Page 865 of 4133

61 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
To help avoid the possibility of injury, please 
follow these guidelines: (1) occupants, espe-
cially children, should never place their bod-
ies or lean their heads in the area of the door 
where the side airbag inflates. This could re-
sult in serious injuries or death should the 
side airbag be activated; (2) always sit up-
right, properly use the seat belts and use an 
appropriately sized infant or child restraint 
system for all children 12 years old or under; 
and (3) always wear seat belts properly.
If you believe that, even with the use of 
these guidelines, it would be safer for your 
rear seat occupants to have both rear door 
mounted side airbags deactivated, then de-
activation can be accomplished upon your 
written election to do so at your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center at an ad-
ditional cost. Please contact your local au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center 
or call our Customer Assistance Center at 
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) 
for details.
iAirbags are designed to activate only in 
certain frontal (front airbags) impacts, 
or side (side impact and head protec-
tion window curtain airbags) impacts 
which exceed preset thresholds.
Only during these types of impacts, if of 
sufficient severity to meet the deploy-
ment thresholds, will they provide their 
supplemental protection.
The driver and passenger should al-
ways wear their seat belts. Otherwise it 
is not possible for the airbags to pro-
vide their supplemental protection.
In cases of other frontal impacts, an-
gled impacts, roll-overs, other side im-
pacts, rear collisions, or other 
accidents, the airbags will not be acti-
vated. The driver and passengers will 
then be protected by the fastened seat 
belts.
We caution you not to rely on the pres-
ence of the airbags in order to avoid 
wearing your seat belt.
Your vehicle was originally equipped 
with airbags that are designed to acti-
vate in certain impacts exceeding a 
preset threshold to reduce the poten-
tial and severity of injury. It is important 
to your safety and that of your passen-
ger that you replace deployed airbags 
and repair any malfunctioning airbags 
to ensure that the vehicle will continue 
to provide supplemental crash protec-
tion for occupants. 
     
        
        Page 866 of 4133

62 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetySafety guidelines for the seat belt, 
emergency tensioning device and 
airbag
When you sell your vehicle, we strongly 
urge you to give notice to the subsequent 
owner that it is equipped with an SRS by 
alerting them to the applicable section in 
the Operator’s Manual.Warning
G
Damaged seat belts or belts that were 
highly stressed in an accident must be 
replaced and their anchoring points 
must also be checked. Use only belts in-
stalled or supplied by an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
No modifications of any kind may be 
made to any components or wiring of 
the SRS. This includes changing or re-
moving any component or part of the 
SRS, the installation of additional trim 
material, badges, etc. over the steering 
wheel hub, passenger front airbag cov-
er, or door trim panels, and installation 
of additional electrical / electronic 
equipment on or near SRS components 
and wiring. Keep area between airbags 
and occupants free from objects (e.g. 
packages, purses, umbrellas, etc.).
Airbags and emergency tensioning de-
vices (ETDs) are designed to function on 
a one-time only basis. An airbag or ETD 
that was activated must be replaced.
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. 
They could tear.
Do not make any modification that could 
change the effectiveness of the belts.
Do  n o t h a ng i te ms  su ch  as  c o at  ha n ger s 
from the coat hooks or handles over the 
door. These items may turn into projec-
tiles and cause head and other injuries 
when curtain airbag is deployed.
An airbag system component within the 
steering wheel gets hot after the airbag 
has inflated. Do not touch.
Improper work on the system, including 
incorrect installation and removal, can 
lead to possible injury through an unin-
tended activation of the SRS.
In addition, through improper work 
there is a risk of rendering the SRS inop-
erative or causing unintended airbag de-
ployment. Work on the SRS must 
therefore only be performed by qualified 
technicians. Contact your authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
For your protection and the protection 
of others, when scrapping the airbag 
unit or emergency tensioning device, 
our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These instructions are available 
from your authorized Mercedes-Benz 
Light Truck Center.
Given the considerable deployment 
speed and the textile structure of the 
airbags, there is the possibility of abra-
sions or other injuries resulting from air-
bag deployment. 
     
