Smart fortwo coupe and smart fortwo cabriolet (2019). Manual - part 2

Function

Page

G

Switching front fog
lamps* on/off

69

H

Switching seat heating*
on/off, driver’s side

62

Lower center console

Function

Page

:

Auxiliary power outlet

107

;

Gear selector lever

83

=

Starter switch

59

?

Parking brake lever

81

A

Coin holder

103

Retractable soft top
switch

7

74

7

cabriolet only.

Lower center console

29

>> At a glance.

* optional

Z

30

>> Safety.

Occupant safety ................................ 32

Panic alarm ..................................... 46

Driving safety systems ....................... 47

Anti-theft systems ............................ 49

Occupant safety

Introduction

The smart vehicle is equipped with seat
belts and dual stage air bags to protect you
in a crash. However, children can be killed
or seriously injured by an inflating air
bag. Indeed, there is a stronger risk of
serious death or bodily injury when an air
bag deploys on a child positioned in a
rear-facing child seat in the passenger
seat. Because this vehicle has only two
front seats and no backseat, it is limited
as are other two-seat vehicles, in the
extent to which it may restrain children
traveling in the passenger front seat. Many
states have laws against placing children
of certain ages in the front seat of a
vehicle that has both front and back seats.
Those laws make exceptions to permit
children to be restrained in the front seat
of two seat vehicles. Special instructions
and warnings are provided below about
when and if you may restrain a child in the
passenger seat of the smart vehicle. Under
certain circumstances, it is appropriate
for the passenger air bag not to operate
when a child is restrained in a car seat in
the passenger seat, and this vehicle is
equipped with technology to accomplish
this. Please pay very close attention to the
instructions and warnings below,
particularly as they relate to children.
In this section you will learn the most
important facts about the restraint system
components of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are

R

Seat belts (

Y

 page 33)

R

Child restraints (

Y

 page 43)

Additional protection potential is
provided by:

R

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

-

Air bags (

Y

 page 35)

-

Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)

-

Emergency Tensioning Devices and
seat belt force limiters (

Y

 page 35)

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Air bag system components with

-

Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp (

Y

 page 42)

-

Passenger seat with Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(

Y

 page 39)

Although independent systems, their
protective functions work in conjunction
with each other.

i

For information on infants and

children traveling with you in the
vehicle and restraint systems for infants
and children, see “Children in the
vehicle” (

Y

 page 43).

The SRS system conducts a self-test when
the ignition is switched on and in regular
intervals while the engine is running. This
facilitates detection of malfunctions. The
SRS indicator lamp 6 in the instrument
cluster comes on when the ignition is
switched on and goes out after
approximately four seconds.
The SRS components are in operational
readiness if the SRS indicator lamp 6
is not lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the SRS indicator lamp 6:

R

fails to go out after approximately 4
seconds after the ignition was switched
on

R

does not come on at all

R

comes on after the engine was started or
while driving

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Warning!

Modifications to or work improperly
conducted on restraint systems (such as

32

Occupant safety

>> Safety.

seat belts and anchors, Emergency
Tensioning Devices, seat belt force
limiters or air bags) or their wiring, as
well as tampering with interconnected
electronic systems, can lead to the
restraint systems no longer functioning as
intended. Air bags or Emergency
Tensioning Devices, for example, could
deploy inadvertently or fail to deploy in
accidents in which they otherwise should
deploy (although the deceleration
threshold for air bag deployment is
exceeded). Therefore, never modify the
restraint systems. Do not tamper with
electronic components or their software.

G

Warning!

In the event that the SRS indicator lamp
6 comes on while driving or does not
come on at all, the SRS self-check has
detected a malfunction. For your safety, we
strongly recommend that you immediately
but safely pull the vehicle off of the
roadway and stop driving. Contact an
authorized smart center immediately to
have the system checked; otherwise the SRS
may not deploy when needed in an accident,
which could result in serious or fatal
injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and
unnecessarily which could also result in
injury.
In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended air bag
deployment. Work on the SRS must therefore
only be performed by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized smart
center. If it is necessary to modify an air
bag system to accommodate a person with
disabilities, contact your local authorized
smart center.

