HONDA Passport 2001 Owner's Manual
2001 Passport 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
A Word to the Owner
........................................................................................................................... i
Important Handling Information...................................................................................................... ii
A Few Words About Safety
................................................................................................................ iv
Driver and Passenger Safety .............................................................................................................. 3
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Off to a Good Start
Instruments and Controls
............................................................................................................................. 49
................................................................................................................. 55
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Seats
.................................................................................................................................................... 89
Interior Features
Comfort and Convenience Features
............................................................................................................................... 99
.............................................................................................. 119
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Driving Tips
...................................................................................................................................... 155
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, what gasoline to use, how to
break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
In Case of Emergency
...................................................................................................................... 183
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Care and Maintenance
.................................................................................................................... 195
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer and
tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your car ever needs body
repairs.
Technical Data
................................................................................................................................. 231
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Owner Assistance
............................................................................................................................. 245
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals
........................................................................................................................ 253
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ....................................................................................................................................................
Off Road Driving Information
Supplemental Restraint System
Contents
I
Owner's Identification
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OWNER
ADDRESS
CITY
V. I. N.
DELIVERY DATE
DEALER NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
OWNER'S
SIGNATURE
DEALER'S SIGNATURE
STREET
STATE/PROVINCE
(Date sold to original retail purchaser)
DEALER NO.
STREET
STATE/PROVINCE
ZIP CODE /
POSTAL CODE
ZIP
CODE/
POSTAL CODE
This Owner's Manual should be considered
a permanent part of the car, and should
remain with the car when it i
The information and specifications included
in this publication were in affect at the time
of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co.,
Ltd. reserves the right, however, to
discontinue or change specifications or
design at any time without notice and
s sold.
with out incurring any obligation whatsoever.
A Word to the Owner
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We urge you to carefully read this manual and follow its
recommendations to help assure enjoyable and trouble-free operation.
Please keep this Owner's Manual in the glove box of your Passport as
permanent reference material.
While reading this manual you will notice that specifications are given
in both metric and English measurements. Where accuracy is not
needed, some conversions have been rounded off for your convenience.
When it comes to service, remember that your Honda dealer knows
your vehicle best and is interested in your complete satisfaction.
We thank you for choosing a Honda product, and want to assure you
that we will continue to be interested in your motoring pleasure and
satisfaction.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
California Proposition 65 Warning
WARNING: This product contains or emits chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
As you read this manual, you will
find information that is preceded by
a
NOTICE
symbol. This
information is intended to help you
avoid damage to your Honda, other
property, or the environment.
Preface
Important Handling Information
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Your Passport has higher ground clearance than a passenger car designed for use only on pavement. Higher
ground clearance has many advantages for off-road 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
significantly 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 156 of this manual and
the Off-Road Driving Information booklet that came with your vehicle. Failure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or an accident.
Preface
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Preface
A Few Words About Safety
−
−
on the vehicle.
preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of
three signal words: , , or .
These signal words mean:
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
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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
Preface
must use your own good judgment.
You will find important safety information in a variety of forms,
including:
Safety Labels — on the vehicle.
Safety Messages — preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of
three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.
These signal words mean:
You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you
do not follow instructions.
You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you
do not follow instructions.
You CAN be HURT if you do not follow instruction
Safety Headings — such as Important Safety Reminders or Important
Safety Precautions.
Safety Section — such as Driver and Passenger Safety.
Instructions — how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.
This entire book is filled with important safety information - please read
it carefully.
Driver and Passenger Safety
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This section gives you important
information about how to protect
you and your passengers. It shows
how to use seat belts properly. It
explains the Supplemental
Restraint System. And it tells you
how to properly restrain infants
and children in your vehicle.
