To buckle:
Pull the belt out far enough to insert the latch plate into the receptacle until a distinct click is heard. The seat belt
retractor is normally "unlocked" and you can move freely, provided that the shoulder belt is not pulled out too far. The
retractor will lock up as follows:
if the belt is pulled out rapidly
during braking and acceleration
if the vehicle is leaning excessively
when driving in turns For the seat belt to provide maximum protection in the event of an accident, it must be worn
correctly. When wearing the seat belt remember:
The belt should not be twisted or turned.
The lap belt must be positioned low on the hips (not pressing against the abdomen).
Make sure that the shoulder belt is rolled up into its retractor and that the shoulder and lap belts are taut.
Before exiting the car, check that the seat belt retracts fully after being unbuckled. If necessary, guide the belt back
into the retractor slot.
NOTE: Legislation in your state or province may mandate seat belt usage.
Child seats: Please refer to page 14 for information on securing child seats with the seat belts.
During pregnancy
Pregnant women should always wear seat belts. Remember that the belt should always be positioned in such a way as
to avoid any possible pressure on the abdomen. The lap portion of the belt should be located low, as shown in the
above illustration.
ProCarManuals.com
pg. 3 Seat belts, Center head restraint
WARNING!
Never use a seat belt for more than one occupant.
Never wear the shoulder portion of the belt under the arm, behind the back or otherwise out of position. Such use
could cause injury in the event of an accident.
As the seat belts lose much of their strength when exposed to violent stretching, they should be replaced after any
collision, even if they appear to be undamaged.
Never repair the belt on your own; have this work done by an authorized Volvo retailer only.
Any device used to induce slack into the shoulder belt portion of the three-point belt system will have a
detrimental effect on the amount of protection available to you in the event of a collision.
The seat back should not be tilted too far back. The shoulder belt must be taut in order to function properly.
Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend
that children who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with the seat belt properly fastened.
Center head restraint (rear)
The center head restraint can be adjusted according to the passenger's height. The restraint should be carefully adjusted
to support the occupant's head.
To raise, lift up to desired position. To lower the center head restraint, press the release button behind the right-hand
support while pressing down the head restraint to the desired position.
pg. 4 Front airbags - SRS
ProCarManuals.com
As an enhancement to the three-point seat belt system, your Volvo is equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS). The Volvo SRS consists of an airbag (2) on both the driver's and passenger's sides and seat belt tensioners in
both front door pillars (4). The system is designed to supplement the protection provided by the three-point seat belt
system. All three rear seat belts are also equipped with tensioners. The SRS system is indicated by the "SRS" embossed
on the steering wheel pad and above the glove compartment, and by decals on both sun visors and on the front and far
right side of the dash.
The airbags are folded and located in the steering wheel hub and above the glove compartment. They are designed to
deploy during certain frontal or front -angular collisions, impacts, or decelerations, depending on the crash severity,
angle, speed and object impacted. The airbags may also deploy in certain non-frontal collisions where rapid
deceleration occurs.
The airbag system includes gas generators (1) surrounded by the airbags (2) and front seat belt tensioners for both of
the front seats (4). To deploy the system, the sensor (3) activates the gas generators causing the airbags to be inflated
with nitrogen gas. As the movement of the seats' occupants compresses the airbags, some of the gas is expelled at a
controlled rate to provide better cushioning. Both seat belt tensioners also deploy, minimizing any seat belt slack.
The entire process, including inflation and deflation of the airbags, takes approximately two-tenths of a second.
WARNING!
As its name implies, SRS is designed to be a SUPPLEMENT to -not a replacement for - the three-point belt
system. For maximum protection, wear seat belts at all times. Be aware that no system can prevent all possible
injuries that may occur in an accident.
When installing any optional equipment, make sure that the SRS system is not damaged. Do not attempt to service
any component of the SRS yourself. Attempting to do so may result in serious personal injury. If a problem arises,
take your car to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer for inspection as soon as possible.
pg. 5 Front airbags - SRS
ProCarManuals.com
Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914 800-663-8255
800-458-1552
pg. 6 Front airbags - SRS
WARNING!
Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend
that occupants under 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) in height who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with the
seat belt fastened.
NOTE: Deployment of SRS components occurs only one time during an accident. In a collision where deployment
occurs, the air bags and seat belt tensioners activate. Some noise occurs and a small amount of powder is released. The
release of the powder may appear as smoke-like matter. This is a normal characteristic and does not indicate fire.
ProCarManuals.com
Not all frontal collisions activate the SRS system. If the collision involves a nonrigid object (e.g., a snow drift or
bush), or a rigid, fixed object at a low speed, the SRS system will not necessarily deploy. Front airbags do not
normally deploy in a side impact collision, in a collision from the rear or in a rollover situation. The amount of
damage to the bodywork does not reliably indicate if the airbags should have deployed or not.
Seat belts - the heart of the Volvo safety system
The heart of the Volvo safety system is the three-point seat belt (a Volvo invention)! In order for the SRS system to
provide the protection intended, seat belts must be worn at all times by everyone in the car. The SRS system is a
supplement to the seat belts.WARNING!
If your car has been subjected to flood conditions (e.g. soaked carpeting/standing water on the floor of the vehicle)
or if your car has become flood-damaged in any way, do not attempt to start the vehicle or put the key in the
ignition before disconnecting the battery (see below). This may cause airbag deployment which could result in
personal injury. Have the car towed to an authorized Volvo retailer for repairs.
Automatic transmission:
Before attempting to tow the car, use the following procedure to override the shiftlock system to move the gear
selector to the neutral position.
