Acura ILX (2021 year). Manual in english - page 3

44

uu

Airbags

u

Types of Airbags

Safe 

Driving

Types of Airbags

Your vehicle is equipped with three types of airbags:

•

Front airbags:

 Airbags in front of the driver's and front passenger's seats.

•

Side airbags:

 Airbags in the driver's and front 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 front 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 front passenger. Both airbags are marked 

SRS AIRBAG

.

■

Housing Locations

1

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 reduce the 
likelihood of head and chest injuries in frontal 
crashes.

Continued

45

uu

Airbags

u

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.

■

Operation

■

How the Front Airbags Work

1

How the Front Airbags Work

Although the driver's and front 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.

46

uu

Airbags

u

Front Airbags (SRS)

Safe 

Driving

■

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 front 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:

 In a rollover, your best form of protection is a seat belt or, if your vehicle 

is equipped with a rollover sensor, both a seat belt and a side curtain airbag. Front 
airbags, however, are not designed to deploy in a rollover as they would provide 
little if any protection.

■

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.

■

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.

Continued

47

uu

Airbags

u

Front Airbags (SRS)

Safe 

Driving

The airbags have advanced features to help reduce the likelihood of airbag related 
injuries to smaller occupants.

The driver’s advanced airbag system includes a 
seat position sensor.

Based on information from this sensor and the 
severity of the impact, the advanced airbag 
system determines the optimal deployment of 
the driver’s airbag.

The front passenger’s advanced airbag system 
has weight sensors. The sensors are used for 
occupant classification to activate or 
deactivate the front passenger’s airbag. 

For adult size occupants, the system will 
automatically activate the front passenger’s 
airbag. If a small adult sits in the front 
passenger seat and the system does not 
recognize him/her as an adult, see

2

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

 P. 53

■

Advanced Airbags

1

Advanced Airbags

If there is a problem with the driver’s seat position 
sensor or the passenger’s seat weight sensors, the 
SRS indicator will come on, and in the event of a 
crash, the airbag will deploy (regardless of the driver’s 
seating position or passenger’s occupant 
classification) with a force corresponding to the 
severity of the impact.

2

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 
Indicator

 P. 52

For the advanced front airbags to work properly, 
confirm that:

•

The occupant is sitting in an upright position, 
wearing the seat belt properly and the seat back is 
not excessively reclined.

•

The occupant is not leaning against the door or 
center console.

•

The occupant’s feet are placed on the floor in front 
of them.

•

There are no objects hanging from the front 
passenger’s seat.

•

Only small, lightweight objects are in the seat back 
pocket.

•

The steering wheel and passenger’s side dashboard 
are not obstructed by any object.

•

No liquid has been spilled on or under the seat.

•

There is no child seat or other object pressing 
against the rear of the seat or seat back.

•

There is no rear passenger pushing or pulling on 
the back of the front passenger’s seat.

Driver’s 

Seat 

Position 

Sensor

Passenger’s 

Seat 

Weight 

Sensors

uu

Airbags

u

Front Airbags (SRS)

48

Safe 

Driving

We advise against allowing a child age 12 or under to ride in the front passenger’s 
seat. However, if you do allow a small child or infant to ride in the front passenger’s 
seat, the system is designed to automatically deactivate the front passenger’s airbag. 
Do not let a small child or infant ride in the front passenger’s seat if the airbag does 
not automatically deactivate.

1

Advanced Airbags

•

There are no objects placed under or beside the 
front passenger’s seat. Improperly positioned 
objects can interfere with the advanced airbag 
sensors.

•

The head restraint is not contacting the roof.

2

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

 P. 53

•

The floor mat behind the front passenger’s seat is 
hooked to the floor mat anchor. An improperly 
placed mat can interfere with the advanced airbag 
sensors.

2

Floor Mats

 P. 552

49

uu

Airbags

u

Side Airbags

Continued

Safe 

Driving

Side Airbags

The side airbags help protect the torso and pelvis of the driver or a front passenger 
during a moderate-to-severe side impact.

