NISSAN 2008 Nissan Altima User Manual

Page 68

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NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System

(front seats)

This vehicle is equipped with the NISSAN Ad-

vanced Air Bag System for the driver and front

passenger seats. This system is designed to

meet certification requirements under U.S. regu-

lations. It is also permitted in Canada. However,

all of the information, cautions and warn-
ings in this manual still apply and must be

followed.
The driver supplemental front–impact air bag is

located in the center of the steering wheel. The

passenger supplemental front-impact air bag is

mounted in the dashboard above the glove box.

The front air bags are designed to inflate in higher

severity frontal collisions, although they may in-

flate if the forces in another type of collision are

similar to those of a higher severity frontal impact.

They may not inflate in certain frontal collisions.

Vehicle damage (or lack of it) is not always an

indication of proper front air bag system opera-

tion.
The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System has dual

stage air bag inflators. It also monitors informa-

tion from the crash zone sensor, the Air bag

Control Unit (ACU), seat belt buckle sensors and

the occupant classification sensor (pattern sen-

sor). Inflator operation is based on the severity of

a collision and seat belt usage for the driver. For

the front passenger, the occupant classification

sensor is also monitored. Based on information

from the sensors, only one front air bag may

inflate in a crash, depending on the crash severity

and whether the front occupants are belted or

unbelted. Additionally, the front passenger air

bag may be automatically turned OFF under

some conditions, depending on the information

provided by the occupant classification sensor. If

the front passenger air bag is OFF, the passenger

air bag status light will be illuminated (if the seat is

unoccupied, the light will not be illuminated, but

the air bag will be off). See “Front passenger air

bag and status light” later in this section for

further details. One front air bag inflating does not

indicate improper performance of the system.
If you have any questions about your air bag

system, please contact NISSAN or your NISSAN

dealer. If you are considering modification of your

vehicle due to a disability, you may also contact

NISSAN. Contact information is contained in the

front of this Owner’s Manual.
When a front air bag inflates, a fairly loud noise

may be heard, followed by the release of smoke.

This smoke is not harmful and does not indicate a

fire. Care should be taken to not inhale it, as it may

cause irritation and choking. Those with a history

of a breathing condition should get fresh air

promptly.

Front air bags, along with the use of seat belts,

help to cushion the impact force on the face and

chest of the front occupants. They can help save

lives and reduce serious injuries. However, an

inflating front air bag may cause facial abrasions

or other injuries. Front air bags do not provide

restraint to the lower body.
Even with NISSAN advanced air bags, seat belts

should be correctly worn and the driver and pas-

senger seated upright as far as practical away

from the steering wheel or instrument panel. The

front air bags inflate quickly in order to help

protect the front occupants. Because of this, the

force of the front air bag inflating can increase the

risk of injury if the occupant is too close to, or is

against, the front air bag module during inflation.
The front air bags deflate quickly after a collision.
The front air bags operate only when the

ignition switch is in the ON position.
After pushing the ignition switch to the ON

position, the supplemental air bag warning

light illuminates. The supplemental air bag

warning light will turn off after about 7 sec-

onds if the system is operational.

1-50

Safety—Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system

REVIEW COPY—

2008 Altima (alt)

Owners Manual—USA_English (nna)
02/12/08—debbie

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