
Safe driving13
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Correct adjustment of front seat head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of 
passenger protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in 
most accident situations.
Adjust the head restraint properly in order to achieve maximum 
protection.
– 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 and, at the very least, at eye level 
⇒fig. 3  and ⇒fig. 4 .Adjusting the head restraints  ⇒page 137.
WARNING
•Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted 
increases the risk of severe injuries.•Incorrectly adjusted head restraints could result in death in the event of 
a collision or accident.•Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury 
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.•The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the 
passenger’s height.
Active head restraints*Vehicle occupants are pressed into their seats during a rear end collision. The 
resulting body pressure on the backrest activates the active head restraint* 
on the front seat, which moves rapidly forwards and upwards at the same 
time. This movement reduces the distan ce between the occupant’s head and 
the head restraint, thus reducing the risk of head injuries such as brain 
trauma.
Fig. 3  Properly adjusted 
head restraint viewed 
from the frontFig. 4  Properly adjusted 
head restraint viewed 
from the side
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Seat belts29
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
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.
Altea_EN.book  Seite 29  Donnersta g, 2. September 2010  2:00 14 

Airbag system
38hold the passengers in the front seats and the outer rear 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. Therefore, 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 for your 
safety  ⇒page 19, “Brief introduction”.
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 front side airbags in the backrests of the front seats and the rear side 
airbags in the lining of the rear wheel housing•a warning lamp 
 T on the instrument panel  ⇒page 31
The airbag system operation is monitored electronically. The airbag warning 
lamp will light up for approx. 4seconds ever y time the ignition is switched on 
(self-diagnosis).
WARNING
•In a side collision, the side airbags will not work, if the sensors do not 
correctly measure the pressure increase on the interior of the doors, due to 
air escaping through the areas with holes or openings in the door panel.•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.•Any work carried out to the doors should be made in a specialised work-
shop.•The seat belts and airbags can only provide maximum protection if the 
occupants are seated correctly  ⇒page 10, “Proper sitting position for 
occupants”.•If a fault has occurred in the airbag system, have the system checked 
immediately by a specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a side collision, 
the system may fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly.WARNING (continued)
Altea_EN.book  Seite 38  Donnersta g, 2. September 2010  2:00 14 

