2012 Seat Mii airbag

75
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Side airbags
Fig. 50 On the side of
the front seat: location of
the side airbag
Fig. 51 On the left side
of the vehicle: deploy-
ment area of side airbag
The side airbags are located in the outer cushion of the driver and front pas-
senger seat backrests ⇒ Fig. 50. Their position is indicated by the word
“AIRBAG”. The area marked in red ⇒ Fig. 51 indicates the side airbag de-
ployment zone. In the event of a side-on collision, the side airbag will deploy in the side of
the vehicle affected
⇒ Fig. 51, thus reducing the risk of injuries to passen-
gers on the side of the body and the head facing the accident side.
WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in fractions of a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the side airbags vacant.
● The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags
must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.
● Do not mount accessories on the doors.
● Only used protective covers for the seats that are approved for the ve-
hicle. Otherwise, the side airbag would be obstructed when deployed.
WARNING
Incorrect handling of the driver's and front passenger's seat could pre-
vent the side airbag from deploying properly and cause severe injuries.
● Never remove the front seats of the vehicle or modify any of their
components.
● Great forces must not be exerted on the backrest bolsters because
the side airbags might not deploy correctly, might not deploy at all or
might deploy unexpectedly.
● Any damage to the original seat upholstery or around the seams of
the side airbag units must be repaired immediately by a Specialised
workshop.

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76Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Child seats (accessories)
Introduction
Before transporting babies and children in a child seat placed in the front
passenger seat, first completely read the information regarding the airbag
system.
This information is extremely important for driver and passenger safety, par-
ticularly that of babies and children.
SEAT recommends the use of child seats from the SEAT accessory pro-
gramme. These child seats have been designed and tested for use in SEAT
vehicles. You can purchase child seats with different mountings from a SEAT
dealership.
Additional information and warnings:
● Seat belts ⇒ page 57
● Airbag system ⇒ page 67
WARNING
Make sure children are properly belted in and correctly secured to avoid
severe or fatal injuries while the vehicle is in motion.
● Never use a rear-facing child seat in the front passenger seat if the
front passenger airbag is enabled.
● Children up to 12 years old should always travel on the rear seat.
● Children must always be protected with an approved child restraint
system suited to their height and weight.
● Children must assume the proper sitting position and be properly bel-
ted in while travelling.
WARNING (Continued)
● Ensure the backrest of a seat is upright when a child seat is being
used on it.
● Do not allow the child's head or other part of his or her body to enter
the deployment area of the side airbags.
● Make sure the seat belt webbing is correctly positioned.
● Never hold children or babies on your lap or in your arms.
● Only one child may occupy a child seat.
● Please read and observe the child seat manufacturer's handling in-
structions.
WARNING
An empty or loose child seat could fly uncontrollably around the vehicle
interior and cause injuries in the event of an accident or sudden braking.
● When not in use while the vehicle is in motion, always safely secure it
or store it in the luggage compartment.
Note
Replace the child seat after an accident, as it may have invisible damage. 

79
Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
Specific mounting systems for each country
Attachment variants ⇒ Fig. 52:
Europe: ISOFIX retaining rings and upper retaining strap ⇒ page 81
and ⇒ page 83.
Three-point seat belt and upper retaining strap ⇒ page 80.
The systems include the child restraint system mounting with an upper re-
taining strap (Top Tether) and lower anchoring points on the seat. 
Use of the child seat on the front passenger seat
Transporting children on the front passenger seat is not permitted in all
countries. Furthermore, not all child seats are approved for use on the front
passenger seat. Your SEAT dealership has an updated list of all approved
child seats. Only used child seats that are approved for each vehicle.
The frontal airbag on the front passenger side is highly dangerous for a
child. The front passenger seat is life-threatening to a child if he or she is
transported in a rear-facing child seat.
If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the front passenger seat, an inflating
airbag can strike it with such great force that severe or fatal injuries may re-
sult ⇒ 
. Therefore, rear-facing child seats must never be used on the front
passenger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled.
Only use a rear-facing child seat on the front passenger seat if the front pas-
senger airbag is disabled. When it is disabled, the yellow PASSENGER
AIR BAG   ⇒ page 67 control lamp on the dash panel will be lit. If you
cannot disable the front passenger airbag and it remains enabled, it is for-
bidden to transport children on the front passenger seat ⇒ 
.
A
B
Things to note if using a child seat on the front passenger seat:
●
The front passenger front airbag must be disabled  when using a rear-
facing child seat ⇒ page 67.
● The backrest of the front passenger seat must be upright.
● Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible.
● The backrest of the front passenger seat must be upright.
Suitable child seats
The child seat must be authorised by the manufacturer especially for use on
a front passenger seat with a frontal or side airbag.
Universal seats for children can be fitted in the front passenger seat, in
groups 0, 0+, 1, 2 or 3 according to the ECE-R 44 regulation.
WARNING
If a child seat is mounted on the front passenger seat, the risk of the
child sustaining severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident increa-
ses. Rear-facing child seats must never be mounted on the front passen-
ger seat when the front passenger airbag is enabled. This is life-threaten-
ing to the child should the frontal airbag deploy, as the child seat would
be struck by the inflated airbag and thrown against the backrest.
WARNING
If, in exceptional circumstances, a child must be transported in a rear-fac-
ing child seat on the front passenger seat, strictly observe the following:
● Always disable the front passenger airbag and leave it disabled.
● The child seat must be approved by the manufacturer for use on a
front passenger seat with frontal and side airbag.
● Follow the installation instructions of the child seat manufacturer and
observe the warnings. 
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80Ensuring you are correctly and safely seated
WARNING (Continued)
● Move the front passenger seat as far back as possible and adjust it to
its highest position to keep as far away as possible from the frontal air-
bag.
● Move the backrest to the upright position.
● Children must always be protected with an approved child restraint
system suited to their height and weight.

Use of the child seat on the rear seat
If a child seat is mounted on the rear seat, adapt the position of the front
passenger seat so that the child has enough space. Therefore, adapt the
front passenger seat to the size of the child seat and the height of the child.
Ensure the passenger is in the correct position  ⇒ page 48.
Suitable child seats
The manufacturer must authorise the child seat for use in the rear seats with
side airbags.
Universal seats for children can be fitted in the passenger seat, in groups 0,
0+, 1, 2 or 3 according to the ECE-R 44 regulation.
The rear seats are suitable for child seats with the ISOFIX system specially
designed for this type of vehicle in accordance with regulation ECE-R 44.
ISOFIX child seats approved for rear seats
ISOFIX child seats are divided into certified categories “universal”, “semi-
universal” or “specific categories for the vehicle”.
● If the ISOFIX child seat is certified “universal”, it must be supported by
the lower anchor points and the Top Tether retaining strap.
● If the ISOFIX child seat is certified “semi-universal” or “specific catego-
ries for the vehicle”, check that the child seat is certified for the vehicle be-
fore employing it. The child seat manufacturer supplies, in addition to the ISOFIX child seat, a list of vehicles for which the corresponding ISOFIX child
seat has been certified. If necessary, contact the child seat manufacturer for
an updated list of vehicles.

Securing child seats with the seat belt
The seat belt may be used to secure child seats with the universal marking
(on the orange label) to the vehicle seats marked with a u in the table be-
low.
CategoryFront passengerRear seatsGroup 0
Up to 10 kguu
Category 0+ Up to 13 kguu
Group 1
9 to 18 kguu
Group 2
15 to 25 kguu
Group 3
22 to 36 kguu
Securing the child seat using the seat belt
● Please read and observe the child seat manufacturer's handling instruc-
tions.
● Move the front passenger seat, or the rear seat bench back as far as pos-
sible and, in the case of an adjustable backrest, set it in the upright posi-
tion ⇒ page 48.
● Positioning the child seat on the seat according to the manufacturer's
instructions.
● Fasten the seat belt or pass it around the child seat structure in the man-
ner described in the manufacturer's instructions. 

97
Transporting
Transporting
Driving tips Introduction
Always transport heavy loads in the luggage compartment and place the
seat backs in a vertical position. Never overload the vehicle. Both the carry-
ing capacity as well as the distribution of the load in the vehicle have ef-
fects on the driving behaviour and braking ability ⇒ 
.
Additional information and warnings:
● Rear lid ⇒ page 40
● To lower the front passenger seat backrest ⇒ page 55
● Light ⇒ page 84
● Luggage compartment ⇒ page 100
● Roof carrier ⇒ page 104
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ page 210
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly secured objects can cause serious injury in case
of a sudden manoeuvring or breaking or in case of an accident. This is es-
pecially true when objects are struck by a detonating airbag and fired
through the vehicle interior. To reduce the risks, please note the follow-
ing:
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Always keep equipment and heavy
objects in the luggage compartment.
WARNING (Continued)
● Always secure objects with suitable rope or slings so that they cannot
enter the deployment areas around the frontal or side airbags in case of
sudden braking or an accident.
● Always ensure that objects inside the vehicle cannot move into the
deployment area of the bags while driving.
● While driving, always keep object compartments closed.
● Remove all objects from the front passenger seat when this is fol-
lowed down. When the seat backrest is folded down, it presses on small
and light objects and these are detected by the weight sensor on the
seat; this sends false information to the airbag control unit.
● While the backrest of the front passenger seat is folded, the frontal
airbag must remain disconnected and the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF 
light on.
● Objects secured in the vehicle should never be placed in such a way
as to make passengers sit in an incorrect position.
● If secured objects occupy a seat then this should not be occupied or
used by anybody.
WARNING
The driving behaviour and braking ability change when transporting
heavy and large objects.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic and
weather conditions.
● Accelerate gently and carefully.
● Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
● Brake early.

