Disabling the passenger's side front airbag
Volvo recommends that ALL occupants (adults and children) shorter than 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) be seated in the rear
seat of any vehicle with a passenger's side front airbag, and be properly restrained. Children should always be seated
in child restraints appropriate for their size and weight. See also the child safety recommendations beginning on page
31.
The Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) is designed to meet the regulatory requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) 208 and is designed to disable (will not inflate) the passenger's side front airbag under certain
conditions.
The OWS works with sensors that are part of the front passenger's seat and seat belt. The sensors are designed to
detect the presence of a properly seated occupant and determine if the passenger's side front airbag should be enabled
(may inflate) or disabled (will not inflate).
The OWS will disable (will not inflate) the passenger's side front airbag when:
the front passenger's seat is unoccupied, or has small/medium objects in the front seat,
the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant seat that is installed according to the
manufacturer's instructions,
the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing child restraint that is installed according to
the manufacturer's instructions,
the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat,
a front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of time,
a child or a small person occupies the front passenger's seat.
The OWS uses a PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator light which will illuminate and stay on to remind you that the
passenger's side front airbag is disabled. The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator light is located in the overhead
console, near the base of the rearview mirror.
NOTE: The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will illuminate for a short period of time when the ignition is
turned on to confirm it is functional. When the front passenger's seat is not occupied (empty seat) or in the event that
the passenger's side front airbag is enabled (may inflate), the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will be off.
However, if a fault is detected in the system:
The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator light will stay on.
The SRS warning light (see page 15) will come on and stay on. The message PASS. AIRBAG OFF SERVICE
URGENT will be displayed in the information display.
pg. 21 Safety
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Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS)
WARNING!
If a fault in the system is detected and indicated as explained on the previous page, be aware that the passenger's
side front airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision.
In this case, the safety systems and Occupant Weight Sensor should be inspected by an authorized Volvo retailer as
soon as possible.
WARNING!
Never try to open, remove, or repair any components in the OWS system. This could result in system
malfunction. Maintenance or repairs should only be carried out by an authorized Volvo service technician.
The front passenger's seat should not be modified in any way. This could reduce pressure on the seat cushion,
which might interfere with the OWS system's function.
The OWS is designed to disable (will not inflate) the passenger's side front airbag when a rear facing infant seat, a
forward-facing child restraint, or a booster seat is detected. The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will
illuminate and stay on to remind you that the passenger's side front airbag is disabled (see the following table).
The OWS is designed to enable (may inflate) the passenger's side front airbag anytime the system senses that a person
of adult size is sitting properly in the front passenger's seat. The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will be
off and remain off.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger's seat, but the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is
on, it is possible that the person isn't sitting properly in the seat. If this happens:
Turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in an upright position.
1. Volvo recommends that children always be properly restrained in appropriate child restraints in the rear seats. In rare situations when the seat
belt is not properly fastened, some child restraints may not be detected by the OWS because there is very little weight on the vehicle seat cushion.
In these cases the passenger's side front airbag may be disabled, but the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will not be lit. Do not assume
that the passenger's side front airbag is disabled unless the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is lit. Make sure the child restraint is
properly installed (turn the vehicle off, remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the restraint following the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions) and that the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is on, or move the child restraint to the rear seat.
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pg. 22 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS)
Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person's legs comfortably extended.
Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the system to
detect that person and enable the passenger's frontal airbag.
If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp remains on even after this, the person should be advised to ride
in the rear seat.
This condition reflects limitations of the OWS classification capability. It does not indicate OWS malfunction.
Modifications
If you are considering modifying your vehicle in any way to accommodate a disability, for example by altering or
adapting the driver's or front passenger's seat(s) and/or airbag systems, please contact Volvo at:
In the USA :
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914 Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914
1-800-458-1552
In Canada :
Volvo Cars of Canada Corp.
National Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
1-800-663-8255
WARNING!
No objects that add to the total weight on the seat should be placed on the front passenger's seat. If a child is
seated in the front passenger's seat with any additional weight, this extra weight could cause the OWS system to
enable the airbag, which might cause it to deploy in the event of a collision, thereby injuring the child.
The seat belt should never be wrapped around an object on the front passenger's seat. This could interfere with the
OWS system's function.
