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Fig. 48 Warning lamp in the instrument cluster
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
Lights up
or flashes
Possible causeAction
The driver seat belt and, if the front passenger seat is
occupied, the front passenger seat belt are not fastened.Fasten seat belts.
OR: there are objects on the front passenger seat.Remove objects from the front passenger seat and stow them
safely.
Several warning and indicator lamps will light up briefly as a functional check when the ignition is switched on. They will go out after a few
seconds.
A signal tone will be given for a few seconds if the seat belts are not fastened as the car pulls off and reaches a speed of more than
approximately 25 km/h (15 mph), or if the seat belts are unfastened while the vehicle is in motion. The warning lamp → Fig. 48 will also flash.
When the ignition is switched on, the warning lamp will not go out until the driver and front passenger fasten their seat belts.
Frontal collisions and the laws of physics
Fig. 49 Unbelted occupants in a vehicle heading for a brick wall
Incorrectly fastened or unfastened seat belts increase the risk of severe or fatal injuries. Seat belts will only offer the optimum level of protection
when they are fastened and used properly.
WARNING

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Fig. 52 The unbelted rear passenger is thrown forwards, hitting the belted driver
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
Many people believe that they can brace their weight with their hands in a minor collision. This is not true.
Even at low speeds, the forces acting on the body in a collision are so great that occupants cannot brace themselves with their arms and hands.
In a frontal collision, unbelted vehicle occupants are thrown forward and will make unchecked contact with parts of the vehicle interior, e.g. the
steering wheel, dash panel, or windscreen → Fig. 51 .
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts. When triggered, the airbags only provide additional protection. Airbags are not triggered
in all kinds of accidents. Even if the vehicle is equipped with an airbag system, all vehicle occupants, including the driver, must fasten their seat
belt and wear it correctly while the vehicle is in motion. This reduces the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event of an accident – regardless of
whether an airbag is fitted for the seat.
Each airbag can only be triggered once. To achieve best possible protection, seat belts must always be worn properly. This also ensures that
protection is provided in accidents in which the airbag is not triggered. Any vehicle occupants not wearing a seat belt can be thrown out of the
vehicle and sustain more severe or even fatal injuries as a result.
It is also important for the rear seat occupants to wear seat belts properly, as they could otherwise be thrown forwards violently in an accident.
Rear passengers who are not wearing seat belts endanger not only themselves and the driver, but also other people in the vehicle → Fig. 52 .
Seat belt protection
Fig. 53 Driver restrained by a properly positioned seat belt during a sudden braking manoeuvre
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction

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Check the condition of all seat belts regularly.
Keep the seat belts clean.
Never let any foreign bodies and liquids get on to the seat belt, the latch plate or into the slot for the seat belt buckle.
Do not trap or damage the seat belt and latch plate, for example when closing the door.
Never remove, modify or repair the seat belt or any part of the belt fixture system.
Always fasten the seat belt correctly before every journey and keep it fastened while the vehicle is in motion.
Correctly fastened seat belts can make a major difference. When fastened properly, seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting
positions and considerably reduce the kinetic energy in the event of an accident. Seat belts also help to prevent uncontrolled movements which
could lead to severe injuries. In addition, wearing seat belts properly reduces the risk of being thrown from the vehicle → Fig. 53 .
Passengers wearing seat belts correctly benefit greatly from the ability of the belts to reduce the kinetic energy. The front crumple zones and
other passive safety features (such as the airbag system) are also designed to reduce kinetic energy. The amount of energy generated will thus
decrease, thereby reducing the risk of injury.
The examples describe frontal collisions. Of course, properly worn seat belts substantially reduce the risk of injury in all other types of accidents.
This is why seat belts must be fastened before every trip – even if you are only planning to drive a very short distance. Make sure that all
passengers are also wearing their seat belts properly.
Accident statistics have shown properly worn seat belts to be an effective means of substantially reducing the risk of injury and improving the
chances of survival in a serious accident. Furthermore, properly worn seat belts improve the protection provided by airbags in the event of an
accident. This is why wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries.
Although the vehicle is equipped with airbags, the seat belts must be fastened and worn. For example, the front airbags will only be triggered in
certain types of frontal collision. The front airbags will not be triggered during minor frontal collisions, minor side collisions, rear collisions, rolls or
accidents in which the airbag trigger threshold in the control unit is not exceeded.
Therefore, always wear your seat belt and make sure that your passengers have fastened their seat belts properly before you drive off.
Using seat belts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
Checklist
Using seat belts → :
Twisted seat belt
If it is difficult to remove the seat belt from the belt guide, the seat belt may have become twisted if it was returned too quickly into the side trim:
Take hold of the latch plate then slowly and carefully pull out the seat belt.
Untwist the seat belt and guide it back slowly by hand.
Fasten the seat belt even if you are unable to undo the twist. However, the twist should not be in part of the seat belt that comes into direct
contact with the body. The twist should be corrected immediately by a qualified workshop.

