2013 Seat Leon SC fold seats

38Airbag system
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. 
Airbag covers when the frontal airbags are triggered
Fig. 22 Airbag covers reacting when the front airbags are triggered The airbag covers fold out of the steering wheel or dash panel when the
driver and front passenger airbags are triggered ⇒ Fig. 22. The airbag cov-
ers remain connected to the steering wheel or the dash panel. Safety notes on the front airbag system
If you use airbags correctly, they can considerably reduce
the risk of injury in many kinds of accident.
WARNING
● It is important for the driver and front passenger to keep a distance of
at least 25 cm from the steering wheel and dash panel. If the minimum
distance is not observed then the airbags do not correctly protect the ve-
hicle occupants; risk of fatal injuries! In addition, the front seats and
head restraints must always be positioned correctly for the height of the
occupant.
● If you are not wearing a seat belt, if you lean forward or to the side
while travelling or assume an incorrect sitting position, there is a sub-
stantially increased risk of injury. This increased risk of injury will be fur-
ther increased if you are struck by an inflating airbag.
● Never let a child travel on the front seat without an appropriate re-
straint system. If the airbag is triggered in an accident, children can sus-
tain serious or fatal injuries from the airbag as it inflates ⇒ page 48.
● The deployment space between the front passengers and the airbags
must not in any case be occupied by other passenger, pets and objects.
● The airbags provide protection for just one accident; replace them
once they have deployed.
● It is also important not to attach any objects such as cup holders or
telephone mountings to the surfaces covering the airbag units.
● Do not attempt to modify components of the airbag system in any
way.


129
Seats and storage
Front seats
Manual seat adjustment
Fig. 77 Front seats:
manual seat adjustment
Fig. 78 Front seats: lever
for folding the backrest
(3-door vehicles)
Adjusting the seat forward/backward: pull the lever and move the seat
forwards or backwards.
Raise/lower the seat: Pull/push the lever.
Backrest lower/raise: turn the hand wheel.
1
23
Adjusting the lumbar support* : press the button in the corresponding
position.
Folding the seat backrest (only 3-door vehicles): pull the lever and push
the backrest forward.
WARNING
● Adjust the front seats only when the vehicle is stationary. Failure to
do so could result in an accident.
● Be careful when adjusting the seat height. Careless or uncontrolled
adjustment can cause injuries.
● The front seat 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.

Applies to the model: LEON ST
To lower the front passenger seat back*
Fig. 79 Passenger's
seat: lever for folding
down the backrest
The passenger's seat can be down to expand the luggage compartment
loading area. 
4
5
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130Seats and storage
● Pull on lever 1
⇒ Fig. 79 and push the backrest forwards so that the
backrest is horizontal.
WARNING
When the passenger's backrest is folded down this place cannot be occu-
pied by a passenger.

Front centre armrest
The centre armrest can be adjusted to various levels. Adjusting the centre armrest
– To adjust the tilt, lift the armrest from the starting position so
that it is engaged.
– To return the armrest to the starting position, remove the arm-
rest from the upper fixed position and lower it.
The armrest can be moved backwards and forwards. 
Seat functions Introduction
Additional information and warnings
● Adjusting the position of the seats ⇒ page 10
● Seat belts ⇒ page 20 ●
Airbag system ⇒  page 31
● Child seats (accessories) ⇒ page 48
WARNING
Inappropriate use of the seat functions can cause severe injuries.
● Assume the proper sitting position before your trip and remain in it
throughout. This also applies to the other occupants.
● Always keep hands, fingers, feet and other parts of the body away
from the operating radius and the adjustment of seats.

Seat heating
Fig. 80 In the centre
console: front seats heat-
ing switch
The seat cushions can be heated electrically when the ignition is switched
on. The backrest is also heated in some versions.
The seat heating should not be engaged in any of the following conditions:
● The seat is unoccupied.
● The seat has a covering.
● There is a child seat installed in the seat. 

132Seats and storage
Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the head restraint is lev-
el with the top of your head. When this is not possible, try to get as
close as possible to this position.
–Grasp the sides of the head restraint with both hands and move
it up/down (to lower you must press button 1
) until you see it
engage. 
Rear head restraints
Fig. 82 Rear centre head
restraint: release point
When transporting people in the back seat, place the head re-
straints of the occupied seats at a minimum of the next socket up
⇒ 
.
Adjusting the head restraints
– To set the head restraint higher, grasp the sides with both
hands and move it upwards, until you see it engage.
– To set the head restraint lower down, press the A
⇒ Fig. 82
button and move it downwards. Removing the head restraint
To remove the head restraint, the corresponding backrest must be
partially folded forward.
–
Unlock the backrest ⇒ page 138.
– Move the head restraint upwards until it arrives to the top.
– Press the A
⇒ Fig. 82 button while at the same time removing
the head restraint from the backrest ⇒ .
– Insert a screwdriver in the B
position of the hole while at the
same time removing the head restraint from the backrest ⇒ .
– Move the backrest until it engages properly ⇒ 
.
Fitting the head restraint
To mount the external head restraints, the corresponding backrest
must be partially folded forward.
– Unlock the backrest ⇒ page 138.
– Insert the head restraint bars into the guides until they percept-
ibly engage. It should not be possible to remove the head re-
straint from the backrest.
– Move the backrest until it engages properly ⇒ 
.
WARNING
● Please observe the general notes.
● Remove the rear head restraints only when it is necessary for the
placement of a child seat ⇒ page 48. After removing a child seat, remount
the head restraint immediately. Travelling with the head restraints re-
moved or improperly adjusted increases the risk of severe injuries.