Important Safety Precautions . . 4
Your Vehicle's Safety Features 5
Seat Belts ............... 6
Airbags ................ 7
Seats and Seat-Backs ...... 8
Head Restraints .......... 8
Door Locks ............. 9
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 9
Protecting Adults .......... 10
1. Close and Lock the Doors 10
2. Adjust the Front Seats . . 10
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . . 11
4. Adjust the Head Restraints 12
5. Fasten and Position
the Seat Belts ......... 13
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel 15
7. Maintain a Proper
Sitting Position ....... 16
Advice for Pregnant Women 16
Additional Safety Precautions
Protecting Children ........ 18
Children Must
All
Be Restrained .......... 18
Children Should Sit in
the Back Seat .......... 19
The Passenger's Airbag Poses
Serious Risks to Children 19
If You Must Drive With
Several Children ....... 20
If a Child Requires
Close Attention ........ 21
Additional Safety Precautions 21
General Guidelines for
Using Child Seats ...... 21
Protecting Infants ....... 26
17
Protecting Small Children . 31
Protecting Larger Children 34
Using Child Seats
With Tethers ........... 38
Additional Information About
Your Seat Belts ........... 41
Seat Belt System
Components ........... 41
Lap/Shoulder Belt ....... 41
Lap Belt ............... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance .... 42
Additional Information About
Your SRS ............... 43
SRS Components ........ 43
How Your Airbags Work . . 44
How Your SRS Indicator
Light Works ........... 45
SRS Service ............ 46
Additional Safety Precautions 46
Carbon Monoxide Hazard ... 47
Safety Labels ............. 48
Driver and Passenger Safety
Important Safety Precautions
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You'll find many safety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this
manual. The recommendations on
this page 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 13.)
Restrain AH Children
Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in the back
seat, not the front seat. A child
who is too small for a seat belt
must be properly restrained in a
child safety seat. (See page 18.)
Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
While airbags 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. (See page 7.)
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
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
Condition
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical failure can be
extremely hazardous. To reduce
the possibility of such problems,
check your tire pressure and
condition frequently, and perform
all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page 204.)
Driver and Passenger Safety
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
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AIRBAGS
POWER DOOR
LOCKS
SAFETY CAGE
COLLAPSIBLE
STEERING
COLUMN
SEAT BELTS
CRUSH
ZONES
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 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 that are designed to
crumple and absorb energy during
a crash; and a collapsible steering
column.
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 and always wear
your seat belts properly. In fact,
Driver and Passenger Safety
some safety features can
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contribute to injuries if they are
not used properly.
Seat Belts
For your safety, and the safety of
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
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
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 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
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. Your airbag
can only be helpful in a
moderate to severe frontal
collision.
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.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Help keep you in a good
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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. But in most cases, seat belts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.
What you should do: Always
wear your seat belt, and make
sure you wear it properly.
Airbags
Your vehicle has a Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) with
frontal airbags to help protect the
driver and a front seat passenger.
AIR
BAG
This system also
includes an indicator
light on the instrument panel to
alert you to a possible problem
with the system.
The most important things you
need to know about your airbags
are:
Airbags do not replace seat
belts. The seat belts are the
occupants' primary protection
in all types of collisions. The
airbags supplement the seat
belts by providing extra
protection for the head and
chest of each front seat
occupant in a moderate to
severe frontal collision.
Airbags offer no protection in
side impacts, rear impacts,
rollovers, or minor collisions.
Airbags are designed to deploy
Driver and Passenger Safety
only during a moderate to
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severe frontal collision.
Airbags can pose serious
hazards. To do their job,
airbags must inflate with
tremendous force and speed. So
while airbags save lives, they
can cause serious injuries to
adults and larger children who
are not wearing seat belts, are
not wearing them properly, are
sitting too close to the airbag,
or are not sitting in a proper
position. Infants and small
children are at an even greater
risk of injury or death.
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.
Seats and Seat-Backs
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
seat-backs 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 the inside of
the vehicle, or by an inflating
airbag.
Reclining a seat-back too far
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.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Door Locks
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Keeping your doors locked
reduces the chance of being
thrown out of 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.
