Dodge 2013 SRT Viper Owner's Manual

Viper

OWNER’S MANUAL

2013

This manual illustrates and describes the operation of
features and equipment that are either standard or optional
on this vehicle. This manual may also include a description
of features and equipment that are no longer available or
were not ordered on this vehicle. Please disregard any
features and equipment described in this manual that are
not on this vehicle.

Chrysler Group LLC reserves the right to make changes in
design and specifications, and/or make additions to or
improvements to its products without imposing any obliga­tion upon itself to install them on products previously
manufactured.

Copyright © 2012 Chrysler Group LLC

SECTION PAGE

INTRODUCTION . ..............................................................3

1

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE ..................................9

2

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE ..................................73

3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1
2
3

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL ......................................123

4

STARTINGANDOPERATING ....................................................173

5

WHATTODOINEMERGENCIES..................................................233

6

MAINTAININGYOURVEHICLE...................................................251

7

MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES ....................................................299

8

IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE ............................................317

9

INDEX .....................................................................327

10

4
5
6
7
8
9
10

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

1

䡵 INTRODUCTION ........................4

䡵 HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL ..............4

䡵 WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS ..............6

䡵 VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ........6

䡵 VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS/ALTERATIONS ....7

4 INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on selecting your new Chrysler Group
LLC vehicle. Be assured that it represents precision
workmanship, distinctive styling, and high quality - all
essentials that are traditional to our vehicles.

This Owner’s Manual has been prepared with the assis­tance of service and engineering specialists to acquaint
you with the operation and maintenance of your vehicle.
It is supplemented by Warranty Information, and various
customer-oriented documents. Please take the time to
read these publications carefully. Following the instruc­tions and recommendations in this manual will help
assure safe and enjoyable operation of your vehicle.

NOTE: After reviewing the owner information, it
should be stored in the vehicle for convenient referenc­ing and remain with the vehicle when sold.

When it comes to service, remember that your authorized
dealer knows your vehicle best, has factory-trained tech­nicians and genuine parts, and cares about your satisfac­tion.

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL

Consult the Table of Contents to determine which section
contains the information you desire.

Since the specification of your vehicle depends on the
items of equipment ordered, certain descriptions and
illustrations may differ from your vehicle’s equipment.

The detailed index at the back of this Owner’s Manual
contains a complete listing of all subjects.

Consult the following table for a description of the
symbols that may be used on your vehicle or throughout
this Owner’s Manual:

INTRODUCTION 5

1

6 INTRODUCTION

WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS

This Owners Manual contains WARNINGS against op-
erating procedures that could result in a collision or
bodily injury. It also contains CAUTIONS against proce­dures that could result in damage to your vehicle. If you
do not read this entire Owners Manual, you may miss
important information. Observe all Warnings and Cau­tions.

VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is on the left
front corner of the instrument panel and is visible from
outside the vehicle through the windshield. This number
also appears on the Automobile Information Disclosure
Label affixed to a window on your vehicle, the vehicle
registration, and the title.

Vehicle Identification Number

NOTE: It is illegal to remove or alter the VIN.

VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS/ALTERATIONS

WARNING!

Any modifications or alterations to this vehicle could
seriously affect its roadworthiness and safety and
may lead to a collision resulting in serious injury or
death.

INTRODUCTION 7

1

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

CONTENTS

2

䡵 A WORD ABOUT YOUR KEYS .............12

▫ Keyless Ignition Node (KIN) ..............12

▫ KeyFob.............................13

▫ Ignition Or Accessory On Message ..........14

䡵 SENTRY KEY® .........................15

▫ Replacement Keys .....................16

▫ Customer Key Programming ..............17

▫ General Information ....................17

䡵 VEHICLE SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM .......18

▫ Rearming of the System ..................18

▫ To Arm The System.....................18

▫ To Disarm The System ...................19

䡵 ILLUMINATED ENTRY ...................20

䡵 REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) ...........20

▫ To Unlock The Doors....................21

▫ To Lock The Doors .....................22

▫ To Unlatch The Liftgate ..................22

▫ Using The Panic Alarm ..................22

▫ Programming Additional Transmitters .......23

▫ Transmitter Battery Replacement ...........23

10 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

▫ General Information ....................24

䡵 DOOR LOCKS .........................25

▫ Power Door Locks .....................25

䡵 WINDOWS ...........................28

▫ Power Windows .......................28

▫ Auto-Down Feature ....................29

▫ AUTO-Up Feature With Anti-Pinch Protection —

If Equipped ..........................29

▫ Reset Auto-Up ........................30

䡵 LIFTGATE ............................30

䡵 OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS ................33

▫ Lap/Shoulder Belts ....................34

▫ Lap/Shoulder Belt Untwisting Procedure .....39

▫ Enhanced Seat Belt Use Reminder System

(BeltAlert®) ..........................40

▫ Automatic Locking Retractor Mode (ALR) —

If Equipped ..........................41

▫ Seat Belt Pretensioners — If Equipped .......42

▫ Seat Belts and Pregnant Women ............42

▫ Seat Belt Extender .....................42

▫ Driver And Passenger Supplemental Restraint

System (SRS) — Air Bags ................43

▫ Air Bag Deployment Sensors And Controls ....48

▫ Event Data Recorder (EDR) ...............59

▫ Child Restraints .......................60

䡵 BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS ...........67

䡵 SAFETY TIPS ..........................68

▫ Transporting Passengers..................68

▫ Exhaust Gas .........................68

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 11

▫ Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The

Vehicle .............................69

▫ Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside

The Vehicle ..........................70

2

12 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

A WORD ABOUT YOUR KEYS

Keyless Ignition Node (KIN)

Your vehicle uses a keyless ignition system. This system
consists of a Key Fob with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter and a Keyless Ignition Node (KIN).

Keyless Enter-N-Go™ Feature

This vehicle is equipped with the Keyless Enter-N-Go™
feature, (refer to ⬙Keyless Enter-N-Go⬙ in ⬙Things To
Know Before Starting Your Vehicle⬙ for further informa­tion).

This feature allows the driver to operate the ignition with
the push of a button, as long as the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter is in the passenger compartment.

The Keyless Ignition Node (KIN) has four operating
positions, three of which are labeled and will illuminate
when in position. The three positions are OFF, ACC, and
ON/RUN. The fourth position is START, during start
RUN will illuminate.

NOTE: In case the ignition does not change with the
push of a button, the RKE transmitter (Key Fob) may
have a low or dead battery.

Keyless Ignition Node (KIN)

1 — OFF
2 — ACC (ACCESSORY)
3 — ON/RUN

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 13

Key Fob

The Key Fob also contains the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter and an emergency key, which stores in
the rear of the Key Fob.

The emergency key allows for entry into the vehicle hatch
should the battery in the vehicle or the Key Fob go dead.

To remove the emergency key, slide the mechanical latch
on the back of the Key Fob sideways with your thumb
and then pull the key out with your other hand.

2

14 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Emergency Key Removal

NOTE: You can insert the double-sided emergency key

into the lock cylinders with either side up.

Ignition Or Accessory On Message

Opening the driver’s door when the ignition is in ACC or
ON (engine not running), a chime will sound to remind
you to cycle the ignition to OFF. In addition to the chime,
the ignition or accessory on message will display in the
cluster.

NOTE: With the Uconnect® system, the power window
switches, radio and power outlets will remain active for
up to 10 minutes after the ignition is cycled to the OFF
position. Opening either front door will cancel this
feature. The time for this feature is programmable. Refer
to “Uconnect® Settings” in “Understanding Your Instru­ment Panel” for further information.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 15

WARNING!

• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the Key
Fob from the vehicle and lock your vehicle.

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.

• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured. Chil­dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.

• Do not leave the Key Fob in or near the vehicle, or
in a location accessible to children, and do not
leave a vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N­Go™ in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child could
operate power windows, other controls, or move
the vehicle.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may
cause serious injury or death.

CAUTION!

An unlocked car is an invitation to thieves. Always
remove the Key Fob from vehicle, cycle the ignition
OFF and lock all doors when leaving the vehicle
unattended.

SENTRY KEY®

The Sentry Key® Immobilizer system prevents unauthor­ized vehicle operation by disabling the engine. The
system does not need to be armed or activated. Operation
is automatic, regardless of whether the vehicle is locked
or unlocked.

2

16 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

The system uses a Key Fob with Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter, a Keyless Ignition Node (KIN) and a
RF receiver to prevent unauthorized vehicle operation.
Therefore, only Key Fobs that are programmed to the
vehicle can be used to start and operate the vehicle.

After cycling the ignition to the ON/RUN position, the
Vehicle Security Light will turn on for three seconds for a
bulb check. If the light remains on after the bulb check, it
indicates that there is a problem with the electronics. In
addition, if the light begins to flash after the bulb check,
it indicates that someone used an invalid Key Fob to start
the engine. Either of these conditions will result in the
engine being shut off after two seconds.

If the Vehicle Security Light turns on during normal
vehicle operation (vehicle running for longer than 10
seconds), it indicates that there is a fault in the electron­ics. Should this occur, have the vehicle serviced as soon
as possible by an authorized dealer.

CAUTION!

The Sentry Key® Immobilizer system is not compat­ible with some after-market remote starting systems.
Use of these systems may result in vehicle starting
problems and loss of security protection.

All of the Key Fobs provided with your new vehicle have
been programmed to the vehicle electronics.

Replacement Keys

NOTE: Only Key Fobs that are programmed to the
vehicle electronics can be used to start and operate the
vehicle. Once a Key Fob is programmed to a vehicle, it
cannot be programmed to any other vehicle.

CAUTION!

• Always remove the Key Fobs from the vehicle and
lock all doors when leaving the vehicle unat­tended.

• For vehicles equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go™,
always remember to place the ignition in the OFF
position.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 17

NOTE: When having the Sentry Key® Immobilizer Sys­tem serviced, bring all vehicle keys with you to an
authorized dealer.

Customer Key Programming

Programming Key Fobs or RKE transmitters may be
performed at an authorized dealer.

General Information

2

At the time of purchase, the original owner is provided
with a four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN).
Keep the PIN in a secure location. This number is
required for authorized dealer replacement of Key Fobs.
Duplication of Key Fobs may be performed at an autho­rized dealer, this procedure consists of programming a
blank Key Fob to the vehicle electronics. A blank Key Fob
is one that has never been programmed.

