One of the most important safety features in a vehicle is the seatbelt. Wearing a seatbelt can greatly reduce the risk of serious injury or death in the event of an accident. Seatbelts work by keeping the occupants of a vehicle in their seats during a collision, which helps to prevent them from being ejected from the vehicle or thrown around inside of it. In addition, seatbelts help to distribute the force of a collision more evenly throughout the body, which can reduce the likelihood of injuries.
WARNING
WARNING
Never place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the back. If an accident occurs, this can increase the risk or severity of injury.
CAUTION
Metallic parts of the seatbelt can become very hot in a vehicle that has been closed up in sunny weather; they could burn an occupant. Do not touch such hot parts until they cool.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which will record the use of the seatbelt by the front passenger when any of the SRS frontal, side and curtain airbags deploy.
Infants or small children
Use a child restraint system that is suitable for your vehicle. Refer to “Child restraint systems” P66.
Children
WARNING
Seat children in the rear seat properly restrained at all times. The SRS airbag deploys with considerable speed and force and can injure or even kill children, especially if they are not restrained or improperly restrained. Because children are lighter and weaker than adults, their risk of being injured from deployment is greater. For that reason, we strongly recommend that ALL chil-dren (including those in child restraint systems and those that have outgrown child restraint devices) sit in the REAR seat properly restrained at all times in a child restraint device or in a seatbelt, whichever is appropriate for the child’s height and weight.
Secure ALL types of child restraint devices (including forward facing
child restraint systems) in the REAR seats at all times.
NEVER INSTALL A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER’S SEAT. DOING SO RISKS SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD BY PLACING THE CHILD’S HEAD TOO CLOSE TO THE SRS AIRBAG.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when properly restrained in the rear seating positions than in the front seating positions. For instructions and precautions concerning the child restraint system, refer to “Child restraint systems” P66.
If a child is too big for a child restraint system, the child should sit in the rear seat and be restrained using the seatbelts. Never allow a child to stand up or kneel on the seat.
If the shoulder portion of the belt crosses the face or neck, move the child closer to the belt buckle to help provide a good shoulder belt fit. Care must be taken to securely place the lap belt as low as possible on the hips and not on the child’s waist. If the shoulder portion of the belt cannot be properly positioned, a child restraint system should be used. Never place the shoulder belt under the child’s arm or behind the child’s back.
Expectant mothers
Expectant mothers also need to use the seatbelts. They should consult their doctor for specific recommendations. The lap belt should be worn securely and as low as possible over the hips, not over the waist.
The driver’s seatbelt has an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR).
The emergency locking retractor allows normal body movement but the retractor locks automatically during a sudden stop, impact or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.
Each passenger’s seatbelt has an Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR). The Automatic Locking Retractor/Emergency Locking Retractor normally functions as an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR). The ALR/ELR has an additional locking mode “Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode” intended to secure a child restraint system. When the seatbelt is once drawn out completely and is then retracted even slightly, the retractor locks the seatbelt in that position and the seatbelt cannot be extended. As the belt is rewinding, clicks will be heard which indicate the retractor functions as an ALR. When the seatbelt is retracted fully, the ALR mode is released.
When securing a child restraint system on the rear seats by the use of the seatbelt, the seatbelt must be changed over to the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode.
When the child restraint system is removed, make sure that the seatbelt retracts fully and the retractor returned to the Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) mode.
For instructions on how to convert the retractor to the ALR mode and restore it to the ELR mode, refer to “Installing child restraint systems with ALR/ELR seatbelt”P71.
Refer to “Seatbelt warning light and chime” P175.
Refer to “Rear passenger’s seats” P176.
Front seatbelts
Adjusting the front seat shoulder belt anchor height
The shoulder belt anchor height should be adjusted to the position best suited for the driver/front passenger. Always adjust the anchor height so that the shoulder belt passes over the middle of the shoulder without touching the neck.
To raise:
Pull the release knob and slide the anchor up.
To lower:
Pull the release knob and slide the anchor down.
Pull down on the anchor to make sure that it is locked in place.
WARNING
When wearing the seatbelts, make sure the shoulder portion of the webbing does not pass over your neck. If it does, adjust the seatbelt anchor to a lower position. Placing the shoulder belt over the neck may result in neck injury during sudden braking or in a collision.
Unfastening the seatbelt
Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted properly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door.
Second-row and third-row seatbelts (except third-row center seatbelt)
Unfastening the seatbelt
Before closing the door, make sure that the belts are retracted properly to avoid catching the belt webbing in the door.
Third-row center seatbelt
WARNING
Fastening the seatbelt with the webbing twisted can increase the risk or severity of injury in an accident. When fastening the belt after it is pulled out from the retractor, especially when inserting the anchor tongue plate into the mating buckle (on right-hand side), always check that the webbing is not twisted.
The center seatbelt is stowed in the recess of the ceiling.
Seatbelt comfort guide
In order to adjust the position of the shoulder belt, use the seatbelt comfort guide.
Unfastening the seatbelt
CAUTION
To clean the seatbelts, use a mild soap and lukewarm water. Never bleach or dye the belts because this could seriously affect their strength.
Inspect the seatbelts and attachments including the webbing and all hardware periodically for cracks, cuts, gashes, tears, damage, loose bolts or worn areas. Re-place the seatbelts even if only minor damage is found.
CAUTION
Access the comprehensive 2010-2018 VW Jetta Passenger Fuse Box Diagram to troubleshoot electrical issues effectively.…
Explore the comprehensive VW Jetta Passenger Fuse Box Diagram to troubleshoot electrical issues effectively. Understand…
Under Hood Fuse Box Location Remove the front luggage compartment cover. Under Hood Fuse Box…
2022 Kawasaki NINJA H2 SX SE Brake Lever Adjuster Owner's Manual NOTICE Only adjust the front…
2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Exiting The Vehicle SINGLE LOCKING WARNING Before exiting the…
2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Front Seats FRONT SEAT SAFETY Make sure to read…