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Sensor-controlled passenger airbag status

The vehicle has a system for detecting the presence of a correctly seated occupant in the front passenger seat. The system disables the front passenger's airbags under certain conditions. When disabled, the airbags will not deploy in a collision.

The vehicle determines whether the front passenger airbags should be enabled or disabled. This requires that the seat be used as Volvo intended. Follow all available recommendations about proper seating and use.

Warning

Always check the status if you are not sure whether the front passenger airbags are enabled or disabled. If the passenger airbag is disabled, this will be visible in the overhead console.

Note

NHTSA child seating recommendations

Volvo follows NHTSA recommendations and recommends that ALL children up to and including 12 years of age sit in a rear seat and be restrained in a suitable manner appropriate to their height and weight. This is strongly recommended for children in rearward-facing child restraints.

Conditions for enabled airbags

The front passenger airbag status depends on the sensor reading of the occupant's presence and classification. The airbag will be enabled under the following conditions and so will deploy in a collision.
  • A heavy object is placed on the seat.
  • The seat is occupied by a person, whether a child or adult, weighing more than the threshold for enabling the airbag.

Conditions for disabled airbags

The front passenger airbag status depends on the sensor reading of the occupant's presence and classification. The airbags will be disabled under the following conditions and thus will not deploy in a collision.
  • The front passenger seat is unoccupied. Small and medium-sized objects placed on the seat are typically not heavy enough to affect airbag status.
  • A child or small person is occupying the seat, with or without a booster seat.
  • A rearward-facing infant seat is installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  • A forward-facing child restraint is installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

The airbags will be disabled regardless of whether or not there is a child sitting in the seat or child restraint.

A symbol in the overhead console indicates that the passenger airbags are disabled and will not be deployed by the vehicle. It is shown along with the words PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF.

Inactive passenger airbag symbol
Symbol indicating disabled airbags.

Safe and correct use

Warning

Pay attention to the sensor system indicator. Failure to follow these instructions could adversely affect the system's function, lead to incorrect airbag status and result in serious injury of an occupant.
  • Do not place any objects that add to the total weight on the seat when it is occupied.
  • Do not use the seat belt in a way that exerts more pressure on the passenger than normal.
  • The full weight of the front-seat passenger should always be on the seat cushion. The passenger should never lift themselves off the seat cushion using the armrest in the door or the center console, by pressing their feet on the floor, by sitting on the edge of the seat cushion or by pressing against the backrest in a way that reduces pressure on the seat cushion.
  • Never wrap the seat belt around an object on the front passenger's seat.
  • Do not place any object around or under the front passenger's seat in such a way that jamming, pressing or squeezing occurs between the object and the front seat.

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