If service work is not carried out correctly, the operating safety of your vehicle may be affected. This could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident. Moreover, the safety systems may no longer be able to protect you or others as they are designed to do.

Always have service work carried out at a qualified specialist workshop. The workshop must have 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.

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.

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 go on when you turn the key to position 1 in the ignition lock

• 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.

The belt tensioners in the rear only function if they can pull the buckles downwards without obstruction. They must not be restricted in any way. For this reason, do not hold the belt buckles and do not place any objects under the belt buckles. Otherwise, the tensioning of the belt by the buckle is restricted or will not function and will not provide any additional protection.

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 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 into the area of the window where the windowbag 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 of a vehicle fitted with automatic child seat recognition* is only disabled when 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 the front-passenger seat of your vehicle does not have automatic child seat recognition*, or your rearward-facing child restraint system does not have automatic child seat recognition, children must be secured in a child restraint system on a suitable seat in the rear. 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 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.

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

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.

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.

Drive only with the head restraints fitted. This reduces the risk of injury in the event of an accident.

Occupants must only travel on seats with head restraints fitted. Pull the head restraints up into the upright position. This reduces the risk of injury to occupants in the event of an accident.

Make sure that the back of your head is supported at eye level by the central area of the head restraint. This reduces the risk of injury to your head or neck in the event of an accident or a similar situation.

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.

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 under "Loading guidelines" in the index.

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.

• do not secure children under twelve years of age on the front-passenger seat. Exception: the child is secured in a vehicle with automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat and is secured in a child restraint system with automatic child seat recognition.

• If you secure a child restraint system to the front-passenger seat where automatic child seat recognition is not installed, 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.

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.

Child restraint systems should be fitted to the rear seats. Children are generally better protected there.

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.

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. Only secure a rearward-facing child restraint system on a suitable rear seat.

• 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:

• on vehicles without automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat.

• in vehicles with automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat, if there is no child restraint system with automatic child seat recognition fitted to the front-passenger seat.

• on vehicles with automatic child seat recognition on the front-passenger seat if the  PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp 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.

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.

• fit a rearward-facing child restraint system on a suitable rear 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.

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.

A child restraint system secured by the ISOFIX child seat securing system does not provide sufficient protection for children weighing more than 22 kg. For this reason, do not secure children weighing more than 22 kg in a child restraint system secured by the ISOFIX child seat securing system. If the child weighs more than 22 kg, secure the child restraint system using a lap-shoulder belt.

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.

On the rear seats, only use child restraint systems with an ISOFIX child seat securing system which have been recommended for use in Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

An incorrectly fitted child restraint system could come loose and seriously or even fatally injure the child or other vehicle occupants. When fitting the child restraint system, make sure that it is engaged in the securing rings on both sides.

Please note that if child restraint systems, or their retaining systems, are damaged or subjected to a load in an accident, they may not be able to provide their protective function. This could result in serious or even fatal injuries to the secured child in the event of an accident, heavy braking or a sudden change in direction.

For this reason, have child restraint systems and their anchorages which have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident checked immediately at a qualified specialist workshop.

For each child restraint system, use only the TopTether anchorage in the correct position. Other TopTether anchorages may tear in the event of an accident. The child could be seriously injured.

Ensure that:

• the fastening straps do not cross each other and are not twisted.

• the hook is hooked in correctly and is closed.

Activate the child-proof locks for the rear doors and the override switch for the rear windows if children are travelling in the vehicle. Otherwise, the children could open doors or side windows while the vehicle is in motion and injure themselves or others.

Activate the child-proof locks for the rear doors and the override switch for the rear windows if children are travelling in the vehicle. Otherwise, the children could open doors or side windows while the vehicle is in motion and injure themselves or others.