2012 SKODA OCTAVIA airbag

Correct seated position for the driverFig. 125
Correct seated position for the driver/correct head restraint posi-
tion
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 139.
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
A
» Fig. 125 , and that the distance between the
legs and the dash panel at the height of the knee airbag is at least 10 cm
B
.
› Adjust the driver’s seat in the forward/back direction so that the pedals can be
fully depressed with slightly bent legs.
› Adjust the seat backrest so that the highest point of the steering wheel can be
reached 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
C
.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt
» page 142, Seat belts .
Manual driver seat adjustment » page 60, Manually adjusting the front seats .
Electrical driver seat adjustment » page 60, Electrically adjusting the front seats .

Correct seated position for the front passenger
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 139.
For the safety of the front passenger and to reduce the risk of injury in the event
of an accident, we recommend the following setting.
› Position the front passenger seat back as far as possible. The front passenger
must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the dash panel so that the airbag
offers the greatest possible safety if it is deployed.
› Adjust the head restraint such that the top edge of the head restraint is at the
same level as the upper part of your head B
» Fig. 125 on page 140.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt
» page 142.
In exceptional cases the front passenger airbag can be deactivated » page 151,
Deactivating airbags .
Manual front passenger adjustment » page 60, Manually adjusting the front
seats .
Electrical front passenger seat adjustment » page 60, Electrically adjusting the
front seats .

Correct seated position for the occupants on the rear seats
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 139.
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or an ac-
cident, the occupants on the rear seats must observe the following.
› Adjust the head restraint such that the top edge of the head restraint is at the
same level as the upper part of the head
B
» Fig. 125 on page 140.
› Correctly fasten the seat belt
» page 142, Seat belts .
› Use a suitable child restraint system if transporting children in the vehi-
cle » page 154 , Transporting children safely .

Examples of an incorrect seated position
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 139.
The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only achieved if your seat-
belts are fastened correctly. Incorrect seated positions considerably reduce the protective functions of the seat belts and therefore increase the risk of injury dueto an incorrect routing of the seat belt. 
140Safety

Seat belts
Seat belts
Introduction
Fig. 126
Driver wearing seat belt
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
The physical principle of a frontal collision
143
Fastening and unfastening seat belts
144
Seat belt height adjuster on the front seats
145
Intertia reel
145
Belt tensioners
145
Seat belts that are fastened correctly offer good protection in the event of an ac-
cident. They reduce the risk of an injury and increase the chance of survival in the
event of a major accident.
Correctly fastened seat belts hold occupants of the car in the correct seated posi-
tion » Fig. 126 .
The seat belts reduce the kinetic energy (energy of motion) to a considerable ex-
tent. They also prevent uncontrolled movements which, in turn, may well result in
severe injuries.
The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened and correctly adjusted their seat belt profit to a major extent from the fact that the kinetic energy is as much as
possible absorbed by the belts. The structure of the front end of the vehicle and
other passive safety measures, such as the airbag system, also contribute to re-
ducing the kinetic energy in the best possible way. The energy produced is thus
absorbed and there is less risk of injury.
Particular safety aspects must be observed when transporting children in the ve-
hicle » page 154 .WARNING■
Fasten your seat belt before each journey – even when driving in town! This
also applies to the people seated at the rear – risk of injury!■
Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the only way of
ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child » page 144, Fastening and
unfastening seat belts .
■
Adjust the height of the belt in such a way that the shoulder part of the belt
is roughly positioned across the middle of your shoulder – on no account
across your neck.
■
Always ensure that the webbing of the seat belts is properly routed. Seat
belts which are not correctly adjusted can themselves cause injuries even in
minor accidents.
■
The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only achieved if you
are correctly seated » page 139, Correct seated position .
■
The seat backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the rear
otherwise the seatbelts can lose their effectiveness.
■
The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point or twisted,
or chafe against any sharp edges.
■
Make sure you do not catch the seat belt in the door when closing it.
■
A seat belt which is hanging too loose can result in injuries as your body is
moved forward by the kinetic energy produced in an accident and is then sud-
denly held firm by the belt.
■
The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects (e.g. specta-
cles, ball-point pens, keys etc.) as this may be a cause of injuries.
■
Never use a seatbelt to secure two persons (not children either). The seat-
belt must not be placed over a child who is sat on the lap of an occupant ei- ther.
■
The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will reduce its capacity to pro-
tect and the risk of injury increases.
■
The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked otherwise the belt tongue
will not lock in place properly.
■
Many layers of clothing and loose clothing (e. g. a winter coat over a jacket)
do not allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of the
seat belts. 
142Safety