Seat belts

The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S.
territories and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts
fastened whenever the vehicle is being
operated.
For more information, see “Fastening the
seat belts” (

Y

 page 64).

i

For information on infants and

children traveling with you in the
vehicle and restraint systems for infants
and children, see “Children in the
vehicle” (

Y

 page 43).

G

Warning!

Always fasten your seat belt before driving.
Always make sure all of your passengers are
properly restrained.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely
severity in an accident. You and your
passenger should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled.
Without your seat belt buckled, you are
much more likely to hit the interior of the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be
seriously injured or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury
or death is lessened if you are properly
wearing your seat belt. Air bags can only
protect you if you are properly wearing
your seat belt.

G

Warning!

Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined
position as this can be dangerous. You
could slide under the seat belt in a
collision. If you slide under it, the belt

Occupant safety

33

>> Safety.

Z

would apply force at the abdomen or neck,
causing serious or even fatal injuries. The
seat backrest and seat belt provide the best
restraint when the wearer is in a position
that is as upright as possible and the belt
is properly positioned on the body.

G

Warning!

Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Make
sure everyone riding in the vehicle is
correctly restrained with a separate seat
belt. Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.

G

Warning!

Seat belts of a vehicle involved in an
accident must be inspected by smart. Only
then is it possible to determine whether
the seat belts were damaged or stressed in
the accident. Damaged or stressed seat
belts may not properly protect you in a
subsequent accident.
Only use seat belts which have been
approved by smart.
Do not make any modifications to the seat
belts. This can lead to unintended
activation of the Emergency Tensioning
Devices (ETDs) or to their failure to
activate when necessary.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Have all work carried out only by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized smart
center.

G

Warning!

USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY

R

Seat belts can only work when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any
other way than as described in this
section, as that could result in serious
injuries in case of an accident.

R

Each occupant should wear their seat belt
at all times, because seat belts help

reduce the likelihood of and potential
severity of injuries in accidents,
including rollovers. The integrated
restraint system includes SRS (driver
front air bag, passenger front air bag,
head-thorax air bags) and Emergency
Tensioning Devices (ETDs) with seat belt
force limiters.
The system is designed to enhance the
protection provided by secured seat
belts in certain frontal and side
impacts.

R

Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against your neck or off your
shoulder. Doing so may cause your body to
move too far forward in a frontal crash,
which would increase the chance of head
and neck injuries. The seat belt would
also apply too much force to the ribs or
abdomen, which could severely injure
internal organs such as your liver or
spleen.

R

Never wear seat belts over rigid or
breakable objects in or on your clothing,
such as eyeglasses, pens, keys, etc., as
these might cause injuries.

R

Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips and not across the abdomen.
If the lap seat belt is positioned across
your abdomen, it could cause serious
injuries in a crash.

R

Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at time. Do not fasten a single seat
belt around a person and another person
or other objects.

R

Seat belts should not be worn twisted. In
a crash, you would not have the full width
of the seat belt to manage impact forces.
The twisted seat belt against your body
could cause injuries.

R

Pregnant women should also always use a
lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible
on the hips to avoid any possible
pressure on the abdomen.

34

Occupant safety

>> Safety.

R

Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.

R

When using a seat belt to secure infant or
toddler restraints or children in booster
seats, always follow the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.

Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
and seat belt force limiters

The seat belts are equipped with
Emergency Tensioning Devices and seat
belt force limiters.
Emergency Tensioning Devices are
designed to activate in the following
cases:

R

in frontal or rear-end impacts
exceeding the system deployment
threshold

R

if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly

R

in collisions with high vehicle
deceleration/acceleration in the
longitudinal direction, e.g. a head-on
collision

R

on passenger side when the seat is
occupied and the seat belt is fastened

R

independently of the front air bags

When activated, Emergency Tensioning
Devices remove slack from the seat belts in
such a way that the seat belts fit more
snugly against the body. Seat belt force
limiters, when activated, reduce the force
exerted by the seat belts on occupants
during a crash.
When the emergency tensioning device is
triggered, the SRS indicator lamp 6 in
the instrument cluster illuminates, see
“SRS indicator lamp” (

Y

 page 155).

