2000 Lexus ES300 child seat

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
161
CAUTION
The SRS airbag system is designed only as a
supplement to the primary protection of the driver
side and front passenger side seat belt systems. The
front seat occupants can be killed or seriously
injured by an inflating airbag if they do not wear the
available seat belts. During sudden braking just
before a collision, an unrestrained driver or front
passenger can move forward into direct contact with
or close proximity to the airbag which may then
deploy during the collision. To ensure maximum
protection in an accident, the driver and all
passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts.
Wearing a seat belt during an accident reduces the
chances of death or serious injury or being thrown
out of the vehicle. For instructions and precautions
concerning the seat belt system, see ªSeat beltsº on
page 132.
 Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and
children can be killed or seriously injured by a
deploying airbag. An infant or child who is too small
to use a seat belt should be properly secured using
a child restraint system. Lexus strongly
recommends that all infants and children be placed
in the rear seat of the vehicle and properly restrained.
The rear seat is the safest for infants and children.
For instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ªChild restraintº on page 172 .

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
162
16E177
Never put a rear±facing child restraint system
on the front seat because the force of the rapid
inflation of the front passenger airbag can
cause death or serious injury to the child.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
163
16L146

Move seat fully back
A forward±facing child restraint system should
be allowed to be put on the front seat only when
it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far
back as possible, because the force of a
deploying airbag could cause death or serious
injury to the child. Do not allow the child to lean
against the front door or around the front door
even if the child is seated in a child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side airbag
inflates, and the impact could cause death or
serious injury to the child. For instructions
concerning the installation of a child restraint
system, see ªChild restraintº on page 172.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
166
16E029
Do not allow a child to stand up, or to kneel on
the front passenger seat. The airbag inflates
with considerable speed and force; the child
may be killed or seriously injured.
 Do not hold a child on your lap or in your arms.
Use a child restraint system in the rear seat.
For instructions concerning the installation of
a child restraint system, see ªChild restraintº
on page 172.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
172In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as
soon as possible:

Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
 The front part of the vehicle and portion of the doors
(shaded in the illustration) were involved in an
accident that was not severe enough to cause the
SRS airbags to inflate.
 The surface of the seats with the side airbags or the
pad section of the steering wheel or front passenger
airbag cover (shaded in the illustration) is scratched,
cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before
contacting your Lexus dealer.
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of child restraint
systems for children small enough to use them.
The laws of all fifty states in the U.S.A. and Canada now
require the use of a child restraint system.
Your vehicle conforms to SAE J1819.
If a child is too large for a child restraint system, the child
should sit in the rear seat and must be restrained using
the vehicle's seat belt. See ªSeat beltsº on page 132 for
details.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
173
CAUTION
For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, children must be properly restrained
using a seat belt or child restraint depending on age
and size. Holding a child in your arms is not a
substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident,
the child can be crushed against the windshield, or
between you and the vehicle's interior if you are
unrestrained.
 Lexus strongly urges use of a proper child restraint
which conforms to the size of the child and is put on
the rear seat. According to accident statistics, the
child is safer when properly restrained in the rear
seat than in the front seat.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
174
Never put a rear±facing child restraint system on the
front seat. In the event of an accident, the force of the
rapid inflation of the airbag can cause death or
serious injury if a rear±facing child restraint system
is put on the front seat.
 Unless it is unavoidable, do not put a forward±facing
child restraint system on the front seat.
 A forward±facing child restraint system should be
allowed to be put on the front seat only when it is
unavoidable. Always move the seat as far back as
possible, because the force of a deploying airbag
could cause death or serious injury to the child. Do
not allow the child to lean against the front door or
around the front door even if the child is seated in a
child restraint system. It is dangerous if the side
airbag inflates, and the impact could cause death or
serious injury to the child.
 Make sure you have complied with all installation
instructions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is properly
secured.

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
175
Child restraint system
A child restraint system for a small child or baby
must itself be properly restrained on the seat with
the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt. You must
carefully consult the manufacturer's instructions
which accompany by the child restraint system.
To provide proper restraint, use a child restraint system
following the manufacturer's instructions about the
appropriate age and size of the child for the restraint
system.
Install the child restraint system correctly following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer of the system.
General directions are also provided under the following
illustrations.
The child restraint system should be installed on the rear
seat. According to accident statistics, the child is safer
when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front
seat.