Acura TLX (2021 year). Manual in english - page 4

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Airbags

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Airbag Care

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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, the seat belt tensioners 
for the front seats and outer rear seats, and each seat belt that was worn during the 
crash.

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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.

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Passenger Airbag Off Indicator

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 off.

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

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Airbag Care

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

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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.

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Protecting Child Passengers

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport Canada recommend 
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.

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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.

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Child Safety

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Protecting Child Passengers

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•

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.

•

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.

•

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.

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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.

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Safety Labels

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Airbags

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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.

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Protecting Infants

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Protecting Infants

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

Always refer to the child seat manufacturer’s 
instructions before installation.
Infants never should be seated in a forward facing 
position.

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.

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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.

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If a child has exceeded the weight and height limitations of a rearward-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.

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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.

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Protecting Smaller Children

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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.

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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.

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Most child seats are LATCH-compatible (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). 
Some have a rigid-type connector while others have a flexible-type connector. Both 
are equally easy to use. Some existing and previously owned child seats can only be 
installed using the seat belt. Whichever type you choose, follow the child seat 
manufacturer’s use and care instructions including recommended expiration dates 
as well as the instructions in this manual. Proper installation is key to maximizing 
your child’s safety.

In seating positions and vehicles not equipped with LATCH, a LATCH-compatible 
child seat can be installed using the seat belt and a top tether for added security. 
This is because all child seats are required to be designed so that they can be secured 
with a lap belt or the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. In addition, the child seat 
manufacturer may advise that a seat belt be used to attach a LATCH-compatible seat 
once a child reaches a specified weight. Please read the child seat owner’s manual 
for proper installation instructions.

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Important consideration when selecting a child seat

Make sure the child seat meets the following three requirements:

•

The child seat is the correct type and size for the child.

•

The child seat is the correct type for the seating position.

•

The child seat is compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 or 
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.

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Selecting a Child Seat

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Selecting a Child Seat

Installation of a LATCH-compatible child seat is 
simple.

LATCH-compatible child seats have been developed 
to simplify the installation process and reduce the 
likelihood of injuries caused by incorrect installation.

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A LATCH-compatible child seat can be installed in either of the two outer rear seats. 
A child seat is attached to the lower anchors with either the rigid or flexible type of 
connectors.

1.

Locate the anchor marks affixed to the base 
of the seat cushion.

2.

Pull out the anchor covers with the marks to 
expose the lower anchors.

3.

Place the child seat on the vehicle seat, then 
attach the child seat to the lower anchors 
according to the instructions that came 
with the child seat.

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When installing the child seat, make sure 
that the lower anchors are not 
obstructed by the seat belt or any other 
object.

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Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat

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Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat

For your child’s safety, when using a child seat 
installed using the LATCH system, make sure that the 
child seat is properly secured to the vehicle.
A child seat that is not properly secured will not 
adequately protect a child in a crash and may cause 
injury to the child or other vehicle occupants.

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WARNING

Never attach two child seats to the same 
anchor. In a collision, one anchor may not 
be strong enough to hold two child seat 
attachments and may break, causing 
serious injury or death.

Marks

Rigid Type

Lower 

Anchors

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4.

Open the tether anchor cover behind the 
head restraint.

5.

Adjust the head restraint to its upper-most 
position, then route the tether strap 
between the head restraint legs, and secure 
the tether strap hook to the anchor.

Flexible Type

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Installing a LATCH-Compatible Child Seat

Installing a LATCH-compatible child seat in the 
rear center seat

Each outer rear seat is equipped with a pair of lower 
anchors which are used to secure a LATCH-
compatible child seat. The rear center seat, however, 
is not equipped with anchors of any kind.
The inner and outer anchors are spaced apart at a 
standard distance of 11 inches (280 mm). The 
distance between the two inner anchors is 15.7 
inches (400 mm).
LATCH-compatible restraint systems that are fitted 
with rigid-type attachments cannot be installed in the 
rear center seat. However, a system fitted with 
flexible-type attachments can be installed in the 
center seat, provided that the manufacturer’s 
instructions for that system permit the use of the 
inner anchors with the stated spacing.
Before seating a child, make sure that the system is 
properly attached to both the lower anchors and 
tether anchors.

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WARNING

Do not use the lower inner anchors of the 
outer rear seats to secure a LATCH-
compatible child seat to the rear center 
seat, unless the manufacturer's instructions 
for that system permit the use of inner 
anchors with the stated spacing.

Tether Strap 

Hook

Anchor

Straight Top Tether Type

Straight Top Tether Type

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5.

Adjust the head restraint to its upper-most 
position, then route the tether strap around 
the head restraint legs, and secure the 
tether strap hook to the anchor.

6.

Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the 
child seat manufacturer.

7.

Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by 
rocking it forward and back and side to 
side; little movement should be felt.

8.

Make sure any unused seat belt that a child 
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor 
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted 
and locked.

Other Top Tether Type

Tether Strap 

Hook

Anchor

Other Top Tether Type

All Types

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A child seat can be installed with a lap/shoulder belt in any rear seat or, if absolutely 
necessary, the front passenger seat.

1.

Place the child seat on the vehicle seat.

2.

Route the seat belt through the child seat 
according to the seat manufacturer’s 
instructions, and insert the latch plate into 
the buckle.

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Insert the latch plate fully until it clicks.

3.

Slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all 
the way out until it stops. This activates the 
lockable retractor.

4.

Let the seat belt retract a few inches and 
check that the retractor has switched 
modes by pulling on the webbing. It should 
not pull out again until it is reset by 
removing the latch plate from the buckle.

