VOLKSWAGEN ID.3 2020 Owner´s Manual

Wha t ha ppens t o v e hi cle o cc u p ant s w ho ha ve n ot f a ste n ed
the ir s e at b elt s
Fig . 1 A n u n belt e d d riv e r is t h ro w n f o rw ard s.

Man y p eo p le b elie ve t h at t h ey c a n b ra ce t h eir w eig ht w it h t h eir h an ds in a m in or c o llis io n . T h is is
n ot t ru e.
E ve n a t l o w s p eed s, t h e f o rc e s a ctin g o n t h e b od y in a c o llis io n a re s o g re at t h at it is n ot p ossib le
t o b ra ce o n ese lf w it h a rm s a n d h an ds. I n a f ro n ta l c o llis io n , v e h ic le o cc u p an ts w ho h ave n ot
fa ste n ed t h eir s e at b elt s w il l b e t h ro w n f o rw ard a n d w il l m ake u n ch ecke d c o n ta ct w it h p art s o f
th e v e h ic le in te rio r, e .g . t h e s te erin g w heel, d ash p an el, o r w in dsc re en →  Fig . 1.
T h e a ir b ag s y ste m is n ot a s u b stit u te f o r t h e s e at b elt s . W hen t rig gere d , t h e a ir b ag s o n ly p ro vid e
ad dit io n al p ro te ctio n . A ir b ag s a re n ot t rig gere d in a ll k in ds o f a cc id en ts . E ve n if t h e v e h ic le is
e q uip ped w it h a n a ir b ag s y ste m , a ll v e h ic le o cc u p an ts , in clu d in g t h e d riv e r, m ust f a ste n t h eir
s e at b elt a n d w ear it c o rre ctly w hil e t h e v e h ic le is in m otio n . T h is r e d uce s t h e r is k o f s e ve re o r
fa ta l in ju rie s in t h e e ve n t o f a n a cc id en t – r e g ard le ss o f w heth er a n a ir b ag is f it te d f o r t h e s e at.
E ach a ir b ag c a n o n ly b e t rig gere d o n ce . T o a ch ie ve b est p ossib le p ro te ctio n , s e at b elt s m ust
a lw ays b e w orn p ro p erly . T h is a ls o e n su re s t h at p ro te ctio n is p ro vid ed in a cc id en ts in w hic h t h e
air b ag is n ot t rig gere d . A ny v e h ic le o cc u p an ts n ot w earin g a s e at b elt c a n b e t h ro w n o ut o f t h e
ve h ic le a n d s u sta in m ore s e ve re o r e ve n f a ta l in ju rie s a s a r e su lt .
It is a ls o im port a n t f o r t h e r e ar s e at o cc u p an ts t o w ear s e at b elt s p ro p erly , a s t h ey c o uld
o th erw is e b e t h ro w n f o rw ard s v io le n tly in a n a cc id en t. R ear p ass e n gers w ho a re n ot w earin g
se at b elt s e n dan ger n ot o n ly t h em se lv e s a n d t h e d riv e r, b ut a ls o o th er p eo p le in t h e v e h ic le
→  Fig . 2.
F ig . 2 T h e u n belt e d r e ar p asse n ger is t h ro w n f o rw ard s, h it tin g t h e b elt e d d riv e r.

