2023 Polestar 2 Child safety
Activating and deactivating child locks
The child lock can be either manual or electric*.
Manual child lock
Manual child lock. This is not the manual door lock.
- Use the detachable key blade in the remote key to turn the control.
| A | The door cannot be opened from the inside. |
| B | The door can be opened from both the outside and the inside. |
- The door’s knob control only locks that specific door, not both rear doors simultaneously.
- There are no manual child locks on models equipped with electric child locks.
Electric child lock
Button for activating and deactivating.
- Light on – the lock is activated.
- Light off – the lock is deactivated.
When the child lock is activated, the rear
- windows can only be opened using the buttons on the driver’s door
- the doors cannot be opened from the inside.
If the child lock is activated when the vehicle is switched off, the function will remain activated the next time the vehicle is started.
Symbols and messages
| Symbol | Message | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
Rear child lock activated | The child lock is activated. |
|
The rear child lock deactivated | The child lock is deactivated. |
Booster cushions
Securing a booster cushion
Position the child correctly on the booster cushion.
Booster cushions are recommended for children who have outgrown convertible seats.
- Place the booster cushion in the rear seat of the vehicle.
- With the child properly seated on the booster cushion, attach the seat belt to or around the cushion according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Fasten the seat belt by inserting the latch plate into the buckle (lock) until a distinct click is audible.
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Positioning the seat belt.
- Ensure that the seat belt is pulled taut and fits snugly around the child.
- The hip section of the three-point seat belt must fit snugly across the child’s hips, not across the stomach.
- The shoulder section of the three-point seat belt should be positioned across the chest and shoulder.
- The shoulder belt must never be placed behind the child’s back or under the arm.
Child restraints
Child restraint systems
Infant seat
There are three main types of child restraint systems: infant seats, convertible seats, and booster cushions. They are classified according to the child’s age and size.
The child restraint should be secured using a three-point seat belt, ISOFIX/LATCH anchors, top tether anchors, or a combination of one or more of the above. Always follow the instructions of the child restraint manufacturer.
Convertible seat
A child seat should never be used in the front passenger seat of any vehicle with a front passenger airbag – not even if the “Passenger airbag off” symbol near the rear-view mirror is illuminated. If the severity of an accident were to cause the airbag to inflate, this could lead to serious injury or death to a child seated in this position.
Booster cushion
Always refer to the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions for detailed information on securing the restraint.
- When not in use, keep the child restraint system secured or remove it from the passenger compartment to help prevent it from injuring passengers in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
- A small child’s head represents a considerable part of its total weight and its neck is still very weak. Polestar recommends that children up to age 4 travel, properly restrained, facing rearward. In addition, Polestar recommends that children should ride facing rearward, properly restrained, as long as possible.
Be careful when installing child seats to ensure that sharp edges or protruding parts on the child seat do not damage the vehicle’s interior.
Prolonged installation and use of child restraints may damage the vehicle’s interior.
Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR)
To make child seat installation easier, each seat belt (except for the driver’s belt) is equipped with a locking mechanism to help keep the seat belt taut.
When attaching the seat belt to a child seat:
- Position the child seat and secure it using the seat belt in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Pull the seat belt out as far as possible.
- Insert the seat belt latch plate into the buckle (lock) in the usual way.
- Release the seat belt and pull it taut around the child seat.
A sound from the seat belt retractor will be audible at this time and is normal. The belt will now be locked in place. This function is automatically disabled when the seat belt is unlocked and the belt is fully retracted.
Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger’s seat. We also recommend that children who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear seat with the seat belt properly fastened.
Child restraint registration and recalls
Child restraints could be recalled for safety reasons. You must register your child’s restraint to be reached in a recall. To stay informed about child safety seat recalls, be sure to fill out and return the registration card that comes with new child restraints.
Child restraint recall information is readily available in both the U.S. and Canada. Information on recalls in the United States is obtained from the government’s customer center for vehicle safety at phone number 1-800-424-9393 or at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues. In Canada, visit the website for child safety at Transport Canada at https://www.tc.gc.ca/en/services/road/child-car-seat-safety.html.
Child safety
General information
Polestar recommends the proper use of restraint systems for all occupants including children. Remember that, regardless of age and size, a child should always be properly restrained in a vehicle.