Seats and storage compartments
138Head restraintsCorrect adjustment of head restraints
Properly adjusted head restraints are an important part of 
passenger protection and can reduce the risk of injuries in 
most accident situations.
– Adjust the head restraint so that the top 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, at least at eye level ⇒ fig. 91 and ⇒fig. 92 .Adjusting the head restraints  ⇒page 139.
WARNING
•Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted 
increases the risk of severe injuries.•Improperly adjusted head restraints could lead to death in the event of 
a collision or accident.•Incorrectly adjusted head restraints also increase the risk of injury 
during sudden or unexpected driving or braking manoeuvres.•The head restraints must always be adjusted according to the 
passenger’s height.
Fig. 91  Front view: head 
restraints and seat belts 
correctly adjusted
Fig. 92  Side view: head 
restraints and seat belts 
correctly adjusted
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Seats and storage compartments139
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Removing or adjusting head restraints
The head restraints can be adjusted by moving them up and 
down.Adjusting height (front seats)
– Press the button on the side and pull upwards to the desired 
position.
– To lower the head restraint,  press the button and push head 
restraint downwards.
– Make sure that it engages securely into position.
Adjusting height (rear seats)
– Press the button on the side and pull upwards to the desired  position. – To lower the head restraint, 
press the button and push head 
restraint downwards.
– Make sure that the head restraint engages securely in one of its  positions  ⇒page 14.
Angle adjustment (front seats)
– Press the head restraint forward or back to the required position.
Removing the head restraint
– Push the head restraint up as far as it will go.
– Press the button  ⇒fig. 93  (arrow).
– Pull head restraint out of fitting without releasing the button.
Fitting the head restraint
– Insert the head restraint into the guides on the backrest.
– Push head restraint down.
– Adjust the head restraint to suit body size  ⇒page 14 and 
⇒ page 13.
WARNING
•Never drive if the head restraints have been removed. Risk of injury.•Never drive if the head restraints are in an unsuitable position, there is 
a risk of serious injury.•After refitting the head restraint, you must always adjust it properly for 
height to achieve optimal protection.•Please observe the safety warnings in  ⇒page 138, “Correct adjust-
ment of head restraints”.
Fig. 93  Adjusting and 
removing the head 
restraints
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Seats and storage compartments
150Multi-purpose mobile storage compartment* - Fitting and removal
This storage compartment may only be placed in the central 
area of the rear seat
Fitting mobile storage compartment
– Fold down the small section of the  rear seat backrest, in order to 
access the large section of the backrest.
– Fit the mobile storage compartment mounting plate    ⇒fig. 113  from the inside of the vehicle, through the rear 
section of the seat. It should be fitted between the backrest and 
the seat, in the central seat area.
– Push the plate until it clips the cushion frame. The rings of the  mobile storage compartment mounting plate appear at the front 
of the seat.
– If it is difficult to make the plate clip, tilt the rear backrest of the  large section forwards slightly an d then lean the backrest back-
wards to make the fitting of the mobile storage compartment 
onto the mounting plate easier.
– Place the mobile storage compartment onto the foam of the  central seat.
– Set both mounting pieces together    ⇒fig. 112 , with both 
mounting rings    ⇒fig. 113  and press hard until both the clips 
completely connect with the rings.
Removing mobile storage compartment
– Pull each of the buttons  ⇒fig. 112    on the clips (red buttons) 
forwards, until they snap out of place.
– Fold the larger seat down and remove the mobile storage  compartment mounting plate.
Fig. 112  Mobile storage 
compartment. InstallationFig. 113  Mobile storage 
compartment mounting 
plate
AH
AE
AG
AF
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Seats and storage compartments151
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Multi-purpose mobile storage compartment* - General information
This storage compartment may only be placed in the central 
area of the rear seat
Opening
– Lift the cover  , in area   ⇒fig. 114 .
Closing
– Push the cover down, until it clips into place.Uses of the mobile storage compartment•The front open glove compartment may be used to store small objects 
that will not damage passengers in the event that the objects are flung 
around the interior of the vehicle.•The cup holders are used for holding drink cans or cups.•The elastic belt on the side may be used for keeping papers and maga-
zines.•The tables may be used as a support for writing.
To use the table   ⇒ fig. 115, it must be removed from its compartment in 
the side of the mobile storage compartment and fitted into slot    ⇒fig. 115 
on the front section of the mobile storage compartment.
The table in the right-hand compartment is fitted in the left-hand slot of the 
front of the mobile storage compartment and the table in the left-hand 
compartment is fitted in the right-hand slot.
The tables have two positions for use and cannot be interchanged.WARNING
•The mobile storage compartment supports a maximum load of 5 kg. Do 
not overload.•Do not drive when the cover of the mobile storage compartment is 
open.•Do not drive when the tables are set up for use.
Fig. 114  Mobile storage 
compartment. OpeningFig. 115  Mobile storage 
compartment. Functions
AB
AA
AC
AD
Altea_EN.book  Seite 151  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  2:00 14 

Seats and storage compartments157
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Rear shelfRemoving the shelf
– Unhook the loops ⇒fig. 123   from housings  – Extract the cover from its slot, in its rest position and pull 
outwards. The storage compartment should remain closed.
To remove the storage compartment
– Pull outwards until the compartment is freed from the pivot point  ⇒fig. 124 .
WARNING
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the rear shelf, because they will 
endanger the vehicle occupants in case of sudden braking.
Caution
•Before closing the tailgate, ensure that the rear shelf is correctly fitted.•An overloaded luggage compartment could mean that the rear shelf is not 
correctly seated and it may be bent or damaged.•If the luggage compartment is overloaded, remove the tray.Note
•Ensure that, when placing items of clothing on the luggage compartment 
cover, rear visibility is not reduced.•If the vehicle is fitted with a storage compartment*, it should only be used 
to store the emergency triangles and light-weight articles.Roof rack*Please observe the following points if you intend to carry loads on the roof:•For safety reasons, only luggage racks and accessories approved by SEAT 
should be used.
Fig. 123  Rear shelfFig. 124  Removing 
storage compartment
AB
AA
Altea_EN.book  Seite 157  Donnerstag, 2. September 2010  2:00 14