Honda CR V 2003 Owner's Manual

2003 CR-V Online Reference Owner's Manual

Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference. For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... i

A Few Words About Safety ..........................................................................................................................ii

Important Handling Information .............................................................................................................iii

Your Vehicle at a Glance...............................................................................................................................2

Driver and Passenger Safety .......................................................................................................................5

Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.

Instruments and Controls...........................................................................................................................63

Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.

Comfort and Convenience Features.......................................................................................................127

How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Before Driving .............................................................................................................................................183

What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving...........................................................................................................................................................197

The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.

Maintenance.................................................................................................................................................233

The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.

Appearance Care.........................................................................................................................................297

Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs.

Taking Care of the Unexpected...............................................................................................................307

This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.

Technical Information...............................................................................................................................339

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ......................................................................353

A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...............................................................................................................357

How to order manuals and other technical literature.

Index ................................................................................................................................................................. I

Service Information Summary

A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Contents

Owner’s Identification

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OWNER

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE

(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME DEALER NO.

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

OWNER’S SIGNATURE

DEALER’S SIGNATURE

POSTAL CODE

This Owner’s Manual should be considered a permanent part of the vehicle, and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.

This Owner’s Manual covers all models of the CR-V. You may find descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your particular model.

The inf ormation and specifications included in this publication were in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specif ications or design at any time without notice and without incurring any obligation whatsoever.

POUR CLIENTS CANADIEN AVIS IMPORTANT : Si vous avez besoin d’un Manuel du Conducteur en français, veuillez demander à votreconcessionnairede commander le numéro de pièce 33S9AC10

Introduction

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Congratulations! Your selection of a 2003 Honda CR-V was a wise investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is to read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so youcanrefertoitatanytime.

Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.

Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns.

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of

As you read this manual, you will find inf ormation that is preceded by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your Honda, other property, or the environment.

AFewWordsAboutSafety

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Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this vehicle safely is an important responsibility.

To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You must use your own good judgement.

You will f ind this important safety information in a variety of forms, including:

Safety Labels Safety Messages

three signal words: , , or . These signal words mean:

Safety Headings

Safety Precautions.

Safety Section Instructions

This entire book is filled with important safety information please read it carefully.

−

on the vehicle.

−

preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

−

such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

−

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

−

how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

−

Important Handling Information

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Your CR-V has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use only on pavement. Higher ground clearance has many advantages for off -highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.

These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a high center of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is signif icantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.

For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read ‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page of this manual and the

Off-Highway Guidelines

accident.

section on page . Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or an

226

198

iii

Your Vehicle at a Glance

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POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH

(P.88)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES (P.110)

HATCH GLASS RELEASE BUTTON (P.94)

A/T model is shown.

MIRROR CONTROLS (P.114)

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE HANDLE (P.185)

INDICATORS GAUGES

(P.72)

(P.65)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P.186)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P.138, 154)

DIGITAL CLOCK (P.144, 162)

PARKING BRAKE (P.82)

HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS (P.128)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

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HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS (P.76, 77)

MOONROOF (P.113)

CRUISE CONTROL (P.179)

A/T model is shown.

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

TILT ADJUSTMENT (P.83)

SHIFT LEVER (A/T) (P.204)

HORN

PARKING BRAKE (P.82)

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS (P.81)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS (P.78, 79)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER (P.81)

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Driver and Passenger Safety

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This section gives you important information about how to protect yourself and your passengers. It shows you how to use seat belts properly. It explains your Supplemental Restraint System. And it tells you how to properly restrain infants and children in your vehicle.

.......................................Seat Belts . 8

.........................................Airbags . 10

..................Seats and Seat-Backs . 11

..........................Head Restraints . 11

..................................Door Locks . 11

............................Protecting Adults . 13

.........Important Safety Precautions . 6

.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 7

........Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 12

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 13

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 15

5. Fasten and Position the Seat

.....................................Belts . 17

....6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 20

7. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 20

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 21

........................Protecting Children . 24

All Children Must Be

...............................Restrained . 24

Children Should Sit in the Back

...........................................Seat . 25

The Passenger’s Front Airbag

Poses Serious Risks to

..............................Children . 25

If You Must Drive with Several

...................................Children . 28

If a Child Requires Close

..................................Attention . 28

General Guidelines for Using

...............................Child Seats . 29

.......................Protecting Infants . 34

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 16

...Additional Safety Precautions . 22

...Additional Safety Precautions . 28

.........Protecting Small Children . 38

.......Protecting Larger Children . 42

Using Child Seats with

.....................................Tethers . 46

.............................Using LATCH . 47

Additional Information About Your

.................................Seat Belts . 50

..Seat Belt System Components . 50

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 50

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 52

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 53

Additional Information About Your

.....................................Airbags . 54

........................SRS Components . 54

How Your Front Airbags

.........................................Work . 54

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 56

How the SRS Indicator Light

.......................................Works . 57

How the Side Airbag Cutoff

...........Indicator Light Works . 58

.............................Airbag Service . 59

...Additional Safety Precautions . 59

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 60

...................................Safety Labels . 61

Driver and Passenger Safety

Important Safety Precautions

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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 supplement seat belts, but airbags are designed to inflate only in a moderate to severe frontal collision. 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 are safest when they are properly restrained in the back seat, notthefrontseat.Achildwhoistoo smallforaseatbeltmustbeproperly restrained in a child safety seat. (See page .)