Corre ctly f a ste n ed s e at b elt s c a n m ake a m ajo r d if fe re n ce . W hen f a ste n ed p ro p erly , s e at b elt s
h old t h e v e h ic le o cc u p an ts in t h e c o rre ct s it tin g p osit io n s a n d c o n sid era b ly r e d uce t h e k in etic
e n erg y in t h e e ve n t o f a n a cc id en t. S e at b elt s a ls o h elp t o p re ve n t u n co n tro lle d m ove m en ts t h at
co uld l e ad t o s e ve re in ju rie s. I n a d dit io n , w earin g s e at b elt s p ro p erly r e d uce s t h e r is k o f b ein g
th ro w n f ro m t h e v e h ic le →  Fig . 1.
P asse n gers w earin g s e at b elt s c o rre ctly b en efit g re atly f ro m t h e a b il it y o f t h e b elt s t o r e d uce t h e
kin etic e n erg y. T h e f ro n t c ru m ple z o n es a n d o th er p ass iv e s a fe ty f e atu re s (s u ch a s t h e a ir b ag
sy ste m ) a re a ls o d esig ned t o r e d uce k in etic e n erg y. T h e a m oun t o f e n erg y g en era te d w il l t h us
d ecre ase , t h ere b y r e d ucin g t h e r is k o f in ju ry .
T h e e xa m ple s d esc rib e f ro n ta l c o llis io n s. O f c o urs e , p ro p erly w orn s e at b elt s s u b sta n tia lly r e d uce
th e r is k o f in ju ry in a ll o th er t y p es o f a cc id en ts . T h is is w hy s e at b elt s m ust b e f a ste n ed b efo re
e ve ry t rip – e ve n if y o u a re o n ly p la n nin g t o d riv e a v e ry s h ort d is ta n ce . E nsu re t h at a ll
p asse n gers a ls o w ear t h eir s e at b elt s p ro p erly .
A cc id en t s ta tis tic s h ave s h ow n p ro p erly w orn s e at b elt s t o b e a n e ffe ctiv e m ean s o f s u b sta n tia lly
r e d ucin g t h e r is k o f in ju ry a n d im pro vin g t h e c h an ce s o f s u rv iv a l in a s e rio us a cc id en t.
F u rt h erm ore , p ro p erly w orn s e at b elt s im pro ve t h e p ro te ctio n p ro vid ed b y a ir b ag s in t h e e ve n t o f
an a cc id en t. T h is is w hy w earin g a s e at b elt is a l e g al r e q uir e m en t in m ost c o un trie s.
S eat b elt p ro te ctio n
Fig . 1 D riv e r r e stra in ed b y a p ro p erly p osit io n ed s e at b elt d urin g a s u d den b ra kin g m an oeu vre .

Alt h oug h t h e v e h ic le is e q uip ped w it h a ir b ag s, t h e s e at b elt s m ust b e f a ste n ed a n d w orn . F o r
exa m ple , t h e f ro n t a ir b ag s w il l b e t rig g ere d o n ly in c e rt a in t y p es o f f ro n ta l c o llis io n . T h e f ro n t
air b ag s w il l n ot b e t rig gere d d urin g m in or f ro n ta l c o llis io n s, m in or s id e c o llis io n s, r e ar c o llis io n s,
ro lls o r a cc id en ts in w hic h t h e a ir b ag t rig ger t h re sh old in t h e c o n tro l u n it is n ot e xce ed ed . T h e
sa m e a p plie s t o t h e o th er a ir b ag s in t h e v e h ic le .
T h ere fo re , a lw ays w ear y o ur s e at b elt a n d e n su re t h at y o ur p ass e n gers h ave f a ste n ed t h eir s e at
b elt s p ro p erly b efo re y o u d riv e o ff.

Check lis t
U sin g t h e s e at b elt s →  :
✓Check t h e c o n dit io n o f a ll s e at b elt s r e g ula rly .
✓K eep t h e s e at b elt s c le an .
✓A vo id a llo w in g a n y f o re ig n b od ie s o r f lu id s t o g et o n t o t h e s e at b elt o r l a tc h p la te o r in to t h e
slo t f o r t h e s e at b elt b uck le .
✓D o n ot t ra p o r d am ag e t h e s e at b elt a n d l a tc h p la te , f o r e xa m ple w hen c lo sin g t h e d oor.
✓N eve r r e m ove , m od if y o r r e p air t h e s e at b elt o r a n y p art o f t h e b elt f ix tu re s y ste m .
✓Alw ays f a ste n t h e s e at b elt c o rre ctly b efo re e ve ry jo urn ey a n d k e ep it f a ste n ed w hil e t h e
ve h ic le is in m otio n .
T w is te d s e at b elt
If it is d if fic u lt t o r e m ove t h e s e at b elt f ro m t h e b elt g uid e, t h e s e at b elt m ay h ave b eco m e
tw is te d if it w as r e tu rn ed t o o q uic k ly in to t h e s id e t rim :
—Ta ke h old o f t h e l a tc h p la te t h en s lo w ly a n d c a re fu lly p ull o ut t h e s e at b elt .
—U ntw is t t h e s e at b elt a n d g uid e it b ack s lo w ly b y h an d.
Faste n t h e s e at b elt e ve n if y o u a re u n ab le t o u n do t h e t w is t. H ow eve r, t h e t w is t s h ould n ot b e in
p art o f t h e s e at b elt t h at c o m es in to d ir e ct c o n ta ct w it h t h e b od y. T h e t w is t s h ould b e c o rre cte d
im med ia te ly b y a q ualif ie d w ork sh op .
W AR N IN G
Usin g s e at b elt s in co rre ctly in cre ase s t h e r is k o f s e ve re o r f a ta l in ju rie s.
●R eg ula rly c h eck t o s e e if t h e s e at b elt a n d it s r e la te d p art s a re in p erfe ct c o n dit io n .
●A lw ays k e ep t h e s e at b elt c le an .
●D o n ot a llo w t h e b elt w eb bin g t o b eco m e ja m med , d am ag ed o r t o r u b o n a n y s h arp e d ges.
●A lw ays k e ep t h e l a tc h p la te a n d s lo t in t h e b uck le f re e f ro m f o re ig n b od ie s a n d l iq uid s.
U sing s e at b elt s

