Honda Ridgeline (2019 year). Instruction - part 3

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For Safe Driving

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Important Handling Information

Safe Driving

Important Handling Information

Your vehicle has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use 
only on pavement. Higher ground clearance has many advantages for off-highway 
driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough terrain. It also 
provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.

These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher 
off the ground, it has a higher center gravity making it more susceptible to tipping 
or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a significantly higher 
rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is 
significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, 
make sure you and your passengers always wear seat belts.

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Important Handling Information

For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, 
read:

2 Driving Guidelines for Your Utility Vehicle 

P. 440

2 Off-Highway Driving Guidelines P. 432

Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result 
in a crash or a rollover.

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For Safe Driving

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Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Safe Driving

Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

The following checklist will help you take an active role in protecting yourself and 
your passengers.

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Your Vehicle’s Safety Features

Your vehicle is equipped with many features that 
work together to help protect you and your 
passengers during a crash.

Some features do not require any action on your part. 
These include a strong steel framework that forms a 
safety cage around the passenger compartment, 
front and rear crush zones, a collapsible steering 
column, and tensioners that tighten the front seat 
belts in a sufficient crash.

However, you and your passengers cannot take full 
advantage of these features unless you remain seated 
in the correct position and always wear your seat 
belts. In fact, some safety features can contribute to 
injuries if they are not used properly.

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Safety Cage
Crush Zones
Seats and Seat-Backs
Head Restraints
Collapsible Steering Column
Seat Belts
Front Airbags

Door Locks
Seat Belt Tensioners

Side Curtain Airbags

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Side Airbags

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For Safe Driving

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Safety Checklist

Safe Driving

Safety Checklist

For the safety of you and your passengers, make a habit of checking these items 
each time before you drive.
• After everyone has entered the vehicle, be sure all doors are closed and locked. 

Locking the doors helps prevent an occupant from being ejected and an outsider 
from unexpectedly opening a door.

2 Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside P. 121

• Adjust your seat to a position suitable for driving. Be sure the front seats are 

adjusted as far to the rear as possible while allowing the driver to control the 
vehicle. Sitting too close to a front airbag can result in serious or fatal injury in a 
crash.

2 Adjusting the Seats P. 163

• Adjust head restraints to the proper position. Head restraints are most effective 

when the center of the head restraint aligns with the center of your head. Taller 
persons should adjust their head restraint to the highest position.

2 Adjusting the front head restraint positions P. 168

• Always wear your seat belt, and make sure you wear it properly. Confirm that any 

passengers are properly belted as well.

2 Fastening a Seat Belt P. 38

• Protect children by using seat belts or child seats according to a child’s age, height 

and weight.

2 Child Safety P. 55

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Safety Checklist

If the door, trunk and/or tailgate open message 
appears on the multi-information display, the door, 
the trunk and/or the tailgate is not completely closed. 
Close all doors, the trunk and the tailgate tightly until 
the message disappears.

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Safe Driving

Seat Belts

About Your Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most effective safety device because they keep you 
connected to the vehicle so that you can take advantage of many built-in safety 
features. They also help keep you from being thrown against the inside of the 
vehicle, against any passengers, or out of the vehicle. When worn properly, seat 
belts also keep your body properly positioned in a crash so that you can take full 
advantage of the additional protection provided by the airbags.

In addition, seat belts help protect you in almost every type of crash, including:
- frontal impacts
- side impacts
- rear impacts
- rollovers

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Lap/shoulder seat belts

All five seating positions are equipped with lap/shoulder seat belts with emergency 
locking retractors. In normal driving the retractor lets you move freely while keeping 
some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop the retractor locks to 
restrain your body.
The front passenger’s and rear seat belts also have a lockable retractor for use with 
child seats.

2 Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/Shoulder Seat Belt P. 63

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About Your Seat Belts

Seat belts cannot completely protect you in every 
crash. But in most cases, seat belts can reduce your 
risk of serious injury.

