LEXUS RX350 2011 Owners Manual

108
1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
nWhile driving
lDo not adjust the position of the driver’s seat.
Doing so could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
lDo not place a cushion between the driver or passenger and the seatback.
A cushion may prevent correct posture from being achieved, and reduce the
effectiveness of the seat belt and head restraint, increasing the risk of death or
serious injury to the driver or passenger.
lDo not place anything under the front seats.
Objects placed under the front seats may become jammed in the seat tracks and
stop the seat from locking in place. This may lead to an accident, resulting in
death or serious injury. The adjustment mechanism may also be damaged.
nAdjusting the seat position
lTake care when adjusting the seat position to ensure that other passengers are
not injured by the moving seat.
lDo not put your hands under the seat or near the moving parts to avoid injury.
Fingers or hands may become jammed in the seat mechanism.

109
1
1-7. Safety information

Before driving
SRS airbags
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.
SRS front airbags
SRS driver airbag/front passenger airbag
Can help protect the head and chest of the driver and front passen-
ger from impact with interior components
SRS knee airbags
Can help provide driver and front passenger protection

110
1-7. Safety information
SRS side and curtain shield airbags
Front SRS side airbags
Can help protect the torso of the front seat occupants
Rear SRS 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

111
1-7. Safety information
1

Before driving
SRS airbag system components
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag system
controls airbag deployment power for the driver and front passenger. The
driver airbag system consists of the driver’s seat position sensor etc. The
front passenger’s airbag system consists of the front passenger occupant
classification sensor etc.
Knee airbags
Front passenger airbag
Curtain shield airbags
Front side airbags
Occupant detection system
(ECU and sensors)
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator lights
Rear side airbags
SRS warning light
Driver airbag
Curtain shield airbag sensors
Side and curtain shield airbag
sensors
Driver's seat belt buckle
switch
Driver's seat position sensor
Airbag sensor assembly
Front airbag sensors
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch

112
1-7. Safety information
The main SRS airbag system components are shown above. The SRS air-
bag system is controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The airbag sen-
sor assembly consists of a safing sensor and an airbag sensor.
In certain types of severe frontal or side impacts, the SRS airbag system
triggers the airbag inflators. A chemical reaction in the inflators quickly
fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to help restrain the motion of the occu-
pants.
nIf the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
lBruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying (inflating)
SRS airbag.
lA loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
lParts of the airbag module (steering wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) as
well as the seats, and parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof side rails, may
be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
lThe windshield may crack.
lFor Safety Connect subscribers, if the SRS airbags deploy or in the event of a
severe rear-end collision, the system is designed to send an emergency call to
the response center, notifying them of the vehicle’s location (without needing to
push the “SOS” button) and an agent will attempt to speak with the occupants
to ascertain the level of emergency and assistance required. If the occupants
are unable to communicate, the agent automatically treats the call as an emer-
gency and helps to dispatch the necessary emergency services. (→P. 4 3 6 )

113
1-7. Safety information
1

Before driving
nSRS airbag deployment conditions (SRS front airbags)
lThe SRS front airbags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds the
set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to an approximately 12 -
18 mph [20 - 30 km/h] frontal collision with a fixed wall that does not move or
deform).
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the vehicle strikes
an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole, which can move or deform on
impact, or if the vehicle is involved in an underride collision (e.g. a collision in
which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a truck, etc.).
lIt is possible that in some collisions where the forward deceleration of the vehi-
cle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front airbags and the
seat belt pretensioners may not activate together.
lThe SRS front passenger airbag will not activate if there is no passenger sitting
in the front passenger seat. However, the SRS front passenger airbag may
deploy if luggage is put in the seat, or the seat belt is fastened, even if the seat is
unoccupied. (→P. 7 5 )
nSRS airbag deployment conditions (SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags)
The SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags will deploy in the event of an impact
that exceeds the set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to the impact
force produced by an approximately 3300 lb. [1500 kg] vehicle colliding with the
vehicle cabin from a direction perpendicular to the vehicle orientation at an
approximate speed of 12 - 18 mph [20 - 30

km/h
]).

114
1-7. Safety information
nConditions under which the SRS airbags may deploy (inflate), other than a colli-
sion (SRS front airbags)
The SRS front airbags may also deploy if a serious impact occurs to the underside of
your vehicle. Some examples are shown in the illustration.
The SRS curtain shield airbags may also deploy under the situations shown in the
illustration.
nTypes of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbags (SRS front airbags)
The SRS front airbags are generally not designed to inflate if the vehicle is involved
in a side or rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is involved in a low-speed frontal colli-
sion. But, whenever a collision of any type causes sufficient forward deceleration of
the vehicle, deployment of the SRS front airbags may occur.
lHitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard
surface
lFalling into or jumping over a deep hole
lLanding hard or vehicle falling
lThe angle of vehicle tip-up is marginal.
lThe vehicle skids and hits a curb stone.
lCollision from the side
lCollision from the rear
lVehicle rollover

115
1-7. Safety information
1

Before driving
nTypes of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbags
(SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags)
The SRS side airbag and curtain shield airbag system may not activate if the vehicle
is subjected to a collision from the side at certain angles, or a collision to the side of
the vehicle body other than the passenger compartment.
The SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags are not generally designed to
inflate if the vehicle is involved in a frontal or rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is
involved in a low-speed side collision.
lCollision from the side to the vehicle body
other than the passenger compartment
lCollision from the side at an angle
lCollision from the front
lCollision from the rear
lVehicle rollover

116
1-7. Safety information
nWhen to contact your Lexus dealer
In the following cases, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
lAny of the SRS airbags has been inflated.
lThe front of the vehicle is damaged or
deformed, or was involved in an accident
that was not severe enough to cause the
SRS airbags to inflate.
lA portion of the doors is damaged or
deformed, or the vehicle was involved in an
accident that was not severe enough to
cause the SRS side airbags and curtain
shield airbags to inflate.
lThe pad section of the steering wheel,
dashboard near the front passenger airbag
or lower portion of the instrument panel is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.
lThe surface of the seats with the side air-
bag is scratched, cracked, or otherwise
damaged.
lThe portion of the front pillars, rear pillars
or roof side rail garnishes (padding) con-
taining the curtain shield airbags inside is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.

117
1-7. Safety information
1

Before driving
CAUTION
nSRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
lThe 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.
lThe 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 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: