2011 SKODA YETI ESP

Safety
Passive Safety
Basic information
Driving the safe way Passive safety measures reduce the risk of injury in accident situa-
tions.
In this section you will find important information, tips and notes on the subject of
passive safety in your vehicle. We have combined everything here which you
should be familiar with, for example, regarding seat belts, airbags, child seats and
safety of children. Therefore, please follow especially the notes and warnings in
this section in your own interest and in the interest of your passengers. WARNING
● This chapter contains important information on how to use the vehicle for
the driver and his occupants. You will find further information on safety, which
concerns you and those travelling with you, in the following chapters of this
Owner's Manual.
● The complete on-board literature should always be in the vehicle. This ap-
plies in particular, if you rent out or sell the vehicle. 
Safety equipment The safety equipment is part of the occupant protection and it can
reduce the risk of injuries in accident situations.
“Do not put at risk
” your safety and the safety of those travelling with you . In the
event of an accident, the safety equipment can reduce the risk of injuries.
The following list contains part of the safety equipment in your vehicle:
● Three-point seat belts for all the seats,
● belt force limiter for front seats,
● belt tensioner for front seats, ●
seat belt height adjuster for front seats,
● front airbag for the driver and front passenger,
● driver's knee airbag,
● front side airbags,
● rear side airbags,
● head airbags;
● anchoring points for child seat using the “ISOFIX” system,
● anchoring points for child seat using the “Top Tether” system,
● head restraint adjustable for height,
● adjustable steering column.
The specified safety equipment works together, in order to optimally protect you
and those travelling with you in accident situations. The safety equipment does
not protect you or the people travelling with you, if you or your occupants adopt
an incorrect seated position or the equipment is not correctly adjusted or used.
For this reason you will be provided with information on why these equipment
components are very important, how it protects you and the occupants, what
should be observed when using the equipment and how you and the people trav-
elling with you can make full use of the existing safety equipment. This Owner's
Manual contains important warning notes, which you and those travelling with
you should pay attention to in order to reduce a risk of injury.
Safety concerns everybody! 
Before setting off The driver is always fully responsible for his occupants and for the
operating safety of the vehicle.
For your own safety and the safety of the people travelling with you, please pay
attention to the following points before setting off:
● Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal systems are functioning properly.
● Inspect the tyre inflation pressure.
● Ensure that all the windows offer a good visibility to the outside. £128
Passive Safety

●
Safely attach the items of luggage ⇒ page 70, Loading the luggage compart-
ment .
● Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedal.
● Adjust the mirror, the front seat and the head restraint to match your body
size.
● Point out to your occupants that the head restraints must be adjusted to
match their body size.
● Protect the children in suitable child seats with correctly fastened seat belts
⇒ page 146, Transporting children safely
.
● Adopt the correct seated position ⇒
 page 129, Correct seated position. Also
inform your occupants to adopt the correct seated position.
● Fasten the seat belt correctly. Also inform your occupants to properly fasten
the seat belts ⇒

 page 134, How are seat belts correctly fastened?. 
What influences the driving safety? The driving safety is primarily determined by the style of driving
and the personal behaviour of all the occupants.
The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants. If your driving safety
is effected, you place yourself and the oncoming traffic at risk. Please refer to the
following guidelines.
● Do not get distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, e.g. by your
occupants or mobile phone calls.
● Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, e.g. through medication, alco-
hol, drugs.
● Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
● Adjust the driving speed at all times to the road condition as well as to the
traffic and weather conditions.
● Take regular breaks on long journeys - at the latest every two hours. Correct seated position
Correct seated position for the driver Correct seated position for the driver is important for safe and re-
laxed driving.
Fig. 115 The correct distance of the driver from the steering wheel and the gear lever/The
correct head restraint adjustment for the driver
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident, we
recommend the following setting.
● Position the steering wheel so that there is a gap of at least 25 cm between
the steering wheel and the chest, and the distance between the legs and the gear
lever at the height of the knee airbag is at least 10

cm ⇒ fig. 115 - left.
● Position the driver seat in the forward/back direction so that you are able to
press the pedals with your legs at a slight angle, and the distance between the
knee and the gear lever is at least 10

cm.
● Adjust the seat backrest so that you are able to reach the highest point of the
steering wheel with your arms at a slight angle.
● Adjust the head restraint so that the top edge of the head restraint is at the
same level as the upper part of your head ⇒

 fig. 115 - right.
● Fasten the seat belt correctly ⇒
 page 134, How are seat belts correctly fas-
tened?.
Manual driver seat adjustment ⇒ page 61, Adjusting the front seats.
Electrical driver seat adjustment ⇒ page 63, Adjusting front seats electrically. £ 129
Passive Safety Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

