361-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■Pregnant women
■ People suffering illness
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat belt in the proper way. (P. 30)
■ When children are in the vehicle
Do not allow children to play with the seat belt. If the seat belt becomes
twisted around a child’s neck, it may lead to choking or other serious injuries
that could result in death.
If this occurs and the buckle cannot be unfastened, scissors sh ould be used
to cut the belt.
■ Seat belt pretensioners
● Do not place anything, such as a cushion, on the front passenger’s seat.
Doing so will disperse the passenger’s weight, which prevents t he sensor
from detecting the passenger’s weight properly. As a result, th e seat belt
pretensioner for the front passenger’s seat may not activate in the event of
a collision.
● If the pretensioner has activated, the SRS warning light will c ome on. In
that case, the seat belt cannot be used again and must be replaced at
your Toyota dealer.
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat
belt in the proper way. ( P. 30)
Women who are pregnant should posi-
tion the lap belt as low as possible over
the hips in the same manner as other
occupants. Extend the shoulder belt
completely over the shoulder and posi-
tion the belt across the chest. Avoid belt
contact over the rounding of the abdomi-
nal area.
If the seat belt is not worn properly, not
only the pregnant woman, but also the
fetus could suffer death or serious injury
as a result of sudden braking or a colli-
sion.
411-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
SRS airbag system components
Curtain shield airbags
SRS warning light and “AIR
BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator lights
Front side airbags
Side impact sensors (rear)
Front passenger’s seat cush-
ion airbag
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch
Driver airbag
Driver’s seat belt buckle
switchDriver’s seat c
ushion airbag
Side impact sensors (front)
Seat belt pretensioners and
force limiters
Side impact sensors (front
door)
Driver’s knee airbag
Front passenger occupant
classification system (ECU
and sensors)
Airbag sensor assembly
Front impact sensors
Front passenger airbag1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
421-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag
sensor assembly (ECU) controls airbag deployment based on infor-
mation obtained from the sensors etc. shown in the system compo -
nents diagram above. This informat ion includes crash severity and
occupant information. As the airbags deploy, a chemical reactio n in
the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to h elp restrain
the motion of t he occupants.
WARNING
■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 se at belts
properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the se at 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) advi ses:
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 reach ing the ped-
als comfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle design s vary,
many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm) distance, even wit h the
driver seat all the way forward, simply by reclining the back o f the seat
somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to s ee 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, whil e
still maintaining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view
of the instrument panel controls.
461-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■SRS airbag precautions
● If breathing becomes difficult after the SRS airbags have deplo yed, open a
door or window to allow fresh air in, or leave the vehicle if i t is safe to do
so. Wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent skin ir ritation.
● If the areas where the SRS airbags are stored, such as the steering wheel
pad and front and rear pillar garnishes, are damaged or cracked , have
them replaced by your Toyota dealer.
● Do not place anything, such as a cushion, on the front passenger’s seat.
Doing so will disperse the passenger’s weight, which prevents t he sensor
from detecting the passenger’s weight properly. As a result, th e SRS front
airbags for the front passenger may not deploy in the event of a collision.
■ Modification and disposal of SRS airbag system components
Do not dispose of your vehicle or perform any of the following modifications
without consulting your Toyota dealer. The SRS airbags may malfunction or
deploy (inflate) accidentally, causing death or serious injury.
● Installation, removal, disassembly and repair of the SRS airbag s.
● Repairs, modifications, removal or replacement of the steering wheel,
instrument panel, dashboard, seats or seat upholstery, front, s ide and rear
pillars or roof side rails.
● Repairs or modifications of the front fender, front bumper, or side of the
occupant compartment.
● Installation of a grille guard (bull bars, kangaroo bar, etc.), snow plows,
winches, or roof luggage carrier.
● Modifications to the vehicle’s suspension system.
● Installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radio s and CD
players.
● Modifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disa bility.
801-2. Hybrid system
PRIUS c_U
There is an air intake vent on the
side of the lower part of the rear
left seat for the purpose of cooling
the hybrid battery (traction bat-
tery). When the air intake vent is
blocked, the battery operations
will be restricted and cause a
decline in fuel consumption.