G

Warning!

Once they have been triggered, Emergency
Tensioning Devices will no longer function
properly and must be replaced. smart
recommends that you visit a qualified
workshop to have this done. In particular,
work relevant to safety or on safety-related
systems must be carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Comply with safety regulations when
disposing of Emergency Tensioning
Devices. These regulations are available at
any smart center.

The belt force limiter is designed to
operate in unison with the front air bag,
which absorbs a portion of the seat belt’s
decelerating forces, distributing the load
over a larger area.
In the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision, the emergency tensioning
device is activated if the vehicle is
decelerated or accelerated sufficiently in
the longitudinal direction at the start of
impact with the ignition switched on.

Air bags

Air bags can reduce the severity of
injuries in serious collisions, e.g. in a
head-on collision or a side impact.

G

Warning!

Air bags are designed to reduce the
potential of injury in certain frontal
impacts (front air bags), or side impacts
(head-thorax air bags) which may cause
significant injuries. However, no system
available today can completely eliminate
injuries and fatalities.
The deployment of the air bags temporarily
releases a small amount of dust from the air
bags. This dust is neither injurious to your
health, nor does it indicate a fire in the
vehicle. The dust might cause some
temporary breathing difficulty for people

Occupant safety

35

>> Safety.

Z

with asthma or other breathing trouble. To
avoid this, you may wish to get out of the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you
have any breathing difficulty but cannot
get out of the vehicle after the air bag
inflates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or door.

G

Warning!

To reduce the risk of injury when the front
air bags inflate, it is very important for
the driver and passenger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear their
respective seat belt.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated
position with your back against the
backrest. Fasten your seat belt and ensure
it is properly positioned on your body.
Since the air bag inflates with
considerable speed and force, a proper
seating and hands on steering wheel
position will help to keep you at a safe
distance from the air bag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the air bag can be seriously
injured or killed by an air bag as it
inflates extremely quickly and with great
force:

R

Sit properly belted in a position that is
as upright as possible with your back
against the seat backrest.

R

Adjust the driver’s seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper
operation of vehicle controls. The
distance from the center of the driver’s
breastbone to the center of the air bag
cover on the steering wheel must be at
least 10 inches (25 cm) or more. You should
be able to accomplish this by
adjustments to the seat. If you have any
problems, please contact an authorized
smart center.

R

Do not lean your head or chest close to the
steering wheel or dashboard.

R

Keep hands on the outside of the steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms inside
the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when the driver’s front air bag inflates.

R

Adjust the passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.

R

Occupants, especially children, should
always sit as upright as possible,
properly use the seat belts and use an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of
the child.

Failure to follow these instructions can
result in severe injuries to you or other
occupants.
If you sell your vehicle, it is important that
you make the buyer aware of this safety
information. Be sure to give the buyer this
Operator’s Manual.

i

Air bags are designed to deploy only in

certain frontal impacts (front air bags),
and in side impacts (head-thorax air
bags) which exceed preset thresholds.
Only during these events will they
provide their supplemental protection.
The driver and passenger should always
wear their seat belts. Otherwise it is not
possible for air bags to provide their
supplemental protection.
In case of other types of impacts and
impacts below air bag deployment
thresholds, air bags will not deploy. The
driver and passenger will then be
protected to the extent possible by a
properly fastened seat belt. A properly
fastened seat belt is also needed to
provide the best possible protection in
a rollover.

36

Occupant safety

>> Safety.

We caution you not to rely on the presence
of the air bags in order to avoid wearing
your seat belt.
It is important to your safety and that of
your passenger that you replace deployed
air bags and repair any malfunctioning
air bags to make sure the vehicle will
continue to provide supplemental crash
protection for occupants.

Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs)
and air bag

G

Warning!

R

Damaged seat belts or seat belts that were
highly stressed in an accident must be
replaced and their anchoring points
must also be checked. Only use seat belts
installed or supplied by an authorized
smart center.

