
Airbag system31
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 44. 
When transporting children, use a child seat appropriate to the age and size 
of each child ⇒ page 46.
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 44, “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 given by the child seat manufac-
turer and observe the safety instructions  ⇒page 46, “Child safety”.
− 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 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 safety51
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Securing 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 in groups  0, 0+ and 1 with the ISOFIX and Top Tether* systems 
can be secured without using the seatbelt, thanks to the ISOFIX and Top 
Tether* securing rings ⇒ page 52.
U: Suitable for universal approved restraining systems for use in this age  category (universal retention systems are those fitted using the adult 
seat belt).
*: 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 and Top Tether* anchors.
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 44, “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 46.
Category
Weight
Seat locations
Front 
passenger
Rear outer
Rear centre
Group 0
<10 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 0+
<13 kg
U*
U/L
U
Group 1
9-18 kg
U*
U/L
U 
Group 2 / 3
15-36 kg
U*
U
U
Altea_EN.book  Seite 51  Donnersta g, 2. September 2010  2:00 14