Page 26 of 388

01 Safety
Side airbags (SIPS bags) 01
26
Side airbag
G032949
In a side impact collision a large proportion of
the collision force is transferred by the SIPS
(Side Impact Protection System) to beams, pil-
lars, the floor, the roof and other structural
parts of the body. The side airbags at the driv-
er's and front passenger seats protect the
chest area and the hip and are an important
part of the SIPS.
The SIPS bag system consists of two main
components, side airbag and sensors. The
side airbags are located in the front seat back-
rests.
WARNING
•Volvo recommends that repairs are only
carried out by an authorised Volvo
workshop. Defective work in the SIPS-
bag system could cause malfunction
and result in serious personal injury.
•Do not put objects in the area between
the outside of the seat and the door
panel, since this area is required by the
side airbag.
•Volvo recommends the use only of car
seat covers approved by Volvo. Other
seat covers may impede the operation
of the side airbags.
•The side airbag is a supplement to the
seatbelts. Always use a seatbelt.
Child seats and side airbagsThe protection provided by the car to children
seated in a child seat or on a booster cushion
is not diminished by the side airbag.
A child seat or booster cushion can be placed
on the front passenger seat provided that the
car does not have an activated
1 passenger air-
bag.
Location
G024377
Driver's seat, left-hand drive.
G024378
Front passenger seat, left-hand drive.
The SIPS bag system consists of side airbags
and sensors. A sufficiently violent collision trips
1For information on activating/deactivating the airbag, see page 24.
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Page 28 of 388

01 Safety
Inflatable Curtain (IC) 01
28
Properties
The inflatable curtain IC (Inflatable Curtain) is a
part of SIPS and the airbags. It is fitted in the
headlining along both sides of the roof and
protects the car's occupants sitting in the outer
seats. A sufficiently violent collision trips the
sensors and the inflatable curtain is inflated.
The inflatable curtain helps to prevent the
driver and passengers from striking their heads
on the inside of the car during a collision.
WARNING
Never hang or attach heavy items onto the
handles in the roof. The hook is only
designed for light clothing (not for solid
objects such as umbrellas for example).
Do not screw or install anything onto the
car's headlining, door pillars or side panels.
This could compromise the intended pro-
tection. Volvo recommends that you only
ever use Volvo genuine parts that are
approved for placement in these areas.
WARNING
Do not load the car higher than 50 mm under
the top edge of the door windows. Other-
wise, the intended protection of the inflat-
able curtain, which is concealed in the head-
lining, may be compromised.
WARNING
The inflatable curtain is a supplement to the
seatbelts.
Always use a seatbelt.
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Page 29 of 388

01 Safety
WHIPS01
29 Protection against whiplash injury –
WHIPS
The whiplash protection system (WHIPS) con-
sists of energy absorbing backrests and spe-
cially designed head restraints in the front
seats. The system is actuated by a rear-end
collision, where the angle and speed of the col-
lision, and the nature of the colliding vehicle all
have an influence.
WARNING
The WHIPS system is a supplement to the
seatbelts. Always use a seatbelt.
Properties of the seatWhen the WHIPS system is deployed, the front
seat backrests are lowered backward to alter
the seating position of the driver and front seat
passenger. This reduces the risk of whiplash
injury.
WARNING
Never modify or repair the seat or WHIPS
system yourself. Volvo recommends that
you contact an authorised Volvo workshop.
WHIPS system and child seats/booster
cushions
The protection provided by the car to children
seated in a child seat or on a booster cushion
is not diminished by the WHIPS system.
Correct seating positionFor the best possible protection, the driver and
front seat passenger should sit in the centre of
the seat with as little space as possible
between the head and the head restraint.
Do not obstruct the WHIPS system
Do not leave any objects on the floor behind the
driver's seat/passenger seat that may prevent the
WHIPS system from functioning.
WARNING
Do not squeeze rigid objects between the
rear seat cushion and the front seat back-
rest. Make sure you do not to obstruct the
function of the WHIPS system.
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Page 31 of 388