If w orn p ro p erly , s e at b elt s h old t h e v e h ic le o cc u p an ts in t h e c o rre ct s it tin g p osit io n d urin g a n
acc id en t o r b ra kin g m an oeu vre , p ro vid in g m axim um p ro te ctio n →  .
In v e h ic le s w it h a p ro activ e o cc u p an t p ro te ctio n s y ste m , t h e d riv e r a n d f ro n t p asse n ger s e at
b elt s a re a u to m atic a lly t e n sio n ed in c e rt a in s it u atio n s (→ Pro activ e o cc u p an t p ro te ctio n s y ste m).
F aste n in g t h e s e at b elt s
F aste ni ng a nd u nf aste n ing s e at b elt s
Fig . 1 I n se rt in g t h e s e at b elt l a tc h p la te in to t h e b uck le .
F ig . 2 R em ovin g t h e l a tc h p la te f ro m t h e b uck le .

Faste n s e at b elt s b efo re e ve ry t rip .
—A dju st t h e f ro n t s e at a n d h ead r e stra in t c o rre ctly (→ Sit tin g p osit io n).
—E ngag e t h e s e at b ack re st in a n u p rig ht p osit io n →  .
—Ta ke h old o f t h e b elt a n d p ull it e ve n ly a cro ss y o ur c h est a n d p elv is . D o n ot t w is t t h e b elt in
t h e p ro ce ss →  .
—In se rt t h e l a tc h p la te s e cu re ly in to t h e b uck le b elo n gin g t o t h e o cc u p ie d s e at →  Fig . 1.
—P ull o n t h e s e at b elt t o e n su re t h at t h e l a tc h p la te is s e cu re ly l o cke d in t h e b uck le .
U nfa ste n in g t h e s e at b elt s
U nfa ste n s e at b elt s o n ly w hen t h e v e h ic le is s ta tio n ary →  .
—Pre ss t h e r e d b utto n in t h e b uck le →  Fig . 2. T h e l a tc h p la te is r e le ase d a n d s p rin gs o ut.
—Gui de t h e b elt b ack b y h an d s o t h at it r o lls u p e asil y , w it h out t w is tin g t h e s e at b elt a n d
w it h out d am ag in g t h e t rim .
W AR N IN G
In co rre ct s e at b elt r o utin g c a n c a u se s e ve re o r f a ta l in ju rie s in t h e e ve n t o f a n a cc id en t.
●T h e s e at b elt s o n ly o ffe r b est p ro te ctio n w hen t h e b ack re sts a re in a n u p rig ht p osit io n a n d
th e s e at b elt s h ave b een f a ste n ed p ro p erly a cco rd in g t o t h e o cc u p an t's h eig ht.
●U nfa ste n in g s e at b elt s w hil e t h e v e h ic le is in m otio n c a n l e ad t o s e ve re o r f a ta l in ju rie s in
t h e e ve n t o f a n a cc id en t o r s u d den b ra kin g m an oeu vre .

Seat b elt r o uting
F ig . 1 C orre ct s e at b elt r o utin g a n d h ead r e stra in t a d ju stm en t.
F ig . 2 C orre ct s e at b elt r o utin g d urin g p re g n an cy.

