
Airbag system31
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Monitoring of airbag and belt tension device system
Both the airbag and belt tension device systems operation is constantly 
monitored electronically. Each time the ignition is switched on, the warning 
lamp 
 lights for several seconds and the display in the instrument panel* 
shows  AIRBAG / TENSIONER .
The system must be checked when the warning lamp 
 :
•
does not light up when the ignition is switched on,
•
after the ignition is switched on, it turns off after 4 seconds,
•
it turns off and then lights up again after the ignition is switched on,
•
lights up or flashes while the car is moving.
In the event of a malfunction, the warning lamp remains on continuously. In 
addition, depending on the malfunction, a fault message appears in the 
display of the combi-instrument for approx. 10 seconds and a short acoustic 
signal is given. In this event, you should have a qualified workshop check the 
system immediately.
If any of the airbags are de-activated by the Authorised Service Centre, the 
indicator lights for several seconds more  after the verification and will turn off 
if there is no fault.
WARNING
•
If there is a malfunction, the airbag and belt tension device system 
cannot properly perform its protective function.
•
If a malfunction occured, have the system checked immediately by a 
qualified workshop. Otherwise, in the event of an accident, the airbag 
system and belt tension devices may not be triggered, or may not be trig-
gered correctly.
Repairs, maintenance and disposal of the airbagsThe parts of the airbag system are installed in various places in your vehicle. 
If you work on the airbag system or remove and fit parts of the system when 
performing other repair work, parts of the airbag system may be damaged. 
The consequence may be that, in the event of an accident, the airbag inflates 
incorrectly or does not inflate at all.
The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or 
components of the airbag are  scrapped. The specialist workshops and the 
Vehicle disposal centres are familiar with these requirements.
WARNING
•
If repairs are not carried out by a professional, or if the airbags are used 
incorrectly, the risk of severe or fatal injuries is increased. The airbags may 
fail to inflate, or could inflate in the wrong circumstances.
•
Do not cover or stick anything on  the steering wheel hub or the soft 
plastic surface of the airbag unit on  the passenger side of the dashboard, 
and do not obstruct or modify them in any way.
•
It is important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or tele-
phone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.
•
To clean the steering wheel or dash panel, you may use only a dry or a 
water-moistened cloth. Never clean th e dash panel and the airbag module 
surface with cleansers containing solvents. Solvents cause the surface to 
become porous. If the airbag triggered, disintegrating plastic parts could 
cause substantial injuries.
•
Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the airbag 
system.
•
Any work on the airbag system or removal and installation of the airbag 
components for other repairs (such as  repairs to the steering wheel) should 
be performed only by a qualified wo rkshop. Qualified workshops have the 
necessary tools, repair information and qualified personnel.
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Airbag system
32•
We strongly recommend you to go to  a qualified workshop for all work 
on the airbag system.
•
Never attempt to alter the front bumper or the body.
•
The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once 
they have deployed.WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system33
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Front airbagsDescription of front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.
The front airbag for the driver is located in the steering wheel  ⇒fig. 18  and 
the airbag for the front passenger is  located in the instrument panel 
⇒ fig. 19 . Airbags are identified by the word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the seat belts, the front airbag system gives the front 
occupants additional protection for the head and chest in the event of a 
severe frontal collision  ⇒page 36, “Safety notes on the frontal airbag 
system”.
In addition to their normal function of restraining the occupants, the seat 
belts also hold the driver and front pas senger in a position where the airbags 
can provide maximum protection in a frontal collision.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but it is an integral part 
of the vehicle's overall passive safety system. Please bear in mind that the 
airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are wearing their 
seat belts correctly and have adjusted the head restraints properly. Therefore, 
it is most important to wear the seat belts at all times, not only because this 
is required by law in most coun tries, but also for your safety ⇒page 19, 
“Brief Introduction”.
The main parts of the front airbag system are:•
an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),
•
the two front airbags (airbag with gas  generator) for the driver and front 
passenger,
•
a warning lamp 
 in the dash panel insert  ⇒page 30.
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning 
lamp will light up for a few seconds every time the ignition is switched on 
(self-diagnosis).
