TOYOTA AVALON 2011 XX30 / 3.G Owners Manual

101
1
1-7. Safety information
Before driving
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
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.
Front airbags
Driver airbag/front passenger airbag
Can help protect the head and chest of the driver and front pas-
senger from impact with interior components.
Knee airbag
Can help provide driver protection.
Side and curtain shield airbags
Side airbag
Can help protect the torso of the front occupants.
Curtain shield airbag
Can help protect primarily the head of front occupants and rear
outboard occupants.

102 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Airbag system components
Front airbag sensor
Front passenger airbag
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG
OFF” indicator lights
Side airbag
Curtain shield airbag
Side and curtain shield airbag
sensor
SRS warning light
Curtain shield airbag sensorDriver’s seat position sensor
Knee airbag
Airbag sensor assembly
Occupant detection system
(ECU and sensors)
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch
Driver airbag
Driver’s seat belt buckle
switch

103 1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U (OM41428U)Your vehicle is equipped with “ADVANCED AIRBAGS” designed
based on US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The air-
bag system controls airbag deployment power for the driver and front
passenger. The driver airbag system consists of the driver seat’s
position sensor etc. The front passenger’s airbag system consists of
the front passenger occupant classification sensor etc.
In certain types of severe frontal or side impacts, the SRS airbag sys-
tem 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 occupants.
■If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Bruising and slight abrasions may result from contact with a deploying
(inflating) SRS airbag.
●A loud noise and white powder will be emitted.
●Parts 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
rail, may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
●The windshield may crack.

104 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
■Operating conditions (front airbags)
●The SRS front airbags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds
the set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to an approxi-
mately 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.).
●It is possible that in some collisions where the forward deceleration of the
vehicle is very close to the designed threshold level, the SRS front air-
bags and the seat belt pretensioners may not activate together.
●The SRS front passenger airbags will not activate, if there is no passen-
ger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the front passenger air-
bag may deploy, if heavy luggage is put, even if the seat is unoccupied.
(P. 114)
■Operating conditions (side and curtain shield airbags)
●The SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags will deploy in the even
of an impact that exceeds the set threshold level (the level of force corre-
sponding to the impact force produced by an approximately 3300 lb.
[1500 kg] vehicle colliding with the vehicle cabin from a direction perpen-
dicular to the vehicle orientation at an approximate speed of 12 - 18 mph
[20 - 30 km/h]).
●The SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags are designed to inflate
when the passenger compartment is subjected to a severe impact the
side.
●The SRS side airbag on the passenger seat will not activate, if there is no
passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the side airbag
on the passenger seat may deploy, if heavy luggage is put, even if the
seat is unoccupied. (P. 114)

105 1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
■Conditions under which the SRS airbags may deploy (inflate), other
than a collision
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.
■Types of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbag (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 collision. But, whenever a collision of any type causes suffi-
cient forward deceleration of the vehicle, deployment of the SRS front air-
bags may occur.
●Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or
hard surface
●Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
●Landing hard or vehicle falling
●Collision from the side
●Collision from the rear
●Vehicle rollover

106 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
■Types of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbag
(side 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 colli-
sion to the side of the vehicle body other than the passenger compartment.
The SRS side airbags and curtain shield airbags are generally not 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.
●Collision from the side to the vehicle
body other than the passenger com-
partment
●Collision from the side at an angle
●Collision from the front
●Collision from the rear
●Vehicle rollover

107 1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
■When to contact your Toyota dealer
In the following cases, contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
●Any of the SRS airbags have been inflated.
●The front of the vehicle is damaged or
deformed, or was involved in an acci-
dent that was not severe enough to
cause the SRS airbags to inflate.
●A 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.
●The pad section of the steering wheel,
front passenger airbag cover or lower
portion of the instrument panel is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.
●The surface of the seats with the side
airbag is scratched, cracked, or other-
wise damaged.
●The portion of the front pillars, rear pil-
lars or roof side rail garnishes (padding)
containing the curtain shield airbags is
scratched, cracked, or otherwise dam-
aged.

108 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the 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 driver 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 cen-
ter 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
pedals comfortably.
• 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, sim-
ply 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 air-
bag 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.

109 1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
●The SRS front passenger airbag also deploys with considerable force, and
can cause death or serious injury especially if the front passenger is very
close to the airbag. The front passenger seat should be as far from the air-
bag as possible with the seatback adjusted, so the front passenger sits
upright.
●Improperly seated and/or restrained infants and children can be killed or
seriously injured by a deploying airbag. An infant or child who is too small
to use a seat belt should be properly secured using a child restraint sys-
tem. Toyota strongly recommends that all infants and children be placed in
the rear seats of the vehicle and properly restrained. The rear seats are
the safest for infants and children. (P. 120)
●If the seat belt extender has been con-
nected to the driver’s seat belt buckle
but the seat belt extender has not also
been fastened to the latch plate of the
driver’s seat belt, the SRS driver’s air-
bag system will judge that the driver is
wearing the seat belt even though the
seat belt has not been connected. In
this case, the driver’s airbag may not
activate correctly in a collision, resulting
in death or serious injury in the event of
collision. Be sure to wear the seat belt
with the seat belt extender.

110 1-7. Safety information
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
CAUTION
■SRS airbag precautions
●Do not sit on the edge of the seat or
lean against the dashboard.
●Do not allow a child to stand in front of
the SRS front passenger airbag unit or
sit on the knees of a front passenger.
●Do not drive the vehicle while the driver
or passenger have items resting on
their knees.
●Do not lean against the door, the roof
side rail or the front, side and rear pil-
lars.
●Do not allow anyone to kneel on the
passenger seat toward the door or put
their head or hands outside the vehicle.