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Occupant safety reminders
How 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 traffic environ-ment.
• Never drink and drive.
• If you are taking any medication, consult your physician about its potential effects on yourdriving abilities.
• Take a driver-retraining course.
• Have your eyes checked regularly.
• Keep your windshield and headlights clean.
• Replace wiper blades when they start toleave streaks.
• Take into account the traffic, road, andweather conditions, particularly with regard tostopping distance.
• Never send text messages while driving.
• Refrain from using or minimize the use of acell phone while driving.
Related information
• Recall information (p. 62)
• Reporting safety defects (p. 61)
Reporting safety defects
The following information will help you report any perceived safety-related defects in your vehicle.
Reporting safety defects in the U.S.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash orcould cause injury or death, you shouldimmediately inform the National High-way Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) in addition to notifying VolvoCars of North America, LLC. If NHTSAreceives similar complaints, it may openan investigation, and if it finds that asafety defect exists in a group of vehi-cles, it may order a recall and remedycampaign. However, NHTSA cannotbecome involved in individual problemsbetween you, your retailer, or VolvoCars of North America, LLC. To contactNHTSA, you may either call the AutoSafety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236(TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transpor-tation, Washington D.C. 20590. You can also obtain other informationabout motor vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov, where you can alsoenter your vehicle's VIN (Vehicle Identi-fication Number) to see if it has anyopen recalls. Volvo strongly recommends that if your vehicle is covered under a service cam-paign, safety or emission recall or simi-lar action, it should be completed assoon as possible. Please check withyour local retailer or Volvo Cars ofNorth America, LLC if your vehicle iscovered under these conditions. NHTSA can be reached at:Internet:http://www.nhtsa.govTelephone:1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Reporting safety defects in CanadaIf you believe your vehicle has a defect that could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, youshould immediately inform Transport Canada inaddition to notifying Volvo Cars of Canada Corp.

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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.63
Related information
•Buckling and unbuckling seat belts (p. 65)
• Adjusting power front seats
* (p. 163)
• Manually operated front seats (p. 162)
Whiplash protection system
The Whiplash protection system (WHIPS) con- sists of specially designed hinges and bracketson the front seat backrests designed to helpabsorb some of the energy generated in a colli-sion from the rear (when the vehicle is rear-ended).
FunctionIn the event of certain rear-end collisions, the hinges and brackets of the front seat backrestsare designed to change position slightly to allowthe backrest/head restraint to help support theoccupant's head before moving slightly rearward.This movement helps absorb some of the forcesthat could result in whiplash.
WARNING
• The WHIPS system is designed to sup- plement the other safety systems in yourvehicle. For this system to function prop-erly, the three-point seat belt must beworn. Please be aware that no systemcan prevent all possible injuries that mayoccur in an accident.
• The WHIPS system is designed to func-tion in certain collisions from the rear,depending on the crash severity, angleand speed.
WARNING
•
Occupants in the front seats must never sit out of position. The occupant's backmust be as upright as comfort allows andbe against the seat back with the seatbelt properly fastened.
• If your vehicle has been involved in a rear-end collision, the front seat backrestsmust be inspected by a trained and quali-fied Volvo service technician, even if theseats appear to be undamaged. Certaincomponents in the WHIPS system mayneed to be replaced.
• Do not attempt to service any componentin the WHIPS system yourself.
WARNING
•Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front seats could impede the function ofthe WHIPS system.
• If the rear seat backrests are foldeddown, cargo must be secured to preventit from sliding forward against the frontseat backrests in the event of a collisionfrom the rear. This could interfere withthe action of the WHIPS system.