Driver and Passenger Safety

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards Control Your Speed

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 f ollow all instructions and warnings in this manual. (See page

Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher the speed the greater the risk, but serious accidents 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

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 f riends drink and drive, either.

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 .)

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Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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(7)

(5)

(10)

(3)

(4)

(2)

(9)

(1)

(6)

(8)

(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

(U.S. EX, Canadian EX and EX-L) (9) Front Seat Belt Tensioners (10) Door Locks

(2)

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

Some safety features do not require anyactiononyourpart.These include a strong steel framework that forms a safety cage around the passenger compartment; front and rear crush zones that are designed to crumple and absorb energy during a crash; a collapsible steering column; and seat belt tensioners that automatically tighten the front seat belts in the event of a crash.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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These safety features are designed to reduce the severity of injuries in a crash. However, you and your passengers can’t take full advantage of these safety features unless you remain sitting in a proper position

always wear your seat belts

and

properly.

In fact, some safety features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Seat Belts

Foryoursafety,andthesafetyof your passengers, your vehicle is equipped with seat belts in all seating positions.

Your seat belt system also

includes a light 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 effective safety device for adults and 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.

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even if you have 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. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.

Help keep you f rom 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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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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 f rontal collision.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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.

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 of fer no protection in rear impacts, rollovers, or minor frontal or side collisions.

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force and speed. 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 as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard.

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Your vehicle’s seats are designed to keep you in a comfortable, upright position so you can take full advantage of the protection offered by seat belts and the energy absorbing materials in the seats.

How you adjust your seats and seatbacks can also affect your safety. For example, sitting too close to the steering wheel or dashboard increases the risk of you or your passenger being injured by striking theinsideofthevehicle,orbyan inflating airbag.

Reclining a seat-back too f ar reduces the seat belt’s effectiveness and increases the chance that the seat’s occupant will slide under the seat belt in a crash and be seriously injured.

What you should do:

Move the front seats as far back as possible, and keep adjustable seat-backs in an upright position whenever the vehicle is moving.

Head Restraints

Head restraints can help protect you from whiplash and other injuries. For maximum protection, the back of your head should rest against the center of the head restraint.

Door LocksSeats and Seat-Backs

Keeping your doors locked reduces thechanceofbeingthrownoutof the vehicle during a crash. It also helps prevent occupants from accidentally opening a door and falling out, and outsiders from unexpectedly opening your doors.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

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Pre-Drive Safety Checklist

To make sure you and your passengers get the maximum protection from your vehicle’s safety features, check the following each time before you drive away:

All adults, and children who have outgrown child safety seats, are wearing their seat belts and wearingthemproperly(seepage

Any infant or small child is properly restrained in a child seat inthebackseat(seepage ).

Frontseatoccupantsaresitting upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel and dashboard (see page ).

Seat-backs are upright (see page

Driver and Passenger Safety

Head restraints are properly adjusted (see page ).

Alldoorsandthetailgateare closed and locked (see page ).

All cargo is properly stored or secured (see page ).

193

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

Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that can occur in severe crashes, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy.

Protecting Adults

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Introduction

The f ollowing pages provide instructions on how to properly protect the driver and other adult occupants.

These instructions also apply to children who have outgrown child seats and are large enough to wear lap/shoulder belts. (See page for important additional guidelines on how to properly protect larger children.)

Close and Lock the Doors

After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure the doors and tailgate (including the hatch glass) are closed.

Your vehicle has a door

monitor light on the instrument panel to indicate when any door is not tightly closed.

Your vehicle also has a

tailgate and hatch glass open indicator light on the instrument panel to indicate when the tailgate or the hatch glass is not tightly closed.

For safety, locking the doors reduces the chance that a passenger, especially a child, will open a door while the vehicle is moving and accidentally fall out. It also reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the vehicle during a crash.

For security, locked doors can prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.

See page for how to lock the

doors.

Adjust the Front Seats

Any driver who sits too close to the steering wheel is at risk of being seriously injured or killed by striking the steering wheel, or from being struck by an inflating front airbag during a crash.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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To reduce the chance of injury, wear your seat belt properly, sit upright with your back against the seat, and movetheseatawayfromthe steering wheel to the farthest distance that allows you to maintain full control of the vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that drivers adjust the seat so the center of the chest is at least 10 inches (25 cm) away from the center of the steering wheel.Alsomakesureyourfront seat passenger moves the seat as far to the rear as possible.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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.

Most shorter drivers can get f ar enough away from the steering wheel and still reach the pedals. However, if you are concerned about sitting too close, we recommend that you investigate whether some type of adaptive equipment may help.