Most states and all Canadian provinces and territories 
require you to wear seat belts.

If you extend the seat belt too quickly, it will lock in 
place. If this happens, slightly retract the seat belt, 
then extend it slowly.

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WARNING

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases 
the chance of serious injury or death in a 
crash, even though your vehicle has 
airbags.

Be sure you and your passengers always 
wear seat belts and wear them properly.

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WARNING

Allowing passengers to ride in the pickup 
bed or on the tailgate can result in death or 
serious injury in a crash.

Make sure all passengers ride in a seat and 
wear a seat belt properly.

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Seat Belts

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About Your Seat Belts

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Safe Driving

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Proper use of seat belts

Follow these guidelines for proper use:
• All occupants should sit upright, well back in the seat, and remain in that position 

for the duration of the trip. Slouching and leaning reduce the effectiveness of the 
belt and can increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

• Never place the shoulder part of a lap/shoulder seat belt under your arm or 

behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.

• Two people should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very 

seriously injured in a crash.

• Do not put any accessories on the seat belts. Devices intended to improve comfort 

or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability 
and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Your vehicle monitors front seat belt use. If 
the power mode is set to ON before the 
driver’s seat belt is fastened, the beeper will 
sound and the indicator will blink. If the driver 
does not fasten the belt before the beeper 
stops, the indicator will remain on.
The beeper will periodically sound and the 
indicator will blink while driving until the 
driver’s and/or the front passenger’s seat belt 
is fastened.

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Seat Belt Reminder

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About Your Seat Belts

If a front and/or rear seat passenger moves around 
and extends the seat belt, the lockable retractor may 
activate. If this happens, release the retractor by 
unfastening the seat belt and allow the belt to retract 
completely. Then refasten the belt.

The pickup bed is not equipped with seats or seat 
belts. Do not let anyone ride in the pickup bed as they 
can easily be thrown out and be killed or seriously 
injured.

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Seat Belt Reminder

The indicator will also come on if a front passenger 
does not fasten their seat belt within six seconds after 
the power mode is set to ON.

When no one is sitting in the front passenger’s seat, 
the indicator will not come on and the beeper will not 
sound.
The indicator also may not come on and the beeper 
may not sound when the occupant is not heavy 
enough to trigger the weight sensor. Such occupants 
(e.g., infants and smaller children) should be moved 
to the rear seat as a deploying front airbag likely will 
injure or kill them.

2 Protecting Child Passengers P. 55

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Seat Belts

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About Your Seat Belts

Safe Driving

The front seats are equipped with automatic 
seat belt tensioners to enhance safety.

The tensioners automatically tighten the front 
seat belts during a moderate-to-severe frontal 
collision, sometimes even if the collision is not 
severe enough to inflate the front airbags.

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Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

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Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

The seat belt tensioners can only operate once.
If a tensioner is activated, the SRS indicator will come 
on. Have a dealer replace the tensioner and 
thoroughly inspect the seat belt system as it may not 
offer protection in a subsequent crash.

During a moderate-to-severe side impact, the 
tensioner on that side of the vehicle also activates.

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

Safe Driving

Fastening a Seat Belt

After adjusting a front seat to the proper position, and while sitting upright and well 
back in the seat:

2 Adjusting the Seats P. 163

1. Pull the seat belt out slowly.

2. Insert the latch plate into the buckle, then 

tug on the belt to make sure the buckle is 
secure.

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Make sure that the belt is not twisted or 
caught on anything.

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Fastening a Seat Belt

No one should sit in a seat with an inoperative seat 
belt or one that does not appear to be working 
correctly. Using a seat belt that is not working 
properly may not protect the occupant in a crash. 
Have a dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

Never insert any foreign objects into the buckle or 
retractor mechanism.

Pull out slowly.

Correct 
Seated 
Posture.

