VOLVO XC90 2007 Owner's Manual

2007 Volvo XC90
WARNING!
l Never try to open, remove, or repair any components in the OWS system. T\
his could result in
system malfunction. Maintenance or repairs should only be carried out by\
an authorized Volvo
service technician.
l The front passenger's seat should not be modified in any way. This could\
reduce pressure on the
seat cushion, which might interfere with the OWS system's function.
The OWS is designed to disable (will not inflate) the passenger's side\
front airbag when a rear facing
infant seat, a forward-facing child restraint, or a booster seat is dete\
cted. The PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF indicator lamp will illuminate and stay on to remind you that the pa\
ssenger's side front airbag is
disabled (see the following table).
1. Volvo recommends that children always be properly restrained in appro\
priate child restraints in the rear seats.
In rare situations when the seat belt is not properly fastened, some chi\
ld restraints may not be detected by the
OWS because there is very little weight on the vehicle seat cushion. In \
these cases the passenger's side front
airbag may be disabled, but the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp will\
not be lit. Do not assume that
the passenger's side front airbag is disabled unless the PASSENGER AIRBA\
G OFF indicator lamp is lit. Make
sure the child restraint is properly installed (turn the vehicle off, r\
emove the child restraint from the vehicle and
reinstall the restraint following the child restraint manufacturer's ins\
tructions) and that the PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp is on, or move the child restraint to the rear\
seat.
The OWS is designed to enable (may inflate) the passenger's side front\
airbag anytime the system senses
that a person of adult size is sitting properly in the front passenger's\
seat. The PASSENGER AIRBAG
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (14 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
OFF indicator lamp will be off and remain off.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the front passenger's seat, but \
the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp is on, it is possible that the person isn't sitting prope\
rly in the seat. If this happens:
l Turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seat back in an upr\
ight position.
pg. 22 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS)
l Have the person sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, w\
ith the person's legs
comfortably extended.
l Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for abou\
t two minutes. This will allow
the system to detect that person and enable the passenger's frontal airb\
ag.
l If the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp remains on even after this, t\
he person should be
advised to ride in the rear seat.
This condition reflects limitations of the OWS classification capability\
. It does not indicate OWS
malfunction.
Modifications
If you are considering modifying your vehicle in any way to accommodate \
a disability, for example by
altering or adapting the driver's or front passenger's seat(s) and/or \
airbag systems, please contact Volvo
at:
In the USA:
Volvo Cars of North America, LLC
Customer Care Center
P.O. Box 914
Rockleigh, New Jersey 07647-0914
1-800-458-1552
In Canada:
Volvo Cars of Canada Corp.
National Customer Service
175 Gordon Baker Road
North York, Ontario M2H 2N7
1-800-663-8255
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (15 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
WARNING!
l No objects that add to the total weight on the seat should be placed on \
the front passenger's seat. If
a child is seated in the front passenger's seat with any additional weig\
ht, this extra weight could cause
the OWS system to enable the airbag, which might cause it to deploy in t\
he event of a collision,
thereby injuring the child.
l The seat belt should never be wrapped around an object on the front pass\
enger's seat. This could
interfere with the OWS system's function.
l The front passenger's seat belt should never be used in a way that exert\
s more pressure on the
passenger than normal. This could increase the pressure exerted on the w\
eight sensor by a child, and
could result in the airbag being enabled, which might cause it to deploy\
in the event of a collision,
thereby injuring the child.
pg. 23 Safety
Occupant Weight Sensor (OWS)
WARNING!
Keep the following points in mind with respect to the OWS system. Failur\
e to follow these
instructions could adversely affect the system's function and result in \
serious injury to the occupant of
the front passenger's seat:
l The full weight of the front seat passenger should always be on the seat\
cushion. The passenger
should never lift him/herself off the seat cushion using the armrest in \
the door or the center console,
by pressing the feet on the floor, by sitting on the edge of the seat cu\
shion, or by pressing against the
backrest in a way that reduces pressure on the seat cushion. This could \
cause OWS to disable the
front passenger's side airbag.
l Do not place any type of object on the front passenger's seat in such a \
way that jamming, pressing,
or squeezing occurs between the object and the front seat, other than as\
a direct result of the correct
use of the ALR/ELR seat belt (see
page 30).
l No objects should be placed under the front passenger's seat. This could\
interfere with the OWS
system's function.
pg. 24 Safety
Side impact (SIPS) airbag
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (16 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
Side impact airbags - front seats only
As an enhancement to the structural side impact protection built into yo\
ur vehicle, the vehicle is also
equipped with Side Impact Protection System (SIPS) airbags.
The SIPS airbag system is designed to help increase occupant protection \
in the event of certain side
impact collisions. The SIPS airbags are designed to deploy only during c\
ertain side-impact collisions,
depending on the crash severity, angle, speed and point of impact.
