Honda Civic Hatchback 2005 Owners Guide

Your Vehicle at a Glance

POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH (P. 67)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES (P. 76)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P. 112)

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE (P. 111)

INSTRUMENT PANEL (P. 51) GAUGES

(P. 57)

HEATING/ COOLING CONTROLS (P. 86)

AIRBAGS

(P. 11, 23)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P. 90)

(P. 124)

M/T

Your Vehicle at a Glance

HEADLIGHTS/ TURN SIGNALS (P. 61)

CRUISE CONTROL MASTER SWITCH (P. 105)

MIRROR CONTROLS (P. 79)

＊

To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.:

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS (P. 60)

TILT ADJUSTMENT (P. 63)

HORN

＊

CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS (P. 105)

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON (P. 62)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER (P. 62)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Important Safety Precautions

You’ll find many safety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. Therecommendationsonthispage are the ones we consider to be the most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags are designed to supplement seat belts, not replace them. So even though your vehicle is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly (see page ).

Restrain All Children

Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger children should use a booster and a lap/shoulder belt until they canusethebeltproperlywithouta booster (see page ).

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29 46

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and warnings in this manual.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don’t drink and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either.

Control Your Speed

Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted.

Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition

Having a tire blowout or a mechanical f ailure can be extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance (see page ).

131

(7)

(8)

(1)

(3)

(4) (6)

(6)

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Your vehicle is equipped with many features that work together to protect you and your passengers during a crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

(5)

(2)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(10)

(1) Safety Cage (2) Crush Zones (3) Seats and Seat-Backs (4) Head Restraints (5) Collapsible Steering Column (6) Seat Belts (7) Front Airbags (8) Side Airbags (Optional) (9) Seat Belt Tensioners (10) Seat Belt Buckle Tensioners

(2)

Some features do not require any action on your part. These include a strong steel framework that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment; front and rear crush zones; a collapsible steering column; and tensioners that tighten the front seat belts in a crash.

However, you and your passengers can’t take full advantage of these features unless you remain sitting in a proper position and

your seat belts

features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.

The following pages explain how you cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting yourself and your passengers.

. In fact, some safety

always wear

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Seat Belts

Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts in all seating positions.

Your seat belt system also includes an indicator on the instrument panel to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

Why Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand larger children. (Infants and smaller children must be properly restrained in child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.

In addition, most states and all Canadian provinces require you to wear seat belts.

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even though your vehicle has airbags.

Be sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts and wear them properly.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Keep you connected to the vehicle so you can take advantage of the vehicle’s built-in safety features.

Help protect you in almost every type of crash, including f rontal, side, and rear impacts and rollovers.

Help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the vehicle and against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown out of the vehicle.

Help keep you in a good position should the airbags ever deploy. A good position reduces the risk of injury from an inflating airbag and allows you to get the best advantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannot completely protect you in every crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts can reduce your risk of serious injury.

What You Should Do:

Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly.

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Airbags

Your vehicle has a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) with front airbags to help protect the heads and chests of the driver and a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe frontal collision (see page

for more information on how

23 26

your front airbags work).

Only on models equipped with side airbags

Your vehicle also has side airbags to help protect the upper torso of the driver or a front seat passenger during a moderate to severe side impact (see page for more information on how your side airbags work).

The most important things you need to know about your airbags are:

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

They are designed to supplement the seat belts.

Airbags offer no protection in rear impacts, or minor f rontal or side collisions. Airbags can pose hazards.

To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force. So while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries or more serious or even fatal injuries if occupants are not properly restrained or sitting properly.

What you should do:

Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. A front passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as possible.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

The rest of this section gives more detailed information about how you can maximize your safety.

Remember however, that no safety system can prevent all injures or deaths that can occur in a severe crash, even where seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy.

Introduction

The following pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver, adult passengers and teenage children who are large enough and mature enough to ride in the front seat.

See page for important guidelines on how to properly protect infants, small children, and larger children who ride in your vehicle.

Close and Lock the Doors Adjust the Front Seats

1. 2.

After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure the doors are closed and locked.

Locking the doors reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the vehicle during a crash and it helps prevent passenger from accidentally opening a door and falling out.

Locking the doors also helps prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.

See page for how to lock the doors.

Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the rear as possible while allowing you to maintain control of the vehicle. Have a front passenger adjust their seat as far to the rear as possible.

If you sit too close to the steering wheel or dashboard, you can be seriously injured by an inflating front airbag, or by striking the steering wheel or dashboard.

Protecting Adults and Teens

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that drivers allow at least 10 inches (25 cm) between the center of the steering wheel and the chest.

If you cannot get far enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the controls, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help.

Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious injury or death if the front airbags inflate.

Always sit as far back from the front airbags as possible.

Once your seat is adjusted correctly, rock it back and forth to make sure the seat is locked in position.

See page for how to adjust the front seats.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a comfortable, upright position, leaving ample space between your chest and the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel.

Passengers with adjustable seatbacks should also adjust their seatback to a comfortable, upright position.

Reclining a seat-back so that the shoulder part of the belt no longer rests against the occupant’s chest reduces the protective capability of the belt. It also increases the chance of sliding under the belt in a crash and being seriously injured. The farther a seat-back is reclined, the greater the risk of injury.

Reclining the seat-back too far can result in serious injury or death in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to an upright position, and sit well back in the seat.

See page for how to adjust the seat-backs.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Adjust the Head Restraints Fasten and Position the Seat

4. 5. Belts

Have passengers with adjustable head restraints adjust their restraint so the back of their head rests against the center of the restraint. Taller persons should adjust their restraint as high as possible.

Improperly positioning head restraints reduces their effectiveness and you can be seriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints are in place and positioned properly before driving.

Properly adjusted head restraints will help protect occupants from whiplash and other crash injuries.

See page for how to adjust the head restraints.

Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the belt is securely latched. Check that the belt is not twisted, because a twisted belt can cause serious injuries in a crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

Position the lap part of the belt as low as possible across your hips, then pull up on the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic bones take the force of a crash and reduces the chance of internal injuries.

If necessary, pull up on the belt again to remove any slack, then check that the belt rests across the center of your chest and over your shoulder.

Improperly positioning the seat belts can cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.

This spreads the forces of a crash over the strongest bones in your upper body.

If the seat belt touches or crosses your neck, or if it crosses your arm instead of your shoulder, you need to adjust the seat belt anchor height.

RELEASE BUTTON

The front seats have adjustable seat belt anchors. To adjust the height of an anchor, press and hold the release buttons and slide the anchor up or down as needed (it has four positions).

Protecting Adults and Teens

Never place the shoulder portion of a lap/shoulder belt under your arm or behind your back.

This could cause

very serious injuries in a crash.

If a seat belt does not seem to work properly, it may not protect the occupant in a crash.

No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat belt.

Using a seat belt that is not working properly can result in serious injury or death. Have your dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

See page for additional

20 information about your seat belts and how to take care of them.

Maintain a Proper Sitting

6. Position

After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on seat belts, it is very important that they continue to sit upright, well back in their seats, with their feet on the floor, until the vehicle is parked and the engine is off.

Sitting improperly can increase the chance of injury during a crash. For example, if an occupant slouches, lies down, turns sideways, sits forward, leans forward or sideways, or puts one or both feet up, the chance of injury during a crash is greatly increased.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or fatally injured in a crash by striking interior parts of the vehicle or being struck by an inflating front airbag.

Sitting improperly or out of position can result in serious injury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back in the seat, with your feet on the floor.

Advice for Pregnant Women

If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt, and keep the lap part of the belt as low as possible across the hips.

When driving, remember to sit upright and adjust the seat as far back as possible while allowing full control of the vehicle. When riding as a front passenger, adjust the seat as far back as possible.

This will reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating front airbag.

Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to drive.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Additional Safety Precautions

Two people should never use the same seat belt.

If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Do not put any accessories on seat belts.

Devices intended to improve occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability of thebeltandincreasethechanceof serious injury in a crash.

Never let passengers ride in the cargo area or on top of a f oldeddown back seat.

All passengers must sit in locked, upright seats andbeproperlyrestrainedbyseat belts.

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a f ront airbag.

Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers.

Objects on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ could interf ere with the proper operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.

On models with side airbags, do not attach hard objects on or near a front door.

If a side airbag inflates,acupholderorotherhard object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone.

Keep your hands and arms away from the airbag covers.

