frontal impacts against highly deformable objects
not involving the front surface of the vehicle (e.g.
wing collision against guard rail, etc.);
vehicle wedging under other vehicles or protective
barriers (e.g. trucks or guard rails);
Failure to activate in the conditions described above
is due to the fact that they may not provide any
additional protection compared with seat belts, so
their activation would be inappropriate. In these
cases, non-deployment does not indicate a system
malfunction.
WARNING
Do not apply stickers or other objects to
the steering wheel, the dashboard in
the passenger side airbag area and the seats.
Never put objects (e.g. mobile phones) on the
passenger side of the dashboard since they
could interfere with correct inflation of the
passenger airbag and also cause serious injur y
to the passengers.
The driver's and passenger's front airbags have been
designed and calibrated to protect front seat
occupants wearing seat belts. At their maximum
inflation, their volume fills most of the space
between the steering wheel and the driver and
between the dashboard and the passenger.
The airbags are not deployed in the event of minor
frontal impacts (for which the restraining actionof the seat belts is sufficient). Seat belts must always
be worn. In the event of frontal impacts they
guarantee correct positioning of the passenger.
FRONT AIRBAG DRIVER'S SIDE
It consists of an instantly inflating bag contained in a
special recess in the centre of the steering wheel
fig. 118.
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This consists of an instantly inflating bag contained in
a special recess in the dashboard: fig. 119 this bag
has a larger volume than that of the driver.
fig. 118F0T0052
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WARNING
SERIOUS DANGER:When there is an
active passenger airbag, DO NOT install
rearward facing child restraint systems
on the front seat . Deployment of the
airbag in an accident could cause fatal injuries
to the child regardless of the severity of the
impact .Therefore, always deactivate the
passenger side airbag when a rearward facing
child restraint system is installed on the front
passenger seat .The front passenger seat must
also be positioned back as far as possible in
order to prevent the child restraint system from
coming into contact with the dashboard.
Immediately reactivate the passenger airbag as
soon as the child restraint system has been
removed.FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND
CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
Rearward facing child restraint systems must NEVER
be fitted on the front seat with an active passenger
side airbag since in the event of an impact the airbag
activation may cause fatal injuries to the transported
child.
ALWAYScomply with the instructions on the label
fig. 120 stuck on the passenger side sun visor.
Manual deactivation of front passenger side
airbag and side bag
(for versions/markets, where provided)
If a child must of necessity be carried on the front
seat on a rear facing child restraint system, the front
passenger side airbag and side bag (for versions/
markets where provided) can be deactivated.
fig. 119F0T0033fig. 120F0T0950
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IMPORTANT To manually deactivate the front
passenger side airbag and side bag (for versions/
markets where provided), refer to the "Display"
paragraph in the "Knowing the instrument panel"
chapter.
When the passenger side front airbag and side bag
for chest protection (for versions/markets where
provided) are activated again, the warning light
switches off.
The warning light
on the central dashboard
fig. 121 shows the passenger protection status.
When the vehicle is started (key in MAR position),
the warning light turns on for approx. 8 seconds,
provided that at least 5 seconds have elapsed from
the previous switching off. If not, contact a Fiat
Dealership.
If the vehicle is switched off/on again in less than 5
seconds the warning light may remain off. In thiscase, to check correct warning light operation,
switch the vehicle off, wait at least 5 seconds and
switch it on again.
During the first 8 seconds, the activation of the
warning light does not actually show the passenger
protection status, but only checks its correct
operation.
The warning light may light up with various intensity
levels depending on the vehicle conditions. The
intensity may also vary during the same key cycle.
Passenger's protection active: the
LED is off.
Passenger protection deactivated: the
LED
switches on with a steady light.
fig. 121F0T0505
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PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS: IMPORTANT
fig. 122F1A0387
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SIDE BAGS
(for versions/markets, where provided)
On some versions, the vehicle may be fitted with
driver and passenger's front side bags.
Side bags protect occupants from side-on crashes of
medium/high severity by placing the bag between
the occupant and the internal parts of the side
structure of the vehicle.
Non-activation of side bags in other types of
collisions (front collisions, rear shunts, roll-overs,
etc.) is not a system malfunction.
An electronic control unit causes the bags to inflate
in the event of a side-on collision. The bags inflate
instantaneously, placing themselves between the
occupant's body and the structures which could
cause injury. They deflate immediately afterwards.
Side bags are not a replacement of, but rather a
complement to, seat belts, which you are
recommended to wear at all times, as specified by
law in Europe and most non-European countries.