The Sentry Key® system complies with FCC rules Part 15
and with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is
subject to the following conditions:

• This device may not cause harmful interference.

• This device must accept any interference that may be

received, including interference that may cause unde­sired operation.

18 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

VEHICLE SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM

The Vehicle Security Alarm monitors the doors, liftgate,
and hood for unauthorized entry and the ignition for
unauthorized operation. If something triggers the alarm,
the Vehicle Security Alarm will prevent the vehicle from
starting. It will also sound the horn and flash the park
lights, and taillights.

Rearming of the System

If something triggers the alarm, and no action is taken to
disarm it, the Vehicle Security Alarm will turn off the
horn after three minutes, turn off all of the visual signals
(flashing lights) after 15 minutes, and then rearm itself.

To Arm The System

Follow these steps to arm the Vehicle Security Alarm:

1. Make sure the vehicle ignition system is the ⬙OFF⬙

position.

2. Perform one of the following methods to lock the
vehicle:

Press LOCK on the interior power door lock switch with
the driver and/or passenger door open.

Press the LOCK button on the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter.

3. If any doors are open, close them.

Entering The Liftgate With The System Armed

NOTE: Using the key to open the liftgate while the

Vehicle Security Alarm is armed will trigger the alarm.

Press the LIFTGATE release button on the RKE transmit­ter twice to allow access without triggering the alarm or
having to disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm. Then,
within 30 seconds, open the liftgate by using the key
cylinder or the LIFTGATE release switch located in the
exterior liftgate handle.

To Disarm The System

The Vehicle Security Alarm can be disarmed using any of
the following methods:

• Press the UNLOCK button on the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 19

system will give you a false alarm. If one of the previ­ously described arming sequences has occurred, the
Vehicle Security Alarm will arm regardless of whether
you are in the vehicle or not. If you remain in the vehicle
and open a door, the alarm will sound. If this occurs,
disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm.

2

• Cycle the vehicle ignition system out of the OFF
position:

• Press the Keyless Enter-N-Go™ Start/Stop button
(requires at least one valid Key Fob in the vehicle).

NOTE:

• The liftgate key cylinder cannot arm or disarm the
Vehicle Security Alarm.

• When the Vehicle Security Alarm is armed, the interior
power door lock switches will not unlock the doors.

The Vehicle Security Alarm is designed to protect your
vehicle; however, you can create conditions where the

If the Vehicle Security Alarm is armed and the battery
becomes disconnected, the Vehicle Security Alarm will
remain armed when the battery is reconnected; the
exterior lights will flash, the horn will sound. If this
occurs, disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm.

Tamper Alert

If something has triggered the Vehicle Security Alarm in
your absence, the horn will sound three times and the
exterior lights will blink three times when you disarm the
Vehicle Security Alarm. Check the vehicle for tampering.

20 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Electronic Immobilization System

The Electronic Immobilization system prevents unau­thorized vehicle operation by disabling the engine. The
system does not need to be armed or activated. Operation
is automatic, regardless of whether the vehicle is locked
or unlocked.

ILLUMINATED ENTRY

The interior lights will turn on whenever a door is
opened or the liftgate is opened and the dimmer switch is
not in the defeat position.

The interior lights will turn on, remain on for approxi­mately 30 seconds, and then fade to off if any of the
following occur:

• A door is opened using the outside door handle and
then closed.

• A door is unlocked using the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter.

The interior lights will turn on and remain on for about
four seconds and then fade to off if a door is opened
using the inside door handle.

NOTE: None of the courtesy lights will operate if the
dimmer control is in the “defeat” position (extreme
downward position), unless the overhead map/reading
lights are turned on manually.

REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE)

The RKE system allows you to lock or unlock the doors
and liftgate, or activate the Panic Alarm from distances
up to approximately 200 ft (60 m) using a hand-held Key
Fob with RKE transmitter. The RKE transmitter does not
need to be pointed at the vehicle to activate the system.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 21

“Uconnect® Access Programmable Settings” in “Under­standing Your Instrument Panel” for further information.

Key Fob With RKE Transmitter

To Unlock The Doors

Press and release the UNLOCK button on the RKE
transmitter once to unlock the driver’s door or twice to
unlock both doors and the liftgate. The park lights and
turn signal lights will flash to acknowledge the signal
and the illuminated entry system will turn on. refer to

Remote Key Unlock, Driver Door/Both Doors First

This feature lets you program the system to unlock either
the driver’s door or all doors on the first press of the
UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter. To change the
current setting, refer to “Uconnect® Access Settings” in
“Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for further in­formation.

Flash Lights With Remote Key Lock

This feature lets you program the system to unlock either
the driver’s door or all doors on the first press of the
UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter. To change the
current setting, refer to “Uconnect® Access Settings” in
“Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for further in­formation.

2

22 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

To Lock The Doors

Using The Panic Alarm

Press and release the LOCK button on the RKE transmit­ter to lock the doors. The horn will chirp once and the
park lights and turn signal lights will flash to acknowl­edge the signal.

Sound Horn With Remote Key Lock

This feature will cause the horn to chirp when the doors
are locked with the RKE transmitter. This feature can be
turned on or turned off. To change the current setting,
refer to “Uconnect® Access Settings” in “Understanding
Your Instrument Panel” for further information.

To Unlatch The Liftgate

Press the LIFTGATE button on the RKE transmitter two
times within five seconds to unlatch the liftgate.

To turn the Panic Alarm feature on or off, press and hold
the PANIC button on the RKE transmitter for at least one
second and release. When the Panic Alarm is on, the
headlights will turn on, the park lights will flash, the
horn will pulse on and off, and the interior lights will
turn on.

The Panic Alarm will stay on for three minutes unless
you turn it off by either pressing the PANIC button a
second time or drive the vehicle at a speed of 15 mph
(24 km/h) or greater.

NOTE: The interior lights will turn off if you cycle the
ignition switch to the ACC or ON/RUN position while
the Panic Alarm is activated. However, the exterior lights
and horn will remain on.

Programming Additional Transmitters

Programming Key Fobs or RKE transmitters may be
performed at an authorized dealer.

Transmitter Battery Replacement

The recommended replacement battery is one CR2032
battery.

NOTE:

• Perchlorate Material — special handling may apply.
See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate

• Do not touch the battery terminals that are on the back
housing or the printed circuit board.

1. Remove the emergency key by sliding the mechanical

latch on the back of the RKE transmitter sideways
with your thumb and then pull the key out with your
other hand.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 23

2. Insert the tip of the emergency key or a #2 flat blade
screwdriver into the slot and gently pry the two halves
of the RKE transmitter apart. Make sure not to damage
the seal during removal.

Emergency Key Removal

2

24 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

3.

Remove the battery by turning the back cover over
(battery facing downward) and tapping it lightly on a
solid surface such as a table or similar, then replace the
battery. When replacing the battery, match the + sign on
the battery to the + sign on the inside of the battery clip,
located on the back cover. Avoid touching the new battery
with your fingers. Skin oils may cause battery deteriora­tion. If you touch a battery, clean it with rubbing alcohol.

4. To assemble the RKE transmitter case, snap the two
halves together.

General Information

This RKE transmitter complies with FCC rules Part 15.
Operation is subject to the following conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference.

2. This device must accept any interference that may be
received, including interference that may cause unde­sired operation.

If your RKE transmitter fails to operate from a normal
distance, check for these two conditions:

1. Closeness to a radio transmitter, such as a radio station
tower, airport transmitter, and some mobile or CB
radios can affect transmitter operation. To verify if this
is the cause, move the vehicle to another area and test
RKE transmitter operation.

2. The RKE transmitter may become “out of sync” and
will no longer function if operated more than 255
times while out of range of the vehicle (23 ft or 7 m) or
if operated while the vehicle battery is dead or discon­nected. To “synchronize” the RKE transmitter, cycle
the ignition to the OFF position. Close the hood and all
doors. Press both buttons on the RKE transmitter for
about 10 seconds. The horn will chirp once to ac­knowledge the signal. Normal RKE transmitter opera­tion should resume.

3. The RKE transmitter battery may be weak or dead.
The expected life of the battery is a minimum of three
years.

DOOR LOCKS

WARNING!

• Do not touch the exhaust pipe sill covers when
entering or exiting your vehicle. They can be hot
enough to burn you. Observe the warning labels on
each door closure panel.

• For personal security in the event of an collision,
lock the vehicle doors as you drive as well as when
you park and leave the vehicle.

• When leaving the vehicle, always cycle the ignition
to the OFF position lock, and lock your vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause
severe personal injuries and death.

(Continued)

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 25

WARNING! (Continued)

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. A child or others could be
injured seriously or fatally. Don’t leave the ignition
in the ON position. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.

Power Door Locks

A power door lock switch is on each door trim panel. Use
this switch to lock or unlock the doors.

WARNING!

• For personal security and safety in the event of a
collision, lock the vehicle doors before you drive as
well as when you park and leave the vehicle.

(Continued)

2

26 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING! (Continued)

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.

• Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured. Chil­dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.

• Do not leave the Key Fob in or near the vehicle, or
in a location accessible to children, and do not
leave Keyless Enter-N-Go™ in the ACC or ON/
RUN mode. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.

Power Door Lock Switch

If you press the power door lock switch while the
ignition is in the ACC or ON/RUN position, and any
front door is open, the power locks will not operate. This
prevents you from accidentally locking the Key Fob in
the vehicle. Cycling the ignition to the OFF position or
closing the door will allow the locks to operate. If a door

is open, and the ignition is in the ACC or ON/RUN
position, a chime will sound as a reminder to remove the
Key Fob.

Automatic Door Locks

The auto door lock feature default condition is enabled.
When enabled, the door locks will lock automatically
when the vehicle’s speed exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h). The
auto door lock feature can be enabled or disabled by your
authorized dealer for service.

Automatic Unlock Doors On Exit

The doors will unlock automatically on vehicles with
power door locks if:

1. The Automatic Unlock Doors On Exit feature is en­abled.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 27

2. The driver door is opened.

3. The doors were not previously unlocked.

Automatic Unlock Doors On Exit Programming

To change the current setting, refer to “Uconnect® Set­tings” in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for
further information.