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.

Protecting Adults

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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. If you sit too close to the steering wheel, you could be injured if the f ront airbag inflates.

A front passenger should also adjust the seat-back to an upright position, but as far from the dashboard as possible. A passenger who sits too close to the dashboard could be injured if the front airbag inf lates.

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 seat-

backs.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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Adjust the Head Restraints4.

Before driving, make sure everyone with an adjustable head restraint has properly positioned the head restraint. The restraint should be positioned so the back of the occupant’s head rests against the center of the restraint. A taller person should adjust the restraint as high as possible.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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 f rom whiplash and other crash injuries.

See page for how to adjust the

head restraints.

Fasten and Position the Seat

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5. Belts

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

In the rear center seating position, be sure the detachable anchor is latched securely (see page ).108

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.

Protecting Adults

If necessary, pull up on the belt again to remove any slack from the shoulder part, then check that the belt rests across the center of your chest and over your shoulder. This spreads the forces of a crash over the strongest bones in your upper body.

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

Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

RELEASE BUTTONS

To adjust the height of a front seat belt anchor, squeeze the two release buttons and slide the anchor up or down as needed (it has four positions).

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.

Protecting Adults

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

sit in a seat with an inoperative seat belt.

Anyone using a seat belt that is

No one should

not working properly can be seriously injured or killed. Have your Honda dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

See page for additional

information about your seat belt system and how to take care of your belts.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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Adjust the Steering Wheel Maintain a Proper Sitting

6. 7. 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 Adjust the steering wheel, if needed, so that the wheel points toward your chest, not toward your face.

Pointing the steering wheel toward your chest provides optimal protection from the airbag.

forward, leans forward or sideways,

or puts one or both feet up, the

chance of injury during a crash is

greatly increased.

In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or f atally injured by striking interior parts of the vehicle, or by being struck by an inflating front airbag. Being struck by an inflating side airbag can result in possibly serious injuries.

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.

See page for how to adjust the

steering wheel.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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Remember, to get the best protection from your vehicle’s airbags and other safety features, you must sit properly and wear your seat belt properly.

Advice for Pregnant Women

Because protecting the mother is the

best way to protect her unborn child,

a pregnant woman should always

wear a seat belt whenever she drives

or rides in a vehicle.

Remember to keep the lap portion of

the belt as low as possible across

your hips.

Pregnant women should also sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard. This will reduce the risk of injuries to both the mother and her unborn child that can be caused by a crash or an inflating airbag.

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

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults

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Additional Safety Precautions

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

must sit in locked, upright seats andbeproperlyrestrainedbyseat belts.

Passengers should not stand up or change seats while the vehicle is moving.

A passenger who is not wearing a seat belt during a crash or emergency stop can be thrown against the inside of the vehicle, against other occupants, or out of the vehicle.

Driver and Passenger Safety

All passengers

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 comf ort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can severely compromise the protective capability of the seat belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

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 objects in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on the f ront airbag covers.

Any object attached to or placed on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags inflate, the objects could be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone.

On models with side airbags, do

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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 the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel or on top of the dashboard, they could be injured if the front airbag inflates.

Protecting Adults

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children

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All Children Must Be Restrained

Each year, many children are injured

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.

Children depend on adults to protect them. However, despite their best intentions, many parents and other adults may not know how to

properly

protect young passengers. (See page

So if you have children, or if you ever need to drive with a grandchild or other children in your vehicle, be sure to read this section.

or killed in vehicle crashes because they are either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle accidents are the number one cause of 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 restrained whenever they ride in a vehicle.

Anychildwhoistoosmalltoweara seat belt should be properly restrained in a child seat.

A larger child should always be restrained with a seat belt, and use a booster, if needed.

(See page .)2942

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children

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Additional Precautions to Parents

Neverholdaninfantorchildon your lap.

If you are not wearing a seat belt in a crash, you could be thrown forward into the dashboard and crush the child.

Ifyouarewearingaseatbelt,the child can be torn from your arms during a crash. For example, if your vehicle crashes into a parked vehicleat30mph(48km/h),a 20-lb (9 kg) infant will become a 600-lb (275 kg) force, and you will not be able to hold on.

Never put a seat belt over yourself and an infant or child.

crash, the belt could press deep into the child and cause very serious injuries.

During a

Children Should Sit in the Back Seat

According to accident statistics, children of all ages and sizes are safer when they are restrained in the back seat, not the front seat. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children ages 12 and under be properly restrained in the back seat.

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

The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks to Children

Front airbags have been designed to help protect adults in a moderate to severe f rontal collision. To do this, the passenger’s front airbag is quite large, and it inf lates with tremendous speed.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children

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

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

Driver and Passenger Safety

Small Children Larger Children Placing a f orward-facing child seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped

with a passenger’s front airbag can be hazardous.

If the vehicle seat is too far forward, or the child’s head is 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.

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

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

information about protecting larger children.)

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