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Do not place any objects behind the front seats that could impede the WHIPS function
WARNING
Any contact between the front seat backrests and the folded rear seat or a rear-facing childseat could impede the function of the WHIPSsystem. If the rear seat is folded down, theoccupied front seats must be adjusted for-ward so that they do not touch the folded rearseat.
Related information
• General safety information (p. 60)
• Rear Collision Warning (RCW) (p. 292)
• Manually operated front seats (p. 162)
• Power front seats
* (p. 163)
Seat belts
Seat belts should always be worn by all occu- pants of your vehicle. Children should be prop-erly restrained, using an infant, car, or boosterseat determined by age, weight and height.
Most states and provinces make it mandatory for occupants of a vehicle to use seat belts.
Reversible seat belt pretensionersReversible seat belt pretensioners is a system inthe front seats that pulls the seat belts slightlytaut prior to a collision. This function helps posi-tion the front seat occupants to help improve theeffects of other safety systems, e.g., the airbagsystem.
Seat belt maintenanceCheck periodically that the seat belts are in goodcondition. Use water and a mild detergent forcleaning. Check seat belt mechanism function asfollows: attach the seat belt and pull rapidly onthe strap.
WARNING
• Never repair the belt yourself; have this work done by a trained and qualifiedVolvo service technician only.
• Any device used to induce slack into theshoulder belt portion of the three-pointbelt system will have a detrimental effecton the amount of protection available toyou in the event of a collision.
• The seat back should not be tilted too farback. The shoulder belt must be taut inorder to function properly.
• Do not use child safety seats or childbooster cushions/backrests in the frontpassenger's seat. We also recommendthat children who have outgrown thesedevices sit in the rear seat with the seatbelt properly fastened.
Related information
• Buckling and unbuckling seat belts (p. 65)
• Door and seat belt reminders (p. 67)
• Seat belt pretensioners (p. 65)

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Seat belt pretensioners The vehicle's seat belts are equipped with stand- ard and electric pretensioners that can help pullthe seat belts taut in a critical situation or a colli-sion. Some or all of the pretensioners will betriggered in certain types of collisions, depend-ing on the direction and severity of the impact.
Reversible seat belt pretensionersReversible seat belt pretensioners is a system in the front seats that pulls the seat belts slightlytaut prior to a collision. This function helps posi-tion the front seat occupants to help improve theeffects of other safety systems, e.g., the airbagsystem.
Seat belt pretensioners in collisionsThe seat belts are equipped with standard pre-tensioners that are triggered according to theseverity of a collision.
Seat belt pretensioners in critical
situations
In addition to the standard pretensioners, theseat belts in the front seats are also equippedwith electric pretensioners. The pretensioners interact and can be triggered along with the City Safety and Rear CollisionWarning systems. In critical situations such assudden braking, evasive maneuvers, etc., the seatbelt can be pulled taut by the pretensioner'selectric motor. The electric pretensioner positions the occupantin the seat to help reduce the risk of striking theinterior of the passenger compartment andimproves the effect of other safety systems suchas the airbags.
Resetting the electric pretensioners
When a critical situation has passed, the seat belt and the electric pretensioner are reset automati-cally. If the seat belt should remain taut:
1. Stop the vehicle safely.
2. Unbuckle the seat belt and rebuckle it.
> The seat belt and the electric preten-sioner will be reset.
Related information
• Seat belts (p. 64)
• Door and seat belt reminders (p. 67)
• Buckling and unbuckling seat belts (p. 65)
Buckling and unbuckling seat belts
Seat belts should be used by all occupants in the vehicle when it is in motion.
Buckling a seat belt1. Pull the belt out slowly. It should not be twis- ted or turned.
NOTE
Each seat belt is equipped with a seat belt retractor that will lock up in the following sit-uations:
• if the belt is pulled out rapidly
• during braking and acceleration
• if the vehicle is leaning excessively
• when driving in turns
• if the Automatic Locking Retractor/Emer- gency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) isactivated (each seat belt (except for thedriver's belt) is equipped with theALR/ELR function, which is designed tohelp keep the seat belt taut. ALR/ELRactivates if the seat belt is pulled out as faras possible. If this is done, a sound fromthe seat belt retractor will be audible,which is normal, and the seat belt will bepulled taut and locked in place. This func-tion is automatically disabled when theseat belt is unbuckled and fully retracted).

