Seat Mii. Service Manual - part 4

Seat belts

This also applies to other vehicle occupants
when driving in town.

●

When travelling, children must be secured

in the vehicle with a child restraint system
suitable for their weight and height and with
the seat belts correctly fastened

››› 

page 64

.

●

Instruct your passengers to fasten their

seat belts properly before driving off.

●

Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the

appropriate seat and ensure it is engaged.
Using the latch plate in the buckle of another
seat will not protect you properly and may
cause severe injuries.

●

Do not allow liquids or foreign bodies to en-

ter the buckle fastenings. This could damage
the buckles and seat belts.

●

Never unbuckle your seat belt when the ve-

hicle is moving.

●

Never allow more than one passenger to

share the same seat belt.

●

Never hold children or babies on your lap

sharing the same seat belt.

●

Loose, bulky clothing (such as a jacket) im-

pairs the proper fit and function of the seat
belt.

WARNING

It is extremely dangerous to drive using dam-
aged seat belts and could result in serious in-
jury or loss of life.

●

Avoid damaging the seat belt by jamming it

in the door or the seat mechanism.

●

If the fabric or other parts of the seat belt

are damaged, the seat belts could break in
the event of an accident or sudden braking.

●

Always have damaged seatbelts replaced

immediately by seat belts approved for the
vehicle in question by SEAT. Seat belts which
have been worn in an accident and stretched
must be replaced by a specialised workshop.
Renewal may be necessary even if there is no
apparent damage. The belt anchorage should
also be checked.

●

Never attempt to repair, modify or remove a

seat belt yourself. All repairs to seat belts, re-
tractors and buckles must be carried out by a
specialised workshop.

Warning lamp

Fig. 67 

Warning lamp on the instrument pan-

el

Fig. 68 

Indication of seat belt status in the

rear seats on the instrument panel display



It lights up or flashes on

the instrument panel

Driver's seat belt not
fastened or front
passenger seat belt
not fastened if the
front passenger seat
is occupied.

Fasten seat belts!

Objects on the front
passenger seat.

Remove any objects from the
front passenger seat and store
them safely.



On the instrument panel

display

A passenger in the
rear seats has not
fastened their seat
belt, if the seat is oc-
cupied.*

Fasten seat belts!

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

On the instrument panel

display

A passenger in the rear seats has fastened their seat
belt, if the seat is occupied.*

Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.

An audible warning will be heard if the seat
belts are not fastened as the vehicle drives
off and reaches a speed of more than
25 km/h (15 mph) or if the seat belts are un-
fastened while the vehicle is in motion. The
seat belt warning lamp  will also flash.

The warning lamp  does not switch off until
the driver and front passenger fasten their
seat belts while the ignition is switched on.

Seat belt status display for rear seats
The seat belt status display on the instru-
ment panel informs the driver, when the igni-
tion is switched on, whether any passengers
in the rear seats have fastened their seat
belts. The symbol  indicates that the pas-
senger in this seat has fastened “his or her”
seat belt 

››› 

Fig. 68

.

The seat belt status is displayed for around
30 seconds when a seat belt in the rear seats
is fastened or unfastened. You can switch off
this display by pressing the 

0.0 / SET

 button.

The seat belt status flashes for a maximum of
30 seconds when a seat belt in the rear seats
is unfastened while the vehicle is in motion.
An audible warning will also be heard if the
vehicle is travelling at over 25 km/h
(15 mph).

The protective function of seat belts

Fig. 69 

Drivers with properly worn seat belts

will not be thrown forward in the event of sud-
den braking

Properly worn seat belts hold the occupants
in the proper position. They also help prevent
uncontrolled movements that may result in
serious injury and reduce the risk of being
thrown out of the vehicle in case of an acci-
dent.

Vehicle occupants wearing their seat belts
correctly benefit greatly from the ability of the
belts to absorb kinetic energy. In addition,

the front part of your vehicle and other pas-
sive safety features (such as the airbag sys-
tem) are designed to absorb the kinetic ener-
gy released in a collision. Taken together, all
these features reduce the releasing kinetic
energy and consequently, the risk of injury.
This is why it is so important to fasten seat
belts before every trip, even when "just driv-
ing around the corner".

Ensure that your passengers wear their seat
belts as well. Accident statistics have shown
that wearing seat belts is an effective means
of substantially reducing the risk of injury
and improving the chances of survival when
involved in a serious accident. Furthermore,
properly worn seat belts improve the protec-
tion provided by airbags in the event of an
accident. For this reason, wearing a seat belt
is required by law in most countries.

Although your vehicle is equipped with air-
bags, the seat belts must be fastened and
worn. The front airbags, for example, are only
triggered in some cases of head-on collision.
The front airbags will not be triggered during
minor frontal or side collisions, rear-end colli-
sions, rollovers or accidents in which the air-
bag trigger threshold value in the control unit
is not exceeded.

