47
Deployment of the airbags happens in a
fraction of a second, so the airbags must
inflate with considerable force. While the
system is designed to reduce serious inju-
ries, primarily to the head and chest, it
may also cause other, less severe injuries
to the face, chest, arms and hands. These
are usually in the nature of minor burns
or abrasions and swelling, but the force of
a deploying airbag can cause more seri-
ous injuries, especially if an occupant’s
hands, arms, chest or head is in close
proximity to the airbag module at the time
of deployment. This is why it is important
for the occupant to: avoid placing any
object or part of the body between the
occupant and the airbag module; sit
straight and well back into the seat; wear
the available seat belt properly; and sit as
far as possible from the airbag module,
while still maintaining control of the ve-
hicle.
Parts of the airbag module (steering wheel
hub, lower portion of instrument panel, air-
bag cover and inflator) may be hot for
several minutes after deployment, so do
not touch! The airbags inflate only once.
The windshield may be damaged by ab-
sorbing some of the force of the inflating
airbag.
CAUTION
The driver or front passenger who is
too close to the steering wheel, lower
portion of instrument panel or
dashboard during airbag deployment
can be killed or seriously injured.
Scion strongly recommends that:
D The driver sit as far back as pos-
sible from the steering wheel while
still maintaining control of the ve-
hicle.
D The front passenger sit as far back
as possible from the dashboard.
D All vehicle occupants be properly
restrained using the available seat
belts.
D If the seat belt extender has been
connected 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 airbag 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, causing death or
serious injury in the event of a col-
lision. Be sure to wear the set belt
with the seat belt extender. Other-
wise, there will also not be any ef-
fective protection in a sudden stop
or a collision provided by the seat
belt.
For instructions and precautions con-
cerning the seating position, see
“—Front seat precautions” on page
28.
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