Side Airbag - Inboard - Driver - Remove And Replace: Remove

Remove the driver seat. See Seat Assembly - 1st Row - LH (Remove and Install) .
With assistance, place the driver seat on a protected surface so that the underside of the seat can be accessed.
Remove the driver seat inboard side shield. See Side Shield - Inboard - Driver Seat (Remove and Replace) .
Release the seat back elastic straps (x2) from the driver seat frame.

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Position the driver seat upright.
Remove the driver seat headrest trim. See Trim - Headrest - Driver (Remove and Replace) .
Remove the driver seat back shell. See Shell - Seat Back - Driver (Remove and Replace)
Release the RH side of the driver seat back trim assembly, and then move the trim aside for access.

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Push down on the tab to release the driver inboard side airbag electrical connector, and then disconnect the connector.

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Release the clip that attaches the driver seat harness to the RH side of seat back frame.

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Carefully pull the seat cover and foam assembly away from the frame, and then remove and discard the nuts (x2) that attach the driver inboard side airbag to the seat back frame assembly.
5.4 N.m (4.0 ft-lbs)

Tip: Use of the following tool(s) is recommended:
- 11 mm socket
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Slide the airbag chute with the airbag still inside through the seatback foam, and then carefully remove the airbag from the airbag chute.
CAUTION: Make sure that the driver side airbag mounting studs do not catch in the holes of the airbag chute.

CAUTION: Handle the airbag with extreme care when removing it from the airbag chute. The airbag is configured/folded in a specific manner and will need to be replaced if it is dropped, altered or manipulated in any way.