Seat Leon (2022 year). Manual in english

Safety

Safety

Safe driving

Advice about driving

Safety first!

WARNING

●

This manual contains important informa-

tion about the operation of the vehicle,
both for the driver and the passengers. The
other sections of the on-board documenta-
tion also contain further information that
you should be aware of for your own safety
and for the safety of your passengers.

●

Ensure that the on-board documentation

is kept in the vehicle at all times. This is es-
pecially important when lending or selling
the vehicle to another person.

Before driving

For your own safety and the safety of your
passengers, always note the following points
before every trip:

–

Make sure that the vehicle's lights and turn
signals are working properly.

–

Check tyre pressure.

–

Ensure that all windows provide a clear and
good view of the surroundings.

–

Make sure all luggage is secured

›››

page 139

–

Make sure that no objects can interfere with
the pedals.

–

Adjust front seat, headrest and mirrors
properly according to your size.

–

Ensure that the passengers in the rear seats
always have the headrests in the in-use po-
sition

›››

page 134

–

Instruct passengers to adjust the headrests
according to their height.

–

Protect children with appropriate child
seats and properly applied seat belts

›››

page 33

–

Assume the correct sitting position. Instruct
your passengers also to assume a proper
sitting position

›››

page 15

–

Fasten your seat belt securely. Instruct your
passengers also to fasten their seat belts
properly

›››

page 18

Factors influencing safety

As a driver, you are responsible for yourself
and your passengers.

–

Always pay attention to traffic and do not
get distracted by passengers or telephone
calls.

–

Never drive when your driving ability is im-
paired (e.g. by medication, alcohol, drugs).

–

Observe traffic laws and speed limits.

–

Always reduce your speed as appropriate
for road, traffic and weather conditions.

–

When travelling long distances, take breaks
regularly - at least every two hours.

–

If possible, avoid driving when you are tired
or stressed.

WARNING

Driving under the influence of alcohol,
drugs, medication or narcotics may result
in severe accidents and even loss of life.

●

Alcohol, drugs, medication and narcotics

may significantly alter perception, affect
reaction times and safety while driving,
which could result in the loss of control of
the vehicle.

Safety equipment

Never put your safety or the safety of your
passengers in danger. In the event of an acci-
dent, the safety equipment may reduce the

Safe driving

risk of injury. The following points cover part
of the safety equipment in your SEAT

●

three-point seat belts,

●

belt tension limiters for the front and rear

side seats,

●

belt tensioners for the front and rear side

seats,

●

front airbags,

●

knee and central driver airbags

●

side airbags in the front seat backrests,

●

side airbags in the rear seat backrests,

●

head-protection airbags,

●

“ISOFIX” anchor points on the front passen-

ger seat and on the rear seats for child seats
with the “ISOFIX” system,

●

height-adjustable front headrests,

●

rear headrests with in-use position and

non-use position,

●

adjustable steering column.

The safety equipment mentioned above
works together to provide you and your pas-
sengers with the best possible protection in
the event of an accident. However, these
safety systems can only be effective if you
and your passengers are sitting in a correct
position and use this equipment properly.

Safety is everyone's business!

Correct sitting position of
vehicle occupants

Correct position on the seat

Fig. 7

The correct distance between the driver

and the steering wheel must be at least 25 cm

(10 inches).

Fig. 8

Correct belt web and headrest positions

The correct sitting positions for the driver and
passengers are shown below.

If your physical constitution prevents you
from maintaining the correct sitting position,
contact a specialised workshop for help with
any special devices. The seat belt and airbag
can only provide optimum protection if a cor-
rect sitting position is adopted. SEAT recom-
mends taking your car in for technical serv-
ice.

For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injury in the event of an accident or sudden
braking or manoeuvre, SEAT recommend the
following positions:

Valid for all vehicle occupants:

●

Adjust the headrest so that its upper edge is

at the same level as the top of your head, or

Depending on the version/market.

Safety

as close as possible to the same level as the
top of your head and under no circumstances
below eye level. Keep the back of your neck
as close as possible to the headrest

›››

Fig. 8

●

Short people must lower the headrest com-

pletely, even if your head is below its upper
edge.

●

Tall people must raise the headrest com-

pletely.

●

Always keep your feet in the footwell while

the vehicle is in motion.

