Interactive Owner's Manual

Date of printing:

11/23/2009

Interactive Owner's Manual [In depth | Occupant safety]

Owner's Manual version: ÄJ 2009/1b

Note: The online Owner's Manual is the latest version available. Deviations between this manual and items specific to your vehicle may occur since Mercedes-Benz constantly adapts its vehicles to the latest technology and modifies design and equipment. Please note that this online Owner's Manual does not under any circumstances replace the printed Owner's Manual which is supplied with the vehicle.

Occupant safety

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Notes on occupant safety
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
Children in the vehicle

Notes on occupant safety

Seat belts, together with belt tensioners, belt force limiters and airbags, are complementary, coordinated restraint systems. They reduce the risk of injury in specific, pre-defined types of accident situations and, thereby, increase occupant safety. However, seat belts and airbags generally do not protect against objects penetrating the vehicle from the outside.

To ensure that the restraint systems can deliver their full potential protection, you should ensure that:

  • the seat and head restraint are adjusted properly more.

  • the seat belt has been fastened properly more.

  • the airbags can inflate properly if they are deployed more.

  • the steering wheel is adjusted properly more.

  • the restraint systems have not been modified.

An airbag increases the protection of vehicle occupants wearing a seat belt. However, airbags are only an additional restraint system which complements, but does not replace, the seat belt. All vehicle occupants must wear their seat belt correctly at all times, even if the vehicle is equipped with airbags. This is because - on the one hand - airbags are not deployed in all types of accident, as in some situations airbag deployment would not increase the protection afforded to vehicle occupants, provided they are wearing their seat belt correctly. On the other hand, airbag deployment only provides increased protection if the seat belt is worn correctly because:

  • the seat belt helps to keep the vehicle occupant in the best position in relation to the airbag.

  • for example, in a head-on collision, the seat belt can more adequately prevent the occupant from being propelled towards the point of the impact, and is thus better suited to prevent injury.

Therefore, in accident situations where an airbag is deployed, it only provides protection in addition to the seat belt if the seat belt is being worn correctly.

Risk of accident and injury

Always have maintenance work carried out at a qualified specialist workshop which has the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the work required.

Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this purpose.

In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at a qualified specialist workshop. If this work is not carried out correctly, the operating safety of your vehicle may be affected. There is a risk of an accident and injury.

Risk of injury

The restraint system may not work as intended if the following components have been modified or work on these components has not been performed correctly:

  • restraint system, consisting of the seat belts and anchorages, belt tensioners, belt force limiters, airbags

  • wiring

  • networked electronic systems

Airbags or belt tensioners could then fail, e.g. in the event of an accident in which the deceleration force would normally be high enough to trigger the systems, or they could be triggered unintentionally. Never carry out any modifications on the restraint systems.

Never tamper with electronic components and their software.

 

SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)

The SRS reduces the risk of occupants coming into contact with the vehicle's interior in the event of an accident. It can also reduce the forces to which occupants are subjected during an accident.

The SRS consists of:

  • The warning lamp

  • belt tensioners

  • belt force limiters

  • airbags

The warning lamp

SRS functions are checked regularly when you turn on the ignition and when the engine is running. Therefore, malfunctions can be detected in good time.

The warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights up when the ignition is switched on. It goes out no later than a few seconds after the engine is started.

Risk of injury

If SRS is malfunctioning, individual systems may be activated unintentionally or not be deployed in the event of an accident with heavy braking.

A malfunction has occurred if the warning lamp:

  • does not light up when you switch on the ignition

  • does not go out after the engine has been running for a few seconds

  • lights up again once the engine is running

In this case, have SRS checked immediately at a qualified specialist workshop.

Triggering of belt tensioners, belt force limiters and airbags

In the event of a collision, the sensor in the airbag control unit evaluates important physical data such as duration, direction and force of the vehicle deceleration or acceleration. Based on the evaluation of this data and depending on the vehicle's rate of longitudinal deceleration in a collision, in the first stage the airbag control unit pre-emptively triggers the belt tensioners.