There is a fault in the system if the warning lamp 
•
does not light up when the ignition is switched on  ⇒page 30
•
after the ignition is switched on, it turns off after 4 seconds,
•
it turns off and then lights up again after the ignition is switched on,
•
lights up or flashes while the car is moving.
Fig. 18  Driver airbag 
located in steering wheelFig. 19  Front passenger 
airbag located in dash 
panel
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Airbag system
34The front airbag system will not be triggered if:•
the ignition is switched off,
•
there is a minor frontal collision,
•
there is a side collision,
•
there is a rear-end collision,
•
the vehicle turns over.
WARNING
•
The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the 
occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 10, “Proper sitting position for 
occupants”.
•
If a fault has occured in the airbag system, have the system checked 
immediately by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, during a frontal collision 
the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
Operation of frontal airbags
Inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury.The airbag system is designed so that the airbags for the driver and front 
passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision.
In certain types of accident the front, curtain and side airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbags fill with a propellant gas and 
deploy in front of the driver and front passenger  ⇒fig. 20 . The fully deployed 
airbags cushion the forward movement of the front occupants and help to 
reduce the risk of injury to the head and the upper part of the body.
The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and 
chest are surrounded and protected by  the airbag. After the collision, the 
airbag deflates sufficiently for the front occupants to see forward.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the airbags 
have to deploy extremely rapidly (within thousandth of a second). A fine dust 
Fig. 20  Inflated front 
airbags
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Airbag system
36Safety notes on the frontal airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce the 
risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
•
It is important for the driver and front passenger to keep a distance of 
at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. If the minimum 
distance is not observed then the airbags do not correctly protect the 
vehicle occupants; risk of fatal injuries! In addition, the front seats and 
head restraints must always be positioned correctly for the height of the 
occupant.
•
If you are not wearing a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side while 
travelling or assume an incorrect sitting position, there is a substantially 
increased risk of injury. This increased risk of injury will be further 
increased if you are struck by an inflating airbag.
•
Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate restraint 
system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, children can sustain 
serious or fatal injuries from the airbag as it inflates  ⇒page 45, “Child 
safety”.
•
The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags 
must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.
•
The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once 
they have deployed.
•
It is also important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or 
telephone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.
•
Do not attempt to modify components  of the airbag system in any 
way.
Side airbags*Description of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The front side airbags are located in the driver seat and front passenger seat 
backrests ⇒ fig. 22. The rear side airbags are located in the rear wheel 
housing lining. The loca tions are identified by the  text “AIRBAG” in the upper 
region of the backrests and in the rear wheel housing lining.
Together with the seat belts, the side airbag system gives the front seat occu-
pants additional protection for the upper body in the event of a severe side 
collision  ⇒page 39, “Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag 
system”.
In a side collision, the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to passengers on 
the front seats to the areas of the body facing the impact. In addition to their 
normal function of protecting the occupants in a collision, the seat belts also 
Fig. 22  Side airbag in 
driver seat
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Airbag system37
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
hold the passengers on the front seats and the outer rear seats in a position 
where the side airbags can provide maximum protection.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but it is an integral part 
of the vehicle's overall passive safety system. Please bear in mind that the 
airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are wearing their 
seat belts. Therefore, it is most important to wear the seat belts at all times, 
not only because this is required by la
w in most countries, but also for your 
safety  ⇒page 19, “Brief Introduction”.
The side airbag system will not be triggered if:
•
the ignition is switched off,
•
there is a minor side collision,
•
there is a frontal collision,
•
there is a rear-end collision,
•
the vehicle turns over.
The main parts of the airbag system are:
•
an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),
•
the front side airbags in the front seats backrests and the rear side 
airbags in the rear wheel housing lining,
•
a warning lamp 
 in the dash panel insert  ⇒page 30.
The airbag system operation is monito red electronically. The airbag warning 
lamp will light up for approx. 4 seconds every time the ignition is switched on 
(self-diagnosis).
WARNING
•
In a side-on collision, the side air bags will not work, if the sensors do 
not correctly measure the pressure incr ease on the interior of the doors, 
due to air escaping through the areas with holes or openings in the door 
panel.
•
Never drive the vehicle if the interior panels have been removed.
