TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID 2021 Workshop Manual
Page 51 of 752
511-2. Child safety
1
For safety and security
1-2.Child safety
Riding with children
Observe the following pre-
cautions when children are 
in the vehicle.
Use a child restraint system 
appropriate for the child, 
until the child becomes 
large enough to properly 
wear the vehicle’s seat belt.
It is recommended that chil-
dren sit in the rear seats to 
avoid accidental contact 
with the shift lever, wiper 
switch, etc.
 Use the rear door child-pro-
tector lock or the window 
lock switch to avoid children 
opening the door while driv-
ing or operating the power 
window accidentally. 
( P.132, 178)
 Do not let small children 
operate equipment which 
may catch or pinch body 
parts, such as the power 
window, hood, back door, 
seats, etc.
WARNING
■When children are in the vehi-
cle
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 ma y injure them-
selves by playing with the side 
windows, the moon roof (if 
equipped), the panoramic moon 
roof (if equipped) or other features 
of the vehicle. In addition, heat 
build-up or extremely cold tem-
peratures inside the vehicle can 
be fatal to children. 
Page 52 of 752
521-2. Child safety
Points to remember: P.52
Child restraint system: P.54
When using a child restraint sys-
tem: P.55
Child restraint system installa-
tion method
• Fixed with a seat belt: P.56
• Fixed with a child restraint LATCH anchor: P.61
• Using an anchor bracket (for  top tether strap): P.63 The laws of all 50 states of the 
U.S.A. as well as Canada now 
require the use of child restraint 
systems.
Prioritize and observe the 
warnings, as well as the laws 
and regulations for child 
restraint systems.
 Use a child restraint system 
until the child becomes large 
enough to properly wear the 
vehicle’s seat belt.
 Choose a child restraint sys-
tem that suits your vehicle 
and is appropriate to the age 
and size of the child.
Child restraint sys-
tems
Before installing a child 
restraint system in the vehi-
cle, there are precautions 
that need to be observed, 
different types of child 
restraint systems, as well as 
installation methods, etc., 
written in this manual.
Use a child restraint system 
when riding with a small child 
that cannot properly use a 
seat belt. For the child’s 
safety, install the child 
restraint system to a rear seat. 
Be sure to follow the installa-
tion method that is in the oper-
ation manual enclosed with 
the restraint system.
Table of contents
Points to remember
WARNING
■When a child is riding
Observe the following precau-
tions. 
Failure to do so may result in 
death or serious injury.
●For effective protection in auto-
mobile accidents and sudden 
stops, a child must be properly 
restrained, using a seat belt or 
child restraint system which is 
correctly installe d. For installa-
tion details, refer to the opera-
tion manual enclosed with the 
child restraint system. General 
installation instructions are pro-
vided in this manual. 
Page 53 of 752
531-2. Child safety
1
For safety and security
WARNING
●Toyota strongly urges the use of 
a proper child restraint system 
that conforms to the weight and 
size of the child, installed on the 
rear seat. According to accident 
statistics, the child is safer when 
properly restrained in the rear 
seat than in the front seat.
●Holding a child in your or some-
one else’s arms is not a substi-
tute for a child restraint system. 
In an accident, the child can be 
crushed against the windshield 
or between the  holder and the 
interior of the vehicle.
■Handling the child restraint 
system
If the child restrai nt system is not 
properly fixed in place, the child or 
other passengers may be seri-
ously injured or e ven killed in the 
event of sudden braking, sudden 
swerving, or an accident.
●If the vehicle were to receive a 
strong impact from an accident, 
etc., it is possib le that the child 
restraint system has damage 
that is not readily visible. In 
such cases, do not reuse the 
restraint system.
●Make sure you have complied 
with all installation instructions 
provided with the child restraint 
system manufacturer and that 
the system is properly secured.
●Keep the child restraint system 
properly secured on the seat 
even if it is not in use. Do not 
store the child restraint system 
unsecured in the passenger 
compartment.
●If it is necessary to detach the 
child restraint system, remove it 
from the vehicle or store it 
securely in the luggage com-
partment. 
Page 54 of 752
541-2. Child safety
■Types of child restraint system installation methods
Confirm with the operation manual enclosed with the child restr aint 
system about the installation of the child restraint system.
Child restraint system
Installation methodPage
Seat belt attachmentP.56
Child restraint LATCH  anchors attachmentP.61
Anchor brackets (for 
top tether strap) attach- ment
P.63 
Page 55 of 752
551-2. Child safety
1
For safety and security
■When installing a child 
restraint system to a front 
passenger seat
For the safety of a child, install a 
child restraint system to a rear 
seat. When installing the child 
restraint system to a front pas-
senger seat is unavoidable, 
adjust the seat as follows and 
install the child restraint system.
 Adjust the seatback angle to 
the most upright position.
 Move the front seat fully rear-
ward.
 If the head restraint interferes 
with the child restraint system 
installation and the head 
restraint can be removed, 
remove the head restraint. 
Otherwise, put the head 
restraint in the upper most 
position.
When using a child 
restraint systemWARNING
■When using a ch ild restraint 
system
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may result in 
death or serious injury.
●Never install a re ar-facing child 
restraint system on the front 
passenger seat even if the “AIR 
BAG OFF” indicator light is illu-
minated. In the event of an acci-
dent, the force of the rapid 
inflation of the front passenger 
airbag can cause death or seri-
ous 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 passenger 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. 
Page 56 of 752
561-2. Child safety
A child restraint system for a 
small child or baby must itself be 
properly restrained on the seat 
with the lap portion of the 
lap/shoulder belt.
■Installing child restraint 
system using a seat belt 
(child restraint lock func-
tion belt)
Install the child restraint system 
in accordance to the operation 
WARNING
●A forward-facing c hild restraint 
system may be installed on the 
front passenger  seat only when 
it is unavoidable. When install-
ing a forward-facing child 
restraint system  on the front 
passenger seat, adjust the seat-
back angle to the most upright 
position, move the seat to the 
rearmost position, even if the 
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is 
illuminated. 
If the head restraint interferes 
with the child restraint system 
installation and the head 
restraint can be removed, 
remove the head restraint.
●Do not allow the child to lean 
his/her head or any part of 
his/her body against the door or 
the area of the seat, front or rear 
pillars, or roof  side rails from 
which the SRS side airbags or 
SRS curtain shield airbags 
deploy even if the child is 
seated in the child restraint sys-
tem. It is dangerous if the SRS 
side and curtain shield airbags 
inflate, and the impact could 
cause death or serious injury to 
the child.
●When a booster seat is 
installed, always ensure that the 
shoulder 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.
●Use a child restraint system 
suitable to the age and size of 
the child and install it to the rear 
seat.
●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.
Child restraint system 
fixed with a seat belt 
Page 57 of 752
571-2. Child safety
1
For safety and security
manual enclosed with the child 
restraint system.
■Rear-facing  Infant 
seat/convertible seat
1 Adjust the rear seat.
If there is a gap between the child 
restraint system and  the seatback, 
adjust the seatback angle until 
good contact is achieved.
2 Place the child restraint sys-
tem on the rear seat facing 
the rear of the vehicle.
3 Run the seat belt through the 
child restraint system and 
insert the plate into the 
buckle. Make sure that the 
belt is not twisted.
4 Fully extend the shoulder belt 
and allow it to retract to put it  in lock mode. In lock mode, 
the belt cannot be extended.
5 While pushing the child 
restraint system down into 
the rear seat, allow the shoul-
der belt to retract until the 
child restraint system is 
securely in place.
After the shoulder belt has 
retracted to a poi nt where there is 
no slack in the belt, pull the belt to 
check that it cannot be extended.
6 After installing the child 
restraint system, rock it back 
and forth to ensure that it is 
installed securely. ( P.60)
■Forward-facing  Convert-
ible seat
1 Adjust the seat.
When using the front passenger 
seat: If installing th e child restraint 
system to the front passenger seat 
is unavoidable, refer to P.55for 
front passenger seat adjustment. 
Page 58 of 752
581-2. Child safety
When using the rear seat: If there is 
a gap between the child restraint 
system and the seatback, adjust 
the seatback angle  until good con-
tact is achieved.
2 If the head restraint interferes 
with the child restraint system 
installation and the head 
restraint can be removed, 
remove the head restraint. 
( P.160)
3 Place the child restraint sys-
tem on the seat facing the 
front of the vehicle.
4 Run the seat belt through the 
child restraint system and 
insert the plate into the  buckle. Make sure that the 
belt is not twisted.
5 Fully extend the shoulder belt 
and allow it to retract to put it 
in lock mode. In lock mode, 
the belt cannot be extended.
6 While pushing the child 
restraint system 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 poi nt where there is 
no slack in the belt, pull the belt to  
Page 59 of 752
591-2. Child safety
1
For safety and security
check that it cannot be extended.
7If the child restraint has a top 
tether strap, follow the child 
restraint manufacturer’s 
operation manual regarding 
the installation, using the top 
tether strap to latch onto the 
top tether strap anchor. 
( P.63)
8 After installing the child 
restraint system, rock it back 
and forth to ensure that it is 
installed securely. ( P.60)
■Booster seat
1 If installing the child restraint 
system to the front passen-
ger seat is unavoidable, refer 
to P.55for front passenger 
seat adjustment.
2 High back type: If the head 
restraint interferes with your 
child restraint system, and 
the head restraint can be  removed, remove the head 
restraint. (
P.160)
3 Place the child restraint sys-
tem on the seat facing the 
front of the vehicle.
Booster type
High back type
4 Sit the child in the child 
restraint system. Fit the seat 
belt to the child restraint sys-
tem according to the manu-
facturer’s instructions and 
insert the plate into the  
Page 60 of 752
601-2. Child safety
buckle. Make sure that the 
belt is not twisted.
Check that the shoulder belt is cor-
rectly positioned over the child’s 
shoulder and that the lap belt is as 
low as possible. (P.31)
■Removing a child restraint 
system installed with a seat 
belt
Press the buckle release button 
and fully retract the seat belt.
When releasing the buckle, the 
child restraint system may spring 
up due to the rebound of the seat 
cushion. Release the buckle while 
holding down the child restraint 
system.
Since the seat belt automatically 
reels itself, slowly return it to the 
stowing position.
WARNING
■When installing a child 
restraint system
Observe the following precau-
tions. 
Failure to do so may result in 
death or serious injury.
●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 
should be used to cut the belt.
●Ensure that the belt and plate 
are securely locked and the 
seat belt is not twisted.
●Shake the child restraint system 
left and right, and forward and 
backward to ensure that it has 
been securely installed.
●After securing a child restraint 
system, never adjust the seat.
●When a booster seat is 
installed, always ensure that the 
shoulder 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.
●Follow all installation instruc-
tions provided by the child 
restraint system manufacturer.