The belt tensioners can only be triggered if the belt tongue is correctly engaged in the seat belt buckle.

The front airbags are only deployed if there is an even higher rate of vehicle deceleration in a longitudinal direction.

Your vehicle has adaptive, dual stage front airbags. When the first activation threshold is reached, the front airbag is filled with enough propellant gas to reduce the risk of injuries. The front airbag is only fully inflated if a second threshold is reached within a few milliseconds, due to the control unit having detected further deceleration.

Criteria for triggering belt tensioners and airbags

In the first stage of a collision, the airbag control unit evaluates the duration and direction of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in order to determine whether it is necessary to trigger the belt tensioner and/or airbag.

The belt tensioner and airbag triggering thresholds are variable and are adapted to the rate of deceleration of the vehicle. This process is pre-emptive in nature as the airbag must be deployed during - and not at the end of - the collision.

Airbags are not deployed in all types of accidents. They are controlled by complex sensor technology and evaluation logic. This process is pre-emptive in nature as airbag deployment must take place during the impact and must be adapted to provide calculated, additional protection for the vehicle occupants. Not all airbags are deployed in an accident.

The different airbag systems work independently of each other. However, the deployment of each individual system depends on the type of accident determined by the control system in the first stages of the collision (head-on collision, side impact, rear-end collision and overturn) and the extent of the accident (in particular, the vehicle's rate of deceleration or acceleration).

The rate of vehicle deceleration or acceleration and the direction of the force are basically determined by:

  • the distribution of forces during the collision

  • the collision angle

  • the deformation characteristics of the vehicle

  • the characteristics of the object with which the vehicle has collided, e.g. the other vehicle

Factors which can only be seen and measured after a collision has occurred do not play a decisive role in the deployment of an airbag, nor do they provide an indication of it.

The vehicle may be deformed significantly, e. g. on the bonnet or the wing, without an airbag being deployed. This is the case if only parts which are relatively easily deformed are affected and the necessary deceleration does not occur. Conversely, airbags may be deployed even though the vehicle suffers only minor deformations. For example, this is the case if very rigid vehicle parts such as longitudinal body members are affected and sufficient deceleration occurs as a result.

Belt tensioners, belt force limiters

The seat belts are fitted with belt tensioners.

Do not engage the seat belt tongue in the buckle on the front-passenger seat if the seat is not occupied. The belt tensioners could otherwise be triggered in an accident.

If the seat belt is also equipped with a belt force limiter, the force exerted by the seat belt on the seat occupant is reduced.

Belt tensioners tighten the seat belts in an accident, pulling them close against the body.

Belt tensioners do not correct incorrect seat positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.

Belt tensioners do not pull occupants back towards the backrest.

The belt force limiters are synchronised with the front airbags, which distribute a proportion of the deceleration forces exerted on the occupant over a greater area.

The belt tensioners cannot be triggered when the ignition is switched on unless:

  • the restraint systems are operational; see the warning lamp.

  • the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on each lap-shoulder belt in the front of the vehicle.

  • the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on the front-passenger side, if the front-passenger seat is occupied.

Depending on the type and severity of an accident, the belt tensioners may be triggered:

  • in the event of a head-on or rear-end collision if the vehicle decelerates or accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal direction during the initial stages of impact

  • in the event of a side impact if the vehicle is subjected to high lateral acceleration/deceleration

  • in certain situations if the vehicle overturns, and the system determines that it can provide additional protection

If the airbags are deployed, you will hear a bang and a small amount of powder may also be released. Only in rare cases will the bang affect your hearing. The powder that escapes does not generally constitute a health hazard. The warning lamp lights up.

Risk of injury

If the seat belt tensioners have been triggered, they provide no additional protection in the event of another accident. Therefore, have belt tensioners which have been triggered replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.

Comply with safety regulations when disposing of belt tensioners. Any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre can provide details of these regulations.

Airbags

Airbag deployment slows down and restricts the movement of the vehicle occupant.

