WARNING
- To help ensure correct operation of the front passenger Advanced Airbag System, observe all of the following precautions.
- Do not allow a rear-seat passenger to push, pull or place pressure on the front passenger seatback or its storage pockets.
- Do not place loads with a combined weight greater than 9.1 lb (4 kg) on the seatback, head restraint or inside the seatback pockets.
- Make sure no child restraint, luggage or other object presses against the rear of the front passenger seatback from the second row or the floor area.
- Do not place any objects beneath the front passenger seat, as they may interfere with the seat or occupant classification sensors.
- Keep the space between the front passenger seat cushion and the center console, as well as the space between the cushion and the door, free of objects.
- Make sure the front passenger seat does not contact the rear seat, instrument panel or surrounding interior components. The head restraint must also remain clear of the roof.
- Do not move the front passenger seat into a position where it presses against the rear seat. Contact between the seats may cause the airbag system to detect a sensor problem, illuminate the front passenger airbag status light or make the SRS airbag warning light flash.
- If a forward-facing child restraint is installed on the front passenger seat, position the seat so the restraint does not touch the instrument panel. Contact with the instrument panel may cause the system to classify the seat as occupied, allowing the front passenger airbag and passenger knee airbag to deploy during a collision. The front passenger airbag status light may also fail to illuminate as expected.
- Always confirm the operating condition of the passenger airbag system by checking the front passenger airbag status light.
- If the front passenger airbag status light does not operate as described in this section, have the passenger-seat Advanced Airbag System inspected. Mitsubishi Motors recommends visiting an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer for this service.
- Until an authorized dealer confirms that the front passenger Advanced Airbag System is operating correctly, have passengers use suitable rear seating positions.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is equipped with an Advanced Airbag System for the driver and front passenger seating positions. The system is designed to satisfy applicable certification requirements under United States regulations.
The system is also permitted for use in Canada. All instructions, cautions and warnings provided in this manual remain applicable and must be followed carefully.
The driver's SRS airbag module is installed in the center of the steering wheel. The front passenger SRS airbag is located in the instrument panel above the glove box. These front airbags are designed primarily to inflate during higher-severity frontal collisions, although deployment may also occur in another type of impact when the forces are similar to those produced by a severe frontal collision.
The front airbags may not inflate during every frontal collision because deployment depends on the type, direction and severity of the impact.
The amount of visible damage to the Mitsubishi Outlander, or the absence of obvious damage, does not by itself indicate whether the front airbags should have deployed.
The Advanced Airbag System uses dual-stage airbag inflators. It evaluates information from the Airbag Control Unit [ACU], the seat belt buckle sensors and the front passenger occupant classification sensors, also known as weight sensors. For the driver, inflator operation is influenced by collision severity and whether the seat belt is fastened. For the front passenger, the system also considers information from the occupant classification sensors.
Based on the information received from these sensors, only one front airbag may deploy in a collision, depending on the severity of the impact and whether the front occupants are properly restrained. Under certain conditions, the front passenger airbag and passenger knee airbag may be switched off automatically according to the occupant classification sensor readings. When these airbags are turned off, the front passenger airbag status light illuminates.
The deployment of only one front airbag does not necessarily indicate a malfunction or improper operation of the system.
If you have questions about the Mitsubishi Outlander airbag system, Mitsubishi Motors recommends consulting an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer for detailed information. Owners considering vehicle modifications related to a disability may also contact Mitsubishi Motors using the contact information provided near the front of this Owner's Manual.
When a front airbag inflates, occupants may hear a loud noise followed by the release of a smoke-like residue. This residue is not harmful and does not indicate that the vehicle is on fire. Avoid inhaling it whenever possible, however, because it may irritate the throat or cause temporary breathing discomfort.
Anyone with a history of asthma or another respiratory condition should move into fresh air as soon as it is safe to do so.
Working together with correctly fastened seat belts, the front SRS airbags help cushion impact forces applied to the head and chest of the driver and front passenger. This supplemental protection can reduce the risk of certain serious injuries and may help save lives.
An inflating airbag can still cause facial abrasions, bruising or other injuries because deployment occurs with considerable speed and force. Except for the driver's and front passenger's knee airbags, the front airbags do not provide direct restraint for the lower body.
Even with the Mitsubishi Outlander Advanced Airbag System, the driver and front passenger must wear their seat belts correctly and remain seated upright. Both occupants should sit as far from the steering wheel or instrument panel as practical while maintaining a safe, comfortable seating position and full control of the vehicle.
The front airbags inflate extremely quickly so they can help protect occupants during the earliest stages of a collision. An occupant positioned too close to the steering wheel, instrument panel or airbag module faces a greater risk of injury from the force of deployment.
After deployment, the front airbags deflate rapidly so they do not continue to block the driver's view or restrict movement more than necessary.
The front airbags can operate only when the ignition switch is in the ON position.
When the ignition is placed in the ON position, the SRS airbag warning light illuminates while the Mitsubishi Outlander performs an initial system check.
If the Advanced Airbag System is functioning normally, the SRS airbag warning light turns off after approximately 7 seconds.
