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Occupant safety
Safety is Volvo's cornerstone.
Volvo's concern for safetyOur concern for safety dates back to 1927 when the first Volvo rolled off the productionline. Three-point seat belts (a Volvo inven-tion), safety cages, and energy-absorbingimpact zones were designed into Volvo vehi-cles long before it was fashionable orrequired by government regulation. We will not compromise our commitment to safety. We continue to seek out new safetyfeatures and to refine those already in ourvehicles. You can help. We would appreciatehearing your suggestions about improvingautomobile safety. We also want to know ifyou ever have a safety concern with yourvehicle. Call us in the U.S. at:1-800-458-1552 or in Canada at:1-800-663-8255.
Occupant safety remindersHow safely you drive doesn't depend on how old you are but rather on:• How well you see.
• Your ability to concentrate.
• How quickly you make decisions under stress to avoid an accident.
The following suggestions are intended to help you cope with the ever changing trafficenvironment. •
Never drink and drive.
• If you are taking any medication, consult your physician about its potential effectson your driving abilities.
• Take a driver-retraining course.
• Have your eyes checked regularly.
• Keep your windshield and headlightsclean.
• Replace wiper blades when they start toleave streaks.
• Take into account the traffic, road, andweather conditions, particularly withregard to stopping distance.
• Never send text messages while driving.
• Refrain from using or minimize the use ofa cell phone while driving.
Related information
•Recall information (p. 26)
• Reporting safety defects (p. 27)
Recall information
Information regarding recalls or other service campaigns is available on our website atwww.volvocars.com/us/. On our website, select the tab YOUR VOLVO and the heading RECALL INFORMATION willbe displayed at the lower left side of thescreen. Enter your Vehicle Identification Num-ber for your vehicle (found at the base of thewindshield). If your vehicle has any openRecalls, they will be displayed on this page.
Volvo customers in CanadaFor any questions regarding open recalls for your vehicle, please contact your authorizedVolvo retailer. If your retailer is unable toanswer your questions, please contact VolvoCustomer Relations at 905 695-9626, Mon-day through Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.EST or by e-mail at [email protected] may also write us at: Volvo Cars of CanadaNational Customer Service9130 Leslie Street, Suite 101Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 0B9
Related information
• Occupant safety (p. 26)
• Reporting safety defects (p. 27)
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Seat belt reminder
The seat belt reminder is intended to alert all occupants of the vehicle that their seat beltsshould be fastened before the vehicle beginsto move.
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Seat belt reminder light in ceiling consoleThe seat belt reminder consists of an audible signal, an indicator light near the rearviewmirror and a symbol in the instrument panelthat alert all occupants of the vehicle to fas-ten their seat belts (p. 28). The audible signaland indicator light will be on for several sec-onds from the time the ignition is switchedon, regardless of whether or not the seat
belts are fastened. If the front seat belts are unbuckled while the vehicle is in motion, the audible signal andwarning light will be active for a several sec-onds.
Rear seatsThe seat belt reminder in the rear seat hastwo additional functions:
• It provides information about which seat belts are fastened in the rear seat. A mes-sage will appear in the information displaywhen a belt is being used. This messagewill disappear after several seconds orcan be erased by pressing the
OK button
on the left steering wheel lever.
• It also provides a reminder if one of theoccupants of the rear seat has unbuckledhis/her seat belt while the vehicle is inmotion. A visual and audible signal will begiven. These signals will stop when theseat belt has been re-buckled or can bestopped by pressing the
OK button.
• The message
Unbelted in rear seat will
appear in the information display if one of the rear doors has been opened.
The message in the information display can always be accessed, even if it has beenerased, by pressing the OK button to display
stored messages.
Related information
• Seat belts – pregnancy (p. 30)
Seat belts – pregnancy
The seat belt should always be worn during pregnancy. However, it is crucial that it beworn correctly.
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The diagonal section should wrap over the shoulder then be routed between the breastsand to the side of the belly. The lap sectionshould lay flat over the thighs and as low aspossible under the belly. It must never beallowed to ride upward. Remove all slackfrom the belt and ensure that it fits close tothe body without any twists. As a pregnancy progresses, pregnant drivers should adjust their seats and steering wheelsuch that they can easily maintain control ofthe vehicle as they drive (which means theymust be able to easily operate the foot pedalsand steering wheel). Within this context, theyshould strive to position the seat with as large
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.31
a distance as possible between their belly and the steering wheel.