If the airbags are deployed, you will hear a bang and a small amount of powder may also be released. Only in rare cases will the bang affect your hearing. The powder that escapes does not generally constitute a health hazard. The warning lamp lights up.

The SRS/AIRBAG identification indicates the location of the airbags.

Risk of injury

Airbags provide additional protection; they are not, however, a substitute for seat belts.

Observe the following notes to reduce the risk of serious or even fatal injury if an airbag is deployed:

  • all vehicle occupants ― in particular pregnant women ― must wear their seat belt correctly at all times and lean back against the backrest, which should be positioned as close to the vertical as possible. The head restraint must support the back of the head at about eye level.

  • always secure children less than 1.50 m tall or under 12 years of age in suitable child restraint systems.

  • all vehicle occupants must select a seat position that is as far away from the airbag as possible. The driver's seat position must allow the vehicle to be driven safely. The driver's chest should be as far away from the middle of the driver's front airbag cover as possible.

  • move the front-passenger seat as far back as possible, especially if a child is secured in a child restraint system on the seat.

  • vehicle occupants - in particular, children - must not lean their head on the area of the window from which a head/thorax airbag is deployed.

  • rearward-facing child restraint systems must not be fitted to the front-passenger seat unless the front-passenger front airbag has been disabled. The front-passenger front airbag is disabled if a child restraint system with automatic child seat recognition is fitted to the front-passenger seat. The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp must be continuously lit.

    If you secure a forward-facing child restraint system to the front-passenger seat, you must move the front-passenger seat as far back as possible.

  • make sure there are no heavy or sharp-edged objects in pockets of clothing.

  • do not lean forwards, e.g. over the cover of the driver's/front-passenger front airbag, particularly when the vehicle is in motion.

  • do not put your feet on the dashboard.

  • only hold the steering wheel by the rim. This allows the airbag to inflate fully. You could be injured if the airbag is deployed and you are holding the inside of the steering wheel.

  • do not lean on the doors from inside the vehicle.

  • make sure that there are no people, animals or objects between the vehicle occupants and the area of deployment of the airbag.

  • do not place any objects between the seat backrest and the door.

  • do not hang any hard objects, for example, coat hangers, on the grab handles or coat hooks.

  • do not attach accessories, e.g. cup holders, to the doors.

It is not possible to rule out a risk of injuries caused by an airbag due to the high speed at which the airbag is required to deploy.

Risk of injury

The airbag's functionality can only be guaranteed if the following parts are not covered and no badges or stickers are attached to them:

  • padded steering wheel boss

  • front-passenger front airbag cover

  • outer side of seats

Risk of injury

When an airbag deploys, a small amount of powder is released. The powder may cause short-term breathing difficulties to persons suffering from asthma or other pulmonary conditions.

In order to prevent potential breathing difficulties, you should leave the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. You can also open the window to allow fresh air to enter the interior. The powder generally does not constitute a health hazard and does not indicate that there is a fire in the vehicle.

Risk of injury

The airbag parts are hot after the airbag has been deployed. Do not touch them; otherwise, you may burn yourself.

Have the airbags checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Otherwise, occupants are not protected by the airbags in the event of another accident.

Front airbags

The front airbags are designed to increase protection for the driver's and front passenger's head and chest.

Driver's front airbag deploys in front of the steering wheel; front-passenger front airbag deploys in front of and above the glove compartment. They are deployed:

  • at the start of an accident with a high rate of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in a longitudinal direction

  • if the system determines that airbag deployment can offer additional protection to that provided by the seat belt

  • if the seat belt is fastened

  • independently of other airbags in the vehicle

  • if the vehicle overturns, but only if the system detects high vehicle deceleration in a longitudinal direction

Front-passenger front airbag is only deployed if the front-passenger seat is occupied or if the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp in the centre console is not lit more. This means that a child restraint system with automatic child seat recognition* has not been fitted to the front-passenger seat or has been fitted incorrectly.

Do not place heavy objects on the front-passenger seat. The system might erroneously interpret this as a person occupying the seat and the restraint systems on the front-passenger seat may then be triggered in the event of an accident and would have to be replaced.

