The OCS is designed to help detect the presence of a properly-seated front passenger and determine if the passenger’s front air bag should be enabled (may inflate) or not.
The purpose 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 requiring the air bag to be automatically turned OFF.
For example, if a child restraint of the type specified in the regulations is on the seat, the occupant classification sensor can detect it and cause the air bag to turn OFF.
Front passenger seat adult occupants who are properly seated and wearing the seat belt properly, should not cause the passenger air bag to be automatically turned OFF. For small adults it may be turned OFF, however, if the occupant does not sit in the seat properly (for example, by not sitting upright, by sitting on the edge of the seat, or by otherwise being out of position), this could cause the sensor to turn the air bag OFF.
You will find the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator on the center fascia panel. This system detects the conditions 1-4 in the following table and activates or deactivates the front passenger air bag based on these conditions.
Always be sure that you and all vehicle occupants are seated properly and wearing the seat belt properly for the most effective protection by the air bag and the seat belt.
The OCS may not function properly if the passenger takes actions which can affect the classification system. These include:
Condition and operation in the front passenger Occupant Classification System
WARNING
Riding in an improper position or placing weight on the front passenger’s seat when it is unoccupied by a passenger adversely affects the OCS. To reduce the risk of serious injury or death:
• NEVER put a heavy load in the front seat or seatback pocket, or hang any items on the front passenger seat.
• NEVER place your feet on the front passenger seatback.
• NEVER sit with your hips shifted towards the front of the seat.
• NEVER ride with the seatback reclined when the vehicle is moving.
• NEVER place your feet or legs on the dashboard.
• NEVER lean on the door or center console or sit on one side of the front passenger seat.
• Do not sit on the passenger seat wearing heavily padded clothes such as ski wear and hip protector.
• Do not use car seat accessories such as thick blankets and cushions which cover up the car seat surface.
• Do not place electronic devices such as laptops, DVD player, or conductive materials such as water bottles on the passenger seat.
• Do not use electronic devices such as laptops and satellite radios which use inverter chargers.
• If large quantity of liquid has been spilled on the passenger seat, the air bag warning light may illuminate or malfunction. Therefore, make sure the seat has been completely dried before driving the vehicle.
Proper seated position for OCS
If the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator is on when an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, place the Engine Start/Stop button in the OFF position and ask the passenger to sit properly (sitting upright with the seat back in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor). Restart the engine and have the person remain in that position. This will allow the system to detect the person and to enable the passenger air bag. If the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator is still on, ask the passenger to move to the rear seat.
WARNING
Never allow an adult passenger to ride in the front passenger seat when the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator is illuminated. During a collision, the air bag will not inflate if the indicator is illuminated. Have your passenger reposition themselves in the seat. If the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator remains illuminated after the passenger repositions themselves properly and the vehicle is restarted, have the passenger move to the rear seat because the air bag will not inflate.
NOTICE
The “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator illuminates for approximately 4 seconds after the Engine Start/ Stop button is in the ON position or after the engine is started. If the front passenger seat is occupied, the OCS will then classify the front passenger after several more seconds.
This warning light informs the driver the following situations.
-- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system malfunction (if equipped)
-- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist radar blocked (if equipped)
-- Blind-Spot Collision Warning system malfunction (if equipped)
-- Blind-Spot Collision Warning radar blocked (if equipped)
-- Lamp malfunction (if equipped)
-- High Beam Assist malfunction (if equipped)
-- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) malfunction (if equipped)