Seat Belts
This section describes how to use seat belts properly, and some things not to do.
This vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle the seat belts. See Seat Belt Reminders 0 103.
Buckle to Drive Feature
If equipped, this feature prevents the vehicle from shifting out of P (Park) when Teen Driver is active and the driver seat belt is not buckled. See“Teen Driver” in the infotainment manual. If the engine is running, the driver seat belt is not buckled, and the brake pedal is pressed with the vehicle in P (Park), a message displays in the Driver Information Center (DIC). Buckle the driver seat belt to shift out of P (Park). Shifting from P (Park) will be prevented once for each ignition
cycle. For fleet vehicles, shifting from P (Park) will be prevented each time these conditions exist.
On some models, Buckle to Drive may also prevent shifting out of P (Park) if a front passenger is unbuckled under similar conditions. A message displays in the DIC. Buckle the front passenger seat belt to shift out of P (Park). This feature may not allow the vehicle to shift out of P (Park) if an object, such as a briefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop, or other electronic device, is on the front passenger seat. If this happens, remove the object from the seat or buckle the seat belt to shift out of P (Park).
If the driver or present front passenger remains unbuckled, the DIC message will turn off after several seconds and the vehicle can be shifted out of P (Park). See“Seat Belts” and“Child Restraints” in the Index for information about the importance of proper restraint use.
If the driver seat belt, and/or the front passenger seat belt on some vehicles, is unbuckled when driving,
the seat belt reminder chime and light(s) will come on. See Seat Belt Reminders 0 103.
This feature may not function properly if the airbag readiness light is on. See Airbag Readiness Light 0 104.
When riding in a vehicle, you travel as fast as the vehicle does. If the vehicle stops suddenly, you keep going until something stops you.
It could be the windshield, the instrument panel, or the seat belts!
When you wear a seat belt, you and the vehicle slow down together.
There is more time to stop because you stop over a longer distance and, when worn properly, your strongest bones take the forces from the seat belts. That is why wearing seat belts makes such good sense.
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I am wearing a seat belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a seat belt or not. Your chance of being conscious during and after a crash, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear seat belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental systems only. They work with seat belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is
provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing seat belts.
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
Follow these rules for everyone's protection.
There are additional things to know about seat belts and children, including smaller children and infants. If a child will be riding in the vehicle, see Older Children 0 56 or Infants and Young Children 0 58.
Review and follow the rules for children in addition to the following rules.
It is very important for all occupants to buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted people are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing seat belts.
There are important things to know about wearing a seat belt properly.
Never allow the lap or shoulder belt to become loose or twisted.
Never wear the shoulder belt under both arms or behind your back.
Always use the correct buckle for your seating position.
Never route the lap or shoulder belt over an armrest.
All seating positions in the vehicle have a lap-shoulder belt.
If you are using a rear seating position with a detachable seat belt and the seat belt is not attached, see Rear Seats 0 33 for instructions on reconnecting the seat belt to the mini-buckle.
The following instructions explain how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a passenger belt is pulled out all the way, the child restraint locking feature may be engaged. See Child Restraint Systems 0 60. If this occurs, let the belt go back all the way and start again. If the locking
feature stays engaged after letting the belt go back to stowed position on the seat, move the seat rearward or recline the seat until the shoulder belt retractor lock releases.
If the webbing locks in the latch plate before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate flat to unlock.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Seat Belt Extender 0 42.
Position the release button on the buckle so that the seat belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary.
later in this section for instructions on use and important safety information.
To unlatch the belt, push the button on the buckle. The belt should return to its stowed position.
Always stow the seat belt slowly. If the seat belt webbing returns quickly to the stowed position, the retractor may lock and cannot be pulled out. If this happens, pull the
seat belt straight out firmly to unlock the webbing, and then release it.
If the webbing is still locked in the retractor, see your dealer.
Before a door is closed, be sure the seat belt is out of the way. If a door is slammed against a seat belt, damage can occur to both the seat belt and the vehicle.
The vehicle has a shoulder belt height adjuster for the driver and front outboard passenger seating positions.
Adjust the height so the shoulder portion of the belt is on the shoulder and not falling off of it. The belt should be close to, but not contacting, the neck. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the seat belt in a crash. See How to Wear Seat Belts Properly 0 37.
Push up on the release button and move the height adjuster to the desired position.
After the adjuster is set to the desired position, try to move it down without pushing the release button to make sure it has locked into position.
This vehicle has seat belt pretensioners for the front outboard occupants. Although the seat belt pretensioners cannot be seen, they are part of the seat belt assembly. They can help tighten the seat belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal, near frontal, or rear crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. Seat belt pretensioners can also help tighten the seat belts in a side crash or a rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once. If the pretensioners activate in a crash, the pretensioners and probably other parts of the vehicle's seat belt
system will need to be replaced. See Replacing Seat Belt System Parts after a Crash 0 43.
Do not sit on the outboard seat belt while entering or exiting the vehicle or at any time while sitting in the seat. Sitting on the seat belt can damage the webbing and hardware.
Rear seat belt comfort guides may provide added seat belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the shoulder belt away from the neck and head.
Comfort guides are available through your dealer for the rear outboard seating positions.
Instructions are included with the guides.
Seat belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear seat belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a seat belt is worn properly, it is more likely
that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making seat belts effective is wearing them properly.
If the vehicle's seat belt will fasten around you, you should use it.
But if a seat belt is not long enough, your dealer will order you an extender. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child restraints. For more information on the proper use and fit of seat belt extenders see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender.
Periodically check the seat belt reminder, seat belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, shoulder belt
height adjusters (if equipped), and seat belt anchorages to make sure they are all in working order. Look for any other loose or damaged seat belt system parts that might keep a seat belt system from performing properly. See your dealer to have it repaired. Torn, frayed, or twisted seat belts may not protect you in a crash. Torn or frayed seat belts can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, have it replaced immediately. If a belt is twisted, it may be possible to untwist by reversing the latch plate on the webbing. If the twist cannot be corrected, ask your dealer to
fix it.
Make sure the seat belt reminder light is working. See Seat Belt Reminders 0 103.
Keep seat belts clean and dry. See
Seat Belt Care 0 42.
Keep belts clean and dry.
Seat belts should be properly cared for and maintained.
Seat belt hardware should be kept dry and free of dust or debris. As necessary, exterior hard surfaces and seat belt webbing may be lightly cleaned with mild soap and water.
Ensure there is not excessive dust or debris in the mechanism. If dust or debris exists in the system please see the dealer. Parts may need to be replaced to ensure proper functionality of the system.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the seat belt system was not being used at the time of the crash.
Have the seat belt pretensioners checked if the vehicle has been in a crash, or if the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the vehicle or while you are driving. See Airbag Readiness Light 0 104.
After a minor crash, replacement of seat belts may not be necessary. But the seat belt assemblies that were used during any crash may have been stressed or damaged. See your dealer to have the seat belt assemblies inspected or replaced.
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