2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA-Class warning

R
Improper repair work on the SRS creates a
risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended air bag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefore only be
performed by qualified technicians. Con-
sult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
R For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit or
ETD, our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These are available from any author-
ized Mercedes-Benz Center.
R Given the considerable deployment speed,
required inflation volume, and the material
of the air bags, there is the possibility of
abrasions or other, potentially more serious injuries resulting from air bag deployment.
If you sell your vehicle, Mercedes-Benz
strongly recommends that you inform the
subsequent owner that the vehicle is equip-
ped with SRS. Also, refer them to the appli-
cable section in the Operator's Manual. Air bags
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The air bag parts are hot after the airbag has
been deployed. There is a risk of injury.
Do not touch the air bag parts. Have the
deployed air bags replaced at a qualified spe- cialist workshop as soon as possible. G
WARNING
Air bags are designed to reduce the potential of injury and fatality in certain:
R frontal impacts (driver's/front-passenger
air bags and knee bags)
R side impacts (side impact air bags and win-
dow curtain air bags)
R rollover (window curtain air bags)
However, no system available today can com-
pletely eliminate injuries and fatalities. When the air bags are deployed, a small
amount of powder temporarily comes out of
the air bags. This dust, however, is generally
neither harmful to your health, nor does it
indicate a fire in the vehicle. In order to pre-
vent potential breathing difficulties, you may
wish to get out of the vehicle as soon as it is
safe to do so. If you have any breathing diffi-
culty but cannot get out of the vehicle after
the air bag inflates, then get fresh air by open-
ing a window or door. G
WARNING
In order to reduce the potential danger of
injuries caused during the deployment of the
front air bags, the driver and front passenger
must always be correctly seated and wear
their seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a col- lision, you must always be in the normal seat
position with your back against the backrest.
Fasten your seat belt and make sure that it is
correctly positioned on your body.
As the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating position
and correct positioning of the hands on the
steering wheel will help to keep you at a safe distance from the air bag. Occupants who are
not wearing their seat belt, are not seated
properly or are too close to the air bag can be seriously injured or killed by an air bag, as it
inflates with great force instantaneously:
R sit with the seat belt fastened correctly and
in a position that is as upright as possible
with your back against the backrest.
R move the driver's seat as far back as pos-
sible, still permitting proper operation of
vehicle controls. The distance from the cen- ter of the driver's chest to the center of the
air bag cover on the steering wheel must be
at least 10 inches (25 cm). You should be
able to accomplish this by adjusting the
seat and steering wheel. If you have any
difficulties, please contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Occupant safety
43Safety
Z

Side impact air bags
G
WARNING
Using unsuitable seat covers could restrict or even prevent deployment of the air bags inte- grated into the seats. Consequently, the air
bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as
they are designed to do. In addition, the func-
tion of the air bag deactivation system could
be restricted. This poses an increased risk of
injury or even fatal injury.
You should only use seat covers that have
been approved for the respective seat by
Mercedes-Benz. G
WARNING
Sensors to control the air bags are located in the doors. Modifications or work not per-
formed correctly to the doors or door panel-
ing, as well as damaged doors, can lead to the
function of the sensors being impaired. The air bags might therefore not function properly
any more. Consequently, the air bags cannot
protect vehicle occupants as they are
designed to do. There is an increased risk of
injury.
Never modify the doors or parts of the doors.
Always have work on the doors or door pan-
eling carried out at a qualified specialist work- shop.
You should only use seat covers that have
been approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-
Benz. The seat covers must have a special
tear seam for side impact air bags. Otherwise, the side impact air bags cannot deploy cor-
rectly and therefore cannot provide the inten-
ded protection in the event of an accident. Front side impact air bags
0043and rear side
impact air bags 0044deploy next to the outer
seat cushions.
When deployed, the side impact air bags offer additional protection of the thorax for occu-
pants on the front seats as well as also of the
pelvis for the vehicle occupants on the side of the vehicle on which the impact occurs. How-ever, they do not protect the:
R head
R neck
R arms
The side impact air bags are deployed:
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate of
lateral vehicle deceleration or acceleration,
e.g. in a side impact
R independently of the use of the seat belt
R independently of the Emergency Tension-
ing Devices
R independently of the front air bags
If the vehicle rolls over, the side impact air
bags are generally not deployed. Side impact air bags are deployed if the system detects
high vehicle deceleration or acceleration in a
lateral direction and determines that side
impact air bag deployment can offer addi-
tional protection to that provided by the seat
belt.
Side impact air bags will not deploy in side
impacts which do not exceed the system's
preset deployment thresholds for lateral
acceleration/deceleration. You will then be
protected by the fastened seat belt. 46
Occupant safetySafety