Head/thorax airbags
Risk of injury

If you wish to use seat covers, Mercedes-Benz recommends that, for safety reasons, you only use seat covers that have been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

The seat covers must have a special tear seam for head/thorax airbags. Otherwise, a head/thorax airbag cannot deploy correctly and would fail to provide the intended protection in the event of an accident. Appropriate seat covers can be obtained from a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.

Head/thorax airbags are intended to offer additional protection for the head and thorax when deployed. However, they do not protect the arms.

Head/thorax airbags inflate next to the outer seat cushions. They are deployed:

  • on the side on which an impact occurs

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

  • if the system determines that airbag deployment can offer additional protection to that provided by the seat belt

  • if the seat belt is fastened

  • independently of the front airbags

  • independently of the belt tensioners

  • on the front-passenger side only if the front-passenger seat occupancy recognition system detects that the front-passenger seat is occupied

 

Children in the vehicle

If a child is travelling in your vehicle, secure the child using a child restraint system which is appropriate to the size and age of the child and is recommended for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Ensure that the child is secured throughout the trip.

You can obtain information about the correct child restraint system from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.

It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care products to clean child restraint systems. Information about this can be obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.

Risk of injury

Do not leave children unsupervised in the vehicle, even if they are secured in a child restraint system. Children could injure themselves on parts of the vehicle. They could also be seriously or even fatally injured by prolonged exposure to extreme heat or cold.

Do not expose the child restraint system to direct sunlight. Parts of the child restraint system could heat up and the child could burn herself/himself on them.

If a child opens a door, the child or other persons could be injured as a result. The child could get out and be injured in the process or be injured by a passing vehicle.

Risk of injury

An unsecured or an incorrectly positioned load increases the risk of injury for the child and all other occupants, during:

  • an accident

  • a braking manoeuvre

  • a sudden change of direction

Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the vehicle unless they are secured. You will find further information in the index under "Practical tips".

Child restraint systems

Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use the child restraint systems listed on more.

Risk of injury

To reduce the risk of serious or even fatal injury to the child in the event of a sudden change in direction, braking or an accident:

  • children less than 1.50 m tall and under twelve years of age must always be secured in special child restraint systems on a suitable vehicle seat. This is necessary because the seat belts are not designed for children of this size.

  • if you secure a forward-facing child restraint system without automatic child seat recognition to the front-passenger seat, you must move the front-passenger seat as far back as possible.

  • children must never travel sitting on the lap of another occupant. Due to the forces occurring in the event of a sudden change of direction, heavy braking or an accident, it would not be possible to restrain the child. The child could be thrown against parts of the vehicle interior and be seriously or even fatally injured.

Risk of injury

The child restraint system cannot perform its protective function if it is not correctly fitted to a suitable vehicle seat. The child cannot be restrained in the event of a sudden change of direction, heavy braking or an accident. This may lead to serious or even fatal injuries. For this reason, when fitting a child restraint system, observe the manufacturer's installation instructions and the correct use of the child restraint system.

The entire base of the child restraint system must always rest on the seat cushion. Never place objects, e.g. a cushion, under the child restraint system.

Only use child restraint systems with their original covers. Only replace damaged covers with genuine Mercedes-Benz covers.

For safety reasons, you should only use child restraint systems which have been approved for use in Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

Child seat on the front-passenger seat

Warning on the front-passenger sun visor

Warning symbol for a rearward-facing child restraint system

Risk of injury

If the front-passenger front airbag is not disabled:

  • a child secured in a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat could be seriously and even fatally injured by the front-passenger front airbag deploying. This is especially a risk if the child is in the immediate vicinity of the front-passenger front airbag when it deploys.

  • a child must never be secured on the front-passenger seat in a rearward-facing child restraint system.

  • always move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost position if you secure a child in a forward-facing child restraint system on the front-passenger seat.

