Page 25 of 388

01 Safety
Activating/deactivating the airbag*01
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.25
WARNING
Activated airbag (passenger seat):
Never place a child in a child seat or on a
booster cushion on the front passenger seat
when the airbag is activated. This applies to
everyone shorter than 140 cm.
Deactivated airbag (passenger seat):
No one taller than 140 cm should ever sit in
the front passenger seat when the airbag is
deactivated.
Failure to follow the advice given above
could endanger life.
Messages
2
2
G017724
Indicator showing that the passenger airbag is
deactivated.
A text message and a symbol in the roof panel
indicate that the airbag for the front passenger
seat is deactivated (see preceding illustration).
G017800
Indicator showing that the passenger airbag is
activated.
A warning symbol in the roof panel indicates
that the airbag for the front passenger seat is
activated (see preceding illustration).
NOTE
When the remote control key is turned to
key position II or III the warning symbol for
the airbag is displayed on the combined
instrument panel for approx. 6 seconds (see
page 21).
Following which, the indicator in the roof
console is illuminated showing the correct
status for the front passenger seat airbag.
For more information about the different key
positions for the remote control key, see
page 81.
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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 27 of 388
01 Safety
Side airbags (SIPS bags)01
27
the sensors and the side airbags are inflated.
The airbag inflates between the occupant and
the door panel and thereby cushions the initial
impact. The airbag deflates when compressed
by the collision. The side airbag is normally only
deployed on the side of the collision.
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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 30 of 388
01 Safety
WHIPS 01
30
Do not place objects on the rear seat that may
prevent the WHIPS system from functioning.
WARNING
If a rear seat backrest is folded down, the
corresponding front seat must be moved
forward so that it does not touch the folded
backrest.
WARNING
If a seat has been subjected to extreme
forces, such as due to a rear-end collision,
the WHIPS system must be checked. Volvo
recommends that it is checked by an
authorised Volvo workshop.
Part of the WHIPS system's protective
capacity may have been lost even if the
seats appear to be undamaged.
Volvo recommends that you contact an
authorised Volvo workshop to have the sys-
tem checked even after a minor rear-end
collision.
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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 32 of 388

01 Safety
Safety mode 01
32
Driving after a collision
If the car is involved in a collision, the textSafety mode See manual may appear on the
information display. This means that the car
has reduced functionality. Safety mode is a
protective state that is enforced when the col-
lision may have damaged any of the car's vital
functions, such as the fuel lines, sensors for
one of the safety systems, or the brake system.
Attempting to start the carFirst, check that no fuel is leaking from the car.
There must be no smell of fuel either.
If everything seems normal and you have
checked for indications of fuel leakage, you
may attempt to start the car.
Remove the remote control key and open the
driver's door. If a message is now shown to theeffect that the ignition is on, press the start
button. Then close the door and reinsert the
remote control key. The car's electronics will
now try to reset themselves to normal mode.
Then try to start the car.
If the message
Safety mode See manual is
still shown on the display then the car must not
be driven or towed, but a vehicle recovery serv-
ice used instead. Even if the car appears to be
driveable, hidden damage may make the car
impossible to control once moving.
Moving the car
If Normal mode is shown after Safety mode
See manual has been reset, the car can be
moved carefully out of a dangerous position.
Do not move the car further than necessary.
WARNING
Never attempt to repair your car or reset the
electronics yourself if the car has been in
safety mode. This could result in personal
injury or the car not functioning as normal.
Volvo recommends that you engage an
authorised Volvo workshop to check and
restore the car to normal status after
Safety
mode See manual has been displayed.
WARNING
Never, under any circumstances, attempt to
restart the car if it smells of fuel when the
Safety mode message is displayed. Leave
the car at once.
WARNING
If the car is in safety mode it must not be
towed. It must be transported from its loca-
tion. Volvo recommends that it is transpor-
ted to an authorised Volvo workshop.
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