
Seat belts19
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
travelling just before the impact. This example applies not only to head-on 
collisions, but to all accidents and collisions.
The danger of not using the seat belt
The general belief that the passengers can protect them-
selves with their hands in a minor collision is false.
Even at low speeds the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great 
that it is not possible to brace oneself with one’s hands. In a frontal collision, 
unbelted passengers are thrown forward and will make violent contact with 
the steering wheel, dash panel, windscreen or whatever else is in the way 
⇒
fig. 8 .
The airbag system is not a substitute for seat belts. When triggered, airbags 
provide only additional protection. All occupants (including the driver) must 
wear seat belts properly during the trip. This will reduce the risk of severe 
injuries in the event of an accident – regardless of whether an airbag is fitted 
for the seat or not.
Note that airbags can be triggered only once. To achieve the best possible 
protection, the seat belt must always be worn properly so that you will be 
protected in accidents in which no airbag is deployed.
It is also important for the rear passengers to wear seat belts properly, as they 
could otherwise be thrown forward violently in an accident. Rear passengers 
who do not use seat belts endanger not only themselves but also the front 
occupants  ⇒fig. 9 .
Fig. 8  A driver not 
wearing a seat belt is 
thrown forward violently.
Fig. 9  The unbelted rear 
passenger is thrown 
forward violently, hitting 
the driver wearing a seat 
belt.
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Seat belts21
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•Fasten your seat belt before every trip - even when driving in town. The 
o t h e r  pas s e nge rs  m u s t  al s o  w e ar  t h e  s ea t  b e l ts  a t  al l  t i m e s , o t h e r w is e  t h e y  
run the risk of being injured.•The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if the seat belt is not posi-
tioned correctly.•Never allow two passengers (even children) to share the same seat belt.•Keep both feet in the footwell in front of your seat as long as the vehicle 
is in motion.•Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. Risk of fatal 
injury.•The seat belt must never be twisted while it is being worn.•The seat belt should never lie on hard or fragile objects (such as glasses 
or pens, etc.) because this can cause injuries.•Do not allow the seat belt to be damaged or jammed, or to rub on any 
sharp edges.•Never wear the seat belt under the arm or in any other incorrect posi-
tion.•Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacket) impairs the 
proper fit and function of the belts, reducing their capacity to protect.•The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be blocked with paper or other 
objects, as this can prevent the latch plate from engaging securely.•Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or similar instruments to alter 
the position of the belt webbing.•Frayed or torn seat belts or damage to the connections, belt retractors 
or parts of the buckle could cause severe injuries in the event of an acci-
dent. Therefore, you must check the co ndition of all seat belts at regular 
intervals.•Seat belts which have been worn in an accident and stretched must be 
replaced by a specialised workshop. Renewal may be necessary even if 
there is no apparent damage. The belt anchorage should also be checked.
•Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat belt yourself. The seat belts 
must not be removed or modified in any way.•The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the retractors may not work 
properly.
Seat beltsSeat belt adjustment
The seat belts for the front and rear occupants are locked into 
position by a latch.The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if the seat belt is not 
positioned correctly.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 11  Belt buckle and 
latch plate of seat belt
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Seat belts23
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
WARNING
•An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause severe injuries in the event of 
an accident.•The shoulder belt must be positioned around the middle of the 
shoulder. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the torso  ⇒page 22, 
fig. 12 .•The lap part of the seat belt must lie across the pelvis, never across the 
stomach. The seat belt must lie flat and snugly on the pelvis  ⇒page 22, 
fig. 13 . Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up any slack.•Read and observe the warnings  ⇒page 20.
Pregnant women must also fasten their seat belts properly
The best protection for the unbo rn child is for the mother to 
wear the seat belt properly at all times during the pregnancy.
The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the seat belt 
is properly positioned  ⇒page 22.
– Adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly.
– Holding the latch plate, pull the belt evenly across your chest and  as low as possible over the pelvis  ⇒fig. 14 .
– Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the corresponding seat  and push it down until it is securely locked with an audible click 
⇒ .
– Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely engaged in  the buckle.
WARNING
•An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause severe injuries in the event of 
an accident.•For pregnant women, the lap part of the seat belt must lie as low as 
possible over the pelvis, never across the stomach, and always lie flat so 
that no pressure is exerted on the abdomen.•Read and observe the warnings  ⇒page 20.
Fig. 14  Positioning seat 
belts during pregnancy
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Seat belts25
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Belt tensioners*Function of the seat belt tensioner
During a frontal collision, the seat belts on the front seats are 
retracted automatically.The seat belts for the front occupants are equipped with belt tensioners. 
Sensors will trigger the belt tensioners during severe head-on, lateral and 
rear collisions only if the seat belt is being worn. This retracts and tightens the 
seat belts, reducing the forward motion of the occupants.
The seat belt tensioner can be triggered only once.
The belt tensioners will not be triggered in the event of light frontal and side 
collisions, if the vehicle overturns, or in situations where no large forces act 
on the front, side or rear of the vehicle.
