Hyundai Equus: Main components of occupant classification system

• A detection device located within the front passenger seat cushion. • Electronic system to determine whether the passenger air bag systems (both front and side) should be activated or deactivated.
• A warning light located on the instrument panel which illuminates the words "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicating the front passenger air bag system is deactivated.
• The instrument panel air bag indicator light is interconnected with the occupant classification system.

If the front passenger seat is occupied by a person that the system determines to be of adult size, and he/she sits properly (sitting upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor), the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator will be turned off and the front passenger's air bag will be able to inflate, if necessary, in frontal crashes.

You will find the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator on the center facia panel. This system detects the conditions 1~4 in the following table and activates or deactivates the front passenger air bag based on these conditions.

Always be sure that you and all vehicle occupants are seated properly and wearing the seat belt properly for the most effective protection by the air bag and the seat belt.

• The OCS may not function properly if the passenger takes actions which can affect the classification system. These include:

(1) Failing to sit in an upright position.
(2) Leaning against the door or center console.
(3) Sitting towards the sides or the front of the seat.
(4) Putting their legs on the dashboard or resting them on other locations which reduce the passenger weight on the front seat.
(5) Wearing the safety belt improperly.
(6) Reclining the seat back.

Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classification system

*1) The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and posture.

*2) Never install a child restraint system on the front passenger seat.

*3) The PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF” indicator may turn on or off when a child under age13 (with or without child restraint system) or without child restraint system) sits in the front passenger seat. This is a normal condition.

WARNING

Riding in an improper position or placing weight on the front passenger's seat when it is unoccupied by a passenger adversely affects the occupant classification system (OCS).

Never put a heavy load in the front passenger seat or seatback pocket.

Never sit with hips shifted towards the front of the seat.

Never place feet or legs on the dashboard.

Never place feet on the front passenger seatback.

NEVER ride with the seatback reclined when the vehicle is moving.

NEVER lean on the door or center console or sit on one side of the front passenger seat.

If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator is on when an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, press the Engine Start/Stop Button to the OFF position and ask the passenger to sit properly (sitting upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor). Restart the engine and have the person remain in that position. This will allow the system to detect the person and to enable the passenger air bag. If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator is still on, ask the passenger to move to the rear seat.

WARNING

Do not allow an adult passenger to ride in the front seat when the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indicator is illuminated because the air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash. If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator remains illuminated after the adult passenger repositions themselves properly and the car is restarted, it is recommended that passenger move to the rear seat because the passenger's front air bag will not deploy. Front seat passengers must stay properly seated to avoid serious injury from a deploying air bag.

✽ NOTICE

The "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator illuminates after the Engine Start/Stop Button is pressed to the ON position or after the engine is started. If the front passenger seat is occupied, the OCS will then classify the front passenger after several more seconds.

WARNING

Do not put a heavy load on the front passenger seat. Do not place any items under the front passenger seat. Any of these could interfere with proper sensor operation.

WARNING

• Even though your vehicle is equipped with the occupant classification system, never install a child restraint system in the front passenger's seat. A deploying air bag can forcefully strike a child resulting in serious injuries or death. Any child age 12 and under should ride in the rear seat. Children too large for child restraints should use the available lap/shoulder belts. No matter what type of crash, children of all ages are safer when restrained in the rear seat.
• If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator is illuminated when the front passenger's seat is occupied by an adult and he/she sits properly (sitting upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor), have that person sit in the rear seat.
• Do not modify or replace the front passenger seat. Don't place anything on or attach anything such as a blanket or seat heater to the front passenger seat. This can adversely affect the occupant classification system.
• If you change the weight on the front passenger seat, the PASSENGER “AIR BAG OFF” indicator may turn on or off for a few seconds, disabling or enabling the passenger air bag.
• Do not sit on sharp objects such as tools when occupying the front passenger seat. This can adversely affect the occupant classification system.
• Do not use accessory seat covers on the front seats.
• Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear, as opposed to the front seat. It is recommended that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat.
• Air bags can only be used once – have an authorized EQUUS dealer replace the air bag immediately after deployment.
• A smaller-stature adult who is not seated correctly (for example: seat excessively reclined, leaning on the door or center console, or hips shifted forward in the seat) can cause a condition where the advanced frontal air bag system senses less weight than if the occupant were seated properly (sitting upright with the seatback in an upright position, centered on the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended and their feet on the floor). This condition can result in an adult potentially being misclassified and illumination of the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator.

WARNING

If the occupant classification system is not working properly, the SRS air bag warning light on the instrument
panel will illuminate because the passenger's front air bag is connected with the occupant classification system. If there is a malfunction of the occupant classification system, the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator will not illuminate and the passenger's front air bag will inflate in frontal impact crashes even if there is no occupant in the front passenger's seat. If the SRS air bag warning light does not illuminate when the Engine Start/Stop Button is turned to the ON position, remains illuminated after approximately 6 seconds when the Engine Start/Stop Button is turned to the ON position, or if it illuminates while the vehicle is being driven, have an authorized EQUUS dealer inspect the occupant classification system and the SRS air bag system as soon as possible.