The side airbags are housed in the outside 
edge of the driver's and passenger's seat-
backs.

Both are marked 

SIDE AIRBAG

.

When the sensors detect a moderate-to-
severe side impact, the control unit signals the 
side airbag on the impact side to immediately 
inflate.

■

Housing Locations

1

Side Airbags

Make sure you and your front seat passenger always 
sit upright. Leaning into the path of a side airbag can 
prevent the airbag from deploying properly and 
increases your risk of serious injury.

Do not attach accessories on or near the side airbags. 
They can interfere with the proper operation of the 
airbags, or hurt someone if an airbag inflates.

Do not cover or replace the front seat-back covers 
without consulting a dealer.
Improperly replacing or covering front seat-back 
covers can prevent your side airbags from properly 
deploying during a side impact.

Housing 

Location

■

Operation

When 

inflated

Side 

Airbag

50

uu

Airbags

u

Side Airbags

Safe 

Driving

■

When a side airbag deploys with little or no visible damage

Because the airbag system senses sudden acceleration, a strong impact to the side 
of the vehicle's framework can cause a side airbag to deploy. In such cases, there 
may be little or no damage, but the side impact sensors detected a severe enough 
impact to deploy the airbag.

■

When a side airbag may not deploy, even though visible damage appears 
severe

It is possible for a side airbag not to deploy during an impact that results in 
apparently severe damage. This can occur when the point of impact was toward the 
far front or rear of the vehicle, or when the vehicle's crushable body parts absorbed 
most of the crash energy. In either case, the side airbag would not have been 
needed nor provided protection even if it had deployed.

51

uu

Airbags

u

Side Curtain Airbags

Continued

Safe 

Driving

Side Curtain Airbags

The side curtain airbags help protect the heads of the driver and passengers in the 
outer seating positions during a moderate-to-severe side impact. The side curtain 
airbags equipped in this vehicle are also designed to help reduce the likelihood of 
partial and complete ejection of vehicle occupants through side windows in crashes, 
particularly rollover crashes.

The side curtain airbags are located in the 
ceiling above the side windows on both sides 
of the vehicle.

The side curtain airbag is designed to deploy 
in a rollover or a moderate-to-severe side 
impact.

■

Housing Locations

1

Side Curtain Airbags

To get the best protection from the side curtain 
airbags, occupants should wear their seat belts 
properly and sit upright and well back in their seats.

Do not attach any objects to the side windows or roof 
pillars as they can interfere with the proper operation 
of the side curtain airbags.

If the impact is on the passenger’s side, the 
passenger’s side curtain airbag deploys even if there 
are no occupants on that side of the vehicle.

If the SRS control unit senses that your vehicle is 
about to rollover, it immediately deploys both side 
curtain airbags and activates both front seat belt 
tensioners.

Side Curtain Airbag Storage

■

Operation

Deployed Side Curtain Airbag

uu

Airbags

u

Airbag System Indicators

52

Safe 

Driving

■

When side curtain airbags deploy in a frontal collision

One or both side curtain airbags may also inflate in a moderate-to-severe angled 
frontal collision.

Airbag System Indicators

If a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a 
message appears on the multi-information display.

■

When the power mode is set to ON

The indicator comes on for a few seconds, 
then goes off. This tells you the system is 
working properly.

If the indicator comes on at any other time, or 
does not come on at all, have the system 
checked by a dealer as soon as possible. If you 
don't, your airbags and seat belt tensioners 
may not work properly when they are needed.

■

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator

1

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator

3

WARNING

Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in 
serious injury or death if the airbag systems 
or tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as 
soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts 
you to a possible problem.

Continued

53

uu

Airbags

u

Airbag System Indicators

Safe 

Driving

■

When the passenger airbag off 
indicator comes on

The indicator comes on to alert you that the 
passenger’s airbag has been turned off.

