Lexus GS350 2014 Owner's Guide

301-1. For safe use
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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 shoulder.
●Position the lap belt as low as
possible over the hips.
●Adjust the position of the seat-
back. Sit up straight and well back
in the seat.
●Do not twist the seat belt.
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.
Make sure that all occupants are wearing their seat belts before driving
the vehicle.
Correct use of the seat belts
Fastening and releasing the seat belt
Release button
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311-1. For safe use
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For safety and security
Push the seat belt shoulder
anchor down while pressing the
release button.
Push the seat belt shoulder
anchor up.
Move the height adjuster up and down
as needed until you hear a click.
For children or smaller-than-aver-
age people, slide the seat belt com-
fort guide forward so that the
shoulder belt does not sit close to
the person’s neck.
The pretensioner helps the seat belt
to quickly restrain the occupant by
retracting the seat belt when the
vehicle is subjected to certain types
of severe frontal collision.
The front seat pretensioners also acti-
vate when the vehicle is subjected to
certain types of severe side collision.
The pretensioner does not activate in
the event of a minor frontal impact, a
minor side impact, a rear impact or a
vehicle rollover.
Adjusting the seat belt shoulder anchor height (front seats)
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Seat belt comfort guide (outboard rear seats)
Seat belt pretensioners (front and outboard rear seats)
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321-1. For safe use
GS350_OM_OM30D41U_(U)If the pre-collision sensor detects that a collision is unavoidable, the pre-
collision system will retract the seat belt before the collision occurs.
(→
P. 2 7 9 )
■Emergency locking retractor (ELR)
The retractor will lock the belt during a sudden stop or on impact. 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 then 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 more. ( →P. 5 9 )
■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. 5 5 )
●When the child becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt, fol-
low the instructions regarding seat belt usage. ( →P. 3 0 )
■Replacing the belt after the pretensioner has been activated
If the vehicle is involved in multiple collisions, the pretensioner will activate for the
first collision, but will not activate for the second or subsequent collisions.
■Seat belt extender
Pre-collision seat belts (front seat s of vehicles with pre-collision
system)
If your seat belts cannot be fastened securely
because they are not long enough, a person-
alized seat belt extender is available from
your Lexus dealer free of charge.
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331-1. For safe use
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For safety and security
CAUTION
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of injury in the event of sudden
braking, sudden swerving or an accident.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
■Wearing a seat belt
●Ensure that all passengers wear a seat belt.
●Always wear a seat belt properly.
●Each seat belt should be used by one person only. Do not use a seat belt for more
than one person at once, including children.
●Lexus recommends that children be seated in the rear seat and always use a seat
belt and/or an appropriate child restraint system.
●To achieve a proper seating position, do not recline the seat more than necessary.
The seat belt is most effective when the occupants are sitting up straight and well
back in the seats.
●Do not wear the shoulder belt under your arm.
●Always wear your seat belt low and snug across your hips.
■Pregnant women
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat
belt in the proper way. (→P. 3 0 )
Women who are pregnant should position
the lap belt as low as possible over the hips in
the same manner as other occupants,
extending the shoulder belt completely over
the shoulder and avoiding belt contact with
the rounding of the abdominal 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 collision.
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341-1. For safe use
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CAUTION
■People suffering illness
Obtain medical advice and wear the seat belt in the proper way. (→P. 3 0 )
■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 should be used to cut
the belt.
■Seat belt pretensioners
If the pretensioner has activated, the SRS warning light will come on. In that case,
the seat belt cannot be used again and must be replaced at your Lexus dealer.
■Adjustable shoulder anchor
Always make sure the shoulder belt is positioned across the center of your shoul-
der. The belt should be kept away from your neck, but not falling off your shoulder.
Failure to do so could reduce the amount of protection in an accident and cause
death or serious injuries in the event of a sudden stop, sudden swerve or accident.
( → P. 3 1 )
■Seat belt damage and wear
●Do not damage the seat belts by allowing the belt, plate, or buckle to be jammed
in the door.
●Inspect the seat belt system periodically. Check for cuts, fraying, and loose parts.
Do not use a damaged seat belt until it is replaced. Damaged seat belts cannot
protect an occupant from death or serious injury.
●Ensure that the belt and plate are locked and the belt is not twisted.
If the seat belt does not function correctly, immediately contact your Lexus
dealer.
●Replace the seat assembly, including the belts, if your vehicle has been involved in
a serious accident, even if there is no obvious damage.
●Do not attempt to install, remove, modify, disassemble or dispose of the seat belts.
Have any necessary repairs carried out by your Lexus dealer. Inappropriate han-
dling may lead to incorrect operation.
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351-1. For safe use
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For safety and security
CAUTION
■Using a seat belt extender
●Do not wear the seat belt extender if you can fasten the seat belt without the
extender.
●Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system because
the belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, increasing the risk of
death or serious injury in the event of an accident.
●The personalized extender may not be safe on another vehicle, when used by
another person, or at a different seating position other than the one originally
intended.
NOTICE
■When using a seat belt extender
When releasing the seat belt, press on the buckle release button on the extender,
not on the seat belt.
This helps prevent damage to the vehicle interior and the extender itself.
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361-1. For safe use
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SRS airbags
◆SRS front airbags
SRS driver airbag/front passenger airbag
Can help protect the head and chest of the driver and front passenger
from impact with interior components
SRS knee airbags
Can help provide driver and front passenger protection
An SRS knee airbag for the front passenger’s seat is built into the glove box
door.
The SRS airbags inflate when the vehicle is subjected to certain types
of severe impacts that may cause significant injury to the occupants.
They work together with the seat belts to help reduce the risk of death
or serious injury.
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371-1. For safe use
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For safety and security
◆SRS side and curtain shield airbags
SRS front side airbags
Can help protect the torso of the front seat occupants
SRS rear side airbags
Can help protect the torso of occupants in the rear outer seats
SRS curtain shield airbags
Can help protect primarily the head of occupants in the outer seats
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381-1. For safe use
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SRS airbag system components
Front passenger occupant clas-
sification system (ECU and sen-
sors)
Side impact sensors (front
doors)
Knee airbags
Front passenger airbag
Curtain shield airbags
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator lights
Seat belt pretensioners and
force limiters
Side impact sensors (front)Front side airbags
SRS warning light
Driver airbag
Rear side airbags
Side impact sensors (rear)
Driver’s seat position sensor
Driver’s seat belt buckle switch
Airbag sensor assembly
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch
Front impact sensors1
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391-1. For safe use
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For safety and security
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag sen-
sor assembly (ECU) controls airbag deployment based on information
obtained from the sensors etc. shown in the system components diagram
above. This information includes crash severity and occupant information.
As the airbags deploy, a chemical reaction in the inflators quickly fills the
airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occupants.
CAUTION
■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 seat belts properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the seat 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) advises:
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 provides 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 reaching the pedalscomfortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm)
distance, even with the driver seat all the way forward, simply by reclining the
back of the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to
see 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 airbag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA above, while still
maintaining control of the foot pedals, steering wheel, and your view of the
instrument panel controls.
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