. Buckle, position, and release the

safety belt as described previously in this section. Make sure the shoulder portion of the belt is on the shoulder and not falling off of it. The belt should be close to, but not contacting, the neck.

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 seatback.

Comfort Guide Installation and Removal (Adjustable Style)

{ Warning

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

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

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

Seats and Restraints

3-15

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

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

Adjustable comfort guides are available through your dealer for the left rear outboard seating positions of the three-passenger bench seats and for the outboard seating positions of the four-passenger bench seats. Instructions are included with the guides.

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3-16

Seats and Restraints

Safety System Check Now and then, check that the safety belt reminder light, safety belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and anchorages are all working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system parts that might keep a safety belt system from doing its job. See your dealer to have it repaired. Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, get a new one right away. Make sure the safety belt reminder light is working. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 5-14. Keep safety belts clean and dry. See Safety Belt Care on page 3-16.

Safety Belt Care Keep belts clean and dry. { Warning

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

Replacing Safety Belt System Parts after a Crash

{ Warning

A crash can damage the safety belt system in the vehicle. A damaged safety belt system may not properly protect the person using it, resulting in serious injury or even death in a

(Continued)

Warning (Continued)

crash. To help make sure the safety belt systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible.

After a minor crash, replacement of safety belts may not be necessary. But the safety belt assemblies that were used during any crash may have been stressed or damaged. See your dealer to have the safety belt assemblies inspected or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the safety belt system was not being used at the time of the crash.

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

outboard passenger.

. A roof-rail airbag for the driver

on vans with single row seating.

. A roof-rail airbag for the front outboard passenger on vans with single row seating.

. A roof-rail airbag for the driver

and the passenger seated directly behind the driver on vans with two row seating.

. A roof-rail airbag for the front outboard passenger and the passenger seated directly behind the front outboard passenger on vans with two row seating.

If the van is equipped with a sliding door, the roof-rail airbag for the front outboard passenger is separate from the roof-rail airbag for the passenger seated directly behind the front outboard passenger. If the van is equipped with a 60/40 swing-out door, a single roof-rail airbag covers both seating positions. . A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the second and third row passengers seated directly behind the driver on vans with three or more seating rows.

. A roof-rail airbag for the front outboard passenger and the second and third row passengers seated directly behind the front outboard passenger on vans with three or more seating rows. If the van is equipped with a sliding door, the roof-rail airbag for the front outboard passenger is separate from the roof-rail airbag for the second and third

Seats and Restraints

3-17

row passengers seated directly behind the front outboard passenger. If the van is equipped with a 60/40 swing-out door, a single roof-rail airbag covers all three seating positions.

All vehicle airbags have the word AIRBAG on the trim or on an attached label near the deployment opening. For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG is on the center of the steering wheel for the driver and on the instrument panel for the front outboard passenger. For roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG is on the ceiling or trim. Airbags are designed to supplement the protection provided by safety belts. Even though today’s airbags are also designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating airbag, all airbags must inflate very quickly to do their job.

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Seats and Restraints

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

{ Warning

{ Warning

{ Warning

You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing your safety belt, even with airbags. Airbags are designed to work with safety belts, not replace them. Also, airbags are not designed to inflate in every crash. In some crashes safety belts are the only restraint. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? on page 3-20. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce the chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Airbags are “supplemental restraints” to the safety belts. Everyone in the vehicle should wear a safety belt properly, whether or not there is an airbag for that person.

Airbags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Do not sit unnecessarily close to 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.

Children who are up against, or very close to, any airbag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Always secure children properly in the vehicle. To read how, see Older Children on page 3-28 or Infants and Young Children on page 3-30.

There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system checks the airbag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 5-14.

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Where Are the Airbags?

Seats and Restraints

3-19

The driver frontal airbag is in the center of the steering wheel.

If the vehicle has one, the front outboard passenger airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger side.

Driver Side Shown, Passenger

Side Similar

If the vehicle has a single seating row and it has roof-rail airbags for the driver and front outboard passenger, the roof-rail airbags are in the ceiling above the side windows.

