Page 34 of 596

341-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U
The  pretensioners  help  the  seat
belts  to  quickly  restrain  the  occu-
pants  by  retracting  the  seat  belts
when  the  vehicle  is  subjected  to
certain  types  of  severe  frontal  or
side collision or a vehicle rollover.
The  pretensioners  do  not  activate
in  the  event  of  a  minor  frontal
impact,  a  minor  side  impact  or  a
rear impact.
■Emergency locking retractor (ELR)
The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on imp act. It may also
lock  if  you  lean forward too  quickly. A slow,  easy motion  will  allow  the  belt to
extend so that you can move around fully.
■ Automatic locking  retractor (ALR)
When a passenger’s shoulder belt is completely extended and the n retracted
even slightly, the belt is locked in that position and cannot be extended. This
feature is used to hold the child restraint system (CRS) firmly . To free the belt
again, fully retract the belt and then pull the belt out once m ore. (P. 62)
■ Child seat belt usage
The  seat  belts  of  your  vehicle  were  principally  designed  for  persons  of  adult
size.
●Use  a  child  restraint  system  appropriate  for  the  child,  until  the  child
becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt. ( P. 58)
● When  the  child  becomes  large  enough  to  properly  wear  the  vehicle’s  seat
belt, follow the instructions on P. 30 regarding seat belt usag e.
Seat belt pretensioners (front seats) 
     
        
        Page 37 of 596

371-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■Seat belt damage and wear
● Do  not  damage  the  seat  belts  by  allowing  the  belt,  plate,  or  bu ckle  to  be
jammed in the door.
● Inspect the seat belt system periodically. Check for cuts, fray ing, and loose
parts.  Do  not  use  a  damaged  seat  belt  until  it  is  replaced.  Dam aged  seat
belts cannot protect an occupant from death or serious injury.
● Ensure that the belt and plate are locked and the belt is not t wisted.
If the seat belt does not function correctly, immediately conta ct your Toyota
dealer.
● Replace  the  seat  assembly,  including  the  belts,  if  your  vehicle  has  been
involved in a serious accident, even if there’s no obvious dama ge.
● Do  not  attempt  to  install,  remove,  modify,  disassemble  or  dispo se  of  the
seat belts. Have any necessary repairs carried out by your Toyota dealer.
Inappropriate  handling  of  the  pretensioner  may  prevent  it  from  operating
properly, resulting in death or serious injury.
■ When using or storing th e rear center seat belt
● For vehicles with split rear seats, do not allow anyone sit on  the rear center
seat if the rear right seat is folded down, as the seat belt bu ckle for the rear
center  seat  belt  is  then  concealed  under  the  folded  seat  and  ca nnot  be
used.
● When  storing  the  rear  center  seat  belt,  ensure  that  the  tabs  ar e  securely
inserted into the cover on the roof. If the tabs are not stowed  properly, they
may drop from the cover while driving, resulting in serious inj ury.
●Do not use the rear center seat belt with
either buckle released. 
Fastening only one of the buckles may
result in death or serious injury in case
of sudden braking or a collision. 
     
        
        Page 57 of 596

571-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
●It  is  recommended  that  children  sit  in  the  rear  seats  to  avoid  acci-
dental contact wit h the shift lever, wiper switch etc.
● Use  the  rear  door  child-protector  lock  or  the  window  lock  switc h  to
avoid  children  opening  the  door  while  driving  or  operating  the
power window accidentally.
● Do  not  let  small  children  operate  equipment  which  may  catch  or
pinch  body  parts,  such  as  the  power  window,  hood,  back  door,
seats etc.
Safety information for children
Observe the following precautions when children are in the vehi -
cle.
Use  a  child  restraint  system  app ropriate  for  the  child,  until  the
child becomes  large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat
belt.
WARNING
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow  children to
have or use the key.
Children  may  be  able  to  start  the  vehicle  or  shift  the  vehicle  into  neutral.
There is also a  danger that  children  may  injure  themselves  by p laying with
the  windows  or  other  features  of  the  vehicle.  In  addition,  heat  build-up  or
extremely cold temperatures inside the vehicle can be fatal to  children. 
     
