2021 AUDI A5 airbag

8W7012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely

> Press the button (2) and slide the head restraint
all the way down. It should not be possible to
remove the head restraint from the backrest
without pressing the button.
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 in the rear seats



who do not wear safety belts not only en-
danger 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 69.
— Check the condition of your vehicle’s safety
belts regularly > page 268. If you find dam-
age to the belt webbing, the belt connec-
tions, the retractor, or the buckle, have the
damaged safety belt replaced by an author-
ized 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 must be replaced by an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty.

75

Sitting correctly and safely

Correct safety belt positioning

B4H-0751



RAZ-0696



Fig. 74 Safety belt positioning for pregnant women
Fastened safety belts only offer optimal protec-
tion during an accident and reduce the risk of se-
rious injury or death when they are positioned
correctly. Furthermore, the correct safety belt
position holds the vehicle occupant in place so
that a deployed airbag can provide maximum
protection. Therefore, always fasten the safety
belt and make sure it is positioned correctly
> fig. 73.
To ensure the safety belt is positioned correctly,
make sure of the following points:
—The lap portion of the safety belt must be locat-
ed across the lap.
—The shoulder portion of the safety belt must
rest over the center of the shoulder.
— The safety belt must always rest flat and se-
curely on the body.
For pregnant women, the safety belt must rest
evenly across the chest and as low and flat as
possible on the lap, so that no pressure is applied
to the lower abdomen. This should be done
throughout the entire pregnancy > fig. 74.
76


AN WARNING
Incorrect safety belt positioning can cause se-
rious injury in the event of an accident or dur-
ing sudden braking or driving maneuvers.
— Never drive with the backrest reclined ex-
tremely far. The more the backrest is tilted
back, the greater the risk of injury due to the
safety belt being routed incorrectly.
— The safety belt itself or a loose safety belt
can cause serious injuries if it shifts onto
soft areas of the body, such as the stomach.
— The shoulder portion of the safety belt must
lie over the center of the shoulder and
chest, and never under the arm, behind the
back, or across the neck or face.
— The lap portion of the safety belt must lie
across the lap and never over the stomach.
— The safety belt must lie flat and securely on
the upper part of the body and the lap.
— The belt webbing must not be pinched or
twisted, or rub against sharp edges.
— If the safety belt height is set incorrectly
and/or the safety belt is routed incorrectly,
then the safety belt's protective function
will be impaired in the event of an accident.
Make sure the safety belt is at the right
height and is routed correctly for the pas-
senger using it.
— A safety belt that is too loose may lead to in-
juries during an accident, because your body
will move farther forward due to kinetic en-
ergy and will be stopped abruptly by the
belt.
— Heavily bulky, loose clothing (for example, a
coat over a sports jacket) may prevent the
seat and safety belts from functioning cor-
rectly.
— Do not position the safety belt over hard or
breakable objects (such as glasses, pens,
etc.).
— The lap belt portion of the safety belt must
sit as low as possible on the lap of pregnant
women and lie flat under the belly.

() Note
Make sure that there are no hook-and-loop
fasteners or sharp objects such as zippers or >

8W7012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely

briefly. The seat will be fully adjusted to the
settings in the seat profile.
> If the door is closed or the ignition is switched
on, press and hold the memory button until the
seat is fully adjusted to the settings in the seat
profile.


ZX WARNING
— To reduce the risk of an accident, the seat
setting can only be recalled when the vehicle
is stationary.
— In an emergency, the recall process can be
canceled by pressing the seat adjustment
button on that seat.

Airbag system
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 69. 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.
— 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 con-
tain 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.

79

Sitting correctly and safely

@ Tips
If you are transporting children in the vehicle,
read the information and follow the safety
precautions > page 84.
Safety systems monitoring
The ka indicator light in the instrument cluster
monitors the safety systems such as the airbags
(including the control modules, sensor, and wir-
ing) and the belt tensioners. It turns on when you
switch the ignition on and turns off after several
seconds.
80
If the indicator light does not turn on when the
ignition is switched on, does not turn off after
several seconds, or turns on or flashes while driv-
ing, 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.

ZA\ 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.

