Page 78 of 568

78 1-3. Opening, closing and locking the doors
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
CAUTION
■To prevent an accident
Observe the following precautions while driving the vehicle.
Failure to do so may result in a door opening and an occupant falling out,
resulting in death or serious injury.
● Always use a seat belt.
● Always lock all the doors.
● Ensure that all doors are properly closed.
● Do not pull the inside handle of the doors while driving.
The doors may be opened and the passengers are thrown out of the vehi-
cle and it may result in serious injury or death.
Be especially careful for the front doors, as the doors may be opened even
if the inside lock buttons are in locked position.
● Set the rear door child-protector locks when children are seated in the rear
seats.
■ When opening or closing a door
Check the surroundings of the vehicle such as whether the vehicle is on an
incline, whether there is enough space for a door to open and whether a
strong wind is blowing. When opening or closing the door, hold the door han-
dle tightly to prepare for any unpredictable movement.
Page 86 of 568

86 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
CAUTION
■Seat adjustment
● To reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt during a collision, do not
recline the seat more than necessary.
If the seat is too reclined, 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 in the event of
an accident.
Adjustments should not be made while driving as the seat may unexpect-
edly move and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● After adjusting the seat, make sure that the seat is locked in position.
■ Flattening the seats
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
● Do not flatten the seats while driving.
● In a flat place, firmly apply the parking brake and shift the shift position to
P.
● Do not flatten the seats if they are occupied.
● Be careful not to get feet or hands caught in the moving parts or joints of
the seats while flattening.
● Do not allow children to flatten the seats.
● Do not drive with passengers sitting on the flattened seatback or in the lug-
gage compartment.
Page 87 of 568
87
1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
CAUTION
●Do not drive with luggage or passengers on the flattened seats.
● Do not allow children to enter the luggage compartment.
● After flattening, gently rock the seats to ensure they are firmly in place.
● Make sure that the seat belts are not caught in the gaps between the
seats.
■ After returning the seats to their upright positions
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
● Gently rock the seats back and forth to ensure they are firmly in place.
● Be careful not to catch the seat belts.
NOTICE
■Flattening the seats
● When returning the seatback, adjust the reclining setting while holding the
seatback.
● Do not move around on top of the flattened seats. Also, when climbing
over a seat, move carefully and step on the center of the seat.
Page 89 of 568
89
1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
Before folding down the seatbacks
Park the vehicle in a safe place.
Apply the parking brake firmly and shift the shift position to P.
(P. 188)
Adjust the position of the front seat and the angle of the seat-
back. (
P. 84)
Depending on the position of the front seat, if the seatback is folded
backward, it may interfere with the operation of the rear seat.
Uncouple and stow the rear center seat belt. (P. 97)
This step is not necessary when operating the driver’s side seat only.
Lower the head restraint of the rear seat. (P. 9 3 )
Vehicles with an armrest: Stow the armrest of the rear seat if it
is pulled out. ( P. 321)
Folding down the seatbacks
Pull the seatback angle adjust-
ment lever.
To return the rear seatbacks to
their original positions, lift them
up until they lock.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
Page 90 of 568
90 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
■Adjusting the position of the driver’s side seat back and forward
■ Seat belt hangers
The driver’s side seat can be slid forward
further than the front passenger’s side
seat, thus easing the loading and unload-
ing of luggage into and from the luggage
compartment.
The seat cannot be locked if it slid for-
ward as far as possible. After operating,
return the seat to a lockable position,
and secure it firmly in place.
Stow the seat belts of the outside seats in
their seat belt hangers when not in use.
Page 91 of 568

91
1-4. Adjustable components (s
eats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
CAUTION
■When folding the seatbacks down
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
● Do not fold the seatbacks down while driving.
● Stop the vehicle on level ground, set the parking brake and shift the shift
position to P.
● Do not allow anyone to sit on a folded seatback or in the luggage compart-
ment while driving.
● Do not allow children to enter the luggage compartment.
● Do not operate the rear seat if it is occupied.
● Be careful not to get feet or hands caught in the moving parts or joints of
the seats during operation.
● Do not allow children to operate the seat.
● After operation, rock the seat gently to ensure that it is firmly in place.
■ Reclining adjustment
● To reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt during a collision, do not
recline the seat more than necessary.
If the seat is too reclined, 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 in the event of
an accident.
Adjustments should not be made while driving as the seat may unexpect-
edly move and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● After adjusting the seat, make sure that the seat is locked in position.
Page 92 of 568
92 1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
CAUTION
■After returning the seatback to the upright position
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
● Make sure that the seatback is securely locked in position by lightly push-
ing it back and forth.
● Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught in the seatback.
● Re-couple the rear center seat belt if it has been uncoupled. ( P. 96)
● If the seat belt has been stowed using the seat belt hanger, check that the
seat belt has been removed from the hanger. ( P. 90)
Page 95 of 568
95
1
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
Before driving
PRIUS v_OM_OM47820U_(U)
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 s eat belt (except rear center
seat)
To fasten the seat belt, push
the plate into the buckle
until a click sound is heard.
To release the seat belt,
press the release button.
Release button