Get Safety -> Occupant safety Guide for Mercedes GLA SUV First Generation (2013-2019)

Useful information

This Operator's Manual describes all

models and all standard and optional equip-

ment of your vehicle available at the time of

publication of the Operator's Manual.

Country-specific differences are possible.

Please note that your vehicle may not be

equipped with all features described. This

also applies to safety-related systems and

functions.

Read the information on qualified special-

ist workshops (Y page 28).

Panic alarm

To activate: press ! button : for at

least one second.

An alarm sounds and the exterior lighting

flashes.

To deactivate: press ! button :

again.

Insert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.

Occupant safety

Restraint system: introduction

The restraint system reduces the risk of vehi-

cle occupants coming into contact with parts

of the vehicle's interior in the event of an

accident. The restraint system can also

reduce the forces to which vehicle occupants

are subjected during an accident.

The restraint system comprises:

Seat belt system

Air bags

Child restraint system

Child seat securing systems

The components of the restraint system work

in conjunction with each other. They can only

deploy their protective function if, at all times,

all vehicle occupants:

have fastened their seat belts correctly

(Y page 45)

have adjusted their seat and head restraint

properly (Y page 97).

As the driver, you also have to make sure that

the steering wheel is adjusted correctly.

Observe the information relating to the cor-

rect driver's seat position (Y page 96).

You also have to make sure that an air bag can

inflate properly if deployed (Y page 48).

An air bag supplements a correctly worn seat

belt. As an additional safety device, the air

bag increases the level of protection for vehi-

cle occupants in the event of an accident. For

example, if, in the event of an accident, the

protection offered by the seat belt is suffi-

cient, the air bags are not deployed. When an

accident occurs, only the air bags that

increase protection in that particular accident

situation are deployed. However, seat belts

and air bags generally do not protect against

objects penetrating the vehicle from the out-

side.

Information on restraint system operation

can be found under "Triggering of the Emer-

gency Tensioning Device and air bags"

(Y page 56).

For more information about children traveling

with you in the vehicle and on child restraint

systems, see "Children in the vehicle"

(Y page 58).

Occupant safety

Safety

Important safety notes

WARNING

Modifications to the restraint system may

cause it to no longer work as intended. The

restraint system may then not perform its

intended protective function and may fail in an

accident or trigger unexpectedly, for example.

This poses an increased risk of injury or even

fatal injury.

Never modify parts of the restraint system.

Never tamper with the wiring, the electronic

components or their software.

If it is necessary to modify an air bag system to

accommodate a person with disabilities, con-

tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for

details. USA only: for further information con-

tact our Customer Assistance Center at

1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1‑800‑367‑6372).

Restraint system warning lamp

The functions of the restraint system are

checked after the ignition is switched on and

at regular intervals while the engine is run-

ning. Therefore, malfunctions can be detec-

ted in good time.

The 6 restraint system warning lamp in

the instrument cluster lights up when the igni-

tion is switched on. It goes out no later than a

few seconds after the engine is started. The

components of the restraint system are in

operational readiness.

A malfunction has occurred if the 6

restraint system warning lamp:

does not light up after the ignition is

switched on

does not go out after a few seconds with

the engine running

lights up again while the engine is running

WARNING

If restraint system is malfunctioning, restraint

system components may be triggered unin-

tentionally or might not be triggered at all in

the event of an accident with a high rate of

vehicle deceleration. This can affect the Emer-

gency Tensioning Device or air bag, for exam-

ple. This poses an increased risk of injury or

even fatal injury.

Have the restraint system checked and

repaired in a qualified specialist workshop as

soon as possible.

PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamp

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp :

and PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp ; are part of the Occupant Classifica-

tion System (OCS).

The indicator lamps display the status of the

front-passenger front air bag.

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON : lights up: the

front-passenger front air bag is enabled. If,

in the event of an accident, all deployment

criteria are met, the front-passenger front

air bag is deployed.

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ; lights up: the

front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-

ted. It will then not be deployed in the event

of an accident.

Depending on the person in the front-

passenger seat, the front-passenger front air

bag must either be disabled or enabled; see

the following points. You must make sure of

this both before and during a journey.

Occupant safety

Safety

Seat belts

Introduction

Seat belts are the most effective means of

restricting the movement of vehicle occu-

pants in the event of an accident or the vehi-

cle rolling over. This reduces the risk of vehi-

cle occupants coming into contact with parts

of the vehicle interior or being ejected from

the vehicle. Furthermore, the seat belt helps

to keep the vehicle occupant in the best posi-

tion in relation to the air bag.

The seat belt system comprises:

Seat belts

Emergency Tensioning Devices for the

front seat belts and the outer seat belts in

the rear

Seat belt force limiters for the front seat

belts and the outer seat belts in the rear

If the seat belt is pulled out of the belt outlet

quickly or with a jerky movement, the belt

retractor locks. The belt strap cannot be

extracted any further.

The Emergency Tensioning Device tightens

the seat belt in an accident, pulling the belt

close against the body. However it does not

pull the vehicle occupant back in the direction

of the backrest.

The Emergency Tensioning Device does not

correct an incorrect seat position or the rout-

ing of an incorrectly fastened seat belt.

When triggered, seat belt force limiters help

to reduce the force exerted by the seat belt on

the vehicle occupant.

The seat belt force limiters for the front seats

are synchronized with the front air bags,

which absorb part of the deceleration force.

This can reduce the force exerted on the vehi-

cle occupants during an accident.

If the front-passenger seat is unoccupied,

do not insert the belt tongue into the buckle

of the front-passenger seat. This may oth-

erwise lead to the triggering of the Emer-

gency Tensioning Device in the event of an

accident, which will then need to be

replaced.

Important safety notes

The use of seat belts and child restraint sys-

tems is required by law in:

all 50 states

the U.S. territories

the District of Columbia

all Canadian provinces

Even where this is not required by law, all

vehicle occupants should correctly fasten

their seat belts before starting the journey.

WARNING

If the seat belt is incorrectly fastened, it can-

not protect as intended. Furthermore, an

incorrectly fastened seat belt can cause addi-

tional injury, for example, in an accident, dur-

ing braking or when abruptly changing direc-

tion. This poses an increased risk of injury or

even fatal injury.

Make sure that all vehicle occupants are

seated properly with a correctly fastened seat

belt.

WARNING

The seat belt does not offer the intended level

of protection if you have not moved the back-

rest to an almost vertical position. When brak-

ing or in the event of an accident, you could

slide underneath the seat belt and sustain

abdomen or neck injuries, for example. This

poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal

injury.

Adjust the seat properly before beginning

your journey. Always ensure that the backrest

is in an almost vertical position and that the

shoulder section of your seat belt is routed

across the center of your shoulder.

WARNING

Persons under 5 ft (1.50 m) in height cannot

fasten the seat belt correctly without an addi-

tional suitable restraint system. If the seat

Occupant safety

Safety

belt is incorrectly fastened, it cannot protect

as intended. Furthermore, an incorrectly fas-

tened seat belt can cause additional injury, for

example, in an accident, during braking or an

abrupt change of direction. This poses an

increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.

For this reason, always secure persons under

5 ft (1.50 m) in height in suitable restraint

systems.

If a child younger than 12 years and under 5 ft

(1.50 m) in height is traveling in the vehicle:

always secure the child in a child restraint

system suitable for this Mercedes-Benz

vehicle. The child restraint system must be

appropriate to the age, weight and size of

the child

always observe the instructions and safety

notes in the "Children in the vehicle" sec-

tion of this Operator's Manual

(Y page 58) in addition to the child

restraint system manufacturer's installa-

tion instructions

be sure to observe the instructions and

safety notes on the "Occupant classifica-

tion system (OCS)" (Y page 51)

WARNING

The seat belts may not perform their intended

protective function if:

they are damaged, modified, extremely

dirty, bleach or dyed

the seat belt buckle is damaged or

extremely dirty

the Emergency Tensioning Devices, belt

anchorages or inertia reels have been modi-

fied

Seat belts may be damaged in an accident,

although the damage may not be visible, e.g.

due to splinters of glass. Modified or damaged

seat belts may tear or fail, e.g. in an accident.

Modified Emergency Tensioning Devices

could accidentally trigger or fail to deploy

when necessary. This poses an increased risk

of injury or even fatal injury.

Never modify the seat belts, Emergency Ten-

sioning Devices, belt anchorages or inertia

reels. Make sure that the seat belts are

undamaged, not worn out and clean. Follow-

ing an accident, have the seat belts checked

immediately at a qualified specialist work-

shop.

Only use seat belts that have been approved

for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. Any such

modifications could invalidate the vehicle's

general operating permit.

Vehicles with a sports seat or AMG Per-

formance seat: these seats are designed for

the standard three-point seat belt. If you

install another multipoint seat belt, e.g. sport

or racing seat belts, the restraint system can-

not provide the best level of protection.

WARNING

If you feed seat belts through the opening in

the seat backrest, the seat backrest may be

damaged or may even break in the event of an

accident. This poses an increased risk of

injury or even fatal injury.

Only use the standard three-point seat belt.

Never modify the seat belt system.

Proper use of the seat belts

Observe the safety notes on the seat belt

(Y page 44).

All vehicle occupants must be wearing the

seat belt correctly before beginning the jour-

ney. Also make sure that all vehicle occu-

pants are always wearing the seat belt cor-

rectly while the vehicle is in motion.

When fastening the seat belt, always make

sure that:

the seat belt tongue is only inserted to the

belt buckle belonging to that seat.

the seat belt is tight across your body.

Avoid wearing bulky clothing, e.g. a winter

coat.

the seat belt is not twisted.

Occupant safety

Safety

Only then can the forces which occur be

distributed over the area of the belt.

the shoulder section of the belt is always

routed across the center of your shoulder.

The shoulder section of the belt must not

come into contact with your neck or be

routed under your arm. Where possible,

adjust the seat belt to the appropriate

height.

the lap belt passes tightly and as low down

as possible across your lap.

The lap belt must always be routed across

your hip joints and not across your abdo-

men. This applies particularly to pregnant

women. If necessary, push the lap belt

down to your hip joint and pull it tight using

the shoulder section of the belt.

the seat belt is not routed across sharp,

pointed or fragile objects.

If you have such items located on or in your

clothing, e.g. pens, keys or eyeglasses,

store these in a suitable place.

only one person is using a seat belt at a

time.

Infants and children must never travel sit-

ting on the lap of a vehicle occupant. In the

event of an accident, they could be crushed

between the vehicle occupant and seat

belt.

objects are never secured with a seat belt if

the seat belt is also being used by one of the

vehicle's occupants.

Seat belts are only intended to secure and

restrain vehicle occupants. Always observe

the "Loading guidelines" for securing objects,

luggage or loads (Y page 266).

Fastening and adjusting the seat belts

Observe the safety notes on the seat belt

(Y page 44) and the notes on correct use of

seat belts (Y page 45).

Adjust the seat (Y page 96).

The seat backrest must be in an almost

vertical position.

Pull the seat belt smoothly from belt outlet

Engage seat belt tongue ; in belt

buckle :.

If necessary, pull upwards on the shoulder

section of the seat belt to tighten the belt

across your body.

Occupant safety

Safety

The shoulder section of the seat belt must

always be routed across the center of the

shoulder. Adjust the belt outlet if necessary.

To raise: slide the belt outlet upwards.

The belt outlet will engage in various posi-

tions.

To lower: hold belt outlet release : and

slide the belt outlet downwards.

Let go of belt outlet release : in the

desired position and make sure that the

belt outlet engages.

All seat belts except the driver's seat belt are

equipped with a special seat belt retractor to

securely fasten child restraint systems in the

vehicle. Further information can be found

under "Special seat belt retractor"

(Y page 59).

Releasing seat belts

Make sure that the seat belt is fully rolled

up. Otherwise, the seat belt or belt tongue

will be trapped in the door or in the seat

mechanism. This could damage the door,

the door trim panel and the seat belt. Dam-

aged seat belts can no longer fulfill their

protective function and must be replaced.

Visit a qualified specialist workshop.

Press release button :, hold belt

tongue ; firmly and guide it back towards

belt outlet =.

Belt warning for the driver and front

passenger

The 7 seat belt warning lamp in the instru-

ment cluster is a reminder that all occupants

must fasten their seat belts. It may light up

continuously or flash. In addition, there may

be a warning tone.

Regardless of whether the driver's seat belt

has already been fastened, the 7 seat belt

warning lamp lights up for six seconds each

time the engine is started. If, after

six seconds, the driver or front-passenger

seat belt has not been fastened and the doors

are closed, the 7 seat belt warning lamp

lights up again. As soon as the driver's and

front-passenger seat belts are fastened or a

front door is opened again, the 7 seat belt

warning lamp goes out.

If the driver's seat belt is not fastened after

the engine is started, an additional warning

tone will sound. This warning tone stops after

six seconds or when the driver's seat belt is

fastened.

If the vehicle's speed exceeds 15 mph

(25 km/h) once and the driver's and front-

passenger seat belts are not fastened, a

warning tone sounds. The warning tone

sounds with increasing intensity for

60 seconds or until the driver or front

passenger have fastened their seat belts.

If the driver or front passenger unfasten their

seat belts during the journey, the seat belt

warning is activated again.

For more information on the 7 seat

belt warning lamp, see "Warning and indi-

cator lamps in the instrument cluster, seat

belts" (Y page 252).

Occupant safety

Safety

Air bags

Introduction

The installation point of an air bag can be rec-

ognized by the AIR BAG symbol.

