Side airbag (side bag - window bag)

The vehicle is equipped at the front with side airbags for upper body and pelvis protection (front side bag) for driver and front passenger, and with airbags to protect the heads of front and rear occupants (window bag).

Side airbags protect occupants in a lateral, medium-severity impact by inflating an airbag cushion that is positioned between the occupant and the inner parts of the vehicle's side structure.

Side airbags not deploying in other types of impact (frontal impact, rear-end collision, rollover, etc.) therefore does not indicate a system fault.

In a side impact, an electronic control unit activates inflation of the airbags if necessary. The cushions inflate immediately between the occupants and structures that could injure the occupants' bodies. Immediately afterwards, the air is released from the cushions.

The side airbag is not a replacement but a supplement to the seat belt, which should always be worn when driving, as required by legislation in Europe and in most non-European countries.

They consist of two types of airbag cushions that inflate immediately, located in the seat backs of the front seats fig.

18 and are designed to protect the upper body and pelvis of the occupants in a lateral impact of medium intensity.

They consist of two "roll-down" cushions located behind the roof side trim and covered accordingly. They are designed to protect the heads of front and rear occupants in a side impact, thanks to the large surface area of the cushions.

In a side impact of low intensity (for which the restraint provided by the seat belts is sufficient), the airbag does not deploy.

In this case too, use of the seat belt is always necessary; in a side impact it keeps the occupant in the correct seating position and prevents being thrown out in a very severe impact.

The front side airbag (where fitted) is not a replacement but a supplement to the seat belt, which should always be worn when driving, as required by legislation in Europe and in most non-European countries.

Note: the system provides the best protection in a side impact when the correct seating position is adopted, so that the window bag can inflate correctly.

Note: do not wash the seats with water or steam jets (hand wash only or in an automatic seat-cleaning system).

Do not hang hard objects from the coat hooks or grab handles.

Do not cover the front seat backs with covers or upholstery not intended for use with side bag.

Do not cover the front seat backs with covers or upholstery not intended for use with side bag.

Never let your head, arms or elbows protrude from the windows.

1. 1
   The front and/or front side airbags (where fitted) may deploy if the vehicle is subjected to severe impacts or collisions affecting the underbody area, such as

   e.g. hard impacts against curbs, sidewalks or solid ground protrusions, driving over large potholes or bumps.

2. 2
   When airbags deploy, a small amount of powder is released. This powder is not harmful to health and is not a sign of fire. The inflated airbag and passenger compartment may also be covered with powdery residue: this powder can cause skin and eye irritation.

   If it comes into contact with you, wash with water and mild soap.

3. 3
   If one of the safety devices has deployed as a result of an accident, contact the Fiat Service Network to replace it and have the system's integrity checked. All work, including inspection, repair or replacement of the airbag, must be carried out by the Fiat Service Network.

   When scrapping the vehicle, contact the Fiat Service Network to deactivate the system. If the vehicle changes ownership, it is essential that the new owner is informed about how to use it and the above warnings, and is given the Owner's Handbook.

4. 4
   The activation of the seat belt pretensioners, front airbags and front side airbags is decided in different ways and depending on the type of impact. The non-triggering of one or more systems is not to be regarded as a system malfunction.

If the warning lightdoes not come on when the key is turned to MAR, or remains on while driving (together with a message on the display), there may be a fault in the restraint systems. In this case, the airbags or seat belt pretensioners may not deploy in an accident, or may deploy unintentionally in a limited number of cases.

Before continuing your journey, please contact the Fiat service network for an immediate check of the system.

The expiry dates of the pyrotechnic charge and the clock spring are shown on a dedicated label in the lower glovebox. When these expiry dates approach, contact the Fiat service network for replacement.

Do not hold objects on your lap or in front of your chest, and even less so a pipe, pencil, etc. between your lips. In an accident in which the airbag deploys, this could cause serious injuries.

In the event of theft or attempted theft of the vehicle, vandalism, flooding or high water, the airbag system must be checked by the Fiat service network.

With the key in the ignition and the engine off, the airbags may also deploy when the vehicle is stationary if it is struck by another vehicle.

For this reason, children must never sit in the front seat, even when the vehicle is stationary. Please note, however, that no safety device (airbag or seat belt pretensioner) will be triggered by an impact when the vehicle is stationary and the key is at STOP. If the devices do not deploy in these cases, this must not be regarded as a system malfunction.

When the key is turned to MAR, the warning light(with
passenger airbag enabled) lights up and then flashes for a few seconds to remind you that the passenger airbag could deploy in a crash; after this, the warning light must go out.

Unlike the seat belt pretensioners, the front airbags are only designed to deploy in stronger impacts. For impacts between the two activation thresholds, it is therefore normal for only the seat belt pretensioners to operate.

The airbag does not replace the seat belts; it supplements their effectiveness. Since the front airbags do not deploy in a frontal impact at low speed, side impacts, rear-end collisions or rollovers, occupants are protected only by the seat belts in these cases, so they must always be worn.