Get Safety Guide for Seat Leon 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2020)

Safe driving

–

Ensure that all windows provide a clear and

good view of the surroundings.

cumstance, you endanger yourself as well as

Safety

others on the road

, for this reason:

›››

–

Make sure all luggage is secured

Always pay attention to traffic and do not

get distracted by passengers or telephone

calls.

Safe driving

page 164.

›››

Make sure that no objects can interfere with

the pedals.

–

Advice about driving

Safety first!

Never drive when your driving ability is im-

paired (e.g. by medication, alcohol, drugs).

Adjust front seat, head restraint and mirrors

properly according to your size.

–

Observe traffic laws and speed limits.

Ensure that the passengers in the rear seats

always have the head restraints in the in-

Always reduce your speed as appropriate

for road, traffic and weather conditions.

WARNING

●

This manual contains important informa-

use position page 68.

›››

–

When travelling long distances, take breaks

regularly - at least every two hours.

tion about the operation of the vehicle,

both for the driver and the passengers. The

other sections of the on-board documenta-

tion also contain further information that

you should be aware of for your own safety

and for the safety of your passengers.

–

Instruct passengers to adjust the head re-

straints according to their height.

If possible, avoid driving when you are tired

or stressed.

Protect children with appropriate child

seats and properly applied seat belts

WARNING

page 80.

›››

●

Ensure that the on-board documentation

When driving safety is impaired during a

trip, the risk of injury and accidents increa-

ses.

–

Assume the correct sitting position. Instruct

is kept in the vehicle at all times. This is es-

pecially important when lending or selling

the vehicle to another person.

your passengers also to assume a proper

sitting position page 64.

›››

Fasten your seat belt securely. Instruct your

passengers also to fasten their seat belts

Safety equipment

properly page 69.

›››

Before setting off

Never put your safety or the safety of your

passengers in danger. In the event of an acci-

dent, the safety equipment may reduce the

risk of injury. The following points cover part

of the safety equipment in your SEAT:

For your own safety and the safety of your

passengers, always note the following points

before every trip:

What affects driving safety?

As a driver, you are responsible for yourself

and your passengers. When your concentra-

tion or driving safety is affected by any cir-

–

Make sure that the vehicle's lights and turn

signals are working properly.

●

»

three-point seat belts,

–

Check tyre pressure.

63

Safety

●

belt tension limiters for the front and rear

For your own safety and to reduce the risk of

injury in the event of an accident, we recom-

mend the following adjustments for the driver:

Correct position of the vehi-

cle occupants

side seats,

●

Belt tensioners for the front seats,

front airbags,

knee airbags,

side airbags in the front seat backrests,

Side airbags in the rear seat backrests*,

head-protection airbags,

“ISOFIX” anchor points for child seats in the

–

Adjust the steering wheel so that there is a

●

Correct sitting position for the driv-

er

distance of at least 25 cm between the

●

steering wheel and the centre of your chest

●

Fig. 87.

›››

●

–

Move the driver's seat forwards or back-

wards so that you are able to press the ac-

celerator, brake and clutch pedals to the

floor with your knees still slightly angled

●

rear side seats with the “ISOFIX” system,

●

.

›››

height-adjustable front head restraints,

rear head restraints with in-use position and

–

Ensure that you can reach the highest point

●

of the steering wheel.

non-use position,

●

Adjust the head restraint so that its upper

edge is at the same level as the top of your

head, or as close as possible to the same

adjustable steering column.

The safety equipment mentioned above

works together to provide you and your pas-

sengers with the best possible protection in

the event of an accident. However, these

safety systems can only be effective if you

and your passengers are sitting in a correct

position and use this equipment properly.

Fig. 87 The proper distance between driver

and steering wheel.

level as the top of your head Fig. 88.

›››

–

Move the seat backrest to an upright posi-

tion so that your back rests completely

against it.

–

Fasten your seat belt securely

page 69.

›››

Safety is everyone's business!

Keep both feet in the footwell so that you

have the vehicle under control at all times.

Adjustment of the driver's seat page 156.

›››

Fig. 88 Correct head restraint position for the

WARNING

An incorrect sitting position of the driver

can lead to severe injuries.

driver.

●

64

Safe driving

–

Move the seat backrest to an upright posi-

tion so that your back rests completely

against it.

Adjusting the steering wheel posi-

tion

●

Adjust the driver's seat so that there is at

least 25 cm distance between the centre of

the chest and the centre of the steering

wheel Fig. 87. If you are sitting closer

›››

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 21.}

Adjust the head restraint so that its upper

edge is at the same level as the top of your

head, or as close as possible to the same

than 25 cm, the airbag system cannot pro-

tect you properly.

●

If your physical constitution prevents you

WARNING

level as the top of your head page 67.

›››

from maintaining the minimum distance of

25 cm, contact a specialised workshop.

The workshop will help you decide if spe-

cial specific modifications are necessary.

●

Never adjust the position of the steering

–

Always keep both feet in the footwell in

front of the front passenger seat.

wheel when the vehicle is moving, as this

could cause an accident.

Fasten your seat belt securely

●

Move the lever up firmly so the steering

●

When driving, always hold the steering

page 69.

›››

wheel position does not accidentally

change during driving. risk of accident!

wheel with both hands on the outside of the

ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock posi-

tions. This reduces the risk of injury when

the driver airbag is triggered.

It is possible to deactivate the front passen-

●

Make sure you are capable of reaching

ger airbag in exceptional circumstances

and firmly holding the upper part of the

steering wheel: risk of accident!

page 78.