        
        Page 62 of 596
621-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U
Child restraint LATCH anchors
LATCH  anchors  are  provided  for
the  outside  rear  seats.  (Buttons
displaying  the  location  of  the
anchors are attached to the seats.)
Seat  belts  equipped  with  a  child
restraint  locking  mechanism
(ALR/ELR  belts  except  driver’s
seat belt) (P. 34)
Anchor  brackets  (for  top  tether
strap)
An  anchor  bracket  is  provided  for
each rear seat.
Installing child restraints
Follow  the  child  restraint  system  manufacturer’s  instructions.
Firmly secure child restraints to the rear seats using the LATC H
anchors or a seat belt. Attach t he top tether strap when installing
a child restraint.
The  lap/shoulder belt can  be used if your  child restraint  syste m
is  not  compatible  with  the  LATCH  (Lower  Anchors  and  Tethers
for Children) system. 
     
        
        Page 65 of 596
651-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U■
Rear facing 
 Infant seat/convertible seat
Place  the  child  restraint  sys-
tem  on  the  rear  seat  facing
the rear of the vehicle.
Run the seat belt through the
child  restraint  system  and
insert  the  plate  into  the
buckle.  Make  sure  that  the
belt is not twisted.
Installing  child  restraints  using  a  seat  belt  (child  restraint  lock
function belt)
1
2 
     
        
        Page 66 of 596
661-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U
Fully extend the shoulder belt
and allow it to retract to put it
in  lock  mode.  In  lock  mode,
the belt cannot be extended.
While  pushing  the  child
restraint  system  down  into
the  rear  seat,  allow  the
shoulder belt to retract until
the  child  restraint  system  is
securely in place.
After  the  shoulder  belt  has
retracted  to  a  point  where  there
is  no  slack  in  the  belt,  pull  the
belt  to  check  that  it  cannot  be
extended.
3
4 
     
        
        Page 67 of 596
671-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U■
Forward facing 
 Convertible seat
Rear  center  seat: Adjust  the  head  restraint  to  the  upmost  posi-
tion. (
P. 153)
Place  the  child  restraint  sys-
tem  on  the  seat  facing  the
front of the vehicle.
Run the seat belt through the
child  restraint  system  and
insert  the  plate  into  the
buckle.  Make  sure  that  the
belt is not twisted.
Fully extend the shoulder belt
and allow it to retract to put it
in  lock  mode.  In  lock  mode,
the belt cannot be extended.
1
2
3
4 
     
        
        Page 71 of 596

711-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■When installing a booster seat
To  prevent  the  belt  from  going  into ALR  lock  mode,  do  not  fully   extend  the
shoulder  belt. ALR  mode  causes  the  belt  to  tighten  only.  This  c ould  cause
injury or discomfort to the child. ( P. 34)
■ When installing a child restraint system
Follow  the  directions  given  in  the  child  restraint  system  insta llation  manual
and fix the child restraint system securely in place.
If the child restraint system is not correctly fixed in place,  the child or other
passengers  may  be  seriously  injured  or  even  killed  in  the  event  of  sudden
braking, sudden swerving or an accident.
● When  a  booster  seat  is  installed,  always  ensure  that  the  should er  belt  is
positioned  across  the  center  of  the  child’s  shoulder.  The  belt  should  be
kept  away  from  the  child’s  neck,  but  not  so  that  it  could  fall  off  the  child’s
shoulder. Failure to do so may r esult in death or serious injury in the event
of sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.
● Ensure that the belt and plate are securely locked and the seat  belt is not
twisted.
● If  the  driver’s  seat  interferes  with  the
child  restraint  system  and  prevents  it
from being attached correctly, attach the
child  restraint  system  to  the  right-hand
rear seat.
● Adjust  the  front  passenger  seat  so  that
it  does  not  interfere  with  the  child
restraint system.
● Only  put  a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front seat when unavoid-
able.  When  installing  a  forward-facing
child  restraint  system  on  the  front  pas-
senger  seat,  move  the  seat  as  far  back
as  possible  even  if  the  “AIR  BAG  OFF”
indicator  light  is  illuminated.  Failure  to
do  so  may  result  in  death  or  serious
injury if the airbags deploy (inflate).