SAFETY
The chapter that you are about to read
is very important: it describes the safety
systems with which the vehicle is
equipped and provides instructions on
how to use them correctly.ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS......74
DRIVING ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS . .78
OCCUPANT PROTECTION
SYSTEMS .................87
SEATBELTS................87
SBR (Seat Belt Reminder)
SYSTEM ..................89
PRE-TENSIONERS ............91
CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS ....93
SUPPLEMENTARY RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (SRS) - AIRBAG .......106
73
OCCUPANT
PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
The most important safety equipment
of the vehicle comprises the following
protection systems:
seat belts;
SBR (Seat Belt Reminder) system;
head restraints;
child restraint systems;
front airbags and side bags.
Read the information given the following
pages with the utmost care. It is of
fundamental importance that the
protection systems are used in the
correct way to guarantee the maximum
possible safety level for the driver and
the passengers.
For the description of the head restraint
adjustment see paragraph "Head
restraints" in chapter "Knowing your
vehicle".
SEAT BELTS
All vehicle seats are equipped with seat
belts with three anchor points and a
retractor.
The retractor mechanism operates
locking the belt in the event of sharp
braking or strong deceleration due to
an impact. This allows the belt strap to
slide freely and to adapt to the body of
the occupant. In the event of an
accident, the belt will lock reducing the
risk of impact inside the passenger
compartment and of being projected
outside the vehicle.
The driver is responsible for respecting,
and ensuring that all the other
occupants of the vehicle also respect,
the local laws in force in relation to the
use of the seat belts.
Always fasten the seat belts before
setting off.
USING THE SEAT BELTS
The seat belt should be worn keeping
the torso straight and rested against the
backrest.
To fasten the seat belts, hold tongue A
fig. 68 and insert it into buckle B, until it
clicks into place. On removal of the belt, if it jams, let it
rewind for a short stretch, then pull it
out again without jerking.
To unfasten the seat belts, press button
C fig. 68 and guide the seat belt with
your hand while it is rewinding, to
prevent it from twisting.
71) 72)
The retractor may lock when the vehicle
is parked on a steep slope: this is
perfectly normal. Furthermore, the
retractor mechanism locks the belt if it
is pulled sharply or in the event of
sudden braking, collisions or
high-speed bends.
Once seated, wear the rear seat belts
as shown in fig. 69.
68F1B0101C
87
PRE-TENSIONERS
The car is equipped with seat belt
pretensioners for the front and rear side
seats. These draw the seat belts back
by several centimetres in the event of a
strong frontal impact to ensure that the
seat belts adhere perfectly to the
occupants' bodies before retention
begins.
It is evident that the pretensioners have
been activated when the belt withdraws
toward the retractor.
The front car seats are also equipped
with a second pretensioner (fitted in the
kick plate area). Its activation is
signalled by the metal cable shortening.
A slight discharge of smoke may be
produced during the activation of the
pretensioner which is not harmful and
does not involve any fire hazard.
The pretensioner does not require any
maintenance or lubrication: any
changes to its original conditions will
invalidate its efficiency.
If, due to unusual natural events (floods,
sea storms, etc.), the device has been
affected by water and/or mud, contact
a Fiat Dealership to have it replaced.
IMPORTANT To obtain the highest
degree of protection from the action of
the pretensioner, wear the seat belt
tight to the chest and pelvis.
LOAD LIMITERS
75)
41)
To increase safety in the event of an
accident, the front seat belt retractors
contain a device which controls the
force acting on the chest and shoulders
during the belt restraining action in the
event of a frontal collision.
GENERAL
INSTRUCTIONS FOR
USING THE SEAT BELTS
76) 77) 78)
Seat belts are also to be worn by
pregnant women: the risk of injury in the
case of impact is greatly reduced for
them and the unborn child if they are
wearing a seat belt.
Pregnant women must position the
lower part of the belt very low down so
that it passes over the pelvis and under
the abdomen fig. 74. While pregnancy
progresses, the driver must adjust both
seat and steering wheel to have full
control over the car (pedals and
steering wheel must be easy to
access). The maximum clearance
should be kept between the abdomen
and the steering wheel.The seat belt strap must not be twisted.
The upper part must pass over the
shoulder and cross the chest
diagonally. The lower part must adhere
to the pelvis fig. 75, not to the
abdomen of the occupant. Do not use
devices (clips, etc.) to hold the seat belt
away from your body.
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75F1B0108C
91
Each seat belt must be used by only
one person. Never travel with a child
sitting on the passenger's lap and a
single belt to protect them both fig. 76.
In general, do not place any objects
between the person and the belt.SEAT BELTS
MAINTENANCE
For keeping the seat belts in efficient
conditions, carefully observe the
following warnings:
always use the seat belt well
stretched and never twisted; make sure
that it is free to run without
obstructions;
check seat belt operation as follows:
attach the seat belt and pull it hard;
replace the seat belt after an
accident of a certain severity even if it
does not appear to be damaged.
Always replace the seat belt if the
pretensioners were deployed;
prevent the retractors from getting
wet: their correct operation is only
guaranteed if water does not get inside;
replace the seat belt when it shows
wear or cuts.
WARNING
75) The pretensioner may be used only
once. Contact a Fiat Dealership to have it
replaced after it has been deployed.
76) Removing or otherwise tampering with
pretensioner and seat belt components is
strictly prohibited. Any intervention on
these components must be performed by
qualified and authorised technicians.
