2012 Seat Exeo seat adjustment

26Seat belts
–Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls up easily and the
trim is not damaged
WARNING
Never unbuckle a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion. If you do, you
increase the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.

Seat belt height adjustment
Seat belt height adjusters can be used to adjust the height
of the shoulder area of the seat belt.
Fig. 16 Belt height ad-
juster
The belt height adjuster can be lowered by keeping the button
pressed down at the same time.
– Press button ⇒ 
Fig. 16 1
to adjust the belt height. –
Take hold of the top guide fitting and slide it up or down so that
the shoulder part of the seat belt is positioned roughly midway
over the shoulder, although it must never rest against the neck
⇒ Fig. 16 2
⇒  in Seat belt position on page 24.
– After adjusting, pull the belt sharply to check that the catch on
the guide fitting is engaged securely.
Note
It is also possible to adjust the height of the front seats to obtain the best
position for the front seat belts. 
Incorrectly fastened seat belts
Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause severe or even mortal
injuries. Seat belts can provide optimal protection only if the belt web is
properly worn. The seat belts must be fastened exactly in the order
described in this chapter. An incorrect sitting position impairs sub-
stantially the protection a seat belt offers and can lead to severe or
fatal injuries. The risk of severe or fatal injuries is especially in-
creased when a deploying airbag strikes an occupant who has as-
sumed an incorrect sitting position. As the driver, you are responsi-
ble for all vehicle occupants, especially children. Therefore:
– Never allow anyone to wear the seat belt incorrectly while the
vehicle is moving ⇒ 
. 

42Airbag system
Operation of curtain airbags
Fully inflated airbags reduce the risk of head or chest injury
in a side collision.
Fig. 26 Deployed curtain
airbags
During some side collisions the curtain airbag is triggered on the impact
side of the vehicle ⇒ Fig. 26.
In certain types of accident the front, side and curtain airbags may be trig-
gered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. In the
process, the curtain airbag covers the side windows and door pillars.
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within thousandths of a second, to
provide additional protection in the event of an accident. A fine dust may
develop when the airbag deploys. This is normal and it is not an indication
of fire in the vehicle.
The fully deployed airbags cushion the movement of the front occupants
and help to reduce the risk of injury to the upper body. The special design of the airbag allows the controlled escape of the propel-
lant gas when an occupant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the head and
chest are surrounded and protected by the airbag.

Safety notes on the operation of the curtain airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce
the risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
● In order for the side airbags to provide their maximum protection, the
prescribed sitting position must always be maintained with seat belts
fastened while travelling.
● For safety reasons, the curtain airbag must be disconnected in those
vehicles fitted with a passenger compartment separation screen. See a
Technical Service to make this adjustment.
● There must be no other persons, animals or objects between the oc-
cupants of the outer seats and the deployment space of the curtain air-
bags so that the curtain airbag can deploy without restriction and pro-
vide the greatest possible protection. Therefore, sun blinds which have
not been expressly approved for use in your vehicle may not be attached
to the side windows ⇒ page 221, Accessories, replacement of parts and
modifications.
● The built-in coat hooks should be used only for lightweight clothing.
Do not leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets. Please, do
not hang the clothes on coat hangers.
● The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them
once they have deployed. 

47
Child safety
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 nec-
essary, in exceptional cases, to transport a child in the front passenger
seat, the front passenger airbag must always be disabled ⇒ page 44, De-
activating airbags. If the passenger seat has a height adjustment option,
move it to the highest position.
● For those vehicles that do not include a key lock switch to disconnect
the airbag, the vehicle must be taken to a Technical Service.
● All passengers, especially children, must assume the proper sitting
position and be properly belted in while travelling.
● Never hold children or babies on your lap, this can result in potential-
ly fatal injuries to the child!
● Never allow a child to be transported in a vehicle without being prop-
erly secured, or to stand up or kneel on a seat while travelling. In an acci-
dent, the child could be flung through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal
injuries to themselves and to the other passengers.
● If children assume an improper sitting position when the vehicle is
moving, they expose themselves to greater risk of injury in the event of a
sudden braking manoeuvre or in an accident. This is particularly impor-
tant if the child is travelling on the front passenger seat and the airbag
system is triggered in an accident; as this could cause serious injury or
even death.
● A suitable child seat can protect your child!
● Never leave an unsupervised child alone on a child seat or in the vehi-
cle.
● Depending on weather conditions, it may become extremely hot or
cold inside the vehicle. This can be fatal.WARNING (Continued)
● Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall must not wear a normal
seat belt without a child seat, as this could cause injuries to the abdomi-
nal and neck areas during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an accident.
● Do not allow the seat belt to become twisted or jammed, or to rub on
any sharp edges.
● Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause injuries even in a minor colli-
sion or in sudden braking manoeuvres.
● The seat belt provides maximum protection only when the seat belt is
properly positioned ⇒ page 23, Seat belts.
● Only one child may occupy a child seat ⇒ page 48, Child seats.

Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

54Child safety
Top Tether retainer straps
Some child restraint seats have a third Top Tether anchoring
point, apart from both ISOFIX anchoring points, which allow
better child retention.
Fig. 34 Position of the
Top Tether rings on the
rear tray
The Top Tether system has an upper strap for attachment to the vehicle's
upper anchoring point, which is found on the rear luggage compartment
cover.
The retainer strap is used to reduce forwards movements of the safety seat
in a crash, helping reduce the risk of injuries to the head from hitting the
inside of the vehicle.
It is foreseen that an EU Directive will introduce requirements related to the
retention of child restraint systems by means of ISOFIX and Top Tether an-
chorages (probably compulsory for new types from 2010), which will entail
improved retention of the child restraint seat and less head movement in
case of frontal collisions. Use of retainer straps on rear-facing seats
At present there are very few rear-facing child safety seats fitted with a re-
tainer strap. Please carefully read and follow the safety seat manufacturer's
instructions for information on how to install the retainer strap properly.
WARNING
An undue installation of the safety seat will increase the risk of injury in
the event of a crash.
● Never tie the retainer strap to a hook in the luggage compartment.
● Never secure or tie luggage or other items to the lower anchorages
(ISOFIX) or the upper ones (Top Tether).

Fitting the Top Tether child restraint to the anchoring point
Fig. 35 Retainer strap:
correct adjustment and
fitting 

132Lights and visibility
Retracting both exterior mirrors
–Turn the knob to position A
.
It is advisable to fold the exterior mirrors, for example when parking or when
driving through narrow spaces.
Heated mirrors
The mirrors are heated (depending on the outside temperature) when the
heated rear window ⇒ page 126 is switched on.
The exterior mirror heating is not activated at temperatures above approxi-
mately 20 °C.
Memory for exterior mirrors*
In vehicles with memory function for the driver seat, the setting of the exte-
rior mirrors is automatically stored together with the seat position
⇒ page 137.
Tilting function for exterior mirror on the passenger side* (only if equipped
with memory for exterior mirrors)
When reverse gear is engaged, the mirror surface tilts slightly downwards,
provided the mirror control is switched to the exterior mirror on the passen-
ger side (knob in position R
⇒ Fig. 102). This provides a better view of the
kerb when parking.
The mirror returns to its original position as soon as reverse gear is disen-
gaged and the vehicle is driven forwards at a speed above 15 km/h, or
when the mirror control is turned to position L
or to the neutral position
0.
CAUTION
● Rear view convex or aspheric* mirrors increase the field of vision, al-
though objects appear smaller and further away in the mirrors. Therefore,
you should not rely on these mirrors for judging the distance of vehicles be-
hind.
● If one of the mirror housings is knocked out of position (e.g. when park-
ing), the mirrors must first be fully retracted with the electric control. Do not
readjust the mirror housing by hand, as this will interfere with the mirror ad-
juster function.
Note
If the electrical adjustment ever fails to operate, the mirrors can be adjusted
by hand by lightly pressing the edge of the mirror glass. 

133
Seats and storage compartments
Seats and storage compartments Manual adjustment of the front seats
Seat adjuster controls
There are several seat adjustment functions for your conven-
ience
Fig. 103 Adjuster con-
trols on driver seat
Some of the equipment listed is only fitted on certain models or is an op-
tional extra.
Controls Moving the seat backwards or forwards
Raising/lowering the seat
Adjusting the backrest angle
Adjusting the lumbar support 
1
234
Moving the seats forwards and backwards
–
Lift the lever 1 ⇒ Fig. 103 and move the seat to the desired po-
sition.
– Then release the lever 1
and move the seat further until the
catch engages.
WARNING
The driver seat must only be moved forwards and backwards when the
vehicle is at a standstill. Failure to do so could result in an accident.

Adjusting the seat height*
Raising the seat
– Pull the lever 2
⇒ Fig. 103 up repeatedly until the seat is in the
desired position.
Lowering the seat
– Press the lever 2
down repeatedly until the seat is in the de-
sired position. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

134Seats and storage compartments
WARNING
● The height of the driver seat must not be adjusted while driving. Fail-
ure to do so could result in an accident.
● Be careful when adjusting the seat height. Injuries can be caused if
the seat height is adjusted without due care and attention.

Adjusting the backrest angle
– Lean forwards to take your weight off the backrest.
– Turn the adjuster wheel 3
⇒ Fig. 103 to set the angle of the
backrest as required.
WARNING
The front backrests must not be reclined for driving. Otherwise, seat
belts and the airbag system might not protect as they should, with the
subsequent danger of injury.

Adjusting lumbar support*
– Do not exert any pressure on the backrest and turn adjuster
wheel 4 ⇒ Fig. 103 to adjust lumbar support.
As you make the adjustments, the curvature of the cushioned area of the
lumbar region becomes more or less acute. In this way, it adapts to the nat-
ural curvature of the spine. 

135
Seats and storage compartments
Electric adjustment of front seats*
Adjusting the seat
The arrangement of the switches corresponds with the de-
sign of the seats.
Fig. 104 Front seat: Ad-
juster controls
Fig. 105 Front seat: Seat
adjustment switches
The adjustment switches for the seat and backrest correspond with
the layout, design and operation of the seat. The seats can be ad-
justed merely by pressing the corresponding switch in the required
direction.
Moving the seat forwards / backwards
– Press switch A
⇒ Fig. 104 forwards or backwards 1⇒ Fig. 105 ⇒ .
Raising/lowering the seat
– Press switch A
up or down ⇒ .
Raising/lowering the front part of the seat
– Press the front of switch A
up or down 2 ⇒ .
Raising/lowering the rear part of the seat
– Press the rear of switch A
up or down 3 ⇒ . 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications