This section of the Nissan Sentra Owner’s Manual provides important safety information regarding the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), which includes the following protective systems:

• Driver and front passenger supplemental front-impact air bag (NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System)
• Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag
• Rear outboard seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag system
• Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bag
• Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bag
• Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (front seats and rear outboard seats)

Supplemental front-impact air bag system

The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System in the Nissan Sentra is designed to help cushion the impact force to the head and chest of the driver and front passenger in certain frontal collisions, depending on crash severity and occupant conditions.

Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag system

This system is designed to help reduce the impact force to the chest area of the driver and front passenger during certain side-impact collisions.

The side air bags are engineered to deploy on the side of the vehicle that experiences the impact.

Rear outboard seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bag system

This system helps cushion the impact force to the chest area of rear outboard seat passengers in certain side-impact collisions.

The rear side air bags are designed to inflate only on the side of the Nissan Sentra that is struck.

Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bag

This system can help reduce the impact force to the knees of the driver and front passenger in certain collision scenarios, providing additional lower-body protection.

Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bag system

This system is designed to help cushion the impact force to the head of occupants seated in the front and rear outboard positions during certain side-impact collisions.

The curtain air bags are designed to deploy on the side where the Nissan Sentra is impacted. In the event of a rollover, the curtain air bags are designed to inflate and remain inflated for a short period of time to help protect occupants.

The SRS is intended to supplement the crash protection provided by properly worn seat belts. It is not a substitute for seat belts. Seat belts must always be worn correctly, and occupants should sit upright at a suitable distance from the steering wheel, instrument panel, and door trim.

The supplemental air bags operate only when the ignition switch is placed in the ON position.

After the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, the supplemental air bag warning light illuminates. The warning light will turn off after approximately 7 seconds if the system is operating correctly.

WARNING

• The front air bags generally will not inflate in side impacts, rear impacts, rollovers, or low-severity frontal collisions. Always wear seat belts to reduce the risk or severity of injury in all types of accidents.
• The front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag will not deploy if the passenger air bag status light is illuminated. For additional details, refer to “Front passenger air bag and status light”.
• The seat belts and front air bags provide maximum protection when occupants are seated upright and well back in the seat.
  The front air bags deploy with considerable force. Even with the NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System, occupants who are unrestrained, leaning forward, sitting sideways, or otherwise out of position face an increased risk of serious injury or death. Serious or fatal injuries may also occur if an occupant is too close to the air bag at the time of deployment. Always sit back against the seatback and as far away as practical from the steering wheel or instrument panel, and always use the seat belts properly.
• The driver and front passenger seat belt buckles are equipped with sensors that detect seat belt usage. The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System uses this information, along with crash severity data, to determine air bag deployment. Failure to wear seat belts properly increases the risk or severity of injury in an accident.
• The front passenger seat is equipped with an occupant classification sensor (weight sensor) that may turn the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag OFF under certain conditions. This sensor is used only for the front passenger seat. Improper seating position or failure to wear a seat belt may increase the risk of injury.
• Keep your hands on the outside of the steering wheel. Placing hands inside the steering wheel rim can increase the risk of hand or arm injury when the front air bag deploys.

WARNING

• Never allow children to ride without proper restraints or to extend their hands, arms, or face out of a window. Do not attempt to hold a child in your lap or arms. In the Nissan Sentra, unrestrained children can be exposed to extreme forces during a collision. Examples of dangerous seating and riding positions are shown in the illustrations.

WARNING

• Children can be seriously injured or killed if the front air bags, side air bags, or curtain air bags deploy while they are not properly restrained. Pre-teens and children should always be seated in the rear seat of the Nissan Sentra and properly restrained whenever possible.

WARNING

• Even with the NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System, never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat.
  If the front air bag inflates, it can cause serious injury or death to a child. Rear-facing child restraints must only be installed in the rear seat of the Nissan Sentra.

WARNING

Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bags:

• These side and curtain air bags generally do not inflate during frontal impacts, rear impacts, or lower-severity side collisions. Always wear seat belts in the Nissan Sentra to help reduce the risk or severity of injury in all types of accidents.

WARNING

• Seat belts, side air bags, and curtain air bags are most effective when occupants are seated upright with both feet on the floor. Side and curtain air bags deploy with significant force. Do not allow anyone to place their hands, legs, or face near the side air bag area on the seatback or near the side roof rails. Occupants in the Nissan Sentra should never lean against doors or extend arms or hands out of the window. Examples of unsafe seating positions are shown in the illustrations.

WARNING

• When seated in the rear seat, do not hold onto the front seatback. If a side air bag deploys, serious injury may occur. This is especially important for children, who must always be properly restrained.
  Illustrations above show examples of dangerous rear seat riding positions.
• Do not install or use seat covers on the front seatbacks. Seat covers may interfere with proper side air bag deployment in the Nissan Sentra.