8S1012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely
Sitting correctly and
safely
Correct passenger
seating position
General information
As the driver, you are responsible for making sure
every passenger is sitting correctly in their seat
and maintaining this seating position while driv-
ing. Make sure that:
— Every passenger in the vehicle has adjusted his
or her seat correctly > page 45
— Applies to: Coupe: Passengers in the rear seats
must observe the height requirements and the
minimum distance between the head and the
rear window > page 48.
— The steering wheel is adjusted correctly
=>page 48
— The mirrors are adjusted so that there is a suffi-
cient view of the area around the vehicle
=> page 40
— Every passenger in the vehicle has his or her
safety belt fastened correctly > page 49
— The activation status of the front passenger's
airbag is suitable for the passenger in the front
passenger's seat > page 55
— Children are secured in suitable child safety
seats that are secured to appropriate vehicle
seats > page 58. Read and observe the impor-
tant safety information pertaining to the use of
child safety seats on the front passenger's seat
=> A in General information on page 58.
Examples of incorrect seating positions
Safety belts can only provide its optimal protec-
tion when they are routed correctly. Incorrect
seating positions significantly reduce the protec-
tive functions of the safety belts and increase the
risk of injury due to incorrect belt routing.
The following list includes examples of seating
positions that could be dangerous for all vehicle
occupants. This is not a complete list. The pur-
pose is to provide examples to increase your
awareness of the topic. The following points ap-
ply when the vehicle is in motion:
— Never stand inside the vehicle.
— Never stand on the seats.
— Never kneel on the seats.
— Never tilt your backrest too far back.
— Never lean against the instrument panel.
— Never lie down on the rear bench seat.
— Never sit only on the front section of the seat.
— Never sit sideways on the seat.
— Never lean against the window.
— Never place your feet out of the window.
— Never place your feet on the instrument panel.
— Never place your feet on the seat cushion.
— Never ride in the footwell.
— Never sit on the armrest.
— Never drive or ride in a seat without fastening
your safety belt.
— Never ride in the luggage compartment.
ZA WARNING
Incorrect seating positions, failure to wear a
safety belt, or being too close to an airbag in-
crease the risk of serious or fatal injury to ve-
hicle occupants, especially if the airbags de-
ploy and come into contact with occupants
who are not seated correctly. Note the impor-
tant information and warnings in the chapters
for the topics given above.
G) Tips
— If physical circumstances do not allow you
to assume the correct seating position, con-
tact an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.
— If you or other vehicle passengers have
physical limitations that prevent sitting in a
correct position, modifications to the vehi-
cle may be necessary. For more information,
contact an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility, or call Audi cus-
tomer support at 1-800-822-2834.
Front seats
General information
Make sure that:
4s
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8S1012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely
Safety belts
Each seat is equipped with a three-point safety
belt. Safety belts that are worn correctly are the
most effective way to reduce the risk of serious or
fatal injuries in a collision. Therefore, wear your
safety belt correctly and make sure that all vehi-
cle passengers are also wearing their safety belts
correctly when the vehicle is moving.
Even though your vehicle is equipped with an air-
bag system, every vehicle passenger must still al-
ways wear the appropriate safety belt. In addi-
tion to their normal protective function, safety
belts also hold vehicle occupants in the correct
seating position in the event of a collision so that
the
airbags can deploy correctly and provide addi-
tional protection. Safety belts provide protection
during collisions when the airbags do not deploy
or if they have already deployed.
ZA WARNING
The risk of serious or fatal injury increases if
the safety belt is not fastened, if it is worn in-
correctly, or if it is damaged.
— All vehicle occupants, including the driver,
must fasten their safety belts correctly be-
fore every trip and must always keep their
safety belts fastened during the trip, regard-
less of whether the seat is equipped with an
airbag or not. This also applies to children
that are seated in a child safety seat that is
appropriate for their weight and age and
that is secured with a safety belt.
