13 At a glance
Cockpit
1
Function
Page
1
Door control panel
22
2
Light switch
77
3
Combination switch\4Turn signals
\4High-beam headlamps
\4Windshield wipers
\4Rear window wiper*
79
77
126
127
4
Cruise control lever*
147
5
Horn
6
Steering wheel without/
with* buttons
17
Function
Page
7
Instrument cluster
14, 84
8
Storage compartment
9
Storage compartment with
interior lamp
80
Overhead control panel*
19
a
Rear-view mirror*
125
b
Warning display for Park-
tronic system*
150
c
Opens / closes the right-
hand side window
144
d
Jack and vehicle tool kit
300
e
Glove box
165
Function
Page
f
Center console
18
g
Selector lever (automatic
transmission)
111
h
Ignition lock
67
j
Additional switch unit
20
k
Handbrake
115
l
Steering wheel adjustment
76
m
Hood lock release
185
n
Additional switch unit
20
20 At a glanceSwitch units
1
\3 Switch units
Switch unit between the light switch and
the steering wheel
Center console switch unitiThe number of switches may vary,
depending on the vehicle’s equipment.
N54.25-2915-31
Function
Page
Opens/closes the left-
hand electric sliding door*
57
&
Switches the left/right
seat heating*
on/off
73
Switches the rear window
heating*
on/off
128
P
Switches the windshield
heating*
on/off
127
Activates/deactivates ASR
44
Switches the hazard warn-
ing flashers on/off
80
Central locking
Interior/rear compartment
63
!
Switches the Parktronic
system (PTS)*
on/off
150
Opens/closes the right-
hand electric sliding door*
57
Additional switch units
N54.25-2913-31
22 At a glanceDoor control panel
1
\3 Door control panel
N54.25-2914-31
Function
Page
1
Adjusts the exterior
mirrors*
125
2
Selects an exterior
mirror*
125
3
Opens / closes the left-
hand side window
144
4
Opens / closes the right-
hand side window
144
30 SafetyOccupant safety
2
Vehicle deceleration or acceleration and
the direction of the force are essentially
determined by:
\4the distribution of the force during the
impact
\4the collision angle
\4the deformation characteristics of the
vehicle
\4the composition of the object involved
in the collision, for example the other
vehicle
Factors that cannot be seen or measured
until after the collision are not used to de-
termine whether the airbag should be trig-
gered and are not decisive for this.
The vehicle may be substantially deformed
without an airbag being triggered, for exam-
ple if only relatively easily-deformable vehicle
parts such as the hood or fenders are affect-
ed by the collision and the required deceler-
ation threshold is not reached. On the other
hand, airbags may be triggered even though
the vehicle only displays minor deformation,
if, for example, rigid vehicle parts such as a
longitudinal member are affected by the im-
pact, thus causing vehicle deceleration to ex-
ceed the pre-determined threshold. Emergency tensioning retractors, belt
force limiters
If the vehicle is equipped with a driver’s air-
bag, the driver’s and the co-driver’s seat
belts are equipped with emergency ten-
sioning retractors.
A belt force limiter additionally installed in
the seat belt reduces the load exerted by
the seat belt on the occupant when it is
triggered.
Emergency tensioning retractors tension
the seat belts in an accident, pulling them
close against the body. When the ignition is on, the emergency
tensioning retractor is activated:
\4only if the restraint systems are opera-
tional (the 1-warning lamp comes
on for approximately 4 seconds after
the ignition is switched on.)
(\2page 28).
\4in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision, if there is a high rate of vehi-
cle acceleration or deceleration in the
initial stages of a collision
\4in the event of a side impact, if the ve-
hicle suddenly decelerates or acceler-
ates in a lateral direction at the initial
stage of the impact and the vehicle is
equipped with thorax / sidebags and /
or windowbags.
If the emergency tensioning retractors are
triggered, you will hear a bang that is gen-
erally harmless to your hearing. A small
amount of powder may also be released.
The 1 warning lamp lights up.
iEmergency tensioning retractors do
not correct:
\4incorrect sitting positions
\4incorrectly worn seat belts
Emergency tensioning retractors do
not pull occupants back towards the
backrest.
32 SafetyOccupant safety
2
Your vehicle is equipped with the following
airbags, depending on the equipment ver-
sion:
\4Driver’s front airbag, located in the
steering wheel
\4Co-driver’s front airbag, located above
the glove box
\4Thorax sidebags* in the outer sides of
the driver’s seat and the co-driver’s in-
dividual seat
\4Windowbags* in the side of the roof
frame between the A and B-pillars
Each airbag's cover is marked with the let-
ters "SRS/AIRBAG" or "AIRBAG".How airbags work
An airbag inflates within milliseconds. The
1 warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter comes on.
Airbag inflation slows down and restricts
the movement of the vehicle occupant.
When the vehicle occupant makes contact
with the airbag, hot gas flows out of the in-
flated airbag. This reduces the load on the
head and upper body of the vehicle occu-
pant. The airbag is therefore in a deflated
state after an accident.
\4Do not put your feet on the dashboard.
\4Do not lean on the doors from inside the
vehicle.
\4Make sure that no persons, animals or
objects are present between the vehicle
occupants and the deployment range of
the airbags.
