2013 FIAT FREEMONT Owner handbook (in English)

NOTE:
 Ensure that the tether strap does not slip into theopening between the seatbacks as you remove slack
in the strap.
 When using the ISOFIX attaching system to install a child restraint, please ensure that all seat belts not
being used for occupant restraints are stowed and
out of reach of children. Remind all children in the
vehicle that the seat belts are not toys and that they
should not play with them. In addition, never leave
unattended children in the vehicle.
WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint
t
o the ISOFIX anchorages can lead to
failure of an infant or child restraint . The child
could be badly injured or killed. Follow the manu-
facturer's directions exactly when installing an
infant or child restraint .
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM
(SRS) — AIR BAGS
This vehicle has Advanced Front Air Bags for both the
driver and front passenger as a supplement to the seat
belt restraint systems. The driver's Advanced Front Air
Bag is mounted in the center of the steering wheel. The
passenger's Advanced Front Air Bag is mounted in the instrument panel, above the glove compartment. The
words SRS AIRBAG are embossed on the air bag
covers.
(fig. 134)
NOTE: The Driver and Front Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bags are certified to the new regulations for
Advanced Air Bags.
The Advanced Front Air Bags have a multistage inflator
design. This allows the air bag to have different rates of
inflation based on several factors, including the severity
and type of collision.
(fig. 134) Advanced Front Air Bag And Knee Bolster Locations1 — Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bags
2 — Knee Bolsters (for versions/markets, where provided)
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This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or front
passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects whether
the driver or front passenger seat belt is fastened. The
seat belt buckle switch may adjust the inflation rate of
the Advanced Front Air Bags.
This vehicle is equipped with Supplemental Side Air Bag
Inflatable Curtains (SABIC) to protect the driver, front,
and rear passengers sitting next to a window. The
SABIC air bags are located above the side windows and
their covers are also labeled: SRS AIRBAG.
This vehicle is equipped with Supplemental Seat-
Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB). The SABs are marked
with an air bag label sewn into the outboard side of the
front seats.
NOTE:
 Air Bag covers may not be obvious in the interiortrim, but they will open during air bag deployment.
 After any accident, the vehicle should be taken to an authorized dealer immediately.
Air Bag System Components
Your vehicle may be equipped with the following air bag
system components:
 Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
 Air Bag Warning Light
 Steering Wheel and Column  Instrument Panel
 Knee Impact Bolster
 Driver Advanced Front Air Bag
 Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
 Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
 Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtains
(SABIC)
 Front and Side Impact Sensors
 Front Seat Belt Pretensioners
 Seat Belt Buckle Switch
ADVANCED FRONT AIR BAG FEATURES
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has multistage
driver and front passenger air bags. This system pro-
vides output appropriate to the severity and type of
collision as determined by the Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC), which may receive information
from the front impact sensors.
The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during
an impact that requires air bag deployment. This low
output is used in less severe collisions. A higher energy
output is used for more severe collisions.
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WARNING!
 N
o objects should be placed over or
near the air bag on the instrument
panel, because any such objects could cause
harm if the vehicle is in a collision severe enough
to cause the air bag to inflate.
 Do not put anything on or around the air bag
covers or attempt to open them manually. You
may damage the air bags and you could be
injured because the air bags may no longer be
functional. The protective covers for the air bag
cushions are designed to open only when the air
bags are inflating.
 Do not drill, cut or tamper with the knee
bolster in any way.
 Do not mount any accessories to the knee
bolster such as alarm lights, stereos, citizen band
radios, etc . Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags
(SAB)
SAB may provide enhanced protection to help protect
an occupant during a side impact. The SAB is marked
with an air bag label sewn into the outboard side of the
front seats. (fig. 135)
When the air bag deploys, it opens the seam between
the front and side of the seat's trim cover. Each air bag
deploys independently; a left side impact deploys the
left air bag only and a right-side impact deploys the
right air bag only.
