2023 Renault Zoe Seats and Seat Belt Guide

The 2023 Renault Zoe emerges as a beacon of modernity in the dynamic arena of automotive innovation, flawlessly merging sustainability, technology, and driver-centric design. The seats and seat belts are an often-overlooked yet critical component at the heart of this shift. We urge you to discover the enhanced seating and seat belt features of the 2023 Renault Zoe, where the boundaries of comfort and safety have been reinvented, in this introduction.

As we progress through the sections below, you will see how the Zoe’s seats are designed for maximum comfort, versatility, and flair, while its sophisticated seat belts prioritize safety, providing you and your passengers peace of mind on the road. It’s time to strap in and explore the 2023 Renault Zoe’s seat and seat belt advancements, where every drive is a harmonious blend of luxury and safety.

FRONTS SEAT

To move the seat forwards or back
Lift handle 1 to unlock. Release the handle once the seat is in the correct position and ensure that the seat is fully locked into position.

To adjust the lumbar support on the driver’s seat
(depending on vehicle)
Lower handle 2 to increase the support and lift it to decrease it.

For safety reasons, carry out any adjustments when the vehicle is not being driven.
We would advise you not to recline the seatbacks too far to ensure that the effectiveness of the seat belts is not reduced.

No object should be placed on the floor (in front of the driver). Nothing should be placed around the driver’s feet as such objects may slide under the pedals during sudden braking manoeuvres and obstruct their use.

To tilt the seatback
Turn control knob 3 to the required position.

Heated seats
Turn control 4 to either position 1, 2 or 3 (depending on the temperature required). The ñ indicator light on the instrument panel comes on once the front seat heating system is operating. The system, which has a thermostat, regulates the heating level.
To switch off the heated seat function, turn control 4 to the OFF position.

SEAT BELTS

Always wear your seat belt when travelling in your vehicle. You must also comply with the legislation of the particular country you are in. Before starting, first adjust your driving position, then ask all occupants to adjust their seat belts to ensure optimum protection.

Incorrectly adjusted or twisted seat belts may cause injuries in the event of an accident.
Use one seat belt per person, whether child or adult.
Even pregnant women should wear a seat belt. In this case, ensure that the lap belt is not exerting too much pressure on the abdomen, but do not allow any slack.

Before starting, first adjust your driving position, then ask all occupants to adjust their seat belts to ensure optimum protection.

Adjusting your driving position

• Sit well back in your seat (having removed your coat or jacket etc.). This is essential to ensure your back is positioned correctly; Your seat should be as far back as possible while still – Adjust the distance between the seat and the pedals. Your seat should be as far back as possible while still allowing you to fully de-press the pedals. The seatback should be adjusted so that your arms are slightly bent when you hold the steering wheel;
  Adjust the position of the steering wheel.

Adjusting the seat belts
Sit with your back firmly against the seatback. Shoulder strap 1 should be as close as possible to the base of the neck but not on it.

• Lap belt 2 should be worn flat over the thighs and against the pelvis.
• The belt should be worn so that it is as close as possible to your body, i.e.: avoid wearing heavy clothing or keeping bulky objects under the belts, etc.
• 
• Locking
• Unwind the belt slowly and smoothly and ensure that buckle 3 locks into catch 5 (check that it is locked by pulling on buckle 3). If the belt jams, allow it to return slightly before attempting to unwind it again. If your seat belt is completely jammed, pull slowly, but firmly, so that just over 3 cm unwinds. Allow it to return slightly before attempting to unwind it again. If there is still a problem, contact an approved dealer.

• 
• Front seat belt reminder
  warning light on display 6 It lights up when the engine is started and, if the driver’s seat belt is not fastened, the light flashes and a beep sounds for about two minutes when the vehicle reaches a speed of approximately 12 mph (20 km/h).
•  
• NB: an object placed on the passenger seat cushion may activate the warning
  light in some casestral display when the engine is started. Depending on the vehicle, it may be accompanied by the 6 graphic indicating the fastening status of each of the rear seat belts upon each:

Unfastening
Press button 4 and the seat belt will be rewound by the inertia reel. Guide the belt into position.

Rear side seat belts 8
The belts are locked, unlocked and adjusted in the same way as the front belts. Check that the rear seat belts are positioned and operating correctly each time the rear bench seat is moved.

Rear centre seat belt
Unwind belt 9 slowly from its housing, then fasten buckle 10 into the corresponding black catch 12.

Fasten sliding buckle 11 into the corresponding red catch 13.

Check that the rear seat belts are positioned and operating correctly each time the rear bench seat is moved.

The following information applies to the vehicle’s front and rear seat belts.