●

Adjust and fasten your seat belt correctly

›››

page 21

The following also applies to the driver:

●

Move the seat backrest to an almost up-

right position so that your back rests com-
pletely against it.

●

Move the steering wheel so it is at least

25 cm (10 inches) away from the sternum

›››

Fig. 7

and you can hold it with both hands

on both sides, on the outer part, with your
arms slightly bent.

●

The steering wheel must always point to-

wards the chest and never towards the face.

●

Move the seat in such a way that you can

step on the pedals with your knees slightly
bent and with a distance between the knees
and the dashboard of at least 10 cm (4 in-
ches)

›››

Fig. 7

●

Adjust the height of the seat so that you

can reach the top of the steering wheel.

●

Always keep both feet in the footwell so

that you have the vehicle under control at all
times.

For the passenger, the following applies:

●

Move the seat backrest to an almost up-

right position so that your back rests com-
pletely against it.

●

Move the seat as far back as possible (mini-

mum 25 cm between the chest and the dash-
board check translation). If you are sitting
closer than 25 cm, the airbag system cannot
protect you properly.

Number of seats

The vehicle has

seats, 2 in the front and 3 in

the rear. All seats are equipped with a safety
belt.

WARNING

Sitting in an incorrect position may in-
crease the risk of severe or lethal injuries in
the event of sudden braking or manoeu-
vring, in case of collision or accident and if
the airbags deploy.

●

Before starting the car, all passengers

must be sitting in a correct position and
stay like that for the entire journey. This al-
so applies to a correct use of the seat belt.

●

The maximum amount of people in the

vehicle is the same as the amount of seats
with seat belts.

●

For children, always use a certified pro-

tection system, certified and suited for their
weight and height

›››

page 33

●

While driving, always keep your feet in

the footwell. Never place them over the
seat or the dashboard, for example, or out-
side the window. Otherwise the airbag and
seat belt may offer insufficient protection
and also increase the risk of injury in the
event of an accident.

Risks of sitting in an incorrect posi-
tion

If seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at all,
the risk of severe or lethal injuries increases.
Seat belts can provide optimal protection on-
ly if the belt web is properly worn. Incorrect
sitting positions substantially reduce the pro-
tective function of seat belts and, therefore,
increase the risk of severe or even lethal inju-
ries. The risk of severe or fatal injuries is espe-
cially heightened when a deploying airbag
strikes a vehicle occupant who has assumed
an incorrect sitting position. The driver is re-
sponsible for all people, particularly children,
inside the vehicle.

Safe driving

The following list contains examples of incor-
rect sitting positions that could be dangerous
for all vehicle occupants.

When the vehicle is in motion:

●

Never stand in the vehicle.

●

Never stand on the seats.

●

Never kneel on the seats.

●

Never tilt your seat backrest too far to the

rear.

●

Never lean against the dash panel.

●

Never lie on the rear seats.

●

Never sit on the front edge of a seat.

●

Never sit sideways.

●

Never lean out of a window.

●

Never put your feet out of a window.

●

Never put your feet on the dash panel.

●

Never place your feet on the bench or on

the backrest of the seat.

●

Never travel in a footwell.

●

Never sit on the armrests.

●

Never travel without wearing the seat belt.

●

Never travel in the luggage compartment.

WARNING

Sitting in an incorrect position increases
the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the
event of accidents and sudden braking or
manoeuvres.

●

All occupants must sit correctly during

the journey and wear the seat belt correct-
ly.

●

Occupants of the vehicle that are not sit-

ting correctly, not wearing the seat belt or
are not at a proper distance of the airbag
risk suffering very serious or lethal injuries,
especially if the airbags deploy and strike
them.

Steering wheel position adjust-
ment

Fig. 9

Lever in the lower left side of the steer-

ing column.

Adjust the steering wheel before your trip and
only when the vehicle is stationary.

●

Pull the

›››

Fig. 9

lever down, move the

steering wheel to the desired position and lift
the lever back up until it locks.

WARNING

Incorrect use of the steering wheel adjust-
ment function and an incorrect adjustment
of the steering wheel can result in severe or
fatal injury.

●

After adjusting the steering column, push

the lever

›››

Fig. 9

firmly upwards to en-

sure the steering wheel does not acciden-
tally change position while driving.

●

Never adjust the steering wheel while the

vehicle is in motion. If you need to adjust
the steering wheel while the vehicle is in
motion, stop safely and make the proper
adjustment.