Airbag system
Description of the airbag system
Introductory information
The airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed to offer additional protection in the event of an accident.
The functional status of the airbag system is indicated by the indicator light  in
the instrument cluster » page 19.
The airbag system (according to vehicle equipment) consists of: › an electronic control unit;
› Front airbags for the driver and front seat passenger
» page 147;
› a driver’s knee airbag
» page 148;
› side airbags
» page 149;
› head airbags
» page 150;
› an airbag warning light in the instrument cluster
» page 19;
› a key switch for the front seat passenger airbag
» page 151;
› a warning light in the middle of the dash panel to indicate the front seat pas-
senger airbag is switched off » page 151.
WARNING■
The airbag is not a substitute for the seat belt, but instead forms part of the
complete passive vehicle safety concept. Please note that an airbag can only
offer you optimal protection in combination with a seat belt which is fas- tened .■
To ensure passengers are protected with the greatest possible effect when
the airbag is deployed, the front seats must be correctly adjusted to match
the body size » page 139, Correct seated position .
■
If you do not fasten the seat belts when driving, lean too far forward or
adopt an incorrect seated position, you are exposing yourself to increased risk of injury in the event of an accident.
■
If there is a fault, have the airbag system checked immediately by a ŠKODA
specialist garage. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being activated in
the event of an accident.
WARNING (Continued)■ No modifications of any kind must be made to parts of the airbag system.
Any work on the airbag system including the installation and removal of sys-
tem components due to other repair work (e.g. removal of the steering wheel)
must only be carried out by a ŠKODA specialist garage.■
Never make any changes to the front bumper or bodywork.
■
It is prohibited to manipulate individual parts of the airbag system as this
might result in the airbag being deployed.
■
The protective function of the airbag system is sufficient for only one acci-
dent. The airbag system must then be replaced if the airbag has been de-
ployed.
■
The airbag system needs no maintenance during its working life.
■
If you sell your vehicle, provide the complete vehicle documentation to the
new owner. Please note that the information relating to the possibility of de-
activating the front passenger airbag must be included!
■
When disposing of vehicle or parts of the airbag system, it is important to
comply with the national legal requirements.

Airbag deployment
The airbag system is only functional when the ignition is switched on.
When the airbags are deployed they fill with gas and inflate.
A grey white or red, non-harmful gas is released when the airbag is inflated. This
is perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
In certain accident situations, the several airbags may be deployed simultaneous- ly.
The airbags are not deployed in the case of minor frontal and side collisions, rear-
end collisions, tilting of the vehicle and vehicle rollover.
Deployment factors
It is not possible to generally determine which deployment conditions apply to the airbag system in every situation. An important role is played by factors such as the type of object that the vehicle hits (hard, soft), the impact angle, vehicle
speed, etc.
A decisive factor for the deployment of the airbags is the deceleration which oc- curs. The control unit analyses the nature of the collision and activates the rele-
vant restraint system. If the vehicle deceleration which occurs and is measured 
146Safety

during the collision remains below the prescribed reference values specified in
the control unit, the airbags are not deployed although the vehicle may well suf-
fer severe damage to the bodywork as a consequence of the accident.
The following will be deployed in the event of a severe frontal collision: › driver’s front airbag;
› passenger’s front airbag;
› driver’s knee airbag.
The following will be deployed in the event of a severe side collision: › front side airbag on the side of the accident;
› rear side airbag on the side of the accident;
› head airbags on the side of the accident.
In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed:
› the interior lighting comes on (if the switch for the interior light is in the door
contact position),
› the hazard warning light is switched on;
› all the doors are unlocked;
› the fuel supply to the engine is interrupted.
Front airbags
Fig. 131
Driver airbag in the steering wheel/front passenger airbag in the
dashboard
Fig. 132
Safe distance to steering wheel/inflated airbags
In the event of a severe frontal collision, the front airbag system offers additional
protection for the head and chest area of the driver and front passenger.
The front airbag for the driver is housed in the steering wheel » Fig. 131 – 
.
The front airbag for the front seat passenger is located in the dash panel above
the stowage compartment 
– » Fig. 131 .
When the airbags are deployed, they inflate in front of the driver and front pas-
senger » Fig. 132 - 
. The forward movement of the driver and of the front pas-
senger is cushioned when they make contact with the fully inflated airbag and
the risk of injury to head and chest is thus reduced.
The airbag allows the gas to flow out of the inflated airbag in a controlled manner(depending on the load of the particular car occupant) in order to cushion head
and chest areas. The airbag then deflates subsequently to such an extent, after
an accident, to again provide a clear view forward.
WARNING■ For the driver and front passenger, it is important to maintain a distance of
at least 25 cm to the steering wheel or dashboard A » Fig. 132 . Not maintain-
ing this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to
properly protect you – hazard! The front seats and the head restraints must always also be correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occupant.■
The airbag develops enormous forces when triggered, which can lead to in-
juries if the sitting position or seated position is not correct.
■
There must not by any further persons, animals or objects positioned be-
tween the front seated occupants and the deployment area of the airbag. 
147Airbag system