›››

●

Never hold the steering wheel at the 12

Adjusting the front passenger seat

›››

●

If you adjust the steering wheel so that it

o'clock position, or in any other manner

(e.g. in the centre of the steering wheel). In

such cases, if the airbag is triggered, you

may sustain injuries to the arms, hands and

head.

page 156.

points towards your face, the driver airbag

will not protect you properly in the event of

an accident. Make sure that the steering

wheel points towards your chest.

WARNING

●

An incorrect sitting position of the front

passenger can lead to severe injuries.

●

To reduce the risk of injury to the driver

●

Adjust the front passenger seat so that

during sudden braking manoeuvres or an

accident, never drive with the backrest til-

ted far back! The airbag system and seat

belts can only provide optimal protection

when the backrest is in an upright position

and the driver is wearing his or her seat belt

correctly.

there is at least 25 cm between your chest

and the dash panel. If you are sitting closer

than 25 cm, the airbag system cannot pro-

tect you properly.

Correct position for the front pas-

senger

For your own safety and to reduce the risk of

injury in the event of an accident, we recom-

mend the following adjustments for the front

passenger:

●

If your physical constitution prevents you

from maintaining the minimum distance of

25 cm, contact a specialised workshop.

The workshop will help you decide if spe-

cial specific modifications are necessary.

●

Adjust the head restraint properly to ach-

ieve optimal protection.

–

Move the front passenger seat back as far

»

as possible

.

›››

65

Safety

–

Adjust the head restraint to the correct po-

reduce the protective function of seat belts

and increase the risk of injury due to incorrect

seat belt position. As the driver, you are re-

sponsible for all passengers, especially chil-

dren.

●

Always keep your feet in the footwell

sition page 68.

›››

when the vehicle is moving; never rest them

on the dash panel, out the window or on the

seat. An incorrect sitting position exposes

you to an increased risk of injury in case of

a sudden braking or an accident. If the air-

bag is triggered, you could sustain severe

injuries due to an incorrect sitting position.

Always keep both feet in the footwell in

front of the rear seat.

Fasten your seat belt securely

–

Never allow anyone to assume an incorrect

page 69.

›››

sitting position in the vehicle while travelling

Use an appropriate child restraint system

.

›››

●

To reduce the risk of injury to the front

when you take children in the vehicle

passenger in events such as sudden brak-

ing manoeuvres or an accident, never trav-

el with the backrest tilted far back! The air-

bag system and seat belts can only pro-

vide optimal protection when the backrest

is in an upright position and the front pas-

senger is wearing his or her seat belt prop-

erly. The further the seat backrests are til-

ted to the rear, the greater the risk of injury

due to incorrect positioning of the belt web

or to the incorrect sitting position!

The following list contains examples of sitting

positions that could be dangerous for all ve-

hicle occupants. The list is not complete, but

we would like to make you aware of this issue.

page 80.

›››

WARNING

●

If the passengers in the rear seats are not

sitting properly, they could sustain severe

injuries.

Therefore, whenever the vehicle is in mo-

tion:

●

Adjust the head restraint correctly in or-

●

Never stand in the vehicle.

der to achieve maximum protection.

●

Never stand on the seats.

●

Seat belts can only provide optimal pro-

tection when seat backrests are in an up-

right position and the vehicle occupants

are wearing their seat belts correctly. If

passengers In the rear seats are not sitting

in an upright position, the risk of injury due

to incorrect positioning of the seat belt in-

creases.

●

Never kneel on the seats.

●

Adjust the head restraint correctly in or-

●

Never tilt your seat backrest far to the rear.

der to achieve maximum protection.

●

Never lean against the dash panel.

●

Never lie on the rear bench.

Correct sitting position for rear

seat passengers

●

Never sit on the front edge of a seat.

●

Never sit sideways.

●

Never lean out of a window.

Never put your feet out of a window.

Never put your feet on the dash panel.

Never put your feet on the surface of a seat.

To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a

sudden braking manoeuvre or an accident,

passengers on the rear seat bench must con-

sider the following:

Examples of incorrect sitting posi-

tions

●

Seat belts can provide optimal protection on-

ly when the belt webs are properly posi-

tioned. Incorrect sitting positions substantially

–

Sit up straight.

●

Do not allow anyone to travel in the foot-

well.

66

Safe driving

●

Never travel without wearing the seat belt.

Do not allow anyone to travel in the lug-

Correct adjustment of front head

restraints

death in an accident and increase the risk

of suffering injuries during abrupt braking

actions or unexpected manoeuvres.

gage compartment.

●

The head restraints must always be ad-

WARNING

justed according to the height of the pas-

senger.

●

Any incorrect sitting position increases

the risk of severe injuries. Sitting in an in-

correct position exposes the vehicle occu-

pants to severe injuries if airbags are trig-

gered, by striking a vehicle occupant who

has assumed an incorrect sitting position.

●

Before the vehicle moves, assume the

proper sitting position and maintain it

throughout the trip. Before every trip, in-

struct your passengers to sit properly and

to stay in this position during the trip

Fig. 89 Correctly adjusted head restraint as

viewed from the front and the side.

page 64, Correct position of the vehicle

›››

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 20.}

occupants.

Properly adjusted head restraints are an im-

portant part of passenger protection and can

reduce the risk of injuries in most accident sit-

uations.

●

Adjust the head restraint so that its upper

edge is, as far as possible, at the same level

as the top of your head, or at the very least,

at eye level Fig. 89.

›››

WARNING

●

Travelling with the head restraints re-

moved or improperly adjusted increases

the risk of severe injuries. An improper ad-

justment of the head restraints may cause

67

Safety

Rear head restraints

Correct adjustment of rear head

restraints

Pedal area

–

The rear head restraints have 2 positions:

use and non-use.

Pedals

–

One position for use (head restraint raised)

–

Ensure that you can always press the ac-

celerator, brake and clutch pedals unim-

paired to the floor.

