Toyota Prius: SRS airbags

In the 2024 Toyota Prius, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbags are designed to deploy during certain types of severe impacts that could cause significant injury to the occupants. These airbags work in tandem with the seat belts to provide enhanced protection by cushioning the occupants and reducing the forces exerted on them during a collision. The deployment of airbags helps to prevent contact with the vehicle's interior structures, thereby reducing the risk of death or serious injury. The SRS system includes front, side, curtain, and knee airbags, all strategically placed to maximize safety for all passengers in various crash scenarios.

SRS airbag system

Location of the SRS airbags

1. SRS driver airbag/front passenger airbag

Help reduce impact to the head and chest of the driver and front passenger

2. SRS side airbags

• Help reduce impact to the chest of the occupants of the front seats
• Help reduce impact to the chest of the occupants of the rear outer seats

3. SRS curtain shield airbags

• Help reduce impact to the heads of the occupants of the front and rear outer seats
• Can help prevent the occupants from being thrown from the vehicle in the event of a vehicle rollover

SRS airbag system components

The 2024 Toyota Prius is equipped with a comprehensive Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) that includes various components designed to enhance occupant safety during a collision. These components work together seamlessly to provide effective protection. Here are the main SRS airbag system components in the 2024 Toyota Prius:

1. Front impact sensors
2. Front passenger airbag
3. Side impact sensors (front door)
4. Curtain shield airbags
5. Side impact sensors (front)
6. Seat belt pretensioners and force limiters
7. Front side airbags
8. "PASSENGER AIR BAG ON" and "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator lights
9. Rear side airbags
10. Front passenger's seat belt buckle switch
11. Driver airbag
12. Front passenger occupant classification sensors
13. SRS warning light
14. Airbag sensor assembly

Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based on 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)

• Slight abrasions, burns, bruising, etc., may be sustained from SRS airbags, due to the extremely high speed of 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 parts around the airbags may be hot for several minutes. The airbag itself may also be hot.
• The windshield may crack.
• The hybrid system will be stopped and fuel supply to the engine will be stopped.
• The brakes and stop lights will be controlled automatically.
• The interior lights will turn on automatically.
• The emergency flashers will turn on automatically.
• For Safety Connect subscribers, if any of the following situations occur, the system is designed to send an emergency call to the response center, notifying them of the vehicle's location (without needing to push the "SOS" button) 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.

• When an SRS airbag has been deployed
• When a seat belt pretensioner has operated
• When the vehicle has been involved in a severe rear-end collision

The SRS airbags deploy in a frontal impact when

• The following SRS airbags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds a threshold level (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):

• SRS front airbags

• The threshold level at which the SRS airbags will deploy will be higher than normal in the in the following situations:

• When the vehicle collides with an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole, which moves or deforms 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, only the following may deploy:

• Seat belt pretensioners

• The SRS airbags for the front passenger's seat will not deploy if there is no passenger in the front passenger seat. However, the SRS airbags for the front passenger's seat may deploy, even if the seat is unoccupied, if luggage is put on the seat.
• In the event of an especially severe frontal collision, the left and right SRS curtain shield airbags may also deploy.

The SRS airbags deploy in a side impact when

• The following SRS airbags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds the set threshold level (level of force corresponding to the impact force produced by an approximately 3300 lb. [1500 kg] vehicle colliding with the passenger compartment at a perpendicular angle at an approximate speed of 12 - 18 mph [20 - 30 km/h]):

• SRS side airbags
• SRS curtain shield airbags

• In the event of a side collision, regardless of the impacted side, both the left and right SRS curtain shield airbags will deploy.
• If the vehicle is involved in a rollover, the following SRS airbags will deploy:

• Both left and right SRS curtain shield airbags

The SRS airbags deploy in an underside impact when

The following airbags may deploy if the underside of the vehicle collides with a hard object:

• SRS front airbags
• SRS side airbags
• SRS curtain shield airbags

The following airbags may deploy if the vehicle becomes significantly tilted or is strongly impacted by skidding into a curb, etc.:

• SRS curtain shield airbags

The SRS side airbags will not deploy when

• The following SRS airbags will not normally deploy in side or rear collisions, vehicle rollovers, or low speed frontal collisions. However, if such a collision causes sufficient sudden deceleration, the SRS airbags may deploy.

