2005 Lexus ES330 airbag

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
144
CAUTION
To avoid potential death or serious injury when the front
passenger occupant classification system does not
detect the conditions correctly, observe the following.
Wear the seat belt properly.
 Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt tab has not
been left inserted into the buckle before someone
sits in the front passenger seat.
 Make sure the “AIRBAG ON” indicator light is
illuminated when using the seat belt extender for the
front passenger seat. If the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator
light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue
from the seat belt buckle, then reconnect the seat
belt. Reconnect the seat belt extender after making
sure the “AIRBAG ON” indicator light is illuminated.
If you use the seat belt extender while the indicator
light is illuminated, the front passenger airbag and
side airbag on the front passenger side may not
activate correctly, which could cause death or
serious injury in the event of collision.
 Do not put a heavy load in the front passenger
seatback pocket or attach a seatback table to the
front passenger seat seatback.
 Do not put weight on the front passenger seat by
putting your hands or feet on the front passenger
seat seatback from the rear passenger seat.
Do not let a rear passenger lift the front passenger
seat cushion with his/her leg.
 Do not put objects under the front passenger seat.
 Do not recline the front passenger seat seatback so
far that it touches a rear seat. This may cause the
“AIRBAG OFF” indicator light to be illuminated,
which indicates that the passenger’s airbags will not
deploy in the event of a severe accident. If the
seatback touches the rear seat, return the seatback
to a position where it does not touch the rear seat.
Keep the front passenger seatback as upright as
possible when the vehicle is moving. Reclining the
seatback excessively may lessen the effectiveness
of the seat belt system.
 If an adult sits in the front passenger seat, the
“AIRBAG ON” indicator light should be illuminated.
If the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated,
ask the passenger to sit up straight, well back in the
seat, feet on the floor, and with the seat belt worn
correctly. If the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light still
remains illuminated, either ask the passenger to
move to the rear seat, or if that is not possible, move
the front passenger seat fully rearward.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
145
When it is unavoidable to install the forwardfacing
child restraint system on the front passenger seat,
install the child restraint system on the front
passenger seat in the proper order. (As for the
installation order, see “Child restraint system” on
page 147.)
 Do not remove the seats.
 Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to
severe impact. Otherwise, the SRS warning light may
come on to indicate a malfunction of the detection
system. In this case, contact your Lexus dealer
immediately.
In addition to the precautions outlined above, the “AIRBAG
ON” indicator light may be illuminated when a child sits in the
front passenger seat or a forward −facing child restraint system
is installed on the front passenger seat. If the “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light is not illuminated in these circumstances, the
front passenger airbag and side airbag on the front passenger
side are in activated condition — the airbags will deploy if an
impact meets the deployment criteria. Refer to all the cautions
in this Section and “Child restraint” on page 145.
CHILD RESTRAINT
Child restraint precautions
Lexus strongly urges the use of appropriate child restraint
systems for children.
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 “Seat belts” on page 108 for details.
CAUTION
 For effective protection in automobile accidents and
sudden stops, a child must be properly restrained,
using a seat belt or child restraint system depending
on age and size of the child. 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.
 Lexus strongly urges use of a proper child restraint
system which conforms to the size of the child,
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
146
Never install a rearfacing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat even if the “AIRBAG OFF”
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 rearfacing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger seat.
 A forwardfacing 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 OFF”
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
149
CAUTION
Never install a rearfacing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat even if the “AIRBAG OFF”
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 rearfacing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger seat.
If the driver’s seat position does not allow sufficient
space for safe installation, install the child restraint
system on the rear right seat.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
153
5. Fully extend the shoulder belt to put it in the lock mode.
When the belt is then retracted even slightly, it cannot be
extended. To hold the seat securely, make sure the belt is in
the lock mode before letting the belt retract.
6. While pressing the convertible seat firmly against the seat
cushion and seatback, let the shoulder belt retract as far as it
will go to hold the convertible seat securely.
CAUTION
Push and pull the child restraint system in different
directions to be sure it is secure. Follow all the
installation instructions provided by its manufacturer.
7. Put a child on the child restraint system and secure the child,
complying with the instructions provided by the child restraint
system manufacturer.
The “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light should be illuminated when
the ignition key is “ON” and the child is in the child restraint
system after
following these procedures. The “AIRBAG OFF”
indicator light indicates the SRS front passenger airbag and
side airbag on the passenger side will not deploy. If the
“AIRBAG ON” indicator light is illuminated, remove the child
restraint system and reinstall it with the ignition key in the
“ACC” or “LOCK” position. If the “AIRBAG OFF” indicator light
still remains illuminated when the ignition key is turned to the
“ON” position, then the SRS front passenger airbag and side
airbag on the passenger side may deploy in an accident. Do
not drive the vehicle in this condition. Remove the child
restraint system and contact your Lexus dealer.
CAUTION
 When it is unavoidable to install the forwardfacing
child restraint system on the front passenger seat,
install the child restraint system on the front
passenger seat in the proper order. Otherwise, the
front passenger occupant classification system can
not detect the presence of the child restraint system
and the front passenger airbag and side airbag on the
front passenger seat could deploy.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
154
Never install a rearfacing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat even if the “AIRBAG OFF”
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 rearfacing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger seat. Move seat fully back
A forwardfacing 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 OFF”
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
158(C) Booster seat installation
A booster seat must be used in forwardfacing position
only.

Move seat fully back
CAUTION
A forwardfacing 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 OFF”
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.

OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
159
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.
1. Sit the child on a booster seat. Run the lap and shoulder belt
through or around the booster seat and child following the
instructions provided by its manufacturer and insert the tab into
the buckle taking care not to twist the belt.
Make sure the shoulder belt is correctly across the child’s
shoulder and that the lap belt is positioned as low as possible
on the child’s hips. See “Seat belts” on page 108 for details.
CAUTION
 Always make sure the shoulder belt is positioned
across the center of child’ s shoulder. The belt should
be kept away from child’s neck, but not falling off
child’s shoulder. Otherwise, the child may be killed
or seriously injured in case of sudden braking or a
collision.