Acura MDX (2018 year). Manual — part 3

36

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

Safe Driving

Fastening a Seat Belt

After adjusting a front seat to the proper position, and while sitting upright and well
back in the seat:

2 Adjusting the Seats P. 192

1. Pull the seat belt out slowly.

2. Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then

tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is
secure.

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Make sure that the belt is not twisted or
caught on anything.

1

Fastening a Seat Belt

No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat
belt or one that does not appear to be working
correctly. Using a seat belt that is not working
properly may not protect the occupant in a crash.
Have a dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

Never insert any foreign objects into the buckle or
retractor mechanism.

Pull out slowly.

Correct
Seated
Posture.

Latch
Plate

Buckle

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

Safe Driving

3. 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.

4. If necessary, pull up on the belt again to

remove any slack, 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.

The front seats have adjustable shoulder anchors to accommodate taller and shorter
occupants.

1. Move the anchor up and down while

holding the release button.

2. Position the anchor so that the belt rests

across the center of your chest and over
your shoulder.

1

Fastening a Seat Belt

To release the belt, push the red PRESS button and
then guide the belt by hand until it has retracted
completely.
When exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is properly
stowed so that it will not get caught in the closing
door.

3

WARNING

Improperly positioning the seat belts can
cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly
positioned before driving.

Lap belt
as low as
possible

■

Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor

1

Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor

The shoulder anchor height can be adjusted to four
levels. If the belt contacts your neck, lower the height
one level at a time.

After an adjustment, make sure that the shoulder
anchor position is secure.

Push

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

38

Safe Driving

1. Pull out the seat belt’s small latch plate and

the latch plate from each holding slot in the
ceiling.

2. Line up the triangle marks on the small

latch plate and anchor buckle. Make sure
the seat belt is not twisted. Attach the belt
to the anchor buckle.

3. Insert the latch plate into the buckle.

Properly fasten the seat belt the same way
you fasten the lap/shoulder seat belt.

■

Seat Belt with Detachable Anchor

Models with second row bench seat

1

Seat Belt with Detachable Anchor

To unlatch the detachable anchor, insert the latch
plate into the slot on the side of the anchor buckle.

3

WARNING

Using the seat belt with the detachable
anchor unlatched increases the chance of
serious injury or death in a crash.

Before using the seat belt, make sure the
detachable anchor is correctly latched.

Small Latch Plate

Latch Plate

Small Latch Plate

Latch Plate

Small Latch Plate

Anchor Buckle

Latch
Plate

Buckle

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

Safe Driving

If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when
driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt and keep the lap part of the
belt as low as possible across the hips.

■

Advice for Pregnant Women

1

Advice for Pregnant Women

Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it is
okay for you to drive.

To reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your
unborn child that can be caused by an inflating front
airbag:

•

When driving, sit upright and adjust the seat as far
back as possible while allowing full control of the
vehicle.

•

When sitting in the front passenger’s seat, adjust
the seat as far back as possible.

Wear the shoulder belt
across the chest avoiding
the abdomen.

Wear the lap part of the
belt as low as possible
across the hips.

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Seat Belts

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Seat Belt Inspection

Safe Driving

Seat Belt Inspection

Regularly check the condition of your seat belts as follows:

• Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear.
• Check that the latch plates and buckles work smoothly and the belts retract

easily.

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If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem. Only
use a mild soap and warm water. Do not use bleach or cleaning solvents. Make
sure the belt is completely dry before allowing it to retract.

Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide proper
protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of
protection in a subsequent crash. Have your seat belts inspected by a dealer after
any collision.

1

Seat Belt Inspection

3

WARNING

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can
result in serious injury or death if the seat
belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have
any problem corrected as soon as possible.