•
Never drive if the interior door pane ls have been removed or if the 
panels have not been correctly fitted.
•
Never drive the vehicle if the loudspeakers in the door panels have 
been removed, unless the holes left by the loudspeakers have been 
correctly closed.
•
Always check that the openings are closed or covered if loudspeakers 
or other equipment are fitted  in the interior door panels.
•
Any work carried out to the doors should be made in a qualified author-
ised workshop.
•
The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the 
occupants are seated correctly  ⇒page 10, “Proper sitting position for 
occupants”.
•
If a fault has occured in the airbag system, have the system checked 
immediately by a qualified workshop. Ot herwise, during a side collision, 
the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system39
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Te c h n i c a l  D a t a
Safety notes on the operation of the side airbag system
I f  a i r b a g s  a re  u s e d  c o r r e c t l y ,  t h e y  c a n  c o n s i d e ra b l y  re d u c e  t h e  
risk of injury in side impact collisions.
WARNING
•
If you do not wear a seat belt, if  you lean forward, or are not seated 
correctly while the vehicle is in motion, you are at a greater risk of injury if 
the side airbag system is triggered in an accident.
•
In order for the side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the 
prescribed sitting position must alwa ys be maintained with seat belts 
fastened while travelling.
•
Occupants of the outer seats must never carry any objects or pets in the 
deployment space between them and th e airbags, or allow children or 
other passengers to travel in this position. It is also important not to attach 
any accessories (such as cup holders) to the doors. This would impair the 
protection offered by the side airbags.
•
The built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing. Do 
not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
•
Great forces, such as hard blows or kicks, must not be exerted upon the 
backrest bolster because the system may be damaged. In this case, the 
side airbags would not be triggered.
•
Under no circumstances should protective covers be fitted over the 
driver seat or front passenger seat unless the covers have been expressly 
approved for use in your vehicle. Because the airbag is triggered from the 
side of the backrest, the use of non-approved seat covers would obstruct 
the side airbag, seriously reducing the airbag's effectiveness  ⇒page 208, 
“Accessories, parts replacement and modifications”.
•
Any damage to the original seat uphol stery or around the seams of the 
side airbag units must be repaired immediately by a qualified workshop.
•
The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them once 
they have deployed.
•
When children assume an incorrect sitting position, they expose them-
selves to an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident. This is 
particularly the case if the child is travelling on the front passenger seat 
and the airbag system is triggered in  an accident; this could have critical 
consequences including serious injury or death  ⇒page 45, “Child safety”.
•
Any work on the side airbag system or removal and installation of the 
airbag components for other repairs (such as removal of the front seat) 
should only be performed by a qualified workshop. Otherwise, faults may 
occur during the airbag system operation.
•
Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any way.
•
The side and head airbags are managed through sensors located in the 
interior of the front doors. To ensure the correct functioning of the side and 
head airbags neither the doors nor the  door panels should be modified in 
any way (e.g. fitting loudspeakers). If  the front door is damaged, the airbag 
system may not work correctly. All work carried out on the front door must 
be made in a qualified workshop.WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system
40Curtain airbagsDescription of curtain airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The curtain airbags are located on both sides in the interior above the doors 
⇒ fig. 24  and are identified with the text “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the seat belts, the curtain airbag system gives the occu-
pants additional protection for the head and upper body in the event of a 
severe side collision ⇒ page 41, “Safety notes on the operation of the 
curtain airbag system”.
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts, but it is an integral part 
of the vehicle's overall passive safety system. Please bear in mind that the 
airbag system can only work effectively when the occupants are wearing their 
seat belts correctly and have adjusted th e head restraints properly. Therefore, 
it is most important to wear the seat belts at all times, not only because this  is required by law in most countries, but also for your safety 
⇒page 19, 
“Brief Introduction”.
The main parts of the curtain airbag system are:
•
an electronic control and monitoring system (control unit),
•
the curtain airbags (airbags with ga s generator) for the driver, front 
passenger and passengers on the rear seats,
•
a warning lamp 
 in the dash panel insert ⇒ page 30.
The airbag system operation  is monitored electronically.
The curtain airbag system will not be triggered
•
the ignition is switched off,
Fig. 24  Location of left curtain airbag
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