        
        Page 867 of 4133

63 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Front airbags
1Driver airbag
2Passenger front airbag
3Side impact airbag
Driver and passenger front airbags are 
deployed:
in the event of a frontal impact
if impact exceeds a preset deployment 
threshold
independently of the side impact air-
bagsThe airbags will not deploy in impacts 
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protec-
ted by the fastened seat belts.
The passenger front airbag will only be 
deployed if:
the passenger seat is occupied
the 7indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster is not lit (
page 26)
the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment threshold
Warning!
G
In the event that the 1malfunction indi-
cator lamp comes on while driving, the SRS 
may not be operational. For your safety, we 
strongly recommend that you visit an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center im-
mediately to have the system checked; 
otherwise the SRS may not be activated 
when needed in an accident, which could re-
sult in serious or fatal injury, or it might de-
ploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which 
could also result in injury.
!Do not place objects heavier than 
20 lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger 
seat. This could cause the front or side 
impact airbag on the front passenger 
side to deploy in a crash which exceeds 
the system's deployment threshold. 
     
        
        Page 868 of 4133

64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetySide impact airbags, window curtain 
airbags
1Window curtain airbags
2Side impact airbag, rear
3Side impact airbag, front
The side impact airbags and window 
curtain airbags are deployed:
on the impacted side of the vehicle
in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold
independently of the front airbagsThe front passenger side impact airbag will 
only deploy if the system senses that the 
front passenger seat is occupied.
The side impact airbags and window 
curtain airbags are not deployed in im-
pacts which do not exceed the system’s 
deployment threshold.
Seat belts
When the engine is started, the seat belt 
non-usage warning lamp< illuminates 
to remind you and your passengers to 
fasten your seat belts. If the driver’s seat 
belt is not fastened before the engine is 
started, the seat belt non-usage warning 
lamp< illuminates and a warning 
chime sounds for approximately 
six seconds when the engine is started.The use of seat belts and infant and child 
restraint systems is required by law in all 
50 states and all Canadian provinces. Even 
where this is not the case, all vehicle occu-
pants should have their seat belts fastened 
whenever the vehicle is in motion.
Information on fastening seat belts is 
found in the “Getting started” section 
(
page 42).iFor information on infants and children 
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle” 
(page 67). 
     
        
        Page 869 of 4133

65 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!
G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving 
off. Always make sure your passengers are 
properly restrained, even those sitting in the 
rear and pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your 
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an 
accident. You and your passengers should 
always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries 
can be considerably more severe without 
your seat belt properly buckled. Without 
your seat belt buckled, you are much more 
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be 
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured 
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or 
death is lessened if you are properly wearing 
your seat belt. Airbags can only protect as 
they are designed if the occupants are prop-
erly wearing their seat belts.
Warning!
G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the back-
rest reclined. Sitting in an excessively re-
clined position can be dangerous. You could 
slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you 
slide under it, the belt would apply force at 
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or even fatal injuries. The backrest and 
seat belt provide the best restraint when the 
wearer is in an upright position and the belt 
is properly positioned on the body.Warning!
G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle 
than there are seat belts available. Be sure 
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt.
Warning!
G
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly 
stressed in an accident must be replaced 
and their anchoring points must also be 
checked.
Only use seat belts which have been ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz.
Do not make any modifications to the seat 
belts. This can lead to unintended activation 
or to failure.
Have all work carried out only by qualified 
technicians. Contact an authorized 
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. 
     
