Supplemental Restraint System (air bags)

WARNING: This section of the owner’s manual describes the protection provided by your SUZUKI’s SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (air bags). Please read and follow ALL these instructions carefully to minimize your risk of severe injury or death in the event of a collision.

Your vehicle has advanced front air bags and side air bags for the driver and right front passenger. Your vehicle also has side curtain air bags.

1. Driver’s front air bag 2. Front passenger’s front air bag 3. Seat belt pretensioners 4. Air bag controller 5. Occupant classification module 6. “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator 7. Forward crash sensor 8. Side air bags 9. Side curtain air bags 10. Side crash sensor

11. Front passenger’s sensor mat

Your vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System consisting of the following components in addition to a lapshoulder belt at each front seating position.

If the “AIR BAG” light on the instrument cluster does not blink when the ignition switch is first turned to the “ON” position, or the “AIR BAG” light stays on, or comes on while driving, the air bag system (or the seat belt pretensioner system) may not work properly. Have the air bag system inspected by an authorized SUZUKI dealer as soon as possible.

Front Air Bags

The driver’s front air bag is located behind the center pad of the steering wheel. The words “SRS AIRBAG” are molded into the air bag cover to identify the location of the air bag. The front passenger’s front air bag is located behind the passenger’s side of the dashboard. The words “SRS AIRBAG” are molded into the air bag cover to identify the location of the air bag.

Frontal collision range

Front air bags are designed to inflate only in severe frontal collisions.

Front air bags will not inflate

Front air bags will probably not inflate

They are not designed to inflate in rear impacts, side impacts, rollovers or minor frontal collisions, since they would offer no protection in those types of accidents. Remember, since air bags deploy only one time during an accident, seat belts are needed to restrain occupants from further movements during the accident. Therefore, an air bag is NOT a substitute for seat belts. To maximize your protection, ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS. Be aware that no system can prevent all possible injuries that may occur in an accident.

WARNING: An air bag supplements, or adds to, the crash protection offered by seat belts. The driver and all passengers must be properly restrained by wearing seat belts at all times, whether or not air bags are mounted at their seating position, to minimize the risk of severe injury or death in the event of a crash.

Your vehicle has “dual stage” front air bags, which adjust the air bag inflation force according to crash severity. Also, your vehicle has a front passenger sensing system, which turns off the front passenger’s air bag and seat belt pretensioner under certain conditions.

Side Air Bags and Side Curtain Air Bags

Side air bags are located in the part of the front seatbacks closest to the doors. The words “SRS AIRBAG” are molded into the side air bag cover to identify the location of the side air bags.

Side curtain air bags are located in the roof lining. The words “SRS AIRBAG” are molded into the pillar to identify the location of the side curtain air bags.

Side collision range

Side air bags and side curtain air bags will not inflate

Side air bags and side curtain air bags will probably not inflate

Side air bags and side curtain air bags are designed to inflate only in severe side impact collisions. They are not designed to inflate in frontal or rear collisions, rollovers or minor side collisions, since they would offer no protection in those types of accidents. Only the side air bag and side curtain air bag on the side of the vehicle that is struck will inflate. Remember, since an air bag deploys only one time during an accident, seat belts are needed to restrain occupants from further movements during the accident. Therefore, an air bag is NOT a substitute for seat belts. To maximize your protection, ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS. Be aware that no system can prevent all possible injuries that may occur in an accident.

WARNING: An air bag supplements, or adds to, the crash protection offered by seat belts. The driver and all passengers must be properly restrained by wearing seat belts at all times, whether or not air bags are mounted at their seating position, to minimize the risk of severe injury or death in the event of a crash.

WARNING: If the “AIR BAG” light in the instrument cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that something may be wrong with the air bag system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced immediately, because the air bags may not offer the protection for which they were designed.

Front Passenger Sensing System

The front passenger sensing system will turn off the front passenger’s front air bag and seat belt pretensioner under certain conditions. This system works using a sensor mat that is part of the front passenger’s seat. The front passenger sensing system is designed to detect whether an occupant is present in the seat and, if an occupant is present, to determine whether the front passenger’s front air bag and seat belt pretensioner should be enabled or disabled (turned off).

