increase the risk of injury!
All children (particularly children under 12 years of age) should always be transported on the rear seats in appropriate child restraint systems. However, if you must
use a child restraint on the front passenger seat in exceptional circumstances, always follow all the information and warnings available at ⇒
Introduction.
You can find more information on this subject at:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (USA):
Transport Canada Information Centre (Kanada):
Read and follow the instructions from the child seat manufacturer to ensure that the seat is appropriate for your child. Also be sure to read and follow all the
information and warnings on child restraint systems in this manual!
WARNING
In the event of an accident, people sitting on the front passenger seat (particularly children and small children) may suffer severe or fatal injuries if there is not
sufficient distance between them and the airbag, if it is deployed (even with the Advanced Airbag System)!
The safest place for children is on the rear seats.
A suitable child restraint that is installed on the rear seat in accordance with regulations provides the highest level of protection for children and small
children in most accidents.
Even though the Advanced Airbag System is designed to detect child restraint systems on the front passenger seat and to switch off the front passenger's
front airbag, it is not possible to guarantee that the system will perform correctly under all circumstances and over the vehicle's service life.
In compliance with the “low risk” option for children of 3–6 years of age according to the U.S. Federal Standard, the Advanced Airbag System may be
deployed if the electrical capacity of a typical one-year-old child combined with a child restraint system on the front passenger seat is exceeded and the
criteria for deployment of the Advanced Airbag System are met.
WARNING
Accident statistics have shown that the rear seats offer greater safety than the front seats for children in general.
Always transport children under 12 years of age on the rear seats.
A child who is not secured or is not secured properly can be injured through sliding around in the vehicle interior or through being ejected from the vehicle
during a sudden maneuver or collision. Secure children in the vehicle with a child restraint that is appropriate for their weight and height and with the
safety belt used correctly ⇒ Transporting children safely.
A child who is not secured or not properly secured is exposed to an increased risk of injury or death through collision with an airbag. Make sure that
children are not within the deployment zone of the airbag.
A child restraint system corresponding to body weight and body size that is installed and used on the rear seats offers maximum protection for infants and
small children in most accident situations.
Child restraints – overview
Please read the introductory information and heed the Warnings and Notice ⇒
All children (particularly small children and infants) must be transported in child restraints suitable for them. These child restraints must always be installed correctly
The information in the following table will help you to find the suitable child restraint for your child.
Child restraint type
Use
Birth–12 months old: A child of up to 12 months of age must always be transported in a rear-facing
child restraint. There are different types of these:
Rear-facing child restraint
– Rear-facing child restraints for infants only.
– Convertible and multi-purpose child restraints with greater weight and size restrictions for transporting
your child in the rear-facing position for longer periods of time.
1 – 3 years old: Transport your child in a rear-facing child restraint for as long as possible until they
have reached the weight and size restrictions. After your child has reached the weight and size
restrictions, you can transport them in a forward-facing child restraint with the appropriate safety belts.
Rear-facing child restraint before transitioning to the
forward-facing child restraint
4 – 7 years old: Transport your child in a forward-facing child restraint for as long as possible until they
have reached the weight and size restrictions. After your child has reached the weight and size
restrictions, you can transport them in a booster seat but only on the rear seats.
Forward facing child restraints
Booster seat
7 – 12 years old: Transport your child using a booster seat until they have grown enough to sit on the
seats with a safety belt without a booster seat. The safety belt must be routed correctly ⇒ Safety belt
positioning. You should continue to transport your child on the rear seats.
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