— In the event of a collision, vehicle occupants
that are not wearing safety belts could be
propelled through the vehicle interior and
collide with vehicle components, such as the
steering wheel, instrument panel, wind-
shield, or doors. In some situations, vehicle
occupants could also be ejected from the ve-
hicle. Vehicle occupants who do not wear
safety belts not only endanger themselves,
but also other people in the vehicle.
— Only one person may be fastened with a
safety belt at a time. Never secure more
than one person, including children, with a
single safety belt.
— Never allow children or infants to ride on an-
other person's lap and be belted into the
safety belt with them.
— Insert the belt buckle only in the belt latch
belonging to the corresponding seat, so that
the protective function is not impaired.
—To ensure the maximum protective function
of the safety belts, all vehicle passengers
must sit in the correct seating position
=> page 45.
— Check the condition of your vehicle’s safety
belts regularly. If you find damage to the
belt webbing, the belt connections, the re-
tractor, or the buckle, have the damaged
safety belt replaced by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
— The safety belts must not be removed or
modified in any way. Do not attempt to re-
pair the safety belts yourself.
— Safety belts that are strained during an acci-
dent, and thus stretched, must be replaced
by an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility.
Correct safety belt positioning
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49
8S1012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely
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Fig. 59 Releasing the belt buckle from the belt latch
Follow the safety precautions > page 49.
Fastening the safety belt
> Pull the safety belt by the belt buckle evenly
across your chest and lap.
> Insert the belt buckle in the belt latch belong-
ing to the seat until it audibly engages
> fig. 58.
> Pull on the belt to make sure that the belt is se-
curely locked in the latch.
Unfastening the safety belt
> Press the red button on the belt latch > fig. 59.
The belt buckle will pop out.
> Guide the belt back by hand so that the safety
belt can roll up more easily.
Safety belt monitoring system
B- If the indicator light turns on or flashes, a
safety belt is not fastened or it has been unfas-
tened while the vehicle is in motion. Above cer-
tain speeds, additional warning tones will sound.
Additional safety belt functions
Belt retractor lock
Applies to: Coupe: The safety belts on the rear
seats and on the front passenger seat are equip-
ped with a belt retractor lock.
Applies to: Roadster: The safety belt on the front
passenger seat is equipped with a belt retractor
lock.
— If you secure a child safety seat with a safety
belt, the belt retractor lock on the safety belt
may need to be activated. Follow the instruc-
tions from the child safety seat manufacturer.
— When a vehicle passenger has fastened a safety
belt, the belt retractor lock should not be acti-
vated. If the belt retractor lock has been acti-
vated unexpectedly, deactivate it.
Deactivating or activating the belt retractor lock
=> page 60.
Safety belt retractor
The safety belts are equipped with an automatic
belt retractor. This automatic retractor allows the
safety belt to be pulled all the way out when the
belt is pulled slowly. However, the automatic re-
tractor locks during sudden braking maneuvers.
It also locks the belts when accelerating, driving
uphill, and driving around curves.
Belt force limiter
Safety belts with belt force limiters reduce the
force placed on the body by the safety belts dur-
ing a collision.
Safety belt pretensioners
In some collisions, pyrotechnic belt tensioners
may secure the safety belts so that they cannot
loosen. This reduces forward movement by the
vehicle passengers.
Z\ WARNING
The pyrotechnic system can only provide pro-
tection during one collision. If the pyrotechnic
belt tensioners deploy, the pretensioning sys-
tem must be replaced by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility. >
51
Sitting correctly and safely
@) Tips
Smoke may be released when pyrotechnic belt
tensioners deploy. This is not a sign of a vehi-
cle fire.
Airbag system
(eee ieleuri sel)
ZA\ WARNING
— If you have not fastened your safety belt,
you are in an incorrect seating position, or
you are too close to the airbag system, the
airbag system will not be able to protect
you. This increases the risk of serious or fa-
tal injuries. Make sure that every vehicle
passenger has their safety belt correctly fas-
tened and is sitting in a correct seating posi-
tion > page 45. This is necessary regardless
of whether the seat is equipped with an air-
bag or not.
— Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, out of the window, or on the seat sur-
faces. To help ensure that the airbag system
can deploy correctly, never bend forward or
lean on the door or the side window. Other-
wise, serious and possibly fatal injuries can
occur if the airbags deploy.
— People, animals, or objects between the
passengers and the airbag system can inter-
fere with the correct deployment of the air-
bag or can be thrown through the vehicle in-
terior, increasing the risk of serious or fatal
injuries. Make sure that nothing is located
between the vehicle occupants and the air-
bag system. Do not secure or transport any
objects within the deployment zone of the
airbag systems, especially on the steering
wheel, on the instrument panel, on the
doors, on the windows, or in the footwell.
— Never put stickers on the airbag system cov-
ers or cover them with any objects.
— Applies to: Coupe: Only lightweight clothing
should be hung from the garment hooks in
the vehicle. Do not use clothes hangers to
hang clothing. The pockets of the clothing
must not contain any heavy, breakable, or
sharp-edged objects. This could impair the
effectiveness of the side curtain airbags.
— You must not use seat or protective covers
that are not specifically approved for use on
Audi seats with side airbags. Since the side
airbags deploy from the seat backrest, such
covers could impair the protective function
of the side airbags.
— Damage to the original seat covers in the
side airbag deployment area must always be
repaired by an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility.
— Airbag system components are installed at
various locations in your vehicle. Incorrect
work or repairs on the vehicle could damage
the airbag system components or impair
their functionality. This may prevent the air-
bags from deploying or cause them to de-
ploy incorrectly in the event of an accident,
which increases the risk of serious or fatal
injuries. Only have an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility make re-
pairs or modifications to a vehicle.
— The airbag system can only provide protec-
tion during one collision. If there is another
collision, the airbag system will not deploy
again. If the airbag system has deployed,
have it replaced immediately by an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
— Fine dust may appear if the airbags deploy.
This is completely normal and does not indi-
cate a fire in the vehicle. The fine dust can ir-
ritate the skin and mucous membranes in
the eyes and can cause difficulty breathing,
particularly for individuals who have or have
had asthma or other health issues that af-
fect breathing. Exit the vehicle or open the
windows or doors to get access to fresh air.
52
G) Tips
If you are transporting children in the vehicle,
read the information and follow the safety
precautions > page 58.
8S1012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely
Safety systems monitoring
The Ea indicator light in the instrument cluster
monitors the safety systems such as the airbags
(including the control modules, sensors, and wir-
ing) and the belt tensioners. It turns on when you
switch the ignition on and turns off after several
seconds.
If the Ea indicator light does not turn on when
the ignition is switched on, does not turn off af-
ter several seconds, or turns on or flashes while
driving, there may be a malfunction in one of the
safety systems. Drive to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately
to have the malfunction corrected.
A WARNING
Have the malfunction in the safety systems in-
spected immediately. Otherwise, there is a
risk that the systems may not activate during
an accident, which increases the risk of seri-
ous or fatal injury.
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8S1012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely
The locations of the airbags are labeled with
“AIRBAG”. The following airbags are installed in
your vehicle:
Driver's airbag
Front passenger's airbag
Side airbags
Applies to: Coupe: Head curtain airbag with
ejection mitigation
©
©0080
Knee airbags
Airbags offer the best possible protection in your
vehicle during an accident when they are used to-
gether with safety belts that are fastened cor-
rectly, and when passengers are sitting in the cor-
rect seating position. Airbags are a supplementa-
ry restraint system and do not replace safety
belts.
Applies to: Coupe: Airbags may deploy during
head-on, side-impact, or rollover collisions.
Applies to: Roadster: Airbags may deploy during
head-on or side-impact collisions.
