FIAT FREEMONT 2013 Owner handbook (in English)

approximately 5 mm above the fender surface.
(fig. 126)
The front bumper assembly may affect proper opera-
tion of the Active Hood system. The front bumper
components should be inspected for damage and re-
placed if necessary in the event of a frontal impact, even
if it occurs at a low rate of speed.
NOTE:After any Active Hood deployment, the ve-
hicle should be taken to an authorized dealer immedi-
ately.
To prevent possible damage, do not slam
the rear of the hood to reset it . Press the
rear of the hood down until it is approxi-
mately 5 mm above the fender.This should secure
both hood hinge reset mechanisms.
WARNING!
 Ign
oring the Air Bag Warning Light in
your instrument panel or the “SERVICE
ACTIVE HOOD” message in the EVIC could mean
you won’t have the Active Hood to enhance pe-
destrian protection. If the light does not come on
as a bulb check when the ignition is first turned
on, stays on after you start the vehicle, or if it
comes on as you drive, see your authorized
dealer.
 Modifications to any part of the Active Hood
system could cause it to fail when you need it . Do
not modify the components or wiring. Do not
modify the front bumper, vehicle body structure,
or add an aftermarket front bumper or cover.
 It is dangerous to try to repair any part of the
Active Hood system yourself. Be sure to tell any-
one who works on your vehicle that it has an
Active Hood system.
(Continued)
(fig. 126)Temporary Hood Reset Position
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(Continued)
 Do not attempt to modify any part of your
Active Hood system.The Active Hood may deploy
accidentally or may not function properly if
modifications are made. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer for any hood service.
 Drivers must be aware of pedestrians. Always
be sure to check for pedestrians, animals, other
vehicles, and obstructions.You are responsible for
safety and must continue to pay attention to
your surroundings. Failure to do so can result in
serious injury or death.
ENHANCED SEAT BELT USE REMINDER
SYSTEM (BELTALERT
®)
BeltAlert
®is a feature intended to remind the driver
and front passenger (if equipped with front passenger
BeltAlert®) to fasten their seatbelts. The feature is
active whenever the ignition is on. If the driver or front
seat passenger is unbelted, the Seat Belt Reminder
Light will turn on and remain on until both front
seatbelts are fastened.
The BeltAlert
®
warning sequence begins after the
vehicle speed is over 8 km/h, by blinking the Seat Belt
Reminder Light and sounding an intermittent chime.
Once the sequence starts, it will continue for the
entire duration or until the respective seatbelts are
fastened. After the sequence completes, the Seatbelt Reminder Light remains illuminated until the respective
seatbelts are fastened. The driver should instruct all
other occupants to fasten their seatbelts. If a front
seatbelt is unbuckled while traveling at speeds greater
than 8 km/h, BeltAlert
®will provide both audio and
visual notification.
The front passenger seat BeltAlert
®is not active when
the front passenger seat is unoccupied. BeltAlert
®may
be triggered when an animal or heavy object is on the
front passenger seat or when the seat is folded flat (if
equipped). It is recommended that pets be restrained
in the rear seat in pet harnesses or pet carriers that are
secured by seat belts, and cargo is properly stowed.
BeltAlert
®can be enabled or disabled by your autho-
rized dealer. FIAT Group Automobiles S.p.A. does not
recommend deactivating BeltAlert
®.
NOTE: Although BeltAlert
®has been deactivated,
the Seat Belt Reminder Light will continue to illuminate
while the driver’s or front passenger (if equipped with
BeltAlert
®) seat belt remains unfastened.
SEAT BELTS AND PREGNANT WOMEN
We recommend that pregnant women use the seat
belts throughout their pregnancy. Keeping the mother
safe is the best way to keep the baby safe.
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Pregnant women should wear the lap part of the belt
across the thighs and as snug across the hips as pos-
sible. Keep the belt low so that it does not come across
the abdomen. That way the strong bones of the hips
will take the force if there is a collision.
CHILD RESTRAINTS
Everyone in your vehicle needs to be buckled up all the
time, including babies and children.
Children 12 years or younger should ride properly
buckled up in a rear seat, if available. According to crash
statistics, children are safer when properly restrained
in the rear seats rather than in the front.(fig. 127)
WARNING!
 “E
xtreme Hazard! Do not use a
rearward-facing child restraint on a seat
protected by an air bag in front of it!” Refer to
visor and door shut face mounted labels for infor-
mation.
 In a collision, an unrestrained child, even a tiny
baby, can become a projectile inside the vehicle.
The force required to hold even an infant on your
lap could become so great that you could not
hold the child, no matter how strong you are.The
child and others could be badly injured. Any child
riding in your vehicle should be in a proper re-
straint for the child's size.