Switch off the ignition for at least 10 minutes and disconnect the battery
Wait at least one minute
Insert the key in the ignition and turn it to position II
Press firmly on the brake pedal.
Move the gear selector from (P)ark to the (N)eutral position.
WARNING!
Never drive with the airbags deployed. The fact that they hang out can impair the steering of your car. Other safety
systems can also be damaged. The smoke and dust formed when the airbags are deployed can cause skin and eye
irritation in the event of prolonged exposure.
pg. 8 Side impact airbags (SIPS)
SIPS airbag (front seats only)
As an enhancement to the structural Side Impact Protection System built into your car, the car is also equipped with
Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbags. The SIPS airbag system consists of airbag modules built into the sides
of both front seat backrests (1), wires (2) and gas generators/sensor units (3). The SIPS airbag system is designed to
help increase occupant protection in the event of certain side impact collisions. The SIPS airbags are designed to
deploy only during certain side-impact collisions, depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and point of impact.
The airbags are not designed to deploy in all side impact situations. WARNING!
The SIPS airbag system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection System and the three-point seat belt system.
It is not designed to deploy during collisions from the front or rear of the car or in rollover situations.
ProCarManuals.com
The use of seat covers on the front seats may impede SIPS airbag deployment.
No objects, accessory equipment or stickers may be placed on, attached to or installed near, the SIPS airbag
system or in the area affected by SIPS airbag deployment (see illustration to the right above).
Never try to open or repair any components of the SIPS airbag system. This should be done only by an authorized
Volvo service technician.
In order for the SIPS airbag to provide its best protection, both front seat occupants should sit in an upright
position with the seat belt properly fastened.
*A SIPS airbag warning decal is also located at the end of the instrument panel on the driver's side of the car.
NOTE: SIPS airbag deployment (one airbag) occurs only on the side of the vehicle affected by the impact.
WARNING!
Never drive with the airbags deployed. The fact that they hang out can impair the steering of your car. Other
safety systems can also be damaged. The smoke and dust formed when the airbags are deployed can cause skin and
eye irritation in the event of prolonged exposure.
If your car has been subjected to flood conditions (e.g. soaked carpeting/ standing water on the floor of the
vehicle) or if your car has become flood-damaged in any way, do not attempt to start the vehicle or put the key in
the ignition before disconnecting the battery. This may cause airbag deployment which could result in personal
injury. Have the car towed to an authorized Volvo retailer for repairs.
pg. 9 Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)
ProCarManuals.com
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)
This system consists of inflatable curtains located along the sides of the roof liners, stretching from the center of both
front side windows to the rear edge of the rear side door windows. It is designed to help protect the heads of the
occupant of the front seat and the occupant of the outboard rear seat position in certain side impact collisions.
NOTE: IC system deployment occurs only on the side of the vehicle affected by the impact.
In certain side impacts, BOTH the Inflatable Curtain (IC) and the Side Impact Airbag System (SIPS-bag) will deploy,
whereas, in some cases, ONLY the Inflatable Curtain (IC) will deploy. In cases where BOTH the IC and the SIPS -bag
deploy, deployment will occur simultaneously.
If the inflatable curtain deploys, it remains inflated for approximately 3 seconds.
WARNING!
The IC system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection System. It is not designed to deploy during collisions
from the front or rear of the car or in most rollover situations.
Never try to open or repair any components of the IC system. This should be done only by an authorized Volvo
service technician.
The inflatable curtains are designed to deploy only during certain side-impact collisions, depending on the crash
severity, angle, speed and impact. The inflatable curtains are not designed to deploy in all side impact situations.
In order for the IC to provide its best protection, both front seat occupants and both outboard rear seat occupants
should sit in an upright position with the seat belt properly fastened; adults using the seat belt and children using the
proper child restraint system. Only adults should sit in the front seats. Children must never be allowed in the front
passenger seat. See page 14
for guidelines. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle
occupants.
When the rear seat backrest(s) are folded down, the car should not be loaded to a level higher than 2 in. (5 cm)
below the upper edge of the rear passenger door windows. Objects placed higher than this level could impede the
function of the inflatable curtain.
ProCarManuals.com
pg. 10 Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) - front seats only
The WHIPS system consists of specially designed hinges and brackets on the front seat backrests and head restraints
designed to help absorb some of the energy generated in a collision from the rear ("rear-ended"). In the event of a
collision of this type, the hinges and brackets of the front seat backrests are designed to change position slightly to
allow the backrest/head restraint to help support the occupant's head before moving slightly rearward. This movement
helps absorb some of the forces that could result in the whiplash effect.
WARNING!
Any contact between the front seat backrests and the folded rear seat could impede the function of the WHIPS
system. If the rear seat is folded down, the occupied front seats must be adjusted forward so that they do not touch
the folded rear seat.
Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front seats (see illustration above) could impede the function of the
WHIPS system.
The WHIPS system is designed to supplement the other safety systems in your car. For this system to function
properly, the three-point seat belt must be worn. Please be aware that no system can prevent all possible injuries that
may occur in an accident.
If your car has been involved in a collision, the front seat backrests must be inspected by an authorized Volvo
retailer even if the seats appear to be undamaged. Certain components in the WHIPS system may need to be
replaced. Do not attempt to service any component in the WHIPS system yourself.
If the rear seat backrests are folded down, cargo must be secured to prevent it from sliding forward against the
front seat backrests in the event of a collision from the rear. This could interfere with the action of the WHIPS
system.
The WHIPS system is designed to function in certain collisions from the rear, depending on the crash severity,
angle and speed.
Occupants in the front seats must never sit out of position. The occupant's back must be as upright as comfort
allows and be against the seat back with the seat belt properly fastened.
ProCarManuals.com