Transporting children safely
Vehicle features and options
This chapter describes model-specific equip-
ment, systems, and functions that are currently
available, or may become available in the fu-
ture, even if they are not
present in the vehicle.
Additional information:
Vehicle equipment, refer to page
.
The right place for children
Safety information
WARNING
Unattended children or animals in the vehicle
can cause the vehicle to move and endanger
themselves and traffic, for example, due to
the following actions:
▷ Establishing
standby.
▷ Releasing the parking brake.
▷ Opening and closing the doors or win-
dows.
▷ Engaging selector
lever position N.
▷ Using vehicle equipment.
There is a risk of accident, injury, and prop-
erty damage. Do not leave children or ani-
mals unattended in the vehicle. Take the ve-
hicle key with you when exiting and lock the
vehicle.
WARNING
A hot vehicle may result in death to persons,
especially children, or animals. There is a risk
of injury and danger to life. Do not leave
people, especially children, or animals unat-
tended in the vehicle.
WARNING
Exposure to intense sunlight can cause child
restraint systems and their components to
become very hot. Persons may sustain burn
injuries when touching the hot components.
There is a risk of injury. Do not expose
the child restraint system to direct sunlight
or cover where necessary. If necessary, let
the child restraint system cool down before
transporting a child. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle.
Children in the rear seat
General information
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is in the rear
seat.
Children younger than 13 years of age or
shorter than 5 ft/150 cm should be transported
in the rear seat in suitable child restraint sys-
tems designed for the age, weight and size
of the child. Children 13 years of age or older
must wear a seat belt as soon as a suitable
child restraint system can no longer be used
due to their age, weight, or size.
Transporting children safely
Controls
115
Online Edition
Do not use child restraint systems which
have been damaged or exposed to an acci-
dent.
If attachment
systems have been damaged
or strained by an accident, have them
checked and replaced by an authorized serv-
ice center or another qualified service center
or repair shop.
WARNING
The stability of the child restraint system is
limited or compromised with incorrect seat
setting or improper installation of the child
seat. There is a risk of injury and danger to
life. Make sure that the child restraint system
fits securely against the backrest. If possible,
adjust the backrest tilt for all affected back-
rests and correctly adjust the seats. Make
sure that seats and backrests are securely
engaged or locked. If possible and necessary,
adjust the height of the head restraints or
remove them.
Before installation
Before installing child restraint systems, en-
sure that the rear seat
backrests are locked.
Move the rear seats into the rearmost position
to facilitate installation of the child restraint
system.
On the front passenger seat
Deactivating the airbag
WARNING
If activated, the front passenger airbag can
injure children seated in a child restraint sys-
tems when deployed. There is a risk of injury.
Make sure that the front passenger airbag is
deactivated and that the PASSENGER AIR-
BAG OFF indicator light is illuminated.
After mounting a child restraint system on the
front passenger seat, make sure that the front
passenger airbag is
deactivated.
Additional information:
Automatic deactivation of front passenger air-
.
Seat position and height
After installing a child restraint system, move
the front passenger seat as far back as it will
go and, if possible, to the highest position. This
seat position and height ensure the best pos-
sible position for the belt and offers optimal
protection in the event of
an accident.
After installing a universal child restraint sys-
tem, adjust the backrest tilt to achieve the best
possible belt
routing.
If the upper attachment point of the seat belt
is located in front of the seat belt guide of the
child seat, move the front passenger seat care-
fully forward until the best possible seat belt
guide position is reached.
Backrest width
Adjustable backrest width: before installing a
child restraint system on the front passenger
seat, open the backrest width completely. Do
not change the backrest width again and do
not call up a memory position.
Transporting children safely
Controls
117
Online Edition
Position
Icon
Meaning
The corresponding icon shows
the mounts for the lower
LATCH anchors.
Seats
equipped with lower an-
chors are marked with a pair
(2) of LATCH icons.
For
vehicles equipped with a
middle seat:
It is not
recommended to use
the inner lower anchors of
standard outer LATCH posi-
tions to secure a child restraint
system on the middle seat.
Use the vehicle seat belt in-
stead for the middle seat.
Before installing child restraint sys-
tems
Before installing a child restraint system, pull
the seat belt away from the area of the lower
anchors of the child restraint system.
Installing child restraint systems
To install the child restraint system in the vehi-
cle, proceed as follows:
1.
Mount the child restraint system in accord-
ance with the instructions from the child
seat manufacturer.
2.
Make sure that the child restraint system
anchors engage correctly on both sides in
the lower seat mounts.
Child restraint systems with
tether strap
General information
When attaching child restraint systems to the
upper attachment points, observe the specifi-
cations and the operating and safety informa-
tion of the child restraint system manufacturer.
Safety information
WARNING
If the upper retaining strap is incorrectly used
for the child restraint system, the protective
effect is reduced. There is a risk of injury. En-
sure that the upper retaining strap is guided
to the upper attachment point without twist-
ing and not over sharp edges.
WARNING
If the rear seat backrest is not locked, the
protective effect of the child restraint system
is limited or nonexistant. In certain situations,
for instance braking maneuvers or in case of
an accident, the rear seat backrest can fold
forward. There is a risk of injury and danger
to life. Make sure that the rear seat backrests
are locked.
WARNING
The mounts for the lower anchors and at-
tachment points of the child restraint system
are intended for attaching child restraint sys-
tems only. If other objects are attached, the
mounts or attachment points can be dam-
aged. There is a risk of injury and risk of
property damage. Only attach child restraint
systems at the corresponding mounts for the
lower anchors or attachment points.
Transporting children safely
Controls
119
Online Edition
Icon
Meaning
Child safety lock.
Apply the child safety lock.
The door can now be opened from the outside
only.
After locking,
make sure that the door cannot
be opened from the inside.
Safety switch for the rear
The safety switch for the rear is located
on the driver's door.
To lock rear functions, press the safety
switch in the driver’s door. The LED is
illuminated when the safety function is
turned on.
Various
functions are locked and cannot be
operated in the rear such as the power win-
dows.
Transporting children safely
Controls
121
Online Edition
