Main recommendations to carry
children safely
Install the child restraint systems on
the rear seat, which is the most
protected position in the event of an
impact.
Keep children in rearward facing
child restraint systems for as long as
possible, until 3–4 years old if possible.
Should a rearward facing child
restraint system be installed on the rear
seats, it is advisable to position it as
far forward as the position of the front
seat allows.
If the passenger side front airbag is
deactivated, always check that the
warning light on the central
dashboard is on continuously, to make
sure that it has actually been
deactivated.
Carefully follow the instructions
supplied with the child restraint system.
Keep the instructions in the vehicle
along with the other documents and
this handbook. Do not use second-
hand child seats without instructions.
Only one child is to be strapped into
each restraint system; never carry two
children using one child restraint
system.
Always check that the seat belts do
not rest on the child’s neck.
Always check that the seat belt is
well fastened by pulling on it.
While travelling, do not let the child
sit incorrectly or unfasten the belts.
Never allow a child to put the belt's
diagonal section under an arm or
behind their back.
Never carry children on your lap,
even newborns. No-one can hold
a child in the case of a crash.
If the car has been involved in a
medium-high severity road accident,
replace the child restraint system with a
new one. In addition, and depending
on the type of child restraint system
installed, replace the isofix anchorages
or the seat belt with which the child
restraint system was connected.
Before installing a child restraint
system of any kind on the rear seat
facing in the direction of movement of
the vehicle, it is necessary to remove
the head restraint from the rear seat
position in which the child restraint
system is to be installed. On the other
hand, before installing a child restraint
system composed of only the seat
cushion (without backrest) on the rear
seat, it is necessary to ensure that
the head restraint of the rear seat
position in which the child restraint
system is to be installed is correctly
fitted.
WARNING
88)SEVERE DANGER When a front
passenger airbag is fitted, do not install
rearward facing child restraint systems on
the front passenger seat. Deployment of
the airbag in a crash could cause fatal
injuries to the child regardless of the
severity of the collision. It is advisable to
always carry children in a child restraint
system on the rear seat, which is the most
protected position in the event of a
collision.
89)On the sun visor there is a label with
suitable symbols reminding the user that it
is compulsory to deactivate the airbag if
a rearward facing child restraint system is
fitted. Always comply with the instructions
on the passenger side sun visor (see the
"Supplementary Restraint System (SRS)
- Airbag" paragraph).
90)Should it be necessary to carry a child
on the passenger side front seat in a rear
facing child restraint system, the passenger
side front and side airbags must be
deactivated through the display main
menu, verifying deactivation by checking
that the warning light
located in the
central part of the dashboard has switched
on. Move the passenger's seat as far
back as possible to avoid contact between
the child seat and the dashboard.
91)Do not move the front or rear seat if a
child is seated on it or on the dedicated
child restraint system.
84
SAFETY
92)Incorrect fitting of the child restraint
system may result in an inefficient
protection system. In the event of an
accident the child restraint system may
become loose and the child may be
injured, even fatally. When fitting a restraint
system for newborns or children, strictly
comply with the instructions provided
by the Manufacturer.
93)When the child restraint system is not
used, secure it with the seat belt or with
the ISOFIX anchorages, or remove it from
the vehicle. Do not leave it unsecured
inside the passenger compartment. This
way, in the case of sudden braking or
an accident, it will not cause injuries to the
occupants.
94)After installing a child restraint system,
do not move the seat: always remove
the child restraint system before making
any adjustment.
95)Always make sure that the chest
section of the seat belt does not pass
under the arms or behind the back of the
child. In the event of an accident the seat
belt will not be able to secure the child,
with the risk of injury, including fatal injury.
Therefore the child must always wear
the seat belt correctly.
96)Do not use the same lower anchoring
to install more than one child restraint
system.
