2003 Lexus IS300 Basic Functions / LEXUS 2003 IS300 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
132Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover
and inflator) may be hot for several minutes after deployment,
so do not touch! The airbags inflate only once. The windshield
may be damaged by absorbing some of the force of the
inflating airbag.
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 the inflating airbags if they do not wear the
available seat belts properly. During sudden braking
just bef ore 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
properly. Wearing a seat belt properly 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 ºSeat beltsº on page 113.
 Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and
children can be killed or seriously injured by the
deploying ai rbags. 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 ºChild restraintº on page 140.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
133
SV16023
Never put a rear±facing child restraint system on the
front passenger seat because the force of the rapid
inflation of the front passenger airbag can cause
death or serious injury to the child.
SV16053

Move seat fully back
A forward±facing child restraint system should be
allowed to be put on the front passenger seat only
when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as far
back as possible, because the force of the deploying
front passenger 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
and curtain shield airbags inflate, because the impact
could cause death or serious injury to the child.
 For instructions concerning the installation of a child
restraint system, see ºChild restraintº on page 140.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
134
SS16052
Do not sit on the edge of the seat or lean over the
dashboard when the vehicle is in use. When the front
airbags inflate with considerable speed and force;
Otherwise, you may be killed or seriously injured. Sit
up straight and well back in the seat, and always use
your seat belt properly.
SV16025
 Do not lean against the front door when the vehicle
is in use. When the side and curtain shield airbag
inflates with considerable speed and force;
Otherwise, you may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you
have a small child in the vehicle.
 Sit up straight and well back in the seat, distributing
your weight evenly in the seat. Do not apply
excessive weight to the outer side of the front seats
on vehicles with side airbags.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
135
SV16124
Do not get your head closer to the area where the side
airbag and curtain shield airbag inflate, since these
airbags inflate with considerable speed and force.
Otherwise, you may be killed or seriously injured.
Special care should be taken especially when you
have a small child in the vehicle.
 Do not allow a child to kneel on the front passenger
seat facing the front passenger's side door when the
vehicle is in use, since the side and curtain shield
airbags inflate with considerable speed and impact.
Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously in-
jured.
SS16056a
 Do not allow a child to stand up or to kneel on the
front passenger seat, since the front airbag inflates
with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, 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 ºChild restraintº on page 140.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
136
SV16065
Do not put objects or your pets on or in front of the
dashboard or steering wheel pad that houses the
driver and front passenger airbag system. They
might restrict inflation or cause death or serious
injury as they are projected rearward by the force of
the deploying airbags. Likewise, the driver and front
passenger should not hold objects in their arms or on
their knees.
SV16096
 Do not attach a cup holder or any other device or
object on or around the door. When the side airbag
inflates, the cup holder or any other device or object
will be thrown with great force, or the side airbag may
not activate correctly, resulting in death or serious
injury. Likewise, the driver and front passenger
should not hold objects in their arms or on their
knees.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
137
SV16150
Do not attach a microphone or any other device or
object around the part where the curtain shield airbag
activates such as on the windshield glass, side door
glass and front and side pillar. When the curtain
shield airbag inflates, the microphone or other device
or object will be thrown with great force or the curtain
shield airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in
death or serious injury.
 Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts
where the side airbags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from activating correctly,
causing death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or remove any wiring. Do not modify,
remove, strike or open any components, such as the
steering wheel pad, steering wheel, column cover,
front passenger airbag cover, front seats or airbag
sensor assembly. Doing so may cause sudden SRS
front airbags inflation or disable the system, which
could result in death or serious injury.
 Do not modify or replace the seats or upholstery of
front seats with side airbags. Such changes may
disable the system or cause the side airbags to inflate
accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
 Do not disassemble or repair the front pillar and roof
side containing the curtain shield airbags. Such
changes may disable the system or cause the curtain
shield airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in
death or serious injury.
Failure to follow these instructions can result in death
or serious injury. Consult your Lexus dealer about any
repairs and modifications.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
138
NOTICE
Do not perform any of the following changes withoutconsulting your Lexus dealer. Such changes caninterfere with proper operation of the SRS airbagsystem in some cases.
Installation of electronic devices such as a mobiletwo±way radio, cassette tape player or compact disc
player.
Modification of the suspension system.
Modification of the front end structure and side structure of the passenger compartment.
Attachment of a grille guard (bull bar, kangaroo bar,etc.), snowplow, winches or any other equipment tothe front end.
Repairs made on or near the front fenders, front endstructure, console, steering column, steering wheel,dashboard near the front passenger airbag or frontseats.
SV16061
This SRS front airbag system has an indicator to inform the
driver of operating problems. If either of the following
conditions occurs, this indicates a malfunction of the airbags.
Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible to service the
vehicle.
 When the ignition key is turned to the ºACCº or ºONº
position, the light does not come on, stays on or flashes.
 The light comes on or starts flashing while driving.
If the light stays on, it indicates that the driver and front
passenger airbags fail. If the light flashes, the side airbags fail.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

COMFORT ADJUSTMENT
139
SV16097
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
 The front 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.
 The portion of the front pillar garnish (padding) containing
the curtain shield airbags inside (shaded in the illustration)
is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
NOTICE
Do not disconnect the battery cables before contacting
your Lexus dealer.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)