An air bag complements the correctly fas-

tened seat belt. It is no substitute for the seat

belt. The air bag provides additional protec-

tion in applicable accident situations.

Not all air bags are deployed in an accident.

The different air bag systems function inde-

pendently from one another (Y page 56).

However, no system available today can com-

pletely eliminate injuries and fatalities.

It is also not possible to rule out a risk of injury

caused by an air bag due to the high speed at

which the air bag must be deployed.

Important safety notes

WARNING

If you do not sit in the correct seat position,

the air bag cannot protect as intended and

could even cause additional injury when

deployed. This poses an increased risk of

injury or even fatal injury.

To avoid hazardous situations, always make

sure that all of the vehicle's occupants:

have fastened their seat belts correctly,

including pregnant women

are sitting correctly and maintain the great-

est possible distance to the air bags

follow the following instructions

Always make sure that there are no objects

between the air bag and the vehicle's occu-

pants.

Adjust the seats properly before beginning

your journey. Always make sure that the

seat is in an almost upright position. The

center of the head restraint must support

the head at about eye level.

Move the driver's and front-passenger

seats as far back as possible. The driver's

seat position must allow the vehicle to be

driven safely.

Only hold the steering wheel on the out-

side. This allows the air bag to be fully

deployed.

Always lean against the backrest while driv-

ing. Do not lean forwards or lean against

the door or side window. You may other-

wise be in the deployment area of the air

bags.

Always keep your feet in the footwell in

front of the seat. Do not put your feet on the

dashboard, for example. Your feet may oth-

erwise be in the deployment area of the air

bag.

For this reason, always secure persons less

than 5 ft (1.50 m) tall in suitable restraint

systems. Up to this height, the seat belt

cannot be worn correctly.

If a child is traveling in your vehicle, also

observe the following notes:

Always secure children under 12 years of

age and less than 5 ft (1.50 m) in height in

suitable child restraint systems.

Child restraint systems should be installed

on the rear seats.

Only secure a child in a rearward-facing

child restraint system on the front-

passenger seat when the front-passenger

front air bag is deactivated. If the

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp is

permanently lit, the front-passenger front

air bag is deactivated (Y page 43).

Always observe the instructions and safety

notes on the "Occupant Classification Sys-

tem (OCS)" (Y page 51) and on "Children

in the vehicle" (Y page 58) in addition to

the child restraint system manufacturer's

installation instructions.

Occupant safety

Safety

Objects in the vehicle interior may pre-

vent the air bag from functioning cor-

rectly. Before starting your journey and to

avoid risks resulting from the speed of the air

bag as it deploys, make sure that:

there are no people, animals or objects

between the vehicle occupants and an air

bag.

there are no objects between the seat, door

and B-pillar.

no hard objects, e.g. coat hangers, hang on

the grab handles or coat hooks.

no accessories, such as cup holders, are

attached to the vehicle within the deploy-

ment area of an air bag, e.g. to doors, side

windows, rear side trim or side walls.

no heavy, sharp-edged or fragile objects

are in the pockets of your clothing. Store

such objects in a suitable place.

WARNING

If you modify the air bag cover or affix objects

such as stickers to it, the air bag can no longer

function correctly. There is an increased risk

of injury.

Never modify an air bag cover or affix objects

to it.

WARNING

Sensors to control the air bags are located in

the doors. Modifications or work not per-

formed correctly to the doors or door panel-

ing, as well as damaged doors, can lead to the

function of the sensors being impaired. The air

bags might therefore not function properly

any more. Consequently, the air bags cannot

protect vehicle occupants as they are

designed to do. There is an increased risk of

injury.

Never modify the doors or parts of the doors.

Always have work on the doors or door pan-

eling carried out at a qualified specialist work-

shop.

Front air bags

Driver's air bag : deploys in front of the

steering wheel; front-passenger front air

bag ; deploys in front of and above the glove

box.

When deployed, the front air bags offer addi-

tional head and thorax protection for the

occupants in the front seats.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps

inform you about the status of the front-

passenger front air bag (Y page 43).

Front-passenger front air bag ; will only

deploy if:

the system, based on the OCS weight sen-

sor readings, detects that the front-

passenger seat is occupied (Y page 51).

The PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator

lamp is lit (Y page 51)

the restraint system control unit predicts a

high accident severity

Knee bags

Occupant safety

Safety

Driver's knee bag : deploys under the steer-

ing column and front-passenger knee bag ;

under the glove box. The driver's and front-

passenger knee bags are triggered together

with the front air bags.

The driver's and front-passenger knee bags

offer additional thigh, knee and lower leg pro-

tection for the occupants in the front seats.

