Page 64 of 406
61 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Place head restraints upright
Placing head restraints upright:
Pull the head restraint forward until it locks into 
position.
Angle of head restraints:
Two different head restraint angle positions are 
available.Important!
For safety reasons, always drive with the rear head 
restraints in the upright position when the rear seats 
are occupied. 
Keep the area around head restraints clear of articles 
(e.g. clothing) to not obstruct the folding operation of 
the head restraints.
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        Page 65 of 406
62 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Head restraint heightRaising:
Pull up on head restraint.
Lowering:
Push button (2) and push down on head restraint.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head 
approximately at ear level. The head restraint 
inclination can also be adjusted manually.
Note:
The center rear seat head restraint cannot be adjusted 
or removed.
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63 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Seat belts and integrated restraint system
Your vehicle is equipped with seat belts for all seats, 
emergency tensioning retractors for all outboard seat 
belts, dual front airbags, door mounted side impact 
airbags, and head protective window curtain airbags. 
Their protective functions are designed to complement 
one another.
Seat belts
Important!
Laws in most states and all Canadian provinces require 
seat belt use. 
All states and provinces require use of child restraints 
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard 213.
All child restraints systems are designed to be secured 
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a 
lap-shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passengers we strongly 
recommend their use.
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in 
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz 
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat, 
which operates with the BabySmart
TM system 
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger 
side front airbag when it is properly installed. 
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it 
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal 
injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer 
when properly restrained in the rear seating 
positions than in the front seating positions. 
Infants and small children must ride in back seats 
and be seated in an appropriate infant or child 
restraint system, which is properly secured with 
the vehicle’s seat belt, fully in accordance with the 
child seat manufacturer’s instructions.A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is 
significantly increased if the child restraints are 
not properly secured in the vehicle and the child is 
not properly secured in the child restraint.
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64 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seat belt nonusage warning system
With the electronic key in starter switch position 2, a 
warning sounds for a short time if the driver’s seat belt 
is not fastened. 
Automatic comfort-fit seat belt:
An automatic comfort-fit feature for driver and front 
passenger seat belt is activated when the electronic key 
in the starter switch is turned to position 1 or 2.
The retraction force of the inertia reel is reduced, 
increasing the level of seat belt comfort.
Note:
For cleaning and care of the seat belts see page 371.
Wa r n i n g !
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest 
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined 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 serious 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.
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65 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to wear and properly fasten and position 
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 wearing your seat belt.
Wa r n i n g !
Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there 
are seat belts available. Be sure everyone riding in 
the vehicle is correctly restrained with a separate 
seat belt.
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66 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Fastening seat belts
1Latch plate
2Buckle
3Release button
Push latch plate (1) into buckle (2) until it clicks. Do not 
twist the belt. A twisted seat belt may cause injury.The lap belt should be positioned as low as possible on 
your hips and not across the abdomen.
Tighten the lap portion to a snug fit by pulling shoulder 
portion up.
The shoulder portion of the seat belt must be pulled 
snug and checked for snugness immediately after 
engaging it.
Adjust seat belt so that shoulder portion is located as 
close as possible to the middle of your shoulder (it 
should not touch the neck). For this purpose, you can 
adjust the height of the belt outlet.
Wa r n i n g !
Always fasten your seat belt before driving off. 
Always make sure your passengers are properly 
restrained – even those sitting in the rear.
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67 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 4Button for belt outlet height adjustment
To raise, slide belt outlet upward.
To lower, press button (4) and slide belt outlet 
downward.Operation of seat belts
The inertia reel stops the belt from unwinding during 
sudden stops or when quickly pulling on the belt.
The locking function of the reel may be checked by 
quickly pulling out the belt.
Adjust seat belt so that shoulder portion is located as 
close as possible to the middle of your shoulder (it 
should not touch the neck).
Caution!
For safety reasons, avoid adjusting the seat or seat back 
into positions which could affect the correct seat belt 
positioning.
Unfastening of  seat belts
Press release button (3) in the belt buckle (2).
Allow the retractor to completely rewind the seat belt by 
guiding the latch plate (1).
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68 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Wa r n i n 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 section, as that could result 
in serious injuries in case of an accident.• E ach oc c upan t s houl d  wear t hei r s ea t bel t a t al l 
times, because seat belts help reduce the 
likelihood of and potential severity of injuries 
in accidents, including rollovers. The 
integrated restraint system includes “SRS” 
(driver airbag, front passenger airbag, side 
impact airbags, head protection window 
curtain airbags for side windows), “ETR” (seat 
belt emergency tensioning retractors), and 
front seat knee bolsters. The system is 
designed to enhance the protection offered to 
properly belted occupants in certain frontal 
(front airbags) and side (side impact and 
window curtain airbags) impacts which exceed 
preset deployment thresholds.
• Never wear the shoulder belt under your arm, 
against your neck or off your shoulder. 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 severely 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 abdomen. If the belt is 
positioned across your abdomen, it could cause 
serious injuries in a crash.• Each seat belt should never be used for more 
than one person at a 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.
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