Se at b elt s o n ly p ro vid e a n o ptim um l e ve l o f p ro te ctio n d urin g a n a cc id en t w hen t h ey a re r o ute d
co rre ctly . C orre ct s e at b elt r o utin g r e d uce s t h e r is k o f s e ve re o r f a ta l in ju rie s. C orre ct s e at b elt
r o utin g a ls o h old s t h e v e h ic le o cc u p an ts in p osit io n s o t h at a n in fla tin g a ir b ag c a n o ffe r t h e
m axim um l e ve l o f p ro te ctio n . T h ere fo re y o u m ust a lw ays f a ste n y o ur s e at b elt a n d e n su re t h at
th e s e at b elt r o utin g is c o rre ct →  Fig . 1.
A ssu m in g a n in co rre ct s it tin g p osit io n c a n c a u se s e ve re o r f a ta l in ju rie s (→ Sit tin g p osit io n).
C orre ct s e at b elt r o ut in g
—Th e s h ould er p art o f t h e s e at b elt m ust a lw ays l ie o n t h e c e n tre o f t h e s h ould er, n eve r a cro ss
th e n eck , o ve r o r u n der t h e a rm o r b eh in d t h e b ack .
—T h e l a p p art o f t h e s e at b elt m ust a lw ays l ie a cro ss t h e p elv is , n eve r a cro ss t h e s to m ach .
—Th e s e at b elt m ust a lw ays l ie f la t a n d s n ug ly o n t h e b od y. T ig hte n t h e b elt if n ece ssa ry .
F o r p re g nan t w om en t h e s e at b elt m ust b e p osit io n ed e ve n ly o ve r t h e c h est a n d a s l o w a s
p ossib le o ve r t h e p elv is . I t m ust l ie f la t s o t h at n o p re ss u re is e xe rt e d o n t h e l o w er b od y – t h is
a p plie s in e ve ry s ta g e o f p re g nan cy →  Fig . 2.
C orre ct s e at b elt r o ut in g a cc o rd in g t o h eig ht
Th e f o llo w in g e q uip m en t c a n b e u se d t o a d ju st t h e s e at b elt r o utin g:
—H eig ht- a d ju sta b le f ro n t s e ats (→ Sit tin g p osit io n).
W AR N IN G
In co rre ct s e at b elt r o utin g c a n c a u se s e ve re in ju rie s in t h e e ve n t o f a n a cc id en t o r a s u d den
b ra kin g o r d riv in g m an oeu vre .
●T h e s e at b elt s o n ly o ffe r b est p ro te ctio n w hen t h e b ack re sts a re in a n u p rig ht p osit io n a n d
th e s e at b elt s h ave b een f a ste n ed p ro p erly .
●T h e s e at b elt it s e lf o r a l o ose s e at b elt c a n c a u se s e rio us in ju rie s if t h e s e at b elt s h if t s f ro m
h ard er b od y p art s in t h e d ir e ctio n o f s o ft e r b od y p art s (e .g . s to m ach ).
●Th e s h ould er p art o f t h e s e at b elt m ust l ie o n t h e c e n tre o f t h e s h ould er a n d n eve r u n der t h e
arm o r a cro ss t h e n eck .
●T h e s e at b elt m ust l ie f la t a n d s n ug ly o n t h e c h est.
●T h e l a p p art o f t h e s e at b elt m ust l ie a cro ss t h e p elv is a n d n eve r a cro ss t h e s to m ach . T h e
se at b elt m ust l ie f la t a n d s n ug ly o n t h e p elv is . T ig hte n t h e b elt if n ece ssa ry .
●F o r p re g nan t w om en , t h e l a p p art o f t h e s e at b elt m ust b e a s l o w a s p ossib le o ve r t h e p elv is
a n d l ie f la t a ro un d t h e “ b ulg e” o f t h e b elly .
●D o n ot t w is t t h e b elt w eb bin g w hil e t h e s e at b elt is b ein g w orn .
●N eve r h old t h e s e at b elt a w ay f ro m t h e b od y b y h an d.
●Th e b elt w eb bin g s h ould n ot l ie o ve r h ard o r f ra g il e o b je cts , s u ch a s g la sse s, p en s o r k e ys.
●N eve r u se s e at b elt c lip s, r e ta in in g r in gs o r s im il a r it e m s t o a lt e r t h e s e at b elt r o utin g.
If a p ers o n's p hysic a l b uil d p re ve n ts t h em f ro m r o utin g t h e s e at b elt p ro p erly , c o n ta ct a
q ualif ie d w ork sh op t o f in d o ut a b out a n y s p ecia l m od if ic a tio n s s o t h at t h e s e at b elt s a n d
air b ag s c a n p ro vid e t h e o ptim um l e ve l o f p ro te ctio n . V olk sw ag en r e co m men ds u sin g a
V olk sw ag en d eale rs h ip f o r t h is p urp ose .

