2016 SKODA SUPERB passenger airbag

Safety
Passive Safety
General information
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Before setting off
12
Driving safety
12
This section of the manual includes important information on the subject of
passive safety. We have combined everything here which you should be famili-
ar with, for example, regarding seat belts, airbags, safety of children and any-
thing similar.
Other important safety information can also be found in the following chapters
of this Owner´s Manual. The Owner´s Manual should therefore always be in
the vehicle.
Before setting off
For your own safety and the safety of the people travelling with you, please
pay attention to the following points before setting off.
▶ Check the function of the lighting and turn signal systems.
▶ Check the function of the wipers and check the wiper blades for wear. Check
the windscreen washer fluid level.
▶ Ensure that all of the windows offer good visibility to the outside.
▶ Adjust the rear-view mirror so that vision to the rear is guaranteed. Ensure
that the mirrors are not covered.
▶ Check the tyre inflation pressure.
▶ Check the engine oil, brake fluid and coolant level.
▶ Secure all items of luggage.
▶ Do not exceed the permissible axle loads and permissible gross weight of the
vehicle.
▶ Close all doors as well as the bonnet and boot lid.
▶ Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedals.
▶
Protect children by using a suitable child seat » page 22, Transporting chil-
dren safely .
▶ Adopt the correct seated position. Instruct your passengers to assume the
correct seated position » page 12, Correct and safe seated position .
Driving safety
In the interests of traffic safety, the following information must be observed. ▶ Do not become distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, (e.g. by
your passengers or mobile telephone calls).
▶ Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, (e.g. due to medication, al-
cohol or drugs).
▶ Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
▶ Always adjust the driving speed to the road, traffic and weather conditions.
▶ Take regular breaks on long journeys (at least every two hours).
Correct and safe seated position
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Driver’s correct seating position
13
Adjusting the steering wheel position
13
Correct seating position of the passenger
14
Correct seating position for the passengers in the rear seats
14
Always assume the correct seated position before setting off and do not
change this position while driving. Also advise your passengers to adopt the
correct seated position and not to change this position while the car is moving.
The following list contains instructions for the Passenger which, if not ob-
served, may cause serious injuries or death. ▶ Do not lean against the dash panel.
▶ Do not put your feet on the dash panel.
The following list contains instructions for all Passengers which, if not ob-
served, may cause serious injuries or death.
▶ Do not sit only on the front part of the seat.
▶ Do not sit facing to the side.
▶ Do not lean out of the window.
▶ Do not put your limbs out of the window.
▶ Do not put your feet on the seat cushion. 
12Safety

WARNING■The front seats and all head restraints must be adjusted to match the
body size at all times and the seat belt must always be fastened properly to
provide the most effective levels of protection to the passengers.■
Each occupant must correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to the seat.
Children must be fastened » page 22, Transporting children safely with a
suitable restraint system.
■
The seat backrests must not be tilted too far back when driving, as this
will impair the function of the seat belts and of the airbag system – risk of
injury!
WARNINGBy sitting incorrectly, the occupant is risking life-threatening injuries.
Driver’s correct seating position
Fig. 2
Correct seated position for the driver/correct steering wheel posi-
tion
Read and observe
on page 13 first.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident,
the following instructions must be observed.
Adjust the driver’s seat in the forward/back direction so that the pedals
can be fully depressed with slightly bent legs.
For vehicles equipped with driver knee airbags, adjust the driver's seat in a
forward/back direction so that there is a gap of at least 10 cm between the
legs and the dashboard in the vicinity of the knee airbag » Fig. 2 -
B
.
Adjust the seat backrest so that the highest point of the steering wheel
can be reached with your arms at a slight angle.
Adjust the steering wheel so that the distance between the steering
wheel and your chest is at least 25 cm » Fig. 2 - A.
Adjust the headrest so that the top edge of the headrest is at the same
level as the upper part of your head (not for seats with integrated headr-
ests) » Fig. 2 - C
.
Correctly fasten the seat belt » page 15, Using seat belts .
WARNING■
Maintain a distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel, and a dis-
tance of at least 10 cm between the legs and the dash panel at the height
of the knee airbag. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that
the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!■
When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the out-
er edge in the “9 o'clock” and “3 o'clock” position » Fig. 2. Never hold the
steering wheel in the “12 o'clock” position or in any other way (e.g. in the
middle, inner edge of the steering wheel or similar). Otherwise, in the event
of airbag deployment, you could suffer serious injury to the arms, hands
and head.
■
Ensure that no objects are located in the driver's footwell, as they could
lodge in the pedal system whilst driving. You would then no longer be able
to operate the clutch, brake or acceleration pedals.
Adjusting the steering wheel position
Fig. 3
Adjusting the steering wheel position
Read and observe
on page 13 first.
The height and forward/back position of the steering wheel can be adjusted.
›
Swing the safety lever under the steering wheel in the direction of arrow
1
» Fig. 3 . 

