TOYOTA TACOMA 2011 (in English) Manual Online

81
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
CAUTION
■
While driving
●Do not adjust the position of the driver’s seat while driving.
Doing so could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Do 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.
● Do 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 acci-
dent. The adjustment mechanism may also be damaged.
■ Adjusting the seat position
●Take care when adjusting the seat position to ensure that other passen-
gers are not injured by the moving seat.
● Do 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.

82
1-7. Safety information
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 right front
passenger from impact with interior components.
Side and curtain shield airbags
Side airbags
Can help protect the torso of the front seat occupants.
Curtain shield airbags
Can help protect primarily the head of outside occupants.

83
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
Airbag system components
Vehicles with bench type front seat
Vehicles with separated type front seat

84 1-7. Safety information
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag sys-
tem controls airbag deployment power for the driver and right front
passenger. The driver airbag system consists of the driver seat’s
position sensor etc. The front pass enger’s airbag system consists of
the front passenger occupant classification sensor etc.
The main SRS airbag system components are shown above. The
SRS airbag system is controlled by the airbag sensor assembly. The
airbag sensor assembly consists of a safing sensor and an airbag
sensor.
Bench type front seat: The SRS airb ags are designed to protect the
driver and right front passenger, and they are not designed to protect
an occupant in the front center seating position. Front passenger airbag
Curtain shield airbags
Side airbags
AIR BAG ON and AIR BAG
OFF indicator lights
SRS warning light and
RSCA OFF indicator light
Driver airbag
RSCA OFF switch
(4WD models only)
Curtain shield airbag sen-
sors (Access Cab and Dou-
ble Cab models)
Side and curtain shield air-
bag sensors
Driver’s seat position sen-
sor
Driver’s seat belt buckle
switch
Front passenger’s seat belt
buckle switch
Occupant detection system
(ECU and sensors)
Airbag sensor assembly
Front airbag sensors
Front passenger’s seat
position sensor
Belt tension sensor
Passenger airbag off switch
(Access Cab models)

85
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
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 rest rain the motion
of the occupants.
■ SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front airbag
sensors, side and curtain shield airbag sensor assemblies, curtain shield air-
bag sensor assemblies (Access Cab and Double cab models), driver’s seat
position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch, front passenger occupant
classification system, AIR BAG ON and AIR BAG OFF indicator lights, front
passenger’s seat position sensor (Bench type seat), front passenger’s seat
belt buckle switch, passenger airbag off switch (Access Cab models), front
seat belt pretensioner assemblies, belt tension sensor (Bench type seat),
RSCA OFF indicator light, inflators, interconnecting wiring and power
sources. ( P. 442)
■ 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 front 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 front windshield may crack.
■ Operating conditions (front airbags)
●The SRS front airbag 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.).

86 1-7. Safety information
●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 airbag will not activate if there is no passenger
sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the 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. 9 9 )
■ Operating conditions (side airb ags and curtain shield airbags)
The SRS side airbags and SRS 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 3307 lb.
[1500 kg] vehicle colliding with the vehicle cabin from a direction perpendicu-
lar to the vehicle orientation at an approximate speed of 12-18 mph [20-30
km/h]).
■ Operating conditions (side airbags)
The SRS side airbag on the passenger seat will activate even if there is no
passenger sitting in the right front passenger seat. ( P. 99)
■ Operating conditions (c urtain shield airbags)
The SRS curtain shield airbags are designed to inflate when the passenger
compartment is subjected to a severe impact from the side or vehicle roll-
over.
■ 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.
●Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or
hard surface
● Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
● Landing hard or vehicle falling

87
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
The SRS curtain shield airbags may also deploy under the situation shown
in the illustration.
■ Types of collisions that may not depl oy 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.
● The angle of vehicle tip-up is marginal.
● The vehicle skids and hits a curb stone.
●Collision from the side
● Collision from the rear
● Vehicle rollover

88 1-7. Safety information
■Types of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbag
(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 colli-
sion to the side of the vehicle body other than the passenger compartment.
The SRS side 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.
The SRS curtain shield airbags are not generally designed to inflate if the
vehicle is involved in a frontal or rear collision, if it pitches end over end, 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
●Collision from the front
● Collision from the rear
● Pitching end over end

89
1-7. Safety information
1
Before driving
■
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 a door 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
or dashboard near the front passenger
airbag is scratched, cracked, or other-
wise damaged.
● 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
inside is scratched, cracked or other-
wise damaged.

90 1-7. Safety information
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 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 pro-
vides you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the
center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you now sit less than 10
in. (250 mm) away, 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.