This occurs when the weight sensors 
determine that a small child or infant is on the 
passenger seat.

Children age 12 or under should always ride properly restrained in a back seat.

2

Child Safety

 P. 56

Objects placed on the seat can also cause the indicator to come on. If the indicator 
is on in the event of a crash, the passenger’s airbag will not deploy.

If the front passenger’s seat is empty, the passenger’s airbag will not deploy and the 
indicator will not come on.

■

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

1

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

To ensure the passenger is detected properly, confirm 
that:

•

The occupant is sitting in an upright position, 
wearing the seat belt properly and the seat back is 
not excessively reclined.

•

The occupant is not leaning against the door or 
center console.

•

The occupant’s feet are placed on the floor in front 
of them.

•

There are no objects hanging from the front 
passenger’s seat.

•

Only small, lightweight objects are in the seat back 
pocket.

•

No liquid has been spilled on or under the seat.

•

There is no child seat or other object pressing 
against the rear of the seat or seat back.

•

There is no rear passenger pushing or pulling on 
the back of the front passenger’s seat.

•

There are no objects placed under or beside the 
front passenger’s seat. Improperly positioned 
objects can interfere with the advanced airbag 
sensors.

•

The floor mat behind the front passenger’s seat is 
hooked to the floor mat anchor. An improperly 
placed mat can interfere with the advanced airbag 
sensors.

•

The head restraint is not contacting the roof.

U.S.

Canada

uu

Airbags

u

Airbag System Indicators

54

Safe 

Driving

1

Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

The passenger airbag off indicator may come on and 
go off periodically if the total weight on the seat is 
near the airbag cutoff threshold. For a small adult, 
depending on physique and posture, the system may 
not recognize him/her as an adult and thus deactivate 
the passenger’s airbag.
If this occurs, please confirm that the conditions set 
forth in the above bullet points on the previous page 
are met.

Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as soon as 
possible if:

•

All of the above conditions are met, and the 
indicator comes on with an adult seated in the 
front passenger seat.

•

The seat is empty and the indicator is on.

Do not allow an adult passenger to ride in the front 
seat when the indicator is on.

55

uu

Airbags

u

Airbag Care

Safe 

Driving

Airbag Care

You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any 
airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle 
inspected by a dealer in the following situations:

■

When the airbags have deployed

If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced. 
Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it must be 
replaced.

■

When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision

Even if the airbags did not inflate, have your dealer inspect the following: the driver’s 
seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat belt 
tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash.

■

Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting a dealer

This would likely disable or affect the proper operation of the driver’s seat position 
sensor or the weight sensors in the passenger’s seat. If it is necessary to remove or 
modify a front seat to accommodate a person with disabilities, contact an Acura 
dealer, or for U.S. vehicles, Acura Client Relations at 1-800-382-2238 and for 
Canadian vehicles, Acura Client Services at 1-888-9-ACURA-9.

1

Airbag Care

We recommend against the use of salvaged airbag 
system components, including the airbag, tensioners, 
sensors, and control unit.

56

Safe 

Driving

Child Safety

Protecting Child Passengers

Each year, many children are injured or killed in vehicle crashes because they are 
either unrestrained or not properly restrained. In fact, vehicle crashes are the 
number one cause of death of children ages 12 and under.

To reduce the number of child deaths and injuries, every state, Canadian province 
and territory requires that infants and children be properly restrained when they ride 
in a vehicle.

Children should sit properly restrained in a rear seat.

 This is because:

•

An inflating front or side airbag can injure 
or kill a child sitting in the front seat.

•

A child in the front seat is more likely to 
interfere with the driver's ability to safely 
control the vehicle.

•

Statistics show that children of all sizes and 
ages are safer when they are properly 
restrained in a rear seat.

1

Protecting Child Passengers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
and Transport Canada recommends that all children 
ages 12 and under be properly restrained in a rear 
seat. Some states or provinces/territories have laws 
restricting where children may ride.