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If you are able to pull the shoulder belt 
out, the lockable retractor is not 
activated. Slowly pull the seat belt all the 
way out, and repeat steps 3 – 4.

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Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt

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Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt

A child seat that is not properly secured will not 
adequately protect a child in a crash and may cause 
injury to the child or other vehicle occupants.

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5.

Grab the shoulder part of the seat belt near 
the buckle, and pull up to remove any slack 
from the lap part of the belt.

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When doing this, place your weight on 
the child seat and push it into the vehicle 
seat.

6.

Make sure the child seat is firmly secured by 
rocking it forward and back and side to 
side; less than one inch of movement 
should occur near the seat belt.

7.

Make sure any unused seat belt that a child 
can reach is buckled, the lockable retractor 
is activated, and the belt is fully retracted 
and locked.

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Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt

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

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A tether anchor point is provided behind each 
rear seating position.
If you have a child seat that comes with a 
tether but can be installed with a seat belt, the 
tether may be used for additional security.

1.

Locate the appropriate tether anchor point 
and lift the cover.

2.

Adjust the head restraint to its upper-most 
position, then route the tether strap 
through the head restraint legs. Make sure 
the strap is not twisted.

2.

Adjust the head restraint to its upper-most 
position, then route the tether strap around 
the head restraint legs.

3.

Secure the tether strap hook to the anchor.

4.

Tighten the tether strap as instructed by the 
child seat manufacturer.

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Adding Security with a Tether

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Adding Security with a Tether

Always use a tether for forward-facing child seats 
whether using the seat belt or lower anchors.

Tether Anchor Points

Cover

Anchor

Tether Strap 

Hook

Anchor

Straight Top Tether Type in 

Outer Position

Straight Top Tether Type

Other Top Tether Type in 

Outer Position

Anchor

Tether Strap 

Hook

Other Top Tether Type

All Types

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Straight Top Tether Type in 

Center Position

Tether Strap 

Hook

Anchor

Other Top Tether Type in 

Center Position

Anchor

Tether Strap 

Hook

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Safety of Larger Children

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Safety of Larger Children

The following pages give instructions on how to check proper seat belt fit, what kind 
of booster seat to use if one is needed, and important precautions for a child who 
must sit in front.

When a child is too big for a child seat, secure the child in a rear seat using the lap/
shoulder seat belt. Have the child sit upright and all the way back, then answer the 
following questions.

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Checklist

•

Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over 
the edge of the seat?

•

Does the shoulder belt cross between the 
child’s neck and arm?

•

Is the lap part of the seat belt as low as 
possible, touching the child’s thighs?

•

Will the child be able to stay seated like this 
for the whole trip?

If you answer yes to all these questions, the child is ready to wear the lap/shoulder 
seat belt correctly. If you answer no to any question, the child needs to ride on a 
booster seat until the seat belt fits properly without a booster seat.

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Protecting Larger Children

■

Checking Seat Belt Fit

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Safety of Larger Children

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WARNING

Allowing a child age 12 or under to sit in 
front can result in injury or death if the 
passenger’s front airbag inflates.

If a larger child must ride in front, move the 
vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible, 
have the child sit up properly and wear the 
seat belt properly, using a booster seat if 
needed.

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If a lap/shoulder seat belt cannot be used 
properly, position the child in a booster seat in 
the rear seat. For the child’s safety, check that 
the child meets the booster seat 
manufacturer’s recommendations.

Your vehicle has a rear seat where children can be properly restrained. If you ever 
have to carry a group of children, and a child must ride in front:

•

Make sure you read and fully understand the instructions and safety information 
in this manual.

•

Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.

•

Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat.

•

Check that the seat belt is properly positioned so that the child is secure in the 
seat.

■

Monitoring child passengers

We strongly recommend that you keep an eye on child passengers. Even older, more 
mature children sometimes need to be reminded to fasten their seat belts and sit up 
properly.

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Booster Seats

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Booster Seats

When installing a booster seat, make sure to read the 
instructions that came with it, and install the seat 
accordingly.
There are high- and low-type booster seats. Choose a 
booster seat that allows the child to wear the seat 
belt correctly.

Some U.S. states, and Canadian provinces and 
territories require children to use a booster seat until 
they reach a given age or weight (e.g. 6 years or 60 
lbs). Be sure to check current laws in the state or 
province, or territory where you intend to drive.

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Protecting Larger Children - Final Checks

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Exhaust Gas Hazard

Carbon Monoxide Gas

The engine exhaust from this vehicle contains carbon monoxide, a colorless, 
odorless, and highly toxic gas. As long as you properly maintain your vehicle, carbon 
monoxide gas will not get into the interior.

■

Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks whenever

•

The exhaust system is making an unusual noise.

•

The exhaust system may have been damaged.

•

The vehicle is raised for an oil change.

When you operate a vehicle with the trunk open, airflow can pull exhaust gas into 
the interior and create a hazardous condition. If you must drive with the trunk open, 
open all the windows and set the climate control system as shown below.

1.

Select the fresh air mode.

2.

Select the 

 mode.

3.

Set the fan speed to high.

4.

Set the temperature control to a comfortable setting.

Adjust the climate control system in the same manner if you sit in your parked 
vehicle with the engine running.

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Carbon Monoxide Gas

An enclosed area such as a garage can quickly fill up 
with carbon monoxide gas.
Do not run the engine with the garage door closed. 
Even when the garage door is open, drive out of the 
garage immediately after starting the engine.

3

WARNING

Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.

Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and 
even kill you.

Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that 
expose you to carbon monoxide.