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Related information
•Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) (p. 31)
Side impact protection (SIPS) airbags
As an enhancement to the structural side impact protection built into your vehicle, it is also equip-ped with Side Impact Protection System (SIPS)airbags.
G032949
Location of the side impact (SIPS) airbags (front seats only)
The SIPS airbag system is designed to help increase occupant protection in the event of cer-tain side impact collisions. The SIPS airbags aredesigned to deploy only during certain side-impact collisions, depending on the crashseverity, angle, speed and point of impact.
Driver's side SIPS airbag
Passenger's side SIPS airbag
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NOTE
SIPS airbag deployment (one airbag) occurs only on the side of the vehicle affected by theimpact. The airbags are not designed todeploy in all side impact situations.
Components in the SIPS airbag systemThis SIPS airbag system consists of a gas gener- ator, the side airbag modules built into the out-board sides of both front seat backrests, andelectronic sensors/wiring.
WARNING
•The SIPS airbag system is a supplement to the structural Side Impact ProtectionSystem and the three-point seat belt sys-tem. It is not designed to deploy duringcollisions from the front or rear of thevehicle or in rollover situations.
• The use of seat covers on the front seatsmay impede SIPS airbag deployment.
• No objects, accessory equipment or stick-ers may be placed on, attached to orinstalled near the SIPS airbag system orin the area affected by SIPS airbagdeployment.
• Never try to open or repair any compo-nents of the SIPS airbag system. Thisshould be done only by a trained andqualified Volvo service technician.
• In order for the SIPS airbag to provide itsbest protection, both front seat occupantsshould sit in an upright position with theseat belt properly fastened.
• Failure to follow these instructions canresult in injury to the occupants of thevehicle in the event of an accident.
Related information
•Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) (p. 31)
• Front airbags (p. 33)
• Inflatable Curtain (IC) (p. 40)
Inflatable Curtain (IC)
The inflatable curtain is designed to help protect the heads of the occupants of the front seatsand the occupant of the outboard rear seatingpositions in certain side impact collisions.
This system consists of inflatable curtains located along the sides of the roof liners, stretching fromthe center of both front side windows to the rearedge of the rear side door windows. In certain side impacts, both the Inflatable Cur-
tain (IC) and the Side Impact Airbag Sys- tem (p. 39) (SIPS airbag) will deploy. The IC andthe SIPS airbag deploy simultaneously.
NOTE
If the inflatable curtain deploys, it remains inflated for approximately 6 seconds.
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WARNING
•The IC system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection System. It is notdesigned to deploy during collisions fromthe rear of the vehicle.
• Never try to open or repair any compo-nents of the IC system. This should bedone only by a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician.
• Never hang heavy items from the ceilinghandles. This could impede deploymentof the Inflatable Curtain.
• The rear seat should not be loaded to alevel higher than 2 in. (5 cm) below theupper edge of the rear side windows.Objects placed higher than this levelcould impede the function of the Inflat-able Curtain.
WARNING
In order for the IC to provide its best protec- tion, both front seat occupants and both out-board rear seat occupants should sit in anupright position with the seat belt properlyfastened; adults using the seat belt and chil-dren using the proper child restraint system.Failure to follow these instructions can resultin injury to the vehicle occupants in an acci-dent.
Related information
•Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) (p. 31)
• Front airbags (p. 33)
• Child safety (p. 45)
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) The WHIPS system consists of specially designed hinges and brackets on the front seatbackrests designed to help absorb some of theenergy generated in a collision from the rear(when the vehicle is rear-ended).
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In the event of a rear-end collision, the hinges and brackets of the front seat backrests aredesigned to change position slightly to allow thebackrest/head restraint to help support the occu-pant's head before moving slightly rearward. Thismovement helps absorb some of the forces thatcould 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.
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.43
WARNING
•Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front seats could impede the function ofthe Whiplash Protection 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 Whiplash ProtectionSystem.
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
•
Seat belts – general (p. 28)
Crash mode – general information
After a collision, the functionality of some of the vehicle's systems may be reduced as a safetyprecaution.
Warning symbol: analog instrument panel
Warning symbol: digital instrument panel *
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44If the vehicle has been involved in a collision, the text
Safety mode See manual may appear in
the information display.
NOTE
This text can only be shown if the display is undamaged and the vehicle's electrical sys-tem is intact.