Therefore, you should always wear your seat
belt and ensure that all vehicle occupants
have fastened their seat belts properly before
you drive off!

54

Seat belts

Using seat belts

Twisted seat belt
If it is difficult removing the seat belt from
the guide, the seat belt may have become
twisted inside the side trim after being
wound too quickly on unfastening:

●

Pull out the seat belt completely, carefully

pulling on the latch plate.

●

Untwist the belt and guide it back, assist-

ing it by hand.

The seat belt must be fastened even if it is
impossible to untwist it. In this case, the
twisted area must not be in an area in direct
contact with your body. Have the seat belt
untwisted urgently by a specialised work-
shop.

WARNING

An improperly handled seat belt increases
the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.

●

Regularly check that the seat belts and

their components are in perfect condition.

●

Always keep your seat belt clean.

●

Do not jam or damage the seat belt or rub it

with sharp edges.

●

Make sure there are no liquids or foreign

bodies on the latch plate and in the buckle.

Head-on collisions and the laws of
physics

Fig. 70 

A driver not wearing a seat belt is

thrown forward violently

Fig. 71 

The unbelted passenger in the rear

seat is thrown forward violently, hitting the
driver who is wearing a seat belt.

It is easy to explain how the laws of physics
work in the case of a head-on collision: when
a vehicle starts moving, a type of energy

called “kinetic energy” is created both in the
passengers and inside the vehicle.

The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on
the speed of the vehicle and the weight of
the vehicle and its passengers. The higher
the speed and the greater the weight, the
more energy there is to be “absorbed” in an
accident.

The most significant factor, however, is the
speed of the vehicle. If the speed doubles
from 25 km/h (15 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph), for example, the corresponding ki-
netic energy is multiplied by four.

Because the vehicle occupants in our exam-
ple are not restrained by seat belts, in the
event of crashing against a wall, all of the oc-
cupants' kinetic energy will be absorbed
solely by said impact.

Even at speeds of 30 km/h (19 mph) to
50 km/h (30 mph), the forces acting on bod-
ies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne
(1000 kg). At greater speed these forces are
even higher.

Vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts are
not “attached” to the vehicle. In a head-on
collision, they will move forward at the same
speed their vehicle was travelling just before
the impact. This example applies not only to
head-on collisions, but to all accidents and
collisions.

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Even at low speeds the forces acting on the
body in a collision are so great that it is not
possible to brace oneself with one's hands.
In a frontal collision, unbelted passengers
are thrown forward and will make violent con-
tact with the steering wheel, dash panel,
windscreen or whatever else is in the way

››› 

Fig. 70

.

It is also important for rear passengers to
wear seat belts properly, as they could other-
wise be thrown forward violently through the
vehicle interior in an accident. Passengers in
the rear seats who do not use seat belts en-
danger not only themselves but also the front
occupants 

››› 

Fig. 71

.

How to properly adjust your
seatbelt

Fastening and unfastening seat belt

Fig. 72 

Positioning and removing the seat

belt buckle.

Fig. 73 

Position of seat belt during pregnan-

cy.

Properly worn seat belts hold the vehicle oc-
cupants in the position that most protects
them in the event of an accident or sudden
braking 

››› 

.

Fastening the seat belt
Fasten your seat belt before each trip.

●

Correctly adjust the front seat 

››› 

page 48

.

●

Engage the seat backrest in the upright po-

sition and correctly adjust the hear restraint

››› 

.

●

Pull the latch plate and place the belt web-

bing evenly across your chest and lap. Do 

not

twist the seat belt when doing so 

››› 

.

●

Engage the latch plate in the buckle of the

corresponding seat 

››› 

Fig. 72

 

A.

56

Seat belts

●

Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is

securely engaged in the buckle.

Unfastening the seat belt
The seat belt must not be unfastened until
the vehicle has come to a standstill 

››› 

.

●

Press the red button on the buckle

››› 

Fig. 72

 

B. The latch plate is released from

the buckle.

●

Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls

up easily and the trim will not be damaged.

Correct seat belt position
Seat belts offer their maximum protection in
the event of an accident and reduce the risk
of sustaining severe or fatal injuries only
when they are properly positioned. Further-
more, if the webbing is correctly positioned,
the seat belt will hold the vehicle occupants
in the optimum position to ensure the airbag
provides the maximum protection. The seat
belt must therefore always be worn and the
webbing correctly positioned.

Incorrectly worn seat belts can cause severe
or even fatal injuries 

››› 

page 48, Correct po-

sition of the vehicle occupants

.

●

The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie

on the centre of the shoulder, never across
the neck or the arm, under the arm or behind
the shoulder.