NOTE: SIPS airbag deployment (one airbag) occurs only on the side of the ve\
hicle affected by the
impact. The airbags are not designed to deploy in all side impact situat\
ions.
Components in the SIPS airbag system
This SIPS airbag system consists of gas generators and side airbag modul\
es built into the outboard sides
of both front seat backrests.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (17 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
WARNING!
l The SIPS airbag system is a supplement to the structural Side Impact Pro\
tection System and the
three-point seat belt system. It is not designed to deploy during collis\
ions from the front or rear of the
vehicle or in rollover situations.
l The use of seat covers on the front seats may impede SIPS airbag deploym\
ent.
l No objects, accessory equipment or stickers may be placed on, attached t\
o or installed near the
SIPS airbag system or in the area affected by SIPS airbag deployment.
l Never try to open or repair any components of the SIPS airbag system. Th\
is should be done only
by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician.
l In order for the SIPS airbag to provide its best protection, both front \
seat occupants should sit in an
upright position with the seat belt properly fastened.
l Failure to follow these instructions can result in injury to the occupan\
ts of the vehicle in the event
of an accident.
pg. 25 Safety
Volvo Inflatable Curtain (VIC)
This system consists of inflatable curtains located along the sides of t\
he roof liners, stretching from the
front side windows to the rear edge of the rear side windows. It is desi\
gned to help protect the heads of
the occupants of the front seats and the occupants of the outboard rear \
seating positions, including the
outboard passenger in the optional third row of seats in certain side im\
pact collisions.
The inflatable curtains in the Volvo XC90 are also designed to help prot\
ect the occupants of the vehicle
in a roll-over situation, and to help prevent them from being thrown fro\
m the vehicle if a roll-over
occurs.
NOTE: In 5-seat models, the Inflatable Curtains extend to protect both rows o\
f seats. In 7-seat models,
they extend to protect all three rows.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (18 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
By design, the IC system deploys only on the side of the vehicle affecte\
d by the impact.
However, in certain side impacts, or in a rollover situation, BOTH the Inflatable Curtains (IC) and the
Side Impact Airbag System (SIPS-bag) will deploy, whereas, in some cas\
es, ONLY the Inflatable
Curtain (IC) will deploy. In cases where BOTH the IC and the SIPS-bag deploy, deployment will occur
simultaneously.
NOTE: If the Inflatable Curtain deploys, it remains inflated for approximatel\
y 5 seconds.
WARNING!
l The VIC system is a supplement to the Side Impact Protection System. It \
is not designed to deploy
during collisions from the front or rear of the vehicle or in all rollov\
er situations.
l Never try to open or repair any components of the VIC system. This shoul\
d be done only by a
trained and qualified Volvo service technician.
pg. 26 Safety
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (19 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
WARNING!
In order for the VIC to provide its best protection, both front seat occ\
upants and both outboard rear
seat occupants should sit in an upright position with the seat belt prop\
erly fastened; adults using the
seat belt and children using the proper child restraint system. Only adu\
lts should sit in the front seats.
Children must never be allowed in the front passenger seat. See
page 30 for guidelines. Failure to
follow these instructions can result in injury to the vehicle occupants \
in an accident.
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS) - front seats only
The WHIPS system consists of specially designed hinges and brackets on t\
he front seat backrests
designed to help absorb some of the energy generated in a collision from\
the rear (when the vehicle is
"rear-ended").
In the event of a collision of this type, the hinges and brackets of the\
front seat backrests are designed to
change position slightly to allow the backrest/head restraint to help su\
pport the occupant's head before
moving slightly rearward. This movement helps absorb some of the forces \
that could result in whiplash.
WARNING!
l The WHIPS system is designed to supplement the other safety systems in y\
our vehicle. For this
system to function properly, the three-point seat belt must be worn. Ple\
ase be aware that no system
can prevent all possible injuries that may occur in an accident.
l The WHIPS system is designed to function in certain collisions from the \
rear, depending on the
crash severity, angle and speed.
pg. 27 Safety
Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS)
WARNING!
Occupants in the front seats must never sit out of position. The occupan\
t's back must be as upright as
comfort allows and be against the seat back with the seat belt properly \
fastened.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (20 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
pg. 28 Safety
Child safety
WARNING!
l Boxes, suitcases, etc. wedged behind the front seats could impede the fu\
nction of the WHIPS
system.
l If the rear seat backrests are folded down, cargo must be secured to pre\
vent it from sliding forward
against the front seat backrests in the event of a collision from the re\
ar. This could interfere with the
action of the WHIPS system.
l If your vehicle has been involved in a rear-end collision, the front sea\
t backrests must be inspected
by a trained and qualified Volvo service technician, even if the seats a\
ppear to be undamaged. Certain
components in the WHIPS system may need to be replaced.
l Do not attempt to service any component in the WHIPS system yourself.
l Any contact between the front seat backrests and the folded rear seat co\
uld impede the function of
the WHIPS system. If the rear seat is folded down, the occupied front se\
ats must be adjusted forward
so that they do not touch the folded rear seat.