Related information
•
Seat belts – buckling/unbuckling (p. 29)
• Seat belt reminder (p. 30)
• Child restraints (p. 47)
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
As an enhancement to the three-point seat belts (p. 28), your Volvo is equipped with aSupplemental Restraint System (SRS).
Models with an analog instrument panel
Models with an digital instrument panel*
Volvo's SRS consists of seat belt pretension- ers, front airbags (p. 32), side impact air- bags (p. 39), a front passenger occupantweight sensor (p. 36), and inflatable cur-tains (p. 41). All of these systems are moni-tored by the SRS control module. An SRSwarning light in the instrument panel (see theillustration) illuminates when the ignition is inmodes
I or II, and will normally go out after
approximately 6 seconds if no faults aredetected in the system. Where applicable, a text message will also be displayed when the SRS warning light illumi-nates. If this warning symbol is not function-ing properly, the general warning symbol illu-minates and a text message will be displayed. See also Information displays – indicator symbols (p. 72) and Information displays –warning symbols (p. 74) for more informa-tion about indicator and warning lights.
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WARNING
•If the SRS warning light stays on after the engine has started or if it illumi-nates while you are driving, have thevehicle inspected by a trained andqualified Volvo service technician assoon as possible.
• Never try to repair any component orpart of the SRS yourself. Any interfer-ence in the system could cause mal-function and serious injury. All work onthese systems should be performed bya trained and qualified Volvo servicetechnician.
WARNING
If your vehicle has become flood-damaged in any way (e.g., soaked carpeting/stand-ing water on the floor of the vehicle), donot attempt to start the vehicle or insertthe remote key into the ignition slot beforedisconnecting the battery (see below). Thismay cause airbag deployment which couldresult in serious injury. Have the vehicletowed to a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician for repairs. Before attempting to tow the vehicle:
1. Switch off the ignition for at least
10 minutes and disconnect the bat- tery.
2. Follow the instructions for manually overriding the shiftlock system Trans-mission – shiftlock override (p. 255).
Related information
• Crash mode – general information (p. 44)
Front airbags
The front airbags supplement the three-point seat belts (p. 28). For these airbags to providethe protection intended, seat belts must beworn at all times.
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The front airbag systemThe front airbag system includes gas genera- tors surrounded by the airbags, and decelera-tion sensors that activate the gas generators,causing the airbags to be inflated with nitro-gen gas.
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Occupant Weight Sensor
The Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) is designed to meet the regulatory requirementsof Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard(FMVSS) 208 and is designed to disable (willnot inflate) the passenger's side front airbagunder certain conditions.
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Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) indicator light
Disabling the passenger's side frontairbag
Volvo recommends that ALL occupants (adults and children) shorter than 4 feet7 inches (140 cm) be seated in the back seatof any vehicle with a front passenger side air-bag (p. 32), and be properly restrained fortheir size and weight. For child safety recom-mendations, see Child safety (p. 45). The OWS works with sensors that are part of the front passenger's seat and seatbelt (p. 28). The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly seatedoccupant and determine if the passenger'sside front airbag should be enabled (mayinflate) or disabled (will not inflate). The OWS will disable (will not inflate) the pas- senger's side front airbag when:
• the front passenger's seat is unoccupied, or has small/medium objects in the frontseat,
• the system determines that an infant ispresent in a rear-facing infant seat that isinstalled according to the manufacturer'sinstructions,
• the system determines that a small childis present in a forward-facing childrestraint that is installed according to themanufacturer's instructions,
• the system determines that a small childis present in a booster seat,
• a front passenger takes his/her weight offof the seat for a period of time,
• a child or a small person occupies thefront passenger's seat.
The OWS uses a PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp which will illuminate and stayon to remind you that the passenger's sidefront airbag is disabled. The PASSENGERAIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is located in theoverhead console, near the base of the rear-view mirror.
NOTE
When the ignition is switched on, the OWS indicator light will go on for up to 10 sec-onds while the system performs a self-diagnostic test.
However, if a fault is detected in the system:
• The OWS indicator light will stay on
• The SRS warning light (p. 31) will come on and stay on
• The message
Pass. Airbag OFF Service
urgent will be displayed in the informa-
tion display.
WARNING
If a fault in the system is detected and indicated as described, be aware that thepassenger's side front airbag will notdeploy in the event of a collision. In thiscase, the SRS system and OccupantWeight Sensor should be inspected by atrained and qualified Volvo service techni-cian as soon as possible.
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WARNING
•Never try to open, remove, or repair any components in the OWS system.This could result in system malfunc-tion. Maintenance or repairs shouldonly be carried out by an a trained andqualified Volvo service technician.