Note
•If the seat belt tensioners are triggered, a fine dust is produced. This is 
normal and it is not an indication of fire in the vehicle.•The relevant safety requirements must be observed when the vehicle or 
components of the system are scrapped. Specialised workshops are familiar 
with these regulations, which are also available to you.Service and disposal of belt tensionersThe belt tensioners are components of the seat belts that are installed in the 
seats of your vehicle. If you work on the belt tensioners or remove and install 
parts of the system when performing other repair work, the seat belt may be 
damaged. The consequence may be that, in the event of an accident, the belt 
tensioners function incorrectly or not at all. So that the effectiveness of the seat belt tensioner is not reduced and that 
removed parts do not cause any injuries or environmental pollution, regula-
tions, which are known to the specialised workshops, must be observed.
WARNING
•Improper use or repairs not carried out by qualified mechanics increase 
the risk of severe or fatal injuries. The belt tensioners may fail to trigger or 
may trigger in the wrong circumstances.•Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or install parts of the belt 
tensioners or seat belts.•The seat belt tensioner, seat belt and automatic retractor cannot be 
repaired.•Any work on the belt tensioners and seat belts, including the removal 
and refitting of system parts in conjunction with other repair work, must be 
performed by a specialised workshop only.•The belt tensioners will only provide protection for one accident and 
must be changed if they have been activated.
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Airbag system27
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
•Always adjust the front seats properly.
The danger of fitting a child seat on the front passenger seat
Rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front 
passenger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled.The front passenger airbag is a serious risk for a child if it is activated. The 
front passenger seat is life threatening to a child if he/she is transpor ted in a 
rear-facing child seat. Children up to 12 years old should always travel on the 
rear seat.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating 
airbag can strike it with such force that it can cause critical or fatal injuries.
Therefore we strongly recommend you to transport children on the rear seats. 
That is the safest place for children in the vehicle. Alternatively, the front 
passenger airbag can be disabled with a key-operated switch  ⇒page 37. 
When transporting children, use a child seat appropriate to the age and size 
of each child.
For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to disconnect the 
airbag, the vehicle must be taken to a Technical Service.
WARNING
•If a child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, the risk to the child 
of sustaining critical or fatal injuries in the event of an accident increases.•Never secure a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat if the 
front passenger airbag is enabled. The child can suffer critical or fatal inju-
ries if the front passenger airbag is triggered.
•An inflating front passenger airbag can strike the rear-facing child seat 
and hurl it with great force against the door, the roof or the backrest.•If, under special circumstances, it is necessary to transport a child in a 
rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, it is absolutely essential 
that you observe the following safety measures:
−Deactivate the front passenger airbag  ⇒page 37, “Deactivating 
airbags*”.
− The child seat must be approved by the child seat manufacturer for 
use on a front passenger seat with front or side airbag.
− Follow the installation instructions of the child seat manufacturer 
and absolutely observe all warnings
− Before properly installing the child seat, push the front passenger 
seat completely backwards so that the greatest possible distance to 
the front passenger airbag is ensured.
− Ensure that no objects prevent the front passenger seat from being 
pushed completely back.
− The backrest of the front passenger seat must be in an upright 
position.
Warning lamp for airbag and seat belt tensioner 
 T
This warning lamp monitors the airbag and seat belt 
tensioner system.The warning lamp monitors all airbags and seat belt tensioners in the vehicle, 
including control units and wiring connections.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system29
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
For the sake of the environment
The airbags, which are a special type of waste, must be disposed of through 
an authorised service, because they contain pyrotechnic elements.
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Airbag system31
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
The 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 overWARNING
•The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the 
occupants are seated correctly ⇒ page 9, “Proper sitting position for occu-
pants”.•If a fault has occurred in the airbag system, have the system checked 
immediately by a specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a frontal colli-
sion the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.
Operation of front 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 and side airbags may be triggered 
together.
When the system is triggered, the airbags fill with a propellant gas and 
deploy in front of the driver and front passenger ⇒ fig. 18. 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 to allow visibility.
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within thousandths of a second, to 
provide additional protection in the event of an accident. A fine dust may 
Fig. 18  Inflated front 
airbags
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Airbag system33
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Side airbagsDescription of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The side airbags are located in the driver seat and front passenger seat back-
rests ⇒fig. 19 . The locations are identified by the text “AIRBAG” in the upper 
region of the backrests.
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 35, “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 
hold the passengers on the front 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. For this reason, 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 as 
a contribution to your own safety
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 side airbags in the sides of the backrests of the front seats,•a warning lamp 
 T on the instrument panel  ⇒page 27
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning 
lamp will light up for approx. 4 seconds every time the ignition is switched on 
(self-diagnosis).
WARNING
•Never drive the vehicle if the interior panels have been removed.•Never drive if the interior door panels 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.
Fig. 19  Side airbag in 
driver seat
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