Children should be seated safely
Volvo recommends the proper use of restraint systems for all occupants i\
ncluding children. Remember
that, regardless of age and size, a child should always be properly rest\
rained in a vehicle.
Your vehicle is also equipped with ISOFIX/ LATCH attachments, which make\
it more convenient to
install child seats.
Some restraint systems for children are designed to be secured in the ve\
hicle by lap belts or the lap
portion of a lap-shoulder belt. Such child restraint systems can help pr\
otect children in vehicles in the
event of an accident only if they are used properly. However, children c\
ould be endangered in a crash if
the child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle. Failure to\
follow the installation instructions
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (21 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
for your child restraint can result in your child striking the vehicle's\
interior in a sudden stop.
Holding a child in your arms is NOT a suitable substitute for a child re\
straint system. In an accident, a
child held in a person's arms can be crushed between the vehicle's inter\
ior and an unrestrained person.
The child could also be injured by striking the interior, or by being ej\
ected from the vehicle during a
sudden maneuver or impact. The same can also happen if the infant or chi\
ld rides unrestrained on the
seat. Other occupants should also be properly restrained to help reduce \
the chance of injuring or
increasing the injury of a child.
All states and provinces have legislation governing how and where childr\
en should be carried in a
vehicle. Find out the regulations existing in your state or province. Re\
cent accident statistics have shown
that children are safer in rear seating positions than front seating pos\
itions when properly restrained. A
child restraint system can help protect a child in a vehicle. Here's wha\
t to look for when selecting a child
restraint system:
l It should have a label certifying that it meets applicable Federal Motor\
Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS 213) - or in Canada, CMVSS 213.
l Make sure the child restraint system is approved for the child's height,\
weight and development - the
label required by the standard or regulation, or instructions for infant\
restraints, typically provide this
information.
l In using any child restraint system, we urge you to carefully look over \
the instructions that are
provided with the restraint. Be sure you understand them and can use the\
device properly and safely in
this vehicle. A misused child restraint system
pg. 29 Safety
Child safety
can result in increased injuries for both the infant or child and other \
occupants in the vehicle.
When a child has outgrown the child safety seat, you should use the rear\
seat with the standard seat belt
fastened. The best way to help protect the child here is to place the ch\
ild on a cushion so that the seat
belt is properly located on the hips (see the illustration on
page 40). Legislation in your state or province
may mandate the use of a child seat or cushion in combination with the s\
eat belt, depending on the
child's age and/or size. Please check local regulations.
A specially designed and tested booster cushion (not available in Canad\
a) can be obtained from your
Volvo retailer for children weighing 33 - 80 lb. (15 - 36 kg) and 38-5\
4 inches (97 - 137 cm) in height.
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (22 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM

2007 Volvo XC90
WARNING!
l Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the\
front passenger's seat. We
also recommend that children under 4 feet 7 inches (140 cm) in height \
who have outgrown these
devices sit in the rear seat with the seat belt fastened.
l On hot days, the temperature in the vehicle interior can rise very quick\
ly. Exposure to these high
temperatures for even a short period of time can cause heat-related inju\
ry or death. Small children are
particularly at risk.
pg. 30 Safety
Child safety
Automatic Locking Retractor/ Emergency Locking Retractor
To make child seat installation easier, each seat belt (except for the \
driver's belt) is equipped with a
locking mechanism to help keep the seat belt taut.
When attaching the seat belt to a child seat:
- Attach the seat belt to the child seat according to the child seat man\
ufacturer's instructions.
- Pull the seat belt out as far as possible.
- Insert the seat belt latch plate into the buckle (lock) in the usual\
way.
- Release the seat belt and pull it taut around the child seat.
A sound from the seat belt retractor will be audible at this time and is\
normal.
The belt will now be locked in place.
This function is automatically disabled when the seat belt is unlocked an\
d the belt is fully
retracted.
WARNING!
Do not use child safety seats or child booster cushions/backrests in the\
front passenger's seat. We also
recommend that children who have outgrown these devices sit in the rear \
seat with the seat belt
properly fastened.
Volvo's recommendations
Why does Volvo believe that no child should sit in the front seat of a v\
ehicle? It's quite simple really. A
front airbag is a very powerful device designed, by law, to help protect\
an adult.
Because of the size of the airbag and its speed of inflation, a child sh\
ould never be placed in the front
file:///K|/ownersdocs/2007/2007_XC90/07xc90_01.htm (23 of 39)12/30/200\
6 5:53:33 PM