
2 0 0 7
VOLVO S60
Safety
pg. 9 Safety
Occupant safety, Reporting safety defects 10
Seat belts12
Supplemental Restraint System  (SRS)15
Front airbags16
Occupant Weight  Sensor (OWS)20
Side impact protection (SIPS) airbags24
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)25
Whiplash Protection System  (WHIPS)26
Child safety28
Child restraint systems31
Infant seats33
Convertible seats35
Booster cushions37
ISOFIX lower anchors38
Top tether anchors39
pg. 10 Safety
Occupant safety, Reporting safety defects
Volvo concern for safety
Safety is the Volvo cornerstone. Our concern dates back to 1927 when the first Volvo rolled off the production line.
Three-point seat belts (a Volvo invention), safety cages, and  energy-absorbing  impact zones were  designed into Volvo
vehicles long before it was fashionable or required by government regulation. We will not compromise  our
commitment to safety. We continue  to seek out new safety features and  to refine those already  in our vehicles. You
can help. We would appreciate hearing your suggestions about improving automobile safety. We also want  to know if
you ever have a  safety concern with your vehicle. Call us in the U.S. at: 800-458-1552 or in Canada at: 800-663-8255.
Occupant safety
How  safely you drive doesn't depend on how old you are but rather on:
 How  well you see.
 Your ability to concentrate.
 How  quickly you make decisions under stress to avoid an  accident.
The tips  listed below  are suggestions to help you cope with the ever changing traffic  environment.
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Using  seat belts
Volvo, the inventor of the three-point seat belt, urges you and  all occupants of your vehicle to wear  seat belts and
ensure that children are properly restrained,  using an  infant, car, or booster  seat determined by age, weight and  height.
Volvo also believes no child should sit  in the front  seat of a  vehicle.
Most states and  provinces make it mandatory for occupants of a  vehicle to use seat belts.
Seat belt tensioners
The seat belts are equipped with tensioners that reduce slack in the belts. These tensioners are triggered in situations
where  the airbags deploy. The front  seat belts also include  a  tension reducing device which,  in the event of a  collision,
limits the peak forces  exerted  by the seat belt on the occupant.
Buckling a seat belt
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
When wearing  the seat belt remember:
 The belt should not be  twisted or turned.
 The lap section of the 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.
Unbuckling  the seat belt
To remove the seat belt, press the red section on the seat belt receptacle. Before exiting the vehicle, check that the seat
belt retracts  fully after being unbuckled. If necessary,  guide the belt back into the retractor  slot.
Seat belt reminder
The seat belt reminder consists of an  audible  signal, an  indicator light above the rearview mirror, and  a  symbol  in the
instrument panel that alert the driver and  front  seat passenger  if their seat belts are not fastened.
pg. 13 Safety
Seat belts
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 Seat belts lose much of their strength when exposed to violent stretching  and  should be  replaced  after any
collision,  even if they appear to be  undamaged.
 Never  repair the belt yourself; have this  work done  by an  authorized Volvo service technician 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.
pg. 15 Safety
Supplemental Restraint System  (SRS)
Supplemental Restraint System
As an  enhancement to the three-point seat belts, your Volvo is equipped with a  Supplemental Restraint System  (SRS).
Volvo's  SRS consists of seat belt tensioners, front  airbags, side impact airbags, the occupant weight sensor, and
inflatable curtains. All of these systems are monitored by the SRS control module. An SRS warning light in the
instrument panel (see the illustration above) illuminates  when the ignition key  is turned to position I, II, or III, and  will
normally go out after approximately 7 seconds if no faults are detected in the system.
Where applicable, a  text message will also be  displayed when the SRS warning light illuminates.  If this  warning
symbol  is not functioning properly, the general  warning symbol  
illuminates  and  a  text message will be  displayed.
WARNING!
 If the SRS warning light stays on after the engine has started or if it illuminates  while you are driving, have the
vehicle inspected by a  trained and  qualified Volvo service technician as soon as possible.
 Never  try to repair any  component  or part of the SRS yourself. Any interference in the system could cause
malfunction and  serious injury. All work on these systems should be  performed by an  authorized Volvo service
technician.
WARNING!
If your vehicle has been subjected to flood conditions (e.g. soaked carpeting/standing water on the floor  of the
vehicle) or if your vehicle 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 vehicle towed  to a  trained and  qualified Volvo service technician for repairs.