Fig. 90. In this position, the head re-

›››

straints are used normally, protecting pas-

sengers along with the rear seat belts.

–

Ensure that the pedals can return unim-

–

And one position for non-use (head re-

paired to their initial positions.

straint lowered).

–

Ensure that the floor mats are securely fas-

To fit the head restraints in position for use,

pull on the edges with both hands in the di-

rection of the arrow.

tened during the trip and do not obstruct

the pedals

.

›››

Fig. 90 Head restraints in the correct position.

Only use floor mats which leave the pedals

clear and which are secured to prevent them

from slipping. You can obtain suitable floor

mats from a specialised dealership. Fasten-

ers* for floor mats are fitted in the footwells.

WARNING

●

Under no circumstances should the rear

passengers travel while the head restraints

are in the non-use position. See the warn-

ing label located on the rear side fixed win-

dow Fig. 91.

›››

Do not swap the centre rear head re-

straint with either of the outer seat rear

head restraints. Risk of injury in case of an

accident!

If a brake circuit fails, the brake pedal must be

pressed down thoroughly in order to stop the

vehicle.

●

Wear suitable footwear

Always wear shoes which support your feet

properly and give you a good feeling for the

pedals.

Fig. 91 Head restraint position warning label.

CAUTION

Note the instructions on the adjustment of

the head restraints page 156.

Properly adjusted head restraints are an im-

portant part of the passenger protection and

can reduce the risk of injuries in most acci-

dent situations

›››

WARNING

●

Restricting pedal operation can lead to

critical situations while driving.

68

Seat belts

Seat belt control lamp*

●

Never lay or fit floor mats or other floor

Seat belts

coverings over the original floor mats. This

would reduce the pedal area and could ob-

struct the pedals. Risk of accident.

Why wear a seat belt

●

Never place objects in the driver footwell.

An object could move into the pedal area

and impair pedal operation. In the event of

a sudden driving or braking manoeuvre,

you will not be able to operate the brake,

clutch or accelerator pedal. Risk of acci-

dent!

Number of seats

Your vehicle has five seats, two in the front

and three in the rear. Each seat is equipped

with a three-point seat belt.

In some versions, your vehicle is approved

only for four seats. Two front seats and two

rear seats.

Fig. 92 Dashboard: right rear seat occupied

and corresponding seat belt fastened display.

WARNING

It lights up red



●

Never transport more than the permitted

amount of people in your vehicle.

Driver or passenger has not fastened seat belt.

●

Every vehicle occupant must properly

The control lamp illuminates to remind the

driver to fasten his seat belt.

fasten and wear the seat belt belonging to

his or her seat. Children must be protected

with an appropriate child restraint system.

Before starting the vehicle:

●

Fasten your seat belt securely.

●

Instruct your passengers to fasten their

seat belts properly before driving off.

●

Protect children by using a child seat ac-

cording to the child's height and weight.

When starting to drive, if the vehicle's speed

surpasses approx. 25 km/h (15 mph) and the

seat belts are not fastened or are unfastened

during the drive, a warning sound will be

»

69

Safety

heard for a few seconds. The warning light

belts before every trip, even when "just driving

around the corner".

The protective function of seat

belts

will also flash .

The lamp  goes out when the driver and

passenger seat belts are fastened with the

ignition switched on.

Ensure that your passengers wear their seat

belts as well. Accident statistics have shown

that wearing seat belts is an effective means

of substantially reducing the risk of injury and

improving the chances of survival when in-

volved in a serious accident. Furthermore,

properly worn seat belts improve the protec-

tion provided by airbags in the event of an

accident. For this reason, wearing a seat belt

is required by law in most countries.

Rear seat belts fastened display*

Depending on the model version, when the

ignition is switched on, the seat belt status

display Fig. 92 on the instrument panel in-

›››

forms the driver whether the passengers in

the rear seats have fastened their seat belts.

The  symbol indicates that the passenger in

this seat has fastened “his or her” seat belt.

Although your vehicle is equipped with air-

bags, the seat belts must be fastened and

worn. The front airbags, for example, are only

triggered in some cases of head-on collision.

The front airbags will not be triggered during

minor frontal or side collisions, rear-end colli-

sions, rollovers or accidents in which the air-

bag trigger threshold value in the control unit

is not exceeded.

Fig. 93 Drivers with properly worn seat belts

will not be thrown forward in the event of sud-

den braking.

When a seat belt in the rear seats is fastened

or unfastened, the seat belt status is dis-

played for approximately 30 seconds. The in-

dication can be hidden by pressing the

0.0/SET button on the dash panel.

Properly worn seat belts hold the occupants

in the proper position. They also help prevent

uncontrolled movements that may result in

serious injury and reduce the risk of being

thrown out of the vehicle in case of an acci-

dent.

The seat belt status flashes for a maximum of

30 seconds when a seat belt in the rear seats

is unfastened while the vehicle is in motion. An

audible warning will also be heard if the vehi-

cle is travelling at over 25 km/h (15 mph).

Therefore, you should always wear your seat

belt and ensure that all vehicle occupants

have fastened their seat belts properly before

you drive off!

Vehicle occupants wearing their seat belts

correctly benefit greatly from the ability of

the belts to absorb kinetic energy. In addition,

the front part of your vehicle and other pas-

sive safety features (such as the airbag sys-

tem) are designed to absorb the kinetic ener-

gy released in a collision. Taken together, all

these features reduce the releasing kinetic

energy and consequently, the risk of injury.

This is why it is so important to fasten seat

Important safety instructions for

the use of seat belts

–

Always wear the seat belt as described in

this section.

70

Seat belts

–

Ensure that the seat belts can be fastened

at all times and are not damaged.