Side impact air bags

WARNING

Unsuitable seat covers could restrict or even

prevent the deployment of the air bags inte-

grated into the seats. Consequently, the air

bags cannot protect vehicle occupants as

they are designed to do. In addition, the func-

tion of the Occupant Classification System

(OCS) could be restricted. This poses an

increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.

You should only use seat covers that have

been approved for the respective seat by

Mercedes-Benz.

Front side impact air bags : and rear side

impact air bags ; deploy next to the outer

bolster of the seat backrest.

When deployed, the side impact air bag offers

additional thorax protection. It also offers

additional pelvis protection for occupants in

the front seats. However, it does not protect

the:

head

neck

arms

In the event of a side impact, the side impact

air bag is deployed on the side on which the

impact occurs.

The side impact air bag on the front-

passenger side (front) deploys in the follow-

ing situations:

the OCS system detects that the front-

passenger seat is occupied or

the belt tongue is engaged in the belt

buckle of the front-passenger seat

If the belt tongue is engaged in the belt

buckle, the side impact air bag on the front-

passenger side deploys if an appropriate acci-

dent situation occurs. In this case, deploy-

ment is independent of whether the front-

passenger seat is occupied or not.

Window curtain air bags

Window curtain air bags : are integrated

into the side of the roof frame and deployed in

the area from the A-pillar to the C-pillar.

When deployed, the window curtain air bag

enhances the level of protection for the head.

However, it does not protect the chest or

arms.

In the event of a side impact, the window cur-

tain air bag is deployed on the side on which

the impact occurs.

If the system determines that they can offer

additional protection to that provided by the

seat belt, a window curtain air bag may be

deployed in other accident situations

(Y page 56).

Occupant safety

Safety

Occupant Classification System

(OCS)

Introduction

The Occupant Classification System (OCS)

categorizes the person in the front-passenger

seat. Depending on that result, the front-

passenger front air bag and front-passenger

knee bag are either enabled or deactivated.

The system does not deactivate:

the side impact air bag

the window curtain air bag

the Emergency Tensioning Devices

Prerequisites

To be classified correctly, the front passenger

must sit:

with the seat belt fastened correctly

in an almost upright position with their

back against the seat backrest

with their feet resting on the floor, if possi-

ble

If the front passenger does not observe these

conditions, OCS may produce a false classi-

fication, e.g. because the front passenger:

transfers their weight by supporting them-

selves on a vehicle armrest

sits in such a way that their weight is raised

from the seat cushion

If it is absolutely necessary to install a child

restraint system on the front-passenger seat,

be sure to observe the correct positioning of

the child restraint system. Never place

objects under or behind the child restraint

system, e.g. cushions. The entire base of the

child restraint system must always rest on the

seat cushion of the front-passenger seat. The

backrest of the forwards-facing child restraint

system must, as far as possible, be resting on

the backrest of the front-passenger seat.

The child restraint system must not touch the

roof or be put under strain by the head

restraint. Adjust the angle of the seat back-

rest and the head restraint position accord-

ingly.

Only then can OCS be guaranteed to function

correctly. Always observe the child restraint

system manufacturer's installation instruc-

tions.

Occupant Classification System opera-

tion (OCS)

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp

;

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp

The indicator lamps inform you whether the

front-passenger front air bag is deactivated or

enabled.

Press the Start/Stop button once or twice,

or turn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in

the ignition lock.

The system carries out self-diagnostics.

The PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps

must light up simultaneously for approx-

imately six seconds.

The indicator lamps display the status of the

front-passenger front air bag.

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON : lights up: the

front-passenger front air bag is enabled. If,

in the event of an accident, all deployment

criteria are met, the front-passenger front

air bag is deployed.

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF ; lights up: the

front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-

ted. It will then not be deployed in the event

of an accident.

Occupant safety

Safety

If the status of the front-passenger front air

bag changes while the vehicle is in motion, an

air bag display message appears in the instru-

ment cluster (Y page 233). When the front-

passenger seat is occupied, always pay atten-

tion to the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON and

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamps. Be

aware of the status of the front-passenger

front air bag both before and during the jour-

ney.

WARNING

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp is lit, the front-passenger front air bag is

disabled. It will not be deployed in the event of

an accident and cannot perform its intended

protective function. A person in the front-

passenger seat could then, for example, come

into contact with the vehicle's interior, espe-

cially if the person is sitting too close to the

dashboard. This poses an increased risk of

injury or even fatal injury.