●

The lap part of the seat belt must lie across

the pelvis, never across the stomach.

●

The seat belt must lie flat and fit comforta-

bly. Pull the belt tight if necessary to take up
any slack.

In the case of 

pregnant women, the seat belt

must lie evenly across the chest and as low
as possible over the pelvis, never across the
stomach and must be worn properly at all
times during the pregnancy 

››› 

Fig. 73

.

Adapting the position of the belt webbing to
your size
The seat belt can be adapted using the fol-
lowing equipment:

●

Front seat height adjustment.

WARNING

An incorrectly worn seat belt web can cause
severe or fatal injuries in the event of an acci-
dent.

●

The seat belt cannot offer its full protection

unless the seat backrest is in an upright posi-
tion and the seat belt is worn correctly, ac-
cording to your size.

●

Unbuckling your seat belt while the vehicle

is in motion can cause severe or fatal injuries
in the event of an accident or sudden braking.

●

The seat belt itself or a loose seat belt can

cause severe injuries if the belt moves from

hard areas of the body to soft areas (e.g. the
stomach).

●

The shoulder part of the seat belt must lie

on the centre of the shoulder, never across
the neck or the arm.

●

The seat belt must lie flat and fit comforta-

bly on the torso

●

The lap part of the seat belt must lie across

the pelvis, never across the stomach. The
seat belt must lie flat and fit comfortably on
the pelvis Pull the belt tight if necessary to
take up any slack.

●

For pregnant women, the lap part of the

seat belt must lie as low as possible over the
pelvis and always lie flat, “surrounding” the
stomach.

●

Do not twist the seat belt while it is fas-

tened.

●

Never pull the seat belt away from your

body using your hand.

●

Do not lie the seat belt across rigid or frag-

ile objects, e.g. glasses, pens or keys.

●

Never use seat belt clips, retaining rings or

similar instruments to alter the position of
the belt webbing.

Note

If your physical constitution prevents you
from maintaining the correct position of the
belt webbing, contact a specialised workshop
for help with any special devices to ensure
the optimum protection of the seat belt and

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airbag. SEAT recommends taking your car in
for technical service.

Seat belt tensioners

Automatic belt retractor, belt tension-
er, belt tension limiter

Seat belts are part of the vehicle safety con-
cept 

››› 

page 59

 and consist of the follow-

ing important functions:

Automatic belt retainer
Every seat belt is equipped with an automatic
belt retainer on the shoulder belt. If the belt
is pulled slowly or during normal driving, the
system allows for total freedom of movement
on the shoulder belt. However, during sud-
den braking, during travel in mountains or
bends and during acceleration, the automat-
ic belt retainer on the seat belt is locked is
pulled quickly.

Belt tensioners
The seat belts for the occupants in the front
seats are equipped with belt tensioners.

Sensors trigger the belt tensioners during se-
vere head-on, lateral and rear collisions and
retract and tighten the seat belts. If the seat
belt is loose, it is retracted to reduce the for-
wards movement of occupants or movement

in the direction of the collision. The belt ten-
sioner works in combination with the airbag
system. The belt tensioner will not be trig-
gered in the event of the vehicle overturning
if the side airbags are not deployed.

If the belt tensioner is triggered, a fine dust is
produced. This is normal and it is not an indi-
cation of fire in the vehicle.

Belt tension limiter
The belt tension limiter reduces the force of
the seat belt on the body in the event of an
accident.

Note

The relevant safety requirements must be ob-
served when the vehicle is dismantled or sys-
tem components are removed. These require-
ments are known to specialised workshops

››› 

page 58

.

Service and disposal of belt tension
devices

If you work on the belt tensioners or remove
and install other parts of the vehicle when
performing other repair work, the seat belt
may be damaged. The consequence may be
that, in the event of an accident, the belt ten-
sioners function incorrectly or not at all.

So that the effectiveness of the belt tensioner
is not reduced and that removed parts do not
cause any injuries or environmental pollu-
tion, regulations must be observed. These re-
quirements are known to specialised work-
shops.

WARNING

●

Improper use or repairs not carried out by

qualified mechanics increase the risk of se-
vere or fatal injuries. The belt tensioners may
fail to trigger or may trigger in the wrong cir-
cumstances.

●

Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or

install parts of the belt tensioners or seat
belts.

●

The seat belt tensioner, seat belt and auto-

matic retractor cannot be repaired.

●

Any work on the belt tensioners and seat

belts, including the removal and refitting of
system parts in conjunction with other repair
work, must be performed by a specialised
workshop only.

●

The belt tensioners will only provide pro-

tection for one accident and must be changed
if they have been activated.

For the sake of the environment

Airbag modules and belt tensioners may con-
tain perchlorate. Observe the legal require-
ments for their disposal.

