Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat
General notes Accident statistics show that children secured
in the rear seats are safer than children secured
in the front-passenger seat. For this reason,
Mercedes-Benz strongly advises that you install a child restraint system on a rear seat.
Vehicles with the automatic front-passenger
front airbag deactivation system: if it is abso-
lutely necessary to fit a child restraint system tothe front-passenger seat, always observe the
information on the "Automatic front-passenger
front airbag deactivation system" (Y page 51).
You can thus avoid the risks that could arise as
a result of:
R a child restraint system that is not detected
by the automatic front-passenger front airbag
deactivation system
R the unintentional disabling of the front-
passenger front airbag
R the unsuitable positioning of the child
restraint system, e.g. too close to the dash-
board Please observe the warning notice on the front-
passenger sun visor, see the illustration. G
WARNING
If you secure a child on the co-driver's seat in a rearward-facing child restraint system and
the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp
lights up, the co-driver's airbag could be
deployed in the event of an accident. The childcould be struck by the airbag. There is an
increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal. In this case, always ensure that the co-driver's
airbag is disabled. The PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF indicator lamp must light up.
NEVER use a rearward facing child restraint on a seat protected by an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of
it; DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILD can
occur.
If the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp is lit, the front-passenger front airbag is enabled
(Y page 44).
Vehicles without the automatic front-
passenger front airbag deactivation
system If the front-passenger seat of your vehicle is not
equipped with the automatic front-passenger
front airbag deactivation system, this is indica-
ted by a special sticker. The sticker is affixed to
the side of the dashboard on the front-
passenger side. The sticker is visible when you
open the front-passenger door.
If you turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps light
up briefly. However, they have no function and
do not indicate that there is an automatic front- passenger front airbag deactivation system.
In this case, never fit a rearward-facing child
restraint system on the front passenger seat
(Y page 63).
Observe the following information under "Rear-
ward-facing child restraint system" and
"Forward-facing child restraint system" as well
as information on the suitable positioning of the
child restraint system (Y page 63).62
Children in the vehicleSafety
Rearward-facing child restraint system
If it is absolutely necessary to fit a rearward-
facing child restraint system to the front-
passenger seat, always make sure that the
front-passenger front airbag is disabled. Only if
the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is
lit continuously (Y page 44)is the front-
passenger front airbag disabled.
Always observe the information on suitable
positioning of the child restraint system
(Y page 63) in addition to the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation and operat-
ing instructions.
Forward-facing child restraint system If it is absolutely necessary to fit a forward-
facing child restraint system to the front-
passenger seat, always move the front-
passenger seat as far back as possible. The
entire base of the child restraint system must
always rest on the seat cushion of the front-
passenger seat. The backrest of the child
restraint system must, as far as possible, lie flat
against the backrest of the front-passenger
seat. The child restraint system must not touch the roof or be put under strain by the head
restraint. Adjust the angle of the seat backrest
and the head restraint position accordingly.
Always make sure that the shoulder belt strap is
correctly routed from the vehicle belt outlet to
the shoulder belt guide on the child restraint
system. The shoulder belt strap must be routed forwards and downwards from the vehicle belt
outlet. If necessary, adjust the vehicle belt out-
let and the front-passenger seat accordingly.
Always observe the information on suitable
positioning of the child restraint system
(Y page 63) in addition to the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation and operat-
ing instructions. Suitable positioning of the child
restraint system
Introduction Only child restraint systems which are approved
in accordance with the ECE standard ECE R44
are permitted for use in the vehicle.
"Universal" category child restraint systems can
be recognised by their orange approval label and the text "Universal". Approval labels for child restraint systems in
accordance with ECE-R44 standards
"Universal" category child restraint systems can
be used on the seats indicated with U, UF or IUF according to the tables "Suitability of the seats
for attaching belt-secured child restraint sys-
tems" or "Suitability of the seats for attaching an
ISOFIX child restraint system".
Semi-universal child restraint systems are indi-
cated by the text "semi-universal" on the
approval label. These can be used if the vehicle and the seat are listed in the child restraint sys-
tem manufacturer's vehicle model list. For more
information, contact the child restraint system
manufacturer or visit their website.
Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat – if it is absolutely necessary to
secure a child in a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat:
X Always pay attention to the instructions under
"Child restraint system on the front-
passenger seat" (Y page 62).