When the front-passenger seat is occupied,

always ensure that:

the classification of the person in the front-

passenger seat is correct and the front-

passenger front air bag is enabled or disa-

bled in accordance with the person in the

front-passenger seat

the front-passenger seat has been moved

back as far back as possible.

the person is seated correctly.

Make sure, both before and during the jour-

ney, that the status of the front-passenger

front air bag is correct.

WARNING

If you secure a child in a rearward-facing child

restraint system on the front-passenger seat

and the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator

lamp is lit up, the front-passenger front air bag

may deploy in an accident. The child could be

struck by the air bag. This poses an increased

risk of injury or even fatal injury.

Make sure that the front-passenger front air

bag has been disabled. The PASSENGER AIR

BAG OFF indicator lamp must be lit.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp remains off and/or the PASSENGER AIR

BAG ON indicator lamp lights up, do not install

a rearward-facing child restraint system on

the front-passenger seat. You can find more

information on OCS under "Problems with the

Occupant Classification System"

(Y page 55).

WARNING

If you secure a child in a forward-facing child

restraint system on the front-passenger seat

and you position the front-passenger seat too

close to the dashboard, in the event of an

accident, the child could:

come into contact with the vehicle's inte-

rior if the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indi-

cator lamp is lit, for example

be struck by the air bag if the PASSENGER

AIR BAG ON is lit up

This poses an increased risk of injury or even

fatal injury.

Move the front-passenger seat as far back as

possible. Always make sure that the shoulder

belt strap is correctly routed from the vehicle

belt outlet to the shoulder belt guide on the

child restraint system. The shoulder belt strap

must be routed forwards and downwards

from the vehicle belt outlet. If necessary,

adjust the vehicle belt outlet and the front-

passenger seat accordingly. Always observe

the child restraint system manufacturer's

installation instructions.

If OCS determines that:

the front-passenger seat is unoccupied, the

PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp

lights up after the system self-test and

remains lit. This indicates that the front-

passenger front air bag is deactivated.

the front-passenger seat is occupied by a

child of up to 12 months old in a standard

child restraint system, the PASSENGER AIR

Occupant safety

Safety

BAG OFF indicator lamp lights up after the

system self-test and remains lit. This indi-

cates that the front-passenger front air bag

is deactivated.

But in the case of a 12-month-old child in a

standard child restraint system, the

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON can light up per-

manently after the system self-test. This

indicates that the front-passenger front air

bag is activated. The result of the classifi-

cation is dependent on, among other fac-

tors, the child restraint system and the

child's stature. It is recommended that you

install the restraint system on a suitable

rear seat.

the front-passenger seat is occupied by a

person of smaller stature (e.g. a teenager

or small adult), either the PASSENGER AIR

BAG ON or PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indi-

cator lamp lights up and remains lit after

the system self-test depending on the

result of the classification.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator

lamp lights up, move the front-passenger

seat as far back as possible. Alterna-

tively, a person of smaller stature can sit

on a rear seat.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp is lit, a person of smaller stature

should not use the front-passenger seat.

the front-passenger seat is occupied by an

adult or a person of a stature correspond-

ing to that of an adult, the PASSENGER AIR

BAG ON indicator lamp lights up after the

system self-test and remains lit. This indi-

cates that the front-passenger front air bag

is activated.

If children are traveling in the vehicle, be sure

to observe the notes on "Children in the vehi-

cle" (Y page 58).

When OCS is malfunctioning, the red 6

restraint system warning lamp in the instru-

ment cluster and the PASSENGER AIR BAG

OFF indicator lamp light up simultaneously.

The front-passenger front air bag is deactiva-

ted in this case and does not deploy during an

accident. Have the system checked by quali-

fied technicians as soon as possible. Consult

an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. The

front-passenger seat should only be repaired

at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.

If the front-passenger seat, the seat cover or

the seat cushion is damaged, have the nec-

essary repair work carried out at an author-

ized Mercedes-Benz Center.

For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-

mends that you only use seat accessories

that have been approved by Mercedes-Benz.

If the driver's air bag deploys, this does not

mean that the front-passenger front air bag

will also deploy. The Occupant Classification

System (OCS) categorizes the occupant in the

front-passenger seat. Depending on that

result, the front-passenger front air bag is

either enabled or deactivated.

System self-test

DANGER

If both the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF and

PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamps do

not light up during the system self-test, the

system is malfunctioning. The front-

passenger front air bag might be triggered

unintentionally or might not be triggered at all

in the event of an accident with high deceler-

ation. This poses an increased risk of injury or

even fatal injury.

In this case the front-passenger seat may not

be used. Do not install a child restraint system

on the front-passenger seat. Have the Occu-

pant Classification System (OCS) checked

and repaired immediately at a qualified spe-

cialist workshop.

