Toyota Venza: 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 1. Driver airbag/front passenger airbag Can help protect the head and chest of the driver and front passenger from impact with interior components.

2. Knee airbag
Can help provide driver protection.

► Side and curtain shield airbags 3. Side airbags
Can help protect the torso of the front seat occupants.

4. Curtain shield airbags Can help protect primarily the head of front and rear outboard seat occupants.

Airbag system components

1. Front passenger airbag 2. Curtain shield airbag 3. Seat belt pretensioners and force limiters 4. Side airbag
5. “AIR BAG ON/OFF” indicator light 6. Front passenger occupant classification system (ECU and sensors) 7. Curtain shield airbag sensor 8. SRS warning light
9. Driver airbag
10. Side and curtain shield airbag sensor 11. Driver’s seat belt buckle switch 12. Driver’s seat position sensor 13. Knee airbag
14. Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch 15. Front airbag sensor
16. Airbag sensor assembly

Your vehicle is equipped with “ADVANCED AIRBAGS” designed based on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag sensor 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.

 - 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 windshield may crack.

 - SRS airbag deployment 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 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 in the following situations:

• If the vehicle strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole, which can move or deform on impact • If the vehicle is involved in an underride collision, such as a collision in which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a truck

• Depending on the type of collision, it is possible that only the seat belt pretensioners will activate.

• The SRS front airbags for the front passenger will not activate if there is no passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the SRS front airbags for the front passenger may deploy if luggage is put in the seat, even if the seat is unoccupied.

 - SRS airbag deployment conditions (side and curtain shield airbags)

• The SRS side 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]).

• The SRS curtain shield airbags may also deploy in the event of a severe frontal collision.

 - 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

 - 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 lowspeed frontal collision. But, whenever a collision of any type causes sufficient forward deceleration of the vehicle, deployment of the SRS front airbags may occur.

• Collision from the side • Collision from the rear • Vehicle rollover

 - 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 collision to the side of the vehicle body other than the passenger compartment.

• Collision from the side to the vehicle body other than the passenger compartment • Collision from the side at an angle

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.

• Collision from the front* • Collision from the rear • Vehicle rollover

*: Depending on the conditions and type of accident, the curtain shield airbags may deploy (inflate) upon frontal impact.

 - When to contact your Toyota dealer

In the following cases, the vehicle will require inspection and/or repair. 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 the vehicle was involved in an accident 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, dashboard near the front passenger airbag or lower portion of the instrument panel is scratched, cracked or otherwise damaged.

• The surface of the seats with the side airbag is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.

• The portion of the front, center and rear pillars or roof side rail garnishes (padding) containing the curtain shield airbags inside is scratched, cracked or otherwise damaged.

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 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 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, 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.

CAUTION

 - SRS airbag precautions

• If the seat belt extender has been connected to the front seat belt buckles but the seat belt extender has not also been fastened to the latch plate of the seat belt, the SRS front airbags will judge that the driver and front passenger are wearing the seat belt even though the seat belt has not been connected.

In this case, the SRS front airbags may not activate correctly in a collision, resulting in death or serious injury in the event of a collision. Be sure to wear the seat belt with the seat belt extender.

• 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 airbag 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 system.

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.

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, center and rear pillars.

• Do not allow anyone to kneel on the passenger seats toward the door or put their head or hands outside the vehicle.

CAUTION

 - SRS airbag precautions

• Do not attach anything to or lean anything against areas such as the dashboard or steering wheel pad or lower portion of the instrument panel. These items can become projectiles when SRS driver, front passenger and knee airbags deploy.

• Do not attach anything to areas such as the door, windshield glass, side door glass, front, center and rear pillars, roof side rail or assist grip.

• Do not hang coat hangers or other hard objects on the coat hooks. All of these items could become projectiles and seriously injure or kill you, should the SRS curtain shield airbag deploy.

• Vehicles without smart key system: Do not attach any heavy, sharp or hard objects such as keys or accessories to the key. The objects may restrict the SRS knee airbag inflation or be thrust into the driver’s seat area by the force of the deploying airbag, thus causing a danger.

CAUTION

 - SRS airbag precautions

• If the vinyl cover is put on the area where the SRS knee airbag will deploy, be sure to remove it.

• Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts where the SRS side airbags inflate as they may interfere with inflation of the airbags.

• Do not strike or apply significant levels of force to the area of the SRS airbag components .

Doing so can cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.

• Do not touch any of the component parts immediately after the SRS airbags have deployed (inflated) as they may be hot.

• If breathing becomes difficult after the SRS airbag has deployed, open a door or window to allow fresh air in, or leave the vehicle if it is safe to do so. Wash off any residue as soon as possible to prevent skin irritation.

• If the areas where the SRS airbags are stored, such as the steering wheel pad and front, center and rear pillar garnishes, are damaged or cracked, have them replaced by your Toyota dealer.

CAUTION

 - Modification and disposal of SRS airbag system components

Do not dispose of your vehicle or perform any of the following modifications without consulting your Toyota dealer.

The SRS airbag may malfunction or deploy (inflate) accidentally, causing death or serious injury.

• Installation, removal, disassembly and repair of the SRS airbags • Repairs, modifications, removal or replacement of the steering wheel, instrument panel, dashboard, seats or seat upholstery, front, center and rear pillars or roof side rail
• Repairs or modifications of the front fender, front bumper, or side of the occupant compartment
• Installation of a grille guard (bull bars, kangaroo bar, etc.), snow plows or winches • Modifications to the vehicle’s suspension system • Installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radios or CD players • Modifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disability