TOYOTA TACOMA 2012 Owners Manual (in English)

101
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
Modification and disposal of SRS airbag system components
Do not dispose of your vehicle or per form 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 airbags.
● Repairs, modifications, removal or replacement of the steering wheel,
instrument panel, dashboard, seats or seat upholstery, front, side and rear
pillars or roof side rails.
● Repairs or modifications of the front fender, front bumper, or side of the
occupant compartment.
● Installation of snow plows, winches, etc. to the front grille (bull bars, kan-
garoo bar etc.).
● Modifications to the vehicle’s suspension system.
● Do not use tires or wheels other than the manufacturer’s recommended
size. ( P. 564)
● Installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radios or CD
players.
● Modifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disability.

102 1-7. Safety information
Deactivating the curtain shield airbags in a vehicle rollover (4WD models only)
On/off (hold for a few seconds)
The RSCA OFF indicator turns on
(only when the engine switch is in
the ON position.)
The roll sensing function for the
curtain shield airbags and seat
belt pretensioners will turn back
on automatically each time the
engine switch is turned on.
■The switch only should be used
In a situation where inflation is not desired (such as during extreme off-road
driving).
■ Operating conditions when th e RSCA OFF indicator is on
● The curtain shield airbag and seat belt pretensioner will not activate in a
vehicle rollover.
● The curtain shield airbag will activate in a severe side impact.
CAUTION
■For normal driving
Make sure the RSCA OFF indicator is not turned on. If it is left on, the curtain
shield airbag will not activate in the event of an accident, which may result in
death or serious injury.

103
1
1-7. Safety information
Before driving
Front passenger occupant classification system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classifica-
tion system. This system detects the conditions of the right front
passenger seat and activates or deactivates the devices for the front
passenger.
SRS warning light
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
AIR BAG OFF indicator light
AIR BAG ON indicator light

104 1-7. Safety information
Conditions and operation of the front passenger occupant
classification system
■ Adult*
1
■Child*3 or child restraint system*4
Indicator/
warning light AIR BAG ON and AIR BAG OFF indica-
tor lights AIR BAG ON
SRS warning light Off
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
Flashing*2
Devices Front passenger airbag
Activated
Side airbag on the front passenger seat
Curtain shield airbag in the front passen- ger side
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner
Indicator/
warning light AIR BAG ON and AIR BAG OFF indica-
tor lights AIR BAG
OFF*
5
SRS warning light Off
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light Flashing*
2
DevicesFront passenger airbag Deactivated
Side airbag on the front passenger seat
Activated
Curtain shield airbag in the front passen-
ger side
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner

105
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
■
Unoccupied
■ There is a malfunction in the system
*
1: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may rec-
ognize him/her as a child depending on his/her physique and pos-
ture.
*
2: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.
*
3: When a larger child who has outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front passenger seat, the system may recognize him/
her as an adult depending on his/her physique or posture.
Indicator/
warning light AIR BAG ON and AIR BAG OFF indica-
tor lights Not illumi-
nated
SRS warning light Off
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder
light
Devices Front passenger airbag Deactivated
Side airbag on the front passenger seat Activated
Curtain shield airbag in the front passen-
ger side
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner Deactivated
Indicator/
warning light AIR BAG ON and AIR BAG OFF indica-
tor lights AIR BAG
OFF
SRS warning light On
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder light Off
Devices Front passenger airbag Deactivated
Side airbag on the front passenger seat
Activated
Curtain shield airbag in the front passen-
ger side
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner

106 1-7. Safety information
*4: Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front pas-senger seat. A forward-facing ch ild restraint system should only
be installed on the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable.
(  P. 108)
*
5: In case the indicator is not illu minated, consult this manual for
installing the child restraint system properly. ( P. 1 1 2 )
*
CAUTION
■Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding front passenger occupant clas-
sification system.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Wear the seat belt properly.
● Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt tab has not been left inserted
into the buckle before someone sits in the front passenger seat.
● Make sure the AIR BAG OFF indicator light is not illuminated when using
the seat belt extender for the front passenger seat. If the AIR BAG OFF
indicator light is illuminated, disconnect the extender tongue from the seat
belt buckle, then reconnect the seat belt. Reconnect the seat belt extender
after making sure the AIR BAG ON indicator light is illuminated. If you use
the seat belt extender while the AIR BAG OFF indicator light is illuminated,
the front passenger airbag may not activate correctly, which could cause
death or serious injury in the event of collision.
● Do not place a heavy load on the front passenger seat or equipment (e.g.
seatback table).
● Do not apply pressure to the front passenger seat by resting hands or legs
on the seatback.
● Do not let a rear passenger lift the front passenger seat with their feet or
press on the seatback with their legs.
● Do not put objects under the front passenger seat.