13Passive Safety

›Adjust the steering wheel to the desired position. The steering wheel can be
adjusted in direction of arrow 2.›
Pull the holder in arrow direction
3
until the stop.
WARNING■ Never adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving only when
the vehicle is stationary!■
The safety lever must always be locked after adjusting so that the steer-
ing wheel cannot accidentally change position – risk of accident!
Correct seating position of the passenger
Read and observe
on page 13 first.
For passenger safety and to reduce the risk of injury in an accident, the follow-
ing instructions must be observed.
Position the front passenger seat back as far as possible. The front pas-
senger must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the dash panel so
that the airbag offers the greatest possible safety if it is deployed.
Adjust the headrests so that the top edge of the headrest is at the same
level as the upper part of your head » Fig. 2 on page 13 -
C
(not for seats
with integrated headrests).
Correctly fasten the seat belt » page 15, Using seat belts .
WARNING■
Ensure a distance of at least 25 cm to the dashboard, otherwise the air-
bag system will not be able to protect you properly - risk of death!■
Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being driven – nev-
er place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the
surface of the seats! You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it be-
comes necessary to apply the brake or in the event of an accident. If an air-
bag is deployed, you could suffer fatal injuries by adopting an incorrect
seated position!
Correct seating position for the passengers in the rear seats
Read and observe
on page 13 first.
For passenger safety on the rear seats and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, the following information must be observed.
Adjust the headrests so that the top edge of the headrest is at the same
level as the upper part of the head » Fig. 2 on page 13 -
C
.
Correctly fasten the seat belt » page 15, Using seat belts .
14Safety

Airbag system
Description of the airbag system
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
System description
18
Airbag deployment
19
Safety instructions
19
As a supplement to the seat belts, the airbag system provides additional pas-
senger protection in the event of severe frontal and side collisions.
The best possible protective effect of the airbag can only be achieved if the
seat belts are applied properly. The airbag is not a substitute for the seat
belts .
The functional status of the airbag system is indicated by the warning light 
in the instrument cluster » page 37.
System description
Fig. 7
Installation locations of airbags
Airbag installation points » Fig. 7
Front airbags
Driver’s knee airbag
Front side airbags
ABCRear side airbags
Head airbags
Front airbags - The forward movement of the driver and of the front passen-
ger is cushioned when they make contact with the fully inflated airbag, and
the risk of injury to head and chest is thus reduced.
The front airbags are provided with the lettering 
on the steering wheel
and on the dashboard on the front passenger side.
Driver´s knee airbag - The forward movement of the body is cushioned when
it makes contact with the fully inflated airbag, and the risk of injury to the legs
of the driver is thus reduced.
The knee airbag is provided with the lettering  on the dashboard on the
driver's side.
Side airbags - The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunged into the
fully inflated airbag. The risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest, stomach
and pelvis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
The side air bags can be identified by a label with the lettering  marked on
the front seat backrests. The rear side airbags are provided with the lettering
 in between the entrance area and the rear seat backrest.
Head airbags - The forward movement of the body is cushioned when it
makes contact with the fully inflated airbag, and the risk of injury to head and
chest is thus reduced.
The head airbags are provided with the lettering  marked on the B-pillar
cladding.
Depending on the vehicle equipment, the airbag system consists of the
following parts. ▶ Individual airbags.
▶ Warning light  in the instrument cluster
» page 37.
▶ Key switch for the front passenger airbag » page 21.
▶ Warning light for the front passenger airbag in the middle of the dash panel
» page 21 .DE18Safety