Head-on collisions and the laws of

physics

●

Bulky and unfastened clothing (such as

an overcoat over a sweater) impairs the

proper fit and function of the seat belts, re-

ducing their capacity to protect.

WARNING

●

If seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at

all, the risk of severe injuries increases. The

optimal protection from seat belts can be

achieved only if you use them properly.

The slot in the seat belt buckle must not

be blocked with paper or other objects, as

this can prevent the latch plate from en-

gaging securely.

●

Fasten your seat belt before every trip -

Never use seat belt clips, fastening rings

even when driving in town. Other vehicle

occupants must also wear the seat belts at

all times, otherwise they run the risk of be-

ing injured.

or similar items to alter the position of the

belt webbing.

●

Frayed or torn seat belts or damage to

the connections, belt retractors or parts of

the buckle could cause severe injuries in

the event of an accident. Therefore, you

must check the condition of all seat belts

at regular intervals.

●

The seat belt cannot offer its full protec-

Fig. 94 A driver not wearing a seat belt is

tion if the seat belt is not positioned cor-

rectly.

thrown forward violently.

●

Never allow two passengers (even chil-

●

dren) to share the same seat belt.

Seat belts which have been worn in an

accident and have been stretched must be

replaced by a specialised workshop. Re-

newal may be necessary even if there is no

apparent damage. The belt anchorage

should also be checked.

●

Always keep both feet in the footwell in

front of your seat as long as the vehicle is in

motion.

●

Never unbuckle a seat belt while the ve-

hicle is in motion. Risk of fatal injury.

●

Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat

The seat belt must never be twisted while

belt yourself. The seat belts must not be re-

moved or modified in any way.

it is being worn.

●

The seat belt should never lie on hard or

●

The belts must be kept clean, otherwise

Fig. 95 The unbelted passenger in the rear

seat is thrown forward violently, hitting the driv-

er who is wearing a seat belt.

fragile objects (such as glasses or pens,

etc.) because this can cause injuries.

the retractors may not work properly.

●

Do not allow the seat belt to be damaged

or jammed, or to rub on any sharp edges.

●

The effects of the laws of physics in the case

of a head-on collision are easy to explain: the

»

Never wear the seat belt under the arm or

in any other incorrect position.

71

Safety

moment a vehicle starts moving, a type of en-

ergy called “kinetic energy” starts acting on

both the vehicle and its passengers.

Even at low speeds the forces acting on the

body in a collision are so great that it is not

possible to brace oneself with one's hands. In

a frontal collision, unbelted passengers are

thrown forward and will make violent contact

with the steering wheel, dash panel, wind-

screen or whatever else is in the way

How to properly adjust your

seat belt

The amount of “kinetic energy” depends on

the speed of the vehicle and on the weight of

the vehicle and of its passengers. The higher

they are, the more energy there is to be “ab-

sorbed” in the event of an accident.

Fastening and unfastening your

seat belt

Fig. 94.

›››

It is also important for rear passengers to

wear seat belts properly, as they could other-

wise be thrown forward violently through the

vehicle interior in an accident. Passengers in

the rear seats who do not use seat belts en-

danger not only themselves but also the front

The most significant factor, however, is the

speed of the vehicle. If the speed doubles

from 25 km/h (15 mph) to 50 km/h (30 mph),

for example, the corresponding kinetic ener-

gy is multiplied by four.

Given that the passengers of the vehicle in

our example do not have their seat belts fas-

tened, in the event of a collision the entire

amount of the passengers' kinetic energy will

be only absorbed by the mentioned impact.

occupants Fig. 95.

›››

Even at speeds of 30 km/h (19 mph) to

50 km/h (30 mph), the forces acting on bod-

ies in a collision can easily exceed one tonne

(1000 kg). At greater speed these forces are

even higher.

Vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts are

not “attached” to the vehicle. In a head-on

collision, they will move forward at the same

speed their vehicle was travelling just before

the impact. This example applies not only to

head-on collisions, but to all accidents and

collisions.

Fig. 96 Positioning and removing the seat belt

buckle.

72

Seat belts

The seat belts are equipped with an auto-

matic retractor on the shoulder strap. Full

freedom of movement is permitted when the

shoulder belt is pulled slowly. However, dur-

ing sudden braking, during travel in steep

areas or bends and during acceleration, the

automatic retractor on the shoulder belt is

locked.

●

Never unbuckle a seat belt while the ve-

hicle is in motion. If you do, you increase

the risk of sustaining severe or fatal injuries.

●

An incorrectly worn seat belt can cause

severe injuries in the event of an accident.

●

For pregnant women, the lap part of the

seat belt must lie as low as possible over

the pelvis, never across the stomach, and

always lie flat so that no pressure is exer-

ted on the abdomen Fig. 97.

›››

●

The automatic belt retractors on the front

seats are fitted with seat belt tensioners

page 73.

›››

Always engage the retractor lock when

you are securing a child seat in group 0, 0+

or 1 page 80.

›››

●

Fig. 97 Position of seat belt during pregnancy.

Releasing the seat belt

Read and observe the warnings

page 70.

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 20.}

●

Press the red button on the belt buckle

›››

Fig. 96 B. The latch plate is released and

›››

springs out

.

›››

Fasten your seat belt

●

Guide the belt back by hand so that it rolls

The seat belt cannot offer its full protection if

the seat belt is not positioned correctly.

up easily and the trim is not damaged.

Seat belt tensioners

Positioning seat belts

●

Adjust the seat and head restraint correct-

How the seat belt tensioner works

ly.

Seat belts offer their maximum protection on-

ly when they are properly positioned.

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 21.}

●

To fasten the belt, take hold of the latch

plate and pull it slowly across your chest and

lap.