• No modification may be made to the component parts of the originally fitted restraint system: seat belts, seats and their mountings. For special operations (e.g. fitting child seats), contact an authorised dealer.
  Do not use devices which allow any slack in the belts (e.g. clothes pegs, clips, etc.): a seat belt which is worn too loosely may cause injury in the event of an accident.
• Never wear the shoulder strap under your arm or behind your back.
  Never use the same belt for more than one person and never hold a baby or child on your lap with your seat belt around them.
  The belt should never be twisted.
  Following an accident, have the seat belts checked and replaced if necessary. Always replace your seat belts as soon as they show any signs of wear.
  When the rear bench seat is being put back, make sure that the seat belts and buckles are correctly positioned so that they can be used properly.
  Make sure that the buckle is inserted into the appropriate catch.
  Ensure that no objects are placed in the area around the seat belt catch as they could prevent it from being properly secured.
  Make sure the seat belt catch is properly positioned (it should not be hidden away, crushed or flattened by people or objects).

METHODS OF RESTRAINT IN ADDITION TO THE FRONT SEAT BELTS

These are made up of:

• Seat belt inertia reel pretensioners;
  Chest-level load limiters;
  Airbags anti-submarining;
  Airbags – Driver and passenger front

These systems are designed to act in-dependently or together when the vehicle is subjected to a frontal impact.
Depending on the severity of the impact, the system can trigger:

• Seat belt locking;
  The seat belt inertia reel pretensioner (which engages to correct seat belt slack);
  The front airbag.

Pretensioners
The pretensioners hold the seat belt against the body, holding the occupant more securely against the seat, thus increasing the seat belt’s efficiency. In the event of a severe frontal impact and if the ignition is switched on, the system may engage the following de- pending on the force of the impact:

• The seat belt inertia reel pretensioner 1 which instantly retracts the seat belt; The lap seat belt inertia reel pretensioner 2 on the front seats.
• Have the entire restraint system checked following an accident. No operation whatso-ever is permitted on any part of the system (pretensioners, airbags, computers, wiring) and the system components must not be reused on any other vehicle, even if identical.
  • Only qualified personnel from our Network may work on the airbags; otherwise the system may trigger accidentally and cause injury.
  • The electric trigger system may only be tested by a specially trained technician using special equipment.
  • When the vehicle is scrapped, contact an approved dealer for disposal of the pretensioner and airbags gas generators.

Load limiter
Above a certain severity of impact, this mechanism is used to limit the force of the belt against the body so that it is at an acceptable level

Driver and passenger front Airbags
Fitted to the driver and passenger sides. A symbol on the lower section of the windscreen indicates if this equipment is present (depending on the vehicle). Each airbag system consists of:

• An airbag and gas generator fitted on the steering wheel for the driver and in the dashboard for the passenger; an electronic unit for system monitoring which controls the gas generator electrical trigger system;
• Remote sensors; A single warning light  on the instrument panel.

• 

Pretensioners
The pretensioners hold the seat belt against the body, holding the occupant more securely against the seat, thus in-creasing the seat belt’s efficiency.
With the ignition on, following a significant frontal impact and depending on the severity of the impact, the system may trigger the seat belt inertia reel pretensioner 1, which instantly retracts the seat belt.

• Have the entire restraint system checked following an accident.
• No operation whatso-ever is permitted on any part of the system (pretensioners, airbags, computers, wiring) and the system components must not be reused on any other vehicle, even if identical.
• Only qualified personnel from our Network may work on the airbags; otherwise the system may trigger accidentally and cause injury.
  The electric trigger system may only be tested by a specially trained technician using special equipment.
  When the vehicle is scrapped, contact an approved dealer for disposal of the pretensioner and airbags gas generators.

Load limiter
Above a certain severity of impact, this mechanism is used to limit the force of the belt against the body so that it is at an acceptable level.

Airbaganti-submarining
Located on each of the front seats, it deploys in order to prevent the occupant from sliding under the seat belt.

Driver and passenger front airbags
Fitted to the driver and passenger side.
The presence of this equipment is indicated by the word “Airbag” on the steering wheel, dashboard (in area airbag A) and, depending on the vehicle, a label on the lower section of the windscreen.
Each airbag system consists of:

• An airbag and gas generator fitted on the steering wheel for the driver and in the dashboard for the passenger;
  An electronic unit for system monitoring which controls the gas generator electrical trigger system;
  Remote sensors;
  A single warning light on the instrument panel.
• 
• 

Operation
This system is only operational when the ignition is switched on.
In a severe frontal impact, the airbags inflate rapidly, cushioning the impact of the driver’s head and chest against the steering wheel and of the front passenger against the dashboard. The air-bags then deflate immediately so that the passengers are not in any way hindered from leaving the vehicle.

