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G E T T I N G S T A R T E D
Front Air Bag Operation
Front Air Bags are designed to provide additional protection by supplementing the seat
belts. Front air bags are not expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or rollover
collisions. The front air bags will not deploy in all frontal collisions, including some that
may produce substantial vehicle damage — for example, some pole collisions, truck
underrides, and angle offset collisions.
On the other hand, depending on the type and location of impact, front air bags may
deploy in crashes with little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a severe initial
deceleration.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration over time, vehicle speed and
damage by themselves are not good indicators of whether or not an air bag should have
deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all collisions, and also are needed to help
keep you in position, away from an inflating air bag.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the front air bags, it signals the inflator units.
A large quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the front air bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right side of the instrument panel
separate and fold out of the way as the air bags inflate to their full size. The front air bags
fully inflate in less time than it takes to blink your eyes. The front air bags then quickly
deflate while helping to restrain the driver and front passenger.
Occupant Classification System (OCS) — Front Passenger Seat
The OCS is part of a Federally regulated safety system for this vehicle. It is designed to
activate or deactivate the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag depending on the occupant's
seated weight. It is designed to deactivate the Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag for an
unoccupied seat and for occupants whose seated weight classifies them in a category
other than a properly seated adult. This could be a child, teenager, or even an adult.
The Occupant Classification System (OCS) Consists Of The Following:
• Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Occupant Classification Module (OCM) and Sensor located in the front passenger seat
• Passenger Air Bag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light – an amber light located in the center
of the instrument panel
• Air Bag Warning Light
Occupant Classification Module (OCM) And Sensor
The Occupant Classification Module (OCM) is located underneath the front passenger
seat. The Sensor is located beneath the passenger seat cushion foam. Any weight on the
seat will be sensed by the Sensor. The OCM uses input from the Sensor to determine the
front passenger's most probable classification. The OCM communicates this information
to the ORC. The ORC uses the classification to determine whether it should activate or
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