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100Transporting
Loading luggage compartment
Introduction
Always transport heavy loads in the luggage compartment and place the
seat backs in a vertical position. Never overload the vehicle. Both the carry-
ing capacity as well as the distribution of the load in the vehicle have ef-
fects on the driving behaviour and braking ability ⇒ 
.
Additional information and warnings:
● Airbag system ⇒ page 67
● Light ⇒ page 84
● Transporting ⇒ page 97
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ page 210
WARNING
When the vehicle is not in use or being watched, always lock the doors
and the rear lid to reduce the risk of serious injury or death.
● Do not leave children unwatched, especially when the rear lid is open.
Children could climb into the luggage compartment, close the rear lid
from inside and be unable to escape themselves. This could lead to seri-
ous injury or death.
● Never allow children to play in or around the vehicle.
● Never transport people in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly secured objects can cause serious injury in case
of a sudden manoeuvring or breaking or in case of an accident. This is es-
pecially true when objects are struck by a detonating airbag and fired
through the vehicle interior. To reduce the risks, please note the follow-
ing:
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Always keep equipment and heavy
objects in the luggage compartment.
● Always secure objects with suitable rope or straps so that they can-
not enter the deployment areas around the frontal or side airbags in case
of sudden braking or an accident.
● While driving, always keep object compartments closed.
● Do not place hard, heavy or sharp objects inside the interior, in open
storage compartments, the rear shelf or on the dash panel.
● Remove hard, heavy and sharp objects from clothes and pockets in-
side the vehicle and store securely.
WARNING
The transport of heavy object changes vehicle handling and increases
braking distance. Heavy loads that have not been stored or secured cor-
rectly could cause loss of control and result in serious injury.
● The vehicle handling changes when transporting heavy objects due
to a change in the centre of gravity.
● Distribute the load as uniformly and as low down on the vehicle as
possible.
● Store heavy objects in the luggage compartment as far from the rear
axle as possible.
CAUTION
Hard objects on the rear shelf could chafe against the wires of the heating
element in the heated rear window and cause damage. 

119
Starting, changing gears, parking
While driving
Starting, changing gears, parking
Stopping and starting the engine Introduction
Immobilizer display
When an invalid key is used or in the event of a system fault,  is dis-
played on the instrument panel. The engine cannot be started.
Pushing or towing
For technical reasons, the vehicle must not be push- or tow-started. Jump
starting is preferable.
Additional information and warnings:
● Vehicle key set ⇒ page 28
● Changing gear ⇒  page 124
● Braking, stopping and parking ⇒  page 134
● Steering ⇒  page 147
● Refuelling ⇒  page 171
● Fuel ⇒ page 177
● Emergency locking and unlocking ⇒ page 243
● Jump starting ⇒  page 273
● Tow-starting and towing away ⇒ page 276
WARNING
Switching off the engine while driving makes stopping the vehicle diffi-
cult. As a consequence you may lose control of the vehicle and there is a
risk of serious accident.
● The assisted braking and steering systems, the airbag system, safety
belts and certain safety equipment are only active while the engine is
running.
● The engine should only be switched off when the vehicle is at a
standstill.
WARNING
While the engine is running or starting it could help reduce the risk of se-
rious injury.
● Never start or leave the engine running in poorly ventilated or closed
spaces. Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, a toxic, colourless and
odourless gas. Carbon monoxide can cause people to lose conscious-
ness. It can also cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running. The vehi-
cle could move off suddenly or something unexpected could happen re-
sulting in damage and serious injury.
● Never use start boosters. Cold start sprays could explode or increase
the engine speed unexpectedly. 
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122Starting, changing gears, parking
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm the engine at idle speed; start driving immediately if the visi-
bility is OK. This helps the engine reach operating temperature faster and
reduces emissions.
Note
Electrical components with a high power consumption are switched off tem-
porarily when the engine starts.
Note
When the engine is started cold, there may be strong vibrations for a few
moments for technical reasons. This is quite normal, and no cause for con-
cern.
Note
Natural gas engines always start up with petrol, as a certain operating tem-
perature is required for running with gas. Once the required operating tem-
perature is reached, the engine will change to operate with natural gas. 
Stopping the engine
Complete operations only in the sequence given.1.Stopping the vehicle completely ⇒ .
2.Press the brake pedal and keep pressed until step 4 has been
completed.
3.In automatic gearboxes, put the selector lever in position P4.Apply the handbrake firmly ⇒ page 134.5.Turn the key in the ignition lock to position ⇒ Fig. 83 0.6.With a manual gearbox, put the vehicle in first or reverse gear.
WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle is moving. You may lose
control of the vehicle and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not work when the ignition is
switched off.
● The brake servo does not work when the engine is not running. To
stop, the brake pedal must be pressed with more force.
● As the power steering does not work if the engine is not running, you
will need more strength to steer than normally.
● If the key is removed from the ignition, the steering may lock and it
will not be possible to steer the vehicle.
CAUTION
If the engine has been driven at high speed for a prolonged period of time,
it may overheat when turned off. To avoid engine damage, allow the engine
to run for approximately 2 minutes in neutral before switching it off.
Note
● In vehicles with automatic gearbox, the key can only be removed when
the selector lever is in position P.
● After stopping the engine, the engine compartment fan may continue
running for a few minutes, even when the ignition has been switched off or
the key removed. The radiator fan is automatically switched off. 
Electronic immobilizer
The gear lock prevents the engine from being started with an unauthorised
key and the vehicle being moved.
The vehicle key has a built-in chip. It automatically deactivates the immobil-
izer when the key is inserted into the ignition lock. 