Toyota 4Runner (2020 year). Instruction - part 3

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WARNING

■

SRS airbag precautions

●

Do not hang coat hangers or other hard objects on the coat hooks. All of
these  items  could  become  projectiles  and  may  cause  death  or  serious
injury, should the SRS curtain shield airbags deploy.

●

If a 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.  Such
accessories may prevent the side airbags from activating correctly, disable
the  system  or  cause  the  side  airbags  to  inflate  accidentally,  resulting  in
death or serious injury.

●

Do not strike or apply significant levels of force to the area of the SRS air-
bag components. 
Doing so can cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.

●

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

●

If breathing becomes difficult after the SRS airbags have 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  and  rear  pillar  garnishes,  are  damaged  or  cracked,  have
them replaced by your Toyota dealer.

●

Do not place anything, such as a cushion, on the front passenger's seat.
Doing so will disperse the passenger's weight, which prevents the sensor
from detecting the passenger's weight properly. As a result, the SRS front
airbags for the front passenger may not deploy in the event of a collision.

●

Vehicles  without  a  smart  key  system:
Do not attach any heavy, sharp or hard
objects  such  as  keys  and  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.

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If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)

●

Slight abrasions, burns, bruising etc., may be sustained from SRS airbags,
due to the extremely high speed deployment (inflation) by hot gases.

●

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, parts of the front and rear pillars, and roof side rails
may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.

●

The windshield may crack.

●

Fuel supply to the engine will be stopped. (



P. 476)

●

For Safety Connect subscribers, if any of the following situations occur, the
system is designed to send an emergency call to the response center, noti-
fying them of the vehicle's location (without needing to push the “SOS” but-
ton) 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 emergency and
helps to dispatch the necessary emergency services. (



P. 70)

• An SRS airbag is deployed.
• A seat belt pretensioner is activated.
• The vehicle is involved in a severe rear-end collision.
• The vehicle is involved in a rollover accident.

WARNING

■

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 airbags 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, side and rear
pillars or roof side rails

●

Repairs  or  modifications  of  the  front  fender,  front  bumper,  or  side  of  the
occupant compartment

●

Installation  of  a  grill  guard  (bull  bars,  kangaroo  bar  etc.),  snow  plows,
winches or roof luggage carrier.

●

Modifications to the vehicle’s suspension system

●

Installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radios and CD
players

●

Modifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disability

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SRS airbag deployment conditions (SRS 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 pre-
tensioners 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 air-
bags for the front passenger may deploy if luggage is put in the seat, even if
the seat is unoccupied.

■

SRS airbag deployment conditions (SRS 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]).

●

Both SRS curtain shield airbags will deploy in the event of vehicle rollover.

●

All SRS side and curtain shield airbags will deploy in the event of a severe
frontal collision.

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Conditions under which the SRS airbags may deploy (inflate), other than
a collision 

The SRS front airbags, SRS side and curtain shield 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.

■

Types of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbags (SRS front air-
bags)

The SRS front airbags do not generally 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  sufficient  forward
deceleration of the vehicle, deployment of the SRS front airbags may occur.

●

Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard
surface

●

Falling into or jumping over a deep hole

●

Landing hard or falling

●

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

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■

Types of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbags (SRS side and
curtain shield airbags)

The  SRS  side  and  curtain  shield  airbags  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 do not generally inflate if the vehicle is involved in a
rear  collision,  if  it  rolls  over,  or  if  it  is  involved  in  a  low-speed  side  or  low-
speed frontal collision.

The  SRS  curtain  shield  airbags  do  not  generally  inflate  if  the  vehicle  is
involved in a rear collision, if it pitches end over end, or if it is involved in a
low-speed side or low-speed frontal collision.

●

Collision  from  the  side  to  the  vehicle
body other than the passenger compart-
ment

●

Collision from the side at an angle

●

Collision from the rear

●

Vehicle rollover

●

Collision from the rear

●

Pitching end over end

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When to contact your Toyota dealer

In the following cases, the vehicle will require inspection and/or repair. Con-
tact 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 front airbags to inflate.

●

A  portion  of  a  door  or  its  surrounding
area  is  damaged  or  deformed,  or  the
vehicle was involved in an accident that
was  not  severe  enough  to  cause  the
SRS  side  and  curtain  shield  airbags  to
inflate.

●

The  pad  section  of  the  steering  wheel,
dashboard near the front passenger air-
bag  or  lower  portion  of  the  instrument
panel  is  scratched,  cracked,  or  other-
wise damaged.

●

The  surface  of  the  seats  with  the  SRS
side airbag is scratched, cracked, or oth-
erwise damaged.

●

The  portion  of  the  front  pillars,  rear  pil-
lars or roof side rail garnishes (padding)
containing  the  SRS  curtain  shield  air-
bags  inside  is  scratched,  cracked,  or
otherwise damaged.

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SRS warning light
Seat belt reminder light
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light
“AIR BAG ON” indicator light

Front passenger occupant classification 

system

Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classi-
fication system. This system detects the conditions of the front
passenger seat and activates or deactivates the front passenger
airbag, front passenger knee airbag, and front passenger's seat
belt pretensioner.

U.S.A.