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 wearing them
properly (see page 13).
Any infant or small child is
properly restrained in a child
seat in the back seat (see page
18).
Front seat occupants are sitting
upright and as far back as
possible from the steering
wheel and dashboard (see page
10).
Seat-backs are upright (see
page 11).
Head restraints are properly
adjusted (see page 12).
All doors and the tailgate are
closed and locked (see page
10).
All cargo is properly stored or
secured (see page 175).
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
injuries or deaths that can occur in
severe crashes, even when seat
belts are properly worn and the
airbags deploy.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Protecting Adults
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Introduction
The following 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 34
for important additional
guidelines on how to properly
protect larger children.)
1. Close and Lock the Doors
After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors and
tailgate are closed and locked.
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 104 for how to lock the
doors.
2. 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 the inflating
airbag during a crash.
Driver and Passenger Safety
To reduce the chance of injury,
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wear your seat belt properly, sit
upright with your back against the
seat, and move the seat as far back
as possible from the steering
wheel while still maintaining full
control of the vehicle. Also make
sure your front seat passenger
moves the seat as far to the rear as
possible.
Sitting too close to the airbag
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the
airbags as possible.
Most shorter drivers can get far
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 pages 91 and 92 for how to
adjust the front seats.
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs
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
airbag inflates.
A front passenger should also
adjust the seat-back to an upright
position, but as far from the
Driver and Passenger Safety
dashboard as possible. A
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passenger who sits too close to the
dashboard could be injured if the
airbag inflates.
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.
4. Adjust the Head Restraints
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 pages 92 and 93 for how to
adjust seat-backs.
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
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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.
5. Fasten and Position the
Seat Belts
Using a Lap/Shoulder Belt
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.
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 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.
See page 93 for how to adjust the
head restraints.
Improperly positioning the seat
belts can cause serious injury
or death in a crash.
Make sure all seat belts are
properly positioned before you
drive.
Driver and Passenger Safety
If the seat belt touches or crosses
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your neck, or if it crosses your
arm instead of your shoulder, you
need to adjust the seat belt anchor
height.
To adjust the height of a seat belt
anchor in the front or the rear,
press the release button 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.
Using the Lap Belt
Insert the latch plate into the
buckle marked CENTER.
If the belt is too short, hold the
latch plate at a right angle and
pull on the plate to extend the
belt. Then insert the latch plate
Driver and Passenger Safety
into the buckle, and tug on the
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belt to make sure the belt is
securely latched.
If a Seat Belt Doesn't Work
Properly
If a seat belt does not seem to
work as it should, it may not
protect the occupant in a crash.
No one should sit in a seat with
an inoperative seat belt. Anyone
using a seat belt that is not
working properly can be seriously
injured or killed. Have your
Honda dealer check the belt as
soon as possible.
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel
Position the belt as low as
possible across your hips. This
lets your strong pelvic bones take
the force of a crash and reduces
the chance of internal injuries.
Pull on the loose end of the belt
for a snug but comfortable fit.
See page 41 for additional
information about your seat belt
system and how to take care of
your belts.
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.
See page 115 for how to adjust the
steering wheel.
Driver and Passenger Safety
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
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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.
In addition, an occupant who is
out of position in the front seat
can be seriously or fatally injured
by striking interior parts of the
vehicle, or by being struck by an
inflating 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.
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.
Driver and Passenger Safety
We recommend that a pregnant
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woman use a lap/shoulder belt
whenever possible. Remember to
keep the lap portion of the belt as
low as possible across your hips.
Pregnant women should also sit 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 checkup,
ask your doctor if it's okay for
you to drive.
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 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
an 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 airbags
inflate.
Keep your hands and arms
away from the airbag covers.
If your hands or arms are close
to the SRS covers in the center
of the steering wheel or on top
of the dashboard, they could be
injured if the airbags inflate.
Never let passengers ride in
the cargo area or on top of a
folded-down back seat. All
passengers must sit in locked,
upright seats and be properly
restrained by seat belts.