NOTE: Use the Automatic Unlock Doors On Exit feature
in accordance with local laws.

2

28 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WINDOWS
Power Windows

The window controls on the driver’s door control both of
the door windows.

Power Window Switches

There are single window controls on the passenger door
trim panel, which operate the passenger door window.
The window controls will operate only when the ignition
is in the ACC or ON/RUN position.

The power window switches will remain active for up to
10 minutes after the ignition is cycled to the OFF position.
Opening either front door will cancel this feature. The
time is programmable. Refer to “Uconnect® Access Set­tings” in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for
further information.

WARNING!

Never leave children unattended in a vehicle, and do
not let children play with power windows. Do not
leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, and do not
leave a vehicle equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go™

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. Occupants, particu­larly unattended children, can become entrapped by
the windows while operating the power window
switches. Such entrapment may result in serious
injury or death.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 29

AUTO-Up Feature With Anti-Pinch Protection — If
Equipped

Lift the window switch to the second detent, release, and
the window will go up automatically.

To stop the window from going all the way up during the
AUTO-up operation, push down on the switch briefly.

2

Auto-Down Feature

Both power window switches have an AUTO-down
feature. Press the window switch to the second detent,
release, and the window will go down automatically.

To open the window part way, press the window switch
to the first detent and release it when you want the
window to stop.

To stop the window from going all the way down during
the AUTO-down operation, pull up on the switch briefly.

To close the window part way, lift the window switch to
the first detent and release it when you want the window
to stop.

NOTE:

• If the window runs into any obstacle during auto­closure, it will reverse direction and then go back
down. Remove the obstacle and use the window
switch again to close the window.

30 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• Any impact due to rough road conditions may trigger
the auto-reverse function unexpectedly during auto­closure. If this happens, pull the switch lightly to the
first detent and hold to close the window manually.

2. Push the window switch down firmly to the second
detent to open the window completely and continue
to hold the switch down for an additional two seconds
after the window is fully open.

WARNING!

There is no anti-pinch protection when the window
is almost closed. Be sure to clear all objects from the
window before closing.

Reset Auto-Up

Should the Auto Up feature stop working, the window
probably needs to be reset. To reset Auto Up:

1. Pull the window switch up to close the window
completely and continue to hold the switch up for an
additional two seconds after the window is closed.

LIFTGATE

The liftgate can be unlocked or locked by the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter, the manual lock cylin­der located on the rear panel or by activating either of the
power door lock switches located on the door trim
panels.

Rear Panel Manual Lock Cylinder

To unlock the liftgate with the RKE transmitter, press the
LIFTGATE button on the RKE transmitter two times.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 31

Once unlocked, the liftgate can be opened or closed. To
open the liftgate, press the LIFTGATE RELEASE switch
located under the right side of the tail panel, which is
located below the liftgate, then pull the liftgate open with
one fluid motion.

Pull Up On The Liftgate

2

32 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE: The liftgate release switch will be ignored under
the following conditions:

• When the ignition is in ON/RUN and the parking

brake is not set.

• When vehicle speed is not 0 mph (0 km/h).

• When all doors are locked (except for RKE transmitter

liftgate access). Refer to “Entering the Liftgate with the
System Armed — Coupe” under “Security Alarm
System” for additional information.

The liftgate ajar icon will illuminate in the Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) when the liftgate is
open.

WARNING!

• Driving with the liftgate open can allow poisonous
exhaust gases into your vehicle. You and your
passengers could be injured by these fumes. Keep
the liftgate closed when you are operating the
vehicle.

• If you are required to drive with the liftgate open,
make sure that all windows are closed, and the
climate control blower switch is set at high speed.
Do not use the recirculation mode.

Gas props support the liftgate in the open position.
However, because the gas pressure drops with tempera­ture, it may be necessary to assist the props when
opening the liftgate in cold weather.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS

Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems:

• Three-point lap and shoulder belts for all seating
positions

• Advanced Front Air Bags for driver and front passen­ger

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 33

out and then adjusting the belt to the desired length to
restrain a child seat or secure a large item in a seat —
if equipped

If you will be carrying children too small for adult-sized
seat belts, the seat belts or tether anchor feature also can
be used to hold infant and child restraint systems. For
more information on the tether anchor, refer to Child
Restraint Tether Anchor.

2

• An energy-absorbing steering column and steering
wheel

• Knee bolsters/blockers for front seat occupants

• Seat belts incorporate pretensioners to enhance occu-

pant protection by managing occupant energy during
an impact event — if equipped

• Passenger side seatbelt incorporates an Automatic
Locking Retractor (ALR), which locks the seat belt
webbing into position by extending the belt all the way

NOTE: The Advanced Front Air bags have a multistage
inflator design. This allows the air bag to have different
rates of inflation based on several factors, including the
severity and type of collision.

Please pay close attention to the information in this
section. It tells you how to use your restraint system
properly, to keep you and your passengers as safe as
possible.

34 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

In a collision, you and your passengers can suffer
much greater injuries if you are not properly buckled
up. You can strike the interior of your vehicle or other
passengers, or you can be thrown out of the vehicle.
Always be sure you and others in your vehicle are
buckled up properly.

Buckle up even though you are an excellent driver, even
on short trips. Someone on the road may be a poor driver
and cause an collision that includes you. This can happen
far away from home or on your own street.

Research has shown that seat belts save lives, and they
can reduce the seriousness of injuries in an collision.
Some of the worst injuries happen when people are
thrown from the vehicle. Seat belts reduce the possibility

of ejection and the risk of injury caused by striking the
inside of the vehicle. Everyone in a motor vehicle should
be belted at all times.

Lap/Shoulder Belts

Each seat belt is a combined lap/shoulder belt system.
The belt webbing retractor will lock only during very
sudden stops or impacts. This feature allows the shoulder
portion of the belt to move freely with you under normal
conditions. However, in an collision, the belt will lock
and reduce your risk of striking the inside of the vehicle
or being thrown out of the vehicle.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 35

WARNING!

• It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.

• Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.

• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.

• Wearing a seat belt incorrectly is dangerous. Seat
belts are designed to go around the large bones of
your body. These are the strongest parts of your
body and can take the force of a collision they best.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Wearing your belt in the wrong place can make
your injuries in a collision much worse. You might
suffer internal injuries, or you could even slide out
of part of the belt. Follow these instructions wear
you seat belt safely and to keep your passengers
safe, too.

• Two people should never be belted into a single
seat belt. People belted together can crash into one
another in an collision, hurting one another badly.
Never use a lap/shoulder belt or a lap belt for more
than one person, no matter what their size.

2

36 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Lap/Shoulder Belt Operating Instructions

1. Enter the vehicle and close the door. Sit back and
adjust the seat.

2. The seat belt latch plate is located at the side of your
seat back. Grasp the latch plate and pull out the belt.

Latch Plate

3. Slide the latch plate up the webbing as far as necessary
to make the belt go around your lap.

4. When the belt is long enough to fit, insert the latch
plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.”

Latch Plate To Buckle

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 37

WARNING!

A belt that is buckled into the wrong buckle will

•

not protect you properly. The lap portion could ride
too high on your body, possibly causing internal
injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle
nearest you.

• A belt that is too loose will not protect you prop­erly. In a sudden stop, you could move too far
forward, increasing the possibility of injury. Wear
your seat belt snugly.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• A belt that is worn under your arm is dangerous.
Your body could strike the inside surfaces of the
vehicle in a collision, increasing head and neck
injury. A belt worn under the arm can cause inter­nal injuries. Ribs aren’t as strong as shoulder
bones. Wear the belt over your shoulder so that
your strongest bones will take the force in a colli­sion.

• A shoulder belt placed behind you will not protect
you from injury during a collision. You are more
likely to hit your head in a collision if you do not
wear your shoulder belt. The lap and shoulder belt
are meant to be used together.

5. Position the lap belt across your thighs, below your
abdomen. To remove slack in the lap belt portion, pull
up a little on the shoulder belt, as shown.

2

38 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Removing Slack From Belt

6. To loosen the lap belt if it is too tight, lift up on the
shoulder belt and pull on the lap belt. A snug belt
reduces the risk of sliding under the belt in an
collision.

WARNING!

A lap belt worn too high can increase the risk of

•

injury in a collision. The belt forces won’t be at the
strong hip and pelvic bones, but across your abdo­men. Always wear the lap part of your seat belt as
low as possible and keep it snug.

• A twisted belt may not protect you properly. In a
collision, it could even cut into you. Be sure the belt
is straight. If you can’t straighten a belt in your
vehicle, take it to your authorized dealer immedi­ately and have it fixed.

7. Position the shoulder belt on your chest so that it is
comfortable and not resting on your neck. The retrac­tor will withdraw any slack in the belt.

8. To release the belt, push the red button in the buckle.
The belt will retract automatically to its stowed posi­tion. If necessary, slide the latch plate down the
webbing to allow it to retract fully.

WARNING!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39

Lap/Shoulder Belt Untwisting Procedure

Use the following procedure to untwist a twisted lap/
shoulder belt.

1. Position the latch plate as close as possible to the
anchor point.

2

A frayed or torn belt could rip apart in a collision and
leave you with no protection. Inspect the belt system
periodically, checking for cuts, frays, or loose parts.
Damaged parts must be replaced immediately. Do
not disassemble or modify the system. Seat belt
assemblies must be replaced after a collision if they
have been damaged (bent retractor, torn webbing,
etc.).

2. At about 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) above the latch plate,
grasp and twist the belt webbing 180 degrees to create
a fold that begins immediately above the latch plate.

3. Slide the latch plate upward over the folded webbing.
The folded webbing must enter the slot at the top of
the latch plate.

4. Continue to slide the latch plate up until it clears the
folded webbing.

40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Enhanced Seat Belt Use Reminder System
(BeltAlert®)

BeltAlert® is a feature intended to remind the driver and
front passenger (if equipped with front passenger
BeltAlert®) to fasten their seat belts. The feature is active
whenever the ignition is on. If the driver or front seat
passenger is unbelted, the Seat Belt Reminder Light will
turn on and remain on until both front seat belts are
fastened.