58

Airbag system

Airbag system

Brief introduction

Introduction

Front airbags have been installed for both
driver and passenger. The front airbags can
also protect the chest and head of driver and
passenger if the seats, seat belts head re-
straints and, for the driver, the steering
wheel are correctly adjusted and used. Air-
bags are considered as additional safety
equipment. An airbag cannot replace the
seat belt, which must be worn at all times,
even in front seats where front airbags have
been installed.

The airbag can protect vehicle occupants in
the event of an accidents, cushioning the
movement of the occupants in the direction
of the collision in frontal and side accidents.

Deployed airbags fill with a propellant gas.
This causes the airbag covers to break and
the airbags to deploy extremely quickly in
their entire deployment space within frac-
tions of a second. When an occupant with the
seat belt properly fastened puts pressure on
the inflated airbag, the propellant gas es-
capes to absorb the force of the impact and
slow the movement. This reduces the risk of
severe or fatal injuries. Airbag deployment
does not mean that other types of injury such

as swelling, bruising and skin injuries can be
ruled out. Upon deployment of the airbag,
friction can cause the generation of heat.

Airbags do not protect the arms or the lower
part of the body.

The most important factors for triggering the
airbag are the type of accident, the angle of
impact, the vehicle speed and the character-
istics of the object the vehicle hits. Therefore,
airbags are not triggered every time the vehi-
cle is visibly damaged.

The activation of the airbag system depends
on the magnitude of the deceleration of the
vehicle caused by a collision, which registers
through an electronic control unit. If the de-
celeration magnitude value is below the ref-
erence value programmed in the control unit,
the airbags will not deploy even though seri-
ous damage might be caused to the vehicle
as the result of an accident. Damage suffered
by the vehicle, reparation costs or absence of
damage suffered from the accident are not
indications of whether an airbag should have
been deployed. Due to the varying nature of
collision situations, it is impossible to define
a speed range of the vehicle and reference
values. For this reason, it is not possible to
cover all types of collisions and collision an-
gles resulting in the deployment of the air-
bag. Factors necessary for the airbag to be
deployed can be, the characteristics of the
object (hard or soft) against which the vehi-

cle collides, the collision angle and the vehi-
cle speed.

Airbags act in conjunction with the three-
point seat belts in certain accident situa-
tions, when the vehicle deceleration rate is
severe enough to trigger the airbags. Airbags
only deploy once and only under certain cir-
cumstances. Seat belts remain present to of-
fer protection in situations where airbags are
not triggered or where they have already de-
ployed. For example, when a vehicle hits an-
other after an initial collision or is hit by an-
other vehicle.

The airbag system is an integral part of the
car's passive safety system. The airbag sys-
tem can only work effectively when the vehi-
cle occupants are wearing their seat belts
correctly and have adjusted the head re-
straints properly 



 

››› 

page 48

.

WARNING

Never exclusively trust the airbag system as a
means of protection.

●

Even when triggered, airbag protection is

only auxiliary.

●

The airbags provide the best protection

when the seat belts are properly fastened,
thus reducing the risk of sustaining injuries

››› 

page 52, Why wear a seat belt?

.

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●

Before each trip, every occupant must sit

properly, correctly fasten the seat belt be-
longing to his or her seat and keeping it fas-
tened throughout the trip. This rule is valid
for all vehicle occupants.

WARNING

Occupants sitting in the front of the vehicle
must never carry any objects in the deploy-
ment space between them and the airbags,
as this increases the risk of sustaining inju-
ries if the airbag is triggered. This modifies
the airbag deployment space or the objects
may fly uncontrollably and hit your body.

●

Never carry objects in your hand or on your

lap while the vehicle is in motion.

●

Never transport objects on the front pas-

senger seat. In the event of sudden braking
and manoeuvres, the objects may end up in
the airbag deployment space and fly uncon-
trollably around the interior if the airbag is
activated.

●

Occupants of the front and rear seats must

never carry any other people, pets or objects
in the deployment space between them and
the airbags. Make sure children and other
passengers also respect this recommenda-
tion.

WARNING

The airbag system provides protection for
one accident only. If they have been de-
ployed, they must be replaced.

●

Ensure deployed airbags and the system

components involved are immediately re-
placed with new, SEAT-approved components
for the vehicle.

●

Have any repairs or modifications carried

out at a specialised workshop. Specialised
workshops have the necessary tools, diag-
nostics equipment, repair information and
qualified personnel.

●

Never fit recycled or reused airbag compo-

nents in your vehicle.

●

Never modify the airbag system compo-

nents.

WARNING

If the airbags are triggered, a fine dust is pro-
duced. This is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.

●

This fine dust may irritate the skin and eyes

and cause breathing difficulties, particularly
in people suffering from or who have suffered
from asthma or other illnesses of the respira-
tory tract. To reduce breathing difficulties,
get out of the vehicle and open and doors and
windows to breath in fresh air.