• SRS front airbags

• The following SRS airbags may not deploy if the vehicle is collided with at a certain angle or in a side collision where an area of the vehicle other than the passenger compartment is collided with:

• SRS side airbags
• SRS curtain shield airbags

• The following SRS airbags will not normally deploy in front or rear collisions, vehicle rollovers, or low speed side collisions:

• SRS side airbags

• The following SRS airbags will not normally deploy in rear collisions, end over end vehicle rollovers, or low speed front or side collisions:

• SRS curtain shield airbags

When to contact your Toyota dealer

In the following situations, the vehicle will require inspection and/or repair. Contact your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.

• When any of the SRS airbags have been deployed
• When the front of the vehicle is damaged or deformed, or was involved in a collision that was not severe enough to cause any of the following SRS airbags to deploy:

• SRS front airbags

• When a door or its surrounding area is damaged, deformed or has had a hole made in it, or was involved in a collision that was not severe enough to cause any of the following SRS airbags to deploy:

• SRS side airbags
• SRS curtain shield airbags

• When the pad section of the steering wheel or the dashboard near the front passenger SRS airbag is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.

• When the surface of a seat with an SRS side airbag is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.

• When the part of a front pillar, rear pillar or roof side rail garnish (padding) which covers a SRS curtain shield airbag is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.

WARNING

SRS airbag precautions

Observe the following precautions.

Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

• The driver and all passengers must wear their seat belts correctly.

  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 provides you with a clear margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone.

If your current driving position places you less than 10 in.

(250 mm) away from the driver airbag, you can change your driving position in several ways:

• Move your seat to the rear as far as possible while still being able to reach the pedals comfortably.
• Slightly recline the seatback.

  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 seatback somewhat. If reclining the seatback 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 the NHTSA, while still being able to control the vehicle with the pedals and steering wheel, and maintaining your view of the instrument panel controls.

• If a seat belt extender has been connected to the passenger's seat belt buckle but the latch plate of the passenger's seat belt has not been fastened to the seat belt extender, the SRS airbag system will judge that the occupant is wearing the seat belt even though the seat belt has not been fastened. In this case, the SRS front airbags for the passenger may not deploy correctly in a collision, resulting in death or serious injury. Be sure to wear the seat belt correctly when using a seat belt extender.

WARNING

• The SRS front passenger airbag 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 positioned as far possible from the airbag with the seatback adjusted so that the passenger is sat 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 safer for infants and children than the front passenger seat.
• 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 or sit on the lap of a front passenger.
• Front seat occupants should never hold items on their lap.

• Do not lean against the door, roof side rail, or front, side, or rear pillar.

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

• Do not attach anything to or lean anything against areas such as the dashboard or steering wheel pad.

WARNING

• Do not attach anything to areas such as the doors, windshield, side windows, front or rear pillars, roof side rails and assist grips.

• Do not use seat accessories which cover the parts from which the SRS airbags deploy, as they may interfere with inflation of the SRS airbags. Such accessories may prevent the SRS airbags from deploying correctly, may disable the system or cause the SRS airbags to inflate unintentionally, possibly resulting in death or serious injury.
• Do not strike or apply significant force to the SRS airbag system components, front doors or their surrounding area.

  Doing so may cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.

• Do not touch any components of the SRS airbags immediately after the SRS airbags 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 a part where an SRS airbag is stored is damaged or cracked, have it 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's seat may not deploy in the event of a collision.

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 unintentionally, possibly leading to death or serious injury.

• Removal, installation, disassembly or repair of the SRS airbags
• Repair, removal or modification of the following parts or their surrounding

• Steering wheel
• Instrument panel
• Dashboard
• Seats
• Seat upholstery
• Front pillars
• Side pillars
• Rear pillars
• Roof side rails
• Front door panels
• Front door trim
• Front door speakers

• Modifications to the front door panels (such as making holes in them)
• Repair or modification of the following parts or their surrounding

• Front fender
• Front bumper
• Sides of the vehicle interior

Installation of the following parts or accessories

• Bull bars or kangaroo bars
• Snow plows
• Winches
• Roof luggage carriers

• Modifications to the vehicle's suspension
• Installation of electronic devices such as mobile two-way radios (RF-transmitter) and CD players
• Modifications to your vehicle for a person with a physical disability