pg. 12 Safety

Side airbags (SIPS) airbag

Location of the side impact (SIPS) airbag

The SIPS airbag system is designed to help increase occupant protection in the event of certain side impact collisions. The SIPS airbags are designed to deploy only during certain side-impact collisions, depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and point of impact.

NOTE: SIPS airbag deployment (one airbag) occurs only on the side of the vehicle affected by the impact. The airbags are not designed to deploy in all side impact situations.

Components in the SIPS airbag system
This SIPS airbag system consists of a gas generator (2), the side airbag modules built into the outboard sides of both front seat backrests (3), and electronic sensors/wiring (1).

WARNING! - The SIPS airbag system is a supplement to the structural Side Impact Protection System and the three-point seat belt system. It is not designed to deploy during collisions from the front or rear of the car or in rollover situations. - The use of seat covers on the front seats may impede SIPS airbag deployment. - No objects, accessory equipment or stickers may be placed on, attached to or installed near the SIPS airbag system or in the area affected by SIPS airbag deployment. - Never try to open or repair any components of the SIPS airbag system. This should be done only by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician. - In order for the SIPS airbag to provide its best protection, both front seat occupants should sit in an upright position with the seat belt properly fastened. - Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the occupants of the vehicle in the event of an accident.

pg. 13 Safety

Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)

This system consists of inflatable curtains located along the sides of the roof liners, stretching from the center of both front side windows to the rear edge of the rear side door windows. It is designed to help protect the heads of the occupants of the front seats and the occupant of the outboard rear seating positions in certain side impact collisions.

In certain side impacts, both the Inflatable Curtain (VIC) and the Side Impact Airbag System (SIPS-bag) will deploy, whereas, in some cases, only the Inflatable Curtain (VIC) will deploy. In cases where both the VIC and the SIPS-bag deploy, this will occur simultaneously.

NOTE: If the inflatable curtain deploys, it remains inflated for approximately 3 seconds.

WARNING! - The VIC system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection System. It is not designed to deploy during collisions from the front or rear of the car or in rollover situations. - Never try to open or repair any components of the VIC system. This should be done only by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician. - In order for the VIC to provide its best protection, both front seat occupants and both outboard rear seat occupants should sit in an upright position with the seat belt properly fastened; adults using the seat belt and children using the proper child restraint system. Only adults should sit in the front seats. Children must never be allowed in the front passenger seat. See page 20 for guidelines. Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle occupants in an accident.

pg. 14 Safety

Inspecting SRS system components

Inspection date
1. Driver's side airbag
2. Passenger's side airbag
3. Side airbag on the driver's side
4. Side airbag on the passenger's side
5. Driver's side inflatable curtain
6. Passenger's side inflatable curtain

WARNING! There is no owner maintenance that can be performed on the SRS system. The month and year shown on the decal to the right (located on door pillar) indicate when you should contact your Volvo retailer for specific servicing or replacement of SRS system components. This service must be performed by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician.

This is a sample of the decal located in the left rear door opening

pg. 15 Safety

Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)

Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) - front seats only
The WHIPS system consists of specially designed hinges and brackets on the front seat backrests designed to help absorb some of the energy generated in a collision from the rear (when the vehicle is "rear-ended").

In the event of a collision of this type, the hinges and brackets of the front seat backrests are designed to change position slightly to allow the backrest/head restraint to help support the occupant's head before moving slightly rearward. This movement helps absorb some of the forces that could result in whiplash.

WARNING! - The WHIPS system is designed to supplement the other safety systems in your car. For this system to function properly, the three-point seat belt must be worn. Please be aware that no system can prevent all possible injuries that may occur in an accident. - The WHIPS system is designed to function in certain collisions from the rear, depending on the crash severity, angle and speed. - Occupants in the front seats must never 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.

(contd. on following page)

pg. 16 Safety

WARNING! - Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front seats could impede the function of the WHIPS system. - If the rear seat backrests are folded down, cargo must be secured to prevent it from sliding forward against the front seat backrests in the event of a collision from the rear. This could interfere with the action of the WHIPS system. - If your car has been involved in a rear-end collision, the front seat backrests must be inspected by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician, even if the seats appear to be undamaged. Certain components in the WHIPS system may need to be replaced. - Do not attempt to service any component in the WHIPS system yourself. - Any contact between the front seat backrests and the folded rear seat could impede the function of the WHIPS system. If the rear seat is folded down, the occupied front seats must be adjusted forward so that they do not touch the folded rear seat.

pg. 17 Safety

Child safety

Children should be seated safely
Volvo recommends the proper use of restraint systems for all occupants including children. Remember that, regardless of age and size, a child should always be properly restrained in a car.

Your car is also equipped with ISOFIX/ LATCH attachments, which make it more convenient to install child seats. Some restraint systems for children are designed to be secured in the vehicle by lap belts or the lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Such child restraint systems can help protect children in cars in the event of an accident only if they are used properly. However, children could be endangered in a crash if the child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle. Failure to follow the installation instructions for your child restraint can result in your child striking the vehicle's interior in a sudden stop.

Holding a child in your arms is NOT a suitable substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, a child held in a person's arms can be crushed between the vehicle's interior and an unrestrained person. The child could also be injured by striking the interior, or by being ejected from the vehicle during a sudden maneuver or impact. The same can also happen if the infant or child rides unrestrained on the seat. Other occupants should also be properly restrained to help reduce the chance of injuring or increasing the injury of a child.

All states and provinces have legislation governing how and where children should be carried in a car. Find out the regulations existing in your state or province. Recent accident statistics have shown that children are safer in rear seating positions than front seating positions when properly restrained. A child restraint system can help protect a child in a vehicle. Here's what to look for when selecting a child restraint system:

In using any child restraint system, we urge you to carefully look over the instructions that are provided with the restraint. Be sure you understand them and can use the device properly and safely in this vehicle. A misused child restraint system can result in increased injuries for both the infant or child and other occupants in the vehicle.

When a child has outgrown the child safety seat, you should use the rear seat with the standard seat belt fastened. The best way to help protect the child here is to place the child on a cushion so that the seat belt is properly located on the hips (see the illustration on page 19). Legislation in your state or province may mandate the use of a child seat or cushion in combination with the seat belt, depending on the child's age and/or size. Please check local regulations.

A specially designed and tested booster cushion (not available in Canada) can be obtained from your Volvo retailer for children weighing 33 - 80 lb. (15 - 36 kg) and 38-54 inches (97 - 137 cm) in height.

pg. 18 Safety

WARNING! - Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger's seat. We also recommend that children under 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) in height who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with the seat belt fastened. - Keep vehicle doors and trunk locked and keep keys out of a child's reach. Unsupervised children could lock themselves in an open trunk and risk injury. Children should be taught not to play in vehicles. - On hot days, the temperature in the vehicle interior can rise very quickly. Exposure to these high temperatures for even a short period of time can cause heat-related injury or death. Small children are particularly at risk.

pg. 19 Safety

Integrated booster cushion

Integrated booster cushion (option)
Volvo's own integrated booster cushion has been specially designed to help safeguard a child seated in the center position of the rear seat. When using the integrated booster cushion, the child must be secured with the vehicle's three-point seat belt.

Use this booster cushion only with children who weigh between 33 and 80 lbs (15 and 36 kg) and whose height is between 38 and 54 in (97 and 137 cm).

The child should be properly seated on the booster cushion. The hip section of the three-point seat belt must fit snugly across the child's hips, not across the stomach. The shoulder section of the three-point seat belt should be positioned across the chest and shoulder (see illustration). The shoulder belt must never be placed behind the child's back or under the arm.

WARNING! - Follow all instructions on the booster cushion and in the vehicle's owner's manual. - MAKE SURE THE BOOSTER CUSHION IS SECURELY LOCKED BEFORE THE CHILD IS SEATED. - Use this booster cushion only with children who weigh between 33 and 80 lbs (15 and 36 kg) and whose height is between 38 and 54 in (97 and 137 cm). - In the event of a collision while the integrated booster cushion was occupied, the entire booster cushion and seat belt must be replaced. The booster cushion should also be replaced if it is badly worn or damaged in any way. This work should be performed by an authorized Volvo retailer only.

Canada only: This cushion may be referred to as a built-in booster cushion.

Folding out the booster cushion:

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 front passenger side airbag.

Drive safely!

ISOFIX/LATCH anchors

ISOFIX/LATCH anchors
Lower anchors for ISOFIX-equipped child seats are located in the rear, outboard seats, hidden below the backrest cushions. Symbols on the seat back upholstery mark the anchor positions as shown.

To access the anchors, kneel on the seat cushion and locate the anchors by feel.

Always follow your child seat manufacturer's installation instructions, and use both ISOFIX lower anchors and top tethers whenever possible.

pg. 21 Safety

Child safety

Child restraint anchorages

Child restraint anchorages
Volvo cars are fitted with child restraint top tether anchorages in the rear seat. Refer to the child seat manufacturer's instructions for information on securing the child seat.

NOTE:

Child restraint recall information is readily available in both the U.S. and Canada. For recall information in the U.S., call the U.S. Government's Auto Safety Hotline at 1-800-424-9393. In Canada, visit Transport Canada's Child Safety website at http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/childsafety/menu.htm.

WARNING! - Child Restraint Anchorages are designed to withstand only those loads imposed by correctly fitted Child Restraints. Under no circumstances are they to be used for adult seat belts or harnesses. The anchorages are not able to withstand excessive forces on them in the event of collision if full harness seat belts or adult seat belts are installed to them. An adult who uses a belt anchored in a Child Restraint Anchorage runs a great risk of suffering severe injuries should a collision occur. - Do not install rear speakers which would require the removal of the top tether anchors or interfere with the proper use of the top tether strap. - Top tether straps should be routed beneath the head restraints.

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