Crash mode is a feature that is triggered if one or more of the safety systems (e.g. front (p. 33) orside airbags (p. 39), an inflatable curtain (p. 40),or one or more of the seat belt pretensioners)has deployed. The collision may have damagedan important function in the vehicle, such as thefuel lines, sensors for one of the safety systems,the brake system, etc.
WARNING
• Never attempt to repair the vehicle your- self or to reset the electrical system after the vehicle has displayed
Safety mode
See manual. This could result in injury or
improper system function.
• Restoring the vehicle to normal operating status should only be done by a trainedand qualified Volvo service technician.
• After
Safety mode See manual has
been displayed, if you detect the odor of fuel vapor, or see any signs of fuel leak-age, do not attempt to start the vehicle.Leave the vehicle immediately.
Related information
• Crash mode – starting the vehicle (p. 44)
• Crash mode – moving the vehicle (p. 45)
Crash mode – starting the vehicle
If Crash mode has been set Crash mode (p. 43)) and damage to the vehicle isminor and there is no fuel leakage, you mayattempt to start the engine.
To do so:
1. Remove the remote key from the ignition slot and open the driver's door. If a message is displayed that the ignition is on, press thestart button.
2. Close the driver's door and reinsert the remote key in the ignition slot.
3. Try to start the vehicle.
WARNING
If the message Safety mode See manual is
still displayed, the vehicle should not be driven and must be towed. Concealed faults maymake the vehicle difficult to control.
Related information
• Crash mode – general information (p. 43)
• Crash mode – moving the vehicle (p. 45)
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Crash mode – moving the vehicle
If the message
Normal mode appears after an
attempt has been made to start the engine, Star- ting the vehicle after a crash (p. 44), the vehiclemay be moved carefully from its present position,if for example, it is blocking traffic. It should,however, not be moved farther than is absolutelynecessary.
WARNING
Even if the vehicle appears to be drivable after Crash mode has been set, it should not bedriven or towed (pulled by another vehicle).There may be concealed damage that couldmake it difficult or impossible to control. Thevehicle should be transported on a flatbedtow truck to a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician for inspection/repairs.
Related information
• Crash mode – general information (p. 43)
Child safety
Children should always be seated safely when traveling in the vehicle.
General informationVolvo recommends the proper use of restraint systems (p. 47) for all occupants including chil-dren. Remember that, regardless of age and size,a child should always be properly restrained in avehicle. Your vehicle is also equipped with ISOFIX/ LATCH attachments (p. 54), which make itmore convenient 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 impact. The same can also happen if the infant orchild rides unrestrained on the seat. Other occu-pants should also be properly restrained to helpreduce the chance of injuring or increasing theinjury of a child. All states and provinces have legislation govern- ing how and where children should be carried ina vehicle. Find out the regulations existing in yourstate or province. Recent accident statistics haveshown that children are safer in rear seatingpositions than front seating positions when prop-erly restrained. A child restraint system can helpprotect a child in a vehicle. Here's what to lookfor when selecting a child restraint system: It should have a label certifying that it meets applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand-ards (FMVSS 213) – or in Canada, CMVSS 213. Make sure the child restraint system is approved for the child's height, weight and development –the label required by the standard or regulation,or instructions for infant restraints, typically pro-vide this information. In using any child restraint system, we urge you to carefully look over the instructions that areprovided with the restraint. Be sure you under-stand them and can use the device properly andsafely in this vehicle. A misused child restraintsystem can result in increased injuries for boththe infant or child and other occupants in thevehicle.
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46When a child has outgrown the child safety seat, you should use the rear seat with the standardseat belt fastened. The best way to help protectthe child here is to place the child on a cushionso that the seat belt is properly located on thehips (see Booster cushions (p. 53) for illustra-tion). Legislation in your state or province maymandate the use of a child seat or cushion incombination with the seat belt, depending on thechild's age and/or size. Please check local regu-lations. A specially designed and tested booster cushion and backrest can be obtained from your Volvoretailer. See also Booster cushions (p. 53)
WARNING
•
Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the frontpassenger's seat. We also recommendthat children under 4 feet 7 inches(140 cm) in height who have outgrownthese devices sit in the rear seat with theseat belt fastened.
• Sedan models: Keep vehicle doors andtrunk locked and keep remote controlsout of a child