belt INFINITI QX50 2016 Consumer Safety And Air Bag Information Guide

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 0
































INFINITI CONSUMER
SAFETY & AIR BAG
INFORMATION GUIDE
2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Air Bag Protection ……......…......................………….…………………1
Child Safety ……………...…….………….………...………………….….12
Seat Belt Safety …………………………………….……..……………...14
INFINITI Owner
Satisfaction and Assistance ………….……….……...…..………..16
 

The 2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide provides
information for 2016 INFINITI vehicles available at the time of publication.
This publication will be amended as new vehicles are introduced.
Refer to your vehicles owner’s manual to familiarize yourself with all
disclosures, warnings, cautions, and all air bag protection and seat belt
safety instructions.

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 1



WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT AIR BAGS
Air bags are a supplemental restraint system designed to enhance the protection provided by the
seat belt system during certain types of collisions. Supplemental driver and front passenger air
bags, side-impact air bags, and curtain side-impact air bags are standard on all 2016 INFINITI
vehicles. On some INFINITI vehicles, the curtain side-impact air bags are also equipped with a
rollover sensing function. See your vehicle owner’s manual for information about your air bag
systems.

Please remember always to wear your seat belt, and never use a rear-facing child restraint in the
front passenger seat. See page 12 of this guide for important information about child restraint
use.

FASTER THAN THE EYE CAN BLINK
In a collision, a lot can happen in just one second. It takes a short time for the system to decide
to deploy. At 0.01 seconds, a front air bag begins to inflate. At 0.04 seconds, it is fully inflated.
By 0.1 seconds, it has done its job and is deflating. Considering the speed of these events, it is
not surprising that many people involved in a frontal collision do not initially realize that their air
bags inflated.


0.01 SECONDS INFLATING BEGINS 0.04 SECONDS AIR BAG IS INFLATED 0.1 SECONDS DEFLATING BEGINS

AIR BAG PROTECTION

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 2
THE INFINITI ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM
All 2016 INFINITI vehicles are equipped with the INFINITI Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) for the
driver and front passenger seats.
Typically, this system incorporates dual-stage inflators*, and
monitors information from various crash sensors, the front seat belt buckle sensors, and the
occupant classification sensor.

The front passenger air bag may be automatically turned OFF under some conditions, depending
on the weight detected by the occupant classification sensors in the passenger seat. See the
vehicle owner’s manual for more information. If the front passenger air bag is OFF, the front
passenger air bag status light will be illuminated.**

The front passenger air bag status light does not indicate a malfunction of the front passenger air
bag. If the front passenger air bag status light is illuminated while an adult occupies the seat,
the occupant may need to shift his or her seating position so the system can turn ON the front
passenger air bag and turn OFF the status light. See your owner’s manual for proper seating
positions.

Remember, all air bags are supplemental restraint systems. You must properly use seat belts
and child restraints, as explained in the vehicle owner’s manual and your child restraint
manufacturer’s instructions.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF AN AIR BAG: YOUR SEAT BELT
Your chances of surviving a collision will improve greatly if one simple piece of advice is
followed: always wear your seat belt. Do not count on just the air bags for occupant protection;
they are merely a
supplemental restraint system.

Seat belts help to protect the occupants of your vehicle during collisions in which the air bags
are not designed to activate. In addition, in situations where the air bags are activated, seat
belts enhance their effectiveness and can help reduce the risk of injury from an inflating air bag.
Seat belts will also help protect the occupants of your vehicle during multiple-impact collisions,
while the air bags work only one time if a collision is severe enough to activate them. Please see
the SEAT BELT SAFETY and CHILD SAFETY sections of this guide and the vehicle owner’s manual
for more information.


*Dual-stage inflators vary the inflation rate based on the severity of the collision (for example, less forceful

inflation for moderate impacts and a higher inflation force for more severe impacts). In addition, based on

information from the seat belt buckle sensors that detect whether the seat belts are fastened, the

deployment of the front air bags is adjusted. Only one front air bag may inflate in a crash, depending on

the severity of the crash and whether the front occupants are belted or unbelted.