• The front passenger's seat should notbe modified in any way. This couldreduce pressure on the seat cushion,which might interfere with the OWSsystem's function.
Passeng- er's seatoccu-pancy sta-tusOWS indicatorlight sta-tusPasseng- er's sidefront air-bag status
Seat unoc- cupiedOWS indi- cator lightlights up.Passenger's side front air-bag disabled
Seat occu- pied by lowweightoccupant/ object AOWS indi- cator lightlights upPassenger's side front air-bag disabled
Seat occu- pied byheavy occu-pant/objectOWS indi- cator lightis
not litPassenger's side front air-bag enabled
A
Volvo recommends that children always be properly restrained in appropriate child restraints in the rear seats.Do not assume that the passenger's side front airbag isdisabled unless the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicatorlamp is lit. Make sure the child restraint is properly instal-led. If there is any doubt as to the status of the passeng-er's side front airbag, move the child restraint to the rearseat.
The OWS is designed to enable (may inflate) the passenger's side front airbag in the eventof a collision anytime the system senses thata person of adult size is sitting properly in thefront passenger's seat. The PASSENGERAIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will be off andremain off. If a person of adult size is sitting in the frontpassenger's seat, but the PASSENGER AIR-BAG OFF indicator lamp is on, it is possiblethat the person isn't sitting properly in theseat. If this happens:
• Turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in an upright position.
• Have the person sit upright in the seat,centered on the seat cushion, with theperson's legs comfortably extended.
• Restart the vehicle and have the personremain in this position for about twominutes. This will allow the system todetect that person and enable the pas-senger's frontal airbag.
• If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indica-tor lamp remains on even after this, theperson should be advised to ride in therear seat.
This condition reflects limitations of the OWS classification capability. It does not indicateOWS malfunction.
ModificationsIf you are considering modifying your vehiclein any way to accommodate a disability, forexample by altering or adapting the driver'sor front passenger's seat(s) and/or airbagsystems, please contact Volvo at: In the USA Volvo Cars of North America, LLC Customer Care Center
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Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
The WHIPS system consists of specially designed hinges and brackets on the frontseat backrests designed to help absorb someof the energy generated in a collision from therear (when the vehicle is rear-ended).
In the event of a rear-end collision, the hinges and brackets of the front seat backrests aredesigned to change position slightly to allowthe backrest/head restraint to help supportthe occupant's head before moving slightlyrearward. This movement helps absorb someof the forces that could result in whiplash.
WARNING
•
The WHIPS system is designed to supplement the other safety systemsin your vehicle. For this system tofunction properly, the three-point seatbelt must be worn. Please be awarethat no system can prevent all possibleinjuries that may occur in an accident.
• The WHIPS system is designed tofunction in certain collisions from therear, depending on the crash severity,angle and speed.
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.61
WARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur Follow all instructions on the booster cushion and in the vehi-cle's owner's manual. MAKE SURE THE BOOSTER CUSHION IS SECURELYLOCKED BEFORE THE CHILD ISSEATED. • Use this booster cushion only with children whose height and weight arewithin the permitted limits shown inthe table (Integrated booster cushion –general information (p. 57)).
• In the event of a collision while theintegrated booster cushion was occu-pied, the entire booster cushion andseat belt must be replaced. Thebooster cushion should also bereplaced if it is badly worn or damagedin any way. This work should be per-formed by a trained and qualifiedVolvo service technician only.
Related information
•
Integrated booster cushion – using (p. 59)
Child safety locks
Power child safety locks* help prevent chil- dren from inadvertently opening one of therear doors or windows from inside the vehicle.
Manual child safety locks
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Child safety locks – rear doorsThe controls are located on the rear door jambs. Use the remote control's key blade ora screwdriver to adjust these controls.
The rear doors can only be opened from the outside when the slot is in the hori-zontal position.
The rear doors can be opened from the inside when the slot is in the vertical posi-tion.
Power child safety locks and
disengaging rear door windows*
Driver's door control panel
The power child safety locks can be acti- vated/deactivated when the remote key is inmode I (p. 79) or higher. Activation/deacti-
vation can be done up to 2 minutes after theengine has been switched off (if no door hasbeen opened). To activate the child safety locks:
1. Put the ignition in mode I or higher, or
start the engine.
2. Press the button on the driver's door con- trol panel (see the illustration). >
Rear child locks Activated will be
displayed in the instrument panel and the indicator light in the button will illu-minate when the function is activated.
When the child safety locks are activated: