FIAT Multipla - Manual (Page 130)

129
CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
W
ARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICA
TIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS
SAFETY DEVICES
FRONT AIR BAGS
The car is fitted with front airbags for driver and
passenger and front side airbags (side bag/window bag
as optional).
FRONT AIRBAGS
Front airbags (driver and passenger) have been
designed to protect the occupants in the event of
head-on crashes of medium-high severity, by placing
the cushion between the occupant and the steering
wheel or dashboard.
Front airbags are designed to protect car’s occupants
in front crashes and therefore non-activation in other
types of collisions (side collisions, rear shunts, roll-
overs, etc.) is not a system malfunction.
In case of crash, an electronic control unit, when
required, triggers the inflation of the cushion according
to the severity of the collision.
The cushion immediately inflates, placing itself as a
protection between the body of the front occupants
and the structure that could cause injuries.
Immediately after, the cushion deflates.
The front airbag (driver and passenger) is not a
replacement of but complementary to the use of belts,
which should always be worn, as specified by law in
Europe and most non-European countries.
In case of crash, a person not wearing the seat belt
moves forward and may come into contact with the
cushion while it is still inflating. Under this
circumstance the protection offered by the airbag is
reduced.
Front airbags may not activate in the following
situations:
❒ in collisions against highly deformable objects not
affecting the vehicle front surface(e.g. bumper
collision against guard rail);
❒ car wedging under other vehicles or protective
barriers (for example under a truck or guard rail);
as it offers no additional protection compared with the
seat belts, consequently, it would be pointless.
Therefore, failure to come into action in the above
circumstances does not mean that the system is not
working properly.
WARNING
Do not apply stickers or other objects to the steering wheel or to the airbag cover
on the passenger’s side or on the side roof lining. Never apply objects on the
dashboard on passenger side since they could interfere with proper passenger’s
airbag inflation or cause injuries.