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Seat belt reminder
Seat belt reminder light in ceiling console
The seat belt reminder consists of an audible signal, an indicator light nearthe rearview mirror and a symbol in theinstrument panel that alert all occu-
pants of the vehicle to buckle their seat belts.
The audible signal is speed-dependent and will sound for several seconds. If the driver's or a passenger's seat belt is not buckled, this will be indicated in the instrumentpanel. Child seats are not included in the seat belt reminder system.
Front seats
An audible signal and an indicator light will remind the driver and front seat passenger tobuckle their seat belts.
Rear seats
The rear seat belt reminder has two functions.
• It indicates which seat belts are buckled in the rear seats. This will also be displayed inan instrument panel graphic.
• It also provides audio and visual reminders ifa rear seat belt is unbuckled while the vehi-cle is in motion. The reminders will disappearwhen the seat belt has been buckled again or can be erased by pressing the
O button
on the steering wheel keypad.
Door/hood/tailgate/fuel filler door
reminder
If a door, the hood, tailgate or fuel filler door is/are not properly closed, this will be indicated ina graphic in the instrument panel. Stop the vehi-cle safely and close the source of the reminder.
If the vehicle is moving at a speedunder approx.6 mph (10 km/h), theinformation symbol will illuminate in theinstrument panel.
At speeds above approx. 6 mph (10 km/h), the warning symbol will illu-minate in the instrument panel.
Related information
•Seat belts (p. 64)
• Buckling and unbuckling seat belts (p. 65)
Child safety
Children should always be seated safely when traveling in the vehicle.
General informationVolvo recommends the proper use of restraint systems for all occupants including children.Remember that, regardless of age and size, achild should always be properly restrained in avehicle. Your vehicle is also equipped with ISOFIX/ LATCH attachments, which make it more conven-ient to install child seats. Some restraint systems for children are designed to be secured in the vehicle by lap belts or thelap portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Such childrestraint systems can help protect children invehicles in the event of an accident only if theyare used properly. However, children could beendangered in a crash if the child restraints arenot properly secured in the vehicle. Failure to fol-low the installation instructions for your childrestraint can result in your child striking the vehi-cle's interior in a sudden stop. Holding a child in your arms is NOT a suitable substitute for a child restraint system. In an acci-dent, a child held in a person's arms can becrushed between the vehicle's interior and anunrestrained person. The child could also beinjured by striking the interior, or by being ejectedfrom the vehicle during a sudden maneuver or

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WARNING
DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY can occur Follow all instructions on the booster cushion and in the vehicle's owner'smanual. MAKE SURE THE BOOSTER CUSHION IS SECURELY LOCKEDBEFORE THE CHILD IS SEATED. • Use this booster cushion only with chil- dren whose height and weight are withinthe permitted limits.
• In the event of a collision while the inte-grated booster cushion was occupied, theentire booster cushion and seat belt mustbe replaced. The booster cushion shouldalso be replaced if it is badly worn ordamaged in any way. This work should beperformed by a trained and qualifiedVolvo service technician only.
Related information
•
Integrated booster cushion
* (p. 81)
• Raising the integrated booster cushion
*
(p. 82)
Occupant weight sensor
The Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) is designed to meet the regulatory requirements ofFederal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)208 and is designed to disable (will not inflate)the passenger's side front airbag under certainconditions.
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) indicator light
Disabling the passenger's side front airbag
Volvo recommends that ALL occupants (adults and children) shorter than 4 feet 7 inches(140 cm) be seated in the back seat of any vehi-cle with a front passenger side airbag and beproperly restrained for their size and weight. The OWS works with sensors that are part of the front passenger's seat and seat belt. The sensorsare designed to detect the presence of a properly seated occupant and determine if the passeng-er's side 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 front seat,
• the system determines that an infant is pres-ent in a rear-facing infant seat that is instal-led according to the manufacturer's instruc-tions,
• the system determines that a small child ispresent in a forward-facing child restraintthat is installed according to the manufactur-er's instructions,
• the system determines that a small child ispresent in a booster seat,
• a front passenger takes his/her weight off ofthe seat for a period of time,
• a child or a small person occupies the frontpassenger's seat.
The OWS uses a PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp which will illuminate and stay on toremind you that the passenger's side front airbagis disabled. The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indi-cator lamp is located in the overhead console,near the base of the rearview mirror.