The BeltAlert® warning sequence begins after the vehicle
speed is over 5 mph (8 km/h), by blinking the Seat Belt
Reminder Light and sounding an intermittent chime.
Once the sequence starts, it will continue for the entire
duration or until the respective seatbelts are fastened.
After the sequence completes, the Seat Belt Reminder
Light remains illuminated until the respective seat belts
are fastened. The driver should instruct all other occu­pants to fasten their seat belts. If a front seat belt is

unbuckled while traveling at speeds greater than 5 mph
(8 km/h), BeltAlert® will provide both audio and visual
notification.

The front passenger seat BeltAlert® is not active when
the front passenger seat is unoccupied. BeltAlert® may
be triggered when an animal or heavy object is on the
front passenger seat or when the seat is folded flat (if
equipped). It is recommended that pets be restrained in
the rear seat in pet harnesses or pet carriers that are
secured by seat belts, and cargo is properly stowed.

BeltAlert® can be enabled or disabled by your autho­rized dealer. Chrysler Group LLC does not recommend
deactivating BeltAlert®.

NOTE: Although BeltAlert® has been deactivated, the
Seat Belt Reminder Light will continue to illuminate
while the driver’s or front passenger (if equipped with
BeltAlert®) seat belt remains unfastened.

Automatic Locking Retractor Mode (ALR) — If
Equipped

In this mode, the shoulder belt is automatically pre­locked. The belt will still retract to remove any slack in
the shoulder belt. The Automatic Locking Mode is avail­able on all passenger-seating positions with a combina­tion lap/shoulder belt. Use the Automatic Locking Mode
anytime a child safety seat is installed in a seating
position that has a belt with this feature. Children 12
years old and under should always be properly re­strained in the rear seat.

How To Engage The Automatic Locking Mode

1. Buckle the combination lap and shoulder belt.

2. Grasp the shoulder portion and pull downward until
the entire belt is extracted.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41

3. Allow the belt to retract. As the belt retracts, you will
hear a clicking sound. This indicates the safety belt is
now in the Automatic Locking Mode.

How To Disengage The Automatic Locking Mode

Unbuckle the combination lap/shoulder belt and allow it
to retract completely to disengage the Automatic Locking
Mode and activate the vehicle sensitive (emergency)
locking mode.

WARNING!

• The belt and retractor assembly must be replaced if
the seat belt assembly Automatic Locking Retractor
(ALR) feature or any other seat belt function is not
working properly when checked according to the
procedures in the Service Manual.

• Failure to replace the belt and retractor assembly
could increase the risk of injury in collisions.

2

42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Seat Belt Pretensioners — If Equipped

Seat Belts and Pregnant Women

The seat belts for both front seating positions may be
equipped with pretensioning devices that are designed to
remove slack from the seat belt in the event of an
collision. These devices may improve the performance of
the seat belt by assuring that the belt is tight about the
occupant early in an collision. Pretensioners work for all
size occupants, including those in child restraints.

NOTE: These devices are not a substitute for proper seat
belt placement by the occupant. The seat belt still must be
worn snugly and positioned properly.

The pretensioners are triggered by the Occupant Re­straint Controller (ORC). Like the air bags, the preten­sioners are single use items. A deployed pretensioner or
a deployed air bag must be replaced immediately.

We recommend that pregnant women use the seat belts
throughout their pregnancy. Keeping the mother safe is
the best way to keep the baby safe.

Pregnant women should wear the lap portion of the belt
across the thighs and as snug across the hips as possible.
Keep the belt low so that it does not come across the
abdomen. That way the strong bones of the hips will take
the force if there is an collision.

Seat Belt Extender

If a seat belt is too short, even when extended fully, your
authorized dealer can provide you with a seat belt
extender. This extender should only be used if the
existing belt is not long enough. When it is not required,
remove the extender, and store it.

WARNING!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43

Using a seat belt extender when not needed can
increase the risk of injury in a collision. Only use the
seat belt extender when the lap belt is not long
enough when it is worn low and snug, and in the
recommended seating positions. Remove and store
the extender when not needed.

Driver And Passenger Supplemental Restraint
System (SRS) — Air Bags

This vehicle has Advanced Front Air Bags for the driver
and passenger as a supplement to the seat belt restraint
systems. The driver’s Advanced Front Air Bag is
mounted in the steering wheel. The passenger’s Ad­vanced Front Air Bag is mounted underneath a cover in
the passenger’s side of the instrument panel. The words
SRS/AIRBAG is embossed on the Air Bag covers.

2

Advanced Front Air Bag And Knee Bolster Locations

1 — Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
2 — Knee Bolster

44 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE: These Air Bags are certified to the new Federal
regulations for Advanced Air Bags. The passenger’s
Advanced Front Air Bag is certified to the Federal
regulations that define Occupant Classification (Refer to
“Air Bag Deployment Sensors And Controls”).

WARNING!

• No objects should be placed over or near the air
bag on the instrument panel, because any such
objects could cause harm if the vehicle is in a
collision severe enough to cause the air bag to
inflate.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Do not put anything on or around the air bag
covers or attempt to open them manually. You may
damage the air bags and you could be injured
because the air bags may no longer be functional.
The protective covers for the air bag cushions are
designed to open only when the air bags are
inflating.

• Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee bolster in
any way.

• Do not mount any accessories to the knee bolster
such as alarm lights, stereos, citizen band radios,
etc.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Relying on the Air Bags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The Air Bags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions, Air Bags won’t deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you have
Air Bags.

• Being too close to the steering wheel or instrument
panel during Air Bag deployment could cause
serious injury. Air Bags need room to inflate. Sit
back, extending your arms comfortably to reach the
steering wheel or instrument panel.

The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during an
impact that requires air bag deployment. This low output
is used in less severe collisions. A higher energy output is
used for more severe collisions.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 45

The Air Bags have a multistage inflator design. This
allows the air bag to have different rates of inflation that
are based on several factors, including collision severity
and occupant size.

While the seat belts are designed to protect the driver and
passenger in many types of collisions, the Air Bags will
deploy in certain frontal collisions depending on several
factors, including the severity and type of collision.
However, even in collisions where the Air Bags deploy,
all occupants need the seat belts to keep them in the right
position for the Air Bags to protect properly.

2

46 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:

• The passenger Advanced Front Air Bag may not
deploy if the Occupant Classification System (refer to
“Air Bag Deployment Sensors And Controls”) deter­mines the seat is empty or is occupied by someone that
is classified in the “child” category. This could be a
child, a teenager, or even a small adult. Therefore, even
if the driver’s Advanced Front Air Bag deploys, the
passenger’s Advanced Front Air Bag may not deploy.

• Air Bag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim;
but they will open during Air Bag deployment.

• After any collision, the vehicle should be taken to an
authorized dealer immediately.

Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying Air Bag:

1. An infant up to one year or approximately 20 lbs (9 kg)
should never ride in the vehicle because in the event of
a crash, the rear-facing child seat places them too close
to the passenger Air Bag.

2. An infant in a rear-facing child safety seat, designed
for a child up to one year or approximately 20 lbs
(9 kg), should never ride in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped with a passenger Air Bag, unless the Air Bag
is shut OFF. An Air Bag deployment can cause severe
injury or death to an infant in this position. Refer to
“Passenger Air Bag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light”.

3. A child who is not big enough to wear the vehicle seat
belt properly should be secured in a child safety seat
or booster seat. (Refer to “Child Restraints”)

4. An older child who does not use a child safety seat or
booster seat should ride buckled properly in their seat.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47

8. Read the instructions provided with your child re­straint to make sure that you are using it properly.

5. Never allow a child to place the shoulder belt behind
them or under the arm.

6. Never allow a child to lean forward toward the
instrument panel as a passenger Air Bag deployment
could cause severe injury or death to a child in this
position.

7. For a child from 1 to 12 years old: Move the passenger
seat as far back as possible. For a child from 20 to
60 lbs (9 kg to 27 kg): Secure them in the appropriate
child safety seat or booster seat. If too large for a
booster seat, the child should wear the lap/shoulder
belt properly.

9. Read the instructions provided with your child safety
seat or booster seat to make sure that you are using it
properly.

10. All occupants should always wear their lap and

shoulder belts properly.

11. Position the driver seat and passenger seat as far

away from the instrument panel as practical to allow
the Air Bags room to inflate. Note that the power
adjustable pedals allow for more driver’s seat adjust­ment options. Refer to “Adjustable Pedals” in “Un­derstanding The Features Of Your Vehicle” for de­tails.

2

48 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Air Bag System Components

Your vehicle may be equipped with the following Air Bag
system components:

• Occupant Classification Module (OCM)

• Passenger Air Bag Disable (PAD) Indicator Light

• Flex Mat

• Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)

• Air Bag Warning Light

• Steering Wheel and Column

• Instrument Panel

• Knee Impact Bolster

• Driver Advanced Front Air Bag

• Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag

• Front Impact Sensors

• Front Seat Belt Pretensioners, Seat Belt Buckle Switch,

and Seat Track Position Sensors

• Occupant Classification System (OCS)

Knee Impact Bolsters

The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of the
driver and the passenger, and position front occupants
for the best interaction with the Advanced Front Air
Bags.

Air Bag Deployment Sensors And Controls

The following requirements must be strictly adhered to:

• Do not modify the passenger seat assembly or compo-

nents in any way.

• Do not use prior or future model year seat covers not

designated for the specific model being repaired. Al­ways use the correct seat cover specified for the
vehicle.

• Do not replace the seat cover with an aftermarket seat
cover.

• Do not add a secondary seat cover other than those
approved by Chrysler Group LLC/Mopar®.

• At no time should any Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) component or SRS related component or fastener
be modified or replaced with any part except those
which are approved by Chrysler Group LLC/Mopar®.

Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49

required, depending on several factors, including the se­verity and type of impact. The Air Bag inflators are
designed to provide different rates of inflation. The ORC
may prevent passenger Air Bag deployment based on
input from the Occupant Classification System (OCS).

Advanced Front Air Bags are designed to provide addi­tional protection by supplementing the seat belts in
certain frontal collisions depending on the severity and
type of collision. Advanced Front Air Bags are not
expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear, side, or
rollover collisions.

2

The ORC is part of a Federally regulated safety system
required for this vehicle.

The ORC determines if deployment of the front Air Bags in
a frontal collision is required. Based on the impact sensors
signals, a central electronic ORC deploys the Advanced
Front Air Bags, and seat belt pretentioners, if equipped, as

The Advanced 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

50 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

impact, Advanced Front Air Bags may deploy in crashes
with little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a
severe initial deceleration.

The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
may deploy the Air Bags even if the battery loses power
or it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.

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.

The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic parts of
the Air Bag system whenever the ignition is in the START
or ON/RUN position. If the ignition is in the OFF
position, in the ACC position, or not in the ignition, the
Air Bag system is not on and the Air Bags will not inflate.

The ORC turns on the Air Bag Warning Light
and Passenger Air Bag Disable (PAD) Indicator
Light for four to eight seconds as a self-check

when the ignition is first turned to ON/RUN.
After the self-check, the Air Bag Warning Light will turn
off and the PAD Indicator Light will function normally
(Refer to “Passenger Air Bag Disable (PAD) Indicator
Light”). If the ORC detects a malfunction in any part of
the system, it turns on the Air Bag Warning Light either
momentarily or continuously. A single chime will sound
if the light comes on again after initial startup.

It also includes diagnostics that will illuminate the instru­ment cluster Air Bag Warning Light if a malfunction is
noted that could affect the Air Bag system. The diagnos­tics also record the nature of the malfunction.

WARNING!

Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in your instru­ment panel could mean you won’t have the air bags
to protect you in a collision. If the light does not come
on as a bulb check when the ignition is first turned
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes
on as you drive, have an authorized dealer service the
air bag system immediately.

Driver Air Bag/Passenger Air Bag Inflator Units

The Driver Air Bag Inflator Unit is mounted in the
steering wheel. The Passenger Air Bag Inflator Unit is
mounted underneath a cover in the passenger side of the
instrument panel. When the ORC detects a collision
requiring the Advanced Front Air Bags, it signals the
inflator units. A large quantity of non-toxic gas is gener­ated to inflate the Air Bags. Different Air Bag inflation
rates may be possible based on several factors, including

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 51

collision type, severity and occupant size. The steering
wheel hub trim cover and the upper right side of the
instrument panel separate and then fold out of the way,
as the Air Bags inflate to their full size. The Air Bags
inflate fully in about 50 to 70 ms. This is about half of the
time it takes to blink your eyes. The Air Bags then deflate
quickly while helping to restrain the driver and passen­ger. The Air Bag gas is vented toward the instrument
panel through vent holes in the Air Bag material. In this
way, the Air Bags do not interfere with your control of the
vehicle.

Occupant Classification Module (OCM)

The OCS is part of a Federally regulated safety system for
this vehicle.

The Occupant Classification Module (OCM) is located
underneath the passenger seat. The OCM uses input
from the Flex Mat to classify the occupant in the passen­ger seat into a size category. The OCM communicates this

2

52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

information to the ORC. The ORC may modify the rate of
passenger Air Bag inflation or prevent passenger Ad­vanced Front Air Bag deployment based on occupant
classification.

If there is a fault present in the OCS, the Air Bag Warning
Light will turn on. This indicates that you should take the
vehicle to an authorized dealer for service immediately.
The Air Bag Warning Light will turn on whenever there
is a fault present, which can affect the operation of the Air
Bag system. If there is a fault present in the OCS, both the
PAD Indicator Light and the Air Bag Warning Light will
illuminate to show that the passenger Air Bag is turned
off. Should this occur the passenger Air Bag would
remain off until the fault is cleared. If an object is lodged
under the seat and interferes with operation of the Flex
Mat, a fault will occur which turns on both the PAD
Indicator Light and the Air Bag Warning Light. Once the
lodged object is removed, the fault will be cleared auto­matically after a short period.

Passenger Air Bag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light

The Passenger Air Bag Disabled (PAD) Indicator Light
indicates to the driver and passenger when the passenger
Advanced Front Air Bag is turned OFF. In the presence of
an occupant seated properly in the passenger seat, when
the PAD Indicator Light is illuminated, the passenger
Advanced Front Air Bag is turned OFF.

The passenger Advanced Front Air Bag will be enabled
for most any size adult who is seated properly in the
passenger seat. The passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
may or may not be enabled for (depending on size) a
small teenager or a small adult who is seated properly in
the passenger seat. The driver and passenger should
always use the PAD Indicator Light as an indication that
the passenger is positioned properly in their seat. If the
PAD Indicator Light comes on when an adult or teenager
is in the passenger seat, have the passenger reposition
their self in the seat until the light goes out. Remember, if

the PAD Indicator Light is illuminated the passenger
Advanced Front Air Bag will not inflate in the event of a
collision.

The passenger Advanced Front Air Bag will not be
enabled for most any size child who is seated properly in
the passenger seat and for most properly installed child
restraint systems. However, under certain conditions,
even with a properly installed child restraint system, the
PAD Indicator Light may not be on, even though the
Advanced Front Air Bag is disabled. This can occur if the
child restraint is lighter than the threshold weight neces­sary to turn the PAD Indicator Light on. In any case, DO
NOT assume the passenger Advanced Front Air Bag is
turned off if the PAD Indicator Light is not illuminated.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53

WARNING!

• Never place a rear facing infant seat in front of an
air bag. A deploying passenger Advanced Front Air
Bag can cause death or serious injury to a child 12
years or younger, including a child in a rearward
facing infant seat.

• Only use a rearward-facing child restraint in a rear
seat.

Flex Mat

The Flex Mat is located beneath the passenger seat
cushion foam. The Flex Mat sends signals to the OCM for
classifying the occupant in the passenger seat.

Any weight on the seat will be sensed by the Flex Mat. In
order for the OCS to operate as designed, it is important
for the front passenger to be seated properly and prop­erly wearing the seat belt. Properly seated passengers are:

2

54 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• Sitting upright

• Facing forward

• The front passenger carries or holds an object while

seated (e.g., backpack, box, etc.)

• Sitting in the center of the seat with their feet comfort­ably on or near the floor

• Sitting with their back against the seat back and the
seat back in an upright position

The OCS may not classify the front passenger properly if:

• The front passenger’s weight is transferred to another
part of the vehicle (like the door, arm rest or instru­ment panel)

• The front passenger leans forward, sideways or turns
around

• The front passenger seatback is not in the full upright
position

WARNING!

Occupants in the front passenger seat sitting improp­erly may cause the OCS to not classify the passen­ger’s weight accurately. This may result in serious
injury or death in a collision. Always wear your seat
belt and sit properly, with the seat back in an upright
position, your back against the seat back, sitting
upright, facing forward, in the center of the seat, with
your feet comfortably on or near the floor. Do not
carry or hold any objects (e.g., backpacks, boxes, etc.)
while seated in the front passenger seat. Holding an
object may cause the OCS to not classify the passen­ger’s weight accurately, which may result in serious
injury or death in a collision.

Furthermore, objects lodged under the seat can prevent
the occupant’s weight from being measured properly and
may result in the occupant being classified improperly.

WARNING!

• Placing an object on the floor under the front
passenger seat may prevent the OCS from working
properly, which may result in serious injury or
death in a collision.

• Do not place any objects on the floor under the
front passenger seat.

The passenger seat assembly contains critical compo­nents that affect passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
deployment. In order for the OCS to properly classify a
front seat passenger, the OCS components must function
as designed. Do not make any modifications to the front
passenger seat components, assembly, or to the seat
cover. If the seat, trim cover, or cushion needs service for

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55

any reason, take the vehicle to your authorized dealer.
Only Chrysler Group LLC approved seat accessories may
be used

The following requirements must be strictly followed:

• Do not modify the front passenger seat assembly or
components in any way.

• Do not use prior or future model year seat covers or
cushions not designated by Chrysler Group LLC for
the specific model being repaired. Always use the
correct seat cover and cushion specified for the vehicle.

• Do not replace the seat cover or cushion with an
aftermarket seat cover or cushion.

• Do not add a secondary seat cover or mat.

• At no time should any supplemental restraint system

(SRS) component or SRS related component or fastener
be modified or replaced with any part except those
which are approved by Chrysler Group LLC .

2

56 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

Unapproved modifications or service procedures to
the passenger seat assembly, its related components,
seat cover or cushion may inadvertently change the
Air Bag deployment in case of a frontal collision.
This could result in death or serious injury to the
front passenger if the vehicle is involved in a colli­sion. A modified vehicle may not comply with re­quired Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FM­VSS) and/or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (CMVSS).

event the ORC will determine whether to have the
Enhanced Accident Response System perform the follow­ing functions:

• Cut off fuel to the engine.

• Flash hazard lights as long as the battery has power or

until the ignition is cycled to OFF.

• Turn on the interior lights, which remain on as long as
the battery has power or until the ignition is cycled to
OFF.

• Unlock the doors automatically.

Enhanced Accident Response System

In the event of an impact causing Air Bag deployment, if
the communication network remains intact, and the
power remains intact, depending on the nature of the

If A Deployment Occurs

The front Air Bags are designed to deflate immediately
after deployment.

NOTE: Front Air Bags will not deploy in all collisions.
This does not mean something is wrong with the Air Bag
system.

If you do have a collision, which deploys the Air Bags,
any or all of the following may occur:

• The nylon Air Bag material may sometimes cause
abrasions and/or skin reddening to the driver and
front passenger as the Air Bags deploy and unfold. The
abrasions are similar to friction rope burns or those
you might get sliding along a carpet or gymnasium
floor. They are not caused by contact with chemicals.
They are not permanent and normally heal quickly.
However, if you haven’t healed significantly within a
few days, or if you have any blistering, see your doctor
immediately.

• As the Air Bags deflate, you may see some smoke-like
particles. The particles are a normal by-product of the
process that generates the non-toxic gas used for Air
Bag inflation. These airborne particles may irritate the
skin, eyes, nose, or throat. If you have skin or eye
irritation, rinse the area with cool water. For nose or

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 57

throat irritation, move to fresh air. If the irritation
continues, see your doctor. If these particles settle on
your clothing, follow the garment manufacturer’s in­structions for cleaning.

Do not drive your vehicle after the Air Bags have
deployed. If you are involved in another collision, the Air
Bags will not be in place to protect you.

WARNING!