97)If a Universal ISOFIX child seat system
is not fixed to all three anchorages, it will
not be able to protect the child correctly. In
an accident, the child could be seriously
or fatally injured.98)Fit the child restraint system when the
car is stationary. The child restraint system
is correctly fixed to the brackets when
you hear the click. Follow the instructions
for assembly, disassembly and positioning
that the Manufacturer must supply with
the child restraint system.SUPPLEMENTARY
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
(SRS) - AIRBAG
The car is equipped with:
driver front airbag;
front passenger airbag;
front side bags for pelvis, chest and
shoulder protection of driver and
passenger (for versions/markets, where
provided);
side bags for head protection of
front seat passengers and rear side
seat passengers (window bag).
FRONT AIRBAGS
99)
The front (driver and passenger) airbags
protect the front seat occupants in the
event of head-on crashes of medium-
high severity, by placing the cushion
between the occupant and the steering
wheel or dashboard.
Therefore non-activation of airbags in
other types of collisions (side impacts,
rear shunts, roll-overs, etc.) does not
indicate a system malfunction.
Driver and passenger front airbags are
not a replacement of but
complementary to the seat belts, which
should always be worn, as specified
by law in Europe and most non-
European countries.
85
In the event of an impact, those not
wearing a seat belt are projected
forwards, and may come into contact
with the bag which is still inflating.
The protection offered by the bag is
compromised in these circumstances.
The front airbags may not activate in
the case of a frontal impact against
highly deformable objects not involving
the front surface of the car (e.g. wing
collision against guard rail) or in the
case of the car wedging under other
cars or protective barriers (e.g. under
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.
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 action of the seat
belts is sufficient). It is therefore always
necessary to wear seat belts.
Front airbag driver's side
100)
This consists of an instantly inflating
bag contained in a special
compartment in the centre of the
steering wheel fig. 73.Passenger front airbag
This consists of an instantly inflating
bag contained in a special recess in the
dashboard fig. 74 which has a larger
volume than that of the driver.
73F1D0063
74F1D0064
86
SAFETY
Passenger's front airbag and child
restraint systems
101)
Rearward facing child restraint systems
mustNEVERbe fitted on the front
seat with an active passenger 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 on the passenger side
sun visor fig. 75.Deactivating the passenger side
airbags: front airbag and side bag
If a child must be carried on the front
seat in a rearward facing child restraint
system, deactivate the passenger
front airbag and the side bags. With
airbags deactivated, the
(A-fig.
76 warning light turns on in the
dashboard, in central position). Use the
display Setup Menu to deactivate.
102)
75F1D012676F1D0153
87
Passenger side front airbag and child restraint systems: IMPORTANT
77F1D0127
88
SAFETY
SIDE BAGS (Side bag -
Window bag)
To help increase occupants protection
in the event of a side impact, the car
is equipped with front side bags (for
versions/markets, where provided) and
window bag (for versions/markets,
where provided).
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.
Side bags
(for versions/markets, where provided)
These comprise two types of bags
located in the front seat backrests fig.
78 which protect the pelvic, chest
and shoulder area of the occupants in
the event of a side impact of
medium-high severity.
Window bag
This consists of two "curtain" bags
housed behind the roof side lining fig.
79 and covered with trims that protect
the heads of front and rear occupants
in the event of a side impact.The deployment of side bags in the
event of side impacts of low severity is
not required.
In the event of a side impact, the
system provides best protection if the
passenger sits on the seat in a correct
position, thus allowing correct window
bag deployment.
The window bag is not available for the
VAN version.
103) 104) 105) 106) 107) 108) 109) 110) 111) 112)
113) 114) 115)
Important notes
Do not wash the seats with water or
pressurised steam (wash by hand or at
automatic seat washing stations).
The front airbags and/or side bags may
be deployed in the event of sharp
impacts to the underbody of the car
(e.g. impact with steps, pavements,
potholes or road bumps etc.).
When the airbag deploys it emits a
small amount of dust: the dust is
harmless and does not indicate the
beginning of a fire. The dust may irritate
the skin and eyes however: in this
case, wash with neutral soap
and water.
Airbag checking, repair and
replacement must be carried out at a
Fiat Dealership.