Th e s e at b elt s in t h e v e h ic le a re p art o f t h e v e h ic le s a fe ty c o n ce p t (→ Air b ag s y ste m) (→
A dva n ce d a ir b ag s y ste m) a n d in clu d e t h e f o llo w in g im port a n t f u n ctio n s:
B elt r e tra cto r
Eve ry s e at b elt is e q uip ped w it h a n a u to m atic b elt r e tra cto r o n t h e s h ould er p art o f t h e b elt . F u ll
f re ed om o f m ove m en t is e n su re d w hen t h e s h ould er b elt is p ulle d s lo w ly o r w hen t h e v e h ic le is
t ra ve llin g a t n orm al s p eed s. H ow eve r, if t h e b elt is p ulle d o ut q uic k ly o r d urin g s u d den b ra kin g,
d urin g t ra ve l in m oun ta in s o r b en ds a n d d urin g a cce le ra tio n , t h e b elt r e tra cto r b lo ck s t h e s e at
b elt .
F aste n ed s e at b elt s o n t h e f ro n t s e ats m ay b e t e n sio n ed a u to m atic a lly b y t h e p ro activ e o cc u p an t
pro te ctio n s y ste m in c rit ic a l s it u atio n s, f o r e xa m ple d urin g a n e m erg en cy s to p o r in t h e e ve n t o f
ove rs te erin g o r u n ders te erin g. B oth s e at b elt s a re s la cke n ed a g ain if t h e a cc id en t d oes n ot
h ap pen , o r w hen t h e c rit ic a l s it u atio n h as p ass e d . T h e p ro activ e o cc u p an t p ro te ctio n s y ste m is
r e ad y t o b e t rig gere d a g ain (→ Pro activ e o cc u p an t p ro te ctio n s y ste m).
B elt t e n sio ners
T h e s e at b elt s f o r t h e f ro n t s e at v e h ic le o cc u p an ts , a n d in s o m e c a se s t h ose o n t h e o ute r r e ar
se ats , a re e q uip ped w it h b elt t e n sio n ers .
T h e b elt t e n sio n ers a re a ctiv a te d b y s e n so rs d urin g s e ve re f ro n ta l, s id e a n d r e ar c o llis io n s. T h ey
tig hte n t h e s e at b elt s a g ain st t h e d ir e ctio n in w hic h t h ey a re p ulle d . A ny s la ck in t h e s e at b elt is
r e tra cte d , w hic h c a n r e d uce t h e f o rw ard m ove m en t o f t h e v e h ic le o cc u p an ts a n d t h eir
m ove m en t in t h e d ir e ctio n o f t h e im pact. T h e b elt t e n sio n er w ork s t o g eth er w it h t h e a ir b ag
sy ste m . I f t h e v e h ic le r o lls o ve r, t h e b elt t e n sio n ers w il l n ot b e a ctiv a te d if t h e s id e a ir b ag s a re
n ot t rig gere d .
A f in e d ust m ay b e p ro d uce d w hen t h e a ir b ag s a re t rig gere d . T h is is q uit e n orm al a n d d oes n ot
m ean t h at t h ere is a f ir e in t h e v e h ic le .
R eve rs ib le b elt t e n sio nin g (p ro activ e o cc up an t p ro te ctio n s y ste m )
Reve rs ib le b elt t e n sio n in g m ay t rig ger in c e rt a in d riv in g s it u atio n s (→ Pro activ e o cc u p an t
pro te ctio n s y ste m). E xa m ple s in clu d e:
—Stro n g b ra kin g.
—O ve rs te er o r u n ders te er.
—M in or c o llis io n s.
B elt t e n sio n l im it e r
Th e b elt t e n sio n l im it e r r e d uce s t h e p re ss u re e xe rt e d b y t h e s e at b elt o n t h e b od y d urin g a n
acc id en t.
B elt r e tra cto r, b elt t e ns io ne r, b elt t e ns io n lim it e r