●

Should you touch the dust, wash your

hands and face using a mild soap and water
before you eat.

●

Prevent the dust from affecting the eyes or

open wounds.

●

Rinse your eyes with water if you have dust

in them.

WARNING

Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag
modules to become porous. If an airbag is ac-
cidentally triggered, the detachment of plas-
tic parts could cause serious injury.

●

Never clean the dash panel and the surfa-

ces of the airbag modules with cleaners con-
taining solvents.

Description of airbag system

Vehicle safety components
The following safety equipment makes up the
vehicle safety design to reduce the risk of se-
vere and fatal injuries. Depending on the ve-
hicle equipment, some equipment may not
be fitted in the vehicle or may not be availa-
ble in some markets.

●

Optimised seat belts for all seats.

●

Seat belt tension devices for driver and

passenger.

●

Seat belt force limiters for driver and pas-

senger.

●

Seat belt warning lamp

●

Front airbags for driver and passenger.

●

Side airbags for driver and passenger.

●

Airbag control lamp .

●

Control units and sensors.

60

Airbag system

●

Head restraints optimised for rear-end colli-

sion.

●

Adjustable steering column.

●

If necessary, anchor points for child seats

for the rear seats.

●

Where applicable, mountings for the child

seat upper retaining strap.

Situations in which the front and side air-
bags do not deploy:

●

If the ignition is switched off during the col-

lision.

●

In frontal collisions, when the deceleration

measured by the control unit is too low.

●

In minor side collisions.

●

In rear collisions.

●

In the event of the vehicle overturning.

●

When the impact speed is lower than the

reference value set in the control unit.

There is a fault in the system if the control
lamp :

●

does not light up when the ignition is

switched on,

●

turns off after 4 seconds after the ignition

is switched on

●

turns off and then lights up again after the

ignition is switched on

●

illuminates or flashes while the vehicle is

moving.

WARNING

●

The seat belts and airbags can only provide

maximum protection if the occupants are
seated correctly 

››› 

page 48

.

●

If a fault has occurred in the airbag system,

have the system checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a
frontal collision the system might not trigger
correctly or may fail to trigger at all.

Airbag activation

The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within
thousandths of a second, to provide addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
A fine dust may develop when the airbag de-
ploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.

The airbag system is only ready to function
when the ignition is on.

In special accidents instances, several air-
bags may activate at the same time.

In the event of minor head-on and side colli-
sions, rear-end collisions, overturning or roll-
over of the vehicle, airbags 

do not activate.

Activation factors
The conditions that lead to the airbag system
activating in each situation cannot be gener-
alised. Some factors play an important role,
such as the properties of the object the vehi-

cle hits (hard/soft), angle of impact, vehicle
speed, etc.

Deceleration trajectory is key for airbag acti-
vation.

The control unit analyses the collision trajec-
tory and activates the respective restraint
system.

If the deceleration rate is below the prede-
fined reference value in the control unit the
airbags will not be triggered, even though
the accident may cause extensive damage to
the car.

The following airbags are triggered in seri-
ous head-on collisions

●

Driver airbag.

●

Front passenger front airbag

The following airbags are triggered in seri-
ous side-on collisions

●

Front side airbag on the side of the acci-

dent.

●

Rear side airbag on the side of the acci-

dent.

In an accident with airbag activation:

●

the interior lights switch on (if the interior

light switch is in the courtesy light position);

●

the hazard warning lights switch on;

●

all doors are unlocked;

»

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●

the fuel supply to the engine is cut.

Airbag safety instructions

Front airbags

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 14

.

WARNING

The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of a second.

●

Always keep the deployment areas of the

front airbags vacant.

●

Never secure objects to the covers or in the

deployment area of the airbag modules, e.g.
drink holders or phone supports.

●

The deployment space between the front

passengers and the airbags must not in any
case be occupied by other passenger, pets
and objects.

●

Never fix any object to the windscreen

above the front airbag on the front passenger
side.

●

Do not alter, cover or stick anything to the

steering wheel hub or the surface of the air-
bag module on the passenger side of the
dash panel.

WARNING

Front airbags are deployed in front of the
steering wheel and the instrument panel.

●

When driving, always hold the steering

wheel on the outer edge of the ring with both
hands: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.

●

Adjust the driver seat so that there is a dis-

tance of at least 25 cm (10 inches) between
the centre of your chest and the hub of the
steering wheel. If your physical constitution
prevents you from meeting these require-
ments, make sure you contact a specialised
workshop.

●

Adjust the front passenger seat so there is

as much distance as possible between the
front passenger and the dash panel.

Side airbags*

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 16

.

WARNING

The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of a second.

