2012 TOYOTA PRIUS C Owners Manual

129
1
1-8. Safety information
Before driving
Front passenger occupant classification system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classifica-
tion system. This system detects the conditions of the front passen-
ger seat and activates or deactiv ates the devices for the front
passenger.
SRS warning light
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light
“AIR BAG ON” indicator light
Seat belt reminder light

130 1-8. Safety information
Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classification system
■Adult*1
■Child*4 or child restraint system*5
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “AIR BAG
ON”
SRS warning light Off
Seat belt reminder light Off*2
or
flashing
*3
Devices Front passenger airbag
Activated
Side airbag on the front passenger seat
Curtain shield airbag in the front passenger side
Seat cushion airbag in the front passenger side Activated*2
or
deactivated
*3
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner Activated
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “AIR BAG
OFF”
*6
SRS warning light Off
Seat belt reminder light Off
*2
or
flashing
*3
Devices Front passenger airbag Deactivated
Side airbag on the front passenger seat Activated
Curtain shield airbag in the front passenger
side
Seat cushion airbag in the front passenger side Deactivated
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner Activated

131
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
■
Unoccupied
■ There is a malfunction in the system
*1: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a
smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may rec-
ognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and pos-
ture.
*2: In the event the front passenger is wearing a seat belt.
*3: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.
*
4: When a larger child who has outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/her as
an adult depending on his/her physique or posture.
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “AIR BAG
OFF”
SRS warning light Off
Seat belt reminder light
Devices Front passenger airbag Deactivated
Side airbag on the front passenger seat Activated
Curtain shield airbag in the front passenger
side
Seat cushion airbag in the front passenger side Deactivated
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner Activated
Indicator/
warning light “AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights “AIR BAG
OFF”
SRS warning light On
Seat belt reminder light
Devices Front passenger airbag Deactivated
Side airbag on the front passenger seat Activated
Curtain shield airbag in the front passenger
side
Seat cushion airbag in the front passenger side Deactivated
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner Activated

132 1-8. Safety information
*5: Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front pas-senger seat. A forward-facing ch ild restraint system should only
be installed on the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable.
(  P. 134)
*6: In case the indicator light is not illuminated, consult this manual on
how to install the child re straint system properly. (P. 138)
CAUTION
■Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the front passenger occupant
classification system.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Wear the seat belt properly.
● Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt plate has not been left inserted
into the buckle before someone sits in the front passenger seat.
● Make sure the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is not illuminated when using
the seat belt extender for the front passenger seat. If the “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue from the seat
belt buckle, and reconnect the seat belt. Reconnect the seat belt extender
after making sure the “AIR BAG ON” indicator light is illuminated. If you
use the seat belt extender while the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illumi-
nated, the SRS airbags for the passenger may not activate correctly,
which could cause death or serious injury in the event of a collision.
● Do not apply a heavy load to the front passenger seat or equipment. (e.g.
seatback pocket)
● 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 with their feet or
press on the seatback with their legs.
● Do not put objects under the front passenger seat.

133
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
● Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear
seat. This may cause the “AIR BAG 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 seat-
back 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 “AIR BAG ON” indicator
light is illuminated. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator 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 “AIR BAG OFF” indicator 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.
● When it is unavoidable to install a forward-facing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat, install the child restraint system on the front pas-
senger seat in the proper order. ( P. 138)
● Do not modify or remove the front seats.
● Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to severe impact. Other-
wise, the SRS warning light may come on to indicate a malfunction of the
detection system. In this case, contact your Toyota dealer immediately.
● Child restraint systems installed on the rear seat should not contact the
front seatbacks.
● Do not use a seat accessory, such as a cushion and seat cover, that cov-
ers the seat cushion surface.
● Do not modify or replace the upholstery of the front seat.

134
1-8. Safety information
Child restraint systems
Points to rememberStudies have shown that installing a child restraint on a rear seat is
much safer than installing one on the front passenger seat.
● Choose a child restraint system th at suits your vehicle and is
appropriate to the age and size of the child.
● For installation details, follow the instructions provided with the
child restraint system.
General installation instructions are provided in this manual.
( P. 138)
Types of child restraints
Child restraint systems are clas sified into the following 3 types
according to the age and size of the child:
Rear facing — Infant seat/convertible seat
A child restraint system for a small ch ild or baby must itself be prop-
erly restrained on the seat with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder
belt.
The laws of all 50 states of the U.S.A. and Canada now require the
use of child restraint systems.

135
1-8. Safety information
1
Before driving
Forward facing — Convertible seat
Booster seat
■
Selecting an appropriat e child restraint system
● Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child until the child
becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt.
● If the child is too large for a child restraint system, sit the child on a rear
seat and use the vehicle’s seat belt. ( P. 84)

136 1-8. Safety information
CAUTION
■Child restraint precautions
●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 the 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.
● Toyota strongly urges the use of a proper child restraint system that con-
forms to the size of the child, installed on the rear seat. According to acci-
dent statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat
than in the front seat.
● Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger
seat even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illuminated. In the event
of an accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag
and seat cushion airbag in the front passenger side 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 may be installed on the front pas-
senger seat only when it is unavoidable. A child restraint system that
requires a top tether strap should not be used in the front passenger seat
since there is no top tether strap anchor for the front passenger seat.
Adjust the seatback as upright as possible and always move the seat as
far back as possible even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is illumi-
nated, because the front passenger airbag and seat cushion airbag in the
front passenger side could inflate with considerable speed and force. Oth-
erwise, the child may be killed or seriously injured.
● 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 seri-
ous injury to the child or other passengers in the event of a sudden stop,
sudden swerve or an accident.