R

Air bags and Emergency Tensioning
Devices (ETDs) contain Perchlorate
material, which may require special
handling and regard for the environment.
Check with your local government’s
disposal guidelines. California
residents, see http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/index.cfm.

R

Given the considerable deployment
speed, required inflation volume, and
the textile structure of the air bags,
there is the possibility of abrasions or
other, potentially more serious injuries
resulting from air bag deployment.

R

Air bags and Emergency Tensioning
Devices (ETDs) are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An air bag or
ETD that has deployed must be replaced.

R

Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.

R

Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat
belts.

R

No modifications of any kind may be made
to any components or wiring of the SRS.
This includes changing or removing any
component or part of the SRS, the
installation of additional trim
material, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, passenger front air bag cover,
outboard sides of the seat backrests, and
installation of additional electrical/
electronic equipment on or near SRS
components and wiring. Keep area
between air bags and occupants free from
objects (e.g. packages, purses,
umbrellas, etc.).

R

Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash they may
not be able to provide adequate
protection.

R

Do not hang hangers on the coat hooks or
handles over the door. These items may
turn into projectiles and cause head and
other injuries when the head-thorax air
bag is deployed.

R

Air bag system components will be hot
after an air bag has inflated. Do not
touch.

R

Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.

R

In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended air
bag deployment. Work on the SRS must
therefore only be performed by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized smart
center.

R

For your protection and the protection of
others, when scrapping the air bag unit
or Emergency Tensioning Devices (ETDs),
our safety instructions must be followed.
These instructions are available from
any authorized smart center.

Occupant safety

37

>> Safety.

Z

How the air bag operates

The air bag is inflated in a matter of
milliseconds. If the air bag is triggered,
the SRS indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster illuminates.

! 

If the air bags are activated, you will

hear a loud noise and some dust may be
generated. The explosion fundamentally
represents no risk to your hearing.

The inflated air bag slows down and
reduces the movement of the occupant. When
the occupant makes contact with the air
bag, hot gas flows out of the inflated front
air bags and head-thorax air bags. This
reduces the load on the occupant’s head and
upper body. These air bags are
consequently deflated after the accident.

Head-thorax air bags

G

Warning!

There is a possibility for a head-thorax air
bag related injury if occupants, especially
children, are not properly seated or
restrained when next to a head-thorax air
bag which needs to deploy rapidly in a side
impact in order to do its job.
To help avoid the possibility of injury,
please follow these guidelines:

(1)

Occupants, especially children,
should never place their bodies
or lean their heads in the area of
the door where the head-thorax
air bag inflates. This could
result in serious injuries or
death should the head-thorax air
bag be deployed.

(2)

Always sit as upright as
possible, properly use the seat
belts, and for all children
12 years old or under, use an
appropriately sized infant
restraint, toddler restraint, or

booster seat recommended for
the size and weight of the child.

(3)

Always wear seat belts properly.

G

Warning!

Only use seat covers which have been tested
and approved by smart for your vehicle
model. Using other seat covers may
interfere with or prevent the deployment of
the head-thorax air bags. Contact an
authorized smart center for availability.

If activated, the head-thorax air bags are
intended to increase the potential
protection for the head and thorax (but not
arms) of the occupants on the side of the
vehicle that is struck.
The head-thorax air bags are deployed

R

on the side of the vehicle that is struck
(when passenger side is struck only if the
seat is occupied)

R

at the start of an accident with high
vehicle deceleration or acceleration
acting in a lateral direction, e.g. a side
impact

R

regardless of whether or not the seat belt
is in use

R

independently of the front air bags
being deployed

R

independently of the emergency
tensioning device

38

Occupant safety

>> Safety.

The head-thorax air bags are integrated
into the driver and passenger seat
backrests.