**
When the system detects that the seat is unoccupied, the passenger air bag status light will not

illuminate even though the front passenger air bag is OFF.

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 3


EFFECTIVE USE OF SEAT BELTS AND AIR BAGS



Seat belts and supplemental air bags are most effective when vehicle occupants are sitting
upright and well back in the seat with both feet on the floor. Keep in mind that air bags inflate
with great force. Being unrestrained, leaning forward, sitting sideways, or being out of position in
any way puts you at a greater risk of injury or death in a crash. You may also receive serious or
fatal injuries from the air bag system if you are up against it when it inflates. Always sit back
against the seatback with both feet on the floor and as far away as practical from the steering
wheel or instrument panel and always wear your seat belt. Please see the SEAT BELT SAFETY
section of this guide and the vehicle owner’s manual for more information.

HOW THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WORKS

The front passenger seat is equipped with an Occupant Classification Sensor that turns the front
passenger air bag OFF under some conditions. The occupant classification sensor detects an
occupant and objects on the seat by weight. For example, if a child is in the front passenger
seat, the Advanced Air Bag System is designed to turn the passenger air bag OFF in accordance
with U.S. regulations. In addition, if a child restraint of the type specified in the regulations is on

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 4
the seat, the occupant classification sensors can detect it and cause the air bag to turn OFF. This
sensor is only used in the front passenger seat. Failure to be properly seated and wearing the
seat belt can increase the risk or severity of injury in an accident.

Front passenger seat adult occupants who are properly seated and using the seat belt as
outlined in the vehicle’s owner manual should not cause the passenger air bag to be
automatically turned OFF. However if the occupant takes his/her weight off the seat cushion (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. 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
the rear seat.
If the front passenger seat is not occupied, the 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 the
occupant classification sensor detects the weight. 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 seat, contrary to
the instructions in the vehicle’s owner’s manual.
If an adult occupant is in the seat but the passenger air bag status light is illuminated (indicating
that the air bag is OFF), it could be that the person is a small adult, or not sitting on the seat
properly or not using the seat belt properly.

If a child restraint must be used in the front seat, the passenger air bag status light may or may
not be illuminated, depending on the size of the child and the type of child restraint being used.
If the air bag status light is not illuminated (indicating that the air bag might inflate in a crash), it
could be that the child restraint or the seat belt is not being used properly. Make sure that the
child restraint is installed properly, the seat belt is being used properly and the occupant is
positioned properly. If the air bag status light is not illuminated, reposition the occupant or child
restraint in the rear seat.
If the front passenger air bag status light will not illuminate even though you believe that the
child restraint, the seat belts and the occupant are properly positioned, the system may be
sensing an unoccupied seat (in which case the air bag is OFF). Your INFINITI retailer can check
that the system is OFF by using a special tool. However, until you have confirmed with your
retailer that your air bag is working properly, reposition the occupant or child restraint in a rear
seat.

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 6
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expressed concern regarding
reports of counterfeit replacement air bags installed in vehicles. Visit www.nhtsa.gov for more
information. INFINITI recommends the replacement of air bags by your INFINITI retailer to ensure
that you receive new original equipment replacement parts. Counterfeit replacement air bags
may not be made to the standards of quality, reliability and durability of Genuine INFINITI
parts. The use of counterfeit replacement air bags or used or salvaged air bags is a potential
serious safety problem and may not provide the same level of protection in a crash.

