2012 TOYOTA YARIS Owners Manual

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1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
SRS side and curtain shield airbags
SRS side airbags
Can help protect the torso of the front seat occupants.
SRS curtain shield airbags
Can help protect primarily the head of occupants in the outer
seats.
Other SRS airbags SRS seat cushion airbags
Can help restrain the driver and front passenger.

82 1-7. Safety information
SRS airbag system componentsCurtain shield airbags
Side impact sensors (front)
Side airbags
Side impact sensors (rear)
SRS warning light
Driver airbag
Passenger seat cushion
airbag
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch
Seat belt pretensioners
Side impact sensors (front
door) Driver seat cushion airbag
Driver’s seat belt buckle
switch
Driver knee airbag
Front impact sensors
Airbag sensor assembly
Front passenger occupant
classification system (ECU
and sensors)
Front passenger airbag
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR
BAG OFF” indicator lights

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1-7. Safety information
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Before driving
Your vehicle is equipped with
ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag
sensor assembly (ECU) controls ai rbag deployment based on infor-
mation obtained from the sensors etc. shown in the system compo-
nents diagram above. This inform ation includes crash severity and
occupant information. As the air bags deploy, a chemical reaction in
the inflators quickly fills the airbags with nontoxic gas to help restrain
the motion of the occupants.
■ If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying
(inflating) SRS airbag.
● A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
● Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator)
as well as the front seats, parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof side
rails, may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
● The windshield may crack.

84 1-7. Safety information
■SRS airbag deployment conditions (SRS front airbag s/SRS seat cush-
ion airbags)
● The SRS front airbags and seat cushion airbags will deploy in the event
of an impact that exceeds the set threshold level (the level of force corre-
sponding to an approximately 12 - 18 mph [20 - 30 km/h] frontal collision
with a fixed wall that does not move or deform).
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle
strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle and sign pole, which can move
or deform on impact, or if the vehicle is involved in an underride collision
(e.g. a collision in which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes
under, the bed of a truck etc.).
● It is possible that in some collisions where the forward deceleration of the
vehicle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front air-
bags, SRS seat cushion airbags and the seat belt pretensioners may not
activate together.
● The SRS front airbags and seat cushion airbag for the front passenger
will not activate if there is no passenger sitting in the front passenger
seat. However, the SRS front airbags and seat cushion airbag for the
front passenger may deploy if luggage is put in the seat, even if the seat
is unoccupied.
● The SRS seat cushion airbags on the front seats will not operate if the
occupant is not wearing a seat belt.
■ SRS airbag deployment conditions (S RS side and curtain shield air-
bags)
The SRS side and curtain shield airbags will deploy in the event of an impact
that exceeds the set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to the
impact force produced by an approximately 3300 lb. [1500 kg] vehicle collid-
ing with the vehicle cabin from a direction perpendicular to the vehicle orien-
tation at an approximate speed of 12 - 18 mph [20 - 30 km/h]).

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1-7. Safety information
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Before driving
■
Conditions under which the SRS airbags may deploy (inflate), other
than a collision
The SRS front airbags and seat cushion airbags may also deploy if a serious
impact occurs to the underside of your vehicle. Some examples are shown
in the illustration.
■ Types of collisions that may not de ploy the SRS airbags (SRS front air-
bags/SRS seat cushion airbags)
The SRS front airbags and seat cushion airbags do not generally inflate if
the vehicle is involved in a side or rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is
involved in a low-speed frontal collision. But, whenever a collision of any
type causes sufficient forward deceleration of the vehicle, deployment of the
SRS front airbags and seat cushion airbags may occur.
● Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or
hard surface
● Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
● Landing hard or falling
●Collision from the side
● Collision from the rear
● Vehicle rollover

86 1-7. Safety information
■Types of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbags
(SRS side and curtain shield airbags)
The SRS side and curtain shield airbags may not activate if the vehicle is
subjected to a collision from the side at certain angles, or a collision to the
side of the vehicle body other than the passenger compartment.
The SRS side and curtain shield airbags do not generally inflate if the vehi-
cle is involved in a frontal or rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is involved in
a low-speed side collision.
■ When to contact your Toyota dealer
In the following cases, contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
●Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
●Collision from the side to the vehicle
body other than the passenger com-
partment
● Collision from the side at an angle
●Collision from the front
● Collision from the rear
● Vehicle rollover
●The front of the vehicle is damaged or
deformed, or was involved in an acci-
dent that was not severe enough to
cause the SRS front airbags and SRS
seat cushion airbags to inflate.

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1-7. Safety information
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Before driving
●
A portion of a door is damaged or
deformed, or the vehicle was involved
in an accident that was not severe
enough to cause the SRS side and cur-
tain shield airbags to inflate.
● The pad section of the steering wheel,
dashboard near the front passenger air-
bag or lower portion of the instrument
panel is scratched, cracked, or other-
wise damaged.
● The front seat cushion surface is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.
● The surface of the seats with the side
airbag is scratched, cracked or other-
wise damaged.
● The portion of the front pillars, rear pil-
lars or roof side rail garnishes (padding)
containing the curtain shield airbags is
inside scratched, cracked, or otherwise
damaged.

88 1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts
properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat belts.
● The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause
death or serious injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm)
of inflation, placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag pro-
vides you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in.
(250 mm) away now, you can change your driving position in several
ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedals comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm) distance, even with the
driver seat all the way forward, simply by reclining the back of the seat
somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to see the
road, raise yourself by using a firm, non-slippery cushion, or raise the
seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air- bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while
still maintaining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of
the instrument panel controls.