10 silly items found in car owner's manuals

(Photo: R0ng | Flickr)(Photo: R0ng | Flickr)Auto-dealership service managers likely originated the now-common initialism "RTFM" when describing to colleagues the proper answer to a customer question about his or her car, which would be: Consult the owner's manual. No doubt this is a reflection of the growth in sheer page numbers of the owner's manuals that come with new cars today. We have trouble digesting some of the 500-page books of instructions, so voluminous that Chrysler stopped printing them for its vehicles in 2009 (they're available online for customers to print themselves).

1. 2013 Toyota Prius V

Page 35: "Do not dispose of the vehicle yourself."

It probably won't fit in your recycling bin anyway.

2. 2007 Mazda RX-8

Page 2-9: "The driver's seat belt has no provisions for child-restraint systems and has only an emergency locking mode."

Your kid is going to want to drive your RX-8. Just wait until he or she grows out of the booster seat.

3. 2012 Nissan Juke

Page 1-4: "Do not fold down the rear seats when occupants are in the rear seat area or any objects are on the rear seats."

Unless you simply don't like your passengers.

4. 2012 Nissan Juke

Page 3-7, 3-17: "Do not operate the key fob while on an airplane."

But seriously, if you could unlock your Juke from an airplane, that would be amazing.

(Photo: Mercedes-Benz)5. 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK

Page 160: "Take particular care not to park on dry grassland or harvested grain fields."

Parking your Mercedes on a field of waving wheat or a meadow glistening with morning dew is apparently fine.



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