78F1D0066
79F1D0067
89
If the car is scrapped, have the airbag
system deactivated at a Fiat Dealership.
Pretensioners and airbags are
deployed in different ways on the basis
of the type of collision. Failure to
activate one or more of the devices
does not indicate a system malfunction.
WARNING
99)Do not apply stickers or other objects
on the steering wheel, on the dashboard in
the passenger side airbag area, on the
side upholstery on the roof and on the
seats. Never put objects (e.g. mobile
phones) on the passenger's side
dashboard since they could interfere with
correct inflation of the airbag and also
cause serious injury to the passengers.
100)Always drive with your hands on the
rim of the steering wheel so that the airbag
can inflate freely if required. Do not drive
bent over the steering wheel, but rather sit
upright with your back firmly resting against
the seat back.101)When there is an active passenger
airbag, DO NOT install rearward facing
child restraint systems on the front seat.
Deployment of the airbag in a crash could
cause fatal injuries to the child regardless
of the severity of the collision. 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.
102)To deactivate the airbags using the
instrument panel menu, see the description
in the "Knowing the instrument panel"
chapter, "Setup Menu" paragraph.
103)Do not affix rigid objects to the
garment hooks or support handles.
104)Do not rest your head, arms or
elbows on the door, windows or the area in
which the window bag is located to avoid
possible injury during airbag inflation.
105)Never lean your head, arms or
elbows out of the window.
106)If, when the ignition device is turned
to MAR, the
warning light does not
switch on or stays on whilst driving, a fault
may have occurred in the restraint
systems. In this case the airbags or
pretensioners may not be deployed in an
impact or, in a lower number of cases, they
may be deployed accidentally. Contact a
Fiat Dealership immediately to have the
system checked.107)In the event of “yellow”
warning
light failure, the “red”warning light
switches on and, for versions/markets
where provided, the explosive charges of
the passenger airbag and the side bags
are deactivated. When the "red" warning
light is on, before proceeding contact a Fiat
Dealership to have the system immediately
checked (see previous warning).
108)On vehicles with side bags, do not
cover the front seat backrests with extra
covers.
109)Do not travel carrying objects in your
lap, in front of your chest or between
your lips (pipe, pencils, etc.): they could
cause severe injury if the airbag is
deployed.
110)If the car has been stolen or in the
case of attempt to steal it, if it has been
subjected to vandalism or floods, have the
airbag system checked by a Fiat
Dealership.
90
SAFETY
111)The airbags may also be deployed
when the car is not moving, if the key is in
the ignition and turned to MAR-ON or
when the engine is off, if the car is hit by
another moving car. Therefore, even if the
vehicle is stationary, when an active front
passenger airbag is fitted, DO NOT install
rearward 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 key is turned 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.112)The airbag warning lightindicates
the passenger protection status. If the
warning light is off, the passenger side
protection is activated. It can be
deactivated from the menu, in which case
the warning light comes on. When the
car is started (ignition key in MAR position),
the warning light comes on for approx. 8
seconds, provided that at least 5 seconds
have elapsed from the previous switching
off. If this does not happen please contact
a Fiat Dealership. If the car is switched
off/on again in less than 5 seconds the
warning light may remain off. In this case,
to check correct warning light operation,
switch the car off, wait at least 5 seconds
and switch 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 car conditions. The
intensity may also vary during the same key
cycle. (The warning light is tested also for
markets where the passenger protection
deactivation function is not provided,
and the warning light switches on for less
than one second when the key is turned to
MAR, then switches off again.)
113)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.114)The airbag does not replace seat
belts but increases their efficiency.
Because front airbags are not deployed for
low-speed crashes, side collisions,
rear-end shunts or rollovers, occupants are
protected, in addition to any side bags,
only by their seat belts, which must
therefore always be fastened.
115)If the “red”
warning light does not
switch on for a few seconds when the
key is turned to MAR, there may be a fault
with the “red” warning light. In this case,
after a few seconds, the
warning light
starts flashing. Contact a Fiat Dealership
immediately to have the system checked.
91