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01 Safety
Side impact protection airbags
0129 Side impact airbags – front seats only
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Location of the side impact (SIPS) airbagAs an enhancement to the structural side
impact protection built into your car, the car is
also equipped with Side Impact Protection
System (SIPS) airbags.
The SIPS airbag system is designed to help
increase occupant protection in the event of
certain side impact collisions. The SIPS air-
bags are designed to deploy only during cer-
tain side-impact collisions, depending on the
crash severity, angle, speed and point of
impact.
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SIPS airbag deployment
NOTE
SIPS airbag deployment (one airbag) occurs
only on the side of the vehicle affected by
the impact. The airbags are not designed to
deploy in all side impact situations.Components in the SIPS airbag systemThis SIPS airbag system consists of gas gen-
erators and side airbag modules built into the
outboard sides of both front seat backrests.
WARNING
•
The SIPS airbag system is a supple-
ment to the structural Side Impact Pro-
tection System and the three-point seat
belt system. It is not designed to deploy
during collisions from the front or rear of
the car 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 compo-
nents 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 posi-
tion 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.
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01 SafetyVolvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)
0130
The Volvo Inflatable Curtain system
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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 and rear
seats in certain side impact collisions.
In certain side impacts, both the Inflatable Cur-
tain (VIC) and the Side Impact Airbag System
(SIPS airbag) will deploy. The VIC and the SIPS
airbag deploy 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 car or in roll-
over situations.
•
Never try to open or repair any compo-
nents of the VIC system. This should be
done only by a trained and qualified
Volvo service technician.
•
Never hang heavy items from the ceiling
handles. This could impede deployment
of the Inflatable curtain.
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01 Safety
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)
0131
WARNING
In order for the VIC to provide its best pro-
tection, all occupants of the vehicle should
sit in an upright position with the seat belt
properly fastened; adults using the seat belt
and children using the proper child restraint
system. Only adults should sit in the front
seats. Children must never be allowed in the
front passenger's seat, see page 36 for
guidelines. Failure to follow these instruc-
tions can result in injury to the vehicle occu-
pants in an accident.
Page 32 of 274

01 SafetyWhiplash Protection System
0132
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) – front seats only
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The WHIPS system consists of specially
designed hinges and brackets on the front seat
backrests designed to help absorb some of the
energy generated in a collision from the rear
(when the vehicle is "rearended").
In the event of a collision of this type, the hinges
and brackets of the front seat backrests are
designed to change position slightly to allow
the backrest/head restraint to help support the
occupant's head before moving slightly rear-
ward. This movement helps absorb some of
the forces that could result in whiplash.
WARNING
•
The WHIPS system is designed to sup-
plement the other safety systems in
your car. For this system to function
properly, the three-point seat belt must
be worn. Please be aware that no sys-
tem can prevent all possible injuries that
may occur in an accident.
•
The WHIPS system is designed to func-
tion in certain collisions from the rear,
depending on the crash severity, angle
and speed.
WARNING
•
Occupants in the front seats must never
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.
•
If your car 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.
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01 Safety
Whiplash Protection System
0133
Certain components in the WHIPS sys-
tem may need to be replaced.
•
Do not attempt to service any compo-
nent in the WHIPS system yourself.
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WARNING
Any contact between the front seat backr-
ests 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.
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WARNING
•
Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind
the front seats could impede the func-
tion of the WHIPS system.
•
If the rear seat backrests are folded
down, cargo must be secured to pre-
vent it from sliding forward against the
front seat backrests in the event of a
collision from the rear. This could inter-
fere with the action of the WHIPS sys-
tem.
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