●

The adjusted steering wheel should be

facing your chest and not your face so as
not to hinder the driver's front airbag pro-
tection in the event of an accident.

●

When driving, always hold the steering

wheel with both hands on the outside of the
ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions
to reduce injuries when the driver's front
airbag deploys.

●

Never hold the steering wheel at the 12

o'clock position or in any other manner
(e.g. in the centre of the steering wheel). In
such cases, if the driver's airbag deploys,
you may sustain injuries to your arms,
hands and head.

Safety

Pedal area

Pedals

–

Ensure that you can always press the ac-
celerator, brake and clutch pedals unim-
paired to the floor.

–

Ensure that the pedals can return unim-
paired to their initial positions.

–

Ensure that the floor mats are securely fas-
tened during the trip and do not obstruct
the pedals

›››

Only use floor mats which leave the pedals
clear and which are secured to prevent them
from slipping. You can obtain suitable floor
mats from a specialised dealership. Fasteners
for floor mats are fitted in the footwells.

If a brake circuit fails, the brake pedal must be
pressed down thoroughly in order to stop the
vehicle.

Wear suitable footwear

Always wear shoes which support your feet
properly and give you a good feeling for the
pedals.

WARNING

●

Restricting pedal operation can lead to

critical situations while driving.

●

Never lay or fit floor mats or other floor

coverings over the original floor mats. This
would reduce the pedal area and could ob-
struct the pedals. Risk of accident.

●

Never place objects in the driver footwell.

An object could move into the pedal area
and impair pedal operation.

Seat belts

The whys and wherefores of
seat belts

Control lamps



It lights up red

The driver or one of the passengers have not fas-
tened their seat belts.

The control lamp



lights up to remind the

driver to fasten their seat belt.

Before starting the vehicle:

●

Fasten your seat belt securely.

●

Instruct your passengers to fasten their

seat belts properly before driving off.

●

Protect children by using a child seat ac-

cording to the child's height and weight

›››

page 33

When starting to drive, if the vehicle's speed
exceeds approx. 25 km/h (15 mph) and the
seat belts are not fastened or are unfastened
while driving, a warning sound will be heard
for a few seconds. The warning light will also
flash



The lamp



goes out when the ignition is on

and all occupants have fastened their seat
belts.

Seat belts

Rear seat belts fastened display

Fig. 10

Instrument panel: left rear seat occu-

pied and corresponding seat belt fastened dis-

play.

Depending on the model version, when the
ignition is switched on, the seat belt status
display

›››

Fig. 10

on the instrument panel in-

forms the driver whether the passengers in
the rear seats have fastened their seat belts.

It indicates that the corresponding seat
is empty.
Indicates that the seat is occupied and
the occupant is wearing the seat belt.

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 vehi-
cle is travelling at over 25 km/h (15 mph).

If a seat belt is fastened or unfastened while
driving in some of the rear seats, the seat belt





status is displayed for approximately 30 sec-
onds. The indication can be hidden by press-
ing the





button on the dash panel.

The protective function of seat
belts

Fig. 11

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 driving
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 in-
volved 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, overturns or accidents in which the air-
bag trigger threshold value in the control unit
is not exceeded.

Important safety instructions for
the use of seat belts

–

Always wear the seat belt as described in
this section.

Safety

–

Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened
at all times and are not damaged.

WARNING

●

If seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at

all, the risk of severe injuries increases. The
optimal protection from seat belts can be
achieved only if you use them properly.

●

Never allow two passengers (even chil-

dren) to share the same seat belt.

●

Never unbuckle a seat belt while the ve-

hicle is in motion. Risk of fatal injury.

●

The seat belt should never lie on hard or

fragile objects (such as glasses or pens,
etc.) because this can cause injuries.

●

Do not allow the seat belt to be damaged

or jammed, or to rub on any sharp edges.

●

Never wear the seat belt under the arm or

in any other incorrect position.

●

Bulky and unfastened clothing (such as

an overcoat over a sweater) impairs the
proper fit and function of the seat belts, re-
ducing their capacity to protect.

●

The slot in the seat belt buckle must not

be blocked with paper or other objects, as
this can prevent the latch plate from en-
gaging securely.

●

Never use seat belt clips, fastening rings

or similar items to alter the position of the
belt webbing.