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3-20

Seats and Restraints

{ Warning

If something is between an occupant and an airbag, the airbag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury 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.

When Should an Airbag Inflate? This vehicle is equipped with one or more airbags. See Airbag System on page 3-17. Airbags are designed to inflate if the impact exceeds the specific airbag system's 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. The vehicle has electronic sensors which help the airbag system determine the severity of the impact. Deployment thresholds can vary with specific vehicle design. 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 or front outboard passenger head and chest. Whether the frontal airbags will or should deploy is not based primarily on how fast the vehicle is traveling.

Driver Side Shown, Passenger

Side Similar

If the vehicle has two seating rows, roof-rail airbags for the driver, front outboard passenger, and second row outboard passengers are in the ceiling above the side windows. If the vehicle has three or more seating rows, roof-rail airbags for the driver, front outboard passenger, and second and third row outboard passengers are in the ceiling above the side windows.

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It depends largely on what you hit, the direction of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle slows down. Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash speeds depending on whether the vehicle hits an object straight on or at an angle, and whether the object is fixed or moving, rigid or deformable, narrow or wide. Frontal airbags are not intended to inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts. The vehicle may or may not be equipped with roof-rail airbags. Roof-rail airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes depending on the location of the impact. In addition, these roof-rail airbags are designed to inflate during a rollover. Roof-rail airbags are not designed to inflate in frontal, near-frontal, or rear impacts. All roof-rail airbags will inflate when either side of the vehicle is struck or

if the sensing system predicts that the vehicle is about to roll over on its side. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inflated simply because of the vehicle damage or repair costs.

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. The inflator, the airbag, and related hardware are all part of the airbag module. For airbag locations, see Where Are the Airbags? on page 3-19.

How Does an Airbag Restrain? In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions, even belted occupants can contact the steering

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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 by distributing the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant's 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. The rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to help reduce the risk of full or partial ejection in rollover events, although no system can prevent all such ejections. But airbags would not help in many types of collisions, primarily because the occupant's motion is not toward those airbags. See When Should an Airbag Inflate? on page 3-20 for more information.

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Seats and Restraints

Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety belts.

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 3-21. The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent the driver from seeing out of the windshield or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from leaving the vehicle.

{ Warning

When an airbag inflates, there may be dust in the air. This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have breathing problems but cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag inflates, then get fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you experience breathing problems following an airbag deployment, you should seek medical attention.

The vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock the doors (if equipped with power door locks), turn on the interior lamps and hazard warning flashers, and shut off the fuel system after the airbags inflate. The feature may also activate, without airbag inflation,

after an event that exceeds a predetermined threshold. You can lock the doors, and turn off the interior lamps and the hazard warning flashers by using the controls for those features. { Warning

A crash severe enough to inflate the airbags may have also damaged important functions in the vehicle, such as the fuel system, brake and steering systems, etc. Even if the vehicle appears to be drivable after a moderate crash, there may be concealed damage that could make it difficult to safely operate the vehicle. Use caution if you should attempt to restart the engine after a crash has occurred.

In many crashes severe enough to inflate the airbag, windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.

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Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the front outboard passenger airbag. . 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 on page 13-14. Let only qualified technicians work on the airbag systems. Improper service can mean that an airbag system will not work properly. See your dealer for service.

Airbag On-Off Switch If the instrument panel has one of the switches pictured in the following illustrations, the vehicle has an airbag on-off switch that you can use to manually turn on or off the front outboard passenger airbag.

United States

Canada and Mexico

This switch should only be turned to the off position if the person in the front outboard passenger position is a member of a passenger risk group identified by the national government as follows:

Infant. An infant (less than 1 year old) must ride in the front seat because: . My vehicle has no rear seat; . My vehicle has a rear seat too

small to accommodate a rear-facing infant seat; or

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Seats and Restraints

The infant has a medical condition which, according to the infant's physician, makes it necessary for the infant to ride in the front seat so that the driver can constantly monitor the child's condition.

