Acura NSX (2017 year). Manual - part 3

36

Safe Driving

Seat Belts

About Your Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most effective safety device because they keep you 
connected to the vehicle so that you can take advantage of many built-in safety 
features. They also help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the 
vehicle, against any passenger, or out of the vehicle. When worn properly, seat belts 
also keep your body properly positioned in a crash so that you can take full 
advantage of the additional protection provided by the airbags.

In addition, seat belts help protect you in almost every type of crash, including:
- frontal impacts
- side impacts
- rear impacts
- rollovers

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Lap/shoulder seat belts

Both seating positions are equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts with emergency 
locking retractors. In normal driving the retractor lets you move freely while keeping 
some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop the retractor locks to 
restrain your body. The passenger’s seat belt has a lockable retractor that must be 
properly activated when using a forward-facing child seat, should you choose to 
disregard our recommendations and install one.

2 Installing a Child Seat P. 63

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About Your Seat Belts

Seat belts cannot completely protect you in every 
crash. But in most cases, seat belts can reduce your 
risk of serious injury.

Most states and all Canadian provinces and territories 
require you to wear seat belts.

The emergency locking retractor may lock if you lean 
forward too quickly. Slower movements will allow 
the belt to extend fully without locking.

3

WARNING

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases 
the chance of serious injury or death in a 
crash, even though your vehicle has 
airbags.

Be sure you and your passenger always 
wear seat belts and wear them properly.

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Seat Belts

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About Your Seat Belts

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Proper use of seat belts

Follow these guidelines for proper use:
• All occupants should sit upright, well back in the seat, and remain in that position 

for the duration of the trip. Slouching and leaning reduce the effectiveness of the 
belt and can increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

• Never place the shoulder part of a lap/shoulder seat belt under your arm or 

behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.

• Two people should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very 

seriously injured in a crash.

• Do not put any accessories on the seat belts. Devices intended to improve comfort 

or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability 
and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Your vehicle monitors seat belt use. If the 
power mode is set to ON before the driver’s 
seat belt is fastened, the beeper will sound 
and the indicator will blink. If the driver does 
not fasten the belt before the beeper stops, 
the indicator will remain on.

The beeper will periodically sound and the 
indicator will blink while driving until the 
driver’s and/or the passenger’s seat belt is 
fastened.

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Seat Belt Reminder

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About Your Seat Belts

If your passenger moves around and extends the seat 
belt, the lockable retractor may activate. If this 
happens, release the retractor by unfastening the 
seat belt and allow the belt to retract completely. 
Then refasten the belt.

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Seat Belt Reminder

The indicator will also come on if a passenger does 
not fasten their seat belt within six seconds after the 
power mode is set to ON.
When no one is sitting in the passenger’s seat, or a 
child is riding there, the indicator will not come on 
and the beeper will not sound.

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Seat Belts

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About Your Seat Belts

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Safe Driving

The driver’s and passenger’s seats are 
equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners 
to enhance safety.

The tensioners automatically tighten the seat 
belts during a moderate-to-severe frontal 
collision, sometimes even if the collision is not 
severe enough to inflate the front airbags or 
the driver’s knee airbag.

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Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

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Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

The seat belt tensioners can only operate once.
If a tensioner is activated, the SRS indicator will come 
on. Have an authorized Acura NSX dealer replace the 
tensioner and thoroughly inspect the seat belt system 
as it may not offer protection in a subsequent crash.

During a moderate-to-severe side impact, the 
tensioner on that side of the vehicle also activates.

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

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Safe Driving

Fastening a Seat Belt

After adjusting your seat to the proper position, and while sitting upright and well 
back in the seat:

2 Adjusting the Seats P. 144

1. Pull the seat belt out slowly.

2. Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then 

tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is 
secure.

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Make sure that the belt is not twisted or 
caught on anything.

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Fastening a Seat Belt

No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat 
belt or one that does not appear to be working 
correctly. Using a seat belt that is not working 
properly may not protect the occupant in a crash. 
Have an authorized Acura NSX dealer check the belt 
as soon as possible.

Never insert any foreign objects into the buckle or 
retractor mechanism.

Pull out slowly.

Correct 
Seated 
Posture.

Latch 
Plate

Buckle

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

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Safe Driving

3. Position the lap part of the belt as low as 

possible across your hips, then pull up on 
the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part 
fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic 
bones take the force of a crash and reduces 
the chance of internal injuries.

4. If necessary, pull up on the belt again to 

remove any slack, then check that the belt 
rests across the center of your chest and 
over your shoulder. This spreads the forces 
of a crash over the strongest bones in your 
upper body.

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Fastening a Seat Belt

To release the belt, push the red PRESS button then 
guide the belt by hand until it has retracted 
completely.
When exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is out of 
the way and will not get caught by closing the door.