WARNING
● The head restraints must always be adjusted to match the body size, in or-
der to offer an optimal protection for you and your occupants.
● Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being driven - never
put your feet out of the window or on the surfaces of the seats. You will be
exposed to increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply the brake
or in the event of an accident. If the head airbag is deployed and when adopt-
ing an incorrect seated position, you are exposing yourself to an increased risk
of injury and in the event of an accident you may suffer fatal injuries!
● If the occupants on the rear seats are not sitting upright, the risk of injury
is increased due to incorrect routing of the seat belt. 
Examples of an incorrect seated position An incorrect seated position can lead to severe injuries or death for
the occupants.
Seat belts offer their optimum protection only if the webbing of the seat belts is
properly routed. Incorrect seated positions considerably reduce the protective
functions of the seat belts and therefore increase the risk of injury due to an in-
correct routing of the seat belt. The driver is fully responsible for himself and the
occupants, in particular for the children. Do not permit an occupant to adopt an
incorrect seated position when the car is moving.
The following list contains the examples of seated positions which are dangerous
for the occupants. This list is not complete, however, we want to direct your at-
tention to this subject.
Therefore, while the car is moving never:
● stand up in the vehicle,
● stand up on the seats,
● kneel onto the seats,
● tilt the seat backrest fully to the back,
● lean against the dash panel,
● lie on the rear seats,
● only sit on the front area of the seat,
● sit to the side,
● lean out of the window,
● put the feet out of the window, ●
put the feet on the dash panel,
● put the feet on the seat upholstery,
● occupy the footwell,
● have the seat belt not fastened,
● occupy the luggage compartment. WARNING
● If the occupant adopts an incorrect seated position, he is exposed to life-
threatening injuries, in case he is hit by a deployed airbag.
● Before setting off, please adopt the correct seated position and do not
change this seated position while the car is moving. Also advise your occu-
pants to adopt the correct seated position and not to change this seated posi-
tion while the car is moving. 131
Passive Safety Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

WARNING
Adjust the height of the belt in such a way that the shoulder part of the belt is
positioned approximately across the middle of your shoulder - on no account
across your neck. Note
It is also possible to adapt the routing of the belt webbing at the front seats by
adjusting the height of the seat. 
Taking seat belts off Fig. 120 Releasing lock tongue from
belt lock
– Press the red button in the belt lock ⇒  fig. 120 . The spring force causes the
tongue of the lock to jump out.
– Guide the seat belt back with your hand to enable the inertia reel to wind up
the belt webbing more easily.
A plastic knob in the belt webbing holds the belt tongue in a position which is
easy to get hold of. 
Three-point seat belt for the rear middle seat The three-point seat belt for the rear middle seat is anchored in
the area of the luggage compartment on the left side of the head-
liner.
Your car is equipped as standard with the three-point seat belt Fastening the seat belt
–
Pull the seat belt with both lock tongues out of the headliner mount.
– Insert the lock tongue at the end of the belt into the seat belt buckle on the
left side until it is heard to lock in place.
– Pull the second lock tongue, which is moveable on the seat belt, over the
chest and insert it into the belt buckle on the right side until it is heard to lock
in place.
– Pull on the seat belt to check that both lock tongues are reliably engaged in
the locks.
– The belt tongues for the rear middle seat are shaped differently so that they
only fit into the respective belt buckle. If you attempt to insert a lock tongue
into the wrong belt lock it will not lock.
Taking seat belt off
– Take off the seat belt in the reverse order to fastening. WARNING
● The three-point safety belt for the rear middle seat can only fulfil its func-
tion reliably when the backrests are correctly locked into position ⇒