OTHER SPECIFICS ABOUT AIR BAGS

Do not position the front passenger seat so it contacts the rear seat. If the front passenger
seat does contact the rear seat, the air bag system may determine a sensor malfunction has
occurred and the front passenger air bag status light may illuminate and the supplemental air
bag warning light may flash.
 If the supplemental air bag warning light in the instrument panel continues to remain ON or
flashes after you start the vehicle, see your INFINITI retailer as soon as possible.
 After inflation, air bag components are hot, so avoid contact.
 Do not place objects on or near the steering wheel or instrument panel where the air bags
inflate.
 Never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.
 Do not place objects with sharp edges on the seat. Also, do not place heavy objects on the
seat that will leave permanent impressions in the seat. Such objects can damage the seat or
the occupant classification sensor. This can affect the operation of the air bag system and
result in serious personal injury.
 Do not use water or acidic cleaners (hot steam cleaners) on the seat. This can damage the
seat or occupant classification sensors. This can also affect the operation of the air bag
system and result in serious personal injury.
 Modifying or tampering with the front passenger seat may result in serious personal injury.
For example, do not change the front seats by placing material on the seat cushion or by
installing additional trim material, such as seat covers, on the seat that are not specifically
designed to assure proper air bag operation. Additionally, do not stow any objects under the
front passenger seat, or on the seat cushion, or store luggage behind the seat that may
contact the seatback, or hang heavy objects from the seatback, or the seatback pocket. Such
objects may interfere with the proper operation of the occupant classification sensor.
 See the vehicle owner’s manual for other important information on safety, seats, seat belts,
and the supplemental restraint system. WELL BACK AND UPRIGHT

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 10
SIDE-IMPACT, CURTAIN SIDE-IMPACT, AND CURTAIN SIDE-IMPACT/ROLLOVER AIR BAG
SYSTEMS
Supplemental side-impact air bags, curtain side-impact air bags, and curtain side-
impact/rollover air bags are available on many 2016 INFINITI vehicles. Side-impact air bags are
located on the outboard side of the front seat backs. Curtain side-impact air bags and curtain
side-impact/rollover air bags (if so equipped) are located in the left and right side roof rails or in
the upper part of the front door panels.

Side-impact air bags and curtain side-impact air bags are designed to inflate in higher-severity
side collisions, on the side where the vehicle is impacted. However, they may inflate if the forces
in another type of collision are similar to those of a higher-severity side-impact. Curtain side-
impact/rollover air bags are designed to inflate in certain types of side-impact collisions and
rollovers.

Curtain side-impact air bags and curtain side-impact/rollover air bags are different mainly in
their sensing systems: curtain side-impact air bags are activated primarily in a lateral collision,
whereas curtain side-impact/rollover air bags are activated in either a lateral collision or a
rollover. Since a rollover event lasts longer than a side-impact event, curtain side-impact/rollover
air bags are designed to remain inflated longer than curtain side-impact air bags.

Side-impact air bags and curtain side-impact air bags, along with proper use of seat belts, help
to cushion the impact force to the head and chest of the front occupants. In most INFINITI
vehicles, curtain side-impact air bags also help to cushion the impact force to the head of rear
outboard-seated occupants. These air bags can help save lives and reduce serious injury.
However, an inflating side-impact air bag, curtain side-impact air bag, or curtain side-
impact/rollover air bag may cause abrasions or other injuries. Refer to your owner’s manual for
information on how your vehicle is equipped.

Seat belts should be worn correctly and vehicle occupants seated upright. These air bags inflate
quickly in order to help protect the occupants. The force of an air bag inflating can increase the
risk of injury if the occupant is too close to or is against the air bag module during inflation.

Like front air bags, an inflated side-impact air bag as well as an inflated curtain side-impact air
bag will deflate soon after the collision is over. As noted above, an inflated curtain side-
impact/rollover air bag will remain inflated for a short time afterward. See REPLACING THE AIR
BAGS earlier in this guide.

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 12
OTHER SPECIFICS ABOUT SIDE-IMPACT, CURTAIN SIDE-IMPACT, AND CURTAIN
SIDE-IMPACT/ROLLOVER AIR BAG SYSTEMS

Do not allow anyone sitting in the front seat to extend his or her hand out the window or lean
against the door.
 When sitting in the rear, do not hold onto the seatbacks of the front seats, hang anything
from the head restraint or push or pull on the seatback pocket as this may interfere with the
proper operation of the air bag systems. Be especially careful with children, who should
always be properly seated and restrained in the rear seat.
 Do not allow anyone to place their hand, leg or face near the side-impact air bag modules on
the seatbacks of the front seats or near the curtain side-impact air bag modules in the roof
rails or in the front door panels.
 Curtain side-impact/rollover air bags are designed to inflate not only in rollovers, but also in
certain near rollover situations. As a result, certain vehicle movements (for example, during
severe off-road driving) may cause these air bags to inflate.
 See the vehicle owner's manual for other important safety information about side-impact,
curtain side-impact, and curtain side-impact/rollover air bag systems and how your vehicle is
equipped.