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Automatic transmission:
Before attempting to tow the vehicle, 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.
pg. 16 Safety
Front airbags
The front airbag system
The front  airbags supplement the three-point seat belts. For these airbags to provide the protection intended,  seat belts
must  be  worn at all times.
The front  airbag system includes gas generators and  the airbags. A deceleration  sensor 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 seat belt slack. The entire process,
including inflation and  deflation of the airbags, takes approximately one  fifth of a  second.
The location of the front  airbags is indicated by "SRS AIRBAG" 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.
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 The driver's side front  airbag is folded and  located in the steering wheel hub.
 The passenger's  side front  airbag is folded behind a  panel located above the glove compartment.
WARNING!
 The airbags in the vehicle are designed to be  a  SUPPLEMENT  to-not a  replacement  for-the three-point seat belts.
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.
 Never  drive a  vehicle with a  steering wheel-mounted airbag with your hands on the steering wheel pad/airbag
housing.
 The front  airbags are designed to help prevent serious injury. Deployment  occurs very quickly and  with
considerable force. During normal deployment and  depending on variables such as seating position, one  may
experience abrasions, bruises, swellings, or other injuries as a  result from  deployment of one  or both of the airbags.
 When installing any  accessory  equipment, make sure that the front  airbag system is not damaged. Any
interference in the system could cause malfunction.
pg. 17 Safety
Front airbags
Front  airbag deployment
 The front  airbags 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 SRS sensors,  which  trigger the front  airbags, are designed to react  to both the impact of the collision  and  the
inertial forces  generated  by it, and  to determine if the intensity  of the collision  is sufficient for the seat belt tensioners
and/or airbags to be  deployed.
However, not all frontal collisions activate the front  airbags.
 If the collision  involves a  nonrigid object  (e.g., a  snow drift or bush), or a  rigid, fixed object  at a  low speed, the
front  airbags 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.
NOTE:
 Deployment  of front  airbags occurs only one  time during an  accident. In a  collision  where  deployment occurs, the
airbags 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.
 Volvo's  dual-threshold, dual-stage front  airbags use special sensors  that are integrated with the front  seat buckles.
The point at which  the airbag deploys is determined by whether or not the seat belt is being used, as well as the
severity of the collision.
 Collisions can occur where  only one  of the airbags deploys. If the impact is less severe, but severe enough  to
present a  clear  injury risk, the dual-stage airbags are triggered at 70% of their total capacity. If the impact is more
severe, the dual-stage airbags are triggered at full capacity. Should you have questions about any  component  in the
SRS system, please contact a  trained and  qualified Volvo service technician or Volvo Customer Support:
In  the USA :
Volvo Cars of North America,  LLC
Customer Care Center
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P.O. Box 914 Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914
1-800-458-1552
www.volvocars.us
In  Canada:
Volvo Cars of Canada Corp.
National  Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
1-800-663-8255
www.volvocanada.com
pg. 18 Safety
Front airbags
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
1.
 Never  drive with the airbags deployed. The fact that they hang  out can impair the steering of your vehicle. 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.
1. See also the Occupant Weight  Sensor information on page 20.
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pg. 19 Safety
Front airbags
WARNING!
 Children must  never be  allowed in the front  passenger's  seat. Volvo recommends that ALL  occupants (adults and
children) shorter than 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) be  seated in the back seat of any  vehicle with a  passenger -side front
airbag. See  page 30
 for guidelines.
 Occupants in the front  passenger's  seat must  never sit  on the edge of the seat, sit  leaning  toward the instrument
panel or otherwise 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.
 Feet must  be  on the floor,  e.g.,  not on the dash, seat or out of the window.
WARNING!
 No objects or accessory  equipment, e.g.  dashboard covers, may be  placed on, attached to, or installed near the air
bag  hatch (the area above the glove compartment) or the area affected by airbag deployment (see the illustration on
page 16
).
 There should be  no loose articles, e.g.  coffee cups, on the floor,  seat, or dashboard area.
 Never  try to open  the airbag cover on the steering wheel or the passenger's  side dashboard. This should only be
done  by a  trained and  qualified Volvo service technician.
Failure to follow these instructions can result  in injury to the vehicle  occupants.
pg. 20 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS)
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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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