Latch 
Plate

Buckle

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

Safe Driving

3. Position the lap part of the belt as low as 

possible across your hips, then pull up on 
the shoulder part of the belt so the lap part 
fits snugly. This lets your strong pelvic 
bones take the force of a crash and reduces 
the chance of internal injuries.

4. If necessary, pull up on the belt again to 

remove any slack, then check that the belt 
rests across the center of your chest and 
over your shoulder. This spreads the forces 
of a crash over the strongest bones in your 
upper body.

The front seats have adjustable shoulder anchors to accommodate taller and shorter 
occupants.

1. Move the anchor up or down while 

squeezing the release buttons.

2. Position the anchor so that the belt rests 

across the center of your chest and over 
your shoulder.

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Fastening a Seat Belt

To release the belt, push the red PRESS button and 
then guide the belt by hand until it has retracted 
completely.
When exiting the vehicle, be sure the belt is properly 
stowed so that it will not get caught in the closing 
door.

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WARNING

Improperly positioning the seat belts can 
cause serious injury or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are properly 
positioned before driving.

Lap belt 
as low as 
possible

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Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor

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Adjusting the Shoulder Anchor

The shoulder anchor height can be adjusted to four 
levels. If the belt contacts your neck, lower the height 
one level at a time.

After an adjustment, make sure that the shoulder 
anchor position is secure.

Push

Push

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Seat Belts

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Fastening a Seat Belt

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Safe Driving

If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when 
driving or riding in a vehicle is to always wear a seat belt and keep the lap part of the 
belt as low as possible across the hips.

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Advice for Pregnant Women

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Advice for Pregnant Women

Each time you have a checkup, ask your doctor if it is 
okay for you to drive.

To reduce the risk of injuries to both you and your 
unborn child that can be caused by an inflating front 
airbag:

•

When driving, sit upright and adjust the seat as far 
back as possible while allowing full control of the 
vehicle.

•

When sitting in the front passenger’s seat, adjust 
the seat as far back as possible.

Wear the shoulder belt 
across the chest avoiding 
the abdomen.

Wear the lap part of the 
belt as low as possible 
across the hips.

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Seat Belts

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Seat Belt Inspection

Safe Driving

Seat Belt Inspection

Regularly check the condition of your seat belts as follows:

• Pull each belt out fully, and look for frays, cuts, burns, and wear.
• Check that the latch plates and buckles work smoothly and the belts retract 

easily.

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If a belt does not retract easily, cleaning the belt may correct the problem. Only 
use a mild soap and warm water. Do not use bleach or cleaning solvents. Make 
sure the belt is completely dry before allowing it to retract.

Any belt that is not in good condition or working properly will not provide proper 
protection and should be replaced as soon as possible.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level of 
protection in a subsequent crash. Have your seat belts inspected by a dealer after 
any collision.

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Seat Belt Inspection

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WARNING

Not checking or maintaining seat belts can 
result in serious injury or death if the seat 
belts do not work properly when needed.

Check your seat belts regularly and have 
any problem corrected as soon as possible.

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Safe Driving

Airbags

Airbag System Components

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Airbags

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Airbag System Components

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Safe Driving

The front, 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 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.

c

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.

d

An electronic control unit that, when the 
vehicle is on, continually monitors 
information about the various impact 
sensors, seat and buckle sensors, airbag 
activators, and seat belt tensioners. 
During a crash event the unit records 
such information.

e

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.

f

A driver’s seat position sensor. This 
sensor determines the optimal force at 
which the airbag will deploy in a crash.

g

Weight sensors in the front passenger’s 
seat. The front passenger’s airbag will be 
turned off if the weight on the seat is 
approximately 65 lbs (29 kg) or less (the 
weight of an infant or small child).

h

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

i

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

j

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

k

Safing Sensor

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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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 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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Airbags

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Types of Airbags

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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.

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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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Airbags

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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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Airbags

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Front Airbags (SRS)

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Safe Driving

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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.