WARNING (Continued)■Never transport children on the front seat of a vehicle without using a prop-
er restraint system. If airbags are deployed in the event of an accident, the
child might suffer severe or even fatal injuries!■
It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag when attach-
ing a child safety seat to the front passenger seat where the child is seated
with its back facing in direction of travel » page 151, Deactivating airbags . If
this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal inju- ries if the front passenger airbag is deployed. When transporting a child on
the front passenger seat, pay attention to any relevant national regulations
regarding the use of child safety seats.
■
The steering wheel and the surface of the airbag module in the dash panel
on the passenger side must not have stickers attached, be covered or modi-
fied in any other way. These parts should only be cleaned with a cloth that is
dry or has been moistened with water. No objects such as cup holders, mobile
phone mounts, etc. must be attached to the covers of the airbag modules or
be located within their immediate vicinity.
■
Never place objects on the surface of the front passenger airbag module in
the dash panel.

Driver’s knee airbag
Fig. 133
Driver's knee airbag below the
steering column
The driver's knee airbag offers adequate protection for the driver's legs.
The driver's knee airbag is located in the lower part of the dash panel below the steering column » Fig. 133.
In the event of a severe frontal collision, the driver's knee airbag and front airbags are deployed.
The forward movement of the body is cushioned when it makes contact with the
fully inflated airbag and the risk of injury to the legs of the driver is thus reduced.WARNING■ Adjust the driver's seat in a forward/back direction so that there is a gap of
at least 10 cm between the legs and the dash panel in the vicinity of the knee
airbag B
» Fig. 125 on page 140. If it is not possible to meet this requirement
due to your body size, visit a ŠKODA specialist garage.
■
The surface of the airbag module in the lower part of the dash panel below
the steering column not have stickers attached, be covered or modified in any
other way. This part should only be cleaned with a cloth that is dry or has
been moistened with water. No objects must be attached to the cover of the
airbag module or located within the immediate vicinity.
■
Do not attach any bulky and heavy objects (bunch of keys etc.) to the igni-
tion key. These can be ejected by the knee airbag when it is deployed and can
cause injuries.

148Safety

Side airbagsFig. 134
Installation location of the side airbags front/rear
Fig. 135
Inflated side airbags
In the event of severe side collisions, the side airbag system provides additional
protection for the upper body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of passengers in the ve-
hicle.
The front side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the seat backrests of the front seats » Fig. 134 - 
.
The rear side airbags are located between the entrance area and the seat back-
rest » Fig. 134 -
.
When the side airbags » Fig. 135 are deployed, the head airbag and belt tensioner
are also automatically deployed on the relevant side.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully inflated air-
bag and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest, stomach and pelvis) is
reduced on the side facing the door.
WARNING■ Your head should never be positioned in the deployment area of the side
airbag. You might suffer severe injuries in the event of an accident. This ap- plies in particular to children who are transported without using a suitable
child safety seat » page 156, Child safety and side airbag .■
There must not be any further persons, animals as well as objects posi-
tioned between the occupants and the deployment area of the airbag. No ac-
cessories, such as cup holders, should be attached to the doors.
■
If children adopt an incorrect seated position when travelling, they may be
exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of an accident. This can re-
sult in serious injuries » page 154, Child seat .
■
The airbag control unit operates with pressure sensors located in the front
doors. For this reason no adjustments must be carried out to the doors and
door panels (e.g. additional installation of loudspeakers). Resulting damages
can have a negative affect on the operation of the airbag system. All work on
the front doors and their panels must only be carried out by a ŠKODA special-
ist garage.
■
In the event of a side collision, the side airbags will not function properly, if
the sensors cannot measure the increasing air pressure inside the doors, be-
cause the air can escape through large, non-sealed openings in the door pan-
el. ■ Never drive with removed inner door panels.
■ Never drive, if parts of the inner door panel have been removed and the
remaining openings have not been properly sealed.
■ Never drive, if the loudspeakers in the doors have been removed, only if
the loudspeaker openings have been properly sealed. ■ Always make sure that the openings are covered or filled, if additional
loudspeakers or other equipment parts are installed in the inner door pan- els.
■ Always have work completed by a ŠKODA Partner or a competent ŠKODA
specialist garage.
■
Only hang light items of clothing on the hooks fitted in the vehicle. Never
leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets of the items of cloth-
ing.
■
Ensure that there are no excessive forces, such as violent knocks, kicks etc.,
impact on the backrests of the seats otherwise the system may be damaged.
The side airbags would not be deployed in such a case! 
149Airbag system