For this reason, the seat belt must be worn at all
times. In the case of side-on collisions, the seat belts
hold occupants in the correct position and prevent
them from being thrown out of the car by a very
violent collision.SIDE BAGS
(for versions/markets, where provided)
It consists of an instantly inflating bag housed in the
front seat backrest fig. 123. It protects the chest
and the pelvis of the passengers in the event of side
crashes of medium-high severity.
IMPORTANT In the event of a side crash, the system
provides best protection if the passenger sits on
the seat in a correct position, thus allowing correct
side bag deployment.
IMPORTANT Do not wash the seats with water or
pressurised steam (wash by hand or at automatic
seat washing stations).
fig. 123F0T0180
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IMPORTANT NOTES
The front airbags and/or side bags (for versions/
markets, where provided) may be deployed if the
vehicle is subject to heavy knocks or accidents
involving the underbody area, such as for example
violent shocks against steps, kerbs or low obstacles,
or the vehicle falling into big potholes or depressions
in the road.
A small amount of dust will be released when the
airbags are deployed. The dust is not harmful and
does not indicate the beginning of a fire.
Furthermore, the surface of the deployed bag and
the interior of the vehicle may be covered in a dusty
residue: this may irritate your skin and eyes. Wash
with mild soap and water in the event of exposure.
Should an accident occur in which any of the safety
devices are activated, take the vehicle to a Fiat
Dealership to have the activated devices replaced and
to have the whole system checked.
Every control, repair and replacement operation
concerning the airbags must be carried out only at
Fiat Dealerships.
If you are having the vehicle scrapped, have the airbag
system deactivated at a Fiat Dealership first. If the
vehicle changes ownership, the new owner must be
informed of the method of use of airbags and the
above warnings and also be given this "Owner's
Handbook".
Pretensioners, front airbags and front side bags are
deployed differently according to the type ofcollision. Failure to activate one or more of the
devices does not indicate a system malfunction.
WARNING
There may be a fault in the retaining
systems if the warning light
does not
light up when the key is turn on or remains on
while travelling (on some versions with a
message on the display). In this case, the airbags
or the pretensioners may not be activated in
the case of an accident or (in a lesser number of
cases) they may be activated incorrectly.
Contact a Fiat Dealership immediately to have
the system checked.
WARNING
Always drive with your hands on the rim
of the steering wheel so that the airbag
can inflate freely if required. Do not drive with
your body bent forward. Keep your back
straight against the backrest .
WARNING
In some versions, in case of a LED
failure (located on the plate of the
instrument panel), the
warning light on the
instrument panel turns on and the passenger
side airbags are deactivated.
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WARNING
On cars with side bags, do not cover the
front seat backrests with extra covers.
WARNING
Do not travel carrying objects in your
lap, in front of your chest or between
your lips (pipe, pencils, etc .): they could cause
severe injur y if the airbag is deployed.
WARNING
If the ignition device is at MAR, even if
the engine is switched off, airbags may
be deployed when the vehicle is stationary and
hit by another vehicle.Therefore, even if the
car is stationar y, when an active front passenger
airbag is fitted, DO NOT install rear facing
child restraint systems on the front passenger
seat . Deployment of the airbag following an
impact could cause fatal injuries to the child.
Therefore, always deactivate the passenger side
airbag when a rearward facing child restraint
system is installed on the front passenger seat .
The front passenger seat must also be
positioned back as far as possible in order to
prevent the child restraint system from coming
into contact with the dashboard. Immediately
reactivate the passenger airbag as soon as
the child restraint system has been removed.
Also remember that , if the ignition device is set
to STOP, none of the safety devices (airbags
or pretensioners) will be deployed in the event
of collision. Non-deployment in such cases
does not indicate a system malfunction.
WARNING
Have the airbag system checked by a
Fiat Dealership if the car was stolen, if
theft was attempted, or if the car was subjected
to vandalism or flooding.
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WARNING
When the ignition key is turned to MAR,
the
warning light (with front
passenger side airbag activated) on the central
dashboard switches on and flashes for a few
seconds as a reminder that the passenger airbag
will be deployed in the event of a crash, then it
should switch off.
WARNING
The airbag deployment threshold is
higher than that of the pretensioners.
For collisions in the range between the two
thresholds, it is normal for only the
pretensioners to be activated.
WARNING
The airbag does not replace seat belts
but increases their efficiency.
Furthermore, since front airbags are not
deployed in low-speed frontal impacts, side
impacts, rear shunts or roll-overs, the
passengers are protected only by the seat belts
which must therefore be fastened at all
times.
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