Canada

1

2

3

4

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■

Adult

*

1

■

Child

*

4

 or child restraint system

*

5

Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classi-
fication system

Indicator/

warning light

“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” 

indicator lights

“AIR BAG ON”

SRS warning light

Off

Seat belt reminder light

Off

*

2

 or 

flashing

*

3

Devices

Front passenger airbag

Activated

Front passenger knee airbag

Front passenger's seat belt pretensioner

Indicator/

warning light

“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” 

indicator lights

“AIR BAG 

OFF”

*

6

SRS warning light

Off

Seat belt reminder light

Flashing

*

3

Devices

Front passenger airbag

Deactivated

Front passenger knee airbag

Front passenger's seat belt pretensioner

Activated

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■

Unoccupied

Indicator/

warning light

“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” 

indicator lights

Not illuminated

SRS warning light

Off

Seat belt reminder light

Devices

Front passenger airbag

Deactivated

Front passenger knee airbag

Front passenger's seat belt pretensioner

Activated

*

7 

or 

deactivated

*

8

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There is a malfunction in the system

*

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 recognize him/her
as a child depending on his/her physique and posture.

*

2

: In the event the front passenger is wearing a seat belt.

*

3

: In the event the front passenger does not wear a seat belt.

*

4

: 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.

*

5

: Never install a rear-facing child restraint system on the front passenger

seat. A forward-facing child restraint system should only be installed on
the front passenger seat when it is unavoidable. 
(



P. 53)

*

6

: In case the indicator light is not illuminated, consult this instruction on how

to install the child restraint system properly. (



P. 57)

*

7

: In the event of a side collision.

*

8

: In the event of a frontal collision or rollover.

Indicator/

warning light

“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” 

indicator lights

“AIR BAG OFF”

SRS warning light

On

Seat belt reminder light

On or flashing

Devices

Front passenger airbag

Deactivated

Front passenger knee airbag

Front passenger's seat belt pretensioner

Activated

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WARNING

■

Front passenger occupant classification system precautions

Observe the following precautions regarding the front passenger occupant
classification system. 
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.

●

Wear the seat belt properly.

●

Make sure the front passenger’s seat belt plate 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, and 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 illumi-
nated,  the  SRS  airbags  for  the  front  passenger  will  not  activate,  which
could cause death or serious injury in the event of a collision.

●

Do not apply a heavy load to the front passenger seat or equipment.

●

Do  not  put  weight  on  the  front  passenger  seat  by  putting  your  hands  or
feet on the front passenger seat seatback from the rear passenger seat.

●

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.

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WARNING

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Front passenger occupant classification system precautions

●

Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear
seat. This may cause the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator light to be illuminated,
which  indicates  that  the  SRS  airbags  for  the  front  passenger  will  not
deploy in the event of a severe accident. If the seatback touches the rear
seat,  return  the  seatback  to  a  position  where  it  does  not  touch  the  rear
seat. 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.

●

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
passenger 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 illuminated, 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 a forward-facing child restraint system on
the front passenger seat, install the child restraint system on the front pas-
senger seat in the proper order. (



P. 57)

●

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
front passenger occupant classification system. In this case, contact your
Toyota dealer immediately.

●

Child restraint systems installed on the second seat should not contact the
front seatbacks.

●

Do not use a seat accessory, such as a cushion and seat cover, that cov-
ers the seat cushion surface.

●

Do not modify or replace the upholstery of the front seat.

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●

It is recommended that children sit in the rear seats to avoid acci-
dental contact with the shift lever, wiper switch etc.

●

Use the rear door child-protector lock or the window lock switch to
avoid  children  opening  the  door  while  driving  or  operating  the
power window accidentally.

●

Do  not  let  small  children  operate  equipment  which  may  catch  or
pinch  body  parts,  such  as  the  power  window,  hood,  back  door,
seats etc.

Safety information for children

Observe the following precautions when children are in the vehi-
cle.
Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child, until the
child becomes large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat
belt.

WARNING

Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow children to
have or use the key.
Children  may  be  able  to  start  the  vehicle  or  shift  the  vehicle  into  neutral.
There is also a danger that children may injure themselves by playing with
the windows, the moon roof or other features of the vehicle. In addition, heat
build-up or extremely cold  temperatures  inside the vehicle can be fatal  to
children.

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Studies have shown that installing a child restraint on a rear seat is
much safer than installing one on the front passenger seat.

●

Choose a child restraint system that suits your vehicle and is appro-
priate 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 instruction. 
(



P. 57)

Child restraint systems

A child restraint system for a small child or baby must itself be
properly restrained on the seat with the LATCH anchors or 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.

Points to remember

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Child  restraint  systems  are  classified  into  the  following  3  types
according to the age and size of the child:

■

Selecting an appropriate child restraint system

●

Use a child restraint system appropriate for the child until the child becomes
large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt.

●

If the child is too large for a child restraint system, sit the child on a rear seat
and use the vehicle’s seat belt. (



P. 30)

Types of child restraints



Rear  facing 



  Infant  seat/con-

vertible seat



Forward facing 



 Convertible

seat



Booster seat

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WARNING

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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.

●

Toyota strongly urges the use of a proper child restraint system that con-
forms to the size of the child, installed on the rear seat. According to acci-
dent statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat
than in the front seat.

●

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 pas-
senger 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.

●

A forward-facing child restraint system may be installed on the front pas-
senger  seat  only  when  it  is  unavoidable.  A  child  restraint  system  that
requires a top tether strap should not be used in the front passenger seat
since  there  is  no  top  tether  strap  anchor  for  the  front  passenger  seat.
Adjust the seatback as upright as possible and always move the seat as
far  back  as  possible  even  if  the  “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.

●

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 an accident.

●

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
rails from which the SRS side airbags or SRS curtain shield airbags deploy
even if the child is seated in the child restraint system. It is dangerous if
the  SRS  side  airbags  and  curtain  shield  airbags  inflate,  and  the  impact
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, sudden swerve or accident.