The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side will deploy if the front-
passenger seat belt is fastened, regardless of whether the front-passenger seat is occupied
or not.
The side impact air bag on the front-
passenger side does not deploy under the fol-
lowing conditions:
R OCS has detected that the front-passenger
seat is unoccupied.
R the front-passenger seat belt is not fas-
tened.
Window curtain air bags Window curtain air bags
0043enhance the level
of protection for the head, but not chest or
arms, of the vehicle occupants on the side of the vehicle on which the impact occurs.
Window curtain air bags 0043are integrated
into the side of the roof frame and deployed in the area from the A-pillar to the C-pillar.
Window curtain air bags are deployed:
R at the start of an accident with a high rate of
lateral vehicle deceleration or acceleration,
e.g. in a side impact
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R on the driver's side and passenger side, in
the event of a vehicle rollover and if the
system determines that air bag deployment
can offer the vehicle occupants additional
protection to that provided by the seat belt
R independently of the use of the seat belt R
regardless of whether the front-passenger
seat is occupied
R independently of the front air bags
Window curtain air bags 0043will not deploy in
the event of impacts which do not exceed the
system's preset deployment thresholds for
vehicle acceleration/deceleration. You will
then be protected by the fastened seat belt. Occupant Classification System
(OCS)
How the Occupant Classification Sys-
tem works G
WARNING
If the 00730074 indicator lamp illuminates
when an adult or someone larger than a small individual is in the front-passenger seat, havethe front passenger reposition himself or her-
self in the seat until the 00730074indicator
lamp goes out.
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow front-passenger front air
bag deployment when the OCS has classified
the front-passenger seat occupant as weigh-
ing as much as or less than a typical 12-
month-old child in a standard child restraint or if the front-passenger seat is classified as
being empty.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as
being up to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the 00730074indicator lamp will
illuminate when the engine is started and
remain illuminated, indicating that the front-
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat is classified as being empty,
the 00730074 indicator lamp will illuminate
when the engine is started and remain illumi-
nated, indicating that the front-passenger
front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as Occupant safety
47Safety
Z

being heavier than the weight of a typical 12-
month-old child seated in a standard child
restraint or as being a small individual (such
as a young teenager or a small adult), the
00730074 indicator lamp will illuminate for
approximately 6 seconds when the engine is
started and then, depending on occupant
weight sensor readings from the front-
passenger seat, remain illuminated or go out. With the 00730074 indicator lamp illumina-
ted, the front-passenger front air bag is deac-
tivated. With the 00730074indicator lamp
out, the front-passenger front air bag is acti-
vated.
When the OCS senses that the front-
passenger seat occupant is classified as an
adult or someone larger than a small individ-
ual, the 00730074 indicator lamp will illumi-
nate for approximately 6 seconds when the
engine is started and then go out, indicating
that the front-passenger front air bag is acti-
vated.
If the 00730074 indicator lamp is illuminated,
the front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-
ted and will not be deployed.
If the 00730074 indicator lamp is not illumi-
nated, the front-passenger front air bag is
activated and will be deployed:
R in the event of certain frontal impacts
R if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
R independently of the side impact air bags
If the front-passenger front air bag is
deployed, the rate of inflation will be influ-
enced by:
R the rate of relevant vehicle deceleration as
assessed by the air bag control unit
R the front passenger's weight category as
identified by OCS G
WARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the front-passenger seat. Thus, we strongly recommend that children be placed in the rear seats whenever possible.
Regardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and prop- erly secured in an appropriate infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat recommen-
ded for the size and weight of the child.
The infant or child restraint must be properly
secured with the vehicle's seat belt, the seat
belt and Top Tether strap, or lower anchors
and Top Tether strap, fully in accordance with the child seat manufacturer's instructions.
Occupants, especially children, should always
sit as upright as possible, wear the seat belt
properly and use an appropriately sized infant
restraint, toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured by
an inflating air bag. Note the following impor-
tant information when circumstances require you to place a child in the front-passenger
seat:
R Your vehicle is equipped with air bag tech-
nology designed to deactivate the front-
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the system senses the weight of a
typical 12-month-old child or less along
with the weight of a standard appropriate
child restraint on the front-passenger seat.
R A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
front-passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the front-passenger
front air bag inflates in a collision which
could occur under some circumstances,
even with the air bag technology installed in your vehicle. The only means to eliminate
this risk completely is never to place a child
in a rear-facing child restraint in the front-
passenger seat. We therefore strongly rec- ommend that you always place a child in a
rear-facing child restraint on the rear seat.
R If you install a rear-facing child restraint on
the front-passenger seat, make sure the
00730074 indicator lamp is illuminated,
indicating that the front-passenger front air bag is deactivated. Should the 0073007448
Occupant safetySafety