(fig. 135)
Seat Mounted Side Air Bag Label
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Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain
(SABIC)
SABIC air bags may offer side-impact and vehicle roll-
over protection to front and rear seat outboard occu-
pants in addition to that provided by the body struc-
ture. Each air bag features inflated chambers placed
adjacent to the head of each outboard occupant that
reduce the potential for side-impact head injuries. The
curtains deploy downward, covering both windows on
the impact side. (fig. 136)
NOTE:
 Should a vehicle rollover occur, the pretensionersand/or SAB and SABIC air bags on both sides of the
vehicle may deploy.  Air Bag covers may not be obvious in the interior
trim, but they will open during air bag deployment.
 Being too close to the SAB and SABIC air bags during deployment could cause you to be severely injured
or killed.
The system includes side impact sensors that are cali-
brated to deploy the SAB and SABIC air bags during
impacts that require air bag occupant protection.
WARNING!
 Y
our vehicle is equipped with SABIC
air bags, do not have any accessory items
installed which will alter the roof, including add-
ing a sunroof to your vehicle. Do not add roof
racks that require permanent attachments (bolts
or screws) for installation on the vehicle roof. Do
not drill into the roof of the vehicle for any
reason.
 Your vehicle is equipped with left and right
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain
(SABIC), do not stack luggage or other cargo up
high enough to block the location of the SABIC.
The area where the SABIC is located should
remain free from any obstructions.
(Continued)
(fig. 136)Supplemental Side Curtain Air Bags
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(Continued)
 Do not use accessory seat covers or place
objects between you and the side air bags; the
performance could be adversely affected and/or
objects could be pushed into you, causing serious
injury.
Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of
the driver and the front passenger, and position front
occupants for the best interaction with the Advanced
Front Air Bags.
Advanced Front Air Bags work with the knee bolsters
to provide improved protection for the driver and
front passenger. Side air bags also work with seat belts
to improve occupant protection.
Here are some simple steps you can take to minimize
the risk of harm from a deploying air bag:
Children 12 years old and under should always ride
buckled up in a rear seat.
WARNING!
Infants in rear-facing child restraints
sh
ould never ride in the front seat of a
vehicle with a passenger Advanced Front Air Bag.
An air bag deployment can cause severe injury or
death to infants in that position.
Children that are not big enough to wear the vehicle
seat belt properly (see Section on Child Restraints)
should be secured in the rear seat in child restraints or
belt-positioning booster seats. Older children who do
not use child restraints or belt-positioning booster
seats should ride properly buckled up in the rear seat.
Never allow children to slide the shoulder belt behind
them or under their arm.
You should read the instructions provided with your
child restraint to make sure that you are using it
properly.
All occupants should always wear their lap and shoul-
der belts properly.
The driver and front passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the Advanced Front Air
Bags room to inflate.
Do not lean against the door or window. If your vehicle
has side air bags, and deployment occurs, the side air
bags will inflate forcefully into the space between you
and the door.
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If the air bag system in this vehicle needs to be modified
to accommodate a disabled person, contact the Cus-
tomer Center. Phone numbers are provided under "If
You Need Assistance".
WARNING!
 R
elying on the air bags alone could
lead to more severe injuries in a collision.
The air bags work with your seat belt to restrain
you properly. In some collisions, the air bags
won't deploy at all. Always wear your seat belts
even though you have air bags.
 Being too close to the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel during Advanced Front Air Bag de-
ployment could cause serious injury, including
death. Air Bags need room to inflate. Sit back,
comfortably extending your arms to reach the
steering wheel or instrument panel.
 Side air bags also need room to inflate. Do not
lean against the door or window. Sit upright in
the center of the seat .
Air Bag Deployment Sensors And Controls
Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
The ORC is part of a regulated safety system required
for this vehicle. The ORC determines if deployment of the front and/or
side air bags in a frontal or side collision is required.
Based on the impact sensor's signals, a central elec-
tronic ORC deploys the Advanced Front Air Bags,
SABIC air bags, Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air
Bags, Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air Bag, and front
seat belt pretensioners, as required, depending on
several factors, including the severity and type of im-
pact.
The Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver
Side Knee Air Bag are designed to provide additional
protection by supplementing the seat belts in certain
frontal collisions depending on several factors, includ-
ing the severity and type of collision. Advanced Front
Air Bags are not expected to reduce the risk of injury in
rear, side, or rollover collisions.
The Advanced Front Air Bags and Supplemental Driver
Side Knee Air Bag will not deploy in all frontal colli-
sions, including some that may produce substantial
vehicle damage — for example, some pole collisions,
truck underrides, and angle offset collisions. On the
other hand, depending on the type and location of
impact, Advanced Front Air Bags may deploy in crashes
with little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a
severe initial deceleration.
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The side air bags will not deploy in all side collisions.
Side air bag deployment will depend on the severity and
type of collision.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration
over time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are
not good indicators of whether or not an air bag should
have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all
collisions, and also are needed to help keep you in
position, away from an inflating air bag.
The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the air bag system whenever the ignition is in
the ON/RUN position. If the ignition is in the OFF
position, or in the ACC position, the air bag system is
not on and the air bags will not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
may deploy the air bags even if the battery loses power
or it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.Also, the ORC turns on the Air Bag Warning
Light in the instrument panel for approxi-
mately four to eight seconds for a self-check
when the ignition is first turned on. After the self-
check, the Air Bag Warning Light will turn off. If the
ORC detects a malfunction in any part of the system, it
turns on the Air Bag Warning Light, either momentarily or continuously. A single chime will sound if the light
comes on again after initial startup.
It also includes diagnostics that will illuminate the
instrument cluster Air Bag Warning Light if a malfunc-
tion is noted that could affect the air bag system. The
diagnostics also record the nature of the malfunction.
WARNING!
Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in
y
our instrument panel could mean you
won't have the air bags to protect you in a
collision. If the light does not come on as a bulb
check when the ignition is first turned on, stays
on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as
you drive, have an authorized dealer service the
air bag system immediately.
Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
Inflator Units
The Driver and Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
Inflator Units are located in the center of the steering
wheel and on the right side of the instrument panel.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the Ad-
vanced Front Air Bags, it signals the inflator units. A
large quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate
the Advanced Front Air Bags. Different air bag inflation
rates are possible, based on several factors, including
the collision type and severity. The steering wheel hub
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trim cover and the upper right side of the instrument
panel separate and fold out of the way as the air bags
inflate to their full size. The air bags fully inflate in about
50 to 70 milliseconds. This is about half of the time it
takes to blink your eyes. The air bags then quickly
deflate while helping to restrain the driver and front
passenger.
The Advanced Front Air Bag gas is vented through the
vent holes in the sides of the air bag. In this way, the air
bags do not interfere with your control of the vehicle.
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bag
(SAB) Inflator Units
The Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
are designed to activate only in certain side collisions.
The ORC determines if a side collision requires the
side air bags to inflate, based on the severity and type of
collision.
Based on the severity and type of collision, the side air
bag inflator on the crash side of the vehicle may be
triggered, releasing a quantity of non-toxic gas. The
inflating SAB exits through the seat seam into the space
between the occupant and the door. The SAB fully
inflate in about 10 milliseconds. The side air bag moves
at a very high speed and with such a high force that it
could injure you if you are not seated properly, or ifitems are positioned in the area where the side air bag
inflates. This especially applies to children.
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain
(SABIC) Inflator Units
During collisions where the impact is confined to a
particular area of the side of the vehicle, the ORC may
deploy the SABIC air bags, depending on the severity
and type of collision. In these events, the ORC will
deploy the SABIC only on the impact side of the
vehicle.
A quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the
side curtain air bag. The inflating side curtain air bag
pushes the outside edge of the headliner out of the way
and covers the window. The air bag inflates in about 30
milliseconds (about one-quarter of the time that it
takes to blink your eyes) with enough force to injure
you if you are not belted and seated properly, or if
items are positioned in the area where the side curtain
air bag inflates. This especially applies to children. The
side curtain air bag is only about 9 cm thick when it is
inflated.
Because air bag sensors estimate deceleration over
time, vehicle speed and damage are not good indicators
of whether or not an air bag should have deployed.
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