\4Do not cover the padded boss of the
steering wheel, the co-driver’s airbag
cover, the windowbag cover or the
thorax / sidebag cover with film or other
material. Do not affix any badges or
stickers to these areas.
\4Do not hang any hard objects, for exam-
ple coat hangers, on the grab handles or
coat hooks.
\4Do not place any items in the storage
compartment above the co-driver’s air-
bag if they protrude from the compart-
ment. The co-driver’s airbag must be
able to inflate unimpeded.
The risk of injuries from an airbag cannot be
entirely ruled out due to the high speed at
which the airbag is required to inflate.
iIf the airbags are triggered, you will
hear a bang and a small amount of dust
may also be released. The bang will not
damage your hearing and the dust does
not constitute a health hazard.
33 Safety
Occupant safety
2
Front airbags
The front airbags are designed to increase
protection to the driver’s and co-driver’s/
co-drivers' head and chest.
The driver’s airbag is located in the steer-
ing wheel housing; the co-driver’s is above
the glove box.
1Driver’s airbag
2Co-driver’s airbag
Driver’s front airbag1 inflates in front of
the steering wheel; co-driver’s front
airbag2 inflates in front of and above the
glove box and the center console.
Warning
G
After an airbag has been triggered:
\4airbag parts are hot – do not touch
them, otherwise you could be burnt
\4the airbags must be replaced at a quali-
fied specialist workshop which has the
necessary specialist knowledge and
tools to carry out the work required. The
manufacturer recommends that you use
an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this
purpose.
In particular, work relevant to safety or
on safety-related systems must be car-
ried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Warning
G
A small amount of fine powder is released as
an airbag inflates. This powder does not
constitute a health hazard, nor does it imply
that fire has broken out in the vehicle. This
powder could cause short-term breathing
difficulties for persons suffering from asth-
ma or other respiratory conditions. To avoid
these breathing difficulties, you should ei-
ther:
\4leave the vehicle immediately, if it is
possible to do so safely
or
\4open the window to allow fresh air to
enter
N91.60-2140-31
34 SafetyOccupant safety
2
The driver’s front airbag and co-driver’s
front airbag are triggered:
\4in the initial stages of an accident with
a high rate of vehicle acceleration or
deceleration in a longitudinal direction
\4if the system determines that airbag
deployment can offer additional pro-
tection to that provided by the seat belt
\4independently of other airbags in the
vehicle
Thorax sidebags*
The purpose of the thorax/sidebags is to
increase the level of protection for the tho-
rax (but not the head, neck and arms) of
the occupants on the side of the vehicle on
which the impact occurs.
The thorax / sidebags are installed in the
outer sides of the backrests on the driver’s
seat and the co-driver’s individual seatWarning
G
For safety reasons, the manufacturer rec-
ommends that you use seat covers that
have been tested for Sprinter vehicles and
that have a seam for thorax / sidebags. A
thorax / sidebag may otherwise not inflate
correctly and could fail to provide the in-
tended degree of protection in the event of
a collision. You can obtain these covers from
an authorized Sprinter Dealer, for example.
Warning
G
To reduce the risk of injury to occupants if a
thorax / sidebag is triggered, make sure
that:
\4no persons, animals or objects are
present between the vehicle occupants
and the thorax / sidebag deployment
range
\4no accessories, for example cup hold-
ers, are secured to the doors
\4only light items of clothing are hung
from the coat hooks in the vehicle
\4there are no heavy or sharp objects in
the pockets of items of clothing
Warning
G
Observe the following to reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injury if the thorax / sidebag
is triggered:
\4Vehicle occupants – in particular, chil-
dren – must never lean their head
against the area of the window in which
the thorax / sidebag inflates.
\4Vehicle occupants must wear their seat
belt correctly at all times and lean back
against the backrest, which should be
positioned as upright as possible.
\4Always secure children who are less
than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall or under 12 years
of age in a suitable child restraint sys-
tem.
35 Safety
Occupant safety
2
1Thorax sidebag
The thorax sidebags are triggered:
\4in the initial stages of an accident with
a high rate of vehicle acceleration or
deceleration in a lateral direction, for
example in the event of a side impact
\4on the side on which an impact occurs
\4if the system determines that airbag
deployment can offer additional pro-
tection to that provided by the seat belt
\4independently of the front airbagsIn the event of an accident, the thorax side-
bag next to the outer seat side inflates be-
tween the door and the chest area of the
occupant.
Windowbags*
The windowbags are designed to increase
protection to the head (but not to the chest
or arms) of the vehicle occupants on the
side on which the impact occurs.
The relevant windowbag is installed in the
side of the roof frame behind the trim pan-
el between the A and B-pillar.
iYou will find additional information
about airbag deployment on
(\2page 32).
You will find additional information
about the triggering of emergency ten-
sioning retractors and belt force limit-
ers on (\2page 30).Warning
G
To ensure that windowbags can provide the
intended degree of protection when de-
ployed, make sure that no persons, animals
or objects are present between the vehicle
occupants and the deployment range of the
windowbags.
Warning
G
Observe the following to reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injury if the windowbag is
triggered:
\4Vehicle occupants – in particular, chil-
dren – must never lean their head
against the area of the window in which
the windowbag inflates.
\4Vehicle occupants must wear their seat
belt correctly at all times.
\4Always secure children who are less
than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall or under 12 years
of age in a suitable child restraint sys-
tem.