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Continued

Safe Driving

Airbags

Airbag System Components

13

6

7

8

10

11

9

9

9

9

6

12

9

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Airbags

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Airbag System Components

Safe Driving

The front, driver’s knee, front side, and side
curtain airbags are deployed according to
the direction and severity of impact. Both
side curtain airbags are deployed in a
rollover. The airbag system includes:

a

Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored
in the center of the steering wheel; the
front passenger’s airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked SRS
AIRBAG.

b

Driver’s knee airbag. The knee airbag is
stored under the steering column. It is
marked SRS AIRBAG.

c

Two side airbags, one for the driver and
one for a front passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.

d

Two side curtain airbags, one for each
side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored
in the ceiling, above the side windows.
The front and rear pillars are marked
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.

e

An electronic control unit that, when the
vehicle is on, continually monitors
information about the various impact
sensors, seat and buckle sensors, rollover
sensor, airbag activators, seat belt
tensioners, and other vehicle
information. During a crash event the
unit can record such information.

f

Automatic front seat belt tensioners. In
addition, the driver’s and front
passenger’s seat belt buckles incorporate
sensors that detect whether or not the
belts are fastened.

g

A driver’s seat position sensor. This
sensor determines the optimal force at
which the airbag will deploy in a crash.

h

Weight sensors in the front passenger’s
seat. The front passenger’s airbag will be
turned off if the weight on the seat is
approximately 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the
weight of an infant or small child).

i

Impact sensors that can detect a
moderate-to-severe front or side impact.

j

An indicator on the dashboard that alerts
you that the front passenger’s front
airbag has been turned off.

k

An indicator on the instrument panel that
alerts you to a possible problem with your
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.

l

Safing Sensor

m

A rollover sensor that can detect if your
vehicle is about to roll over and signal the
control unit to deploy both side curtain
airbags.

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Airbags

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Airbag System Components

Safe Driving

Airbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with
tremendous force. So, while airbags help save lives, they can cause burns, bruises,
and other minor injuries, sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not wearing
their seat belts properly and sitting correctly.

What you should do: Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as
far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the
vehicle. A front passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as
possible.

Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that
can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags
deploy.

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front 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 front airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on the front and driver’s knee airbag covers.
Objects on the covers marked SRS AIRBAG could interfere with the proper
operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the
airbags inflate.

■

Important Facts About Your Airbags

1

Important Facts About Your Airbags

Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags. Together,
airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.

When driving, keep hands and arms out of the
deployment path of the front airbag by holding each
side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an arm over
the airbag cover.

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Airbags

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Types of Airbags

Safe Driving

Types of Airbags

Your vehicle is equipped with four types of airbags:
• Front airbags: Airbags in front of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats.
• Driver’s knee airbag: Airbag under the steering column.
• Side airbags: Airbags in the driver’s and front passenger’s seat-backs.
• Side curtain airbags: Airbags above the side windows.
Each is discussed in the following pages.

Front Airbags (SRS)

The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help protect
the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger.

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary
restraint system.

The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and
in the dashboard for the front passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.

■

Housing Locations

1

Types of Airbags

The airbags can inflate whenever the power mode is
in ON.

After an airbag inflates in a crash, you may see a
small amount of smoke. This is from the combustion
process of the inflator material and is not harmful.
People with respiratory problems may experience
some temporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

1

Front Airbags (SRS)

During a frontal crash severe enough to cause one or
both front airbags to deploy, the airbags can inflate
at different rates, depending on the severity of the
crash, whether or not the seat belts are latched, and/
or other factors. Frontal airbags are designed to
supplement the seat belts to help reduce the
likelihood of head and chest injuries in frontal
crashes.

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Airbags

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Front Airbags (SRS)

Safe Driving

Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions.
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the control
unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.

A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when a
vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.

While your seat belt restrains your torso, the
front airbag provides supplemental protection
for your head and chest.

The front airbags deflate immediately so that
they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility
or the ability to steer or operate other
controls.

The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.

■

Operation

■

How the Front Airbags Work

1

How the Front Airbags Work

Although the driver’s and front passenger’s airbags
normally inflate within a split second of each other, it
is possible for only one airbag to deploy. This can
happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin,
or threshold that determines whether or not the
airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will
provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental
protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

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Airbags

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Front Airbags (SRS)

Safe Driving

■

When front airbags should not deploy

Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts and
help save lives, not to prevent minor scrapes, or even broken bones that might occur
during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.
Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration
causes a driver or front passenger to move towards the front of the vehicle. Side
airbags and side curtain airbags have been specifically designed to help reduce the
severity of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which
can cause the driver or passenger to move towards the side of the vehicle.
Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a rear
impact. Front airbags cannot provide any significant protection and are not designed
to deploy in such collisions.
Rollovers: In a rollover, your best form of protection is a seat belt or, if your vehicle
is equipped with a rollover sensor, both a seat belt and a side curtain airbag. Front
airbags, however, are not designed to deploy in a rollover as they would provide
little if any protection.

■

When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object
that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

■

When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage
appears severe

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they
had deployed.

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Airbags

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Front Airbags (SRS)

Safe Driving

The airbags have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of airbag related
injuries to smaller occupants.

The driver’s advanced airbag system includes a
seat position sensor.

Based on information from this sensor and the
severity of the impact, the advanced airbag
system determines the optimal deployment of
the driver’s airbag.

The front passenger’s advanced airbag system
has weight sensors.

We advise against allowing a child age 12 or
under to ride in the front passenger’s seat.
However, if you do allow a child age 12 or
under to ride in the front passenger’s
seat, note that the system will automatically
turn off the front passenger’s airbag if the
sensors detect that the child is approximately
65 lbs (29 kg) or less.

■

Advanced Airbags

1

Advanced Airbags

If there is a problem with the driver’s seat position
sensor, the SRS indicator will come on, and in the
event of a crash, the airbag will deploy (regardless of
the driver’s seating position) with a force
corresponding to the severity of the impact.

For the advanced airbags to work properly:

•

Do not spill any liquid on or under the seats.

•

Do not put any object under the passenger’s seat.

•

Make sure any objects are positioned properly on
the floor. Improperly positioned objects can
interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.

•

All occupants should sit upright and wear their seat
belts properly.

•

Do not cover the passenger’s side dashboard with
a cloth, towel, cover, etc.

2 Passenger Front Airbag Off Indicator

P. 54

Make sure the floor mat behind the front passenger’s
seat is hooked to the floor mat anchor. An improperly
placed mat can interfere with the advanced airbag
sensors.

2 Floor Mats P. 619

Driver’s
Seat
Position
Sensor

Passenger’s
Seat
Weight
Sensors

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Airbags

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Driver’s Knee Airbag

Safe Driving

Driver’s Knee Airbag

The driver’s knee SRS airbag inflates in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help
keep the driver in the proper position and to help maximize the benefit provided by
the vehicle’s other safety features.

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbag is designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary
restraint system.

The driver’s knee airbag is housed under the
steering column.

The airbag is marked SRS AIRBAG.

When the driver’s front airbag inflates, the
driver’s knee airbag also inflates.

■

Housing Locations

1

Driver’s Knee Airbag

Do not attach accessories on or near the driver’s knee
airbag. They can interfere with the proper operation
of the airbag, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.

The driver should not store any items under the seat
or behind their feet. The items can interfere with
proper airbag deployment in the event of a moderate
to sever frontal collision and may result in inadequate
protection.

Housing
Location

■

Operation

When
inflated

Knee
Airbag

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Airbags

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Driver’s Knee Airbag

Safe Driving

■

When driver’s knee airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object
that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

■

When driver’s knee airbag may not deploy, even though exterior damage
appears severe

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they
had deployed.

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Airbags

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Side Airbags

Safe Driving

Side Airbags

The side airbags help protect the torso and pelvis of the driver or a front passenger
during a moderate-to-severe side impact.

The side airbags are housed in the outside
edge of the driver’s and passenger’s seat-
backs.

Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.

When the sensors detect a moderate-to-
severe side impact, the control unit signals the
side airbag on the impact side to immediately
inflate.

■

Housing Locations

1

Side Airbags

Make sure you and your front seat passenger always
sit upright. Leaning into the path of a side airbag can
prevent the airbag from deploying properly and
increases your risk of serious injury.

Do not attach accessories on or near the side airbags.
They can interfere with the proper operation of the
airbags, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.

Do not cover or replace the front seat-back covers
without consulting a dealer.
Improperly replacing or covering front seat-back
covers can prevent your side airbags from properly
deploying during a side impact.

Housing
Location

■

Operation

When
inflated

Side
Airbag

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Airbags

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Side Airbags

Safe Driving

■

When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side
of the vehicle’s framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there
may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough
impact to deploy the airbag.

■

When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage appears
severe

It is possible for a side airbag to not deploy during an impact that results in
apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was toward the
far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle’s crushable body parts absorbed
most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have been
needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.

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