●

Always keep the deployment areas of the

side airbags vacant.

●

The deployment space between the front

passengers and the airbags must not in any
case be occupied by other passenger, pets
and objects.

●

Do not mount accessories on the doors.

●

Only used protective covers for the seats

that are approved for the vehicle. Otherwise,
the side airbag would be obstructed when de-
ployed.

WARNING

Incorrect handling of the driver's and front
passenger seat could prevent the side airbag
from deploying properly and cause severe in-
juries.

●

Never remove the front seats of the vehicle

or modify any of their components.

●

Great forces must not be exerted on the

seat backrest bolsters because the side air-
bags might not deploy correctly, might not
deploy at all or might deploy unexpectedly.

●

Any damage to the original seat upholstery

or around the seams of the side airbag units
must be repaired immediately by a special-
ised workshop.

62

Airbag system

Deactivating airbags

Control lamps

Fig. 74 

Control lamp for disabling the front

passenger front airbag on the dash panel



It lights up on the combi-in-

strument

Fault in airbag sys-
tem and seat belt
tensioners.

Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.



 

It lights up on the dash panel

Fault in the airbag
system.

Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.

Front passenger
front airbag disa-
bled.

Check whether the airbag should
remain disabled.

Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-

ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.

If the front passenger airbag is deactivated,
the lamp      

does not re-

main lit, or if it is lit together with the control
lamp  on the dash panel, there may be a
fault in the airbag system 

››› 

.

WARNING

In the event of a fault in the airbag system,
the airbag may not trigger correctly, may fail
to trigger or may even trigger unexpectedly,
leading to severe or fatal injuries.

●

Have the airbag system checked immedi-

ately by a specialised workshop.

●

Never mount a child seat in the front pas-

senger seat or remove the mounted child
seat! The front passenger front airbag may
deploy during an accident in spite of the
fault.

CAUTION

Always pay attention to any lit control lamps
and to the corresponding descriptions and in-
structions to avoid damage to the vehicle.

Manual disabling and enabling of the
front passenger front airbag with the
key switch

Fig. 75 

On front passenger side: Key switch

for enabling and disabling the front passen-
ger front airbag.

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 15

Activating the front passenger front airbag

●

Switch the ignition off.

●

Open the door on the front passenger side.

●

Unfold the vehicle key blade 

››› 

page 92

.

●

Using the vehicle key, turn the key switch to

ON 

››› 

Fig. 75

.

●

Close the door on the front passenger side.

●

Check that, with the ignition switched on,

the control lamp      on the
dash panel is not lit 

››› 

page 63

.

»

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How to know whether the front passenger
front airbag is disabled
The 

only indication of the front passenger air-

bag being disabled is that the   


  control lamp on the dash panel re-

mains lit (  stays yellow) 

››› 

page 63

.

If the control lamp   on the dash panel
does not remain lit or is lit in combination
with the control lamp  on the instrument
panel, a child restraint system cannot be
mounted on the front passenger seat for
safety reasons. The front passenger front air-
bag may deploy during an accident.

WARNING

The front passenger front airbag must only be
disabled in special cases.

●

Disable and activate the front passenger

front airbag when the ignition is switched off
to avoid damage to the airbag system.

●

It is the driver's responsibility to ensure

that the key operated switch is set to the cor-
rect position.

●

Only disable the front passenger front air-

bag when a child seat is to be mounted under
exceptional circumstances.

●

As soon as the child seat is no longer nee-

ded on the front passenger seat, reconnect
the front passenger front airbag.

Transporting children safely

Safety for children

Introduction

Before transporting babies and children in a
child seat placed in the front passenger seat,
first completely read the information regard-
ing the airbag system.

This information is extremely important for
driver and passenger safety, particularly that
of babies and children.

SEAT recommends the use of child seats from
the SEAT accessory programme. These child
seats have been designed and tested for use
in SEAT vehicles. You can purchase child
seats with different mountings from a SEAT
dealership.

WARNING

Make sure children are properly belted in and
correctly secured to avoid severe or fatal inju-
ries while the vehicle is in motion.

●

Never use a rear-facing child seat in the

front passenger seat if the front passenger
front airbag is enabled.

●

Children up to 12 years old should always

travel on the rear seat.

●

Children must always be protected with an

approved child restraint system suited to
their height and weight.

●

Children must assume the proper sitting

position and be properly belted in while trav-
elling.

●

Ensure the seat backrest is upright when a

child seat is being used on it.

●

Do not allow the child's head or other part

of his or her body to enter the deployment
area of the side airbags.

●

Make sure the belt webbing is correctly

positioned.

●

Never hold children or babies on your lap or

in your arms.

●

Only one child may occupy a child seat.

●

Please read and observe the child seat

manufacturer's handling instructions.

