
Airbag system45
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
– Check that the warning lamp on the instrument panel 
⇒page 44, fig. 27  does 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 46, “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, 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.
•When using the ignition key to activate/deactivate the front passenger 
airbag, only the front passenger airbag will be activated/deactivated. The 
side airbag and head airbag on the passenger side will remain active.WARNING (continued)
Altea_EN.book  Seite 45  Donnersta g, 2. September 2010  2:00 14 

Child safety
46Child safetyBrief introductionIntroduction
Statistics show that children are generally safer on the rear 
seat than on the front passenger seat.For safety reasons we recommend that children under 12 years of age travel 
on the rear seats. Depending on their age, height and weight, children trav-
elling on the rear seat must use a child seat or a seat belt. For safety reasons, 
the child seat should be installed in the centre of the rear seat or behind the 
front passenger seat.
The physical laws involved and the forces acting in a collision apply also to 
children  ⇒page 21, “Why wear seat belts?”. But unlike adults, children do 
not have muscle and bone structures fully developed. This means that chil-
dren are subject to a greater risk of injury.
To reduce this risk, children must always use special child restraint systems 
when travelling in the vehicle.
We recommend the use of child safety products from the SEAT Genuine Acces-
sories Programme, which includes systems for all ages made by “Peke”
2).
These systems have been especially designed and approved, complying with 
the ECE-R44. regulation.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and observe any statutory require-
ments when installing and using child seats. Always read and note 
⇒ page 46, “Safety notes on using child seats”. We recommend you to include the manufacturer's Child Seat instruction 
manual together with the on-board documentation.
Safety notes on using child seats
Proper use of child seats substantially reduces the risk of 
injury in an accident!As the driver, you are responsible for any children you transport in 
your vehicle.
– Protect your children by properly using the appropriate child 
seats  ⇒page 48.
– Always ensure that the seat belt is properly positioned according  to the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the child 
seat.
– When travelling, do not allow children to distract you from traffic.
– Take breaks regularly during long  trips. Take a break at least 
every two hours.
WARNING
•Never install a child seat facing backwards on the front passenger seat 
unless the front passenger airbag has been disabled. This could lead to a 
risk of potentially fatal injuries to the child! However, if it is necessary, in 
exceptional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger seat, the front 
passenger airbag must always be disabled  ⇒page 44, “Deactivating 
2)Not for all countries
Altea_EN.book  Seite 46  Donnersta g, 2. September 2010  2:00 14 

Child safety47
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
airbags*”. If the passenger seat has a height adjustment option, move it to 
the highest position.
•For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to disconnect 
the airbag, the vehicle must be taken to a Technical Service.•All passengers, especially children, must assume the proper sitting 
position and be properly belted in while travelling.•Never hold children or babies on your lap, this can result in potentially 
fatal injuries to the child!•Never allow a child to be transported in a vehicle without being properly 
secured, or to stand up or kneel on a  seat while travelling. In an accident, 
the child could be flung through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal injuries 
to themselves and to the other passengers.•If children assume an improper sitting position when the vehicle is 
moving, they expose themselves to greater risk of injury in the event of a 
sudden braking manoeuvre or in an accident. This is particularly important 
if the child is travelling on the front passenger seat and the airbag system 
is t riggered in an accid ent ; as  this  could caus e s erious inj ur y  or eve n deat h.•A suitable child seat can protect your child!•Never leave an unsupervised child alone on a child seat or in the 
vehicle.•Depending on weather conditions, it may become extremely hot or cold 
inside the vehicle. This can be fatal.•Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall must not wear a normal seat 
belt without a child seat, as this could cause injuries to the abdominal and 
neck areas during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an accident.•Do not allow the seat belt to become twisted or jammed, or to rub on 
any sharp edges.•Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause injuries even in a minor collision 
or in sudden braking manoeuvres.
•The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the seat belt is 
properly positioned  ⇒page 24, “Seat belts”.•Only one child may occupy a child seat  ⇒page 48, “Child seats”.
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
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Cockpit55
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Operating InstructionsCockpitOverviewOverview of the dash panel
This overview will help you to  familiarise yourself with the 
controls and displays.
Door release lever 
Light switch  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lighting control for instrument and control lighting   . . . . . . .
Headlight range control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Air vent
Turn signal and main beam lever and cruise control system*
Controls on the steering wheel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Instrument panel:
− Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Indicator lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Horn (works only when the ignition is on)/ Driver front airbag
Windscreen wiper and washer lever and operation of the 
multifunction display*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Left seat heating button  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Controls for
− Heating* and ventilation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . −
Climatic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Climatronic*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Radio/Navigator*
Right seat heating button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Warning lamp for deactivated front passenger airbag . . . . . .
Front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Glove compartment lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selector lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cup holder compartment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Controls on the centre console:
− Central locking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− ESP  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Tyre pressure control*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Park Pilot* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Cigarette lighter / Power socket  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Exterior mirror adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
− Start-Stop*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hazard warning light switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pedals
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steering column control lever*  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Handle for releasing the bonnet  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A1A2
118
A3
122
A4
122
A5A6
125, 192
A7
91
A8
57
61
77
A9
30
A10
130, 63
A11
141
A12
159 161
165
A13A14
141
A15
44
A16
30
A17
144
A18
182
A19
148
A20
99
199 85
189
152
135
178
A21
187
A22
123
A23A24
173
A25
171
A26
232
Altea_EN.book  Seite 55  Donnersta g, 2. September 2010  2:00 14