WARNING

The seat belts for the occupants in the front

seats are equipped with belt tensioners. Sen-

sors will trigger the belt tensioners only dur-

ing severe head-on, lateral and rear-end col-

lisions and only if the seat belt is worn. This

retracts and tightens the seat belts, reducing

the forward motion of the occupants.

●

The seat belts offer best protection only

●

Insert the latch plate into the buckle for the

when the backrests are in an upright posi-

tion and the seat belts have been fastened

properly.

appropriate seat and push it down until it is

securely locked with an audible click

Fig. 96 A.

›››

●

Never put the latch plate in the buckle of

●

Pull the belt to ensure that the latch plate is

securely engaged in the buckle.

another seat. If you do this, the seat belt

will not protect you properly and the risk of

injury is increased.

»

73

Safety

The belt tensioners will not be triggered in the

event of minor collisions, if the vehicle over-

turns, or in accidents where no major forces

act on the vehicle.

WARNING

Improper use or repairs not carried out by

qualified mechanics increase the risk of se-

vere or fatal injuries. The belt tensioners

may fail to trigger or may trigger in the

wrong circumstances.

Airbag system

●

Brief introduction

Note

Why is it so important to wear a

seat belt and to sit correctly?

●

If the seat belt tensioners are triggered, a

●

Never attempt to repair, adjust, remove or

install parts of the belt tensioners or seat

belts.

fine dust is produced. This is normal and it

is not an indication of fire in the vehicle.

For the inflating airbags to achieve the best

protection, the seat belt must always be worn

properly and the correct sitting position must

be assumed.

●

The relevant safety requirements must be

●

The seat belt tensioner, seat belt and au-

tomatic retractor cannot be repaired.

observed when the vehicle or components

of the system are scrapped. Specialised

workshops are familiar with these regula-

tions, which are also available to you.

●

Any work on the belt tensioners and seat

belts, including the removal and refitting of

system parts in conjunction with other re-

pair work, must be performed by a special-

ised workshop only.

The airbag system is not a substitute for seat

belts, but it is an integral part of the vehicle's

overall passive safety system. Please bear in

mind that the airbag system can only work

effectively when the vehicle occupants are

wearing their seat belts correctly and have

adjusted the head restraints properly. There-

fore, it is most important to properly wear the

seat belts at all times, not only because this is

required by law in most countries, but also for

Maintenance and disposal of belt

tensioners

●

The belt tensioners will only provide pro-

tection for one accident and must be

changed if they have been activated.

The belt tensioners are components of the

seat belts that are installed in the seats of

your vehicle. If you work on the belt tension-

ers or remove and install parts of the system

when performing other repair work, the seat

belt may be damaged. The consequence

may be that, in the event of an accident, the

belt tensioners function incorrectly or may

not function at all.

your safety page 69, Why wear a seat

›››

belt.

The airbag inflates in a matter of seconds, so

if you are not properly seated when the air-

bag is triggered, you may sustain fatal inju-

ries. Therefore, it is essential that all vehicle

occupants assume a correct sitting position

while travelling.

So that the effectiveness of the seat belt ten-

sioner is not reduced and that removed parts

do not cause any injuries or environmental

pollution, regulations, which are known to the

specialised workshops, must be observed.

Sharp braking before an accident may cause

a passenger not wearing a seat belt to be

74

Airbag system

●

thrown forward into the area of the deploying

airbag. In this case, the inflating airbag may

inflict critical or fatal injuries on the occupant.

This also applies to children.

Side airbags

Head airbag

gered. Children up to 12 years old should

always travel on the rear seat. Never trans-

port children in the vehicle if they are not

restrained or the restraint system is not ap-

propriate for their age, size or weight.

Airbag control lamp  on the instrument

panel page 79

●

›››

Always maintain the greatest possible dis-

tance between yourself and the front airbag.

This way, the front airbags can completely

deploy when triggered, providing their maxi-

mum protection.

Key-operated switch for front passenger

●

If you are not wearing a seat belt, or if

airbag

●

you lean forward or to the side while travel-

ling or assume an incorrect sitting position,

there is a substantially increased risk of in-

jury. This increased risk of injury will be fur-

ther increased if you are struck by an inflat-

ing airbag.

Control lamp to disconnect/connect the

front airbag.

The airbag system operation is monitored

electronically. The airbag control lamp will il-

luminate for a few seconds every time the ig-

nition is switched on (self-diagnosis).

The most important factors for triggering the

airbag are the type of accident, the angle of

impact and the vehicle speed.

●

To reduce the risk of injury from an inflat-

ing airbag, always wear the seat belt prop-

erly page 69.

›››

●

Whether or not the airbags are triggered de-

pends primarily on the vehicle deceleration

rate resulting from the collision and detected

by the control unit. If the vehicle deceleration

occurring during the collision and measured

by the control unit remains below the speci-

fied reference values, the front, side and/or

curtain airbags will not be triggered. Take into

account that the visible damage in a vehicle

involved in an accident, no matter how seri-

ous, is not a determining factor for the air-

bags to have been triggered.

There is a fault in the system if the control

lamp :

Always adjust the front seats properly.

●

does not light up when the ignition is

switched on page 79,

●

›››

Description of airbag system

turns off after 4 seconds after the ignition is

switched on,

●

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 22.}

turns off and then lights up again after the

ignition is switched on,

●

The airbag system is not a substitute for the

seat belts. The airbag system offers addition-

al protection for the driver and passenger in

combination with the seat belts.

illuminates or flashes while the vehicle is

moving.

WARNING

The airbag system is not triggered if:

●

Wearing the seat belt incorrectly or as-

The airbag system comprises the follow-

ing modules (as per vehicle equipment):

the ignition is switched off

there is a minor frontal collision

there is a minor side collision

there is a rear-end collision

suming an incorrect sitting position can

lead to critical or fatal injuries.

