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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
138
CAUTION
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system
is designed only as a supplement to the primary
protection of the driver and front passenger and rear
outside passenger seat belt systems. 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 Seat beltsº on page 112.
Do not allow anyone to lean his/her head or any part
of his/her body against the door or the area of the
seat, front pillar, rear pillar or roof side rail from which
the SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag deploy
even if he/she is a child seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the SRS side airbag and
curtain shield airbag inflate, and the impact of the
deploying airbags could cause death or serious
injury to the occupant.
Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and
children can be killed or seriously injured by the
deploying airbags. 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 seats of the vehicle and properly
restrained. The rear seats are the safest for infants
and children. For instructions concerning the
installation of a child restraint system, see Child
restraintº on page 156.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
141 When the airbags inflate, they produce a fairly loud noise and
release some smoke and residue along with non-toxic gas.
This does not indicate a fire. This smoke may remain inside the
vehicle for some time, and may cause some minor irritation to
the eyes, skin or breathing. Be sure to wash off any residue as
soon as possible to prevent any potential skin irritation with
soap and water. If you can safely exit from the vehicle, you
should do so immediately.
Deployment of the airbags happens in a fraction of a second,
so the airbags must inflate with considerable force. While the
system is designed to reduce serious injuries, it may also
cause minor burns or abrasions and swelling.
Front seats as well as parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof
side rail may be hot for several minutes, but the airbags
themselves will not be hot. The airbags are designed to inflate
only once.
CAUTION
SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags inflate with
considerable force. To reduce the possibility of death
or serious injury when they inflate, the driver, front
passenger and rear outside passengers must:
Wear their seat belts properly.
Remain properly seated with their backs upright and
against the seats at all times.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
142
Do not allow anyone to lean against the door when
the vehicle is in use, since the side airbag and curtain
shield airbag could inflate with considerable speed
and force. Otherwise, he/she 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 seats with a
side airbag and to the front pillar, rear pillar and roof
side rail with a curtain shield airbag.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
146
Do not attach a microphone or any other device or
object around the area where the curtain shield
airbag activates such as on the windshield glass,
side door glass, front and rear pillars, roof side rail
and assist grips. When the curtain shield airbag
inflates, the microphone or other device or object will
be thrown away with great force or the curtain shield
airbag may not activate correctly, resulting in death
or serious injury.
Do not hook a hanger, heavy or sharp pointed objects
on the coat hook. If the curtain shield airbag inflates,
those items will be thrown away with great force or
the curtain shield airbag may not activate correctly,
resulting in death or serious injury. When you hang
clothes, hang them on the coat hook directly.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
147
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 replace the seats or upholstery of
the seats with side airbags. Such changes may
prevent the side airbag system form activating
correctly, disable the system or cause the side
airbags to inflate accidentally, resulting in death or
serious injury.
Do not disassemble or repair the front and rear pillars
and roof side rails 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
repair and modification.
NOTICE
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
150
16E539
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible:
Any of the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags have
been inflated.
The portion of the doors (shaded in the illustration) was
involved in an accident that was not severe enough to cause
the SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags to inflate.The surface of the seats with the side airbag (shaded in the
illustration) is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
The portion of the front pillars, rear pillars or roof side rail
garnishes (padding) containing the curtain shield airbags
inside (shaded in the illustration) is scratched, cracked, or
otherwise damaged.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
157
Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat even if the AIRBAG OFFº
indicator light is illuminated. In the event of an
accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front
passenger airbag can cause death or serious injury
to the child if the rear-facing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger seat.
A forward-facing child restraint system should be
allowed to be installed on the front passenger seat
only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible even if the AIRBAG OFFº
indicator light is illuminated, because the front
passenger airbag could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed
or seriously injured.
On vehicles with side airbags and curtain shield
airbags, do not allow the child to lean his/her head or
any part of his/her body against the door or the area
of the seat, front or rear pillar or roof side rail from
which the side airbags or curtain shield airbags
deploy even if the child is seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side airbags and curtain
shield airbags inflate, and the impact could cause
death or serious injury to the child.Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a
child restraint system on the front or rear passenger
seat. If installing a child restraint system with the
seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat
belt will not securely hold the child restraint system,
which could cause death or serious injury to the child
or other passengers in the event of collision.
Make sure you have complied with all installation
instructions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer and that the system is properly
secured. If it is not secured properly, it may cause
death or serious injury to the child in the event of a
sudden stop or accident.
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
166
A forward-facing child restraint system should be
allowed to be installed on the front passenger seat
only when it is unavoidable. Always move the seat as
far back as possible even if the AIRBAG OFFº
indicator light is illuminated, because the front
passenger airbag inflate with considerable speed
and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or
seriously injured.
On vehicles with side airbags and curtain shield
airbags, do not allow the child to lean his/her head or
any part of his/her body against the door or the area
of the seat, front or rear pillar, or roof side rail from
which the side airbags or curtain shield airbags
deploy even if the child is seated in the child restraint
system. It is dangerous if the side airbag and curtain
shield airbag inflate, and the impact could cause
death or serious injury to the child.