Do not attach or place objects
on the 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 car and
hurt someone.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Protecting Children
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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.
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.
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.
AH 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 death of children ages 12
and under.
To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state
requires that infants and children
be restrained whenever they ride
in a vehicle.
Any child who is too small to
wear a seat belt should be
properly restrained in a child
seat. (See page 21.)
A larger child should always be
restrained with a seat belt. (See
page 34.)
Additional Precautions to
Parents
Never
hold an infant or child
on 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.
Driver and Passenger Safety
If you are wearing a seat belt,
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the child can be torn from your
arms. For example, if your
vehicle crashes into a parked
vehicle at 30 mph (48 km/h), a
20 Ib (9 kg) infant will become
a 600 Ib (275 kg) force, and
you will not be able to hold on.
Never put a seat belt over
yourself and an infant or
child. During a crash, the belt
could press deep into the child
and cause very serious injuries.
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
recommends 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 Airbag
Poses Serious Risks to
Children
Airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate
to severe frontal collision. To do
this, the passenger's airbag is
quite large, and it inflates with
tremendous speed.
Infants
Never put a rear-facing child
seat in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped with a passenger's
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.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Small Children
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Placing a forward-facing child
seat in the front seat of a vehicle
equipped with a passenger's
airbag can be hazardous. If the
vehicle seat is too far forward, or
the child's head is thrown forward
during a collision, an inflating
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
inflating passenger's airbag.
Whenever possible, larger
children should sit in the back
seat, properly restrained with a
seat belt. (See page 34 for
important information about
protecting larger children.)
To remind you of the passenger's
airbag hazards, and that children
must be properly restrained in the
back seat, your vehicle has
warning labels on the dashboard,
and on the driver's and front
passenger's visors. Please read
and follow the instructions on
these labels.
If You Must Drive With
Several Children
Your vehicle has three seating
positions in the back seat where
children can be properly
restrained.
If you ever have to carry more
than three children in your
vehicle:
Place the largest child in the
front seat, provided the child is
large enough to wear a seat belt
properly (see page 34).
Move the vehicle seat as far to
the rear as possible (see page
10).
Have the child sit upright and
well back in the seat (see page
16).
Make sure the seat belt is
properly positioned and
secured (see page 13).
Driver and Passenger Safety
If a Child Requires Close
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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 front seat
exposes the child to hazards from
the airbag, 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 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.
Additional Safety
Precautions
Use child-safe door locks to
prevent children from opening
the doors. Using this feature
will prevent children from
opening the doors and
accidentally falling out (see
page 105).
Use the main power window
switch to prevent children
from opening the rear
windows. Using this feature
will prevent children from
playing with the windows,
which could expose them to
hazards or distract the driver
(see page 107).
Do not leave children alone in
your vehicle. Leaving children
without adult supervision is
illegal in most states and can be
very hazardous. For example,
infants and small children left
in a vehicle on a hot day can
die from heat stroke. And
children left alone with the key
in the ignition can accidentally
set the vehicle in motion,
possibly injuring themselves or
others.
General Guidelines for
Using Child Seats
The following pages give general
guidelines for selecting and
installing child seats for infants
and small children.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Selecting a Child Seat
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To provide proper protection,
a child seat should meet three
requirements:
1. The child seat should meet
safety standards. The child
seat should meet Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
213 (FMVSS 213). Look for
the manufacturer's statement
of compliance on the box and
seat.
2. The child seat should be of
the proper type and size to fit
the child.
Infants: Children up to about one
year old should be restrained in a
rear-facing, reclining child seat.
Only a rear-facing seat provides
the proper support to protect an
infant's head, neck, and back. See
page 26 for additional information
on protecting infants.
Small Children: A child who is
too large for a rear-facing child
seat, and who can sit up without
support, should be restrained in a
forward-facing child seat. See
page 31 for additional information
on protecting small children.