8W7012721BB

Sitting correctly and safely






y
Applies to: vehicles without power top:
Fig. 79 Airbag layout (enlarged section/deployed airbags)
g
Applies to: vehicles with power top:
Fig. 80 Airbag layout (enlarged section/deployed airbags) >
81

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 in the front and possibly in the
rear (on Sportback models)
Head curtain airbag with ejection mitigation
©®
©80
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: vehicles without power top: Airbags
may deploy during head-on, side-impact, or roll-
over collisions.
Applies to: vehicles with power top: 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 82.
82
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.
Gi) Tips
Applies to: vehicles without power top
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. 81 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. >

8W7012721BB
Sitting correctly and safely

According to these requirements, the front Ad-
vanced Airbag System on the passenger’s side
has been certified for “suppression” for infants
approximately 12 months old and younger, and
for “low risk deployment” for children aged 3 to
6 years old (as defined in the standard).
The advanced airbag system will activate or deac-
tivate the front passenger's airbag based on the
occupancy of the seat. If a front airbag deploys
during an accident, the deployment force will
adapt to the passenger.
Components
The advanced airbag system consists of the fol-
lowing components:
— Front airbags in the steering wheel and in the
instrument panel on the front passenger's side:
these can protect the front passengers during
an accident
— Passenger occupant detection sensor in the
front
passenger's seat: this detects if the front
passenger's seat is occupied (for example, by a
person or a small child in a child safety seat)
— Seat position sensors on the front seats: these
determine the distance between the seat and
the steering wheel or instrument panel
— Sensors in the front seat belt latch: these de-
tect if the safety belts are fastened
— PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 8; ON ® indi-
cator light in the headliner:this indicates if the
front passenger's airbag is activated or deacti-
vated
- indicator light in the instrument cluster:
this monitors the function of the Advanced Air-
bag System components to ensure they are
functioning correctly
How the components function together
The passenger occupant detection sensor in the
front passenger's seat detects if the front pas-
senger's seat is occupied. The passenger occu-
pant detection sensor measures the electrical ca-
pacity on the front passenger’s seat. The pas-
senger's airbag is activated or deactivated de-
pending on the electrical capacity that is meas-
ured.
The passenger's airbag is activated if:
— The electrical capacity is higher than the
threshold stored in the control module
— The electrical capacity is the same as or greater
than the electrical capacity of a typical adult
The passenger's airbag is deactivated if:
— The electrical capacity is lower than the thresh-
old stored in the control module
— The electrical capacity is the same as or less
than the electrical capacity of a typical one-
year-old child in a child safety seat that has
been used for certification in accordance with
FMVSS 208
If the front passenger's airbag is activated, the
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ indicator light
will turn on. If the front passenger's airbag is de-
activated, the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #;
indicator light will turn on.
The deployment force of the front airbags adapts
based on whether or not the safety belt is used
and the distance between the seat and the steer-
ing wheel/instrument panel. For example, if a
person is too close to the front airbag, the front
airbag will deploy with less force to help reduce
the risk of injury.
Meaning of PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #4, ON
® indicator light
When the ignition is switched on, the system de-
tects whether the front passenger's seat is occu-
pied. PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; ON @
will turn on for several seconds during this proc-
ess. Then it will indicate whether the front pas-
senger's airbag is activated or deactivated.
— PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 8%: the front
passenger's airbag is deactivated and will not
deploy in the event of an accident.
— PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ®: the front pas-
senger's airbag is activated and could deploy in
the event of an accident.
If a change to the occupancy status of the front
passenger's seat is detected
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF #; ON @ will
flash for several seconds and will then display the
status of the front passenger's airbag.
83
>

Sitting correctly and safely

Always make sure the indicator light corresponds
to the occupancy of the front passenger's seat.
— An adult or individual of similar size in the
front passenger's seat: the front passenger's
airbag must be activated, therefore
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ must remain
turned on.
— An individual of smaller size (for example, an
adolescent or small adult) in the front pas-
senger's seat: the front passenger's airbag
must be activated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG ON @ must stay on.
— Child in a child safety seat on the front pas-
senger's seat: the front passenger's airbag
must be deactivated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF 3%; must stay on.
— Front passenger's seat not occupied: the front
passenger's airbag must be deactivated, so
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ; must stay 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 69 and
that there is nothing covering the front pas-
senger's seat (such as blankets or pillows).
If PASSENGER AIR BAG ON ®@ 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.
—Achild ina child safety seat on the front
passenger's seat - especially in a rear-facing
child safety seat - can receive a severe im-
pact if the front passenger's airbag deploys,
which increases the risk of serious or fatal
injury. Always secure child safety seats on
the rear seats. If special circumstances re-
quire the use of a child safety seat on the

84

front passenger's seat, always make sure
that PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ; stays
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.

Child safety seats
General information
When installing and using child safety seats, fol-
low the information in this Owner's Manual, the
applicable state and federal regulations, and the
manufacturer instructions for the child safety
seat.