38
Seats and Restraints
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. 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 and Privacy 0 386 and
Event Data Recorders 0 387.
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 passenger side instrument panel
endcap has the switch pictured in the
following illustration, the vehicle has an
airbag on-off switch that you can use to
manually turn on or off the front outboard
passenger airbag.
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
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.