Operating faults
This warning light   will light up on the instrument panel when the ignition is switched on and then go out after a few seconds.
If it does not light up when the ignition is switched on, or comes on when the engine is running, there is a fault in the system.
Contact your approved Dealer as soon as possible. Your protection will be reduced until this fault is rectified.

All of the warnings below are given so that the airbag is not obstructed in any way when it is inflated and also to prevent the risk of serious injuries caused by items which may be dislodged when it inflates.

Warnings concerning the driver’s airbag

• Do not modify the steering wheel or the steering wheel boss.
• Do not cover the steering wheel boss under any circumstances.
• Do not attach any objects (badge, logo, clock, telephone holder, etc.) to the steering wheel boss.
• The steering wheel must not be removed (except by qualified personnel from our Network).
• When driving, do not sit too close to the steering wheel. Sit with your arms slightly bent (see the information on “Adjusting your driving position” in Section 1). This will allow sufficient space for the air bag to deploy correctly and be fully effective.

Warnings concerning the passenger airbag

• Do not attach or glue any objects (badge, logo, clock, telephone holder, etc.) to the dashboard on or near the airbag.
  Do not place anything between the dashboard and the passenger (pet, umbrella, walking stick, parcels, etc.).
  The passenger must not put his or her feet on the dashboard or seat as there is a risk that serious injuries may occur. In general, parts of the body should be kept away from the dashboard (knees, hands, head, etc.).
  The devices in addition to the front passenger seat belt should be reactivated as soon as a child seat is removed, to ensure the protection of the passenger in the event of an impact.

A REAR-FACING CHILD SEAT MUST NOT BE FITTED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNLESS THE ADDITIONAL RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, I.E. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, ARE DEACTIVATED.
(refer to the information on “Child safety: deactivating/activating the front passenger airbag” in Section 1)

Warnings concerning the anti-submarining airbag
Do not let a child under the age of 12 sit in this seat. When triggered, the anti-submarining airbag may project objects left on the seat base with a great deal of force.
Risk of serious injury.

METHODS OF RESTRAINT IN ADDITION TO THE REAR SIDE S Force limiter SEAT BELT

Above a certain severity of impact, this mechanism is used to limit the force of the belt against the body so that it is at an acceptable level.

• Have the entire restraint system checked following an accident.
  No operation whatsoever is permitted on any part of the system (air bags, electronic control units, wiring) and the system components must not be reused on any other vehicle, even if identical.
• Only qualified personnel from our Network may work on the air bags; otherwise the system may trigger accidentally and cause injury.

SIDE PROTECTION DEVICE

Side air bags
These air bags are fitted to the front seats and are activated at the sides of the seats (door side) to protect the occupants in the event of a severe side impact.

Depending on the vehicle, a marking on the windscreen informs you of the presence of additional means of restraint (airbags, pretensioners, etc.) in the passenger compartment.

Warnings concerning the side air bag

• Fitting seat covers: seats equipped with an air bag require covers specifically designed for your vehicle. Contact an approved Dealer to find out if these covers are available. The use of any covers other than those designed for your vehicle (and including those designed for another vehicle) may affect the operation of the air bags and reduce your protection.
• Do not place any accessories, objects or even pets between the seatback, the door and the internal fittings. Do not cover the seatback with any items such as clothes or accessories. This may prevent the air bag from operating correctly or cause injury when the air bag is deployed.
  No work or modification whatsoever may be carried out on the seat or internal fittings, except by qualified personnel from an approved dealer.
• The area between the rear bench seatback and the trim is the area of air bag operation: no objects must be placed here.

ADDITIONAL METHODS OF RESTRAIN

All of the warnings below are given so that the air bag is not obstructed in any way when it is inflated and also to prevent the risk of serious injuries caused by items which may be dislodged when the air bag inflates.

The air bag is designed to complement the action of the seat belt. Both the air bags and seat belts are integral parts of the same protection system. It is therefore essential to wear seat belts at all times. If seat belts are not worn, the occupants are exposed to the risk of serious injury in the event of an accident. It may also increase the risk of minor superficial injuries occurring when the air bag is deployed, although such minor injuries are always possible with air bags.

If the vehicle should overturn or suffer a rear impact, however severe, the pretensioners and air bags are not always triggered. Shocks to the underbody of the vehicle, e.g. from pavements, potholes or stones, can all trigger these systems.

