2008 TOYOTA PRIUS Owners Manual

57
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Front seats
■Flattening seatbacks
Move the seat forward and
remove the head restraint.
After returning seat to its original
position, be certain to replace the
head restraint.
Move the seatback angle control
switch backward to flatten the
seatback.
Seat position adjustment
lever
Seatback angle adjustment
lever

58 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■Reclining adjustment
Do not recline the seat more than necessary when the vehicle is in motion,
to reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt.
If the seat is too reclined, during an accident the lap belt may slide past the
hips and apply restraint forces directly to the abdomen or your neck may
contact the shoulder belt, increasing the risk of death or serious injury.
■ While driving
● Do not allow passengers to ride on the flattened seat.
● Do not drive with the head restraints removed.
■ When adjusting the front passenger’s seat from the driver’s seat
Wait until a passenger is seated or have gotten off the front passenger’s seat
before operating the switch to avoid injuring the passenger.

59
1
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Rear seats
Folding down rear seatbacks■ Before folding down rear seatbacks
Stow the rear center seat belt
buckle.
Seatback angle adjustment
button
Press the button down until the
lock is completely released.

60 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)■
Folding down rear seatbacks
Remove the seat belt from the
guide.
In case you do not remove the
seat belt from the guide, the seat
belt might be locked when you
fold down the rear seatbacks.
Fold the seatback down while
pushing the seatback angle
adjustment button.
Press the button until the lock is
completely released.
■Returning rear seatbacks
Tilt the rear seatback up until it
locks, making sure that you hold
the seat belt to prevent it from
getting caught between the seat-
back and the inner side of the
vehicle.
Make sure the shoulder belt pass
through the guide.
STEP1
STEP2

61
1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■Seat adjustment
Do not recline the seat more than necessary when the vehicle is in motion to
reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt. If the seat is too reclined, the lap
belt may slide past the hips and apply restraint forces directly to the abdo-
men or your neck may contact the shoulder belt, increasing the risk of death
or serious injury in the event of an accident.
■ After returning the seatback to the upright position
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught under the seat.

62
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Head restraints
■Adjusting the height of the head restraints
■ Adjusting the center rear seat head restraint
Always raise the head restraint one level from the stowed position when
using.
■ Vertical adjustment
Vertical adjustment
Push and hold the lock release
button when lowering the head
restraint.
Removal
Grip head restraint and remove
while holding the lock release
button.
Lock
release
button
Make sure that the head restraints are
adjusted so that the center of the head
restraint is closest to the top of your ears.

63
1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
CAUTION
■Head restraint precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the head restraints. Failure to
do so may result in death or serious injury.
● Use the head restraints designed for each respective seat.
● Adjust the head restraints to the correct position at all times.
● Do not drive with the head restraints removed.

64
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS_U_(L/O_0802)
Seat belts
Make sure that all occupants are wearing their seat belts before driv-
ing the vehicle.
■Correct use of the seat belts
●Extend the shoulder belt so
that it comes fully over the
shoulder, but does not
come into contact with the
neck or slide off the shoul-
der.
● Position the lap belt as low
as possible over the hips.
● Adjust the position of the
seatback. Sit up straight
and well back in the seat.
● Do not twist the seat belt.
■ Fastening and releasing the seat belt
Fastening the belt
Push the tab into the buckle
until a clicking sound is heard.
Releasing the belt
Press the release button.
Release
button