The front passenger's seat belt should never be used in a way that exerts more pressure on the passenger than
normal. This could increase the pressure exerted on the weight sensor by a child, and could result in the airbag being
enabled, which might cause it to deploy in the event of a collision, thereby injuring the child.
pg. 23 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS)
WARNING!
Keep the following points in mind with respect to the OWS system. Failure to follow these instructions could
adversely affect the system's function and result in serious injury to the occupant of the front passenger's seat:
The full weight of the front seat passenger should always be on the seat cushion. The passenger should never lift
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seat backrests.
WARNING!
The SIPS airbag system is a supplement to the structural 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 vehicle or in rollover
situations.
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.
Never try to open or repair any components of the SIPS airbag system. This should be done only by a trained and
qualified 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.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the occupants of the vehicle in the event of an accident.
pg. 25 Safety
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
occupants of the front seats and the occupant of the outboard rear seating positions in certain side impact collisions.
In certain side impacts, both the Inflatable Curtain (VIC) and the Side Impact Airbag System (SIPS-bag) will deploy,
whereas, in some cases, only the Inflatable Curtain (VIC) will deploy. In cases where both the VIC and the SIPS -bag
deploy, this will occur simultaneously.
NOTE: If the inflatable curtain deploys, it remains inflated for approximately 3 seconds.
WARNING!
The VIC 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 vehicle or in rollover situations.
Never try to open or repair any components of the VIC system. This should be done only by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician.
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WARNING!
Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front seats could impede the function of the WHIPS system.
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.
If your vehicle has been involved in a rear-end collision, the front seat backrests must be inspected by a trained
and qualified Volvo service technician, 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.
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.
pg. 28 Safety
Child safety
Children should be seated safely
Volvo recommends the proper use of restraint systems for all occupants including children. Remember that, regardless
of age and size, a child should always be properly restrained in a vehicle.
Your vehicle is also equipped with ISOFIX/ LATCH attachments, which make it more convenient to install child
seats.
Some restraint systems for children are designed to be secured in the vehicle by lap belts or the lap portion of a lap-
shoulder belt. Such child restraint systems can help protect children in vehicles in the event of an accident only if they
are used properly. However, children could be endangered in a crash if the child restraints are not properly secured in
the vehicle. Failure to follow the installation instructions for your child restraint can result in your child striking the
vehicle's interior in a sudden stop.
Holding a child in your arms is NOT a suitable substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, a child held in a
person's arms can be crushed between the vehicle's interior and an unrestrained person. The child could also be injured
by striking the interior, or by being ejected from the vehicle during a sudden maneuver or impact. The same can also
happen if the infant or child rides unrestrained on the seat. Other occupants should also be properly restrained to help
reduce the chance of injuring or increasing the injury of a child.
All states and provinces have legislation governing how and where children should be carried in a vehicle. Find out
the regulations existing in your state or province. Recent accident statistics have shown that children are safer in rear
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started within 5 seconds, all symbols except CHECK ENGINE and go out. Certain symbols may not have their
functions illustrated, depending on the vehicle's equipment. The symbol for the parking brake goes out when the
parking brake is released.
Warning symbol
in center of the instrument panel
This symbol shines as a red or yellow light depending on the severity of the discovered fault.
Red symbol - Stop the vehicle as soon as possible in a suitable location and read the message shown in the text
window. The symbol and accompanying text will remain on until the fault has been corrected.
Yellow symbol - Follow the instructions shown in the text window. The text can be erased by pressing the READ
button (see page 48
), or will disappear automatically after two minutes.
When the message "TIME FOR REGULAR SERVICE" is displayed, the text can be erased and the yellow symbol
light can be turned off by pressing the READ button. The text will disappear and the symbol light will go out
automatically after two minutes.
Seat belt reminder
This symbol lights up to indicate that the driver has not fastened his/her seat belt.
Supplemental Restraint System SRS
If this light comes on while the vehicle is being driven, or remains on for longer than approximately 10 seconds after
the vehicle has been started, the SRS system's diagnostic functions have detected a fault in a seat belt lock or
tensioner, a front airbag, side impact airbag, and/or an inflatable curtain. Have the system(s) inspected by a trained and
qualified Volvo service technician as soon as possible.
pg. 46 Instruments and controls
Indicator and warning symbols
BRAKE Brake failure warning light
If the light comes on while driving or braking, stop immediately, open the hood and check the brake fluid level in the
reservoir. See page 173
for reservoir position and page 177 for instructions.