01 Safety
When the systems deploy01
31 When the systems deploy
SystemTriggered
Seatbelt tensioner,
front seatIn the event of over-
turning, a frontal col-
lision and/or side-
impact accident
and/or rear-end col-
lision
Seatbelt tensioner,
rear seatIn the event of over-
turning and a frontal
collision
Airbags (SRS)In a frontal collisionA
Side airbags (SIPS)In a side-impact
accident
Inflatable Curtain ICIn the event of a
side-impact acci-
dent, overturning
and a frontal colli-
sion if the car is not
hit directly head-on
Whiplash protection
WHIPSIn a rear-end colli-
sion
AThe bodywork of the car could be greatly deformed in a col-
lision without airbag deployment. A number of factors such
as the rigidity and weight of the object hit, the speed of the
car, the angle of the collision etc. affects how the different
safety systems of the car are activated.
If the airbags have deployed, the following is
recommended:
•Recovering the car. Volvo recommends
that you have it conveyed to an authorised
Volvo workshop. Do not drive with
deployed airbags.
•Volvo recommends that you engage an
authorised Volvo workshop to handle the
replacement of components in the car's
safety systems.
•Always contact a doctor.
NOTE
The SRS, SIPS, IC and belt tensioner sys-
tems are deployed only once during a colli-
sion.
WARNING
The airbag control module is located in the
centre console. If the centre console is
drenched with water or other liquid, discon-
nect the battery cables. Do not attempt to
start the car since the airbags may deploy.
Recovering the car. Volvo recommends that
you have it conveyed to an authorised Volvo
workshop.
WARNING
Never drive with deployed airbags. They
can make steering difficult. Other safety
systems may also be damaged. The smoke
and dust created when the airbags are
deployed can cause skin and eye irritation/
injury after intensive exposure. In case of
irritation, wash with cold water. The rapid
deployment sequence and airbag fabric
may cause friction and skin burns.
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Page 34 of 388
01 Safety
Child safety 01
34
WARNING
Never place a child in a child seat or on a
booster cushion in the front seat if the airbag
(SRS) is activated.
No one shorter than 140 cm should ever sit
in the front passenger seat if the airbag
(SRS) is activated.
Failure to follow the advice given above can
endanger life.
WARNING
Booster cushions/child seats with steel
braces or some other design that could rest
on the seatbelt buckle's opening button
must not be used, as they could cause the
seatbelt buckle to open accidentally.
Do not allow the upper section of the child
seat to rest against the windscreen.
Label Airbag
Label fitted on the end face of the instrument panel
on the passenger side, see the illustration on page
24.
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Page 35 of 388

01 Safety
Child safety01
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.35 Recommended child seats
2
WeightFront seat (with deactivated air-
bag)Outer rear seatCentre rear seat
Group 0
max 10 kg
Group 0+
max 13 kgVolvo infant seat (Volvo Infant Seat) -
rear-facing child seat, secured with the
ISOFIX fixture system. This fitting
requires an ISOFIX bracket* for correct
installation.
L: Type approval: E5 04301146.Volvo infant seat (Volvo Infant Seat) -
rear-facing child seat, secured with the
ISOFIX fixture system.
L: Type approval: E5 04301146.
Volvo infant seat (Volvo Infant Seat) -
rear-facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt.
U: Type approval: E1 04301146.Volvo infant seat (Volvo Infant Seat) -
rear-facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt.
U: Type approval: E1 04301146.Volvo infant seat (Volvo Infant Seat) -
rear-facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt.
U: Type approval: E1 04301146.
U: Child seats which are universally
approved.U: Child seats which are universally
approved.U: Child seats which are universally
approved.
Group 1
9-18 kgVolvo rear-facing/turnable child seat
(Volvo Convertible Child Seat) - rear-
facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt and straps.
L: Type approval: E5 04192.Volvo rear-facing/turnable child seat
(Volvo Convertible Child Seat) - rear-
facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt and straps.
L: Type approval: E5 04192.
U: Child seats which are universally
approved.U: Child seats which are universally
approved.U: Child seats which are universally
approved.
2With regard to other child seats your car should be included in the manufacturer's enclosed list of vehicles or be universally approved in accordance with the ECE R44 legal requirement.
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Page 36 of 388
01 Safety
Child safety 01
36
WeightFront seat (with deactivated air-
bag)Outer rear seatCentre rear seat
Group 2
15-25 kgVolvo rear-facing/turnable child seat
(Volvo Convertible Child Seat) - rear-
facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt and straps
L: Type approval: E5 04192.Volvo rear-facing/turnable child seat
(Volvo Convertible Child Seat) - rear-
facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt and straps
L: Type approval: E5 04192.
Volvo rear-facing/turnable child seat
(Volvo Convertible Child Seat) - front-
facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt.
L: Type approval: E5 04191.Volvo rear-facing/turnable child seat
(Volvo Convertible Child Seat) - front-
facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt.
L: Type approval: E5 04191.Volvo rear-facing/turnable child seat
(Volvo Convertible Child Seat) - front-
facing child seat, secured with the
car's seatbelt.
L: Type approval: E5 04191.
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Page 38 of 388

01 Safety
Child safety 01
38* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Integrated two-stage booster
cushions*
Correct position, the seatbelt should be posi-
tioned in on the shoulder.
Incorrect position, the head restraint must be
adjusted as high as the head and the seatbelt must
not be below the shoulder.
The booster cushions are specially designed to
provide optimum safety. In combination with
the seatbelt they are approved for children who
weigh between 15 and 36 kg and who are at
least 95 cm in height.
Check before driving that:
•the 2-stage integrated booster cushion is
correctly set (see table below) and in
locked position
•the seatbelt is in contact with the child's
body and is not slack or twisted
•the seatbelt does not lie across the child's
throat or below the shoulder (see preced-
ing illustrations)
•the lap section of the seatbelt is positioned
low over the pelvis to provide optimal pro-
tection.
Stage 1Stage 2
Weight22-36 kg15-25 kg
Raising the two-stage booster cushion
Stage 1
Pull the handle forward and up in order to
release the booster cushion.
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