●

Electronic control unit

Front airbags for driver and passenger

Knee airbag for the driver

●

All vehicle occupants, including children,

●

who are not properly belted can sustain

critical or fatal injuries if the airbag is trig-

●

»

●

75

Safety

●

the vehicle turns over.

Activation factors

Curtain (head) airbag on the side of the ac-

cident.

The conditions that lead to the airbag system

activating in each situation cannot be gener-

alised. Some factors play an important role,

such as the properties of the object the vehi-

cle hits (hard/soft), angle of impact, vehicle

speed, etc.

WARNING

In an accident with airbag activation:

●

The seat belts and airbags can only pro-

vide maximum protection if the occupants

the interior lights switch on (if the interior

are seated correctly page 64, Correct

›››

light switch is in the courtesy light position);

●

position of the vehicle occupants.

the hazard warning lights switch on;

all doors are unlocked;

the fuel supply to the engine is cut.

●

If a fault has occurred in the airbag sys-

Deceleration trajectory is key for airbag acti-

vation.

●

tem, have the system checked immediately

by a specialised workshop. Otherwise

there is a danger that during a collision, the

system may fail to trigger, or not trigger

correctly.

●

The control unit analyses the collision trajec-

tory and activates the respective restraint

system.

Safety instructions about

airbags

If the deceleration rate is below the prede-

fined reference value in the control unit the

airbags will not be triggered, even though the

accident may cause extensive damage to the

car.

Airbag activation

Front airbags

The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within

thousandths of a second, to provide addition-

al protection in the event of an accident. A

fine dust may develop when the airbag de-

ploys. This is normal and it is not an indication

of fire in the vehicle.

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 22.}

The following airbags are triggered in seri-

ous head-on collisions:

WARNING

●

Driver airbag.

●

The deployment space between the front

●

Front passenger front airbag

The airbag system is only ready to function

when the ignition is on.

passengers and the airbags must not in

any case be occupied by other passenger,

pets and objects.

●

Knee airbag for the driver.

In special accidents instances, several air-

bags may activate at the same time.

The following airbags are triggered in seri-

ous side-on collisions:

●

The airbags provide protection for just

one accident; replace them once they have

deployed.

In the event of minor head-on and side colli-

sions, rear-end collisions, overturning or roll-

over of the vehicle, airbags do not activate.

●

Front side airbag on the side of the acci-

dent.

●

It is also important not to attach any ob-

jects such as cup holders or telephone

mountings to the surfaces covering the air-

bag units.

●

Rear side airbag on the side of the acci-

dent.

76

Airbag system

●

Do not attempt to modify components of

the vehicle is in motion, you are at a greater

risk of injury if the side airbag system is

triggered in an accident.

The built-in coat hooks should be used

the airbag system in any way.

only for lightweight clothing. Do not leave

any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the

pockets.

●

In order for the side airbags to provide

●

their maximum protection, the prescribed

sitting position must always be maintained

with seat belts fastened while travelling.

Great forces, such as hard blows or kicks,

Knee airbag*

must not be exerted upon the backrest bol-

ster because the system may be damaged.

In this case, the side airbags would not be

triggered.

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 24.}

●

In a side-on collision the side airbags will

not work if the sensors do not correctly

measure the pressure increase on the inte-

rior of the doors, due to air escaping

through the areas with holes or openings in

the door panel.

●

Under no circumstances should protec-

WARNING

The knee airbag is deployed in front of

tive covers be fitted over seats with side

airbags unless the covers have been ap-

proved for use in your vehicle. Because the

airbag deploys from the side of the back-

rest, the use of conventional seat covers

would obstruct the side airbag, seriously

reducing the airbag's effectiveness.

●

the driver's knees. Always keep the deploy-

ment areas of the knee airbags free.

●

Never drive if the interior door panels

●

Never not fix objects to the cover or in the

have been removed or if the panels have

not been correctly fitted.

deployment area of the knee airbag.

●

Adjust the driver's seat so that there is a

●

Never drive the vehicle if the loudspeak-

distance of at least 10 cm (4 inches) be-

tween your knees and the location of the

this airbag. If your physical constitution

prevents you from meeting these require-

ments, make sure you contact a special-

ised workshop.

●

Any damage to the original seat uphols-

ers in the door panels have been removed,

unless the holes left by the loudspeakers

have been closed properly.

tery or around the seams of the side airbag

units must be repaired immediately by a

specialised workshop.

●

Always check that the openings are

●

The airbags provide protection for just

closed or covered if loudspeakers or other

equipment are fitted inside the door pan-

els.

one accident; replace them once they have

deployed.

●

Any work on the side airbag system or re-

●

Occupants of the outer seats must never

Side airbags*

moval and installation of the airbag com-

ponents for other repairs (such as removal

of the front seat) should only be performed

by a specialised workshop. Otherwise,

faults may occur during the airbag system

operation.

carry any objects or pets in the deploy-

ment space between them and the airbags,

or allow children or other passengers to

travel in this position. It is also important

not to attach any accessories (such as cup

holders) to the doors. This would impair the

protection offered by the side airbags.

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 24.}

WARNING

If you do not wear a seat belt, if you lean

●

Do not attempt to modify components of

●

the airbag system in any way.

forward, or are not seated correctly while

77

Safety

Head-protection airbags*

●

Any work on the head-protection airbag

Deactivating airbags

system or removal and installation of the

airbag components for other repairs (such

as removal of the roof lining) should only

be performed by a specialised workshop.

Otherwise, faults may occur during the air-

bag system operation.

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 25.}

Activation and deactivation of front

passenger airbag*

WARNING

●

In order for the head-protection airbags

●

Do not attempt to modify components of

to provide their maximum protection, the

prescribed sitting position must always be

maintained with seat belts fastened while

travelling.

the airbag system in any way.

