2003 Mercedes ML-Class Owner's Manual - Page 58

Safety and Security Occupant safety Airbags and ETDs are designed to function on a one-time-only basis. An airbag or emergency tensioning device (ETD) that was activated must be replaced. Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They could tear. Do not make any modification that could change the effectiveness of the belts. Do not hang items such as coat hangers from the coat hooks or handles over the door. These items may turn into projectiles and cause head and other injuries when curtain airbag is deployed. An airbag system component within the steering wheel gets hot after the airbag has inflated. Do not touch. Improper work on the system, including incorrect installation and removal, can lead to possible injury through an unintended activation of the SRS. In addition, through improper work there is a risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or causing unintended airbag deployment. Work on the SRS must therefore only be performed by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. For your protection and the protection of others, when scrapping the airbag unit or emergency tensioning device, our safety instructions must be followed. These instructions are available from your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. Given the considerable deployment speed and the textile structure of the airbags, there is the possibility of abrasions or other injuries resulting from airbag deployment. Warning! G In the event that the SRS malfunction indicator lamp lights up while driving, the SRS may not be operational. For your safety, we strongly recommend that you visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center immediately to have the system checked; otherwise the SRS may not be activated when needed in an accident, which could result in serious or fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which could also result in injury. When you sell your vehicle, we strongly urge you to give notice to the subsequent owner that it is equipped with an SRS by alerting them to the applicable section in the Operator's Manual. 58