indicator lamp not illuminate or go out while
the restraint is installed, please check
installation. Periodically check the
00730074 indicator lamp while driving to
make sure that the 00730074indicator
lamp is illuminated. If the 00730074indi-
cator lamp goes out or remains out, do not transport a child on the front-passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint on the
front-passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the front-passenger front air bag inflates.
R If you place a child in a forward-facing child
restraint on the front-passenger seat:
- move the seat as far back as possible
- use the proper child restraint recommen-
ded for the age, size and weight of the
child
- secure child restraint with the vehicle's
seat belt according to the child seat man-
ufacturer's instructions
R For children larger than the typical 12-
month-old child, the front-passenger front
air bag may or may not be activated. G
WARNING
If the red 0075SRS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster and the 00730074indica-
tor lamp light up simultaneously, the OCS is
malfunctioning. The front passenger front air
bag will be deactivated in this case. Have the system checked by qualified technicians as
soon as possible. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Only have the seat repaired or replaced at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
In order to ensure proper operation of the air
bag system and OCS:
R Sit with the seat belt properly fastened in a
position that is as upright as possible with
your back against the seat backrest.
R When seated, a passenger should not posi-
tion him/herself in such a way as to cause the passenger's weight to be lifted from the seat cushion as this may result in the OCS
being unable to correctly approximate the
passenger's weight category.
R Read and observe all warnings in this chap-
ter. 0043
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
If the SmartKey is removed from the ignition
lock or is in position 0, PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF indicator lamp 0043does not light up.
The Occupant Classification System (OCS)
categorizes the occupant on the front-
passenger seat using a weight sensor.
The front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-
ted automatically for certain weight catego-
ries.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
shows you the current status.
The system does not deactivate:
R the side impact air bag
R the window curtain air bag
R the Emergency Tensioning Devices
To be classified correctly, the front passenger
must sit:
R with the seat belt fastened correctly
R in a position that is as upright as possible
with their back against the seat backrest
R with their feet on the floor
The OCS weight sensor reading is affected if
the occupant's weight is transferred, e.g. by
leaning on the armrest.
If the front-passenger seat, the seat cover or the seat cushion are damaged, have the nec- Occupant safety
49Safety Z

essary repair work carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use seat accessories
that have been approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Both the driver and the front passenger
should always observe the PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator lamp as an indication of
whether or not the front passenger is posi-
tioned correctly. Observe also the air bag dis- play messages that can be displayed in the
instrument cluster (Y page 225).
If the driver's air bag deploys, this does not
mean that the front-passenger front air bag
will also deploy.
The OCS may have detected that the seat:
R is empty or occupied by the weight of a
typical child up to twelve months old,
seated in a child restraint system.
R is occupied by a small individual, such as a
young teenager or a small adult.
R is occupied by a child in a child restraint
system whose weight is greater than that of
a typical twelve month old child.
These are examples of when the OCS deacti- vates the front-passenger front air bag. Deac-
tivation takes place although the collision ful- fills the criteria for deploying the driver's air
bag.
For further information, see "Air bag display
messages" (Y page 225).
System self-test G
WARNING
If the 00730074indicator lamp does not illu-
minate, the system is not functioning. You
must contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center before seating any child on the front
passenger seat. G
WARNING
Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. a pillow), since it reduces the effectiveness of the OCS. The underside
and rear side child restraint system must be placed entirely on the seat cushion and the
backrest of the front-passenger seat back-
rest.
If necessary, adjust the tilt of the passenger
seat backrest.
An incorrectly mounted child seat could cause injuries to the child in case of an accident,
instead of increasing protection for the child.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for
installation of child restraint systems.
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
lights up:
R if you turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock
to position 1or 2
R if an adult is seated properly on the front-
passenger seat and the OCS classifies the
occupant as an adult
The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp
goes out again after approximately six sec-
onds.
If the seat is not occupied and the OCS
detects that the front-passenger seat is
empty, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indica- tor lamp will continue to light up. The
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp will
not go out.
For further information, see "Problems with
the Occupant Classification System"
(Y page 51). 50
Occupant safetySafety