• No work or modification whatsoever may be carried out on any part of the air bag system (air bags, pretensioners, computer, wiring harness, etc.), except by qualified personnel from an approved dealer.
  To ensure that the system is in good working order and to avoid accidental triggering of the system which may cause injury, only qualified Network personnel may work on the air bag system.
  As a safety precaution, have the air bag system checked if your vehicle has been involved in an accident, or is stolen or broken into.
  When selling or lending the vehicle, inform the user of these points and hand over this driver’s handbook with the vehicle.
  When scrapping your vehicle, contact your approved dealer for disposal of the gas generator(s).

CHILD SAFETY: General information

Carrying children
Please ensure that you comply with the legislation of your country.
Children, and adults, must be correctly seated and strapped in for all journeys. The children being carried in your vehicle are your responsibility.
A child is not a miniature adult. Children are at risk of specific injuries as their muscles and bones have not yet finished growing. The seat belt alone would not provide suitable protection. Use an approved child seat and ensure you use it correctly.

To prevent the doors being opened, use the “Child safety” device (refer to the information on “Opening and closing the doors” in Section 1).

A collision at 30 mph (50 km/h) is the same as falling a distance of 10 metres. Transporting a child without a restraint is the equivalent of allowing him or her to play on a fourth-floor balcony without railings. Never travel with a child held in your arms. In the event of an accident, you will not be able to keep hold of the child, even if you yourself are wearing a seat belt.
If your vehicle has been involved in a road accident, replace the child seat and have the seat belts and ISOFIX anchorage points checked.

Driver’s responsibility when parking or stopping the vehicle
Never leave an animal, child or adult who is not self-sufficient alone on your vehicle, even for a short time.
They may pose a risk to themselves or to others by starting the engine, activating equipment such as the electric windows or by locking the doors.
Also, in hot and/or sunny weather, please remember that the temperature inside the passenger compartment increases very quickly.

Using a child seat
The level of protection offered by the child seat depends on its ability to re-strain your child and on its installation. Incorrect installation compromises the protection it offers the child in the event of harsh braking or an impact.
Before purchasing a child seat, check that it complies with the regulations for the country you are in and that it can be fitted in your vehicle. Consult an ap-proved dealer to find out which seats are recommended for your vehicle.
Before fitting a child seat, read the manual and respect its instructions. If you experience any difficulties during installation, contact the manufacturer of the equipment. Keep the instructions with the seat.

Set a good example by always fastening your seat belt and teaching your child:

To strap themselves in correctly;
To always get in and out of the car at the kerb, away from busy traffic.

Do not use a second-hand child seat or one without an instruction manual.
Check that there are no objects in the vicinity of the child seat which could impede its operation.

Never leave a child unattended in the vehicle.
Check that your child is always strapped in and that the belt or safety harness used is correctly set and adjusted. Avoid wearing bulky clothing which could cause the belts to slacken.
Never let your child put their head or arms out of the window.
Check that the child is in the correct position for the entire journey, especially if asleep.

CHILD SAFETY Y: Choosing a Child Seat

Rear-facing child seats
A baby’s head is, proportionally, heavier than that of an adult and its neck is very fragile. Transport the child in this position for as long as possible (until the age of 2 at the very least). It supports both the head and the neck. Choose a bucket type seat for best side protection and change it as soon as the child’s head is higher than the shell.

Forward-facing child seats
The child’s head and abdomen need to be protected as a priority. A forward-facing child seat which is firmly attached to the vehicle will reduce the risk of impact to the head. Ensure your child travels in a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as their size permits.
Choose a bucket type seat for optimum side protection.
Booster Cushions
From 15 kg or 4 years, the child can travel using a booster seat, which will enable the seat belt to be adapted to suit his/her size and shape. The booster seat cushion must be fitted with guides to position the seat belt on the child’s thighs rather than the stomach. It is recommended that you use a seat-back fitted with a belt strap guide which can be adjusted in terms of height to position the seat belt in the centre of the shoulder. It must never rest on the neck or on the arm.
Choose a bucket type seat for optimum side protection.

There are two ways of attaching child seats: via the seat belt or using the ISOFIX system.

Attachment via the Seat Belt
The seat belt must be adjusted to ensure that it is effective in the event of harsh braking or an impact.
Ensure that the strap paths indicated by the child seat manufacturer are respected.
Always check that the seat belt is correctly fastened by pulling it up, then pulling it out fully whilst pressing on the child seat.
Check that the seat is correctly held by moving it from side to side and back to front: the seat should remain firmly fixed.
Check that the child seat has not been installed at an angle and that it is not resting against a window.

No modifications may be made to the component parts of the restraint system (ISOFIX seat belts, seats and their mountings) originally fitted.