●

The side and head airbags are managed

through sensors located in the interior of

the front doors. To ensure the correct oper-

ation of the side and curtain airbags nei-

ther the doors nor the door panels should

be modified in any way (e.g. fitting loud-

speakers). If the front door is damaged, the

airbag system may not work correctly. All

work carried out on the front door must be

done in a specialised workshop.

●

For safety reasons, the curtain airbag

must be disabled in those vehicles fitted

with a screen dividing the interior of the ve-

hicle. See your technical service to make

this adjustment.

Fig. 98 Switch for activating and deactivating

●

There must be no other persons, animals

the front passenger airbag.

or objects between the occupants of the

outer seats and the deployment space of

the head-protection airbags so that the

head-protection airbag can deploy com-

pletely without restriction and provide the

greatest possible protection. Therefore,

sun blinds which have not been expressly

approved for use in your vehicle may not be

attached to the side windows

●

The built-in coat hooks should be used

only for lightweight clothing. Do not leave

any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the

pockets. Please, do not hang the clothes on

coat hangers.

Fig. 99 Dashboard: control lamp for deactiva-

ted front passenger airbag in centre console.

●

The airbags provide protection for just

one accident; replace them once they have

deployed.

78

Airbag system

Deactivate the front passenger front airbag

only if you have to use a rear-facing child

seat in the front passenger seat.

Connect the front passenger front airbag

Airbag system control lamps

●

Switch the ignition off.

It lights up on the combi-instru-

●

Open the glove compartment on the front



ment

SEAT recommends fitting the child seat in the

rear seat to avoid having to deactivate the

front passenger airbag.

passenger side.

●

Insert the key into the slot of the switch for

Fault in airbag system and seat belt tensioners.

Have the system checked immediately by a special-

ised workshop.

deactivating the front passenger airbag

Fig. 98. About 3/4 of the key should enter,

›››

Front passenger front airbag switch

as far as it will go.

When the front passenger airbag is deacti-

vated, this means that only the front passen-

ger front airbag is deactivated. All the other

airbags in the vehicle remain activated.

It lights up on the dash panel

 

●

Turn the key gently to the  position. If you

have difficulty, ensure that you have inserted

the key as far as it will go.

Front passenger front airbag disabled.

Check whether the airbag should remain disabled

●

Check, with the ignition switched on, that

the   control lamp is not lit where it says

     in the centre of the dash

It lights up on the dash panel

 

Disconnect the front passenger front air-

bag

Front passenger airbag enabled.

panel Fig. 99. The   control lamp lights

›››

The control lamp switches off automatically 60 sec-

onds after the ignition is switched on

●

Switch the ignition off.

up for 60 seconds and then goes off.

●

Open the glove compartment on the front

WARNING

passenger side.

Several warning and control lamps light up

for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-

ed on, signalling that the function is being

verified. They will switch off after a few sec-

onds.

●

The driver of the vehicle is responsible for

Insert the key into the slot of the switch for

disabling or switching on the airbag.

deactivating the front passenger airbag

Fig. 98. About 3/4 of the key should enter;

›››

●

Always switch off the ignition before dis-

this is as far as it will go.

abling the front passenger airbag! Failure

to do so could result in a fault in the airbag

deactivation system.

●

Turn the key gently to the  position. If you

If the airbag and seat belt tensioner system

control lamp  remains on or flashes, it indi-

cates a malfunction in the airbag and seat

have difficulty, ensure that you have inserted

the key as far as it will go.

●

Never leave the key in the airbag disa-

bling switch as it could get damaged or en-

able or disable the airbag during driving.

belt tensioner system

. Have the system

●

›››

Check, with the ignition switched on, that

checked immediately by a specialised work-

shop.

the   control lamp remains lit where it

says      in the centre of the

dash panel Fig. 99.

●

If for any reason an airbag is deactivated,

reactivate it as soon as possible so that it

can fulfil its protective function.

›››

If the front passenger airbag is deactivated,

the warning lamp      re-

mains lit on the dash panel to remind you that

»

79

Safety

the airbag is deactivated. If, with the front

passenger airbag deactivated, this lamp

does not remain lit or if it is lit together with

the control lamp  on the dash panel, there

These systems have been especially de-

signed and approved, complying with the

ECE-R44. regulation.

Transporting children

safely

Follow the manufacturer's instructions and

observe any statutory requirements when in-

stalling and using child seats. Always read

is a fault in the airbag system

. If the con-

›››

Safety for children

trol lamp is flashing, there is a fault in the dis-

abling of the airbag system

. Have the

›››

and note page 80.

›››

system checked immediately by a special-

ised workshop.

Introduction

We recommend you always carry the manu-

facturer's Child Seat Instruction Manual to-

gether with the on-board documentation.

For safety reasons, as we have learned from

accident statistics, we recommend that chil-

dren under 12 years of age travel in the rear

seats. Depending on their age, height and

weight, children travelling in rear seats must

use a child seat or a seat belt. For safety rea-

sons, the child seat should be installed in the

rear seat, behind the front passenger seat or

in the centre back seat.

WARNING

In the event of a fault in the airbag and seat

belt tensioner system, the airbags and seat

belts may not trigger correctly, may fail to

trigger or may even trigger unexpectedly.

Important information regarding

the front passenger's airbag

●

The vehicle occupants run the risk of sus-

taining severe or fatal injuries. Have the

system checked immediately by a special-

ised workshop.

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 25.}

The physical laws involved and the forces

acting in a collision apply also to children

Read and always observe the safety informa-

tion included in the following chapters:

●

Do not mount a child seat in the front

page 71. But unlike adults, children do not

›››

passenger seat or remove the mounted

child seat! The front passenger front airbag

may deploy during an accident in spite of

the fault.

have fully developed muscle and bone struc-

tures. This means that children are subject to

a greater risk of injury.