Deployed air bags and seat belt pretensioners can not
protect you in another collision. Have the air bags,
seat belt pretensioners, and the front seat belt retrac­tor assemblies replaced by an authorized dealer im­mediately. Also, have the Occupant Restraint Con­troller (ORC) system serviced as well.

2

58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Maintaining Your Air Bag System

WARNING!

• Modifications to any part of the air bag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured if the air bag system is not there to
protect you. Do not modify the components or
wiring, including adding any kind of badges or
stickers to the steering wheel hub trim cover or the
upper right side of the instrument panel. Do not
modify the front bumper, vehicle body structure, or
add aftermarket side steps or running boards.

• It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the air
bag system yourself. Be sure to tell anyone who
works on your vehicle that it has an air bag system.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• Do not attempt to modify any part of your air bag
system. The air bag may inflate accidentally or may
not function properly if modifications are made.
Take your vehicle to an authorized dealer for any
air bag system service. If your seat, including your
trim cover and cushion, needs to be serviced in any
way (including removal or loosening/tightening of
seat attachment bolts), take the vehicle to your
authorized dealer. Only manufacturer approved
seat accessories may be used. If it is necessary to
modify the air bag system for persons with dis­abilities, contact your authorized dealer.

Air Bag Warning Light

You will want to have the Air Bags ready to
inflate for your protection in a collision. The
Air Bag Warning Light monitors the internal

circuits and interconnecting wiring associated
with Air Bag system electrical components. While the Air
Bag system is designed to be maintenance free, if any of
the following occurs, have an authorized dealer service
the Air Bag system immediately.

• The Air Bag Warning Light does not come on during

the four to eight seconds when the ignition is first
cycled to the ON/RUN position.

• The Air Bag Warning Light remains on after the four to

eight-second interval.

• The Air Bag Warning Light comes on intermittently or

remains on while driving.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 59

NOTE:

If the speedometer, tachometer, or any engine
related gauges are not working, the Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC) may also be disabled. The Air Bags may
not be ready to inflate for your protection. Promptly check
the fuse block for blown fuses. Refer to the label located on
the inside of the fuse block cover for the proper Air Bag
fuses. See your authorized dealer if the fuse is good.

Event Data Recorder (EDR)

This 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 deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will
assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems per­formed. The EDR is designed to record data related to
vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle
is designed to record such data as:

• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;

2

60 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

• 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
the EDR 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 identifying data 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.

In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other parties,
such as law enforcement, that have the special equip­ment, can read the information if they have access to the
vehicle or the EDR.

Child Restraints

Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time, including babies and children. Every state in the
United States and all Canadian provinces require small
children ride in proper restraint systems. This is the law,
and you can be prosecuted for ignoring it.

WARNING!

In a collision, an unrestrained child can become a
projectile inside the vehicle. The force required to
hold even an infant on your lap could become so
great that you could not hold the child, no matter

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

how strong you are. The child and others could be
badly injured. Any child riding in your vehicle
should be in a proper restraint for the child’s size.

There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
enough for an adult safety belt. Always check the child
seat Owner’s Manual to ensure you have the correct seat
for your child. Use the restraint that is correct for your
child.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 61

• The infant carrier is only used rearward-facing in the
vehicle. It is recommended for children from birth
until they reach the weight or height limit of the infant
carrier. Convertible child seats can be used either
rearward-facing or forward-facing in the vehicle. Con­vertible child seats often have a higher weight limit in
the rearward-facing direction than infant carriers do,
so they can be used rearward-facing by children who
have outgrown their infant carrier but are still less than
at least two years old. Children should remain
rearward-facing until they reach the highest weight or
height allowed by their convertible child seat.

2

Infant and Child Restraints

• Safety experts recommend that children ride rearward­facing in the vehicle until they are two years old or
until they reach either the height or weight limit of
their rear facing child safety seat. Two types of child
restraints can be used rearward-facing: infant carriers
and convertible child seats.

WARNING!

Rearward-facing infant restraints must never be se­cured in the passenger seat of a vehicle with a
passenger Air Bag. In a collision, a passenger Air Bag
may deploy causing severe injury or death to infants
riding in rearward-facing infant restraints.

62 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Older Children and Child Restraints

Children who are two years old or who have outgrown
their rear-facing convertible child seat can ride forward­facing in the vehicle. Forward-facing child seats and
convertible child seats used in the forward-facing direc­tion are for children who are over two years old or who
have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit of
their rear-facing convertible child seat. Children should
remain in a forward-facing child seat with a harness for
as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height
allowed by the child seat.

All children whose weight or height is above the
forward-facing limit for the child seat should use a
belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belts
fit properly. If the child cannot sit with knees bent over
the vehicle’s seat cushion while the child’s back is against
the seatback, they should use a belt-positioning booster

seat. The child and belt-positioning booster seat are held
in the vehicle by the seat belt.

WARNING!

• Improper installation can lead to failure of an
infant or child restraint. It could come loose in a
collision. The child could be badly injured or
killed. Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant or
child restraint.

• When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in
the vehicle with the seat belt or tether anchorage, or
remove it from the vehicle. Do not leave it loose in
the vehicle. In a sudden stop or accident, it could
strike the occupants or seatbacks and cause serious
personal injury.

Children Too Large for Booster Seats

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 63

• Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seatback, should use the seat belt in the seat. Use this
simple 5-step test to decide whether the child can use the
vehicle’s seat belt alone:

• Can the child sit all the way back against the back of
the vehicle seat?

• Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over the front of
the vehicle seat – while they are still sitting all the way
back?

• Does the shoulder belt cross the child’s shoulder
between their neck and arm?

• Is the lap part of the belt as low as possible, touching
the child’s thighs and not their stomach?

If the answer to any of these questions was “no,” then the
child still needs to use a booster seat in this vehicle. If the
child is using the lap/shoulder belt, check belt fit peri­odically. A child’s squirming or slouching can move the
belt out of position. If the shoulder belt contacts the face
or neck, move the child closer to the center of the vehicle.
Never allow a child to put the shoulder belt under an arm
or behind their back.

NOTE: For additional information, refer to
www.seatcheck.org or call 1–866–SEATCHECK. Cana­dian residents, should refer to Transport Canada’s web­site for additional information. http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/
roadsafety/safedrivers-childsafety-index-53.htm

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64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

Improper installation of a child restraint to the tether
anchorage can lead to failure of an infant or child
restraint. The child could be badly injured or killed.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly when
installing an infant or child restraint.

Child Restraint Tether Anchor

Child restraints having tether straps and hooks
for connection to tether anchors have been
available for some time. In fact, many child

restraint manufacturers will provide add-on
tether-strap kits for some of their older products. There is
a tether strap anchor located behind the child tether
access cover behind the passenger seat.

To attach a child restraint tether strap:

1. Move the seat forward.

2. Move the seatback to its full forward position.

3. Remove the child tether access cover by prying either
side with a screwdriver or similar tool, as shown.

Child Tether Access Cover

Child Tether Tether Hook

NOTE: While the child tether is in use, keep the access

cover in a safe place so that it can be replaced after use of
the child tether.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 65

2

6. Move the seat to its farthest rearward position. Apply
body pressure to the seat to be sure the seat adjusters
have latched.

4. Pass the child restraint tether hook through either
opening in the seatback underneath the head restraint.

5. Attach the tether hook to the anchor loop.

7. Return the seatback to an upright position.

66 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

8. Install the child restraint according to the manufactur­er’s directions.

9. Remove slack from the tether strap according to the
child restraint manufacturer’s directions.

To restrain the child seat:

1. Pull enough webbing from the retractor to allow the
belt to pass through the child restraint and insert the
latch plate into the buckle until you hear a “click.”

WARNING!

An incorrectly anchored tether strap could lead to
increased head motion and possible injury to the
child. Use only the anchor position directly behind
the child seat to secure a child restraint top tether
strap.

Installing Child Restraints Using The Vehicle Seat
belt

The passenger seat belt is equipped with an automatic
locking retractor for child restraint system installation. It is
designed to keep the lap portion of the restraint held tightly
to the passenger seat (Refer to “Automatic Locking Mode”).

2. Grasp the shoulder portion of the belt and pull all of
the webbing out of the retractor.

3. Allow some of the webbing to retract back into the
retractor. As the belt retracts, you will hear a clicking
sound indicating that the belt is now in Automatic
Locking Mode.

4. Tighten the lap portion of the belt and allow the excess
webbing to retract back to the retractor. If it still does
not make the child restraint secure, then secure the
child restraint with the Child Restraint Tether Anchor.

NOTE: Once the belt is in Automatic Locking Mode, you
will not be able to pull any more of the webbing out of
the retractor. In this mode, you will only be able to retract
excess webbing into the retractor to secure the child
restraint.

Transporting Pets

Deploying Air Bags could harm your pet. An unre­strained pet will be thrown about and possibly injured, or
injure a passenger during panic braking or in an collision.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 67

For the first 500 miles (800 km):

• Keep your vehicle speed below the legal, posted speed

limit and your engine speed below 4,000 RPM.

• Avoid driving at a constant speed, either fast or slow,

for long periods.

• Do not make any full throttle starts and avoid full

throttle acceleration.

• Use the proper gear for your speed range.

2

Pets should be restrained in pet harnesses or pet carriers
that are secured by seat belts.

BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS

A long break-in period is not required for the drivetrain
(engine, transmission, and rear axle) in your new vehicle.
Following these few simple guidelines is all that is
necessary for a good break-in.

• Wait until the engine has reached normal operating

temperature before driving at the recommended maxi­mum break-in speed.

• Avoid excessive idling.

• Check the engine oil level at every fuel fill.

68 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE: A new engine will consume some oil during the
first few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This
should be considered a normal part of the break-in and
not interpreted as a sign of difficulty.

SAFETY TIPS
Transporting Passengers

NEVER TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE CARGO
AREA.

WARNING!

• Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may
cause serious injury or death.

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

• It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.

• Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.

• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.

Exhaust Gas

WARNING!

Exhaust gases can injure or kill. They contain carbon
monoxide (CO), which is colorless and odorless.
Breathing it can make you unconscious and can

(Continued)

WARNING! (Continued)

eventually poison you. To avoid breathing (CO),
follow these safety tips:

• Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in
confined areas any longer than needed to move
your vehicle in or out of the area.

