Side airbags (side bags - window bags)

To increase occupant protection in a side collision, the vehicle is equipped with front side airbags (side bags) (where provided by version/market) and curtain airbags (window bags) (where provided by version/market).

Side airbags protect occupants in medium-to-high severity side collisions by placing a cushion between the occupant and the interior parts of the vehicle's side structure.

The side airbags not deploying in other types of impact (frontal, rear, rollover, etc.) does not therefore indicate a system malfunction.

Side bags

(where provided by version/market) These consist of two types of cushions located in the front seatbacks, fig. 79, which protect the occupants' pelvis, chest and shoulder area in medium-to-high severity side collisions.

Window bags

These consist of two curtain-type cushions housed behind the roof side trim, fig. 80, and covered by specific trim panels, which protect the heads of front and rear occupants in a side collision.

In low-severity side collisions, the side airbags do not need to deploy.

The system provides the best protection in a side collision when occupants maintain a correct seating position, allowing the window bag to deploy correctly.

The window bags are not available for the VAN version.

Warnings

Do not wash the seats with pressurized water or steam (by hand or in automatic seat washing stations).

The front and/or side airbags may deploy when the vehicle has been subjected to severe impacts involving the underbody (e.g.

violent impacts against steps or curbs, the vehicle dropping into large potholes or road depressions, etc.).

When the airbags deploy, a small amount of dust is released. This dust is not harmful and does not indicate a fire. However, the dust may irritate the skin and eyes; in this case, wash with mild soap and water.

All inspection, repair and replacement work on the airbags must be carried out by the Fiat Authorized Service Network.

When scrapping the vehicle, contact the Fiat Authorized Service Network to have the airbag system deactivated.

The deployment of pretensioners and airbags is determined differently depending on the type of impact. The non-deployment of one or more of them does not therefore indicate a system malfunction.

mobile phones), as they could interfere with the correct deployment of the passenger airbag and, moreover, cause serious injury to the vehicle occupants.

100) Always keep your hands on the rim of the steering wheel so that, in the event of airbag deployment, the airbag can inflate without obstruction.

Do not drive with your body leaning forward; keep the seatback upright and rest your back firmly against it.

101) When the passenger airbag is active, do NOT install a child seat facing the rear of the vehicle on the front passenger seat. In a collision, airbag deployment could cause fatal injury to the child, regardless of the severity of the impact.

Therefore, always deactivate the passenger airbag when a rear-facing child seat is installed on the front passenger seat. In addition, the front passenger seat must be adjusted to its rearmost position to avoid any contact between the child seat and the dashboard. Reactivate the passenger airbag immediately after removing the child seat.

102) To deactivate the airbags from the instrument cluster menu, see the description in the chapter "Instrument cluster", section "Setup menu".

103) Do not hang rigid objects from the coat hooks or grab handles.

104) Do not rest your head, arms or elbows on the door, the windows or in the window bag area, to avoid possible injury during inflation.

105) Never stick your head, arms or elbows out of the window.

106) If the warning lightdoes not come on when the ignition switch is turned to ON, or remains on while driving, there may be a fault in the restraint systems. In this case, the airbags or pretensioners may not deploy in a collision or, in a more limited number of cases, may deploy incorrectly.

Before continuing, contact the Fiat Authorized Service Network for an immediate system check.

107) If the "yellow" warning light malfunctions, the "red" warning light comes onwhere provided for by version/market, the pyrotechnic charges of the passenger airbag and side bag are disabled. If the "red" warning light is on, before continuing contact the Fiat Service Network for an immediate check of the system (see previous warning).

108) When Side bags are fitted, do not cover the front seat backrests with covers or seat covers.

109) Do not travel with objects on your lap, in front of your chest or, least of all, held between your lips, such as pipes, pencils, etc. In the event of a collision with airbag deployment, they could cause you serious injury.

110) If the vehicle has been stolen or an attempted theft has occurred, or if it has been subject to vandalism, flooding or water immersion, have the airbag system checked by the Fiat Service Network.

111) With the ignition key inserted and in the ON position, even with the engine off, the airbags may deploy even when the vehicle is stationary, if it is struck by another moving vehicle. Therefore, even with the vehicle stationary, rear-facing child seats must NOT be installed on the front passenger seat when the front passenger airbag is active. Deployment of the airbag in a collision could cause fatal injuries to the child. Therefore, always deactivate the passenger-side airbag when a rear-facing child seat is installed on the front passenger seat. Furthermore, the front passenger seat must be set to its rearmost position, to prevent the child seat from contacting the dashboard. Reactivate the passenger airbag immediately after removing the child seat. Please note that if the key is turned to the OFF position, no safety device (airbag or pretensioners) will deploy in the event of a collision; the failure of these devices to deploy in such cases therefore cannot be regarded as an indication of a system malfunction.

112) The airbag warning lightindicates the status of the passenger protection. If the light is off, the passenger-side protection is enabled. It can be disabled from the menu, in which case the light comes on. After switching the vehicle on (ignition key in the ON position), provided at least 5 seconds have passed since the previous switch-off, the light comes on for approximately 8 seconds. If this does not happen, the user is asked to contact the Fiat Service Network. It is possible that, with switch-off/switch-on operations of less than 5 seconds, the light remains off. In this case, to check that the light is working correctly, switch off the vehicle, wait at least 5 seconds and then perform the switch-on operation.

During the first 8 seconds, the light coming on does not indicate the actual status of the passenger protection, but serves to verify that it is working correctly. The light may come on at different intensities depending on vehicle conditions. The intensity may also vary during the same key cycle. (Also in markets where the passenger protection deactivation function is not provided, a light test is performed: the light comes on for less than one second when the key is turned to the ON position, then switches off.) 113) Front airbag deployment is intended for impacts above the threshold of the pretensioners. For impacts within the range between the two activation thresholds, it is therefore normal for only the pretensioners to operate.

114) The airbag does not replace seat belts, but increases their effectiveness.

Since front airbags do not deploy in low-speed frontal impacts, side impacts, rear-end collisions or rollovers, occupants are protected, in addition to any side airbags, only by the seat belts, which must therefore always be fastened.

115) If the "red"warning light does not come on for a few seconds when the key is turned to the ON position, there may be a fault with the "red" warning light. In this case, after a few seconds the warning lightstarts flashing. Before continuing, contact the Fiat Service Network for an immediate check of the system.