●

Frayed or torn seat belts or damage to

the connections, belt retractors or parts of

the buckle could cause severe injuries in
the event of an accident. Therefore, you
must check the condition of all seat belts
at regular intervals.

●

Seat belts which have been worn in an

accident and have been stretched must be
replaced by a specialised workshop. Re-
newal may be necessary even if there is no
apparent damage. The belt anchorage
should also be checked.

●

Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat

belt yourself. The seat belts must not be re-
moved or modified in any way.

●

The belts must be kept clean, otherwise

the retractors may not work properly.

Head-on collisions and the laws of
physics

Fig. 12

A driver not wearing a seat belt is

thrown forward violently.

Fig. 13

The unbelted passenger in the rear

seat is thrown forward violently, hitting the driv-

er who is wearing a seat belt.

The effects of the laws of physics in the case
of a head-on collision are easy to explain: the
moment a vehicle starts moving, a type of en-
ergy called “kinetic energy” starts acting on
both the vehicle and its passengers.

The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on
the speed of the vehicle and on the weight of
the vehicle and of its passengers. The higher
they are, the more energy there is to be “ab-
sorbed” in the event of 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 kinetic ener-
gy is multiplied by four.

Given that the passengers of the vehicle in
our example do not have their seat belts fas-
tened, in the event of a collision the entire

Seat belts

amount of the passengers' kinetic energy will
be only absorbed by the mentioned 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.

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 contact
with the steering wheel, dash panel, wind-
screen or whatever else is in the way

›››

Fig. 12

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. 13

How to properly adjust your
seat belt

Fastening and unfastening the seat
belt

Fig. 14

Insert the latch plate of the seat belt in-

to the buckle.

Fig. 15

Release the seat belt's buckle.

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.

●

Adjust the front seat and headrest correctly

›››

page 15

●

Engage the seat backrest of the rear seat in

an upright position

›››

●

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. 14

●

Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is

securely engaged in the buckle.

Releasing the seat belt

Only unfasten the seat belt when the vehicle
has come to a standstill

›››

●

Press the red button on the buckle

›››

Fig. 15

. 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.

Safety

WARNING

●

The seat belt cannot offer its full protec-

tion unless the seat backrest is in an up-
right position and the seat belt is worn cor-
rectly, according to your size.

●

Unbuckling your seat belt while the vehi-

cle is in motion can cause severe or fatal
injuries in the event of an accident or sud-
den 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).

Correct seat belt position

Fig. 16

Correct seat belt and headrest posi-

tions, viewed from front and the side.

Fig. 17

Position of seat belt during pregnancy.

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. Furthermore, if
the webbing is correctly positioned, the seat
belt will hold the vehicle occupants in the op-
timum 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 15, Correct sit-

ting position of 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. 17

Adapting the position of the belt webbing
to your size

The position of the seat belt can be adapted
by adjusting the height of the front seats.

WARNING

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

●

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 comfort-

ably on the torso

●

The lap part of the seat belt must lie

across the pelvis, never across the stom-
ach. The seat belt must lie flat and fit com-
fortably 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

›››

Fig. 17

Seat belts

●

Do not twist the seat belt while it is fas-

tened.

●

Once the seat belt is positioned correct-

ly, don't pull it away from your body with
your hand.

●

Do not lie the seat belt across rigid or

fragile 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 work-
shop for help with any special devices to
ensure the optimum protection of the seat
belt and airbag. SEAT recommends taking
your car in for technical service.

Seat belt tensioners

How the seat belt tensioner works

The seat belts for the front seats and the side
rear seats

are equipped with belt tensioners.

The belt tensioners are activated by sensors,
although only in severe head-on, lateral and

rear-end collisions, or in the event of the vehi-
cle overturning in the plug-in hybrid version of
the vehicle.

This retracts and tightens the seat belts, re-
ducing the forward motion of the occupants.

The belt pre-tensioners work in combination
with the airbag system. The belt pre-tension-
ers activate in combination with some of the
airbags, depending on the collision type.

Note

●

If the seat belt tensioners are triggered, a

fine dust is produced. This is normal and it
is not an indication of fire in the vehicle.

●

The relevant safety requirements must be

observed when the vehicle or components
of the system are scrapped. Specialised
workshops are familiar with these regula-
tions, which are also available to you.