• If you are required to drive with the trunk/liftgate
open, make sure that all windows are closed and
the climate control BLOWER switch is set at high
speed. DO NOT use the recirculation mode.

• If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running, adjust your heating or cooling
controls to force outside air into the vehicle. Set the
blower at high speed.

The best protection against carbon monoxide entry into
the vehicle body is a properly maintained engine exhaust
system.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 69

Whenever a change is noticed in the sound of the exhaust
system, when exhaust fumes can be detected inside the
vehicle, or when the underside or rear of the vehicle is
damaged, have a competent mechanic inspect the com­plete exhaust system and adjacent body areas for broken,
damaged, deteriorated, or mispositioned parts. Open
seams or loose connections could permit exhaust fumes
to seep into the passenger compartment. In addition,
inspect the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace as required.

Safety Checks You Should Make Inside The
Vehicle

Seat Belts

Inspect the belt system periodically, checking for cuts,
frays, and loose parts. Damaged parts must be replaced
immediately. Do not disassemble or modify the system.

2

70 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Front seat belt assemblies must be replaced after a
collision. Rear seat belt assemblies must be replaced after
a collision if they have been damaged (i.e., bent retractor,
torn webbing, etc.). If there is any question regarding belt
or retractor condition, replace the belt.

Air Bag Warning Light

The light should come on and remain on for four to eight
seconds as a bulb check when the ignition is first cycled
to ON. If the light is not lit during starting, see your
authorized dealer. If the light stays on, flickers, or comes
on while driving, have the system checked by an autho­rized dealer.

Defroster

Check operation by selecting the defrost mode and place
the blower control on high speed. You should be able to
feel the air directed against the windshield. See your
authorized dealer for service if your defroster is inoper­able.

Floor Mat Safety Information

Always use floor mats designed to fit the foot well of
your vehicle. Use only floor mats that leave the pedal
area unobstructed and that are firmly secured so that
they cannot slip out of position and interfere with the
pedals or impair safe operation of your vehicle in other
ways.

Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle

Tires

Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect the tread and sidewall for
cuts and cracks. Check the wheel nuts for tightness.
Check the tires for proper pressure.

Lights

Have someone observe the operation of brake lights and
exterior lights while you work the controls. Check turn
signal and high beam indicator lights on the instrument
panel.

Door Latches

Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.

Fluid Leaks

Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be
located and corrected immediately.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 71

2

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CONTENTS

䡵 MIRRORS .............................76

▫ Automatic Dimming Mirror ..............76

▫ Outside Mirrors .......................77

▫ Power Mirrors ........................78

▫ Vanity Mirror .........................79

䡵 SEATS ...............................80

▫ Manual Seats .........................80

▫ Power Seats ..........................83

䡵 TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD .........85

䡵 LIGHTS ..............................88

3

▫ Headlight Switch ......................88

▫ Automatic Headlights ...................89

▫ Headlights On With Wipers (Available with

Automatic Headlights Only) ..............89

▫ Headlight Time Delay ...................89

▫ Daytime Running Lights (DRL) ............90

▫ Lights-On Reminder ....................90

▫ Multifunction Lever ....................90

▫ Turn Signals .........................91

▫ High/Low Beam Switch .................91

74 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

▫ Flash-To-Pass .........................92

▫ To Activate ..........................102

▫ Interior Lights ........................92

䡵 WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS ......95

▫ Intermittent Wiper System ...............95

▫ Wiper Operation .......................95

▫ Mist Feature ..........................96

▫ Windshield Washers ....................96

▫ Headlights On With Wipers (Available with

Automatic Headlights Only) ..............97

䡵 TILT STEERING COLUMN ................97

䡵 ADJUSTABLE PEDALS ...................98

▫ Adjustable Foot Rest ...................100

䡵 ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL ...........101

▫ To Set A Desired Speed .................102

▫ To Deactivate ........................103

▫ To Resume Speed .....................103

▫ To Vary The Speed Setting ...............103

▫ To Accelerate For Passing ................103

䡵 PARKVIEW® REAR BACK UP CAMERA —

IF EQUIPPED .........................104

▫ Turning ParkView® On Or Off — With

Touch—Screen Radio ...................106

䡵 GARAGE DOOR OPENER — IF EQUIPPED . . .106

▫ Before You Begin Programming HomeLink® . .107

▫ Programming A Rolling Code .............108

▫ Programming A Non-Rolling Code .........110

▫ Canadian/Gate Operator Programming ......111

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 75

䡵 STORAGE ............................118

▫ Using HomeLink®.....................113

▫ Security ............................113

▫ Troubleshooting Tips ...................113

▫ General Information....................114

䡵 ELECTRICAL POWER OUTLETS ...........115

䡵 CUPHOLDERS — If Equipped .............117

▫ Glovebox Storage......................118

▫ Console Features ......................119

▫ Door Storage.........................121

䡵 REAR WINDOW FEATURES ..............121

▫ Rear Window Defroster .................121

3

76 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

MIRRORS
Automatic Dimming Mirror

This mirror automatically adjusts for headlight glare
from vehicles behind you. This feature will be defaulted
on, and only be disabled when the vehicle is moving in
reverse.

Automatic Dimming Mirror

NOTE: The mirror contains an Assist button and a 9–1–1

button located on the bottom of the mirror.

Assist Call

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 77

9-1-1 Call

The rear view mirror contains an ASSIST push button
which automatically connects the vehicle occupants to
one of several predefined locations for immediate sup­port:

• Roadside Assistance – If you get a flat tire, or need a
tow, just press the Assist button and you’ll be con­nected to someone who can help. Roadside Assistance
will know what vehicle you’re driving and its location.
Additional fees may apply for roadside Assistance.

• Uconnect® Access Customer Care – In-vehicle support
for Uconnect® Access and Uconnect® Access via Mo­bile features.

• Vehicle Customer Care – Total support for all other
vehicle issues.

Report an accident without taking your eyes off the road.
Just press 9-1-1 on your mirror and connect.

CAUTION!

To avoid damage to the mirror during cleaning, never
spray any cleaning solution directly onto the mirror.
Apply the solution onto a clean cloth and wipe the
mirror clean.

Outside Mirrors

To receive maximum benefit, adjust the outside mirrors
to center on the adjacent lane of traffic and a slight
overlap of the view obtained from the inside mirror.

NOTE: The passenger side convex outside mirror will
give a much wider view to the rear, and especially of the
lane next to your vehicle.

3

78 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!

Vehicles and other objects seen in the passenger side
convex mirror will look smaller and farther away
than they really are. Relying too much on your
passenger side mirror could cause you to collide with
another vehicle or other object. Use your inside
mirror when judging the size or distance of a vehicle
seen in the passenger side mirror.

Power Mirrors

The power mirror controls are located on the driver-side
door trim panel.

Power Mirror Controls

The power mirror controls consist of mirror select but­tons and a four-way mirror control switch. To adjust a
mirror, press either the L (left) or R (right) to select the
mirror that you want to adjust.

NOTE: A light in the selected button will illuminate
indicating the mirror is activated and can be adjusted.

Using the mirror control switch, press on any of the four
arrows for the direction that you want the mirror to
move.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 79

Vanity Mirror

A vanity mirror is on the passenger side sun visor. To use
the mirror, rotate the sun visor downward and swing the
mirror cover upward.

3

Vanity Mirror

80 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

SEATS

Manual Seats

Seats are a part of the Occupant Restraint System of the
vehicle.

WARNING!

• It is dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or
outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in
these areas are more likely to be seriously injured
or killed.

• Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts. In a collision, people riding in these areas are
more likely to be seriously injured or killed.

• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.

Forward and Rearward Adjustment

The adjusting bar is at the front of the seat, near the floor.
Pull the bar upward to move the seat forward or rear­ward. Release the bar once the seat is in the desired
position. Then, using body pressure, move forward and
rearward on the seat to be sure that the seat adjusters
have latched.

Seat Adjustment Bar

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 81

Seat Height Adjustment

The seat height adjustment lever is located on the out­board side of the seat. Pull upward on the lever to raise
the seat height or push downward on the lever to lower
the seat height.

Height Adjustment Lever

3

82 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Recliner Adjustment

The recliner lever is located on the outboard side of the
seat. To recline the seat, lean forward slightly, pull the
recliner lever upward, lean backward until the seat is in
the desired position, and release the lever. To return the
seat to its full upright position, lean forward, pull the
recliner lever upward and hold it until the seat returns to
its full upright position.

Recline Lever

WARNING!

• Adjusting a seat while driving may be dangerous.
Moving a seat while driving could result in loss of
control which could cause a collision and serious
injury or death.

• Seats should be adjusted before fastening the seat
belts and while the vehicle is parked. Serious
injury or death could result from a poorly adjusted
seat belt.

• Do not ride with the seatback reclined so that the
shoulder belt is no longer resting against your
chest. In a collision you could slide under the seat
belt, which could result in serious injury or death.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 83

Power Seats

On models equipped with power seats, the power seat
switch is located on the outboard side of the seat near the
floor.

3

Power Seat Switch

84 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Adjusting The Seat Forward Or Rearward

The seat can be adjusted both forward and rearward.
Push the seat switch forward or rearward, the seat will
move in the direction of the switch. Release the switch
when the desired position has been reached.

Adjusting The Seat Up Or Down

The height of the seats can be adjusted up or down. Push
upward or push downward on the seat switch, the seat
will move in the direction of the switch. Release the
switch when the desired position is reached.

Reclining The Seatback Forward Or Rearward

The seatback can be reclined both forward and rearward.
Push the power seat recliner switch forward or rearward,
the seatback will move in the direction of the switch.
Release the switch when the desired position has been
reached.

Power Seat Recliner Switch

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 85

WARNING!

• Adjusting a seat while driving may be dangerous.
Moving a seat while driving could result in loss of
control which could cause a collision and serious
injury or death.

• Seats should be adjusted before fastening the seat
belts and while the vehicle is parked. Serious
injury or death could result from a poorly adjusted
seat belt.

• Do not ride with the seatback reclined so that the
shoulder belt is no longer resting against your
chest. In a collision you could slide under the seat
belt, which could result in serious injury or death.

CAUTION!

