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Seats and Safety System
Main components of the Occupant
Classification System
ś A detection device located within the
front passenger seat cushion.
ś Electronic system to help determine
whether the passenger air bag
systems should be activated or
deactivated.
ś An indicator light located on the
instrument panel which illuminates
the words “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF”
indicating the front passenger air bag
system is deactivated.
ś The instrument panel air bag indicator
light is interconnected with the OCS.
The OCS is designed to help detect
the presence of a properly-seated
front passenger and determine if the
passenger’s front air bag should be
enabled (may inflate) or not.
The purpose is to help reduce the risk
of injury or death from an inflating air
bag to certain front passenger seat
occupants, such as children, by requiring
the air bag to be automatically turned
OFF.
For example, if a child restraint of the
type specified in the regulations is on the
seat, the occupant classification sensor
can detect it and cause the air bag to
turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants
who are properly seated and wearing the
seat belt properly, should not cause the
passenger air bag to be automatically
turned OFF. For smaller adults it may turn
OFF, however, if the occupant does not
sit in the seat properly (for example, by
not sitting upright, by sitting on the edge
of the seat, or by otherwise being out of
position), this could cause the sensor to
turn the air bag OFF.
You will find the “PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF” indicator on the overhead console
panel. This system detects the conditions
1-4 in the following table and activates or
deactivates the front passenger air bag
based on these conditions.
Always be sure that you and all vehicle
occupants are seated properly and
wearing the seat belt properly for the
most effective protection by the air bag
and the seat belt.
The OCS may not function properly if the
passenger takes actions which can affect
the classification system. These include:
ś Failing to sit in an upright position.
ś Leaning against the door or center
console.
ś Sitting towards the sides of the front
of the seat.
ś Putting their legs on the dashboard or
resting them on other locations which
reduce the passenger weight on the
front seat.
ś Wearing the seat belt improperly.
ś Reclining the seatback.
ś Wearing thick clothes like ski wear or
hip protection wear.
ś Putting an additional thick cushion on
the seat.
ś Putting electrical devices (for
example, notebook, satellite radio) on
the seat with inverter charging.
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