133
Seats and storage
Storage compartments
Storage areas under the front seats*
There is a storage compartment with a cover under each
front seat.
Fig. 83 Storage com-
partment under the front
seats
The drawer* is opened by pulling on the cover ⇒ Fig. 83.
To close the drawer, press the cover until it locks into position.
WARNING
● The drawers will hold a maximum weight of 1.5 kg.
● Do not drive with the drawer cover open. There is an injury risk for
passengers if the cargo is released in case of sudden braking or an acci-
dent.
 Applies to the model: LEON ST
Folding table*
Fig. 84 Left-hand front
seat: folding table
– To open the tray, open it up in the direction of the arrow
⇒ Fig. 84.
WARNING
● The folding trays may not be folded down whilst the vehicle is in mo-
tion and anyone is seated on the second row of seats. There is a risk of
injury during a sudden braking manoeuvre! The tray must therefore be
closed and properly secured whilst the vehicle is in motion.
● Do not put hot drinks in the drink holders. During normal or sudden
driving manoeuvres, sudden braking or an accident, the hot drink could
be spilled. Danger of scalding.
CAUTION
When driving, do not leave open cans in the cup holders. The drink might
be spilt on braking, for example, and could damage the vehicle. 
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137
Seats and storage
Applies to the model: LEON / LEON SC
Increase capacity of luggage compartment
The backrests can be folded forward individually or togeth-
er.
Fig. 89 Clip to support
the seat belt
Fig. 90 Backrest release
lever Folding the backrest forwards
–
Place the side seat belts in the trim clip ⇒ Fig. 89.
– Slide the head restraint(s) downwards ⇒ page 132.
– Press the release lever ⇒ Fig. 90 A
in the direction of the ar-
row.
– Fold the backrest forwards.
Returning the backrest to its upright position
– Move the backrest until it engages properly ⇒ 
. The red mark-
ing on the tab ⇒ Fig. 90 B should no longer be visible when
the backrest is properly secured.
WARNING
● Make sure that the rear backrest is securely locked in position so that
the seat belt can provide proper protection on the centre rear seat.
● The rear backrest must always be securely latched so that objects
stored in the luggage compartment will not fly forward through the inte-
rior during sudden braking.
CAUTION
● With the backrest inclined there is a danger of damaging the rear head
restraints when adjusting the front seats backwards.
● When folding the backrest forwards, make sure to place the side seat
belts in the trim clip to prevent them from being damaged by becoming
trapped in the backrest lock. 
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138Seats and storage
Applies to the model: LEON ST
Folding down and lifting the rear seat backrest
Fig. 91 In the rear seat
backrest: release tab 1;
red marking 2
Fig. 92 In the luggage
compartment: distance
unlocking levers of left
part 1 and right part 2 of
the rear backrest
The rear seat backrest is divided and each part can be folded down sepa-
rately to extend the boot. When the rear seat backrest is folded down, nobody is allowed to travel in
the corresponding seats (not even a child).
Folding down the rear seat backrest with the release tab
●
Push the head restraint down as far as it will go.
● Push the release tab ⇒ Fig. 91 1
forwards and at the same time fold
down the backrest.
● The rear backrest is released when the red mark of button 2
can be
seen.
Fold down the rear seat backrest with the distance unlocking lever
● Push the head restraint down as far as it will go.
● Open the rear lid.
● Pull on the distance unlocking lever of the left part ⇒ Fig. 92 1
or right
2 of the backrest in the direction of the arrow. The unlocked part of the
rear backrest is folded down automatically forwards.
● As applicable, close the rear lid.
The rear backrest is released when the red mark on button ⇒ Fig. 91 2
can
be seen.
Folding up the rear seat backrest
● Lift the backrest and press it firmly in the lock until it engages properly
⇒ 
.
● It should not be possible to see the red mark of the release tab 2.
● The backrest has to be properly engaged.
WARNING
If the rear seat backrest is folded down or lifted carelessly it may cause
serious injury.
● Never fold down or lift the rear seat backrest while driving. 

139
Seats and storage
WARNING (Continued)
● On lifting the rear seat backrest, avoid trapping or damaging the seat
belt.
● On folding down or lifting the rear seat backrest, always keep your
hands, fingers, feet and other body parts out of its path.
● For the safety belts to offer the necessary protection, all the parts of
the rear backrest should always be properly engaged. This is particularly
important in the case of the rear centre seat. Anyone sitting in a seat
whose backrest is not properly engaged could fly forward, together with
the backrest in the event of a sudden braking, a brusque manoeuvre or
an accident.
● A red mark on the button 2
warns that the backrest is not engaged.
Always check that the red marking is not visible when the backrest is in
the upright position.
● When the rear seat backrest is folded down or not properly engaged,
nobody is allowed to travel in the corresponding seats (not even a child).
CAUTION
If the rear seat backrest is folded down or lifted carelessly it may cause
damage to the vehicle or other objects.
● Before folding the rear seat backrest, adjust the front seats so that nei-
ther the head restraints nor the padding of the rear backrest hit them. Applies to the model: LEON / LEON SC
Luggage compartment cover
The luggage compartment cover blocks the view into the
luggage compartment.
Fig. 93 Rear lid open
with the luggage com-
partment cover
Removing
– Remove the straps A
and unfasten the cover of the support Bby pressing upwards in the direction of arrow 1.
Fitting
– Insert the cover horizontally so that it coincides with the “plate”
on the axis of the supports B
and press down until it engages.
– Attach the straps to the rear lid A
⇒ .
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