Airbag deploymentFig. 8
Inflated airbags
The airbag system is only functional when the ignition is switched on.
When triggered, the airbag is filled with gas and unfolds. The inflation of the
airbag is carried out in a fraction of a second.
Upon inflation of the airbag, smoke is released. This is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
Triggering conditions
It is not possible to generally determine which deployment conditions apply to
the airbag system in every situation. Important here is the hardness of the ob-
ject on which the vehicle impacts, the impact angle, the vehicle speed, etc.
The deceleration plays an important role in the deployment of the airbags. If
the vehicle deceleration which occurs and is measured during the collision re-
mains below the prescribed reference values specified in the control unit, the
airbags are not deployed although the vehicle may well suffer severe damage
to the bodywork as a consequence of the accident.
The following airbags will be deployed in the event of a severe frontal
collision.
▶ Driver’s front airbag.
▶ Front passenger airbag.
▶ Driver’s knee airbag.
The following airbags will be deployed in the event of a severe side collision.
▶ Front side airbag.
▶ Rear side airbag.
▶ Head airbag.
When an airbag is deployed, the following events occur. ▶ The hazard warning lights are switched on.
▶ All doors are unlocked.
▶ The fuel supply to the engine is interrupted.
▶ The interior light comes on (if the automatic operation of the interior light is
switched on - switch 
).
When there is no air bag deployment?
With minor frontal and side collisions, rear collision, overturning of the vehicle
or vehicle roll-over there is no airbag deployment.
Safety instructions
Fig. 9
Safe distance from the steering
wheel and the dashboard
WARNINGGeneral information■The best possible protective effect of the seat belts and the airbag sys-
tem can only be achieved in the correct seated position » page 12 .■
The airbag develops considerable forces when triggered, which can lead
to serious injuries or even death if the correct seating position or seated
position is not observed. This applies in particular to children who are
transported without using a suitable child safety seat » page 24.
■
If there is a fault, have the airbag system checked immediately by a spe-
cialist garage. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being activated in
the event of an accident. 
19Airbag system

WARNING (Continued)■The airbag system must be replaced if it has been deployed.■In the area of the front airbag and the knee airbag, the surface of the
steering wheel and the dashboard should be cleaned using only a dry cloth
or one that has been dampened with water.WARNINGInformation about front airbags■For the driver and front passenger, it is important to maintain a distance
of at least 25 cm to the steering wheel or the panel » Fig. 9 - A
, If you do
not keep this distance, it means that the airbag system cannot not protect
you - there is a risk of injury! The front seats and the head restraints must
always also be correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occupant.
■
The front passenger airbag must be deactivated if using a rear-facing
child seat on the front passenger seat » page 21, Airbag deactivation . If
this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal
injuries if the front passenger airbag is deployed.
■
No other persons, animals or objects may be positioned in front of the oc-
cupants on the front seats in the deployment area of the front air bags.
■
The steering wheel and the surface of the dashboard on the front pas-
senger side must not have stickers attached, covered or modified in any
other way. No parts (e.g. cup holders, mobile telephone mounts etc.( should
be mounted in the vicinity of the airbag installation locations and in the air-
bag deployment area.
■
Never place objects on the surface of the dashboard on the front passen-
ger side.
WARNINGInformation about knee airbags■Adjust the driver's seat in a forward/back direction so that there is a gap
of at least 10 cm between the legs and the dashboard in the vicinity of the
knee airbag » Fig. 9 - B
. If it is not possible to meet this requirement due
to your body size, visit a specialist garage.
■
The surface of the airbag module in the lower part of the dash panel be-
low the steering column not have stickers attached, be covered or modified
in any other way. Nothing may be attached to the cover of the airbag mod-
ule or located within the immediate vicinity.
■
Do not attach any bulky and heavy objects (bunch of keys etc.) to the igni-
tion key. These can be ejected by the knee airbag when it is deployed and
can cause injuries.
WARNINGInformation about for side and head airbags■No objects (e.g. sun visors turned towards the windows) should be loca-
ted in the deployment area of the side and head airbags. No accessories
(e.g. cup holders etc.) should be fitted to the doors - risk of injury!■
Hang only light clothing on clothes hooks in the vehicle. Do not leave any
heavy or sharp objects in the pockets of the clothing. Do not use clothes
hangers to hang the clothing.
■
The airbag system operates using pressure sensors located in the front
doors. For this reason, no adjustments may be carried out to the doors or
door panels (e.g. installation of additional loudspeakers). Further informa-
tion » page 257 .
■
No excessive forces, such as knocks, kicks etc., should be exerted on the
seat backrests - there is a risk of damage to the side air bags. The side air-
bags would not be deployed in such a case!
■
Any seat or protective covers which you fit to the driver or front passen-
ger seats must only be of the type expressly authorized by ŠKODA. In view
of the fact that the airbag inflates out of the backrest of the seat, use of
non-approved seat or protective covers would considerably impair the pro-
tective function of the side airbag.
■
Have any damage to the original seat covers or stitching at the installa-
tion point of the side airbags repaired immediately by a specialist garage.
WARNINGInformation on the use of the airbag system■Any work on the airbag system including the installation and removal of
system components due to other repair work (e.g. removal of the seat)
must only be carried out by a specialist garage. Further information
» page 257 .■
No modifications should be made to parts of the airbag system, to the
front bumper or to the body.
■
Do not manipulate individual parts of the airbag system, as this might re-
sult in the airbag being deployed.
20Safety

Airbag deactivation
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Deactivating airbags
21
Deactivating the front passenger airbag
21
Deactivating airbags
The front passenger airbag can be switched off with the key-operated
switch » Fig. 10 on page 21 -
 .
We recommend that you ask a ŠKODA service partner to deactivate any other airbags.
The airbag deactivation is displayed by the warning light 
» page 37 .
Deactivating an airbag should be considered in cases such as the ones below. ▶ If a child seat must be used on the front passenger seat, where the child is
transported facing rearward » page 22.
▶ If it is not possible to maintain a distance of at least 25 cm between the mid-
dle of the steering wheel and chest, despite the driver's seat being correctly
adjusted.
▶ If special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because
of a physical disability.
▶ If different seats have been fitted (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side air-
bags).
WARNINGIf an airbag is deactivated upon the sale of the vehicle, the buyer must be
informed of this!Deactivating the front passenger airbagFig. 10
Key-operated switch for the front passenger airbag / warning
light for front passenger airbag
Switch positions » Fig. 10 -

The front passenger airbag is deactivated - after the ignition is switched
on, the indicator light » Fig. 10
illuminates -

The front passenger airbag is switched on - after switching on the ignition,
the warning light illuminates for 65 seconds 

Switch off
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Open the storage box on the front passenger's side.
›
Fold out the key bit completely» . With a KESSY key, remove the emergen-
cy key.
›
Carefully insert the key into the slot in the key switch as far as the stop.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch carefully into the position .
›
Pull the key out of the slot in the key switch
» .
›
Close the storage compartment on the front passenger side.
›
Check that the warning light

 illuminates after the ignition is switched
on.
Switching on
›
Switch off the ignition.
›
Open the storage compartment on the front passenger side.
›
Fold out the key bit completely» . With a KESSY key, remove the emergen-
cy key.
›
Carefully insert the key into the slot in the key switch as far as the stop.
›
Use the key to turn the slot of the key switch carefully into the position .
›
Pull the key out of the slot in the key switch
» .
›
Close the storage compartment on the front passenger side. 
21Airbag system

›Check that the warning light
  illuminates after the ignition is switched
on.WARNING■ The key cannot be inserted into the key switch while driving. Shocks can
cause the key to turn in the slot and trigger the airbag! The airbag can be
triggered unexpectedly in an accident - it may result in injury or death!■
The driver is responsible for whether the airbag is switched on or switch-
ed off.
■
Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off! Otherwise a
fault can occur in the system for deactivating the airbag.
■
If the warning lights 



flash, the front passenger airbag will not
be deployed in the event of an accident! Have the airbag system checked
by a specialist garage immediately.
CAUTION
An insufficiently folded out key bit can damage the key switch!Transporting children safely
Child seat
 Introduction
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident, children must be trans- ported in child seats!
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Use of a child seat on the front passenger seat (variant 1)
23
Use of a child seat on the front passenger seat (variant 2)
24
Use of a child seat on the front passenger seat (variant 3)
24
Child safety and the side airbag
24
Classification of child seats
25
Use of child safety seats which are secured using a seat belt
25
The information in this Owner´s Manual as well as the instructions of the child
seat manufacturer must be observed when installing and using the child seat.
For safety reasons, we recommend that you always transport child seats on
the rear seats. Children should be transported on the front passenger seat on-
ly in exceptional circumstances.
Child seats complying with the ECE-R 44 Economic Commission for Europe
standard must be used.
Child seats that comply with the ECE-R 44 standard are identified with a test
mark that cannot be removed: Large E in a circle, approval number underneath.
WARNING■ One should never carry children, and also not babies! - on one's lap.■When leaving the vehicle, do not leave children unattended in the vehicle.
They might not be capable of leaving the vehicle or helping themselves in-
dependently in the event of an emergency. Very high or low temperatures
can be fatal!■
The child must be secured in the vehicle during the entire journey! Other-
wise, the child would be thrown through the vehicle in the event of an acci-
dent, causing fatal injuries to both the child and other occupants. 
22Safety