DANGER

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp remains lit after the system self-test, the

front-passenger front air bag is disabled. It will

not be deployed in the event of an accident. In

this case, the front-passenger front air bag

cannot perform its intended protective func-

Occupant safety

Safety

tion, e.g. when a person is seated in the front-

passenger seat.

That person could, for example, come into

contact with the vehicle's interior, especially

if the person is sitting too close to the dash-

board. This poses an increased risk of injury or

even fatal injury.

When the front-passenger seat is occupied,

always ensure that:

the classification of the person in the front-

passenger seat is correct and the front-

passenger front air bag is enabled or disa-

bled in accordance with the person in the

front-passenger seat

the person is seated properly with a cor-

rectly fastened seatbelt

the front-passenger seat has been moved

back as far back as possible

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator

lamp remains lit when it should not, the front-

passenger seat may not be used. Do not

install a child restraint system on the front-

passenger seat. Have the Occupant Classifi-

cation System (OCS) checked and repaired

immediately at a qualified specialist work-

shop.

WARNING

Objects between the seat surface and the

child restraint system could affect OCS oper-

ation. This could result in the front-passenger

air bag not functioning as intended during an

accident. This poses an increased risk of

injury or even fatal injury.

Do not place any objects between the seat

surface and the child restraint system. The

entire base of the child restraint system must

always rest on the seat cushion of the front-

passenger seat. The backrest of the forwards-

facing child restraint system must, as far as

possible, be resting on the backrest of the

front-passenger seat. Always comply with the

child restraint system manufacturer's instal-

lation instructions.

After the system self-test, the PASSENGER

AIR BAG OFF or PASSENGER AIR BAG ON

indicator lamp display the status of the front-

passenger front air bag (Y page 51).

For more information about the OCS, see

"Problems with the Occupant Classification

System" (Y page 55).

Occupant safety

Safety

Problems with the Occupant Classification System (OCS)

Be sure to observe the notes on "System self-test" (Y page 53).

Problem

Possible causes/consequences and MM Solutions

The PASSENGER AIR

BAG OFF indicator

lamp lights up and

remains lit, even

though the front-

passenger seat is occu-

pied by an adult or a

person of a stature cor-

responding to that of an

adult.

The classification of the person on the front-passenger seat is

incorrect.

Make sure the conditions for a correct classification of the per-

son on the front-passenger seat are met (Y page 51).

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains lit, the

front-passenger seat may not be used.

Have OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorized

Mercedes-Benz Center.

The PASSENGER AIR

BAG OFF indicator

lamp does not light up

and/or does not stay

on.

The front-passenger

seat is:

unoccupied

occupied by the

weight of a child up

to 12 months old in a

child restraint sys-

tem

OCS is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and the

child seat.

Make sure that the entire base of the child restraint system rests

on the seat cushion of the front-passenger seat. The backrest of

the forward-facing child restraint system must lie as flat as pos-

sible against the backrest of the front-passenger seat. If nec-

essary, adjust the position of the front-passenger seat.

When installing the child restraint system, make sure that the

seat belt is tight. Do not pull the seat belt tight using the front-

passenger seat adjustment. This could result in the seat belt and

the child restraint system being pulled too tightly.

Check for correct installation of the child restraint system.

Make sure that the head restraint does not apply a load to the

child restraint system. If necessary, adjust the head restraint

accordingly.

Make sure that no objects are applying additional weight onto

the seat.

If the PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp remains off and/

or the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indicator lamp lights up, do not

install a child restraint system on the front-passenger seat. It is

recommended that you install the restraint system on a suitable

rear seat.

Have OCS checked as soon as possible at an authorized

Mercedes-Benz Center.

Occupant safety

Safety

Deployment of Emergency Tensioning

Devices and air bags

Important safety notes

WARNING

The air bag parts are hot after an air bag has

been deployed. There is a risk of injury.

Do not touch the air bag parts. Have a

deployed air bag replaced at a qualified spe-

cialist workshop as soon as possible.

WARNING

A deployed air bag no longer offers any pro-

tection and cannot provide the intended pro-

tection in an accident. There is an increased

risk of injury.

Have the vehicle towed to a qualified special-

ist workshop in order to have a deployed air

bag replaced.

It is important for your safety and that of your

passenger to have deployed air bags replaced

and to have any malfunctioning air bags

repaired. This will help to make sure the air

bags continue to perform their protective

function for the vehicle occupants in the

event of a crash.

WARNING

Pyrotechnic Emergency Tensioning Devices

that have been deployed are no longer opera-

tional and are unable to perform their inten-

ded protective function. This poses an

increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.