●

Safety distance with respect to the passen-

ger airbag page 74.

●

›››

Objects between the passenger and the

To reduce the risk of injuries, children must al-

ways use special child restraint systems

when travelling in the vehicle.

passenger side airbag

on page 76.

in Front airbags

›››

CAUTION

Always pay attention to any lit control

lamps and to the corresponding descrip-

tions and instructions to avoid damage to

the vehicle or harm to the occupants.

The passenger side front airbag, when ena-

bled, is a serious risk for a child that is facing

backward since the airbag can strike the seat

with such force that it can cause serious or

fatal injuries. Children up to 12 years old

should always travel on the rear seat.

We recommend the use of child safety prod-

ucts from the SEAT Original Accessories Pro-

gramme, which includes systems for all ages

made by “Peke” (not for all countries).

80

Transporting children safely

Therefore we strongly recommend you to

transport children on the rear seats. This is

the safest location in the vehicle. Alternative-

ly, the front passenger airbag can be disa-

●

the vehicle must be taken to a technical

service.

Children who are less than 1.5 metres tall

must not wear a normal seat belt without a

child seat, as this could cause injuries to

the abdominal and neck areas during a

sudden braking manoeuvre or in an acci-

dent.

●

All vehicle occupants, especially chil-

dren, must assume the proper sitting posi-

tion and be properly belted in while travel-

ling.

bled with a key-operated switch page 78.

›››

When transporting children, use a child seat

suitable for the age and size of each child

●

Do not allow the seat belt to become

●

Never hold children or babies on your lap,

page 82.

›››

twisted and the seat belt should be proper-

this can result in potentially fatal injuries to

the child!

ly in place page 69.

›››

WARNING

●

Only one child may occupy a child seat

page 81, Child seats.

●

Never allow a child to be transported in a

●

If a child seat is secured to the front pas-

›››

vehicle without being properly secured, or

to stand up or kneel on a seat while travel-

ling. In an accident, the child could be flung

through the vehicle, causing possibly fatal

injuries to themselves and to the other vehi-

cle occupants.

senger seat, the risk to the child of sustain-

ing critical or fatal injuries in the event of an

accident increases.

●

When a child seat is mounted in the rear

seats, the door child-proof lock should be

activated page 135.

›››

●

An inflating front passenger airbag can

strike the rear-facing child seat and project

it with great force against the door, the roof

or the backrest.

●

If children assume an improper sitting po-

Child seats

sition when the vehicle is moving, they ex-

pose themselves to greater risk of injury in

the event of a sudden braking manoeuvre

or in an accident. This is particularly impor-

tant if the child is travelling on the front

passenger seat and the airbag system is

triggered in an accident; as this could

cause serious injury or even death.

●

Never install a child seat facing back-

wards on the front passenger seat unless

the front passenger front airbag has been

disabled. Risk of potentially fatal injuries to

the child! However, if it is necessary, in ex-

ceptional cases, to transport a child in the

front passenger seat, the front passenger

front airbag must always be disabled

Safety instructions

Read the additional information carefully

^››› ^{page 25.}

WARNING

●

A suitable child seat can protect your

When travelling, children must be secured

in the vehicle with a restraint system suita-

ble for age, weight and size.

page 78. If the passenger seat has a

›››

child!

height adjustment option, move it to the

highest, most upright position. If you have a

fixed seat, do not install any child restraint

system in this location.

●

Never leave a child alone in the child seat

or inside the vehicle because depending on

the season, very high temperatures may be

reached inside a parked vehicle, which

could be fatal.

●

Read and always observe information

and warnings concerning the use of child

seats page 80.

»

›››

●

For those vehicles that do not include a

key lock switch to deactivate the airbag,

81

Safety

Child seats are subject to the regulation ECE-

R 44. ECE-R stands for: Economic Commis-

sion for Europe Regulation.

for use in SEAT vehicles. You can find the right

child seat for your model and age group at

SEAT dealers.

WARNING

The retaining rings are designed only for

use with “ISOFIX” and Top Tether* system

child seats.

The child seats are grouped into 5 catego-

ries:

●

Never secure other child seats that do

not have the “ISOFIX” or Top Tether* sys-

tem, or retaining belts or objects to the fas-

tening rings - this can result in potentially

fatal injuries to the child.

Group 0 Up to 10 kg (up to around 9

months)

Group 0+ Up to 13 kg (up to around 18

months)

●

Ensure that the child seat is secured cor-

rectly using the “ISOFIX” and Top Tether*

securing rings.

Group 1 from 9 to 18 kg (up to approx. 4

years old)

WARNING

Group 2 from 15 to 25 kg (up to approx. 7

years old)

An undue installation of the safety seat will

increase the risk of injury in the event of a

crash.

Group 3 from 22 to 36 kg (up to approx. 7

years old)

●

Never tie the retainer strap to a hook in

the luggage compartment.

Child seats that have been tested and ap-

proved under the ECE R44 standard bear the

test mark on the seat (the letter E in a circle

with the test number below it).

●

Never secure or tie luggage or other

items to the lower anchorages (ISOFIX) or

the upper ones (Top Tether).

Follow the manufacturer's instructions and

observe any statutory requirements when in-

stalling and using child seats.

Categorisation of child seats into

groups

We recommend you to always include the

manufacturer's Child Seat Instruction Manual

together with the on-board documentation.

Use only child seats that are officially ap-

proved and suitable for the child.

SEAT recommends you use child seats from

the Original Accessories Catalogue. These

child seats have been designed and tested

82

Safety for Your Seat Leon 4 Door Third Generation (2012-2020)

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