The deployment area for the airbag system can-
not be defined for every situation, since the cir-
cumstances surrounding accidents can vary wide-
ly. Factors that play an important role include the
condition of the object that the vehicle hits (hard
or soft), the angle of impact, vehicle speed, etc.
The deciding factor for the deployment of the air-
bag system is the deceleration that occurs during
an accident. Sensors in the vehicle are designed
to detect the severity of an accident in conjunc-
tion with the control module, and to provide a
targeted and timely deployment of the restraint
system. If the vehicle deceleration that is meas-
ured during an accident is below the specified
reference values in the control module, then the
airbags will not deploy, even though the vehicle
may be severely damaged from the accident. In
these cases, the vehicle occupants will be pro-
tected by the safety belts if they are fastened and
worn correctly.
The deployment of the front passenger's airbag
will depend on the occupancy of the seat
=> page 55.
Each deployed airbag is filled with gas. When this
occurs, the airbag covers open and the airbags
unfold with great force into the deployment zone
within milliseconds. Inflated airbags reduce the
movement of passengers wearing safety belts in
the direction of the impact and thus help to re-
duce the risk of injury. They can help to protect
the head, upper body, and lap, for example. How-
ever, there is the possibility that airbag deploy-
ment can cause injuries.
The airbag system only works when the ignition
is turned on.
If you or other vehicle passengers have physical
limitations that prevent sitting in a correct posi-
tion, modifications to the vehicle may be neces-
sary. For more information, contact an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty, or call Audi customer support at
1-800-822-2834.
) Tips
Applies to: Coupe
The side curtain airbags in your vehicle have
ejection mitigation functions. This reduces
the risk of being ejected from the vehicle inte-
rior during an accident, especially in the event
of a vehicle rollover.
Advanced airbag system
Fig. 62 Headliner: indicator light to display the status of
the front passenger's airbag
The Advanced Airbag System in your vehicle has
been certified to comply with the requirements
of the United States Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) 208, as well as Canada Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 208 as applica-
ble at the time your vehicle was manufactured.
According to these requirements, the front Ad-
vanced Airbag System on the passenger’s side
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8S1012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely
Always make sure the indicator light corresponds
to the occupancy of the front passenger's seat.
— Adults or individuals with a similar stature sit-
ting in the front passenger seat: The front pas-
senger's airbag must be activated.
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ must remain
on.
— Individuals with a smaller stature (for exam-
ple, adolescents or smaller adults) sitting in
the front passenger seat: The front passeng-
er's airbag must be activated.
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ® must remain
on.
— Child in a child safety seat secured on the
front passenger seat: The front passenger's air-
bag must be deactivated.
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF &; must remain
on.
— Front passenger seat is not occupied: The front
passenger's airbag must be deactivated.
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 3%; must remain
on.
ZA WARNING
— An adult or a person with a small stature
(such as a young person or small adult) seat-
ed on the front passenger's seat will not be
protected by the passenger's airbag in the
event of a collision if the passenger's airbag
is deactivated. This increases the risk of in-
jury and death. Always make sure that
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ remains on
while driving. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ does not
turn on, make sure the front passenger is
sitting correctly in the seat > page 45 and
that there are no objects covering the front
passenger's seat (such as blankets or pil-
lows). If PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @
still does not turn on, the front passenger's
seat must not be used. Drive to an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility and have the airbag system inspect-
ed.
—Achild ina child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat - especially in a rear-facing
child safety seat - can receive a severe im-
which increases the risk of serious or fatal
injury. Applies to Coupe: Always secure child
safety seats on the rear seats. If special cir-
cumstances require the use of a child safety
seat on the front passenger's seat, always
make sure that
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF %; remains
on while driving. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #¥; does not
turn on, remove the child safety seat and in-
stall it again according to the child safety
seat manufacturer instructions. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF &%; still does
not turn on, the front passenger's seat must
not be used. Drive to an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
and have the airbag system inspected.