3

WARNING

Children who are unrestrained or 
improperly restrained can be seriously 
injured or killed in a crash.

Any child too small for a seat belt should be 
properly restrained in a child seat. A larger 
child should be properly restrained with a 
seat belt, using a booster seat if necessary.

57

uu

Child Safety

u

Protecting Child Passengers

Safe 

Driving

•

Any child who is too small to wear a seat belt correctly must be restrained in an 
approved child seat that is properly secured to the vehicle using either the seat 
belt or the lower anchors of the LATCH system.

•

Never hold a child on your lap because it is impossible to protect them in the 
event of a collision.

•

Never put a seat belt over yourself and a child. During a crash, the belt would 
likely press deep into the child and cause serious or fatal injuries.

•

Never let two children use the same seat belt. Both children could be very 
seriously injured in a crash.

•

Do not allow children to operate the doors, windows or seat adjustments.

•

Do not leave children in the vehicle unattended, especially in hot weather when 
the inside of the vehicle can get hot enough to kill them. They could also activate 
vehicle controls causing it to move unexpectedly.

1

Protecting Child Passengers

To deactivate a lockable retractor, release the buckle 
and allow the seat belt to wind up all the way.

To remind you of the passenger's front airbag 
hazards and child safety, your vehicle has warning 
labels on the dashboard (U.S. models) and on the 
front visors. Please read and follow the instructions 
on these labels.

2

Safety Labels

 P. 70

3

WARNING

Allowing a child to play with a seat belt or 
wrap one around their neck can result in 
serious injury or death.

Instruct children not to play with any seat 
belt and make sure any unused seat belt a 
child can reach is buckled, fully retracted, 
and locked.

58

uu

Child Safety

u

Safety of Infants and Small Children

Safe 

Driving

Safety of Infants and Small Children

An infant must be properly restrained in a rear-facing child seat until the infant 
reaches the seat manufacturer’s weight or height limit for the seat.

■

Positioning a rear-facing child seat

Child seats must be placed and secured in a 
rear seating position.

When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front 
passenger from moving their seat all the way back, or from locking their seat-back 
in the desired position. Make sure that there is no contact between the child seat 
and the seat in front of it.

It can also interfere with proper operation of the passenger's advanced front airbag 
system.

2

Airbags

 P. 41

If this occurs, we recommend that you install the child seat directly behind the front 
passenger's seat, move the seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied. 
Or, you may wish to get a smaller rear-facing child seat.

■

Protecting Infants

1

Protecting Infants

Experts recommend use of a rear-facing seat for a 
child so long as the child’s height and weight are 
appropriate for a rear-facing seat.

Infants should never be seated in a forward-facing 
position.

Always refer to the child seat manufacturer’s 
instructions before installation.

Do not allow a front seat to rest against a child seat 
installed in a rear seating position:
The weight sensor in the front seat may not correctly 
detect the actual weight of the occupant.

3

WARNING

Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front 
seat can result in serious injury or death 
during a crash.

Always place a rear-facing child seat in the 
rear seat, not the front.

Continued

59

uu

Child Safety

u

Safety of Infants and Small Children

Safe 

Driving

If a child has exceeded the weight and height limitations of a rear-facing child seat, 
the child should be properly restrained in a firmly secured forward-facing child seat 
until they exceed the weight and height limitations for the forward-facing child seat.

■

Forward-facing child seat placement

We strongly recommend placing a forward-
facing child seat in a rear seating position.

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the front seat can be hazardous, even with 
advanced front airbags that automatically turn the passenger's front airbag off. A 
rear seat is the safest place for a child.

■

Protecting Smaller Children

1

Protecting Smaller Children

Educate yourself about the laws and regulations 
regarding child seat use where you are driving, and 
follow the child seat manufacturer's instructions.

3

WARNING

Placing a forward-facing child seat in the 
front seat can result in serious injury or 
death if the front airbag inflates.

If you must place a forward-facing child 
seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far 
back as possible, and properly restrain the 
child.