TOYOTA TACOMA 2009 Owners Manual (in English)

101
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
●
Devices
*
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: 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.
*
3: 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. 123)
*
4: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.
Condition
detected by
the front pas- senger occu- pant
classification system
Passen-ger air-bag off switch
positionFront
passen- ger air- bagSide air-bag on
the front passen-
ger seatCurtain
shield air-
bag in the
front pas- senger side
Front pas-
senger’s seat belt
pretensioner
Adult*1AUTOActivatedActivatedOFFDeactivated
Child*2 or
child
restraint
system
*3
AUTO
DeactivatedActivatedOFF
UnoccupiedAUTODeactivatedActivatedDeactivatedOFF
There is a
malfunction
in the sys-
temAUTO
DeactivatedActivatedOFF

102 1-7. Safety information
*5: In case the indicator is not illuminated, consult this manual for
installing the child restraint system properly. ( P. 104)
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.
● 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.

103
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
Front passenger occupant cl assification system precautions
● 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. 109)
● 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.

104
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 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. 109)
Types of child restraints
Child restraint systems are clas sified into the following 3 types
according to the age and size of the child.
Infant seat (Access Cab and Double 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.

105
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
Convertible seat
Booster seat
■
Selecting an appropriat e child restraint system
Get an appropriate child restraint system for the child. 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. 56)
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.

106 1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
■Child restraint precautions
●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.
● Access Cab models: Never put infant or child age 1 to 12 in a passenger
risk group on the front passenger seat with the passenger airbag off switch
in the AUTO position. 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 you must put infant or child age 1 to 12 in a passenger risk
group on the front passenger seat, make sure that the passenger airbag
off switch is in the OFF position with the key removed and that the indica-
tor light is on. ( P. 94)
● Regular Cab and Double Cab models: 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 models: Never install a
rear-facing child restraint system on the
front passenger seat with the passen-
ger airbag off switch in the AUTO posi-
tion. 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-fac-
ing child restraint system is installed on
the front passenger seat.
● Access Cab models: If you must install
a rear-facing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat, make sure
that the passenger airbag off switch is
in the OFF position with the key
removed and that the indicator light is
on.

107
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
Child restraint precautions
●A forward-facing child restraint system should be allowed to be installed
on the front passenger seat only when it is unavoidable. Always move the
seat as far back as possible even if AIR BAG OFF indicator light is illumi-
nated, because the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable
speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously injured.
● Access Cab models: A forward-facing child restraint system which belongs
to a passenger risk group should never be installed on the front passenger
seat with the passenger airbag off switch in the AUTO position, because
the force of the deploying airbag could cause death or serious injury to the
child in forward seating position. (P. 94)
● Regular Cab models: 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.
● Regular Cab models: 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.
● Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system
on the front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system
with the seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, the seat belt will not
securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause death or seri-
ous injury to the child or other passengers in the event of collision.
● 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 and rear pillars or roof side
rail from which the side airbags or curtain shield airbags deploy even if the
child is seated in the child restraint system. It is dangerous if the side air-
bags and curtain shield airbags inflate, and the force of the rapid inflation
could cause death or serious injury to the child.
● Make sure you have complied with all installation instructions provided by
the child restraint manufacturer and that the system is properly secured. If
it is not secured properly, it may cause death or serious injury to the child
in the event of a sudden stop or accident.

108 1-7. Safety information
CAUTION
■When the child restrain t system is not in use
● Keep the child restraint system properly secured on the seat even if it is
not in use. Do not store the restraint unsecured in the passenger compart-
ment.
● If it is necessary to detach the child restraint system, remove it from the
vehicle. This will prevent it from injuring passengers in the event of a sud-
den stop or accident.

109
1
1-7. Safety information
Before driving
Installing child restraints
Follow the child restraint system manufacturer’s instructions. Firmly
secure child restraints to the seats using a seat belt or a child
restraint lower anchor belt. Attach the top strap when installing a
child restraint.
Seat belts equipped with a
child restraint locking mecha-
nism (ALR/ELR belts except
driver’s seat belt) ( P. 56)
Child restraint lower anchor-
ages
Access Cab models
Lower anchorages are pro-
vided for the front passen-
ger seat and left rear
passenger seats.
Buttons displaying the loca-
tion of the anchorages are
attached to the seats. (if
equipped)
Double Cab models
Lower anchorages are pro-
vided for the outside rear
seats.
Buttons displaying the loca-
tion of the anchorages are
attached to the seats.

110 1-7. Safety information
Installing the child restraint system on the front passenger seat
(Access Cab models)When you install a child restraint system which belongs to a passen-
ger risk group on the front passenger seat, do the following proce-
dure.
Turn the passenger airbag off
switch counterclockwise to the
OFF position and remove the
key.
The AIR BAG OFF indicator light
comes on when the front passen-
ger airbag system is off. (P. 93)
Anchor bracket (for top strap)
Regular Cab models
Anchor brackets are pro-
vided for all passenger
seats.
Access Cab models
Anchor brackets are pro-
vided for the front passen-
ger seat and left rear
passenger seat.
Double Cab models
Anchor brackets are pro-
vided for all rear passenger
seats.