Maintenance and disposal of seat
belt tensioners

The belt tensioners are components of the
seat belts that are installed in the seats of
your vehicle. If you work on the belt tension-
ers or remove and install parts of the system
when performing other repair work, the seat
belt may be damaged. The consequence

may be that, in the event of an accident, the
belt tensioners function incorrectly or may
not function at all.

So that the effectiveness of the seat belt ten-
sioner is not reduced and that removed parts
do not cause any injuries or environmental
pollution, regulations, which are known to the
specialised workshops, must be observed.

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 circumstances.

●

The seat belt tensioner, seat belt and au-

tomatic 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 re-
pair work, must be performed by a special-
ised 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
contain perchlorate. Observe the legal re-
quirements for their disposal.

Depending on version/market.

Safety

PreCrash system

How it works

The PreCrash system is an assistance system
that actives a series of measures to protect
the occupants of the vehicles in potentially
risky situations, but which cannot prevent a
collision.

It only works completely if no special driving
profile is selected and if there are no operat-
ing anomalies.

Basic features

Depending on the legal provisions of the
country and the features of the vehicle, in crit-
ical situations (e.g. in certain cases of emer-
gency braking or loss of control of the vehicle
by the driver) the following functions can be
activated separately or at the same time
when the vehicle is travelling faster than ap-
proximately 30 km/h (20 mph).

●

Reversible tensioning of front seat belts that

are fastened.

●

Operation of the hazard warning lights.

●

Automatic closing of the windows until they

are just cracked open and, depending on the
equipment, of the sunroof.

●

In the event of overturning, depending on

the equipment, activation of the belt tension-
ers.

Depending on how critical the driving situa-
tion is, the belts are either tightened individu-
ally, or both belts at the same time.

In addition to Front Assist

In vehicles with Front Assist

›››

page 246

within the limits of the system, information is
assessed on the risk of collision with the vehi-
cle in front. The functions of the PreCrash
system may also be activated if there is a
high likelihood of a rear-end collision, or dur-
ing the activation of Front Assist.

In addition to the Emergency Assist system

In vehicles with emergency assist, driver sta-
tus information is assessed within the limita-
tions of this system. The following PreCrash
systems may be activated if a lack of activity
is detected:

●

Reversible seat belt tensioning of the driv-

er's seat belt.

●

Automatic closing of the windows until they

are just cracked open and, depending on the
equipment, of the sunroof.

Activation of the PreCrash system

The PreCrash system can be partially deacti-
vated by deactivating the traction and / or
stability control, depending on the equip-
ment. When these vehicle safety controls are
switched on (by default, every time the igni-
tion is turned on), the system is fully activated.

Driving profile selection settings

In vehicles with driving profile selection,
PreCrash adapts to suit the special vehicle
configuration of the corresponding profile

›››

page 234

Limited operation

The PreCrash system is not available or only
has limited availability in the following situa-
tions:

●

When the TCS and/or the ESC are discon-

nected.

●

When driving in reverse.

●

When the airbag control unit is not operat-

ing properly.

●

When there is a fault in the system itself, in

the ESC or in the Front Assist.

Problems and solutions

If the PreCrash is not working correctly, the
message

System unavailable

System

with limited features

is shown perma-

nently on the dashboard display. Have the
system checked by a SEAT workshop.

WARNING

The PreCrash system cannot overcome the
limits imposed by the laws of physics; it on-
ly works within the limits of the system.
Risks that compromise safety are never jus-
tified by the use of this system. The system

Airbag system

is not a replacement for driver awareness
and cannot prevent a collision.

●

Adapt your speed and safe distance to

the vehicle in front of you at all times to suit
the visibility, weather, road and traffic con-
ditions.

●

The system is not always able to recog-

nise objects.

●

The system may not react to people or

animals or objects that cross length-wise
or that are hard to detect.

●

Metallic objects (e.g. fences) or other el-

ements of the public road or adverse
weather conditions can hinder its operation
and thus its ability to detect collision risk.

●

Never ignore the warning lamps that light

up or the messages shown on the dash-
board.

WARNING

Distracting the driver in any way can lead
to an accident and cause injuries.

●

Never change settings on the Infotain-

ment System while driving.

Airbag system

Brief introduction

Why is it so important to wear a
seat belt and to sit correctly?

For the inflating airbags to achieve the best
protection, the seat belt must always be worn
properly and the correct sitting position must
be assumed.

