Passenger safety systems
Seat belts with seat belt tensioners and belt force limiters, airbags and child restraint devices are independent occupant safety systems whose protective functions are coordinated with each other.
Many countries have laws governing the use of seat belts and child restraints. Regardless, it is mandatory for all passengers to use seat belts or child restraints.
Child restraint devices
For protection in the event of an accident, children under 150 cm tall and under 12 years of age need suitable restraints, as they cannot ensure that the seat belts fit correctly.
Children are advised to sit in the rear seats while the vehicle is in motion, as they are more secure there.
Children should never sit on the laps of other passengers. In the event of an accident, they are not protected by a child restraint device and can be seriously injured, even fatal, by the person strapped together in them or by the front passenger airbag.
Rear-facing restraints must not be used on the front passenger seat. An exception is a special child seat in combination with an automatic child seat detection system.
Using a rearward-facing restraint without automatic child seat recognition near the airbag outlet can result in very serious injury or death to the child.
If a forward-facing restraint is used on the seat next to the driver, the seat must be in the rearmost position.
Use only recommended "MB" retention devices.
Help on this issue can be obtained at any service station «Mercedes-Benz».
To ensure the safety of passengers, when installing a child restraint device, be sure to follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle, even if they are protected by a child restraint system.
Automatic child seat detection system
The automatic child seat detection system on the front passenger seat requires a special child seat. Such a child seat can be purchased at any service station «Mercedes-Benz».
When such a special child seat is used on the front passenger seat, the front passenger airbag is deactivated. The warning light in the center console is on continuously as long as this special child seat is fitted to the front passenger seat.
ISOFIX child seat anchor
On models with ISOFIX, an attachment system for the respective child seats is mounted on the left and right sides of the rear seats.
To install the appropriate child seats, the mounting brackets (1) should be folded out until it locks.
This fastening system is designed for children weighing no more than 22 kg.
Before installing child seats, check that the mounting brackets are locked (1).
When installing the child seat, it is imperative that you strictly follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.
The child seat must be fixed on the left and right in the mounting brackets (1).
An incorrectly fitted child seat can be unhooked in an accident.
Child seat anchors and child seats that have been damaged or heavily loaded during an accident must be replaced with new ones.
After removing the child seats, to release the mounting brackets, press the button (2). Turn the mounting brackets inward until they lock.
Seat belts
Each seat is equipped with a seat belt.
The retraction of the seat belt webbing is blocked when braking and decelerating the vehicle in all directions and when the webbing is jerked out.
Note. (Cleaning and maintenance of seat belt tapes - discussed in Chapter Suspension and steering).
Seat belts must be fastened at every journey.
Pregnant women should also not forego the protection of seat belts.
Each of the seat belts is provided for only one passenger.
Do not fasten any items together with the passenger.
The airbags provide the intended protection only if the occupants are wearing their seat belts.
For protection in the event of an accident, persons shorter than 150 cm require suitable restraints, as they cannot ensure that the seat belts fit correctly. (Refer to section «Child restraint devices»).
Seat belts that are damaged or heavily loaded during an accident must be replaced with new ones. Also, check the strap fasteners.
Use only approved «MB» seat belts.
Do not modify the seat belt arrangement. This can adversely affect the effectiveness of the belts.
Fastening seat belts
1. Belt tongue
2. Belt lock
Insert the belt tongue -1- into the belt buckle -2- until it locks into place.
The seat belt should fit as snugly as possible over the pelvis in front of the thigh. If necessary, tighten the belt in the pelvic area. To do this, pull the belt up in front of the chest.
Four locking positions are possible.
Higher: Move the belt outlet up.
Below: Press the key (1) and slide the belt outlet down.
Make sure that the belt fits snugly and runs along the middle of the shoulder.
The seat belt must not be twisted, must not pass over the throat or under the arm.
Set the backs almost vertically. The back should be close to the back.