Problems with the occupant classification system
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator
lights up and remains
on.
The person on the
front-passenger seat:
R
has the weight of a
typical adult
R has been determined
by the system not to
be a child The OCS is malfunctioning.
X Make sure that the front passenger is sitting in a correct, upright
position.
X Have the OCS checked as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display (Y page 225). G
WARNING
If the 00730074 indicator lamp illuminates and remains illuminated when the weight of a typical
adult or someone larger than a small individual has been detected on the passenger seat, do not allow any occupant to use the passenger seat until the system has been repaired. Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050 0050Solutions The PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF indicator
lamp does not light up
and/or stays on.
The front-passenger
seat is:
R unoccupied
R occupied with the
weight of a child up
to twelve months old
in a child restraint
system The OCS is malfunctioning.
X Make sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and the
child seat.
X Make sure that the backrest and base of the child restraint sys-
tem are resting securely on the front-passenger seat. If neces-
sary, adjust the position of the front-passenger seat.
X When installing the child restraint system, make sure that the
seat belt is tight. Do not pull the seat belt tight with the front-
passenger seat adjustment. This could result in the seat belt
being pulled too tightly.
X Check the installation of the child restraint system.
X Make sure that no objects are applying additional weight onto
the seat.
X If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains off, have
the OCS checked immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop. Do not transport a child on the front-passenger seat until the OCS has been repaired.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display (Y page 225). Occupant safety
51Safety Z

G
WARNING
If the 00730074 indicator lamp does not illuminate or remains out with the weight of a typical 12-
month-old child in a standard child restraint or less, or is unoccupied, on the front-passenger seat, do not transport a child on the front-passenger seat until the system has been repaired. Seat belts
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The seat belt does not offer the intended level of protection if the backrest is not in the
upright position. When braking or in the event
of an accident, you could slide underneath the
seat belt and sustain abdomen or neck inju-
ries, for example. This poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Adjust the seat properly before beginning
your journey. Always make sure that the seat
is in the upright position. G
WARNING
Seat belts cannot protect as intended, if:
R they are damaged, extremely dirty,
bleached or dyed
R the seat belt buckle is damaged or
extremely dirty
R the Emergency Tensioning Devices or the
belt anchorage has been modified.
Damage caused to seat belts in an accident
may not be visible, e.g. by splinters of glass.
Modified or damaged seat belts can tear or
fail, for example in the event of an accident.
Modified Emergency Tensioning Devices may
be deployed unintentionally or fail to be
deployed when required. There is an
increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Never modify seat belts, Emergency Tension-
ing Devices, seat belt anchorages and inertia
reels. Ensure that seat belts are not damaged or worn and are clean.
Only use seat belts that have been approved
for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in:
R all 50 states
R the U.S. territories
R the District of Columbia
R all Canadian provinces
Even where this is not required by law, all
vehicle occupants should correctly fasten
their seat belts before starting the journey.
i See "Children in the vehicle"
(Y page 56) for further information on
infants and children traveling in the vehicle
as well as on child restraint systems.
Proper use of the seat belts G
WARNING
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY
R Seat belts can only work when used prop-
erly. Never wear seat belts in any other way
than as described in this section, as that
could result in serious injuries in the event
of an accident.
R Each occupant should wear their seat belt
at all times, because seat belts help reduce
the likelihood of and potential severity of
injuries in accidents, including rollovers.
The integrated restraint system includes
SRS (driver front air bag, driver's side knee
bag, front-passenger front air bag, side
impact air bags, window curtain air bags for
the side windows), Emergency Tensioning
Devices, seat belt force limiters, and front
seat knee bolsters.
The system is designed to enhance the pro-
tection offered to properly belted occu-
pants in certain frontal (front air bags, driv-
er's side knee bag and ETDs) and side (side
impact air bags, window curtain air bags, 52
Occupant safetySafety