The tips listed below are suggestions to help you cope with the ever changing traffic environment.

Reporting Safety Defects in the U.S.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying Volvo Cars of North America. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your retailer, or Volvo Cars of North America. To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 202-366-0123 in Washington, D.C. area) or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington D. C. 20590. You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.

Volvo strongly recommends that if your vehicle is covered under a service campaign, safety or emission recall or similar action, it should be completed as soon as possible. Please check with your local retailer or Volvo Cars of North America, LLC if your vehicle is covered under these conditions.

NHTSA can be reached at:
Internet : http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Telephone:
1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236) (toll free)
1-800-424-9393 (toll free)
1-202-366-0123 (in Washington DC area)

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Using seat belts

Adjusting the seat belt

Volvo also believes no child should sit in the front seat of a vehicle.

Most states and provinces make it mandatory for occupants of a vehicle to use seat belts.

Seat belt tensioners
The seat belts are equipped with tensioners that reduce slack in the belts. These tensioners are triggered in situations where the airbags deploy. The front seat belts also include a tension reducing device which, in the event of a collision, limits the peak forces exerted by the seat belt on the occupant.

Buckling a seat belt
Pull the belt out far enough to insert the latch plate into the receptacle until a distinct click is heard. The seat belt retractor is normally "unlocked" and you can move freely, provided that the shoulder belt is not pulled out too far.

The retractor will lock up as follows:

When wearing the seat belt remember:

Sample label found on all seat belts with tensioners

Unbuckling the seat belt
To remove the seat belt, press the red section on the seat belt receptacle. Before exiting the vehicle, check that the seat belt retracts fully after being unbuckled. If necessary, guide the belt back into the retractor slot.

Seat belt reminder
The seat belt reminder consists of an audible signal, an indicator light above the rearview mirror, and a symbol in the instrument panel that alert the driver and front seat passenger if their seat belts are not fastened.

Seat belt maintenance
Check periodically that the seat belts are in good condition. Use water and a mild detergent for cleaning. Check seat belt mechanism function as follows: attach the seat belt and pull rapidly on the strap.

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WARNING! - Never use a seat belt for more than one occupant. - Never wear the shoulder portion of the belt under the arm, behind the back or otherwise out of position. Such use could cause injury in the event of an accident. - Seat belts lose much of their strength when exposed to violent stretching and should be replaced after any collision, even if they appear to be undamaged. - Never repair the belt yourself; have this work done by an authorized Volvo service technician only. - Any device used to induce slack into the shoulder belt portion of the three-point belt system will have a detrimental effect on the amount of protection available to you in the event of a collision. - The seat back should not be tilted too far back. The shoulder belt must be taut in order to function properly. - Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend that children who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with the seat belt properly fastened.

Seat belt use during pregnancy

Seat belt use during pregnancy
The seat belt should always be worn during pregnancy. But it is crucial that it be worn in the correct way. The diagonal section should wrap over the shoulder then be routed between the breasts and to the side of the belly. The lap section should lay flat over the thighs and as low as possible under the belly. It must never be allowed to ride upward. Remove all slack from the belt and insure that it fits close to the body without any twists.

As a pregnancy progresses, pregnant drivers should adjust their seats and steering wheel such that they can easily maintain control of the vehicle as they drive (which means they must be able to easily operate the foot pedals and steering wheel). Within this context, they should strive to position the seat with as large a distance as possible between their belly and the steering wheel.

Child seats
Please refer to page 20 for information on securing child seats with the seat belts.

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Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

SRS warning light

Supplemental Restraint System As an enhancement to the three-point seat belts, your Volvo is equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). Volvo's SRS consists of seat belt tensioners, front airbags, side impact airbags, the occupant weight sensor, and inflatable curtains. All of these systems are monitored by the SRS control module. An SRS warning light in the instrument panel (see the illustration above) illuminates when the ignition key is turned to position I, II, or III, and will normally go out after approximately 7 seconds if no faults are detected in the system.