3

WARNING

Improperly positioning the seat belts can 
cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly 
positioned before driving.

Lap belt 
as low as 
possible

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

Safe Driving

If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when 
driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt and keep the lap part of the 
belt as low as possible across the hips.

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Advice for Pregnant Women

1

Advice for Pregnant Women

Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it is 
okay for you to drive.

To reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your 
unborn child that can be caused by an inflating front 
airbag:

•

When driving, sit upright and adjust the seat as far 
back as possible while allowing full control of the 
vehicle.

•

When sitting in the passenger’s seat, adjust the 
seat as far back as possible.

Wear the shoulder belt 
across the chest avoiding 
the abdomen.

Wear the lap part of the 
belt as low as possible 
across the hips.

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Seat Belts

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Seat Belt Inspection

Safe Driving

Seat Belt Inspection

Regularly check the condition of your seat belts as follows:

• Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear.
• Check that the latches work smoothly and the belts retract easily.

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If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem. Only 
use a mild soap and warm water. Do not use bleach or cleaning solvents. Make 
sure the belt is completely dry before allowing it to retract.

Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide proper 
protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of 
protection in a subsequent crash. Have your seat belts inspected by an authorized 
Acura NSX dealer after any collision.

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Seat Belt Inspection

3

WARNING

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can 
result in serious injury or death if the seat 
belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have 
any problem corrected as soon as possible.

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Safe Driving

Airbags

Airbag System Components

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10

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Airbags

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Airbag System Components

Safe Driving

The front, driver’s knee, side, and side 
curtain airbags are deployed according to 
the direction and severity of impact. Both 
side curtain airbags are deployed in a 
rollover. The airbag system includes:

a

Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) 
front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored 
in the center of the steering wheel; the 
passenger’s airbag is stored in the 
dashboard. Both are marked SRS 
AIRBAG.

b

Driver’s knee airbag. The knee airbag is 
stored under the steering column. It is 
marked SRS AIRBAG.

c

Two side airbags, one for the driver and 
one for a passenger. The airbags are 
stored in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.

d

Two side curtain airbags, one for each 
side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored 
in the ceiling, above the side windows. 
The front and rear pillars are marked 
SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG.

e

An electronic control unit that, when the 
power system is on, continually monitors 
information about the various impact 
sensors, seat and buckle sensors, rollover 
sensor, airbag activators, seat belt 
tensioners, and other vehicle 
information. During a crash event the 
unit records such information.

f

Automatic seat belt tensioners. In 
addition, the driver’s and passenger’s 
seat belt buckles incorporate sensors that 
detect whether or not the belts are 
fastened.

g

Weight sensors in the passenger’s seat. 
The passenger’s airbag will be turned off 
if the weight on the seat is 65 lbs (29 kg) 
or less (the weight of an infant or small 
child).

h

Impact sensors that can detect a 
moderate-to-severe front or side impact.

i

An indicator on the dashboard that alerts 
you that the passenger’s front airbag has 
been turned off.

j

An indicator on the instrument panel that 
alerts you to a possible problem with your 
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.

k

A rollover sensor that can detect if your 
vehicle is about to roll over and signal the 
control unit to deploy both side curtain 
airbag.

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Airbags

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Airbag System Components

Safe Driving

Airbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with 
tremendous force. So, while airbags help to save lives, they can cause burns, bruises, 
and other minor injuries, sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not wearing 
their seat belts properly and sitting correctly.

What you should do: Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as 
far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the 
vehicle. A passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as 
possible.

Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that 
can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags 
deploy.

Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag. 
Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp 
object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on the front and driver’s knee airbag covers. 
Objects on the covers marked SRS AIRBAG could interfere with the proper 
operation of the airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the 
airbags inflate.

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Important Facts About Your Airbags

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Important Facts About Your Airbags

Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags. Together, 
airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.

When driving, keep hands and arms out of the 
deployment path of the front airbag by holding each 
side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an arm over 
the airbag cover.

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Airbags

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Types of Airbags

Safe Driving

Types of Airbags

Your vehicle is equipped with four types of airbags:
• Front airbags: Airbags in front of the driver’s and passenger’s seats.
• Driver’s knee airbag: Airbag under the steering column.
• Side airbags: Airbags in the driver’s and passenger’s seat-backs.
• Side curtain airbags: Airbags above the side windows.
Each is discussed in the following pages.

Front Airbags (SRS)

The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help protect 
the head and chest of the driver and/or passenger.

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to 
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary 
restraint system.

The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and 
in the dashboard for the passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.

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Housing Locations

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Types of Airbags

The airbags can inflate whenever the power mode is 
in ON.