 page 66.
● After releasing the seat belt hold it tight and let it slowly reel up until both
lock tongues lock into the headliner mount and are secured with a magnet -
risk of injury.
● Never release simultaneously both tongues of the lock. 
Belt tensioners Safety for the driver and passengers in the exterior read seats
wearing their seat
belts , is enhanced by the belt tensioners fitted to the inertia reels of the front and
rear side three-point seat belts, in addition to the protection afforded by the air-
bag system.
The three-point seat belts are automatically tensioned in the event of a frontal
collision of a certain severity. The belt tensioners can also be deployed if the seat
belts are not fastened.
The fastened three-point seat belts are automatically tensioned in the event of a
frontal or side collision of a certain severity. £ 135
Seat belts Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Belt tensioners are not activated in the event of minor frontal collisions, side and
rear-end collisions, in the case of a rollover and also not in accidents in which no
major forces are produced from the front.
WARNING
● Any work on the system including removal and installation of system com-
ponents because of other repair work, must only be carried out by a specialist
garage.
● The protective function of the system is only adequate for a single acci-
dent. If the belt tensioners have been deployed, it is then necessary to replace
the entire system.
● The seller must pass on this Owner's manual to the buyer upon purchase
of the vehicle. Note
● Smoke is generated when the belt tensioners are deployed. This is not an indi-
cation of a fire in the vehicle.
● It is essential to pay attention to relevant safety regulations if the vehicle or
individual parts of the system are scrapped. Specialist garages are familiar with
these regulations and will be able to provide you with detailed information in this
respect.
● When disposing of vehicle or parts of the system, it is important to comply
with the national legal requirements. 136
Seat belts

Important safety information on the head airbag
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the risk of
injury! WARNING
● It is essential to always switch off ⇒ page 144 , Deactivating an airbag the
front passenger front airbag when attaching a child safety seat on the front
passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of
travel (in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of travel).
If this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal in-
juries if the front passenger front airbag is deployed. When transporting a
child on the front passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national
regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
● There must not be any objects in the deployment area of the head airbags
which might prevent the airbags from inflating properly.
● Only hang light items of clothing on the clothes hooks to the vehicle. Nev-
er leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets of the items of cloth-
ing. In addition, it is not permitted to use clothes hangers for hanging up
items of clothing.
● The airbag control unit operates together with the sensors, which are at-
tached in the front doors. For this reason no adjustments must be carried out
at the doors as well as at the door panels (for example additional installation
of loudspeakers). Resulting damages can have a negative affect on the opera-
tion of the airbag system. All work on the front doors and their panels must
only be carried out by a specialist garage.
● There must not be any other persons (e.g. children) or animals between
the car occupant and the deployment area of the head airbag. In addition,
none of the occupants should lean their head out of the window when driving,
or extend their arms and hands out of the window.
● The sun visors must not be swivelled to the side windows into the deploy-
ment area of the head airbags if any objects, such as ball-point pens etc. are
attached to them. This might result in injuries to the occupants if the head air-
bag is deployed.
● Installing impermissible accessories in the area of the head airbags may
considerably impair the protection offered by the head airbag in the event of it
being deployed. When the deployed head airbag is inflated, parts of the acces- WARNING (Continued)
sories fitted may in certain circumstances be thrown into the interior of the
car and cause injuries to the occupants ⇒

 page 207, Accessories, changes and
replacement of parts.
● Any work on the head airbag system including installing and removing sys-
tem components because of other repair work (e.g. removing headliner) must
only be carried out by a specialist garage. 
Deactivating an airbag Deactivating airbags If any airbags have been deactivated, switch them on again as
soon as possible so that they are able to again provide their proper
protection.
There is the technical means installed within your vehicle to switch off the front,
side or head airbag (take out of commission).
This is why you should have the deactivation of the airbags carried out by a spe-
cialist garage.
On vehicles equipped with the switch for deactivation of the airbags, you can de-
activate the front passenger front airbag by means of this switch ⇒ page 145.
Deactivation of airbags is envisaged only for particular instances, such as if:
● You must in exceptional cases use a child seat on the front passenger seat
where the child is seated with its back to the direction of travel (in some countries
this must be in the direction of travel due to other legal regulations applying)
⇒  page 146

, Important safety information regarding the use of child safety seats;
● you are not able to maintain the distance of at least 25 cm between middle of
steering wheel and chest, despite the driver seat being correctly adjusted;
● special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because of
a physical disability;
● you have installed other seats (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side airbags).
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically when one
airbag has been switched off. £144
Airbag system