WARNING

An empty or loose child seat could fly uncon-
trollably around the vehicle interior and
cause injuries in the event of an accident or
sudden braking.

●

When not in use while the vehicle is in mo-

tion, always safely secure the child seat or
store it in the luggage compartment.

Note

Replace the child seat after an accident, as it
may have invisible damage.

64

Transporting children safely

Important information regarding the
front passenger's airbag

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 16

.

Read and always observe the safety informa-
tion included in the following chapters:

●

Safety distance with respect to the passen-

ger airbag 

››› 

 in Introduction on page 59

.

●

Objects between the passenger and the

passenger side airbag 

››› 

 in Front airbags

on page 62

.

The passenger side front airbag, when ena-
bled, is a serious risk for a child that is facing
backward since the airbag can strike the seat
with such force that it can cause serious or
fatal injuries. Children up to 12 years old
should always travel on the rear seat.

Therefore we strongly recommend you to
transport children on the rear seats. This is
the safest location in the vehicle. Alternative-
ly, the front passenger airbag can be disa-
bled with a key-operated switch 

››› 

page 63

.

When transporting children, use a child seat
suitable for the age and size of each child

››› 

page 67

.

WARNING

●

If a child seat is secured to the front pas-

senger seat, the risk to the child of sustain-

ing critical or fatal injuries in the event of an
accident increases.

●

An inflating front passenger airbag can

strike the rear-facing child seat and project it
with great force against the door, the roof or
the backrest.

●

Never install a child seat facing backwards

on the front passenger seat unless the front
passenger front airbag has been disabled.
Risk of potentially fatal injuries to the child!
However, if it is necessary, in exceptional ca-
ses, to transport a child in the front passen-
ger seat, the front passenger front airbag
must always be disabled 

››› 

page 63

. If the

passenger seat has a height adjustment op-
tion, move it to the highest, most upright po-
sition. If you have a fixed seat, do not install
any child restraint system in this location.

●

For those vehicles that do not include a key

lock switch to deactivate the airbag, the vehi-
cle must be taken to a technical service.

●

All vehicle occupants, especially children,

must assume the proper sitting position and
be properly belted in while travelling.

●

Never hold children or babies on your lap,

this can result in potentially fatal injuries to
the child!

●

Never allow a child to be transported in a

vehicle without being properly secured, or to
stand up or kneel on a seat while travelling.
In an accident, the child could be flung
through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal in-
juries to themselves and to the other vehicle
occupants.

●

If children assume an improper sitting posi-

tion when the vehicle is moving, they expose
themselves to greater risk of injury in the
event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or in an
accident. This is particularly important if the
child is travelling on the front passenger seat
and the airbag system is triggered in an acci-
dent; as this could cause serious injury or
even death.

●

A suitable child seat can protect your child!

●

Never leave a child alone in the child seat

or inside the vehicle because depending on
the season, very high temperatures may be
reached inside a parked vehicle, which could
be fatal.

●

Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall

must not wear a normal seat belt without a
child seat, as this could cause injuries to the
abdominal and neck areas during a sudden
braking manoeuvre or in an accident.

●

Do not allow the seat belt to become twis-

ted and the seat belt should be properly in
place 

››› 

page 52

.

●

Only one child may occupy a child seat

››› 

page 67

.

●

When a child seat is mounted in the rear

seats, the door child-proof lock should be ac-
tivated 

››› 

page 98

.

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Child seats

Safety instructions

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 16

.

WARNING

The lower anchor points for child seats do not
include rings. Only secure booster seats to
lower anchor points.

WARNING

Child seats with lower anchor points and with
an upper retaining strap must be installed in
line with the manufacturer's instructions.
Failure to comply could result in severe inju-
ries.

●

Always secure just one retaining strap to a

child seat with the luggage compartment re-
taining ring.

●

Always use the correct retaining rings for

the retaining strap.

●

Never secure the retaining strap to a retain-

er.

WARNING

In general, the rear seat is always the safest
place for children, who are belted correctly, in
the event of an accident.

●

A suitable child seat that is correctly instal-

led and used on one of the rear seats offer

the most protection possible for babies and
children up to 12 years in most accidents.

WARNING

Unbuckling the seat belt while the vehicle is
in motion can cause severe or fatal injuries in
the event of an accident or sudden braking.

●

The seat belt must not be unfastened until

the vehicle has come to a standstill.

CAUTION

●

To avoid making permanent marks in the

padding, remove the auxiliary introduction
elements from the anchor points when the
child seat is not installed in the vehicle an-
chor points.

●

To prevent damage being done to the up-

holstery, the padding or the auxiliary intro-
duction elements, always remove the auxili-
ary introduction elements from the anchor
points before folding the rear seat bench.

66

Transporting children safely

General information on transporting
children in the vehicle

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 17

.