3. The child seat should fit the
vehicle seating position (or
positions) where it will be
used.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Due to variations in the design of
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child seats, vehicle seats, and seat
belts, all child seats will not fit all
vehicle seating positions.
However, Honda is confident that
one or more child seat models can
fit and be properly installed in all
recommended seating positions in
your vehicle.
Before purchasing a child seat, we
recommend that parents test the
child seat in the specific vehicle
seating position (or positions)
where they intend to use the seat.
If a previously purchased child
seat does not fit, you may need to
buy a different one that will fit.
Your vehicle has lower
anchorages installed for use with
Child Restraint Anchorage
System-compatible child seats.
For more information, see page 39.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Placing a Child Seat
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This page briefly summarizes
Honda's recommendations on where
to place rear-facing and forward-
facing child seats in your vehicle.
Airbags Pose Serious
Risks to Children
The passenger's airbag inflates
with enough force to kill or
seriously injure an infant in a
rear-facing child seat.
A small child in a forwardfacing child seat is also at risk.
If the vehicle seat is too far
forward, or the child's head is
thrown forward during a
collision, an inflating airbag can
kill or seriously injure the child.
If a small child must ride in the
front, follow the instructions
provided in this section.
Front Passenger's Seat
Infants: Never in the front seat,
due to the passenger's airbag
hazard.
Small children: Not
recommended, due to the
passenger's airbag hazard. If a
small child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat to the
rear-most position and secure a
front-facing child seat with the
seat belt (see page 31).
Back Seats
Infants: Recommended positions.
Properly secure a rear-facing child
seat (see page 27).
Small children: Recommended
positions. Properly secure a
front-facing child seat (see page
31).
Driver and Passenger Safety
Installing a Child Seat
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After selecting a proper child seat,
and a good position to install the
seat, there are three main steps to
installing the seat:
1. Properly secure the child seat
to the vehicle. All child seats
are designed to be secured to
the vehicle with the lap part of
a lap/shoulder belt. Some
child seats can be secured to
the vehicle's lower anchorages
instead. A child whose seat is
not properly secured to the
vehicle can be endangered in a
crash. See pages 34, 38, and
39 for instructions on how to
properly secure child seats in
this vehicle.
2. Make sure the child seat is
firmly secured. After
installing a child seat, push
and pull the seat forward and
from side to side to verify that
it is secure.
To provide security during normal
driving maneuvers, as well as
during a collision, we recommend
that parents secure a child seat as
firmly as possible.
However, a child seat does not
need to be "rock solid." In some
vehicles or seating positions, it
may be difficult to install a child
seat so that it does not move at all.
Some side-to-side or back-andforth movement can be expected
and should not reduce the child
seat's effectiveness.
If the child seat is not secure, try
installing it in a different seating
position, or use a different style of
child seat that can be firmly
secured in the desired seating
position.
Driver and Passenger Safety
3. Secure the child in the child
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seat. Make sure the child is
properly strapped in the child
seat according to the child seat
maker's instructions. A child
who is not properly secured in
a child seat can be thrown out
of the seat in a crash and
seriously injured.
Protecting Infants
infants, or a convertible seat used
in the rear-facing reclining mode.
Placing a rear-facing child seat
in the front seat can result in
serious injury or death if the
airbags inflate.
Storing a Child Seat
When you are not using a child
seat, either remove it and store it
in a safe place, or make sure it is
properly secured. An unsecured
child seat can be thrown around
the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop and injure someone.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Child Seat Type
Only a rear-facing child seat
provides proper support for a
baby's head, neck, and back.
Infants up to about one year of
age must be restrained in a
rear-facing child seat.
Two types of seats may be used:
a seat designed exclusively for
Always place a rear-facing child
seat in the back seat, not the
front.
We recommend that an infant be
restrained in a rear-facing child
seat until the infant reaches the
seat maker's weight or height
limit and is able to sit up without
support.
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