NOTE: The front passenger’s side air bag and the side curtain air bag are not controlled by the front passenger sensing system.

When the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” position, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator comes on for several seconds to let you know the system is working. When the front passenger sensing system has turned off the front passenger’s front air bag including the seat belt pretensioner, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator will come on and stay on to remind you that the front passenger’s front air bag is off. The front passenger sensing system uses front seat pressure measurements and pressure locations to determine whether to activate or deactivate the front passenger’s front air bag. The front passenger sensing system may or may not turn off the front air bag, depending on the front passenger’s seating posture and body build. The air bag should be turned off in the following situations:
• There is no occupant in the front passenger seat.
• The occupant of the front passenger seat lifts his or her weight off of the seat for a period of time.
• The occupant of the front passenger seat is an infant or small child in a child restraint system or a small child in a booster seat.
• A smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown child restraints or a very small adolescent is seated in the front passenger seat.

NOTE: If the front passenger seat is unoccupied, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator will not come on but the front passenger’s front air bag will not deploy and the seat belt pretensioner will not operate.

If you have secured a child in the front passenger seat in a forward-facing child restraint system or booster seat and the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is not on, turn the vehicle off, remove the child restraint or booster seat from the vehicle and reinstall it following the child restraint or booster seat manufacturer’s directions. Also refer to “Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems” in this section. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the vehicle, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator is still not lit, check to make sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this happens, adjust the head restraint. If the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator is still not on, secure the child in the child restraint or booster seat in a rear seat position in the vehicle and check with your dealer.

WARNING: Do not install a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger’s seat. If the passenger’s front air bag inflates, a child in a rear-facing child restraint could be seriously injured. The back of a rear-facing child restraint would be too close to the inflating air bag.

According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in rear seating positions than in front seating positions. Whenever possible, SUZUKI recommends you install child restraints in the rear seat. The front passenger sensing system is designed to enable the front passenger’s front air bag when the system senses a properly-seated adult in the front passenger’s seat. When the passenger sensing system has allowed the air bag to be enabled, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator will remain off to remind you that the air bag is active. If a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger’s seat and the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator comes on, it could be because that person isn’t sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, unfasten the seat belts, sit upright in the center of the seat with the seatback nearly vertical and your legs outstretched, and refasten the seat belt.

When seated as shown in the above illustration, the front passenger sensing system senses a properly-seated occupant and enables the air bag.

When using a seat belt extender, follow the instructions in the “Seat Belt Extender” section.

WARNING: Do not place any heavy objects on the front passenger’s seat. The pressure sensors in the sensor mat could be damaged and the front passenger sensing system may not work properly.

WARNING: The front passenger sensing system may not work properly in the following situations:
• The occupant is sitting near the dashboard or is not sitting in the proper position.
• Objects placed under the seat are pushing up on the seat cushion.

WARNING: If the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator on the instrument panel turns on even though there is no occupant or an adult occupant in the front passenger’s seat, it means that something may be wrong with the passenger sensing system. Have the system inspected by an authorized SUZUKI dealer as soon as possible.

WARNING:
• Do not spill any liquids on the seat. Liquids can damage the sensors under the front seat.
• Have front passenger’s sensor mat inspected by your dealer after a collision.
• Do not replace the front seats. If you replace them, the air bags and front passenger sensing system may not work properly.
• Do not use a seat cover. If you use a seat cover, the front passenger sensing system may not work properly.

