Front passenger air bag
The front passenger air bag is designed to
automatically turn OFF when the vehicle is
operated under some conditions as de-
scribed below in accordance with U.S.regu-
lations. If the front passenger air bag is OFF
it will not inflate in a crash. The driver air bag
and other air bags in your vehicle are not
part of this system.
The purpose of the regulation 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 requir-
ing the air bag to be automatically turned
OFF. Certain sensors are used to meet the
requirements.
One sensor used is the occupant classifi-
cation sensor (pressure sensor). It is in the
bottom of the front passenger seat cush-
ion and is designed to detect an occupant
and objects on the seat by weight. It works
together with seat belt sensors described
in this section. For example, if a child is in
the front passenger seat, the NISSAN Ad-
vanced Air Bag System is designed to turn
the front passenger air bag OFF in accor-
dance with the regulations. Also, if a child
restraint of the type specified in the regula-
tions is on the seat, its weight and the
child’s weight can be detected and cause
the air bag to turn OFF. Occupant classifi-
cation sensor operation can vary depend-
ing on the front passenger seat belt sen-
sors.
The front passenger seat belt sensors are
designed to detect if the seat belt is buck-
led and the amount of tension on the seat
belt, such as when it is in the Automatic
Locking Retractor (ALR) mode (child re-
straint mode). Based on the weight on the
seat detected by the occupant classifica-
tion sensor and the belt tension detected
on the seat belt, the NISSAN Advanced Air
Bag System determines whether the front
passenger air bag should be automatically
turned OFF as required by the regulations.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who
are properly seated and using the seat belt
as outlined in this manual should not
cause the front passenger air bag to be
automatically turned OFF. For small adults
it may be turned OFF, however, if the occu-
pant does not sit in the seat properly (for
example, by not sitting upright, by sitting on
an edge of the seat, or by otherwise being
out of position), this could cause the sensor
to turn the air bag OFF. In addition, if the
occupant improperly uses the seat belt in
the ALR mode, this could cause the air bag
to be turned OFF. Always be sure to be
seated and wearing the seat belt properly
for the most effective protection by the
seat belt and supplemental air bag.
NISSAN recommends that pre-teens and
children be properly restrained in a rear
seat. NISSAN also recommends that ap-
propriate child restraints and booster
seats be properly installed in a rear seat. If
this is not possible, the occupant classifica-
tion sensor and seat belt sensors are de-
signed to operate as described above to
turn the front passenger air bag OFF for
specified child restraints as required by the
regulations. Failing to properly secure child
restraints and to use the ALR mode may
allow the restraint to tip or move in a colli-
sion or sudden stop. This can also result in
the passenger air bag inflating in a crash
instead of being OFF. For additional infor-
mation, refer to “Child restraints” in this sec-
tion.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied,
the front passenger air bag is designed not
to inflate in a crash. However, heavy objects
placed on the seat could result in air bag
inflation, because of the object’s weight de-
tected by the occupant classification sen-
sor. Other conditions could also result in air
bag inflation, such as if a child is standing
on the seat, or if two children are on the
Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system 1-83