:

Head-thorax air bag

Driver front air bag/passenger front air
bag

The front air bags are designed to reduce
the potential of injury in certain frontal
impacts.
Driver front air bag and passenger front
air bag are deployed

R

at the start of an accident with high
vehicle deceleration in the longitudinal
direction

R

independently of other air bags in the
vehicle being deployed

R

never in the event of a rollover, unless
high vehicle deceleration in the
longitudinal direction is detected

i

The front air bags in this vehicle have

been designed to inflate in two stages.
This allows the air bag to have different
rates of inflation that are based on the
rate of relevant vehicle deceleration
and a fastened or unfastened seat belt as
assessed by the air bag control unit.
On the passenger side, the front air bag
deployment is additionally influenced
by the passenger’s weight category as
identified by the Occupant
Classification System (OCS)
(

Y

 page 39).

The lighter the passenger side occupant,
the higher the vehicle deceleration rate
required for the second stage inflation
of the air bag.

The air bags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s
deployment thresholds. In such instances,
the seat belts are designed to protect you.
The passenger air bag will only be
deployed if

R

the system, based on OCS weight sensor
readings, senses that the passenger seat
is occupied and the 40
indicator lamp is not lit (

Y

 page 42)

R

the impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold

The driver front air bag is located in the
steering wheel housing, the passenger
front air bag above the glove box.

:

Driver front air bag

;

Passenger front air bag

Occupant Classification System

The Occupant Classification System (OCS)
automatically turns the passenger front air
bag on or off based on the classified
occupant weight category determined by
weight sensor readings from the passenger
seat.

i

The system does also deactivate the

head-thorax air bag, the seat Emergency
Tensioning Devices, and the seat belt

Occupant safety

39

>> Safety.

Z

force limiters, based on the classified
occupant weight category determined by
weight sensor readings from the
passenger seat.

Occupants must sit properly belted in a
position that is as upright as possible with
their back against the seat backrest and
feet on the floor to be correctly classified.
If the occupant’s weight is transferred to
another object in the vehicle (e.g. by
leaning on armrests), the OCS may not be
able to properly approximate the
occupant’s weight category.

i

If the seat, including the trim cover and

cushion, needs to be serviced in any way,
take the vehicle to an authorized smart
center. Only seat accessories approved
by smart may be used.
Both driver and the passenger should
always use the 40 indicator
lamp as an indication of whether or not
the passenger is properly positioned
(

Y

 page 42).

G

Warning!

If the 40 indicator lamp
illuminates when an adult or someone
larger than a small individual is in the
passenger seat, have the passenger re-
position himself or herself in the seat
until the 40 indicator lamp
goes out.
In the event of a collision, the air bag
control unit will not allow passenger front
air bag deployment when the OCS classified
the passenger seat occupant as being up to
or less than the weight of a typical
12‑month‑old child in a standard child
restraint or if the passenger seat is sensed
as being empty.
When the OCS senses that the passenger seat
occupant is classified as being up to or
less than the weight of a typical
12‑month‑old child in a standard child
restraint, the 40 indicator

lamp will illuminate when the ignition is
switched on and remain illuminated,
indicating that the passenger front air bag
is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the passenger seat
is classified as being empty, the
40 indicator lamp will
illuminate and remains illuminated.
When the OCS senses that the passenger seat
occupant is classified as being heavier
than the weight of a typical 12‑month‑old
child seated in a standard child restraint
or as being a small individual (such as a
young teenager or a small adult), the
40 indicator lamp will
illuminate for approximately 4 seconds
when the ignition is switched on and then,
depending on occupant weight sensor
readings from the seat, remains
illuminated or goes out.
When the 40 indicator lamp is
illuminated, the passenger front air bag is
deactivated.
When the 40 indicator lamp is
out and the passenger seat is occupied by
an adult or someone larger than a small
individual, the passenger front air bag is
activated.
When the OCS senses that the passenger seat
occupant is classified as an adult or
someone larger than a small individual, the
40 indicator lamp will
illuminate for approximately 4 seconds
when the ignition is switched on and then
goes out, indicating that the passenger
front air bag is activated.
If the 40 indicator lamp is
illuminated, the passenger front air bag is
deactivated and will not be deployed.

40

Occupant safety

>> Safety.