Canadian models are equipped with this warning light.
If the BRAKE and ABS warning lights come on at the same time, this could indicate a fault in the brake system.
- Stop the vehicle in a suitable place and switch off the engine.
- Restart the engine.
- If both warning lights go off, no further action is required.
- If both lights are still on after the engine has been restarted, switch off the engine again and check the brake fluid
level (see page 173
for the location of the brake fluid reservoir).
- If the brake fluid level is above the MIN mark, drive carefully to an authorized Volvo retailer and have the brake
system inspected.
WARNING!
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If the fluid level is below the MIN mark in the reservoir or if a "Brake failure - Service urgent" message is displayed
in the text window: DO NOT DRIVE. Have the vehicle towed to an authorized Volvo retailer and have the brake
system inspected.
PARK BRAKE Parking brake applied This light will be on when the parking brake (hand brake) is applied. The
parking brake lever is situated between the front seats. See also page 62
for additional information.
Canadian models are equipped with this symbol.
Oil pressure warning light
If the light comes on while driving, stop the vehicle and then stop the engine immediately and check the engine
oil level. See page 49
. R-models are also equipped with an oil level warning system. If the light stays on after restart,
have the vehicle towed to the nearest authorized Volvo retailer. After hard driving, the light may come on occasionally
when the engine is idling. This is normal, provided it goes off when the engine speed is increased.
Generator warning light
If the light comes on while the engine is running, have the charging system checked.
Rear fog light
This light indicates that the fog light is on.
CHECK ENGINE Malfunction indicator light
On-Board Diagnostics II (OBDII): As you drive, a computer called "OBDII" monitors your vehicle's engine,
transmission, electrical and emission systems. The CHECK ENGINE light will light up if the computer senses a
condition that potentially may need correcting. When this happens, please have your vehicle checked by a Volvo
retailer as soon as possible.
A CHECK ENGINE light may have many causes. Sometimes, you may not notice a change in your vehicle's behavior.
Even so, an uncorrected condition could hurt fuel economy, emission cleanliness, and driveability. Extended driving
without correcting the cause could even damage other components in your vehicle.
Canadian models are equipped with this warning light.
pg. 47 Instruments and controls
Indicator and warning symbols
Anti-lock brake system ABS
If the warning light comes on, there is a malfunction of the ABS system (the standard braking system will still
function). The vehicle should be driven to a Volvo retailer for inspection. See page 123
for additional information.
Stability Traction Control (STC)
1 system or Dynamic Stability Traction Control (DSTC) system2
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STOP
SAFELYStop and switch off the engine - to help prevent serious risk of damage.
STOP
ENGINE Stop and switch off the engine - to help prevent serious risk of damage.
SERVICE
URGENT Take your vehicle to a trained and qualified Volvo service technician for inspection immediately.
SEE
MANUAL Refer to your owner's manual. For additional information, please contact your Volvo retailer.
SERVICE
REQUIRED Take your vehicle to an authorized Volvo retailer for inspection at your convenience (but preferably
before the next scheduled maintenance service).
FIX NEXT
SERVICE Have the system affected inspected at the next scheduled maintenance service.
TIME FOR
REGULAR
SERVICE This message will be displayed at 7,500 mile (12,000 km) intervals, after 750 hours of driving or after
12 months, whichever occurs first, to remind the driver that the service interval has been exceeded. The
message will be displayed for 2 minutes each time the vehicle is started until reset by the servicing
retailer.
OIL LEVEL
LOW -
FILL OIL
1 2
Check the oil level and top up if necessary. See page 175.
OIL LEVEL
LOW -
STOP
SAFELY
1 3
Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary. See page
175.
OIL LEVEL
LOW -
STOP
ENGINE
1 3
Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary. See page
175.
OIL LEVEL
LOW - SEE
MANUAL
1
3
Stop as soon as possible and switch off the engine, check the oil level and top up if necessary. See page
175.
STC/DSTC
SPIN
CONTROL
OFF The stability system's spin control function has been turned off. See page 125
for details.
1. These messages apply to R- models only.
2. Yellow warning symbol, see page 45
.
3. Red warning symbol, see page 45
.
pg. 50 Instruments and controls
Switches in the center console
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