Do not use the child seat if it may unfasten the seat belt restraining it: the base of the seat must not rest on the buckle and/or catch of the seat belt.

The seat belt must never be twisted or the tension relieved. Never pass the shoulder strap under the arm or behind the back.
Check that the seat belt has not been damaged by sharp edges.
If the seat belt does not operate normally, it will not protect the child. Consult an approved dealer. Do not use this seat until the seat belt has been repaired.

Attachment using the ISOFIX System
Authorised ISOFIX child seats are approved in accordance with regulation ECE-R44 in one of the three following scenarios:

• ISOFIX universal 3-point forward-facing seat
  ISOFIX semi-universal 2-point seat
  specific strap which attaches to the third ring of the seat concerned; or a strut that rests on the vehicle floor, compatible with the approved seat i-Size, the role of which is to prevent the child seat from moving in the event of a collision.

For the latter two, check that your child seat can be installed by consulting the list of compatible vehicles.
Attach the child seat with the ISOFIX locks, if these are provided. The ISOFIX system allows quick, easy, safe fitting. The ISOFIX system consists of 2 rings and, in some cases, a third ring.

Before using an ISOFIX child seat that you purchased for another vehicle, check that its installation is authorised. Consult the list of vehicles which can be fitted with the seat from the equipment manufacturer.The two rings are located behind the zip fasteners 1 between the seat back and seat base and are identified by a marking.

The third ring is used to attach the upper strap on some child seats: you must attach hook 2 on ring 3 for a rear seat and ring 4 for a front seat, then tighten the strap.

The ISOFIX anchorage points have been exclusively designed for child seats with the ISOFIX system. Never fit a different type of child seat, seat belt or other objects to these anchorage points.

Check that nothing is obstructing the anchorage points.
If your vehicle has been involved in a road accident, have the ISOFIX anchorage points checked and replace your child seat.

Some seats are not suitable for fitting child seats. The diagram on the following page shows you how to attach a child seat.
The types of child seats indicated may not be available. Before using a different child seat, check with the manufacturer that it can be fitted.

Fit the child seat in a rear seat wherever possible.
Check that when installing the child seat in the vehicle it is not at risk of coming loose from its base.
If you have to remove the headrest, check that it is correctly stored so that it does not come loose under harsh braking or impact.
Always attach the child seat to the vehicle even if it is not in use so that it does not come loose under harsh braking or impact.

In the Front Seat
The laws concerning children travel-ling in the front passenger seat differ in every country. Consult the legislation in force and follow the indications on the diagram on the following page.
Before fitting a child seat in this seat (if authorised):

• lower the seat belt as far as possible;
  Move the seat as far back as possible;
  Gently tilt the seatback away from vertical (approximately 25°);
  On equipped vehicles, raise the seat base as far as possible.

After installing the child seat, when this is possible, you can move the vehicle seat forward if necessary (so as to leave enough space in the rear seats for passengers or other child seats). For a rear-facing child seat, do not let it touch the dashboard or move it to the furthest forward position.
Do not change these settings after the child seat is installed.

RISK OF DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY: before fitting a rear-facing child seat in this position, check that the airbag has been deactivated (refer to the information on “Child safety: deactivating/activating the front passenger airbag” in Section 1).

CHILD SAFETY Y: Fitting a Child Seat

In the rear side seat
A carrycot can be installed across the vehicle and will take up at least two seats. Position the child with his or her feet nearest the door.
Move the front seat as far forward as possible to install a rear-facing child seat, then move back the seat in front as far as it will go, although without al-lowing it to come into contact with the child seat.
For the safety of the child in the for-ward-facing seat, do not move the seat in front back past the middle of the runner, do not tilt the seatback too far (maximum of 25°) and raise the seat as much as possible.
Always remove the headrest from the rear seat used for the child seat (see “Rear headrests” in Section 3). If necessary, position the rear seat as far back as possible. This must be done before fitting the child seat. Check that the child seat is resting against the back of the rear seat.

Rear Centre Seat
Check that the belt is suitable for se-curing your child seat. Consult an approved dealer.

Make sure that the child seat or the child’s feet do not prevent the front seat from locking correctly. Refer to the information on the “Front seat” in Section 1.

A child seat with a floor sup-port must never be installed on the rear centre seat.

When fitting a child seat (Group 2 or 3 booster seat), check that the seat belts operate (wind) correctly: refer to Section 1 “Rear seat belts”. If necessary, adjust the position of the vehicle seat.

FAQs

Useful Link

View Full PDF: Renault Zoe 2023 User Manual| Auto User Guide