Page 81 of 474
80 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
The 56indicator lamp is located in
the center console.
1Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp
The 56indicator lamp1 will be
illuminated, except with the SmartKey
removed or in starter switch position0.
If you have to place a child in a
forward-facing child restraint on the
front passenger seat, move the seat as
far back as possible, use the proper
child restraint recommended for the
age, size and weight of the child, and
secure child restraint with the vehicle’s
seat belt according to the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions. For
children larger than the typical
12-month-old child, the front passenger
front air bag may or may not be activat-
ed (
page 78).
iDeployment of the driver front air bag
does not mean that the front passenger
front air bag also should have
deployed.
iThe Occupant Classification System
(page 77) may have determined:
that the seat was empty or occu-
pied by the weight up to or less than
that of a typical 12-month-old child
seated in a standard child restraint
- both instances where the system
suppresses deployment of the front
passenger front air bag even
though the impact met the criteria
and was of sufficient severity to
deploy the driver front air bag.
that the seat was occupied by a
small individual (such as a young
teenager or a small adult) or a child
weighing more than the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child in a stan-
dard child restraint - instances
where the system may suppress
deployment of the front passenger
front air bag even though the im-
pact met the criteria and was of suf-
ficient severity to deploy the driver
front air bag.
Warning!
G
If the 1indicator lamp and the
56indicator lamp are lit at the same
time, there is a malfunction in the Occupant
Classification System. The front passenger
front air bag will be deactivated in this case.
Page 82 of 474
81 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Self-test Occupant Classification
System
After turning the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position1 or2, the
56indicator lamp1 located in
the center console illuminates. If an adult
occupant is properly sitting on the front
passenger seat and the system senses the
occupant as being an adult, the
56indicator lamp will illuminate
and go out after approximately 6 seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the system
senses the front passenger seat as being
empty, the 56indicator lamp will
illuminate and not go out. For more information, see “Lamp in center
console” (
page 357).
In order to ensure proper operation of the air
bag system and OCS:
Have the system checked as soon as
possible by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Sit properly belted in a nearly upright
position with your back against the seat
backrest.
Do not lean on the armrests or lift your-
self from the seat by using the handle
over the door as this may cause the OCS
to be unable to correctly approximate
the occupant weight category.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Read and observe all warnings in this
chapter.
Warning!
G
If the 56indicator lamp should not
illuminate, the system is not functioning.
You must see an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center before seating any child on the front
passenger seat.
Warning!
G
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces
the effectiveness of the Occupant Classifi-
cation System. The bottom of the child seat
must make full contact with the passenger
seat cushion. An incorrectly mounted child
seat could cause injuries to the child in case
of an accident, instead of increasing protec-
tion for the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of child seats.
Page 83 of 474
82 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyInstallation of infant and child restraint
systems
This vehicle is equipped with tether
anchorages for a top tether strap at each
of the rear seating positions.
1Cover of top anchorage ring
Make sure the rear backrest is locked
in its upright position (
page 255).
Remove cover1 from anchorage
ring3.
Guide tether strap between head
restraint and top of seat back.
Head restraint must be installed (if
removable) and positioned such that
the top tether strap can pass freely
between the head restraint and top of
seat back.
Make sure the tether strap is not
twisted.2Hook
3Anchorage ring
Securely fasten hook2, which is part
of the tether strap, to anchorage
ring3.
Warning!
G
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when rear seat bench is occupied by pas-
sengers, or the extended cargo area is not in
use. Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the backrest.
Page 84 of 474
83 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Once the top tether anchorage hook is
attached, the child restraint itself can be
secured. Tighten the top tether strap
according to the child restraint
manufacturer’s instructions.
Reinstall cover1 after removing the
tether strap.Child seat anchors – LATCH-type
This vehicle is equipped with two LATCH-
(L
ower A
nchors and T
ethers for CH
ildren)
type anchors (at each of the outer rear
seats) for the installation of a LATCH-type
child seat with the matching mounting
fittings.
iFor safety, make sure the hook has
attached to the ring beyond the safety
catch, as illustrated.
Warning!
G
Children too big for a toddler restraint must
ride in seats using regular seat belts.
Position shoulder belt across chest and
shoulder, not face or neck.
A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper belt positioning for children from
41 lbs until they reach a height where a
lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a
booster.
Install child seat according to manufactur-
er’s instructions.
T h e c h i l d s e a t m u s t b e f i r m l y a t t a c h e d i n t h e
right and left side anchors1.
An incorrectly mounted child seat may come
loose during an accident which could result
in serious injury or death to the child.
Damaged or impact damaged child seats or
child seat mounting fittings must be
replaced.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if the children are secured in a
child restraint system.
Page 85 of 474
84 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
The LATCH-type anchors are located be-
tween the seat cushion and the backrest.
1Anchors
Install child seat according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
iThe child seat must be firmly attached
in the right and left side anchors1.
With a child seat installed in the left
rear seat, the seat belt for the center
seat occupied by a passenger must op-
erate freely. Guide seat belt between
its seat cushion mount and backrest
mount along outside of right side child
seat anchor.
iNon-LATCH-type child seats may also
be used and can be installed using the
vehicle’s seat belt system. Install child
seat according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.
Page 86 of 474
85 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Blocking of rear door window operation
You can block the rear door window
operation (for instance when you have
children riding in the rear passenger
compartment).
The override switch is located on the door
control panel of the driver’s door.
1Deactivating override switch
2Activating override switch
3Override switchActivating override switch
Slide override switch3 to the right.
The rear door windows can no longer
be operated using the respective
switch located in the rear doors.
Deactivating override switch
Slide override switch3 to the left.
The rear door windows can be operated
again using the respective switch
located in the rear doors.
For more information, see “Power win-
dows” (
page 240).
Warning!
G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children may otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the win-
dow opening.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment can cause an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
iOperation of the rear door windows
with the switches located on the door
control panel of the driver’s door is still
possible.
Page 358 of 474
357 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Suggested solution
56
The front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
does not illuminate
and/or does not remain
illuminated with the
weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or
less on the front passen-
ger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.
Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion and
child seat and check installation of the child seat.
Make sure that no objects applying supplemental
weight onto the seat are present.
If the front passenger front air bag off indicator lamp
remains out, have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz dealer. Do not
transport a child on the front passenger seat until the
system has been repaired.
Also note any messages in the multifunction display
and follow corrective steps (
page 364).
Warning!
G
If the 56indicator lamp does not
illuminate or remains out with the weight of
a typical 12-month-old child in a standard
child restraint or less on the front passenger
seat, do not transport a child on the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired.
Page 365 of 474
364 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Front-pass.
airbag
activated
See Operator’s
Manual
Front passenger front air bag is
activated while driving even though
a child, small individual, or object
below the system’s weight
threshold is on the front passenger
seat, or the front passenger seat is
empty. Objects on the seat or
forces acting on the seat may
make the system sense supple-
mental weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the front
passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (
page 33).
Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and proper-
ly secure the child in rear seat employing the child restraint if neces-
sary.
Make sure that no objects applying supplemental weight onto the seat
are present. The system may recognize such supplemental weight and
sense that an occupant on the front passenger seat is of a greater
weight than actually present.
Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and switch
on the ignition (
page 33).
(Continued on next page)