After an airbag inflates in a crash, you may see a 
small amount of smoke. This is from the combustion 
process of the inflator material and is not harmful. 
People with respiratory problems may experience 
some temporary discomfort. If this occurs, get out of 
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

1

Front Airbags (SRS)

During a frontal crash severe enough to cause one or 
both front airbags to deploy, the airbags can inflate 
at different rates, depending on the severity of the 
crash, whether or not the seat belts are latched, and/
or other factors. Frontal airbags are designed to 
supplement the seat belts to help to reduce the 
likelihood of head and chest injuries in frontal 
crashes.

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Airbags

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Front Airbags (SRS)

Safe Driving

Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions. 
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the control 
unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.

A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when a 
vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.

While your seat belt restrains your torso, the 
front airbag provides supplemental protection 
for your head and chest.

The front airbags deflate immediately so that 
they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility 
or the ability to steer or operate other 
controls.

The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not 
aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.

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Operation

■

How the Front Airbags Work

1

How the Front Airbags Work

Although the driver’s and passenger’s airbags 
normally inflate within a split second of each other, it 
is possible for only one airbag to deploy. This can 
happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin, 
or threshold that determines whether or not the 
airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will 
provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental 
protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

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Airbags

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Front Airbags (SRS)

Safe Driving

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When front airbags should not deploy

Minor frontal crashes: Front airbags were designed to supplement seat belts and 
help save lives, not to prevent minor scrapes, or even broken bones that might occur 
during a less than moderate-to-severe frontal crash.
Side impacts: Front airbags can provide protection when a sudden deceleration 
causes a driver or passenger to move toward the front of the vehicle. Side airbags 
and side curtain airbags have been specifically designed to help reduce the severity 
of injuries that can occur during a moderate-to-severe side impact which can cause 
the driver or passenger to move toward the side of the vehicle.
Rear impacts: Head restraints and seat belts are your best protection during a rear 
impact. Front airbags cannot provide any significant protection and are not designed 
to deploy in such collisions.
Rollovers: Seat belts, and in vehicles equipped with a rollover sensor, side curtain 
airbags offer the best protection in a rollover. Because front airbags could provide 
little if any protection, they are not designed to deploy during a rollover.

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When front airbags deploy with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the 
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy. 
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object 
that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is 
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

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When front airbags may not deploy, even though exterior damage 
appears severe

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of 
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some 
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags 
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they 
had deployed.

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Airbags

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Front Airbags (SRS)

Safe Driving

The passenger’s airbag have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of 
airbag related injuries to a smaller occupant.

The passenger’s advanced front airbag system 
has weight sensors.

Although we recommend against carrying an 
infant or small child in the passenger seat, if 
the sensors detect the weight of a child (up to 
about 65 lbs or 29 kg), the system will 
automatically turn off the passenger’s front 
airbag.

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Advanced Airbags

1

Advanced Airbags

For the passenger’s advanced front airbag to work 
properly:

•

Do not spill any liquid on or under the seat.

•

Do not put any object under the passenger’s seat.

•

Make sure any objects are positioned properly on 
the floor. Improperly positioned objects can 
interfere with the advanced airbag sensors.

•

An occupant should sit upright and wear their seat 
belts properly.

•

Do not place any cover over the passenger side 
dashboard.

2 Passenger Airbag Off Indicator P. 56

Passenger’s 
Seat 
Weight 
Sensors

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Airbags

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Driver’s Knee Airbag

Safe Driving

Driver’s Knee Airbag

The driver’s knee SRS airbag inflates in a moderate to severe frontal collision to help 
keep the driver in the proper position and to help to maximize the benefit provided 
by the vehicle’s other safety features.

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbag is designed to 
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant’s primary 
restraint system.

The driver’s knee airbag is housed under the 
steering column.

The airbag is marked SRS AIRBAG.

When the driver’s front airbag inflates, the 
driver’s knee airbag also inflates.

Even if the collision is not severe enough to 
deploy the front airbag, the knee airbag may 
inflate alone.

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Housing Locations

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Driver’s Knee Airbag

Do not attach accessories on or near the driver’s knee 
airbag. They can interfere with the proper operation 
of the airbag, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.

Housing 
Location

■

Operation

When 
inflated

Knee 
Airbag

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Driver’s Knee Airbag

Safe Driving

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When driver’s knee airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden deceleration, a strong impact to the 
vehicle framework or suspension might cause one or more of the airbags to deploy.
Examples include running into a curb, the edge of a hole, or other low fixed object 
that causes a sudden deceleration in the vehicle chassis. Since the impact is 
underneath the vehicle, damage may not be readily apparent.

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When driver’s knee airbag may not deploy, even though exterior damage 
appears severe

Since crushable body parts absorb crash energy during an impact, the amount of 
visible damage does not always indicate proper airbag operation. In fact, some 
collisions can result in severe damage but no airbag deployment because the airbags 
would not have been needed or would not have provided protection even if they 
had deployed.

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