WARNING (Continued)■Any seat or protective covers which you fit to the driver or front passenger
seats must only be of the type expressly authorized by ŠKODA. In view of the
fact that the airbag inflates out of the backrest of the seat, use of non-ap-
proved seat or protective covers would considerably impair the protective
function of the side airbag.■
Any damage to the original seat covers in the area of the side airbag module
must be repaired without delay by your ŠKODA specialist garage.
■
The airbag modules in the front seats must not display any damage, cracks
or deep scratches. It is not permissible to use force in order to open the mod-
ules.

Head airbags
Fig. 136
Location of the head airbag/gas-filled head airbag
In the event of a severe side collision, the head airbag system offers additional
protection for the head and neck area of passengers.
The head airbags are positioned above the doors on both sides in the interior ofthe car » Fig. 136 –
.
In the event of a side collision the head airbag is deployed together with the rele-
vant side airbag and the front seat belt tensioner on the side of the car on which
the accident occurs.
When deployed, the airbag covers the windows of the front and rear doors, as well as the door pillar » Fig. 136 – 
.
Any impact of the head against parts of the interior or objects outside of the car,
is cushioned by the inflated head airbag. The reduction in any impact to the head
and the resultant minimizing of any movements of the head additionally reduce
the risk of injuries to the neck area. The head airbag also offers additional protec-
tion in the case of an offset impact by covering the front door pillar.WARNING■ 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 hooks fitted in the vehicle. Never
leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets of the items of cloth-
ing. Additionally, clothes hangers must not be used to hang up items of cloth-
ing.
■
The airbag control unit operates with sensors located in the front doors. For
this reason no adjustments must be carried out to the doors and door panels (e.g. additional installation of loudspeakers). Resulting damages can have anegative affect on the operation of the airbag system. All work on the front
doors and their panels must only be carried out by a ŠKODA specialist garage.
■
There must no other persons (e.g. children) or animals between the passen-
ger and the deployment area of the head airbag. In addition, none of the occu-
pants 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 towards the side windows in the de-
ployment 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
airbag is deployed.
■
The installation of impermissible accessories in the vicinity of the head air-
bags can 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 fitted accessories could be thrown into the interior of the car and injure
the occupants » page 165.

150Safety

Deactivating airbags
Deactivating airbags
Deactivation of airbags is envisaged only for particular instances, such as if:
› using a child seat on the front passenger seat, in which the child has its back to
the vehicle's direction of travel (in some countries this must be in the direction
of travel due to different legal regulations applying) » page 154, Transporting
children safely ;
› not being able to maintain a distance of at least 25 cm between the middle of
the steering wheel and chest, despite the driver's seat being correctly adjusted;
› special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because of a
physical disability;
› other seats have been installed (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side airbags).
The front passenger airbag can be switched off with the key-operated
switch » page 151 , Deactivating the front passenger airbag .
We recommend that you ask a ŠKODA Partner to switch off any other airbags.
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically even if one of
the airbags is switched off.
If the airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment:
› The warning light

lights up for approx. 4 seconds after switching on the igni-
tion and then flashes again for approx. 12 seconds.
The following applies if the front passenger airbag has been switched off using the key switch in the storage compartment:
› The indicator light

comes on for around 4 seconds after the ignition has been
switched on;
› The warning light


3
» Fig. 137 on page 151 comes on after the ignition has
been switched on.
Note
■ The national regulations for switching off airbags must be observed.■A ŠKODA Partner will be able to inform you which airbags in your vehicle can/
must be deactivated.

Deactivating the front passenger airbagFig. 137
Key-operated switch for the front passenger airbag/warning light
for front seat passenger airbag deactivation
Only the front passenger airbag is deactivated with the key switch.
Switching off
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Open the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch into position
2
» Fig. 137 OFF .
›
Check whether the airbag indicator light
3

in the display 


 in the middle of the dash panel remains lit when the ignition is turned on.
Switching on
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch into position
1
» Fig. 137 ON .
›
Close the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Check whether the airbag indicator light
3

in the display 



in the middle of the dash panel remains lit when the ignition is turned on.
The warning light 
goes out 65 seconds after the key switch status has changed
or after the ignition is switched on. 
151Airbag system