Where applicable, a text message will also be displayed when the SRS warning light illuminates. If this warning symbol is not functioning properly, the general warning symbol illuminates and a text message will be displayed.

WARNING! - If the SRS warning light stays on after the engine has started or if it illuminates while you are driving, have the vehicle inspected by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician as soon as possible. - Never try to repair any component or part of the SRS yourself. Any interference in the system could cause malfunction and serious injury. All work on these systems should be performed by an authorized Volvo service technician.

WARNING! If your vehicle has been subjected to flood conditions (e.g. soaked carpeting/standing water on the floor of the vehicle) or if your vehicle has become flood-damaged in any way, do not attempt to start the vehicle or put the key in the ignition before disconnecting the battery (see below). This may cause airbag deployment which could result in personal injury. Have the vehicle towed to a trained and qualified Volvo service technician for repairs. Automatic transmission: Before attempting to tow the vehicle, use the following procedure to override the shiftlock system to move the gear selector to the neutral position: - Switch off the ignition for at least 10 minutes and disconnect the battery - Wait at least one minute. - Insert the key in the ignition and turn it to position II. - Press firmly on the brake pedal. - Move the gear selector from (P)ark to the (N)eutral position.

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Front airbags

The front airbag system
The front airbags supplement the three-point seat belts. For these airbags to provide the protection intended, seat belts must be worn at all times.

The front airbag system includes gas generators (1) surrounded by the airbags (2) and a deceleration sensor (3) that activates the gas generators, causing the airbags to be inflated with nitrogen gas.

As the movement of the seats' occupants compresses the airbags, some of the gas is expelled at a controlled rate to provide better cushioning. Both seat belt tensioners also deploy, minimizing seat belt slack. The entire process, including inflation and deflation of the airbags, takes approximately one fifth of a second.

The location of the front airbags is indicated by "SRS AIRBAG" embossed on the steering wheel pad and above the glove compartment, and by decals on both sun visors and on the front and far right side of the dash.

Passenger's side airbag - above glove compartment

WARNING! - The airbags in the vehicle are designed to be a SUPPLEMENT to-not a replacement for-the three-point seat belts. For maximum protection, wear seat belts at all times. Be aware that no system can prevent all possible injuries that may occur in an accident. - Never drive a vehicle with a steering wheel-mounted airbag with your hands on the steering wheel pad/airbag housing. - The front airbags are designed to help prevent serious injury. Deployment occurs very quickly and with considerable force. During normal deployment and depending on variables such as seating position, one may experience abrasions, bruises, swellings, or other injuries as a result from deployment of one or both of the airbags. - When installing any accessory equipment, make sure that the front airbag system is not damaged. Any interference in the system could cause malfunction.

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Front airbag deployment

However, not all frontal collisions activate the front airbags.

NOTE:

Should you have questions about any component in the SRS system, please contact a trained and qualified Volvo service technician or Volvo Customer Support:

In the USA:
Volvo Cars of North America
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914
Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914
800-458-1552
http://www.volvocars.us

In Canada:
Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd.
National Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
800-663-8255
http://www.volvocanada.com

WARNING! - Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend that occupants under 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) in height who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with the seat belt fastened. - Never drive with the airbags deployed. The fact that they hang out can impair the steering of your vehicle. Other safety systems can also be damaged. - The smoke and dust formed when the airbags are deployed can cause skin and eye irritation in the event of prolonged exposure.

See also the Occupant Weight Sensor information on page 9.

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WARNING! - Children must never be allowed in the front passenger's seat. Volvo recommends that ALL occupants (adults and children) shorter than 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) be seated in the back seat of any vehicle with a passenger-side front airbag. See page 20 for guidelines. - Occupants in the front passenger's seat must never sit on the edge of the seat, sit leaning toward the instrument panel or otherwise sit out of position. - The occupant's back must be as upright as comfort allows and be against the seat back with the seat belt properly fastened. - Feet must be on the floor, e.g., not on the dash, seat or out of the window.

WARNING! - No objects or accessory equipment, e.g. dashboard covers, may be placed on, attached to, or installed near the air bag hatch (the area above the glove compartment) or the area affected by airbag deployment (see the illustration on page 6). - There should be no loose articles, e.g. coffee cups, on the floor, seat, or dashboard area. - Never try to open the airbag cover on the steering wheel or the passenger's side dashboard. This should only be done by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle occupants.

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Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS) indicator light

Disabling the passenger's side front airbag
Volvo recommends that ALL occupants (adults and children) shorter than four feet seven inches (140 cm) be seated in the back seat of any vehicle with a front passenger side airbag, and be properly restrained for their size and weight. See also the child safety recommendations on page 20.

The passenger's side front airbag is automatically enabled/disabled by the Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS), a system that monitors the weight of the person or object in the front passenger's seat. The system consists of a silicone-filled bag located under the padding in the front passenger's seat cushion, a control module located under this seat, and a seat belt tension sensor, located on the outboard side of the seat.

The OWS system continuously monitors the pressure on the front passenger's seat cushion and the tension applied to the seat belt. Based on this data, OWS assesses the weight of the occupant or object in the front passenger's seat. This information is transmitted to the SRS system control module, which enables or disables the passenger's side front airbag accordingly, as indicated in the table to the right.

If the system is functioning normally, the status of the front passenger's side airbag (enabled/disabled) will be shown by the OWS indicator light as explained in the table to the right. The OWS indicator light is separate and in addition to the SRS warning light in the instrument panel.

NOTE: When the ignition is switched on, the OWS indicator light will go on for up to 10 seconds while the system performs a self-diagnostic test and then go out. However, if a fault is detected in the system:

(contd. on following page)

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WARNING! If a fault in the system is detected and indicated as explained on the previous page, be aware that the passenger's side front airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. In this case, the safety systems and Occupant Weight Sensor should be inspected by an authorized Volvo retailer as soon as possible.

Modifications
If you are considering modifying your vehicle in any way to accommodate a disability, for example by altering or adapting the driver's or front passenger's seat(s) and/or airbag systems, please contact Volvo at:

In the USA:
Volvo Cars of North America
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914
Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914
800-458-1552

In Canada:
Volvo Cars of Canada Ltd.
National Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
800-663-8255

WARNING! - No objects that add to the total weight on the seat should be placed on the front passenger's seat. If a child is seated in the front passenger's seat with any additional weight, this extra weight could cause the OWS system to enable the airbag, which might cause it to deploy in the event of a collision, thereby injuring the child. - The seat belt should never be wrapped around an object on the front passenger's seat. This could interfere with the OWS system's function. - The front passenger's seat belt should never be used in a way that exerts more pressure on the passenger than normal. This could increase the pressure exerted on the weight sensor by a child, and could result in the airbag being enabled, which might cause it to deploy in the event of a collision, thereby injuring the child.

WARNING! - Never try to open, remove, or repair any components in the OWS system. This could result in system malfunction. Maintenance or repairs should only be carried out by an authorized Volvo service technician. - The front passenger's seat should not be modified in any way. This could reduce pressure on the seat cushion, which might interfere with the OWS system's function.

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WARNING! Keep the following points in mind with respect to the OWS system. Failure to follow these instructions could adversely affect the systemÕs function and result in serious injury to the occupant of the front passengerÕs seat: - The full weight of the front seat passenger should always be on the seat cushion. The passenger should never lift him/herself off the seat cushion using the armrest in the door or the center console, by pressing the feet on the floor, by sitting on the edge of the seat cushion, or by pressing against the backrest in a way that reduces pressure on the seat cushion. This could cause OWS to disable the front passengerÕs side airbag. - Do not place any type of object on the front passenger's seat in such a way that jamming, pressing, or squeezing occurs between the object and the front seat, other than as a direct result of the correct use of the ALR/ ELR seat belt (see page 20). - No objects should be placed under the front passengerÕs seat. This could interfere with the OWS systemÕs function.