If the airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment:
●
The warning light for the airbag system lights up for 4 seconds after switching
on the ignition and then flashes for 12 seconds afterwards in 2 second intervals.
The following situation applies if the airbag has been switched off using the
switch for the airbag in the storage compartment:
● the airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster comes on for about 4 sec-
onds each time the ignition is switched on;
● switching off the airbag is indicated in the middle of the dash panel by the
lighting up of the yellow indicator light in display  
    ⇒ fig. 129 . Note
Your authorised ŠKODA Service Partner will be able to advise you whether nation-
al legislation in your country allows airbags in your vehicle to be deactivated, and
which ones. 
Switch for the front passenger front airbag Fig. 129 Storage compartment: Switch for the front passenger front airbag/warning light for
a switched off front seat passenger airbag
Only the front passenger front airbag is deactivated with the switch.
Deactivating an airbag
– Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the key in the position 2 (
OFF)
⇒  fig. 129 .
– Check whether the airbag indicator light in the display





 in
the middle of the dash panel lights up when the ignition is switched on
⇒  fig. 129 - right. Switching on an airbag
–
Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the key in the position 1 (
ON)
⇒ fig. 129 .
– Check whether the airbag indicator light in the display 
     in
the middle of the dash panel lights up when the ignition is switched on
⇒ fig. 129 - right. The warning light   goes out 65 seconds after the ignition
is switched on.
The airbag should only be switched off under exceptional circumstances
⇒ page 144.
Indicator light in display      (airbag switched off)
The airbag indicator light is located in the middle of the dash panel ⇒ fig. 129 -
right.
If the front passenger front airbag is switched off, the warning light comes on
about 4 seconds after the ignition is switched on.
There is a system fault present in the airbag switch off ⇒  if the indicator light
flashes. Please have the car inspected immediately by a specialist garage. WARNING
● The driver is responsible for whether the airbag is switched on or switched
off.
● Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off! Otherwise a
fault can occur in the system for the airbag deactivation.
● If the yellow indicator light in display 
     (airbag switched
off) flashes:
–Front passenger airbag is not deployed in the event of an accident!
– It is also important to have the system inspected without delay by a
specialist garage. 145
Airbag system Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

WARNING
● When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with
the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
Switch off the front passenger airbag if necessary at a specialist garage or
switch it off with the switch for front passenger airbag ⇒
 page 145, Switch for
the front passenger front airbag.
● The shoulder part of the seat belt must run approximately across the mid-
dle of the shoulder and fit snugly against the chest. It must on no account run
across the neck. The lap part of the seat belt must run across the pelvis and
fits snugly; it must not run over the belly. Tighten the belt webbing over your
hip if necessary.
● Please comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the
use of child safety seats. 
Attaching a child seat using the “ISOFIX” system Fig. 135 Locking eyes (ISOFIX system)/the ISOFIX child seat is pushed into the mounting fun-
nels
There are two fixing eyes between the seat backrest and the seat cushion of the
front passenger seat for fixing the

“ISOFIX” system child seat in place. The locking
eyes on the rear outside seats are located below the upholstery. The places are
marked with signs with the logo “ISOFIX” ⇒ fig. 135 - left.
Install child seat
– Insert the mounting funnels A onto the locking eyes
B between the seat
backrest and the seat cushion ⇒

  fig. 135.
– Push the notched arms of the child seat into the locking eyes in direction of
arrow 1 , until they are heard to lock in place
⇒ fig. 135. –
Pull on both sides of the child seat!
One can mount a child safety seat using the
“ISOFIX” system quickly, easily and
reliably. Please pay close attention to instructions from the manufacturer of the
child safety seat when installing and removing the seat.
Child seats fitted with the “ISOFIX” system can only be mounted and fixed in a ve-
hicle fitted with an “ISOFIX” system when these child seats have been released
for this type of vehicle according to the ECE-R 44 standard.
Child safety seats with the fixing system “ISOFIX” can be obtained from ŠKODA
Original Accessories.
Complete installation instructions are enclosed with the child safety seat. WARNING
● The locking eyes have just been developed for child safety seats which use
the
“ISOFIX” system. You should therefore never attach other child safety
seats, seat belts or objects to the locking eyes - hazard!
● Before using a child seat with an “ISOFIX” system that you bought for an-
other vehicle, it is recommended that you consult an authorised
ŠKODA Serv-
ice Partner whether the child seat is suitable for your vehicle.
● Certain child seats which use the “ISOFIX” system can be attached with
standard three-point seat belts. Please pay close attention to instructions
from the manufacturer of the child safety seat when installing and removing
the seat. Note
● Child seats which use the
“ISOFIX” system are currently available for children
weighing up to about 18 kg. This corresponds to an age range up to 4 years.
● The child seats can also be fitted with the “Top Tether” system ⇒
 page 152.  151
Transporting children safely Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data