How the System Works

In a frontal collision, the crash sensors will detect rapid deceleration and send a signal to the controller. If the controller judges that the deceleration represents a severe frontal crash, the controller will trigger the inflators. The controller also judges:
• Whether the front air bags should deploy at reduced power or at full power according to crash severity.
• Whether the front passenger’s front air bag should deploy or not based on classification of the occupant of the front passenger’s seat. Since your vehicle is equipped with side air bags, and side curtain air bags, crash sensors will detect a side collision, and if the controller judges that the side collision is severe enough, it will trigger the side air bag and side curtain air bag inflators. The inflators inflate the appropriate air bags with nitrogen or argon gas. The inflated air bags provide a cushion for your head (front air bags and side curtain air bags only) and upper body. The air bag inflates and deflates so quickly that you may not even realize that it has activated. The air bag will neither hinder your view nor make it harder to exit the vehicle. Air bags must inflate quickly and forcefully in order to reduce the chance of serious or fatal injuries. However, an unavoidable consequence of the quick inflation is that the air bag may irritate bare skin, such as the facial area against a front air bag. Also, upon inflation, a loud noise will occur and some powder and smoke will be released. These conditions are not harmful and do not indicate a fire in the car. Be aware, however, that some air bag components may be hot for a while after inflation. A seat belt helps keep you in the proper position for maximum protection when an air bag inflates. Adjust your seat as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle. Sit fully back in your seat; sit up straight; do not lean over the steering wheel or dashboard. Front occupants should not lean on or sleep against the door. Please refer to the “Seat Adjustment” section and the “Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems” section in the “BEFORE DRIVING” section for details on proper seat and seat belt adjustments.

WARNING:
• The driver should not lean over the steering wheel. The front passenger should not rest his or her body against the dashboard, or otherwise get too close to the dashboard. For vehicles with side air bags and side curtain air bags, occupants should not lean on or sleep against the door. In these situations, the out-of-position occupant would be too close to an inflating air bag, and may suffer severe injury.
• Do not attach any objects to, or place any objects over, the steering wheel or dashboard. Do not place any objects between the air bag and the driver or front passenger. These objects may interfere with air bag operation or may be propelled by the air bag in the event of a crash. Either of these conditions may cause severe injury.
• For vehicles with side air bags, do not place seat covers on the front seats, because seat covers could restrict the air bag’s inflation. Also, do not place any cup holders or other objects on the door, as these objects could be propelled by the air bag in the event of a crash. Either of these conditions may cause severe injury.

Note that even though your vehicle may be moderately damaged in a collision, the collision may not have been severe enough to trigger the front, side, or side curtain air bags to inflate. If your car sustains ANY front-end or side damage, have the air bag system inspected by an authorized SUZUKI dealer to ensure it is in proper working order. Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module which records information about the air bag system if the air bags deploy in a crash. The module records information about overall system status, which sensors activated the deployment, and whether the front seat belts were in use.

Servicing the Air Bag System

If the air bags inflate, have the air bags and related components replaced by an authorized SUZUKI dealer as soon as possible. If your vehicle ever gets in deep water and the driver’s floor is submerged, the air bag controller could be damaged. If this happens, have the air bag system inspected by the SUZUKI dealer as soon as possible. Special procedures are required for servicing or replacing an air bag. For that reason, only an authorized SUZUKI dealer should be allowed to service or replace your air bags. Please remind anyone who services your SUZUKI that it has air bags. Service on or around air bag components or wiring must be performed only by an authorized SUZUKI dealer. Improper service could result in unintended air bag deployment or could render the air bags inoperative. Either of these two conditions may result in severe injury. To prevent damage or unintended inflation of the air bag system, be sure the battery is disconnected and the ignition switch has been in the “LOCK” position for at least 90 seconds before performing any electrical service work on your SUZUKI. Do not touch air bag system components or wires. The wires are wrapped with yellow tape or yellow tubing, and the couplers are yellow for easy identification.

Scrapping a car that has an undeployed air bag can be hazardous. Ask your dealer, body repair shop or scrap yard for help with disposal. If it is necessary to modify the advanced front air bag system to accommodate a person with disabilities, owners in the continental United States can call American Suzuki toll-free at 1-800-934-0934, or write to:

American Suzuki Motor Corporation Automotive Customer Relations 3251 East Imperial Highway Brea, CA 92821-6795

If you purchased your SUZUKI in Canada please contact the Suzuki Canada Customer Relations Department by telephone at 1-905-889-2677 extension 2254 or in writing at:

Suzuki Canada Inc. Customer Relations 100 East Beaver Creek Road Richmond Hill, On L4B 1J6