Do not place any article under a power seat or
impede its ability to move as it may cause damage to
the seat controls. Seat travel may become limited if
movement is stopped by an obstruction in the seat’s
path.

TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE HOOD

1. Reach into the back side area of the drivers front
fender to gain access to the hood release lever.

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86 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Hood Release Lever Location Hood Release Lever

2. Pull the hood release lever rearward to release the
hood latches.

3. Lift the hood upward to the full forward position.

Opened Hood

NOTE: The recommended lift point is to place the lifting

hand forward of one of the wiper arms and pull up. The
assist props will help raise and hold the hood to a normal
usage position.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 87

CAUTION!

• Do not leave the hood open in areas where strong
gust of wind are likely. Such a place might be by
the side of the road where large trucks pass by.
Strong gusts of wind may damage the hood. Al­ways close the hood in such situations.

• To prevent possible damage, do not slam the hood
to close it. Simply lower the hood until it is open
approximately 6 in (15 cm) and then drop it. This
should secure both latches. Never drive the vehicle
unless the hood is fully closed with both latches
engaged.

WARNING!

Be sure the hood is fully latched before driving your
vehicle. If the hood is not fully latched, it could open

(Continued)

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88 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING! (Continued)

when the vehicle is in motion and block your vision.
Failure to follow this warning could result in serious
injury or death.

LIGHTS
Headlight Switch

The headlight switch is located on the left side of
the instrument panel. This switch controls the

operation of the headlights, parking lights, instru­ment panel lights, instrument panel light dimming and
interior lights.

Headlight Switch

Rotate the headlight switch clockwise to the first detent
for parking light and instrument panel light operation.
Rotate the headlight switch to the second detent for
headlight, parking light and instrument panel light op­eration.

Automatic Headlights

This system automatically turns the headlights on or off
according to ambient light levels. To turn the system on,
rotate the headlight switch counterclockwise to the A
(AUTO) position. When the system is on, the headlight
time delay feature is also on. This means the headlights
will stay on for up to 90 seconds after placing the ignition
in the OFF position. To turn the Automatic system off,
move the headlight switch out of the AUTO position.

NOTE: The engine must be running before the head­lights will come on in the automatic mode.

Headlights On With Wipers (Available with
Automatic Headlights Only)

When this feature is active, the headlights will turn on
approximately 10 seconds after the wipers are turned on
if the headlight switch is placed in the AUTO position. In
addition, the headlights will turn off when the wipers are
turned off if they were turned on by this feature.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 89

NOTE: The Headlights On with Wipers feature can be
turned on or off using the Uconnect® System, refer to
“Uconnect® Settings” in “Understanding Your Instru­ment Panel” for further information.

Headlight Time Delay

This feature provides the safety of headlight illumination
for up to 90 seconds (programmable) when leaving your
vehicle in an unlit area.

To activate the delay feature, place the ignition in the OFF
position while the headlights are still on. Then, turn off
the headlights within 45 seconds. The delay interval
begins when the headlight switch is turned off.

If you turn the headlights or parking lights on, or place
the ignition in ACC or RUN, the system will cancel the
delay.

If you turn the headlights off before the ignition, they will
turn off in the normal manner.

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90 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:

• The lights must be turned off within 45 seconds of

placing the ignition in the OFF position to activate this
feature.

• The headlight delay time is programmable using the

Uconnect® System, refer to “Uconnect® Settings” in
“Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for further
information.

Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

The LED Daytime Running Lights will come on when­ever the ignition is placed in the RUN position, the
headlights are off and the parking brake is off. The
headlight switch must be used for normal nighttime
driving.

NOTE: If allowed by law in the country in which the
vehicle was purchased the Daytime Running Lights can
be turned on and off using the Uconnect® System, refer
to “Uconnect® Settings” in “Understanding Your Instru­ment Panel” for further information.

Lights-On Reminder

If the headlights or parking lights are on after the ignition
is placed in the OFF position, a chime will sound to alert
the driver when the driver’s door is opened.

Multifunction Lever

The multifunction lever controls the operation of the turn
signals, headlight beam selection and passing lights. The
multifunction lever is located on the left side of the
steering column.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 91

NOTE:

• If either light remains on and does not flash, or there is
a very fast flash rate, check for a defective outside light
bulb. If an indicator fails to light when the lever is
moved, it would suggest that the indicator bulb is
defective.

• A “Turn Signal On” message will appear in the EVIC
(if equipped) and a continuous chime will sound if the
vehicle is driven more than 1 mile (1.6 km) with either
turn signal on.

3

Multifunction Lever

Turn Signals

Move the multifunction lever up or down and the arrows
on each side of the instrument cluster flash to show
proper operation of the front and rear turn signal lights.

High/Low Beam Switch

Push the multifunction lever away from you to switch
the headlights to high beam. Pull the multifunction lever
toward you to switch the headlights back to low beam.

92 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Flash-To-Pass

Dimmer Controls

You can signal another vehicle with your headlights by
lightly pulling the multifunction lever toward you. This
will turn on the high beams headlights until the lever is
released.

Interior Lights

The interior lights come on when a door is opened.

To protect the battery, the interior lights will turn off
automatically 10 minutes after the ignition is moved to
the LOCK position. This will occur if the interior lights
were switched on manually or are on because a door is
open. This includes the glove box light, but not the trunk
light. To restore interior light operation, either turn the
ignition switch ON or cycle the light switch.

The dimmer control is part of the headlight switch and is
located on the left side of the instrument panel.

Dimmer Controls

With the parking lights or headlights on, rotating the left
dimmer control upward will increase the brightness of the
instrument panel lights and turn on the courtesy lights.

Left Dimmer Control

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 93

The right dimmer control adjusts the ambient light for
the interior door release handles.

3

Right Dimmer Control

94 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Interior Light Control

Interior Light Defeat (OFF)

Rotate the left dimmer control completely upward to the
second detent to turn on the interior lights. The interior
lights will remain on when the dimmer control is in this
position.

Interior Lights

Rotate the left dimmer control to the extreme bottom OFF
position. The interior lights will remain off when the
doors are open.

Parade Mode (Daytime Brightness Feature)

Rotate the dimmer control upward to the first detent.
This feature brightens all text displays such as the
odometer, EVIC (if equipped), and radio when the park­ing lights or headlights are on.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 95

Intermittent Wiper System

The multifunction lever operates the windshield wipers
and washer when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN
or ACC position. The multifunction lever is located on
the left side of the steering column.

Windshield Wiper/Washer Control

Use the intermittent wiper when weather conditions
make a single wiping cycle with a variable pause be­tween cycles desirable. Rotate the end of the multifunc­tion lever to the first detent position, and then turn the
end of the lever to select the desired delay interval. There
are five delay settings, which allow you to regulate the
wipe interval from a minimum of one cycle every second
to a maximum of approximately 36 seconds between
cycles. The delay intervals will double in duration when
the vehicle speed is 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.

Wiper Operation

Rotate the end of the multifunction lever to the first
detent, past the intermittent settings for low-speed wiper
operation, or to the second detent past the intermittent
settings for high-speed wiper operation.

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96 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION!

• Turn the windshield wipers off when driving
through an automatic car wash. Damage to the
windshield wipers may result if the wiper control
is left in any position other than off.

• In cold weather, always turn off the wiper switch
and allow the wipers to return to the “Park” posi­tion before turning off the engine. If the wiper
switch is left on and the wipers freeze to the
windshield, damage to the wiper motor may occur
when the vehicle is restarted.

• Always remove any buildup of snow that prevents
the windshield wiper blades from returning to the
off position. If the windshield wiper control is
turned off and the blades cannot return to the off
position, damage to the wiper motor may occur.

Mist Feature

When a single wipe to clear off road mist or spray from
a passing vehicle is needed, push the washer knob,
located on the end of the multifunction lever, inward to
the first detent and release. The wipers will cycle one
time and automatically shut off.

NOTE: The mist feature does not activate the washer
pump; therefore, no washer fluid will be sprayed on the
windshield. The wash function must be used in order to
spray the windshield with washer fluid.

Windshield Washers

To use the windshield washer, push the washer knob,
located on the end of the multifunction lever, inward to
the second detent. Washer fluid will be sprayed and the
wiper will operate for two to three cycles after the washer
knob is released from this position. If the washer knob is
depressed while in the delay range, the wiper will
operate for several seconds after the washer knob is

released. It will then resume the intermittent interval
previously selected. If the washer knob is pushed while
in the off position, the wiper will turn on and cycle
approximately three times after the wash knob is re­leased.

To prevent freeze-up of your windshield washer system
in cold weather, select a solution or mixture that meets or
exceeds the temperature range of your climate. This
rating information can be found on most washer fluid
containers.

WARNING!

Sudden loss of visibility through the windshield
could lead to a collision. You might not see other
vehicles or other obstacles. To avoid sudden icing of
the windshield during freezing weather, warm the
windshield with the defroster before and during
windshield washer use.

UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 97

Headlights On With Wipers (Available with
Automatic Headlights Only)

When this feature is active, the headlights will turn on
approximately 10 seconds after the wipers are turned on
if the headlight switch is placed in the AUTO position. In
addition, the headlights will turn off when the wipers are
turned off if they were turned on by this feature.

NOTE: The Headlights On with Wipers feature can be
turned on or off using the Uconnect® System, refer to
“Uconnect® Settings” in “Understanding Your Instru­ment Panel” for further information.

TILT STEERING COLUMN

The tilt release lever is located below the multifunction
lever on the left side of the steering column. To tilt the
column, simply pull the release lever rearward toward
you and then move the steering wheel upward or down­ward as desired. When the column is in the desired

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98 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

position, push the release lever forward to lock the
column firmly in place.

Tilt Steering Column Lever

WARNING!

Do not adjust the steering column while driving.
Adjusting the steering column while driving or driv­ing with the steering column unlocked, could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Failure to
follow this warning may result in serious injury or
death.

ADJUSTABLE PEDALS

The adjustable pedals system is designed to allow a
greater range of driver comfort for steering wheel tilt and
seat position. This feature allows the brake, accelerator,
and clutch pedal to move toward or away from the driver
to provide improved position with the steering wheel.
The pedals can be adjusted with the ignition OFF.

The adjustable pedal switch is located to the left side of
the steering column.