
Safe driving
10
–Fasten your seat belt securely ⇒ page 16.
– Keep both feet in the footwell so that you have the vehicle under  control at all times.Adjustment of the driver seat  ⇒page 105.
WARNING
•An incorrect sitting position of the driver can lead to severe injuries.•Adjust the driver seat so that there is at least 25 cm distance between 
the centre of the chest and the centre of the steering wheel  ⇒page 9, 
fig. 1 . If distance is less than 25 cm, the airbag system may not protect you 
properly.•If your physical constitution pr events you from maintaining the 
minimum distance of 25 cm, contact a specialised workshop. The work-
shop will help you decide if special specific modifications are necessary.•When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the 
outside of the ring at the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions. This reduces the 
risk of injury when the driver airbag is triggered.•Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position, or in any other 
manner (e.g. in the centre of the steering wheel). In such cases, if the 
airbag is triggered, you may sustain injuries to the arms, hands and head.•To reduce the risk of injury to the driver during sudden braking manoeu-
vres or an accident, never drive with the backrest tilted far back! The airbag 
system and seat belts can only provide optimal protection when the back-
rest is in an upright position and the driver is wearing his or her seat belt 
properly. The further the backrests are tilted to the rear, the greater the risk 
of injury due to incorrect positioning of the belt web or to the incorrect 
sitting position!•Adjust the head restraint properly to achieve optimal protection.
Proper sitting position for front passenger
The front passenger must sit at least 25 cm away from the 
dash panel so that the airbag can provide the greatest 
possible protection in the event that it is triggered.For your own safety and to reduce the  risk of injury in the event of an 
accident, we recommend the following adjustments for the front 
passenger:
– Move the front passenger seat back as far as possible  ⇒.
– Move the backrest to an upright position so that your backrests  completely against it.
– Adjust the head restraint so that its upper edge is at the same  level as the top of your head, or as close as possible to the same 
level as the top of your head  ⇒page 12.
– Keep both feet in the footwell in front of the front passenger seat.
–Fasten your seat belt securely  ⇒page 16.The passenger airbag can be deactivated under  exceptional circumstances 
⇒ page 37.
Adjusting the front passenger seat  ⇒page 108.
WARNING
•An incorrect sitting position of the front passenger can lead to severe 
injuries.•Adjust the front passenger seat so that there is at least 25 cm between 
your chest and the dash panel. If distance is less than 25 cm, the airbag 
system may not protect you properly.
IbizaSC_EN.book  Seite 10  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  6:10 18 

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)
IbizaSC_EN.book  Seite 27  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  6:10 18 

Airbag system37
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Deactivating airbags*Front passenger airbag deactivation
If you fit a rear-facing child seat to the front passenger seat, 
the front passenger airbag must be de-activated.
When the passenger airbag is  deactivated, this means that only the 
passenger front airbag is deactiva ted. All the other airbags in the 
vehicle remain activated.
Deactivating the front passenger airbag
– Switch the ignition off.
– Turn the ignition switch in the key operated switch in the glove 
compartment to the position OFF  ⇒ fig. 21 .
– Check that the warning lamp “AIRBAG OFF” on the dash panel  ⇒fig. 22  remains lit ⇒  when the ignition is switched on.
Activating the front passenger airbag
– Switch the ignition off.
– Turn the ignition key in the key-operated switch in the glove  compartment to the position ON  ⇒ fig. 21 .
Fig. 21  In the glove 
compartment: switch for 
activating and deacti-
vating the front passenger 
airbag
Fig. 22  Warning lamp for 
deactivated passenger 
airbag in centre console
IbizaSC_EN.book  Seite 37  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  6:10 18 

Airbag system
38
– Check that the warning lamp “AIRBAG OFF” in the console does ⇒page 37, fig. 22  not  light up when the ignition is switched on 
⇒ .
WARNING
•The driver is responsible for the proper position of the key-operated 
switch. •You should only deactivate the front passenger airbag when, in excep-
tional cases, you have to use a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger 
seat  ⇒page 39, “Child safety”.•Never install a child seat facing backwards on the front passenger seat 
unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. Otherwise, there is a 
risk of death. If under exceptional circumstances it is necessary to trans-
port a child in a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat, you must 
always disable the front passenger airbag.•As soon as the child seat is no longer needed on the front passenger 
seat, enable the front passenger airbag again.•Only deactivate the passenger airbag when the ignition is off, other-
wise a fault may occur in the airbag system, which could cause the airbag 
to not deploy properly or not deploy at all.•When the passenger airbag is deactivated, if the warning lamp AIRBAG 
OFF is not continuously lit up when the front passenger airbag is disabled, 
there may be a fault in the airbag system:
−Have the airbag system inspected immediately by a specialised 
workshop.
− Do not use a child seat on the front passenger seat! The front 
passenger airbag could be triggered despite the fact that there is a fault 
in the system and, as a result, a child could sustain serious or fatal inju-
ries.
− It is unpredictable whether the front passenger airbag will deploy in 
the event of an accident. Warn all your passengers of this.
IbizaSC_EN.book  Seite 38  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  6:10 18 

Child safety
44Securing child seatsWays to secure a child seat
A child seat can be secured differently on the rear seat and on 
the front passenger seat.You can secure a child seat to the rear seat or front passenger seat in the 
following ways:•Child seats in groups 0 to 3  can be secured with a seat belt.•Child seats for groups 0, 0+ and 1 with the “ISOFIX” system can be 
secured, without fastening seat belts, with the “ISOFIX” securing rings 
⇒ page 44.
U: Suitable for universal approved restraining systems for use in this age  category (universal retention systems are those fitted using the adult 
seat belt).
UF Suitable for universal forward-facing retention systems approved for use  with this age group.
*: Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible, as high as  possible and always deactivate the airbag.
L: Suitable for retention systems using the “ISOFIX” anchors.
X Seat position not suitable for children in this age group.
WARNING
•When travelling, children must be secured in the vehicle with a 
restraint system suitable for age, weight and size.•Never install a child seat facing backwards on the front passenger seat 
unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This could cause fatal 
injuries to the child! However, if, in exceptional cases, it is necessary to 
transport a child in the front passenger seat, the front passenger airbag 
⇒ page 37, “Deactivating airbags*” must always be disabled and the seat 
adjusted to its highest position, where possible.•Read and always observe information and warnings concerning the use 
of child seats  ⇒ in “Safety notes on using child seats” on page 39.
Securing a child seat with the “ISOFIX” system
Child seats can be secured quickly, easily and safely on the 
rear outer seats with the “ISOFIX” system.
Category
Weight
Seat locations
Front 
passenger
Rear outer
Rear centre
Group 0
<10 kg
U*
U
U
Group 0+
<13 kg
U*
U
U
Group 1
9-18 kg
U*
U/L
U 
Group 2 / 3
15-36 kg
X
UF
UF
Fig. 26  ISOFIX securing 
rings
IbizaSC_EN.book  Seite 44  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  6:10 18