        
        Page 870 of 4133

66 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY
Seat belts can only work when used 
properly. Never wear seat belts in any 
other way than as described in this sec-
tion, as that could result in serious inju-
ries in case of an accident.
Each occupant should wear their seat 
belt at all times, because seat belts help 
reduce the likelihood of and potential 
severity of injuries in accidents, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint 
system includes SRS (driver airbag, 
front passenger airbag, front and rear 
door mounted side impact airbags and 
window curtain airbags), ETD (seat belt 
emergency tensioning device for the 
outboard passenger seats [except in the 
optional third row seats]), and front seat 
knee bolsters.
 The system is designed to enhance the pro-
tection offered to properly belted occupants 
in certain frontal (front airbags) and side 
(side impact airbags and window curtain air-
bags) impacts which exceed preset deploy-
ment thresholds.
Never wear the shoulder belt under your 
arm, against your neck or off your shoul-
der. In a crash, your body would move 
too far forward. That would increase the 
chance of head and neck injuries. The 
belt would also apply too much force to 
the ribs or abdomen, which could se-
verely injure internal organs such as 
your liver or spleen.
Never wear belts over rigid or breakable 
objects in or on your clothing, such as 
eyeglasses, pens, keys, etc., as these 
might cause injuries.
Position the lap belt as low as possible 
on your hips and not across the abdo-
men. If the belt is positioned across your 
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries 
in a crash.
Never use a seat belt for more than one 
person at time. Do not fasten a seat belt 
around a person and another person or 
other objects.
Belts should not be worn twisted. In a 
crash, you wouldn’t have the full width 
of the belt to manage impact forces. The 
twisted belt against your body could 
cause injuries.
Pregnant women should also use a 
lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion 
should be positioned as low as possible 
on the hips to avoid any possible pres-
sure on the abdomen.
Never place your feet on the instrument 
panel or on the seat. Always keep both 
feet on the floor in front of the seat. 
     
        
        Page 871 of 4133

67 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Emergency tensioning device, seat belt 
force limiter
The seat belts for the front seats are 
equipped with emergency tensioning de-
vices and belt force limiters. The outboard 
passenger seats belts (except in the third 
row seats*) are equipped with emergency 
tensioning devices.
The ETD is designed to activate only when 
the seat belt is fastened and in the follow-
ing cases:
in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed-
ing a preset severity level
if the restraint systems are operational 
and functioning correctly, see 
1indicator lamp (
page 58)
In an impact, emergency tensioning devic-
es remove slack from the belts in such a 
way that the seat belts fit more snugly 
against the body. Belt force limiters reduce 
the force exerted by the seat belts on oc-
cupants during a crash.
Children in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in 
the vehicle:
Secure the child using an infant or child 
restraint appropriate to the age and 
size of the child and recommended for 
use by Mercedes-Benz.
Ensure that the infant or child is prop-
erly secured by a belt at all times while 
the vehicle is in motion.
Infant and child restraint seats and infor-
mation on choosing an appropriate re-
straint system can be obtained from any 
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!
G
An emergency tensioning device (ETD) that 
was activated must be replaced.
When disposing of the emergency tension-
ing device, our safety instructions must be 
followed. These are available at your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.!Do not place objects heavier than 
20 lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger 
seat. This could cause the front or side 
impact airbag on the front passenger 
side to deploy in a crash which exceeds 
the system’s deployment threshold. 
     
        
        Page 872 of 4133

68 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyInfant and child restraint systems
Use only a BabySmart
TM1
 compatible child 
restraint for the front passenger seat in 
this vehicle.
We recommend that all infants and 
children be properly restrained at all times 
while the vehicle is in motion. All lap-shoul-
der belts except the driver’s seat belt have 
special seat belt retractors for secure fas-
tening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow child re-
straint instructions for mounting. Then pull 
shoulder belt out completely and let it re-
tract. During the seat belt retraction a 
ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate 
that the special seat belt retractor is acti-
vated. The belt is now locked. Push down 
on child restraint to take up any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and 
let seat belt retract completely. The seat 
belt can again be used in the usual man-
ner.
1BabySmart
TMis a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
iInformation on child seats with mount-
ing fittings for tether anchorages 
(page 71).
For information on child seat anchors – 
LATCH type (
page 72).
Warning!
G
Never release the seat belt buckle while the 
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat 
belt retractor will be deactivated.!The use of infant or child restraints is 
required by law in all 50 states, the 
District of Columbia, the U.S. territo-
ries and all Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be 
seated in an appropriate infant or child 
restraint system properly secured by a 
lap-shoulder belt or, if so equipped, a 
child restraint lower anchorage system 
that complies with U.S. Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 225 
and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and 210.2. A statement 
by the child restraint manufacturer of 
compliance with this standard can be 
found on the instruction label on the re-
straint and in the instruction manual 
provided with the restraint.
When using any infant or child restraint 
system, be sure to carefully read and 
follow all manufacturer’s instructions 
for installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels 
affixed to inside of vehicle and to infant 
or child restraints.