Check the correct fit of the belt while driving and adjust if necessary.
Seat belt release
Press the button -3- in the belt buckle -2-.
Take the tongue -1- to the belt outlet.
Pyrotechnic seat belt pretensioner with tension limiter
The protective effect of the front and outer seat belts in the rear compartment is increased by a seat belt tensioner with a tension limiter.
The seat belt pretensioner with tension limiter is ready for operation when the ignition key is turned to position 1 or 2.
(SRS safety systems warning lamp (Supplemental Restraint System) - refer to Section Steering wheel, mirrors).
Pretensioners with a belt tension limiter are designed to be triggered in a frontal or rear-end collision with a precisely defined force. At the same time, they pull the seat belts until they fit snugly against the body.
Seat belt force limiters reduce the strain on occupants in the event of an accident.
Note. The driver's and front passenger's seat belt pretensioners are only deployed when the seat belt tongue is inserted into the seat belt buckle.
Front airbags
1 Driver airbag
2 Front passenger airbag
The driver's and front passenger's airbags are designed to deploy in the event of a frontal collision. Triggering occurs starting with the collision of a precisely defined force.
(SRS safety systems warning lamp (Supplemental Restraint System) - refer to Section Steering wheel, mirrors).
In the event of an accident without a strong impact from the front, the airbags will not deploy. In such accidents, the driver and passenger are protected, as usual, by fastened seat belts.
Seat occupancy recognition system:
The front passenger airbag will only deploy if the front passenger seat is occupied and the warning light on the center console does not flash or come on (Chapter Vehicle control and assistance systems).
Note. Do not place heavy objects on the front passenger seat, otherwise the front passenger airbag and the front passenger side airbag with window airbag will be deployed in an accident.
Side airbags (Sidebags), window airbags
3 - Side airbags (Sidebags)
4 - Window airbags
The side airbags are designed so that they only deploy on the side of the collision.
Triggering occurs starting with the collision of a precisely defined force.
In the event of an accident without a strong side impact, the side airbags will not deploy.
The front passenger's side airbag will only deploy when the front passenger's seat is occupied.
The rear side airbag on the right is triggered if sensors in this area detect a side impact.
The rear side airbag on the driver's side will only deploy if the driver's side airbag has deployed.
Window airbags
Window airbags provide additional protection against head and chest injuries.
They are located in the area of pillars A and C (arrows) between the side windows and the head. They protect against penetrating objects.
The window airbags are designed to deploy on the side of impact in addition to the side airbags in a side impact.
Safety
Airbags provide additional protection; however, to avoid injury when airbags deploy, consider the following:
- Select the seating position as far away from the airbags as possible.
- Do not lean forward while driving. Don't lean against the doors from the inside.
- Always hold the steering wheel by the rim to ensure unhindered inflation of the airbag.
- There must be no foreign objects on the airbags or between them and the passengers.
- Do not hang rigid objects such as coat hangers from the grips.
If there are children in the car, it is mandatory to use child restraints (see above).
If the airbags deploy, do not touch the hot parts. Airbags deployed in an accident must be replaced with new ones.
The soft steering wheel cover, front passenger airbag cover, door trim and headlining in the area of the window airbags must not be additionally wrapped, labeled or labeled, otherwise the airbags can no longer be deployed.
Do not make changes to the elements of passenger safety systems, including cabling.
When removing airbag assemblies, the safety regulations must be observed.
These rules can be found at any service station «Mercedes-Benz».
The service life of airbags is limited to 15 years.
Therefore, for safety reasons, it is strongly recommended to have the airbags replaced by a workshop at the latest after 15 years «Mercedes-Benz».
When selling a car, the owner is obliged to inform the buyer on this issue. This is done during the transfer «Instruction manuals».
When the airbags deploy, a small amount of smoke is released. This smoke is not harmful to health and does not indicate a vehicle fire.
When inflated quickly, the fabric structure of the fabric of the airbags can cause minor skin damage.