(fig. 127)
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Mass GroupSeating Position (or other site)
Front
Passenger Rear Outboard Rear Center Intermediate
Outboard Intermediate
Center
Group — up to 10 kg X*U N/A**UU
Group 0+ — up to 13 kg X*U N/A**UU
Group 1 – 9 to 18 kg X*U N/A**UU
Group II – 15 to 25 kg X*U N/A**UU
Group III — 22 to 36 kg X*U N/A**UU
Key of letters used in the table above:
U = Suitable for “universal” category restraints ap-
proved for use in this mass group.
UF = Suitable for forward-facing “universal” category
restraints approved for use in this mass group.
L = Suitable for particular child restraints given on
attached list. These restraints may be of the “specific
vehicle,” “restricted” or “semi-universal” categories.
B = Built-in restraint approved for this mass group.
X = Seat position not suitable for children in this mass
group. * = If a child seat is to be used in the third row, the
second row seat back directly in front of the child seat
must be folded flat if the seat back can not be locked in
a upright position.
** = If a child seat is to be used in the second row, the
first row seat directly in front of the child seat may
need to be limited in its rearward travel to avoid any
contact with the child seat.
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Vehicle ISOFIX Positions Chart
Mass Group Size
Class Fixture Front
Passen- ger Rear
Out-
board Rear
Center
Intermediate Outboard
Right / Left Inter-
mediate Center
Other Sites
Carrycot F ISO/L1 X X X **IUF / X **IUF X
G ISO/L2 X X X X / **IUF X X (1) X X X X X X
0 — up to 10 kg E ISO/R1 X X X *IUF / *IUF *IUF X
(1) X X X X X X
0+ — up to 13 kg E ISO/R1 X X X *IUF / *IUF *IUF X
D ISO/R2 X X X *IUF / *IUF *IUF X C ISO/R3 X X X *IUF / *IUF *IUF X (1) X X X XX X
I – 9 to 18 kg D ISO/R2 X X X *IUF / *IUF *IUF X
C ISO/R3 X X X *IUF / *IUF *IUF X B ISO/F2 X X X IUF / IUF IUF X
B1 ISO/F2X X X X IUF / IUF IUF X A ISO/F3 X X X IUF / IUF IUF X (1) X X X XX X
II – 15 to 25 kg (1) X X X XX X
III – 22 to 36 kg (1) X X X XX X
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Key of letters used in the table above:
(1) = For the CRS which do not carry the ISO/XX size
class identification (A to G), for the applicable mass
group, the car manufacturer shall indicate the vehicle
specific ISOFIX child restraint system(s) recommended
for each position.
IUF = Suitable for ISOFIX forward child restraints
systems of universal category approved for use in the
mass group.
IL = Suitable for particular ISOFIX child restraint sys-
tems (CRS) given in the attached list. These ISOFIX
CRS are those of the “specific vehicle”, “restricted” or
“semi-universal” catagories.
X = ISOFIX position not suitable for ISOFIX child
restraint systems in this mass group and / or this size
class.
* = Seats in front of child restraint seats may need to be
adjusted forward to install the child restraint seat.
** = No access to 3rd row seating positions if Carrycot
is installed in vehicle.
There are different sizes and types of restraints for
children from newborn size to the child almost large
enough for an adult safety belt. Always check the child
seat Owner's Manual to ensure you have the correctseat for your child. Use the restraint that is correct for
your child.
Infants And Child Restraints
Safety experts recommend that children ride
rearward-facing in the vehicle until they are two years
old or until they reach either the height or weight limit
of their rear facing child safety seat. Two types of child
restraints can be used rearward-facing: infant carriers
and convertible child seats.
The infant carrier is only used rearward-facing in the
vehicle. It is recommended for children from birth until
they reach the weight or height limit of the infant
carrier. Convertible child seats can be used either
rearward-facing or forward-facing in the vehicle. Con-
vertible child seats often have a higher weight limit in
the rearward-facing direction than infant carriers do, so
they can be used rearward-facing by children who have
outgrown their infant carrier but are still less than at
least two years old. Children should remain rearward-
facing until they reach the highest weight or height
allowed by their convertible child seat. Both types of
child restraints are held in the vehicle by the lap/
shoulder belt or the ISOFIX child restraint anchor
system. Refer to “ISOFIX — Child Seat Anchorage
System”.
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WARNING!
Rearward-facing child seats must never
be
used in the front seat of a vehicle with
the front passenger air bag. An air bag deploy-
ment could cause severe injury or death to in-
fants in this position.
Older Children And Child Restraints
Children who are two years old or who have outgrown
their rear-facing convertible child seat can ride
forward-facing in the vehicle. Forward-facing child
seats and convertible child seats used in the forward-
facing direction are for children who are over two years
old or who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or
height limit of their rear-facing convertible child seat.
Children should remain in a forward-facing child seat
with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest
weight or height allowed by the child seat. These child
seats are also held in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder
belt or the ISOFIX child restraint anchorage system.