Child age 1 to 12. A child age 1 to 12 must ride in the front seat because: . My vehicle has no rear seat; . Although children ages 1 to 12

ride in the rear seat(s) whenever possible, children ages 1 to 12
sometimes must ride in the front because no space is available in the rear seat(s) of my vehicle; or The child has a medical condition which, according to the child's physician, makes it necessary for the child to ride in the front seat so that the driver can constantly monitor the child's condition.

Medical Condition. A passenger has a medical condition which, according to his or her physician: . Causes the passenger airbag to

pose a special risk for the passenger; and

. Makes the potential harm from

the passenger airbag in a crash greater than the potential harm from turning off the airbag and allowing the passenger, even if belted, to hit the instrument panel or windshield in a crash.

{ Warning

If the front outboard passenger frontal airbag is turned off for a person who is not in a risk group identified by the national government, that person will not have the extra protection of an airbag. In a crash, the airbag will not be able to inflate and help protect the person sitting there.

(Continued)

Warning (Continued)

Do not turn off the front outboard passenger frontal airbag unless the person sitting there is in a risk group.

United States

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{ Warning

If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and stays on, it means that something may be wrong with the airbag system. For example, the front outboard passenger frontal airbag could inflate even though the airbag on-off switch is turned off. To help avoid injury to yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right away. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 5-14 for more information, including important safety information.

United States

Canada and Mexico

Canada and Mexico To turn off the front outboard passenger frontal airbag, insert the ignition key into the switch, push in, and move the switch to the off position. The airbag off light will come on to let you know the front outboard passenger airbag is off. The airbag off light will stay on to remind you that the airbag is off. See Airbag On-Off Light on page 5-15. The front outboard passenger airbag will remain off until you turn it back on again.

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Seats and Restraints

To turn the front outboard passenger airbag on again, insert the ignition key into the switch, push in, and move the switch to the on position. The front outboard passenger frontal airbag is now enabled, and may inflate. See Airbag On-Off Light on page 5-15 for more information.

Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Airbags affect how the vehicle should be serviced. There are parts of the airbag system in several places around the vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual have information about servicing the vehicle and the airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 13-11.

{ Warning

For up to 10 seconds after the vehicle is turned off and the battery is disconnected, an airbag can still inflate during improper service. You can be injured if you are close to an airbag when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors. They are probably part of the airbag system. Be sure to follow proper service procedures, and make sure the person performing work for you is qualified to do so.

Adding Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Adding accessories that change the vehicle's frame, bumper system, height, front end, or side sheet metal, may keep the airbag system from working properly. The operation of the airbag system can also be affected by changing any parts of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing and diagnostic

module, steering wheel, instrument panel, any of the airbag modules, ceiling or pillar garnish trim, front sensors, rollover sensor module, or airbag wiring. Your dealer and the service manual have information about the location of the airbag sensors, sensing and diagnostic module, and airbag wiring. If the vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags, see Different Size Tires and Wheels on page 10-60 for additional important information. If you have to modify your vehicle because you have a disability and you have questions about whether the modifications will affect the vehicle's airbag system, or if you have questions about whether the airbag system will be affected if the vehicle is modified for any other reason, call Customer Assistance. See Customer Assistance Offices on page 13-3.

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If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbag system parts. See your dealer for service. If the airbag readiness light stays on after the vehicle is started or comes on when you are driving, the airbag system may not work properly. Have the vehicle serviced right away. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 5-14.

Airbag System Check The airbag system does not need regularly scheduled maintenance or replacement. Make sure the airbag readiness light is working. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 5-14.

{ Caution

If an airbag covering is damaged, opened, or broken, the airbag may not work properly. Do not open or break the airbag coverings. If there are any opened or broken airbag coverings, have the airbag covering and/or airbag module replaced. For the location of the airbags, see Where Are the Airbags? on page 3-19. See your dealer for service.

Replacing Airbag System Parts after a Crash { Warning

A crash can damage the airbag systems in the vehicle. A damaged airbag system may not work properly and may not protect you and your passenger(s) in a crash, resulting in serious injury or even death. To help make sure the airbag systems are working properly after a crash, have them inspected and any necessary replacements made as soon as possible.