Always go to a Fiat Dealership. 77)
For maximum safety, keep the backrest
upright, lean back into it and make sure the
seat belt fits closely across your chest and
pelvis. Always fasten the seat belts for both
the front and rear seats! Travelling without
wearing seat belts will increase the risk of
serious injury and even death in the event
of an accident.
78) If the belt has been subjected to high
levels of stress, for example after an
accident, it should be changed completely
together with the attachments, attachment
fixing screws and the pretensioner. In fact,
even if the belt has no visible defects, it
may have lost its resilience.
IMPORTANT
41) Operations which lead to impacts,
vibrations or localised heating (over 100°C
for a maximum of six hours) in the area
around the pretensioner may cause
damage or make it deploy. Contact a Fiat
Dealership should intervention be
necessary on these components.76F1B0109C
92
SAFETY
CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS
CARRYING CHILDREN
SAFELY
79) 80) 81) 82)
For optimal protection in the event of an
impact, all occupants must be seated
and wearing adequate restraint
systems, including newborn and other
children!
This prescription is compulsory in all EC
countries according to EC Directive
2003/20/EC.
Children below the height of
1.50 metres and up to 12 years must
be protected with suitable restraint
systems and be seated on the rear
seats.
Statistics on accidents indicate that the
rear seats offer greater safety for
children.
Compared with an adult, a child's head
is larger and heavier in proportion to
their body and the child's muscular and
bone structures are not fully developed.
Therefore, correct restraint systems
other than adult seat belts are
necessary, to reduce as much as
possible the risk of injuries in the event
of an accident, braking or sudden
manoeuvre.Children must be seated safely and
comfortably. As far as the
characteristics of the child seats used
allow, you are advised to keep children
in rear facing child seats for as long as
possible (at least until 3–4 years old),
since this is the most protected position
in the event of an impact.
The choice of the most suitable child
restraint system depends on the weight
and size of the child. There are various
types of child restraint systems, which
can be secured to the car by means of
the seat belts or with the ISOFIX/i-Size
anchorages.
It is recommended to always choose
the restraint system most suitable for
the child; for this reason always refer to
the Owner Handbook provided with the
child restraint system, to be sure that it
is of the right type for the children it is
intended for.
In Europe the characteristics of child
restraint systems are ruled by the
regulation ECE-R44, dividing them into
five weight groups:Group
Weight range
Group0 upto10kg
Gr
oup 0+ up to 13 kg in
weight
Group 1 9-18 kg
Group 2 15 - 25 kg
Group 3 22 - 36 kg
The ECE-R44 standard was recently
paired with the ECE R-129 regulation,
which defines the characteristics of the
new i-Size child restraint systems (see
the "Suitability of passenger seats for
i-Size child restraint system use"
paragraph for more information).
All restraint devices must bear the
type-approval data, together with the
control mark, on a label solidly fixed to
the child restraint system which must
never be removed.
Lineaccessori MOPAR
®includes child
restraint systems for each weight
group. These devices are
recommended having been specifically
designed for Fiat vehicles.
93
WARNING In order to be correctly
installed in the car, some universal child
seats need a (base) accessory sold
separately from the car seat
manufacturer. Therefore, FCA
recommends confirming the retailer if
the desired child seat can be installed in
the car by having it done, before buying
the seat.
FITTING A CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
WITH SEAT BELTS
The Universal child restraint systems
installed with the seat belts only are
type-approved on the basis of the ECE
R44 standard and are divided into
various weight groups.
83) 84) 85) 86)
IMPORTANT The figures are indicative
and provided for assembly purposes
only. Fit the child restraint system
according to the instructions, which
must be included.
Group 0 and 0+
Infants up to 13 kg must be carried with
a rearward facing child restraint system
of a type as shown in fig. 77 which,
supporting the head, does not induce
stress on the neck in the event of
sudden decelerations.
The child restraint system is secured by
the vehicle seat belts, as shown in
fig. 77 and it must restrain the child in
turn with its own belts.Group 1
Children of weight from 9 to 18 kg may
be carried in forward facing child
restraint systems fig. 78.
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78F1B0111C
94
SAFETY
Group 2
Children from 15 to 25 kg may use the
vehicle seat belts directly fig. 79.
In this case, the child restraint system is
used to position the child correctly with
respect to the seat belts so that the
diagonal belt section crosses the child’s
chest and not the neck, and the lower
part is snug on the pelvis not the
abdomen.Group 3
For children between 22 and 36 kg,
there are dedicated restraint systems
that allow the seat belt to be worn
correctly.
The fig. 80 shows the correct child
positioning on the rear seat.
Children over 1.50 m in height can wear
seat belts like adults.
79F1B0112C
80F1B0113C
95
PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ON UNIVERSAL CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEM USE
According to the European Directive 2000/3/EC the suitability of each passenger seat position for the fixing of universal child
restraint systems is shown in the following table:
Positioning the “Universal” child restraint system
Group Weight groups Front passenger (*)
Rear central
passenger Rear side
passengers
Airbag enabled Airbag disabled
Group 0, 0+ up to 13 kg XU XU
Gr
oup 1 9-18 kg XU XU
Group 2 15-25 kgUU XU
Group 3 22-36 kgUU XU
X = Restraint system not suitable for children in this weight category.
U = suitable for child restraint systems of the “Universal” category, according to European Standard EEC-R44 for the specified
“Groups”.
(*) IMPORTANT NEVER fit rearward facing child restraint systems on the front seat with an active passenger side airbag. If you
wish to fit a rearward-facing child restraint system in the front passenger seat, first deactivate the relative airbag (see
instructions in the paragraph "Supplementary protection system (SRS) – Airbag”).
96
SAFETY