107
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
● Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear
seat or a back wall. This may cause the AIR BAG OFF indicator light to be
illuminated, which indicates that the passenger’s airbags will not deploy in
the event of a severe accident. If the seatback touches the rear seat or
back wall, return the seatback to a position where it does not touch the
rear seat or back wall. Keep the front passenger seatback as upright as
possible when the vehicle is moving. Reclining the seatback excessively
may lessen the effectiveness of the seat belt system.
● If an adult sits in the front passenger seat, the AIR BAG ON indicator light
is illuminated. If the AIR BAG OFF indicator is illuminated, ask the passen-
ger to sit up straight, well back in the seat, feet on the floor, and with the
seat belt worn correctly. If the AIR BAG OFF indicator still remains illumi-
nated, either ask the passenger to move to the rear seat, or if that is not
possible, move the front passenger seat fully rearward.
● When it is unavoidable to install the forward-facing child restraint system
on the front passenger seat, install the child restraint system on the front
passenger seat in the proper order. ( P. 112)
● Do not modify or remove the front seats.
● Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to severe impact. Other-
wise, the SRS warning light may come on to indicate a malfunction of the
detection system. In this case, contact your Toyota dealer immediately.
● Child restraint systems installed on the rear seat should not contact the
front seatbacks.
● Do not use a seat accessory, such as a cushion or seat cover, that covers
the seat cushion surface.
● Access Cab and Double Cab models: Do not attach a commercial seat-
back table or other heavy item to the back of the front passenger seat.
● Do not modify or replace the upholstery of the front seat.

108
1-7. Safety information
Child restraint systems
Points to rememberStudies have shown that installing a child restraint on a rear seat is
much safer than installing one to the front passenger seat.
● Choose a child restraint system th at suits your vehicle and is
appropriate to the age and size of the child.
● For installation details, follow the instructions provided with the
child restraint system.
General installation instructions are provided in this manual.
( P. 112)
Types of child restraints
Child restraint systems are clas sified into the following 3 types
according to the age and size of the child.
Rear facing — Infant seat/conve rtible seat (Access Cab and Dou-
ble Cab models only)
A child restraint system for a small ch ild or baby must itself be prop-
erly restrained on the seat with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder
belt.
The laws of all 50 states of the U.S.A. and Canada now require the
use of child restraint systems.

109
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
Forward facing — Convertible seat
Booster seat
■
Selecting an appropriat e child restraint system
● Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child until the child
becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt.
● If a child is too large for a child restraint system, sit the child on a rear
seat and use the vehicle’s seat belt. ( P. 63)

110 1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
■Child restraint precautions
●For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child
must be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system
depending on the age and size of the child. Holding a child in your arms is
not a substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be
crushed against the windshield, or between you and the vehicle’s interior.
● Regular Cab models: Toyota strongly urges use of a proper child restraint
system which conforms to the size of the child.
● Access Cab and Double Cab models: Toyota strongly urges the use of a
proper child restraint system that conforms to the 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.
● Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger
seat even if the AIR BAG OFF indicator light is illuminated. In the event of
an accident, the force of the rapid inflation of the front passenger airbag
can cause death or serious injury to the child if the rear-facing child
restraint system is installed on the front passenger seat.
● Access Cab and Double Cab models: A forward-facing child restraint sys-
tem may be installed on the front passenger seat only when it is unavoid-
able. 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. Adjust the seatback as upright as possible
and always move the seat as far back as possible even if AIR BAG OFF
indicator light is illuminated, because the front passenger airbag could
inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be
killed or seriously injured.
● Bench type front seat: Do not install a child restraint system on the center
seat if it interferes with driving operations such as gear shifting. In this
case, install the child restraint system on the right passenger seat.
● Bench type front seat: The driver and passengers sit on a bench seat in
this vehicle. Therefore, when installing a child restraint system, the seat
must be moved back from the SRS airbag as far as possible while also
maintaining the driver’s seating position. Otherwise, the force of the rapid
inflation of the airbag could cause death or serious injury to the child.