Your vehicle is also equipped with ISOFIX/LATCH attachments, which make it more convenient to install child seats.
Some restraint systems for children are designed to be secured in the vehicle by lap belts or the lap portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Such child restraint systems can help protect children in vehicles in the event of an accident only if they are used properly. However, children could be endangered in a crash if the child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle. Failure to follow the installation instructions for your child restraint can result in your child striking the vehicle’s interior at a sudden stop.
Holding a child in your arms is NOT a suitable substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, a child held in a person’s arms can be crushed between the vehicle’s interior and an unrestrained person. The child could also be injured by striking the interior, or by being ejected from the vehicle during a sudden maneuver or impact. The same can also happen if the infant or child rides unrestrained on the seat. Other occupants should also be properly restrained to help reduce the chance of injuring or increasing the injury of a child.
All states and provinces have legislation governing how and where children should be carried in a vehicle. Find out the regulations existing in your state or province. Recent accident statistics have shown that children are safer in rear seating positions than front seating positions when properly restrained. A child restraint system can help protect a child in a vehicle. Here’s what to look for when selecting a child restraint system:
It should have a label certifying that it meets applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 213) – or in Canada, CMVSS 213.
Make sure the child restraint system is approved for the child’s height, weight, and development – the label required by the standard or regulation, or instructions for infant restraints, typically provides this information.
In using any child restraint system, we urge you to carefully look over the instructions that are provided with the restraint. Be sure you understand them and can use the device properly and safely in this vehicle. A misused child restraint system can result in increased injuries for both the infant or child and other occupants in the vehicle.
When a child has outgrown the child safety seat, you should use the rear seat with the standard seat belt fastened. The best way to help protect the child here is to place the child on a booster cushion so that the seat belt is properly positioned across the hips and shoulders. Legislation in your state or province may mandate the use of a child seat or cushion in combination with the seat belt, depending on the child’s age and/or size. Please check local regulations.
- Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the front passenger’s seat. Polestar follows NHTSA’s recommendations and recommends that ALL children up to and including 12 years of age sit in the rear seat. This is very strongly recommended for children sitting in rear-facing child seats.
- On hot days, the temperature in the vehicle interior can rise very quickly. Exposure to these high temperatures for even a short period of time can cause heat-related injury or death. Small children are particularly at risk. Never leave children unattended in a vehicle.
Child seats should always be registered.
Polestar’s recommendations
Why does Polestar believe that no child should sit in the front seat of a vehicle? It’s quite simple really. A front airbag is a very powerful device designed, by law, to help protect an adult.
Because of the size of the airbag and its speed of inflation, a child should never be placed in the front seat, even if he or she is properly belted or strapped into a child safety seat. Please remember to put your children in the back seat, and buckle them up.
A child restraint should never be reused if:
- The vehicle has been involved in a collision, no matter how minor
- Its history is unknown
- It is older than the manufacturer’s expiration date
Polestar has some very specific recommendations
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Airbags are a SUPPLEMENTAL safety device that, when used with a three-point seat belt can help reduce serious injuries during certain types of accidents. Polestar recommends that you do not disconnect the airbag system in your vehicle.
- Polestar strongly recommends that everyone in the vehicle be properly restrained.
- Polestar follows NHTSA’s recommendations and recommends that ALL children up to and including 12 years of age sit in the rear seat. This is very strongly recommended for children sitting in rear-facing child seats.
- Drive safely!
Convertible seats
Securing a convertible seat with a seat belt
Do not place the convertible seat in the front passenger’s seat.
Convertible seats can be used in either a forward or rearward-facing position, depending on the age and size of the child.
Route the seat belt through the convertible seat.
Always use a convertible seat that is suitable for the child’s age and size. See the convertible seat manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Place the convertible seat in the rear seat of the vehicle.
- A small child’s head represents a considerable part of its total weight and its neck is still very weak. Polestar recommends that children up to age 4 travel, properly restrained, facing rearward. In addition, Polestar recommends that children should ride facing rearward, properly restrained, as long as possible.
- Convertible child seats should be installed in the rear seat only.
- A rear-facing convertible seat should not be positioned behind the driver’s seat unless there is adequate space for safe installation.
- Attach the seat belt to the convertible seat according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
Fasten the seat belt.
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Fasten the seat belt by inserting the latch plate into the buckle (lock) until a distinct click is audible.
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Pull the shoulder section of the seat belt out as far as possible to activate the belt’s automatic locking function.
The locking retractor will automatically release when the seat belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract fully.
Press the convertible seat firmly in place, let the seat belt retract, and pull it taut. A sound from the seat belt retractor’s automatic locking function will be audible at this time and is normal. The seat belt should now be locked in place.
- Pull out the shoulder section of the seat belt.
- Push and pull the convertible seat along the seat belt path to ensure that it is held securely in place by the seat belt.
It should not be possible to move the child restraint more than 2.5 cm (1 in.) in any direction along the seat belt path.
The convertible seat can be removed by unbuckling the seat belt and letting it retract completely.
Ensure that the convertible seat is securely in place.
A child seat should never be used in the front passenger seat of any vehicle with a front passenger airbag – not even if the “Passenger airbag off” symbol near the rear-view mirror is illuminated. If the severity of an accident were to cause the airbag to inflate, this could lead to serious injury or death to a child seated in this position.
Infant seats
Securing an infant seat with a seat belt
Do not place the infant seat in the front passenger’s seat
- Place the infant seat in the rear seat of the vehicle.
- Attach the seat belt to the infant seat according to the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
Route the seat belt through the infant seat.
- An infant seat must be in the rear-facing position only.
- The infant seat should not be positioned behind the driver’s seat unless there is adequate space for safe installation.
A child seat should never be used in the front passenger seat of any vehicle with a front passenger airbag – not even if the “Passenger airbag off” symbol near the rear-view mirror is illuminated. If the severity of an accident were to cause the airbag to inflate, this could lead to serious injury or death to a child seated in this position.
Fasten the seat belt.
Fasten the seat belt by inserting the latch plate into the buckle (lock) until a distinct click is audible.
-
Pull out the shoulder section of the seat belt.
- Pull the shoulder section of the seat belt out as far as possible to activate the belt’s automatic locking function.
The locking retractor will automatically release when the seat belt is unbuckled and allowed to retract fully.
- Press the infant seat firmly in place, let the seat belt retract, and pull it taut. A sound from the seat belt retractor’s automatic locking function will be audible at this time and is normal. The seat belt should now be locked in place.
Check that the infant seat is properly secured.
- Press and pull the infant seat in the direction of the seat belt to check that it is properly held in place by the seat belt.
It should not be possible to move the child restraint more than 2.5 cm (1 in.) in any direction along the seat belt path.
When installing infant seats in the rear seat, Polestar recommends maintaining a distance of at least 50 mm (2 inches) from the front-most part of the infant seat to the rearmost part of the seat in front.
The infant seat can be removed by unbuckling the seat belt and letting it retract completely.
Occupant Classification System
OCS indicator light.
The front airbag on the passenger side is either activated or deactivated depending on the classification of the passenger in the front passenger seat.
Polestar follows NHTSA’s recommendations and recommends that ALL children up to age 12 sit in the rear seat and are secured appropriately for their height and height. This is very strongly recommended for children sitting in rear-facing child seats.
| Classification of passengers in the front passenger seat | OCS indicator light status | Passenger’s side front airbag status |
|---|---|---|
| The passenger is classified as an adult. | OCS indicator light is not lit. | Activated |
| The passenger is classified as a small child in a forward-facing child seat. | The OCS indicator light is lit or not lit depending on several parameters that determine the most suitable status. | Enabled or disabled depending on several parameters that determine the most suitable status. |
| The passenger is classified as a small child in a rear-facing child seat. | OCS indicator light is lit. | Deactivated |
| The passenger seat is empty. | OCS indicator light is lit. | Deactivated |
Occupant Classification System function
OCS works in combination with sensors in the front passenger seat. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of, and classify a properly seated occupant and determine if the passenger’s side front airbag should be enabled (may inflate) or disabled (will not inflate).
The OCS uses an indicator lamp with the text PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF, which will illuminate and stay on to remind you that the passenger’s side front airbag is disabled. The indicator light with the text PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF is located in the ceiling console, near the bracket for the rearview mirror.