There you will find instructions on how to cor- rectly route the shoulder belt strap from the
vehicle belt outlet to the shoulder belt guide
on the child restraint system (Y page 63).
X Move the front-passenger seat as far back as
possible.
X Move the backrest to an almost vertical posi-
tion.
The entire base of the child restraint system
must always rest on the seat cushion of the
front-passenger seat. The backrest of the
forward-facing child restraint system must, as far as possible, be resting on the backrest of
the front-passenger seat. The child restraint
system must not touch the roof or be put
under strain by the head restraint. Adjust the
angle of the seat backrest and the head
restraint position accordingly. Also observe Children in the vehicle
63Safety Z
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Front-passenger
Front-passenger
airbag airbag
disabled
disabled See
See
Owner's Manual
Owner's Manual The front-passenger front airbag is disabled during the journey
although:
R an adult
or
R a person of the corresponding stature is on the front-passenger seat
If additional forces are applied to the seat, the weight the system
detects may be too low.
G WARNING
The front-passenger front airbag does not deploy during an accident.
This poses an increased risk of injury.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 191).
X Switch the ignition off.
X Have the occupant on the front-passenger seat step out of the
vehicle.
X Make sure that the seat is unoccupied, close the front-passenger
door and switch on the ignition.
X Observe the PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamps in the centre
console and the multifunction display and check the following:
Seat unoccupied and ignition switched on:
R a self-diagnosis is carried out. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps must light up simulta-
neously for approximately six seconds
R the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp must then light up
and remain lit after the self-diagnosis. If the indicator lamp is on, the automatic front-passenger front airbag deactivation system
has disabled the front-passenger front airbag (Y page 51)
R the Front-passenger
Front-passenger airbag airbagenabled
enabled See
SeeOwner's
Owner's Manual
Manual
or Front-passenger
Front-passenger airbag
airbagdisabled
disabled See
SeeOwner's
Owner's Manual
Manual
display messages must not be shown in the multifunction display
X Wait for a period of at least 60 seconds until the necessary system
checks have been completed.
X Make sure that the display messages do not appear in the multi-
function display.
If these conditions are met, the front-passenger seat can be occupied again. Whether the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF or ON indicator lamp
remains lit or goes out depends on how the automatic front-passenger
front airbag deactivation system classifies the occupant.
If the conditions are not met, the system is not operating correctly.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Further information on the automatic front-passenger front airbag
deactivation feature (Y page 51). Display
messages
311On-board computer and displays Z
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Front-passenger
Front-passenger
airbag enabled See airbag enabled See
Owner's Manual Owner's Manual The front-passenger front airbag is enabled during the journey
although:
R a child, a small adult or an object weighing less than the system
weight threshold is located on the front-passenger seat
or
R the front-passenger seat is not occupied
The system may detect objects or forces that are adding to the weight
applied to the seat.
G WARNING
The airbag may deploy unintentionally.
This poses an increased risk of injury. X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 191).
X Switch the ignition off.
X Open the front-passenger door.
X Remove the child and the child restraint system from the front-
passenger seat.
X Make sure there are no objects applying additional force to the seat.
The system may otherwise detect the additional force and interpret the seat occupant's weight as greater than it actually is.
X Make sure that the seat is unoccupied, close the front-passenger
door and switch on the ignition.
X Observe the PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamps in the centre
console and the multifunction display and check the following:
Seat unoccupied and ignition switched on:
R a self-diagnosis is carried out. The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps must light up simulta-
neously for approximately six seconds
R the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp must then light up
and remain lit after the self-diagnosis. If the indicator lamp is on,
the automatic front-passenger front airbag deactivation system
has disabled the front-passenger front airbag (Y page 51)
R the Front-passenger Front-passenger airbag
airbagenabled
enabled See
SeeOwner's
Owner's Manual
Manual
or Front-passenger
Front-passenger airbag
airbagdisabled
disabled See
SeeOwner's
Owner's Manual
Manual
display messages must not be shown in the multifunction display
X Wait for a period of at least 60 seconds until the necessary system
checks have been completed.
X Make sure that the display messages do not appear in the multi-
function display.
If these conditions are met, the front-passenger seat can be occupied again. Whether the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF or ON indicator lamp
remains lit or goes out depends on how the automatic front-passenger
front airbag deactivation system classifies the occupant.
If the conditions are not met, the system is not operating correctly.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 312
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays