Passenger Sensing System

The vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the front outboard passenger seat. The passenger airbag status indicator will light up on the overhead console when the vehicle is started.

The words ON and OFF will be visible during the system check. When the system check is complete, either the word ON or OFF will be visible. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator.

The passenger sensing system turns off the front passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions. No other airbag is affected by the passenger sensing system.

The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the front passenger seat and seat belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly seated passenger and to determine whether the front passenger frontal airbag should be allowed to inflate or not.

Accident statistics show that children are safer when properly secured in the rear seat in a child restraint suitable for their weight and size.

Whenever possible, children aged 12 years and younger should be secured in the rear seat.

Never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat. This is because the risk to a rear-facing child is very high if the airbag deploys.

The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the front outboard passenger frontal airbag if:

• The front outboard passenger seat is not occupied.
• The system detects that an infant is present in a child restraint.
• The front outboard passenger removes their weight from the seat for a certain period of time.
• There is a critical problem with the airbag system or the passenger sensing system.

When the passenger sensing system has turned off the front passenger frontal airbag, the OFF indicator will illuminate and remain lit as a reminder that the airbag is off. Refer to Passenger Airbag Status Indicator.

The passenger sensing system is designed to turn on the front passenger frontal airbag whenever the system detects that an adult-sized person is properly seated in the front passenger seat.

When the passenger sensing system has allowed the airbag to be turned on, the ON indicator will illuminate and remain lit as a reminder that the airbag is active.

For some children, including children in child restraints, and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system may or may not turn off the front passenger frontal airbag, depending on sitting posture and body build. All occupants who have outgrown child restraints should be properly secured with the seat belt, whether or not there is an airbag for that person.