When a certain level of impact is detected by the impact sensor , the
emergency shut off system blocks the high voltage current and stops
the fuel pump to minimize the ri sk of electrocution and fuel leakage. If
the emergency shut off system activates, your vehicle will not restart.
To restart the hybrid system , contact your Toyota dealer.
A message is automatically displ ayed when a malfunction occurs in
the hybrid system or an improper operation is attempted.
If a warning message is shown on
the multi-information display, read
the message and follow the
instructions. ( P. 485)
Hybrid battery (traction battery) air intake vent
Emergency shut off system
Hybrid warning message
125
3
Operation of each component
PRIUS c_U
3-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
◆Entry function (if equipped)
Carry the electronic key to enable this function.
Grip the driver's door handle
to unlock the door.
* (Grip the
passenger's door handle to
unlock all the doors.)
Make sure to touch the sensor
on the back of the handle.
The doors cannot be unlocked
for 3 seconds after the doors are
locked.
*: The door unlock settings can be changed. ( P. 132)
Touch the lock sensor (the indentation on the side of the door
handle) to lock the doors.
Check that the door is securely locked.
Side doors
Unlocking and locking the doors from the outside
1
2
1273-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
PRIUS c_U
■Operation signals
Vehicles without a smart key system
The emergency flashers flash to indicate that the doors have been locked/
unlocked. (Locked: once; Unlocked: twice)
Vehicles with a smart key system
A buzzer sounds and the emergency flashers flash to indicate th at the doors
have been locked/unlocked. (Locked: once; Unlocked: twice)
■ Security feature
Vehicles without a smart key system
If a door is not opened within approximately 60 seconds after t he vehicle is
unlocked, the security feature automatically locks the vehicle again.
Vehicles with a smart key system
If a door is not opened within approximately 60 seconds after t he vehicle is
unlocked, the security feature automatically locks the vehicle again. (How-
ever, depending on the location of the electronic key, the key may be
detected as being in the vehicle. In this case, vehicle may be unlocked.)
■ When the door cannot be locked by the lock sensor on the surface of the
door handle (vehicles with a smart key system)
■ Door lock buzzer
If an attempt to lock the doors is made when a door is not full y closed, a
buzzer sounds continuously. Fully close the door to stop the bu zzer, and lock
the vehicle once more.
■ If the smart key system or the wireless remote control does not operate
properly
Vehicles with a smart key system: Use the mechanical key to loc k and unlock
the doors. ( P. 517)
Replace the key battery with a new one if it is depleted. ( P. 449)
Use your palm to touch the lock sensor.
1423-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
PRIUS c_U■
Notes for the entry function
●Even when the electronic key is within the effective range (det ection areas),
the system may not operate properly in the following cases:
• The electronic key is too close to the window or outside door handle, near
the ground, or in a high place when the doors are locked or unl ocked.
• The electronic key is on the instrument panel, luggage cover o r floor, in
the door pockets or glove box when the hybrid system is started or power
switch modes are changed.
● Do not exit the vehicle with the electronic key placed on the i nstrument
panel or near the door pockets. Depending on the radio wave reception con-
ditions, it may be detected by the antenna outside the cabin and the door
will become lockable from the outside, possibly trapping the electronic key
inside the vehicle.
● As long as the electronic key is within the effective range, th e doors may be
locked or unlocked by anyone. However, only the doors detecting the elec-
tronic key can be used to unlock the vehicle.
● Whether or not the electronic key is inside the vehicle, the hy brid system
could be started if the electronic key is near the window.
● The doors may unlock if a large amount of water splashes on the door han-
dle, such as in the rain or in a car wash when the electronic k ey is within the
effective range. (The door will automatically be locked after a pproximately
60 seconds if the doors are not opened and closed.)
● The lock and unlock sensors may not work properly if they come into con-
tact with ice, snow, mud, etc. Clean the sensors and attempt to operate
them again.
● If the wireless remote control is used to lock the doors when t he electronic
key is near the vehicle, there is a possibility that the door m ay not be
unlocked by the entry function. (Using the wireless remote cont rol to unlock
the doors may resume the function.)
● If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is with in the effec-
tive range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that ca se, follow the
following correction procedures to wash the vehicle:
• Place the electronic key in a location 6 ft. (2 m) or more awa y from the
vehicle. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
• Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the s mart key
system. ( P. 140)