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NOTE
When the ignition is switched on, the OWS indicator light will illuminate for several sec-onds while the system performs a self-diag-nostic test.
However, if a fault is detected in the system:
• The OWS indicator light will stay on
• The SRS warning light will come on and stay on and a text message will be displayed.
WARNING
If a fault in the system is detected and indi- cated as described, be aware that the pas-senger's side front airbag will not deploy inthe event of a collision. In this case, the SRSsystem and Occupant Weight Sensor shouldbe inspected by a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician as soon as possible.
WARNING
•
Never try to open, remove, or repair any components in the OWS system. Thiscould result in system malfunction. Main-tenance or repairs should only be carriedout by an a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician.
• The front passenger's seat should not bemodified in any way. This could reducepressure on the seat cushion, whichmight interfere with the OWS system'sfunction.
Passenger's seat occu-pancy statusOWS indi- cator lightstatusPassenger's side front air-bag status
Seat unoccu- piedOWS indi- cator lightlights up.Passenger's side front air-bag disabled
Seat occu- pied by lowweight occu- pant/object AOWS indi- cator lightlights upPassenger's side front air-bag disabled
Seat occu- pied by heavyoccupant/objectOWS indi- cator light is 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 is disabled unless thePASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is lit. Make sure thechild restraint is properly installed. If there is any doubt as to thestatus of the passenger's side front airbag, move the childrestraint to the rear seat.
The OWS is designed to enable (may inflate) the passenger's side front airbag in the event of acollision anytime the system senses that a per-son of adult size is sitting properly in the frontpassenger's seat. The PASSENGER AIRBAGOFF indicator lamp will be off and remain off. If a person of adult size is sitting in the front pas- senger's seat, but the PASSENGER AIRBAGOFF indicator lamp is on, it is possible that theperson isn't sitting properly in the seat. If thishappens:
• Turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in an upright position.
• Have the person sit upright in the seat, cen-tered on the seat cushion, with the person'slegs comfortably extended.
• Restart the vehicle and have the personremain in this position for about two minutes.This will allow the system to detect that per-son and enable the passenger's frontal air-bag.
• If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicatorlamp remains on even after this, the personshould be advised to ride in the rear seat.
This condition reflects limitations of the OWS classification capability. It does not indicate OWSmalfunction.

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Airbag system As an enhancement to the three-point seat belts, your vehicle is equipped with an airbag system.
WARNING
•If the airbag warning light stays on after the engine has started or if it illuminateswhile you are driving, have the vehicleinspected by a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician as soon as possible.
• Never try to repair any component or partof the airbag systems yourself. Any inter-ference in the system could cause mal-function and serious injury. All work onthese systems should be performed by atrained and qualified Volvo service techni-cian.
WARNING
If your vehicle has become flood-damaged in any way (e.g., soaked carpeting/standingwater on the floor of the vehicle), do notattempt to start the vehicle. This may causeairbag deployment which could result in seri-ous injury. Have the vehicle towed to a trainedand qualified Volvo service technician forrepairs. Before attempting to tow the vehicle:
1. Switch off the ignition for at least
10 minutes and disconnect the battery.
2. Follow the instructions for manually over- riding the shiftlock system.
Deployed airbags
WARNING
If any of the airbags have deployed:
• Do not attempt to drive the vehicle. Have it towed to a qualified repair facility.
• If necessary seek medical attentIon.
Driver/passenger side airbags
The front airbags supplement the three-point seat belts. For these airbags to provide the pro-tection intended, seat belts must be worn at alltimes.
Driver's and passenger's side airbags
The front airbag systemThe front airbag system includes gas generators surrounded by the airbags, and deceleration sen-sors that activate the gas generators, causing theairbags to be inflated with nitrogen gas. As the movement of the seats' occupants com- presses the airbags, some of the gas is expelledat a controlled rate to provide better cushioning.Both seat belt pretensioners also deploy, mini-mizing seat belt slack. The entire process, includ-ing inflation and deflation of the airbags, takesapproximately one fifth of a second.