If your hands or arms are close to an airbag cover, they could be injured if the airbag inflates.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt System Components Lap/Shoulder Belt

Your seat belt system includes lap/ shoulder belts in all five seating positions. The front seat belts are also equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners. To fasten the belt, insert the latch

The seat belt system

includes an indicator on the instrument panel and a beeper to remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

If you turn the ignition switch to ON (II) before fastening your belt, the beeper sounds and the indicator flashes. If you do not fasten your seat belt before the beeper stops, the indicator stops f lashing but remains on.

If you continue driving without fastening your seat belt, the beeper will sound and the indicator will flash again at regular intervals.

The lap/shoulder belt goes over your shoulder, across your chest, and across your hips.

plate into the buckle, then tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is latched (see page for how to properly position the belt).

To unlock the belt, push the red PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide the belt across your body so that it retracts completely. After exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the way and will not get closed in the door.

All seat belts have an emergency locking retractor. In normal driving, the retractor lets you move freely in your seat while it keeps some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop, the retractor automatically locks the belt to help restrain your body.

The seat belts in all positions except the driver’s have an additional locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat (see page ).

If the shoulder part of the belt is pulled all the way out, the locking mechanism will activate. The belt will retract, but it will not allow the passenger to move freely.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

To deactivate the locking mechanism, unlatch the buckle and let the seat belt f ully retract. To refasten the seat belt, pull it out only as far as needed.

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

For added protection, the front seat belts are equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners. When activated, the tensioners immediately tighten the belts to help hold the driver and a front passenger in place.

The tensioners are designed to activate primarily in frontal collisions, andtheyshouldactivateinany collision severe enough to cause front-airbag inflation.

The tensioners can also be activated during a collision in which the f ront airbags do not deploy. In this case, the airbags would not be needed, but the additional restraint could be helpful.

When the tensioners are activated, the seat belts will remain tight until they are unbuckled in the normal manner.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt Maintenance

For safety, you should check the condition of your seat belts regularly.

frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check that the latches work smoothly and the belts retract easily. Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide good protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.

Honda provides a lifetime warranty on seat belts for U.S. models. See

Honda Warranty Information

your booklet for details.

If a seat belt is worn during a crash, it must be replaced by the dealer. A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of protection in a subsequent crash.Pull each belt out f ully and look f or

The dealer should also inspect the anchors for damage and replace them if needed. If the automatic seat belt tensioners activate during a crash, they must be replaced.

For information on how to clean your seat belts, see page .153

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have any problem corrected as soon as possible.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Airbag System Components

Your Airbag System includes:

Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored in the center of the steering wheel; the front passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG.’’

In models with side airbags, one for the driver and one for a front passenger. The airbags are stored in the outer edges of the seatbacks. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Automatic seat belt tensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe front impact, or side impact in models with side airbags.

In models with side airbags, sensors that can detect whether a child is in the passenger’s side airbag path and automatically turn the airbag off (see page ).

A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors and records information about the sensors, the control unit, the airbag activators, the seat belt tensioners, and driver and front passenger seat belt use when the ignition is in the ON (II) position.

An indicator on the instrument panel that alerts you to a possible problem with your airbags, sensors, or seat belt tensioners (see page ).

In models with side airbags,

indicator on the dashboard that alerts you that the passenger’s side airbag has been turned off (see page ).

Emergency backup power in case your vehicle’s electrical system is disconnected in a crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Front Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal collision, sensors will detect the vehicle’s rapid deceleration. If the rate of deceleration is high enough, the control unit will instantly inflate the driver’s and front passenger’s front airbags, at the time and with the force needed.

During a frontal crash, your seat belt restrains your lower body and torso, and the airbag helps protect your head and chest.

Although both airbags normally inflate within a split second of each other, it is possible for only one airbag to deploy.

This can happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin, or threshold, that determines whether or not the airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

After inflating, the front airbags will immediately deflate, so they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility, or the ability to steer or operate other controls.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

The total time for inflation and deflation is one-tenth of a second, so fast that most occupants are not aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see what looks like smoke. This is actually powder from the airbag’s surface. Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problems mayexperiencesometemporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

Dual-Stage Airbags

Your front airbags are dual-stage airbags. This means they have two inflation stages that can be ignited sequentially or simultaneously, depending on crash severity.

more severe

In a crash, both stages will ignite simultaneously to provide the quickest and greatest protection.

less severe

In a crash, one stage will ignite first, then the second stage will ignite a split second later. This provides longer airbag inflation time with a little less force.

Dual-Threshold Airbags

Your front airbags are also dualthreshold airbags. Airbags with this feature have two deployment thresholds that depend on whether or not the occupant is wearing a seat belt.

It the occupant belt is ,

not latched

the airbag will deploy at a slightly lower threshold, because the occupant would need extra protection.

It the occupant’s belt is , the

latched

airbag will deploy at a slightly higher threshold, when the airbag would be needed to supplement the protection provided by the seat belt.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Side Airbags Work

(On models equipped)

If you ever have a moderate to severe side impact, sensors will detect rapid deceleration and signal the control unit to instantly inflate either the driver’s or the passenger’s side airbag.

Only one airbag will deploy during a side impact. If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the passenger’s side airbag will deploy even if there

is no passenger.

Side Airbag Cutoff System

To reduce the risk of injury from an inflating side airbag, your vehicle has an automatic cutoff system for the passenger’s side airbag.

Although Honda does not encourage children to ride in front, this system is designed to shut off the side airbag if a child leans into the side airbag’s path.

Thesideairbagmayalsoshutoffifa short adult leans sideways, or a larger adult slouches and leans sideways into the airbag’s deployment path.

Objects placed on the front passenger seat can also cause the side airbag to be shut off.

If the Side Airbag Off Indicator comes on (see page ), have the passenger sit upright. Once the passenger is out of the airbag’s deployment path, the system will turn the airbag back on, and the indicator will go out.

There will be some delay between the moment the passenger moves into or out of the airbag deployment pathandwhentheindicatorcomes on or goes off.

A front seat passenger should not use a cushion or other object as a backrest. It may prevent the cutoff system from working properly.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

How the SRS Indicator Works

The SRS indicator alerts you to a

potential problem with your

airbags or seat belt tensioners (see page ).

When you turn the ignition to ON (II), this indicator will come on briefly then go out. This tells you the system is working properly.

If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, you should have the system checked by your dealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator does not come on after you turn the ignition to ON (II).

If the indicator stays on after the engine starts.

If the indicator comes on or flashesonandoffwhileyoudrive.

Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in serious injury or death if the airbag systems or tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts you to a possible problem.

If you see any of these indications, the airbags and seat belt tensioners may not work properly when you need them.

How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works

In models with side airbags

This indicator alerts you

that the passenger’s side airbag has been automatically shut off. It does mean there is a problem with your side airbags.

When you turn the ignition to ON (II), the indicator should light briefly and go out (see page ). If it doesn’t light, it stays on or comes on while driving without a passenger in the front seat, have the system checked.

not

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Airbag Service Additional Saf ety Precautions

Your airbag systems are virtually maintenance free, and there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have your

Donotattempttodeactivateyour airbags.

Together, airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.

vehicle serviced if:

Do not tamper with airbag

An airbag ever inflates.

Any airbag that has deployed must be replaced along with the control unit and other related parts. If a

components or wiring for any reason.

Tampering could cause the airbags to deploy, possibly causing very serious injury.

front airbag inflates, the seat belt tensioners must also be replaced.

Do not try to remove or replace anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust be done by a Honda dealer or a knowledgeable body shop.

The SRS indicator alerts you to a problem.

Take your vehicle to an authorized your dealer as soon as possible. If you ignore this indication, your airbags may not operate properly.

Models with side airbags: Do not cover or replace f ront seatback covers without consulting your dealer.

Improperly replacing or covering front seat-back covers can prevent your side airbags from inflating during a side impact.

Children depend on adults to protect them. However, despite their best intentions many adults do not know how to properly protect child passengers.

If you have children, or ever need to drive with a child in your vehicle, be sure to read this section. It begins with important general guidelines, then presents special information for infants, small children, and larger children.

Protecting Children General Guidelines

All Children Must Be Restrained

Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the number one cause of the death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state and Canadian province requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride in a vehicle.

Infants and small children must be restrained in an approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle

(see pages ).

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3534

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Children who are unrestrained or improperly restrained can be seriously injured or killed in a crash.

Any child too small for a seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat. A larger child should be properly restrained with a seat belt and use a booster seat if necessary.

Larger children must be restrained with a lap/shoulder belt and ride on a booster seat until the seat belt fits them properly

(see pages ).

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44 46

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children General Guidelines

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All Children Should Sit in the Back Seat

According to accident statistics, children of all ages and sizes are safer when they are restrained in a back seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children age 12 and under be properly restrained in a back seat. Some states have lows restricting where children may ride.

Children who ride in back are less likely to be injured by striking interior vehicle parts during a collision or hard braking. Also, children cannot be injured by an inflating front airbag when they ride in the back.

The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks

Front airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate to severe frontal collision. To do this the passenger’s front airbag is quite large, and it can inflate with enough force to cause very serious injuries.

Infants Never put a rear-f acing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger’s front airbag.

If the airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or very seriously injure an infant.

Small Children Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with passenger’s front airbag can be hazardous.

If the vehicle seat is too farforward,orthechild’sheadis thrown f orward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can strike the child with enough force to kill or very seriously injure a small child.

Larger Children Children who have outgrown child seats are also at risk of being injured or killed by an inflat ing passenger’s front airbag.

Whenever possible, larger children should sit in the back seat, on a booster seat if needed, and be properly restrained with a seat belt (see page for important

44 information about protecting larger children).

Protecting Children General Guidelines

−

To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag hazards, and that children must be properly restrained in a back seat, your vehicle has warninglabelsonthedashboard (U.S. models) and on the front visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

U.S. Models

Canadian Models

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children General Guidelines

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If You Must Drive with Several Children

Your vehicle has a back seat where children can be properly restrained. If you ever have to carry a group of children, and a child must ride in front:

Place the largest child in the front seat, provided the child is large enough to wear the lap/shoulder belt properly (see page ).

Move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible (see page ).

Have the child sit upright and well backintheseat(seepage ).

Make sure the seat belt is properly positioned and secured (see pages

and ).

If a Child Requires Close Attention

Many parents say they prefer to put an infant or small child in the front passenger seat so they can watch the child, or because the child requires attention.

Placing a child in the f ront seat exposes the child to hazards in a frontal collision, and paying close attention to a child distracts the driver from the important tasks of driving, placing both of you at risk.

If a child requires close physical attention or frequent visual contact, we strongly recommend that another adult ride with the child in the back seat. The back seat is far safer for a child than the front.

Protecting Children General Guidelines

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Additional Safety Precautions

Neverholdaninfantorchildon your lap.

If you are not wearing a seat belt in a crash, you could be thrown forward and crush the child against the dashboard or a seat-back. If you are wearing a seat belt the child can be torn from your arms and be seriously hurt or killed.

Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child.

During a crash, the belt could press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.

Never let two children use the same seat belt.

If they do, they could be very seriously injured in a crash.

Do not leave children alone in a vehicle.

Leaving children without adult supervision is illegal in most states and Canadian provinces, and can be very hazardous. For example, infants and small childrenleftinavehicleonahot day can die from heatstroke. A child left alone with the key in the ignition can accidentally set the vehicle in motion, possibly injuring themselves or others.

Lock both doors and the hatch when your vehicle is not in use.

Children who play in vehicles can accidentally get trapped inside. Teach your children not to play in or around vehicles.

Keep vehicle keys and remote transmitters out of reach of children.

Even very young children learn how to unlock vehicle doors, turn on the ignition switch, and open the hatch, which can lead to accidental injury or death.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Infants and Small Children

Protecting Infants

Child Seat Type

An infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat until the child reaches the seat maker’s weight or height limit for the seat and the child is at least one year old.

Only a rear-facing child seat provides proper support for a baby’s head, neck, and back.

Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death if the passenger’s front airbag inflates.

Always place a rear-facing child seat in the back seat, not the front.

Two types of seats may be used: a seat designed exclusively for infants, or a convertible seat used in the rearfacing, reclining mode.

Do not put a rear-facing child seat in a f orward-f acing position.

facing forward, an infant could be very seriously injured during a frontal collision.

If placed

Child Seat Placement

A rear-facing child seat can be placed in any seating position in the back seat, but not in the front.

rear-f acing child seat in the f ront seat.

If the passenger’s front airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or seriously injure an infant.

When properly installed, a rearfacing child seat may prevent the driver or a front passenger from moving the seat as far back as recommended, or from locking the seat-back in the desired position.

In either situation, we strongly recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front passenger seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied. Or you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.

Never put a

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