If the 40 indicator lamp is not
illuminated, the passenger front air bag is
activated and will be deployed:

R

in the event of certain frontal impacts

R

if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold

R

independently of the head-thorax air
bags

If the passenger front air bag is deployed,
the rate of inflation will be influenced by:

R

the rate of vehicle deceleration and a
fastened or unfastend seat belt as
assessed by the air bag control unit

R

the passenger’s weight category as
identified by the Occupant
Classification System (OCS).

G

Warning!

Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriate infant or child restraint
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
The infant or child restraint must be
properly secured with the vehicle’s seat
belt, fully in accordance with the child
seat manufacturer’s instructions.
Children can be killed or seriously injured
by an inflating air bag. Note the following
important information:

R

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the system senses the weight of a
typical 12‑month‑old child or less along
with the weight of a standard
appropriate child restraint on the
passenger seat.

R

A child in a rear-facing child restraint
on the passenger seat will be seriously
injured or even killed if the passenger
front air bag inflates in a collision
which could occur under some

circumstances, even with the air bag
technology installed in your vehicle.

R

If you install a rear-facing child
restraint on the passenger seat, make
sure the 40 indicator lamp
is illuminated, indicating that the
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
Should the 40 indicator
lamp not illuminate or go out while the
restraint is installed, please check
installation.
Periodically check the 40
indicator lamp while driving to make
sure the 40 indicator lamp
is illuminated.
If the 40 indicator lamp
goes out or remains out, do not transport
a child on the passenger seat until the
system has been repaired.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint
on the passenger seat may be seriously
injured or even killed if the passenger
front air bag inflates.

R

If you place a child in a forward-facing
child restraint on the passenger seat,
move the seat as far back as possible, use
the proper child restraint recommended
for the age, size and weight of the child
by the seat manufacturer, and secure
child restraint with the vehicle’s seat
belt according to the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions. For
children larger than the typical
12‑month‑old child, the passenger front
air bag may or may not be activated.

i

Deployment of the driver front air bag

does not mean that the passenger front
air bag also should have deployed.

The Occupant Classification System
(

Y

 page 39) may have determined:

R

that the seat was empty or occupied by the
weight up to or less than that of a typical
12‑month‑old child seated in a standard

Occupant safety

41

>> Safety.

Z

child restraint — both instances where
the system suppresses deployment of the
passenger front air bag even though the
impact met the criteria and was of
sufficient severity to deploy the driver
front air bag.

R

that the seat was occupied by a small
individual (such as a young teenager or
a small adult) or a child weighing more
than the weight of a typical 12‑month‑old
child in a standard child restraint —
instances where the system may suppress
deployment of the passenger front air
bag even though the impact met the
criteria and was of sufficient severity
to deploy the driver front air bag.

Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp

The indicator lamp is located on the
overhead control panel.

Passenger front air bag off indicator
lamp : illuminates when the passenger
front air bag is deactivated.

G

Warning!

When the SRS indicator lamp 6 and the
40 indicator lamp are lit at
the same time, there is a malfunction in the
Occupant Classification System.

In order to ensure proper operation of the
air bag system and OCS:

R

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by qualified technicians.
Contact an authorized smart center.

R

Sit properly belted in a position that is
as upright as possible with your back
against the seat backrest.

R

Do not lean on the armrests or lift
yourself from the seat by using the handle
over the door as this may cause the OCS to
be unable to correctly approximate the
occupant weight category.

R

Only have the seat repaired or replaced
by an authorized smart center.

R

Read and observe all warnings in this
chapter.

Self-test Occupant Classification
System

After turning the key in the starter switch
to position 1 or 2, the 40
indicator lamp located in the center
console illuminates. If an adult occupant
is properly sitting on the passenger seat
and the system senses the occupant as being
an adult, the 40 indicator
lamp will illuminate and go out after
approximately 4 seconds.
If the seat is not occupied and the system
senses the passenger seat as being empty,
the 40 indicator lamp will
illuminate and remains illuminated.

G

Warning!

If the 40 indicator lamp
should not illuminate immediately after
starting the engine, the system is not
functioning. You must contact an
authorized smart center before seating any
child on the passenger seat.

More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (

Y

 page 163).

42

Occupant safety

>> Safety.

G

Warning!