WHENEVER A CHILD IS IN YOUR VEHICLE
The risk of serious or fatal injury to children in automobile collisions can be reduced with a
properly installed child restraint. Before you install a child restraint in your vehicle, please
consult the vehicle owner’s manual and the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions for proper
installation.
Child restraints for infants must be used in a rear-
facing direction and therefore must never be used in
the front seat. An inflating front passenger air bag
could seriously injure or kill your child. According to
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained
in the rear seat than in the front seat. INFINITI and the
federal government recommend that children 12 and
under should ride in the rear seat, properly secured in
child restraints, booster seats, or seat belts, according
to their size.
CHILD SAFETY

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 13

If you must install a forward-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat, move the
passenger seat to the rearmost position. See the vehicle owner’s manual for details and
additional important information.

CHILD RESTRAINTS FOR INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN
Infants and small children should always be placed in an appropriate child restraint while riding
in the vehicle. Failure to use a child restraint can result in serious injury or death.

Children and infants should never be carried on your
lap. It is not possible for even the strongest adult to
resist the forces of a severe collision. The child could
be crushed between the adult and parts of the
vehicle. Also, do not put the same seat belt around
both your child and yourself, or another child.

Always install the child restraint properly, and check
that it is securely held in place by the vehicle’s seat
belt or LATCH system (if so equipped). An improperly
installed child restraint could lead to serious injury
or death in a collision. See the vehicle owner’s manual and your child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions for complete details.

Child restraints specially designed for infants and small children are offered by several
manufacturers. When selecting any child restraint, keep the following points in mind:

1. The LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) is a universal child restraint
system. This system – which may also be referred to as the ISOFIX or ISOFIX compatible
system – allows the child restraint to be installed into the vehicle without the use of seat
belts. Both the vehicle and child restraint must have LATCH system capabilities.

2. Choose only a restraint with a label certifying that it complies with Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213.

3. Always make sure the child restraint is appropriate for the age and size of your infant or
small child. Remember that as your child grows you will need to replace the child restraint.

2016 INFINITI Consumer Safety & Air Bag Information Guide 14
4. Check the child restraint in your vehicle to be sure it is compatible with the vehicle’s seat
and seat belt system.
5. If the child restraint is compatible with your vehicle, place your child in the child restraint
and check, the various adjustments to be sure the child restraint is compatible with your
child. Always follow all recommended procedures.

All U.S. states require that infants and small children be restrained in a certified child restraint at
all times while the vehicle is being operated.

THE LATCH SYSTEM (LOWER ANCHORS AND TETHERS FOR CHILDREN)
Most 2016 INFINITI vehicles are equipped with universal child restraint lower anchors and top
tether anchors for the installation of child restraints equipped with LATCH attachments. With this
system, you do not have to use a vehicle seat belt to secure the child restraint. Instead, special
anchor points are utilized to install the child restraint, provided it is compatible with the LATCH
system. See the vehicle owner’s manual for details and additional important information.

SNUG KIDS™
The first of its kind, Snug Kids is our online guide to
selecting a child restraint seat for your INFINITI vehicle.
Our Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians have
evaluated numerous child restraint seats and have compiled their findings to create the Snug
Kids
TM Child Safety Seat Fit Guides. These guides also include important tips on correct
installation procedures. Visit www.INFINITIUSA.com/snugkids to view or download
the latest guide information for finding a child restraint system that is right for your INFINITI
vehicle.






If you are wearing a properly adjusted seat belt, your chances of being injured or killed in a
collision and/or the severity of injury may be greatly reduced. INFINITI strongly encourages you
and all of your passengers to buckle up every time you drive, even if your seating position
includes a supplemental air bag system. Most States require that seat belts be worn at all times,
when a vehicle is being driven.
SEAT BELT SAFETY