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Seats and Restraints

Child Restraints

Older Children

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

The manufacturer 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 fit test below: . 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.

. 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, if available. See “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3-10. If a comfort guide is not available, or if the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the booster seat.

. Does the lap belt fit low and

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

. Can proper safety belt fit be

maintained for the length of the trip? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.

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 3-10. According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in a rear seating position.

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Warning (Continued)

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.

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.

{ Warning

Never allow more than one child to wear the same safety belt. The safety belt cannot properly spread the impact forces. In a crash, they can be crushed together and seriously injured. A safety belt must be used by only one person at a time.

{ Warning

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

(Continued)

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Seats and Restraints

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.

{ Warning

Children can be seriously injured or strangled if a shoulder belt is wrapped around their neck. The shoulder belt can tighten but cannot be loosened if it is locked. The shoulder belt locks when it is pulled all the way out of the retractor. It unlocks when the shoulder belt is allowed to go all

(Continued)

Warning (Continued)

the way back into the retractor, but it cannot do this if it is wrapped around a child’s neck. If the shoulder belt is locked and tightened around a child’s neck, the only way to loosen the belt is to cut it. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle and never allow children to play with the safety belts.

Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate child restraints. Neither the vehicle's safety belt system nor its airbag system is designed for them. Children who are not restrained properly can strike other people, or can be thrown out of the vehicle.

{ Warning

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 40 km/h (25 mph), a 5.5 kg (12 lb) infant will suddenly become a 110 kg (240 lb) force on a person's arms. An infant should be secured in an appropriate restraint.

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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 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.

Warning (Continued)

the front outboard seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go.

{ Warning

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 front outboard 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

(Continued)

Q: What are the different types of

add-on child restraints?

A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child's

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Seats and Restraints

{ Warning

{ Warning

Child Restraint Systems

To reduce the risk of neck and head injury during a crash, infants need complete support. In a crash, if an infant is in a rear-facing child restraint, 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.

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.

Rear-Facing Infant Seat

A rear-facing infant seat 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.

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Forward-Facing Child Seat

Booster Seats

A forward-facing child seat provides restraint for the child's body with the harness.

A booster seat 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.

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Securing an Add-On Child Restraint in the Vehicle { Warning

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 safety belt or LATCH system, following the instructions that came with that child restraint and the instructions in this manual.

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 System) on page 3-36.

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Seats and Restraints

Children 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. In some areas of the United States and Canada, Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) are available to inspect and demonstrate how to correctly use and install child restraints. In the U.S., refer to the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration (NHTSA) website to locate the nearest child safety seat inspection station. For CPST availability in Canada, check with Transport Canada or the Provincial Ministry of Transportation office. Securing the Child Within the Child Restraint

{ Warning

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.

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.

Whenever possible, children age 12 and under should be secured in a rear seating position. If a child restraint is secured in the front outboard passenger seat, and the vehicle has a switch on the instrument panel to manually turn off the front outboard passenger airbag, see Airbag On-Off Switch on page 3-23 and Securing Child Restraints (Rear Seat) on page 3-43
or Securing Child Restraints (Front Passenger Seat) on page 3-45 for more information, including important safety information. 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.

{ Warning

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the front outboard passenger airbag inflates. This is (Continued)

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Warning (Continued)

Warning (Continued)

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 front outboard passenger airbag inflates and the passenger seat is in a forward position. Even if the airbag switch has turned off the front outboard 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 front outboard seat, always

(Continued)

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. Child restraints and booster seats vary considerably in size, and some may fit in certain seating positions better than others. Always make sure the child restraint is properly secured. Depending on where you place the child restraint and the size of the child restraint, you may not be able to access adjacent safety belt assemblies or LATCH anchors for

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additional passengers or child restraints. Adjacent seating positions should not be used if the child restraint prevents access to or interferes with the routing of the safety belt. If the vehicle does not have a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, a rear-facing child restraint should not be installed in the vehicle, even if the airbag is off. 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.