Never place anything between seat cushion
and child seat (e.g. pillow), since it
reduces the effectiveness of the Occupant
Classification System. The bottom of the
child seat must make full contact with the
passenger seat cushion. An incorrectly
mounted child seat could cause injuries to
the child in case of an accident, instead of
increasing protection for the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of child seats.

Children in the vehicle

If an infant or child is traveling with you
in the vehicle:

X

Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and size
of the child.

X

Make sure the infant or child is properly
secured at all times while the vehicle is
in motion.

G

Warning!

Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system. The children could

R

injure themselves on parts of the vehicle

R

be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or
cold

Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint
system’s metal parts, for example, could
become very hot, and the child could be
burned on these parts.
If children open a door, they could

R

injure other persons

R

get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following
traffic

Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment unless they are
firmly secured in place.
For more information, please refer to the
“Loading and storing section”.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child’s risk of injury in the
event of

R

strong braking maneuvers

R

sudden changes of direction

R

an accident

Infant and child restraint system

We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in operation.
The passenger lap-shoulder belt has a
special seat belt retractor for secure
fastening of child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow all
mounting instructions provided by the
child restraint manufacturer. Then pull the
shoulder seat belt out completely and let it
retract. During seat belt retraction, a
ratcheting sound can be heard to indicate
that the special seat belt retractor is
activated. The seat belt is now locked. Push
down on child restraint to take up any
slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and
let seat belt retract completely. To
deactivate the special seat belt retractor
for the passenger seat, the passenger seat
must be in the most backward position. The
seat belt can again be used in the usual
manner.

G

Warning!

Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion, since the special seat
belt retractor will be deactivated.

The use of infant or child restraints is
required by law in all 50 states, the

Occupant safety

43

>> Safety.

Z

District of Columbia, the U.S. territories,
and all Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated
in an appropriate infant or child restraint
system properly secured in accordance
with the manufacturer’s instructions for
the child restraint, that complies with U.S.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213, 213.1 and 213.2.
A statement by the child restraint
manufacturer of compliance with these
standards can be found on the instruction
label on the restraint and in the
instruction manual provided with the
restraint.
When using any infant restraint, toddler
restraint, or booster seat be sure to
carefully read and follow all
manufacturer’s instructions for
installation and use.
Please read and observe warning labels
affixed to the inside of the vehicle and to
infant or child restraints.

G

Warning!

Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child.
The infant or child restraint must be
properly secured with the vehicle’s seat
belt fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.
Occupants, especially children, should
never place their bodies or lean their
heads in the area of the door where the
head-thorax air bag inflates. This could
result in serious injuries or death should
the head-thorax air bag be triggered.
Always sit as upright as possible, properly
use the seat belt and use an appropriately
sized infant restraint, toddler restraint,

or booster seat recommended for the size
and weight of the child.
Children can be killed or seriously injured
by an inflating air bag. Note the following
important information when circumstances
require you to place a child in the
passenger seat:

R

Your vehicle is equipped with air bag
technology designed to turn off the
passenger front air bag in your vehicle
when the Occupant Classification System
senses the weight of a typical
12‑month‑old child or less along with the
weight of an appropriate child restraint
on the passenger seat.

R

A child in a rear-facing child restraint
on the passenger seat may be seriously
injured or even killed if the passenger
front air bag inflates in a collision.

R

If you install a rear-facing child
restraint on the passenger seat, make
sure the 40 indicator lamp
is illuminated, indicating that the
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
Should the 40 indicator
lamp not illuminate or go out while the
restraint is installed, please check
installation. Periodically check the
40 indicator lamp while
driving to make sure the 40
indicator lamp is illuminated. If the
40 indicator lamp goes out
or remains out, do not transport a child
on the passenger seat until the system has
been repaired. A child in a rear-facing
child restraint on the passenger seat may
be seriously injured or even killed if the
passenger front air bag inflates.

R

If you place a child in a forward-facing
child restraint on the passenger seat,
move the seat as far back as possible, use
a proper child restraint recommended
for the age, size and weight of the child,
and secure child restraint with the
vehicle’s seat belt according to the child

44

Occupant safety

>> Safety.