Page 169 of 670

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
150
SEAT BELTS
Seat belt precautions
Lexus strongly urges that the driver and passengers in the
vehicle be properly restrained at all times with the seat belts
provided. Failure to do so could increase the chance of injury
and/or the severity of injury in accidents.
The seat belts provided for your vehicle are designed for
people of adult size, large enough to properly wear them.
Child. Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child
until the child becomes large enough to properly wear the
vehicle's seat belts. See Child restraintº on page 194 for
details.
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. According to accident statistics, the child is safer
when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.
If a child must sit in the front seat, the seat belts should be worn
properly. If an accident occurs and the seat belts are not worn
properly, the force of the rapid inflation of the airbag may cause
death or serious injury to the child.
Do not allow any children to stand up or kneel on either rear or
front seats. An unrestrained child could suffer serious injury or
death during emergency braking or a collision. Also, do not let
the child sit on your lap. Holding a child in your arms does not
provide sufficient restraint. Pregnant woman.
Lexus recommends the use of a seat belt.
Ask your doctor for specific recommendations. The lap belt
should be worn securely and as low as possible over the hips
and not on the waist.
Injured person. Lexus recommends the use of a seat belt.
Depending on the injury, first check with your doctor for specific
recommendations.
CAUTION
Persons should ride in their seats properly wearing
their seat belts whenever the vehicle is moving.
Otherwise, they are much more likely to suffer serious
bodily injury or death in the event of sudden braking or
a collision.
When using the seat belts, observe the following:
Use the belt for only one person at a time. Do not use
a single belt for two or more people Ð even children.
Avoid reclining the seatback any more than needed.
The seat belts provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the driver and the front
passenger are sitting up straight and well back in the
seats. If you are reclined, the lap belt may slide past
your hips and apply restraint forces directly to the
abdomen or your neck may contact the shoulder belt.
In the event of a frontal collision, the more the seat is
reclined, the greater the risk of death or personal
injury.
Page 170 of 670
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
151
Be careful not to damage the belt webbing or
hardware. Take care that they do not get caught or
pinched in the seat or doors.
Inspect the belt system periodically. Check for cuts,
fraying, and loose parts. Damaged parts should be
replaced. Do not disassemble or modify the system.
Keep the belts clean and dry. If they need cleaning,
use a mild soap solution or lukewarm water. Never
use bleach, dye, or abrasive cleaners, or allow them
to come into contact with the belt Ð they may
severely weaken the belts. (See Cleaning the
interiorº on page 637 for instructions.)
Replace the belt assembly (including bolts) if it has
been used in a severe impact. The entire assembly
should be replaced even if damage is not obvious.
Page 171 of 670

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
152
Fastening front, second and third seat belts
Adjust the seat as needed and sit up straight and well back
in the seat. To fasten your belt, pull it out of the retractor
and insert the tab into the buckle.
You will hear a click when the tab locks into the buckle.
The seat belt length automatically adjusts to your size and the
seat position.
The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on
impact. It also may lock if you lean forward too quickly. A slow,
easy motion will allow the belt to extend, and you can move
around freely. When a passenger's shoulder belt is completely extended and
is then retracted even slightly, the belt is locked in that position
and cannot be extended. This feature is used to hold the child
restraint system securely.
(For details, see Child restraintº on
page 194.) To free the belt again, fully retract the belt and then
pull the belt out once more.
If the seat belt cannot be pulled out of the retractor, firmly pull
the belt and release it. You will then be able to smoothly pull
the belt out of the retractor.
CAUTION
After inserting the tab, make sure the tab and buckle
are locked and that the belt is not twisted.
Do not insert coins, clips, etc. in the buckle as this
may prevent you from properly latching the tab and
buckle.
If the seat belt does not function normally,
immediately contact your Lexus dealer. Do not use
the seat until the seat belt is fixed, because it cannot
protect an adult occupant or your child from injury.
Page 172 of 670

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
153
Adjust the position of the lap and shoulder belts.
1Position the lap belt as low as possible on your hips Ð not
on your waist.
2Adjust it to a snug fit by pulling the shoulder portion
upward through the latch plate.
CAUTION
Both high-positioned lap belts and loose-fitting
belts could cause serious injuries due to sliding
under the lap belt during a collision or other
unintended event. Keep the lap belt positioned as
low on hip as possible.
Do not place the shoulder belt under your arm.
Front and second outside seat belts only
Adjust the shoulder anchor position to your size.
To raise the anchor position, push the anchor up. To lower the
anchor position, support the anchor while you push the lock
release button then slide the anchor down. After the
adjustment, make sure the anchor is locked in position.
CAUTION
Always make sure the shoulder belt is positioned
across the center of your shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from your neck, but not falling off your
shoulder. Failure to do so could reduce the amount of
protection in an accident and cause serious injuries in
a collision.
Page 173 of 670
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
154
To release the belt, press the buckle release button and
allow the belt to retract.
If the belt does not retract smoothly, pull it out and check for
kinks or twists. Then make sure it remains untwisted as it
retracts.
CAUTION
Do not separate the buckle with light gray buckle
release button. Otherwise, the seat belt may not work
properly. See the information in the following columns.
Third center seat belt
Buckle with light gray buckle-release button
The third center seat belt is a 3-point type restraint with 2
buckles. Both seat belt buckles must be correctly located and
securely latched for proper operation.
Make sure that buckle with light gray buckle-release button is
securely latched for ready use of the center seat belt.
Page 174 of 670
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
155
Two buckles and tabs for third center seat belt.
The 2 buckles for the third center seat belt are distinguished
with colors of the buckle release button. Also the 2 tabs have
different shape for its end so that the belt is not buckled in the
wrong place.
1Buckle with light gray buckle-release button:
Properly matches with concave end tab
2Buckle with red buckle-release button:
Properly matches with round end tab
To release the concave end tab, insert the key into the hole on
buckle with light gray buckle-release button and allow the belt
to retract.
Page 175 of 670
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
156
CAUTION
Do not use the third center seat belt with either buckle
release. Fastening only the shoulder belt or lap belt may
cause severe personal injury in case of sudden braking
or a collision.
STOWING THE THIRD CENTER SEAT BELT
Stow the seat belt tabs into the cover of the roof as shown
above.
Make sure the tabs are securely locked in the cover.
PULLING OUT THE THIRD CENTER SEAT BELT
Pull the belt out a little and pull the tabs out from the cover.
Page 176 of 670
OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
157
Stowing the second and third seat belt
buckles
Second seat
Third seat
The second and third seat belt buckles can be stowed
when they are not in use.
Hanging the third outside seat belts
Seat belt hanger
The third outside seat belts can be hung when they are not
in use.
CAUTION
The third outside seat belts must be removed from the
hangers when they are in use.