The airbag system is not a substitute for seat
belts, but it is an integral part of the vehicle's
overall passive safety system. Please bear in
mind that the airbag system can only work
effectively when the vehicle occupants are
wearing their seat belts correctly and have
adjusted the headrests properly. Therefore, it
is most important to properly wear the seat
belts at all times, not only because this is re-
quired by law in most countries, but also for
your safety

›››

page 18, The whys and

wherefores of seat belts

The airbag inflates in a matter of seconds, so
if you are not properly seated when the air-
bag is triggered, you may sustain fatal inju-
ries. Therefore, it is essential that all vehicle
occupants assume a correct sitting position
while travelling.

Sharp braking before an accident may cause
a passenger not wearing a seat belt to be

thrown forward into the area of the deploying
airbag. In this case, the inflating airbag may
inflict critical or fatal injuries on the occupant.
This also applies to children.

Always maintain the greatest possible dis-
tance between yourself and the front airbag.
This way, the front airbags can completely
deploy when triggered, providing their maxi-
mum protection.

The most important factors for triggering the
airbag are the type of accident, the angle of
impact and the vehicle speed.

Whether or not the airbags are activated de-
pends primarily on the vehicle deceleration
rate resulting from the collision and detected
by the control unit. If the vehicle deceleration
occurring during the collision and measured
by the control unit remains below the speci-
fied reference values, the front, side and/or
head-protection airbags will not be triggered.
Take into account that the visible damage in
a vehicle involved in an accident, no matter
how serious, is not a determining factor for
the airbags to have been activated.

WARNING

●

Wearing the seat belt incorrectly or as-

suming an incorrect sitting position can
lead to critical or fatal injuries.

●

All vehicle occupants, including children,

who are not properly belted can sustain
critical or fatal injuries if the airbag is

Safety

triggered. Children up to 12 years old
should always travel on the rear seat. Nev-
er transport children in the vehicle if they
are not restrained or the restraint system is
not appropriate for their age, size or
weight.

●

To reduce the risk of injury from an inflat-

ing airbag, always wear the seat belt prop-
erly

›››

page 18

Description of the airbag system

The airbag system offers additional protec-
tion for the occupants in combination with the
seat belts.

The airbag system comprises the follow-
ing modules (as per vehicle equipment):

●

Electronic control unit

●

Front airbags for driver and passenger

●

Knee airbag for the driver

●

Side airbags

●

Central airbag for the driver

●

Head airbag

●

Airbag control lamp



on the instrument

panel

›››

page 27

●

Key-operated switch for front passenger

airbag

●

Control lamp for disabled/enabled status

of the front passenger airbag.

The airbag system operation is monitored
electronically. The airbag control lamp will il-
luminate for a few seconds every time the ig-
nition is switched on (self-diagnosis).

There is a fault in the system if the control
lamp



●

does not light up when the ignition is

switched on

›››

page 27

●

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.

The airbag system is not triggered if:

●

the ignition is switched off

●

there is a minor frontal collision

●

there is a minor side collision

●

there is a rear-end collision

WARNING

●

The seat belts and airbags can only pro-

vide maximum protection if the occupants
are seated correctly

›››

page 15

●

If a fault has occurred in the airbag sys-

tem, have the system checked immediately
by a specialised workshop. Otherwise
there is a danger that during a collision, the

system may fail to trigger, or not trigger
correctly.

Airbag activation

The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within
thousands of a second, to provide additional
protection in the event of an accident. A fine
dust may develop when the airbag deploys.
This is normal and it is not an indication 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.

Airbags

do not activate

in the event of minor

head-on and side collisions or rear-end colli-
sions. Airbags only activate if the vehicle
overturns in the hybrid plug-in version of the
vehicle.

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.

Airbag system

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

●

Knee airbag for the driver.

●

Head airbags (depending on the severity of

the crash).

In the event of serious side collisions,
some (or all) of the following airbags can
be activated (depending on the severity of
the collision):

●

Curtain (head) airbag on the side of the ac-

cident.

●

Front side airbag on the side of the acci-

dent.

●

Rear side airbag on the side of the acci-

dent.

●

Central airbag.

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;

●

the fuel supply to the engine is cut;

●

in hybrid vehicles, the high voltage system

is switched off;

●

an emergency call is started

›››

page 43

Operation of the airbags

Airbag system control lamps



It lights up on the combi-instru-
ment

Fault in the airbag system and seat belt tensioners .
Have the system checked immediately by a special-
ised workshop.