Refer to “ISOFIX — Child Seat Anchorage System”. All children whose weight or height is above the
forward-facing limit for the child seat should use a
belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s seat
belts fit properly. If the child cannot sit with knees bent
over the vehicle's seat cushion while the child's back is
against the seatback, they should use a belt-positioning
booster seat. The child and belt-positioning booster
seat are held in the vehicle by the lap/shoulder belt.
Integrated Child Booster Seat (for
versions/markets, where provided)
The Integrated Child Booster Seat is located in each
outboard second-row passenger seat.
NOTE:
Refer to the Integrated Child Booster Seat
information label located on the front lower panel of
the opened Booster Seat for child weight specifica-
tions.
To position a child into the Integrated Child Booster
Seat follow these steps:
1. Slide the second row seat to the full rear position to use the Integrated Child Booster Seat.
NOTE: The second row bench with Integrated Child
Booster Seat must remain in the full rear position
during use.
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2. Pull the release loop forward to release the latchand seat cushion. (fig. 128)
3. Lift the seat cushion up and push back to lock it in the booster seat position. (fig. 129)
4. Place the child upright in the seat with their back firmly against the seatback.
5. Grasp the latch plate and pull out the seat belt.
6. Slide the latch plate up the webbing as far as neces- sary to allow the seat belt to go around the child's
lap.
NOTE: The lap portion of the seat belt should be low
on the hips and as snug as possible. 7. Once the seat belt is long enough to fit properly,
insert the latch plate into the buckle until you hear
a “click.” (fig. 130)
8. To remove the slack from the lap belt, pull upward on the shoulder portion of the seat belt.
9. To release the seat belt, push the red button on the buckle.(fig. 128) Release Loop
(fig. 129) Booster Seat
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WARNING!
Be certain that the seat cushion is
lock
ed securely into position before us-
ing the seat . Otherwise, the seat will not provide
the proper stability for child seats and/or passen-
gers. An improperly latched seat cushion could
cause serious injury.
Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder
belt comfortably and whose legs are long enough to
bend over the front of the seat when their back is
against the seatback should use the lap/shoulder belt in
a rear seat.  Make sure that the child is upright in the seat.
 The lap portion should be low on the hips and as snug
as possible.
 Check belt fit periodically. A child's squirming or slouching can move the belt out of position.
 If the shoulder belt contacts the face or neck, move the child closer to the center of the vehicle. Never
allow a child to put the shoulder belt under an arm or
behind their back.
WARNING!
 Impro
per installation can lead to fail-
ure of an infant or child restraint . It
could come loose in a collision.The child could be
badly injured or killed. Follow the manufacturer's
directions exactly when installing an infant or
child restraint .
 A rearward-facing child restraint should only
be used in a rear seat . A rearward-facing child
restraint in the front seat may be struck by a
deploying passenger air bag, which may cause
severe or fatal injury to the infant .
Here are some tips on getting the most out of
your child restraint:
 Before buying any restraint system, make sure that it has a label certifying that it meets all applicable Safety
(fig. 130) Seat Belts Latched With Booster Seat(s)
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Standards. FIAT also recommends that you make
sure that you can install the child restraint in the
vehicle where you will use it before you buy it.
 The restraint must be appropriate for your child's weight and height. Check the label on the restraint
for weight and height limits.
 Carefully follow the instructions that come with the restraint. If you install the restraint improperly, it may
not work when you need it.
 Buckle the child into the seat according to the child restraint manufacturer's directions.
WARNING!
When your child restraint is not in use,
s
ecure it in the vehicle with the seat belt
or remove it from the vehicle. Do not leave it
loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or collision,
it could strike the occupants or seatbacks and
cause serious personal injury.
ISOFIX — Child Seat Anchorage System
Your vehicle's second row passenger seats are
equipped with the child restraint anchorage system
called ISOFIX. The ISOFIX system provides for the
installation of the child restraint without using the
vehicle's seat belts, instead securing the child restraint using lower anchorages and upper tether straps from
the child restraint to the vehicle structure.
ISOFIX-compatible child restraint systems are now
available. However, because the lower anchorages are
to be introduced over a period of years, child restraint
systems having attachments for those anchorages will
continue to have features for installation using the
vehicle's seat belts. Child restraints having tether straps
and hooks for connection to the top tether anchorages
have been available for some time. For some older child
restraints, many child restraint manufacturers offer
add-on tether strap kits or retrofit kits. You are urged
to take advantage of all the available attachments pro-
vided with your child restraint in any vehicle.
All three second-row passenger seating positions have
lower anchorages that are capable of accommodating
ISOFIX-compatible child seats. You should never install
ISOFIX-compatible child seats so that two seats share
a common lower anchorage. If installing child seats in
adjacent seating positions, or if your child restraints are
not ISOFIX-compatible, install the restraints using the
vehicle's seat belts. (fig. 131)
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