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Fastening and unfastening seat belts
Fig. 54 Inserting the seat belt latch plate into the buckle
Fig. 55 Removing the latch plate from the buckle
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
If worn properly, seat belts hold the vehicle occupants in the correct sitting position during an accident or braking manoeuvre, providing maximum
protection → .
Fastening the seat belts
Fasten seat belts before every trip.
Always adjust the front seat and head restraint correctly → Adjusting the seat position .
Engage the rear seat backrests in an upright position → .
Take hold of the latch plate and pull it evenly across your chest and pelvis. Do not twist the belt in the process → .
Insert the latch plate securely into the buckle belonging to the occupied seat → Fig. 54 .
Pull on the seat belt to ensure that the latch plate is securely locked in the buckle.
Using seat belts incorrectly increases the risk of severe or fatal injuries.
Regularly check to see if the seat belt and its related parts are in perfect condition.
Always keep the seat belt clean.
Do not allow the belt webbing to become jammed, damaged or to rub on any sharp edges.
Always keep the latch plate and slot in the buckle free from foreign bodies and liquids.
WARNING

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Fig. 58 Next to the front seats: belt height adjuster
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
The seat belt height adjusters for the front seats can be used to adjust the position of the seat belt on the shoulder so that it can be fastened
properly:
Push the shoulder belt guide together in the direction of the arrows and hold → Fig. 58 .
Push the shoulder belt guide up or down so that the seat belt lies over the middle of the shoulder → Seat belt routing .
Let go of the shoulder belt guide.
Pull sharply on the seat belt to check whether the shoulder belt guide is engaged securely.
Automatic belt retractor, belt tensioner, belt tension limiter
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
The seat belts in the vehicle are part of the vehicle safety concept → Airbag system and include the following important functions:
Automatic belt retractor
The seat belts on the driver seat and front passenger seat, as well as those on the outer rear seats (and on the middle rear seat, depending on
the level of vehicle equipment), are fitted with an automatic belt retractor at the shoulder part of the seat belt. Full freedom of movement is made
possible when the shoulder belt is pulled slowly or when the vehicle is travelling at normal speeds. However, if the belt is pulled out quickly or
during sudden braking, during travel in mountains or bends and during acceleration, the automatic belt retractor is locked.
Belt tensioners
The seat belts for the front seat occupants are equipped with belt tensioners.
The belt tensioners are activated by sensors during severe frontal, side and rear collisions. They tighten the seat belts against the direction in
which they are pulled. Any slack in the seat belt is retracted, which can reduce the passenger's movement forwards or in the direction of the
impact. The belt tensioner works together with the airbag system. If the side airbags or the combined curtain airbags are not activated, the belt
tensioner will not be activated in the event that the vehicle rolls over.
A fine dust may be produced when the airbags are triggered. This is quite normal and does not mean that there is a fire in the vehicle.
Never adjust the seat belt height when the vehicle is in motion.
WARNING

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Fig. 59 In the upper section of the centre console: indicator lamp for disabled front passenger front airbag
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
Lit upLocationPossible causeAction
Instrument clusterFault in airbag and belt tensioner system.Go to a qualified workshop to have the system
checked immediately.
Upper section of the centre
console
Fault in the airbag system.Go to a qualified workshop to have the system
checked immediately.
Front passenger front airbag switched off.Check whether the airbag should stay switched
off.
Several warning and indicator lamps will light up briefly as a functional check when the ignition is switched on. They will go out after a few
seconds.
If the indicator lamp PASSENGER AIRBAG in the upper part centre console is not continuously lit or if it lights up together with the
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster when the front passenger front airbag is switched off, there may be a fault in the airbag system →
.
Description and function of the airbags
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings →Introduction
The airbags can protect vehicle occupants during frontal and side collisions by reducing their movement in the direction of the collision.
When an airbag is triggered, it is inflated by a gas generator. This causes the airbag covers to break, and the airbags inflate forcefully to cover
If there is a fault in the airbag system, the airbag may not trigger correctly, may not trigger at all or may trigger unexpectedly. This can cause
severe or fatal injuries.
The airbag system should be checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible.
Never fit a child seat to the front passenger seat or remove a child seat that is already fitted. The front passenger front airbag may trigger
during an accident in spite of the fault.
WARNING
To avoid damage to your vehicle, always observe the indicator lamps and associated warning texts.
NOTICE

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Fold the key bit of the vehicle key all the way out → Vehicle key set .
Insert the open key bit into the key switch in the stowage compartment → Fig. 62 to the second point of resistance. Around three quarters of
the key bit should be inserted in the key switch at this point → .
Turn the vehicle key, without applying force, to the position.
Remove the vehicle key from the key switch → and fold the key bit away.
Close the stowage compartment on the front passenger side.
When the ignition is switched on, the indicator lamp PASSENGER AIRBAG will light up steadily in the upper section of the centre
console → Indicator lamps .
Enabling the front passenger front airbag
Switch off the ignition.
Open the stowage compartment on the front passenger side.
Fold the key bit of the vehicle key all the way out → Vehicle key set .
Insert the open key bit into the key switch in the stowage compartment → Fig. 62 to the second point of resistance. Around three quarters of
the key bit should be inserted in the key switch at this point → .
Turn the vehicle key, without applying force, to the position.
Remove the vehicle key from the key switch → and fold the key bit away.
Close the stowage compartment on the front passenger side.
Check that the PASSENGER AIRBAG indicator lamp in the upper section of the centre console does not light up when the
ignition is switched on → Indicator lamps .
Ensuring that the front passenger front airbag has been deactivated
The only sure sign that the front passenger front airbag has been deactivated is when the PASSENGER AIRBAG indicator lamp is
displayed in the upper section of the centre console ( lights up yellow steadily) → Indicator lamps .
If the indicator lamp PASSENGER AIR BAG in the upper section of the centre console is not lit up steadily, or if it lights up at the
same time as indicator lamp in the instrument cluster, do not attach any child restraint system to the front passenger seat for safety reasons.
The front passenger front airbag may trigger during an accident.
Do not leave the vehicle key in the key switch while driving.
Strong vibration may cause the vehicle key to turn in the key switch, which could cause the front passenger front airbag to be activated.
Untimely inflation of the front passenger front airbag could lead to serious or fatal injuries.
WARNING