DODGE NITRO 2011 1.G Owners Manual

You can choose from HIGH, LOW or OFF heat settings.
Amber indicator lights in each switch indicate the level of
heat in use. Two indicator lights will illuminate for
HIGH, one for LOW and none for OFF.Press the switch once to select HIGH-level
heating. Press the switch a second time to select
LOW-level heating. Press the switch a third
time to shut the heating elements OFF.
When the HIGH-level setting is selected, the heater will
provide a boosted heat level during the first four minutes
of operation. Then, the heat output will drop to the
normal HIGH-level. If the HIGH-level setting is selected,
the system will automatically switch to LOW-level after
approximately 30 minutes of continuous operation. At
that time, the number of illuminated LEDs changes from
two to one, indicating the change. The LOW-level setting
will turn OFF automatically after approximately 30 min-
utes. NOTE:
Once a heat setting is selected, heat will be felt
within two to five minutes.
WARNING!
•Persons who are unable to feel pain to the skin
because of advanced age, chronic illness, diabetes,
spinal cord injury, medication, alcohol use, ex-
haustion or other physical condition must exercise
care when using the seat heater. It may cause burns
even at low temperatures, especially if used for
long periods of time.
•Do not place anything on the seat that insulates
against heat, such as a blanket or cushion. This
may cause the seat heater to overheat. Sitting in a
seat that has been overheated could cause serious
burns due to the increased surface temperature of
the seat.
138 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Front Manual Seat Adjustment
For models equipped with manual seats, the driver and
passenger seats can be adjusted forward or rearward by
using a bar by the front of the seat cushion, near the floor.While sitting in the seat, lift up on the bar located and
move the seat forward or rearward. Release the bar once
you have reached the desired position. Then, using body
pressure, move forward and rearward on the seat to be
sure that the seat adjusters have latched.
WARNING!
•Adjusting a seat while driving may be dangerous.
Moving a seat while driving could result in loss of
control which could cause a collision and serious
injury or death.
•Seats should be adjusted before fastening the seat
belts and while the vehicle is parked. Serious
injury or death could result from a poorly adjusted
seat belt.
Manual Seat Adjustment
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 139

Front Seat — Manual Recline
To recline the seatback, lift the recline lever, located on
the outboard side of the seat, lean back and release the
lever when you reach the desired position.WARNING!
Do not ride with the seatback reclined so that the
shoulder belt is no longer resting against your chest.
In a collision you could slide under the seat belt,
which could result in serious injury or death.
Fold-Flat Front Passenger Seat
The front passenger seatback can be folded flat to allow
for extended cargo space. Pull up on the lever to fold
down the seatback.
Seatback Release Lever
140 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Head Restraints
Head restraints are designed to reduce the risk of injury
by restricting head movement in the event of a rear
impact. Head restraints should be adjusted so that the top
of the head restraint is located above the top of your ear.
WARNING!
The head restraints for all occupants must be prop-
erly adjusted prior to operating the vehicle or occu-
pying a seat. Head restraints should never be ad-
justed while the vehicle is in motion. Driving a
vehicle with the head restraints improperly adjusted
or removed could cause serious injury or death in the
event of a collision.
Active Head Restraints — Front Seats
Active Head Restraints are passive, deployable compo-
nents, and vehicles with this equipment cannot be readily
identified by any markings, only through visual inspec-
tion of the head restraint. The head restraint will be split
in two halves, with the front half being soft foam and
trim, the back half being decorative plastic.
Fold Flat Passenger Seat
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 141

When AHRs deploy during a rear impact, the front half
of the head restraint extends forward to minimize the gap
between the back of the occupant’s head and the AHR.
This system is designed to help prevent or reduce the
extent of injuries to the driver and front passenger in
certain types of rear impacts. Refer to “Occupant Re-
straints” in “Things To Know Before Starting Your Ve-
hicle” for further information.
To raise the head restraint, pull upward on the head
restraint. To lower the head restraint, press the push
button, located at the base of the head restraint, and push
downward on the head restraint.For comfort the Active Head Restraints can be tilted
forward and backward. To tilt the head restraint closer to
the back of your head, pull forward on the bottom of the
head restraint. Push rearward on the bottom of the head
restraint to move the head restraint away from your
head.
Push Button
142 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:
•The head restraints should only be removed by quali-
fied technicians, for service purposes only. If either of
the head restraints require removal, see your autho-
rized dealer.
Active Head Restraint (Normal Position)Active Head Restraint (Tilted)
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 143

•In the event of deployment of an Active Head Re-
straint, refer to “Occupant Restraints/Resetting Active
Head Restraints (AHR)” in “Things To Know Before
Starting Your Vehicle” for further information.
WARNING!
•Do not place items over the top of the Active Head
Restraint, such as coats, seat covers or portable
DVD players. These items may interfere with the
operation of the Active Head Restraint in the event
of a collision and could result in serious injury or
death.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Active Head Restraints may be deployed if they
are struck by an object such as a hand, foot or loose
cargo. To avoid accidental deployment of the Ac-
tive Head Restraint ensure that all cargo is se-
cured, as loose cargo could contact the Active Head
Restraint during sudden stops. Failure to follow
this warning could cause personal injury if the
Active Head Restraint is deployed.
Static Head Restraints — Rear Seats
The two outboard seats are equipped with adjustable
head restraints. To raise the head restraint, pull upward
on the head restraint. To lower the head restraint, press
the adjustment button, located on the base of the head
restraint, and push downward on the head restraint.
144 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:
•The head restraints should only be removed by quali-
fied technicians, for service purposes only. If either of
the head restraints require removal, see your autho-
rized dealer.
•Refer to “Occupant Restraints” in “Things To Know
Before Starting Your Vehicle” for information on tether
routing.
WARNING!
Driving a vehicle with the head restraints removed or
improperly adjusted could cause serious injury or
death in the event of a collision. The head restraints
should be checked prior to operating the vehicle and
never adjusted while the vehicle is in motion.
Adjustment Button
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 145

60/40 Split Folding Rear Seat with Fold-Flat
Feature
To provide additional storage area, each rear seat can be
folded flat to allow for extended cargo space and still
maintain some rear seating room.
WARNING!
Do not ride with the seatback reclined so that the
shoulder belt is no longer resting against your chest.
In a collision you could slide under the seat belt,
which could result in serious injury or death.
NOTE:
•Prior to folding the rear seat, it may be necessary to
reposition the front seat to its mid-track position.
•Be sure that the front seats are fully upright and
positioned forward. This will allow the rear seat to
fold down easily.
Rear Seat Release Strap
146 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.
•Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.
•Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
To Lower Rear Seat
1. Locate the release strap on the lower outboard side of
each rear seatback.
2. Pull the release strap (toward the front of the vehicle).3. Fold the rear seat completely forward.
4. Push down on the seatback to lock it in the folded
position.
Rear Seat Release Strap
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UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 147