The front-passenger front airbag is not disabled:

  • no child restraint system with automatic child seat recognition is fitted

  • if the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp on the centre console is not lit

To make you aware of this danger, a corresponding warning sticker is located on the dashboard and on both sides of the sun visor on the front-passenger side.

Information about recommended child restraint systems is available at any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.

Automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat

The sensors for the automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat detects whether a special Mercedes-Benz child seat with automatic child seat recognition has been fitted. In such cases, PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp lights up. The front-passenger front airbag is disabled.

Risk of injury

If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp does not light up when the child restraint system is fitted, the front-passenger front airbag has not been disabled. If the front-passenger front airbag is deployed, the child could be seriously or even fatally injured.

Proceed as follows:

  • do not use a rearward-facing child restraint system on the front-passenger seat.

or

  • only use a forward-facing child restraint system on the front-passenger seat and move the front-passenger seat to its rearmost position.

  • have the automatic child seat recognition checked at a qualified specialist workshop.

To ensure that the automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat functions correctly, never place objects (such as a cushion) under the child restraint system. The entire base of the child restraint system must always rest on the seat cushion. An incorrectly fitted child restraint system cannot perform its intended protective function in the event of an accident, and could lead to injuries.

The head/thorax airbag and the belt tensioner for the front-passenger seat are still active even if the front-passenger seat front airbag has been disabled by the automatic child seat recognition.

Risk of injury

Do not place electronic devices on the front-passenger seat, e.g.:

  • laptops, when switched on

  • mobile phones

  • cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes or access cards

Signals from electronic equipment can cause interference in the automatic child seat recognition sensor system. This could lead to a system malfunction. This may cause the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp to light up without there being a child seat with automatic child seat recognition fitted. This means that the front-passenger front airbag does not deploy during an accident. It is also possible that the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp will not light up briefly if you turn the key in the ignition lock to position 2.

Suitable positioning of the child restraint system

Weight categories and ages

Child restraint system on the front-passenger seat

Group 0: up to 10 kg

Up to approximately 9 months

as recommended

(Only use child restraint systems featuring automatic child seat recognition.)

,

(Move the front-passenger seat to the highest and rearmost position.)

Group 0+: up to 13 kg

up to approximately 18 months

as recommended,

Group I: 9 to 18 kg

between approximately 8 months and 4 years

Universal or as recommended,

Category II/III: 15 to 36 kg

between approximately 3½ and 12 years

Universal or as recommended

Example of an approval label on the child restraint system

Recommended child restraint systems

Weight categories and ages

Group 0: up to 10 kg

Up to approximately 9 months

Group 0+: up to 13 kg

up to approximately 18 months

Manufacturer

Britax-Römer

Britax-Römer

Type

BABY SAFE PLUS

(Move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost and highest position.)

BABY SAFE PLUS

Approval number

E1 03 301146

E1 03 301146

Daimler order number

A 000 970 10 00

A 000 970 10 00

Automatic child seat recognition

Yes

Yes

Weight categories and ages

Group I: 9 to 18 kg

between approximately 8 months and 4 years

Group II/III: 15 to 36 kg;

between approximately 3½ and 12 years

Manufacturer

Britax-Römer

Britax-Römer

Type

DUO PLUS

(Move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost and highest position.)

KID

Approval number

E1 03 301133

E1 03 301148

Daimler order number

A 000 970 11 00

A 000 970 12 00

Automatic child seat recognition

Yes

Yes

Daimler order number

A 000 970 16 00

A 000 970 17 00

Automatic child seat recognition

No

(For child restraint systems without automatic child seat recognition, move the front-passenger seat to the rearmost position.)

No

 

Date of printing:

11/23/2009

Interactive Owner's Manual [In depth | Occupant safety]

Owner's Manual version: ÄJ 2009/1b

Note: The online Owner's Manual is the latest version available. Deviations between this manual and items specific to your vehicle may occur since Mercedes-Benz constantly adapts its vehicles to the latest technology and modifies design and equipment. Please note that this online Owner's Manual does not under any circumstances replace the printed Owner's Manual which is supplied with the vehicle.