OCCUPANT SENSING
Crash statistics show that children are safest when properly restrained in a child restraint system appropriate for their age and weight and secured in a rear seating position.
Extreme hazard! Do not use a rearward-facing child restraint on a seat protected by an air bag in front of it!
For optimum safety, children under the age of 13 should travel in the rear of the vehicle at all times; front passenger seat travel is not recommended. An inflating air bag could cause serious injury or death to children riding in the front passenger seat.
When checking the operational status of the front passenger air bag, make sure that the ignition is switched on.
The front passenger seat is fitted with an occupancy sensor system that determines if the seat is:
Unoccupied.
Occupied by a person of low weight.
Occupied by a child seat or object.
Occupied by a heavier person or object.
The system consists of:
A weight sensing pressure pad, installed under the front passenger seat cushion.
The sensor measures downward pressure/weight on the seat cushion.
A seat belt tension sensor, integrated into the anchor point of the front passenger seat belt.
A control unit installed under the front passenger seat.
An air bag status indicator lamp, mounted on the overhead control panel (as illustrated) displays the operational status of the passenger air bag.
| Occupancy status | Passenger air bag status | Status lamp display |
|---|---|---|
| Completely empty. | Deactivated | PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF* |
| Child restraint or low weight occupant/object. | Deactivated | PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF |
| Heavy occupant/object. | Activated | ON PASSENGER AIR BAG** |
* If the status lamp indicates that the air bag is off with a seated adult, contact your retailer/authorized repairer immediately.
**Displayed for 60 seconds followed by no display.