It lights up on the roof console

Front passenger front airbag deactivated.
Check if the airbag should be kept deactivated





It lights up on the roof console

Front passenger front airbag activated.
The control lamp turns off automatically 60 seconds
after the ignition is switched on

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 airbag and seat belt tensioner system
control lamp



remains on or flashes, it indi-

cates a malfunction in the airbag and seat
belt tensioner system

›››

. Have the system

checked immediately by a specialised work-
shop.

If the front passenger airbag is deactivated,
the warning lamp











re-

mains lit on the dash panel to remind you that
the airbag is deactivated. If, with the front
passenger airbag deactivated, this lamp

does not remain lit

or if it is lit along with the

control lamp



on the instrument panel,

there is a fault in the airbag system

›››

. If

the control lamp is flashing, there is a fault in
the disabling of the airbag system

›››

. Have

the system checked immediately by a speci-
alised workshop.

WARNING

In the event of a fault in the airbag and seat
belt tensioner system, the airbags and seat
belts may not trigger correctly, may fail to
trigger or may even trigger unexpectedly.

●

The vehicle occupants run the risk of sus-

taining severe or fatal injuries. Have the
system checked immediately by a special-
ised workshop.

Safety

●

Do not mount a child seat in the front

passenger 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 descrip-
tions and instructions to avoid damage to
the vehicle or harm to the occupants.

Front airbags

Fig. 18

Driver airbag located in steering

wheel.

Fig. 19

Front passenger airbag located in

dash panel.

The driver's front airbag is housed in the
steering wheel and that of the front passen-
ger, on the dash panel. Airbags are identified
by the word “AIRBAG”.

The airbag covers fold open and remain at-
tached to the steering wheel

›››

Fig. 18

and

the dash panel

›››

Fig. 19

when the driver and

front passenger airbags, respectively, are
triggered.

In conjunction with the seat belts, the front
airbag system gives the front occupants ad-
ditional protection for the head and chest in
the event of a severe frontal collision

›››

Their special design allows the controlled es-
cape of the propellant gas when an occu-
pant puts pressure on the bag. Thus, the
head and chest are protected by the airbag.
After the collision, the airbag deflates suffi-
ciently to allow visibility.

WARNING

●

The deployment space between the front

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

●

The airbags provide protection for just

one accident; replace them once they have
deployed.

●

It is also important not to attach any ob-

jects such as cup holders or telephone
mountings to the surfaces covering the air-
bag units.

Airbag system

Activate and deactivate front pas-
senger front airbag

Fig. 20

Switch for activating and deactivating

the front passenger airbag.

Fig. 21

On the roof console: control lamp for

the deactivation of the front passenger front

airbag.

Deactivate the front passenger front airbag
only if you have to use a rear-facing child
seat in the front passenger seat.

SEAT recommends fitting the child seat in the
rear seat to avoid having to deactivate the
front passenger airbag.

When the front passenger airbag is

deacti-

vated

, this means that only the front passen-

ger front airbag is deactivated. All the other
airbags in the vehicle remain activated.

Deactivate and activate the front passen-
ger front airbag

●

Switch the ignition off.

●

Open the door on the front passenger side.

●

Insert the key into the slot of the switch for

deactivating the front passenger airbag

›››

Fig. 20

. About 3/4 of the key should enter;

this is as far as it will go.

●

Turn the key gently to change its position to



(deactivate) or to



(activate). If you have

difficulty, ensure that you have inserted the
key as far as it will go.

●

Close the front passenger door.

●

When deactivating the airbag, switch the

ignition on and check that the control lamp





remains lit where it says







in the roof console

›››

Fig. 21

●

When reactivating the airbag, check that

when the ignition is switched on, the





control lamp does not light up and the





lamp lights up for 60 seconds and then turns
off.

WARNING

●

The driver of the vehicle is responsible for

disabling or switching on the airbag.

●

Always switch off the ignition before dis-

abling the front passenger airbag! Failure
to do so could result in a fault in the airbag
deactivation system.

●

Never leave the key in the airbag disa-

bling switch as it could get damaged or en-
able or disable the airbag during driving.

●

If for any reason an airbag is deactivated,

reactivate it as soon as possible so that it
can fulfil its protective function.

Seat Leon (2022 year). Manual in english - page 1