Always make sure that the indicator light status shows the correct classification, both before and while driving, when the front passenger seat is occupied.
When the ignition is switched on, the OCS indicator light will illuminate for several seconds while the system performs a self-diagnostic test. The indicator light will then go out or remain illuminated, depending on the classification of the occupant of the front passenger seat.
If a malfunction is detected in the system, the OCS indicator light will remain illuminated and the SRS warning symbol will be shown in the instrument panel along with a text message.
If a fault in the system is detected and indicated as described, be aware that the passenger’s side front airbag will not deploy in the event of a collision. In this case, have the airbag system and the Occupant Classification System checked by a workshop as soon as possible.
Classification of adult
To help ensure accurate classification when a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger seat, the passenger must:
- be wearing their seat belt
- be sitting normally in the seat, in the center of the seat cushion
- be sitting upright in the seat with their shoulders against the backrest
- have their legs comfortably extended with their feet on the floor?
Correct seating position.
Example of incorrect seating position – the passenger must not have slid forward on the seat cushion.
Example of incorrect seating position – the passenger must be seated with their feet on the floor.
Example of incorrect seating position – the passenger must not fold the backrest to a lying position.
Remember the following when an adult is sitting in the front passenger seat:
- The passenger must never get up from the seat cushion using the armrest in the door or center console, by pushing their feet against the floor, or by pushing against the backrest.
- The passenger must never sit on the side of the seat cushion, slide forward on the seat cushion or fold the backrest to a lying position.
- The passenger must never sit on the seat wearing wet or thick clothing, e.g. ski wear or padded garments.
- Never place any objects between the passenger and the seat cushion, such as pillows, heating blankets or ordinary blankets, seat liners, or mats.
- Never place a radio transmitter (e.g. hunting radio or walkie-talkie) or device that is being charged (e.g. cellular phone, tablet, or computer) on or under the seat cushion. Never let anyone sitting on the passenger seat use a radio transmitter or device that is being charged.
Not following the above recommendations could adversely affect the functioning of the Occupant Classification System, which could lead to serious personal injury or even death.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger’s seat and the OCS indicator light is on, it is possible that the person isn’t sitting properly in the seat.
If this happens, turn off the vehicle and ask the person to follow the above instructions for accurate classification. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and enable the passenger’s frontal airbag.
If the OCS indicator light remains on even after this, the person should be advised to ride in the rear seat.
This may indicate restrictions in the OCS classification ability, such as that the person is too light to be classified as an adult. It does not necessarily indicate an OCS error.
Classification of child
Polestar follows NHTSA’s recommendations and recommends that ALL children up to and including 12 years of age sit in the rear seat. This is very strongly recommended for children sitting in rear-facing child seats.
If a child in a child seat is placed on the front passenger seat, the child seat must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions to help ensure accurate classification.
Remember the following if a child in a child seat sits in the front passenger seat:
- Never place any items or extras on the passenger seat, between the child seat and the seat cushion, or near the seat cushion.
- Never place a radio transmitter (e.g. hunting radio or walkie-talkie) or device that is being charged (e.g. cellular phone, tablet, or computer) on the seat cushion. Never let anyone sitting on the passenger seat use a radio transmitter or device that is being charged.
- Never place wet clothing or fluids on the passenger seat.
- Always correctly position the child seat so that the entire lower section of the child seat rests against the seat cushion.
- Always place a front-facing child seat as far back as possible against the backrest.
WARNING
Not following the above recommendations could adversely affect the functioning of the Occupant Classification System, which could lead to serious personal injury or even death.
Modifications
If you are considering modifying your vehicle in any way to accommodate a disability, for example by altering or adapting the driver’s or front passenger’s seat(s) and/or airbag systems, please contact Polestar Customer Support or:
In the USA:
Polestar Automotive USA Inc.
Customer Support
777 MacArthur Blvd
Mahwah, New Jersey 074730
1-800-806-2504
In Canada:
Polestar Automotive Canada Inc.
9130 Leslie Street, Suite 101
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 0B9
1-800-806-2507
Never try to open, remove or repair any components in the OCS system. Contact Polestar Customer Support. Incorrectly performed repairs to the OSC system could impair function and lead to serious injury.
The front passenger’s seat should not be modified in any way. This could affect the function of the OSC system.