Fluids, electronic devices, or mechanical
damage on the front passenger's seat may
cause the front passenger seat occupant de-
tection to malfunction. The system may
then incorrectly detect if the front passeng-
er's seat is occupied. As a result, it could de-
ploy the front passenger’s airbag incorrectly
or fail to deploy it, which increases the risk
of serious or fatal injury. Make sure that no
wet objects (such as a wet hand towel) and
no fluids come into contact with the front
passenger's seat cushion. If the front pas-
senger's seat becomes wet, dry it immedi-
ately. Make sure no electronic devices (such
as a laptop or a retrofitted seat heater) are
on the front passenger's seat. Do not trans-
port any objects on or under the front pas-
senger's seat.
Seat covers or protective covers may prevent
the advanced airbag system from correctly
detecting child safety seats or passengers in
the front passenger's seat. You must not use
seat covers or protective covers on the front
passenger's seat that are not specifically ap-
proved for use on Audi seats with an ad-
vanced airbag system.
pact if the front passenger's airbag deploys,
57
8S1012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely
turn on, remove the child safety seat and
install it again according to the child safe-
ty seat manufacturer instructions. If
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 2%; still
does not turn on, the front passenger's
seat must not be used. Drive to an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility and have the airbag system in-
spected.
— If you use a forward-facing child safety seat
on the front passenger's seat, move the seat
as far back as possible so that it is as far as
possible from the front passenger's airbag.
While doing this, make sure the seat can be
adjusted all the way. A child in a child safety
seat on the front passenger's seat can re-
ceive a severe impact if the front passeng-
er's airbag deploys, which increases the risk
of serious or fatal injury.
— Replace the child safety seat after an acci-
dent because there could be damage that is
not visible.
— Even if a child is not sitting in the child safe-
ty seat, the child safety seat must be se-
cured. An unsecured child safety seat may
be thrown through the vehicle interior dur-
ing sudden braking maneuvers or an acci-
dent.
Correct positioning for children
Always secure children in a child safety seat de-
signed for the body size, weight, and age of the
child.
You can secure child safety seats in your vehicle
using the safety belts. Applies to Coupe: You can
also secure child safety seats to the LATCH an-
chors and to the top tether anchors. Depending
on the child safety seat, it may also be necessary
to secure it to the top tether anchor. Applies to
Coupe: In Canada, it is required by law to secure
forward-facing child safety seats to the top teth-
er anchors on the rear seats.
Always transport children in the rear seats
Applies to: Coupe
Accident statistics show that children that are se-
cured correctly in the rear seats are safer than in
front seats. Always transport children in suitable
child safety seats secured on the rear seats.
Children in the front passenger's seat
If you use a child safety seat on the front passen-
ger seat, then the front passenger’s airbag must
be deactivated. Please note the important infor-
mation for this > page 55, Advanced airbag sys-
tem. If you must secure a forward-facing child
safety seat, move the front passenger's seat as
far back as possible so that it is as far as possible
from the front passenger's airbag. While doing
this, make sure the seat can be adjusted all the
way.
Only switch to a larger child safety seat when
absolutely necessary
Switch to a larger child safety seat only when ab-
solutely necessary. Secure your child using a safe-
ty belt without a child safety seat only if all of the
following statements are true:
— The child is large enough to sit upright in the
seat
—The child is able to sit with his or her back rest-
ing completely on the seat backrest
— The child is able to sit with his or her knees
bent over the edge of the seat surface
—The child is able to sit with both of his or her
feet completely touching the floor in the foot-
well
— The lap portion of the safety belt lies flat and
securely over the hip area and never over the
stomach
— The shoulder portion of the safety belt lies flat
and securely over the center of the shoulder
and
the chest, and never under the arm, behind
the back, or over the neck or face.
—The child is able to maintain this seating posi-
tion throughout the entire trip
Read and follow the important information and
warnings regarding the correct use of safety belts
=> page 49.
G) Tips
— Child safety seats can also be secured to
seats with side airbags. In the event of an
accident, children can also be protected by
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