The front and/or side airbags can be triggered if the vehicle is subjected to strong knocks or impacts underneath, e.g. violent crashes into steps, kerbs or fixed projections from the ground, falling to large holes or dips in the road.

When the airbag inflates it emits a small amount of dusts. These dusts are harmless and is not the beginning of a fire; then the unfold cushion surface and the vehicle interiors can be covered by a dusty remains: this dust can irritate skin and eyes. In case of contact, wash yourself using neutral soap and water.

The air bag system has a validity of 14 years as to the pyrotechnic charge, and 10 years as to the coil contact (see the plate in the glove compartment).

As this date approaches, contact Fiat Dealership to have it replaced.

After an accident which triggered the airbags, go to a Fiat Dealership to have the entire safety system, the electronic control unit, the seat belts and the pretension replaced. The Dealership will also check the intactness of the electrical system.

Any diagnostic, repair or replacement operations concerning the airbag system must exclusively be carried out at a Fiat Dealership.

If you are having the vehicle scrapped, have the airbag system deactivated at a Fiat Dealership first.

If the vehicle changes hand, the new owner must be made aware of the indications given above and be given this Owner Handbook.

Pretensioners, front airbags and side airbags are triggered by the electronic control unit according to different types of impacts. Missed triggering of the system, consequently, does not indicate a fault in the system.

If when turning the key to MAR the warning light does not turn on or if it stays on when traveling there could be a failure in safety systems;

in this event air bags or pretensioners could not trigger in case of impact or, in a minor number of cases, they could trigger accidentally. Contact Fiat Dealership immediately to have the system checked.

When the passenger’s front airbag is active (passenger front airbag deactivation switch at ON), the warning light will come on for approximately four seconds and flash for other four seconds when the ignition key is turned to MAR to remind the driver than the passenger’s front and side airbags (where fitted) will be fired in the event of a crash. The warning light should go out immediately afterwards.

If an attempt has been made to steal the vehicle, or if it has actually been stolen or has been vandalized in any way or subjected to flooding, have the airbag system checked over at a Fiat Dealership.

The front air bag is triggered for shocks greater in magnitude that the pretensioners. For impacts between these two thresholds, it is therefore normal that only the pretensioners are triggered.

Do not apply stickers or other objects to the steering wheel or to the dashboard on the passenger’s side. Do not travel with objects on your lap or in front of you nor with a pipe, pencil or similar between your lips; you could seriously hurt yourself if the airbag inflates in a collision.

Always drive with both hands on the rim of the steering wheel so that the airbag is free to inflate during a head-on collision, and protect you from serious injury. Do not drive with your body bending towards the steering wheel, but sit in an upright position with your back resting against the seat.

Do not cover the backrest of front seats with trims or covers that are not suitable to be used with side bags.

It is important to remember that the airbag can be fired if the ignition key is fitted and at MAR also if the engine is not running and the vehicle it is hit by another vehicle traveling at suitable speed. As a consequence, Fiat recommends sitting children in their specific restraint systems on the back seat, which is the most protected position possible. On the contrary, the airbags will not be fired if the vehicle is crashed into when the key is not inserted or turned.

Consequently, in this case, the fact that the system is not fired does not indicate a fault.

The correct operation of front airbags, side airbags and pretensioners is ensured only if the vehicle is not overloaded.

Do not wash the seat back in vehicles with side airbags with pressurised steam or water in automatic seat washing stations.

The airbag does not replace seat belts but rather increases their effectiveness.

Furthermore, the airbag is not fired in the event of low speed front collisions, side collisions, rear-end shunts and rollovers.

In these cases, the passengers are only protected by the seat belts which for this reason must always be fastened.