Important safety notes

If maintenance work is not carried out properly, the operating safety of your vehicle may be impaired. You could then lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident. In addition, the safety systems may no longer be able to provide you and other persons with the intended protection.

Always have maintenance work carried out by a qualified workshop.

Any modifications or improper work carried out on the following components may impair the function of the restraint systems:

• Restraint systems, consisting of the seat belts and anchorage points, belt tensioners, belt force limiters and airbags
• Wiring
• Networked electronic systems

The airbags and belt tensioners could then trigger unintentionally or fail to trigger in an accident where the deceleration is sufficient. Therefore, never modify the restraint systems.

For this reason, never improperly intervene in the electronic components or their software

Seat belts and the SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) are restraint systems that are matched to each other. They reduce the risk of injury in certain accidents and thus increase occupant safety. However, seat belts and airbags generally offer no protection against objects that penetrate the interior of the vehicle.

So that the restraint systems can provide the intended protection, make sure that

• the seat and head restraint settings are correct
• the seat belt is fastened correctly
• the airbags can deploy freely if triggered
• the steering wheel is adjusted correctly
• the restraint systems have not been modified

The airbags are supplemental restraint systems: they provide additional protection to vehicle occupants who have fastened their seat belts. They do not replace the driver and passengers wearing their seat belts. The airbags do not trigger in every accident. For example, they do not trigger if they cannot provide additional protection beyond that provided by correctly fastened seat belts.

Even when triggered, the airbags only provide additional protection if the seat belts are correctly fastened. The seat belts keep vehicle occupants in a more favorable position relative to the airbags. In addition, seat belts limit the movement of vehicle occupants in the direction opposite to the impact force, for example in a frontal collision.