Therefore, have pyrotechnic Emergency Ten-

sioning Devices which have been triggered

immediately replaced at a qualified specialist

workshop.

If Emergency Tensioning Devices or air bags

are deployed, you will hear a bang, and a small

amount of powder may also be released. The

6 restraint system warning lamp lights up.

Only in rare cases will the bang affect your

hearing. The powder that is released gener-

ally does not constitute a health hazard, but it

may cause short-term breathing difficulties in

people with asthma or other respiratory prob-

lems. To avoid this, you may wish to get out of

the vehicle or open the windows as soon as it

is safe to do so.

Air bags and pyrotechnic Emergency Tension-

ing Devices (ETDs) contain perchlorate mate-

rial, which may require special handling and

regard for the environment. National guide-

lines must be observed during disposal. In

California, see

HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/

Method of operation

During the first stage of a collision, the

restraint system control unit evaluates impor-

tant physical data relating to vehicle deceler-

ation or acceleration, such as:

duration

direction

intensity

Based on the evaluation of this data, the

restraint system control unit deploys the

Emergency Tensioning Devices during a fron-

tal or rear collision.

An Emergency Tensioning Device can only be

deployed, if:

the ignition is switched on

the components of the restraint system are

operational; see "Restraint system warning

lamp" (Y page 43)

the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on

the respective front-passenger seat

The Emergency Tensioning Devices in the

rear compartment are deployed independ-

ently of the lock status of the seat belts.

Occupant safety

Safety

If the restraint system control unit detects a

more severe accident, further components of

the restraint system are activated independ-

ently of each other in certain frontal collision

situations:

Front air bags as well as driver's and front-

passenger knee bags

Window curtain air bag, if the system deter-

mines that deployment can offer additional

protection to that provided by the seat belt

The front-passenger front air bag is activated

or deactivated depending on the person on

the front-passenger seat. The front-

passenger front air bag can only deploy in an

accident if the PASSENGER AIR BAG ON indi-

cator lamp is lit. Observe the information on

the PASSENGER AIR BAG indicator lamps

(Y page 43).

Your vehicle has two-stage front air bags.

During the first deployment stage, the front

air bag is filled with propellant gas to reduce

the risk of injuries. The front air bag is fully

deployed with the maximum amount of pro-

pellant gas if a second deployment threshold

is reached within a few milliseconds.

The deployment threshold of the Emergency

Tensioning Devices and the air bag are deter-

mined by evaluating the rate of vehicle decel-

eration or acceleration which occurs at vari-

ous points in the vehicle. This process is pre-

emptive in nature. Deployment should take

place in good time at the start of the collision.

The rate of vehicle deceleration or accelera-

tion and the direction of the force are essen-

tially determined by:

the distribution of forces during the colli-

sion

the collision angle

the deformation characteristics of the vehi-

cle

the characteristics of the object with which

the vehicle has collided

Factors which can only be seen and measured

after a collision has occurred do not play a

decisive role in the deployment of an air bag,

nor do they provide an indication of air bag

deployment.

The vehicle can be deformed considerably,

without an air bag being deployed. This is the

case if only parts which are relatively easily

deformed are affected and the rate of decel-

eration is not high. Conversely, air bags may

be deployed even though the vehicle suffers

only minor deformation. This is the case if, for

example, very rigid vehicle parts such as lon-

gitudinal body members are hit, and sufficient

deceleration occurs as a result.

If the restraint system control unit detects a

side impact or that the vehicle is rolling over,

the relevant restraint system components are

activated independently of one another

depending on the apparent type of accident.

If the system determines a need for additional

protection for the vehicle occupants, the

Emergency Tensioning Devices are deployed.

Side impact air bags on the side of impact,

independently of the Emergency Tension-

ing Device and the use of the seat belt on

the driver's seat and outer seats in the sec-

ond row

The side impact air bag on the front-

passenger side (front) deploys in the fol-

lowing situations:

the OCS system detects that the front-

passenger seat is occupied or

the belt tongue is engaged in the belt

buckle of the front-passenger seat

Window curtain air bag on the side of

impact, independently of the use of the

seat belt and independently of whether the

front-passenger seat is occupied

Window curtain air bags on the driver's and

front-passenger side in certain situations

when the vehicle rolls over, if the system

determines that deployment can offer addi-

tional protection to that provided by the

seat belt

Not all air bags are deployed in an acci-

dent. The different air bag systems work

independently of each other.

Occupant safety

Safety

Safety -> Occupant safety for Your Mercedes GLA SUV First Generation (2013-2019)

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