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

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Safe Driving

Airbags

Airbag System Components

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Airbag System Components

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The front, driver’s knee, front passenger’s 
knee, front 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 
front passenger’s airbag is stored in the 
dashboard. Both are marked 

SRS 

AIRBAG

.

b

Two knee airbags. The driver’s knee 
airbag is stored under the steering 
column; the front passenger’s airbag is 
stored in the dashboard. Both are marked 

SRS AIRBAG

.

c

Two side airbags, one for the driver and 
one for a front 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 mode is in 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 can record such information.

f

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

g

Driver’s seat position sensor. This sensor 
detects the driver’s seat slide position to 
help determine the optimal deployment 
of the driver’s airbag.

h

Weight sensors in the front passenger’s 
seat. The sensors are used for occupant 
classification to activate or deactivate the 
front passenger’s airbag.

i

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

j

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

k

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

l

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

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Airbag System Components

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Safe Driving

Airbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with 
tremendous force. So, while airbags help 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 front 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, driver’s knee and front 
passenger’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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Types of Airbags

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Types of Airbags

Your vehicle is equipped with four types of airbags:

•

Front airbags: 

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

•

Knee airbags: 

Airbags under the steering column and under the glove box.

•

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

.

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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.

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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.

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Front Airbags (SRS)

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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

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How the Front Airbags Work

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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.

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Front Airbags (SRS)

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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 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.

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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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Front Airbags (SRS)

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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

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Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

 P. 59

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Advanced Airbags

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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.

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Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 
Indicator

 P. 58

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.

Driver’s 
Seat 
Position 
Sensor

Passenger’s 
Seat 
Weight 
Sensors

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Front Airbags (SRS)

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.

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Advanced Airbags

•

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 head restraint is not contacting the roof.

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Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

 P. 59

•

The floor mat behind the front passenger’s seat is 
set in the correct position evenly on the floor. An 
improperly placed mat can interfere with the 
advanced airbag sensors.

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Floor Mats

 P. 582

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Knee Airbags

Safe Driving

Knee Airbags

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

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 knee airbag for the driver and the one for 
the front passenger are housed under the 
steering column and the glove box 
respectively.

Both are marked 

SRS AIRBAG

.

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Housing Locations

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Knee Airbags

Do not attach accessories on or near the knee airbags 
as they can interfere with the proper operation of the 
airbags, or even hurt someone if the airbags inflate.

The driver and front passenger should not store any 
items under the seat or behind their feet. The items 
can interfere with proper airbag deployment in the 
event of a moderate to sever frontal collision and may 
result in inadequate protection.

Housing 
Location

Housing 
Location

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Knee Airbags

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Safe Driving

The driver’s and front passenger’s knee airbag 
deploy at the same time as the driver’s and 
front passenger’s airbag respectively.

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

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Operation

When 
inflated

Knee 
Airbag

When 
inflated

Knee 
Airbag

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Knee Airbags

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When knee 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 knee 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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Side Airbags

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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.

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Housing Locations

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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

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Operation

When 
inflated

Side 
Airbag

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Side Airbags

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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.

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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.

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Side Curtain Airbags

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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.

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Housing Locations

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Side Curtain Airbags

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.

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.

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.

Side Curtain Airbag Storage

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Operation

Deployed Side Curtain Airbag

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Airbag System Indicators

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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.

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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.

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Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator

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Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Indicator

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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.

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Airbag System Indicators

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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 if the seat is empty or 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.

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Child Safety

 P. 62

If the indicator is on, in the event of a crash the passenger’s airbag will not deploy. 
The passenger’s knee airbag will not deploy, either.

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Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

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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 
set in the correct position evenly on the floor. An 
improperly placed mat can interfere with the 
advanced airbag sensors.

•

The head restraint is not contacting the roof.

U.S.

Canada