Legal regulations and provisions will always
take priority over the descriptions of this in-
struction manual. There are different regula-
tions and provisions for the use of child seats
and their mountings (

››› 

table on page 67

).

In some countries, for example, the use of
child seats on certain seats in the vehicle
may be forbidden.

The physical principles and the forces acting
on the vehicle in the event of a collision or
other type of accidents also apply to children

››› 

page 52

. However, unlike adults and

youngsters, children do not have fully devel-
oped muscle and bone structures. In the
event of an accident, children are subject to a
greater risk than adults of sustaining severe
injuries.

Given that children's bodies are not yet fully
developed, child restraint systems must be
used that are especially adapted to their
height, weight and constitution. There are
laws in force in many countries that indicate

the use of approved seat systems for trans-
porting babies and children.

Only used authorised, approved child seats
that are suitable for the vehicle. Always con-
sult with a SEAT dealership or a Specialised
workshop should you have any doubts.

Specific child seat regulations for each coun-
try (selection)
Child seats must comply with the ECE-R 44

1)

regulation. You can get additional informa-
tion by consulting your SEAT dealership or at
the internet address www.seat.es.

Categorisation of child seats according to
ECE-R 44

Weight cat-

egory

Weight of

the child

Age

Group 0

up to 10 kg

up to approximately.

9 months

Group 0+

up to 13 kg

up to approximately.

18 months

Group 1

9 to 18 kg

approx. 8 months to 3

1

/

2

 years

Group 2

15 to 25 kg

approx. 3 to 7 years

Group 3

22 to 36 kg

approx. 6 to 12 years

Not all children fit in the seat of their weight
group. Nor do all seats adapt to the vehicle.
Therefore, always check whether the child fits
properly in the child seat and whether the
seat can be installed safely in the vehicle.

Child seats approved under the ECE-R 44 reg-
ulation are fitted with the corresponding ap-
proval symbol. The sign is an upper-case E in
a circle with the identification number below
it.

1)

ECE-R: 

Economic Comission for Europe Regulation.

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Use of the child seat on the front pas-
senger seat

1)

Transporting children on the front passenger
seat is not permitted in all countries. Further-
more, not all child seats are approved for use
on the front passenger seat. Your SEAT deal-
ership has an updated list of all approved
child seats. Only used child seats that are ap-
proved for each vehicle.

The front airbag on the front passenger side
is highly dangerous for a child. The front pas-
senger seat is life-threatening to a child if he
or she is transported in a rear-facing child
seat.

If a rear-facing child seat is secured to the
front passenger seat, an inflating front airbag
can strike it with such great force that severe
or fatal injuries may result 

››› 

. Therefore,

rear-facing child seats must 

never be placed

on the front passenger seat when the front
passenger front airbag is enabled.

Only use a rear-facing child seat on the front
passenger seat if the front passenger front
airbag is disabled. When it is disabled, the
yellow      

››› 

page 59

 con-

trol lamp on the dash panel will be lit. 

If you

cannot disable the front passenger front air-

bag and it remains activated, it is forbidden
to transport children on the front passenger
seat 

››› 

.

Things to note if using a child seat on the
front passenger seat:

●

The front passenger front airbag 

must be

disabled 



 when using a rear-facing child

seat 

››› 

page 59

.

●

The seat backrest of the front passenger

seat must be upright.

●

The front passenger seat must be moved as

far back as possible.

●

The seat backrest of the front passenger

seat must be upright.

Suitable child seats
The child seat must be authorised by the
manufacturer especially for use on a front
passenger seat with a front or side airbag.

Universal seats for children can be fitted in
the front passenger seat, in groups 0, 0+, 1,
2 or 3 according to the ECE-R 44 regulation.

WARNING

If a child seat is mounted on the front passen-
ger seat, the risk of the child sustaining se-

vere or fatal injuries in the event of an acci-
dent increases. Rear-facing child seats must
never be mounted on the front passenger
seat when the front passenger front airbag is
enabled. This is life-threatening to the child
should the front airbag deploy, as the child
seat would be struck by the inflated airbag
and thrown against the seat backrest.

WARNING

If, in exceptional circumstances, a child must
be transported in a rear-facing child seat on
the front passenger seat, strictly observe the
following:

●

Always disable the front passenger front

airbag and leave it disabled.

●

The child seat must be approved by the

manufacturer for use on a front passenger
seat with front and side airbag.

●

Follow the installation instructions of the

child seat manufacturer and observe the
warnings.

●

Move the front passenger seat as far back

as possible and adjust it to its highest posi-
tion to keep as far away as possible from the
front airbag.

●

Move the seat backrest to the upright posi-

tion.

1)

Compliance with current national legislation and

the manufacturer's instructions is required when us-
ing or installing child seats.

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