Toyota Prius Front passenger occupant classification system

The 2024 Toyota Prius is equipped with a front passenger occupant classification system designed to enhance safety. This system detects the conditions of the front passenger seat, such as the weight and position of the occupant, and activates or deactivates the corresponding SRS airbags accordingly. By doing so, the system ensures that the airbags provide optimal protection and do not deploy unnecessarily, such as when a child or a light object is detected in the seat. This intelligent feature helps to prevent injuries caused by airbag deployment in inappropriate situations, contributing to the overall safety of the vehicle's occupants.

• SRS front passenger airbag

System components

1. SRS warning light
2. Driver's and front passenger's seat belt reminder light
3. "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light
4. "PASSENGER AIR BAG ON" indicator light

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.

WARNING

• Make sure the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light is not illuminated when using the seat belt extender for the front passenger seat. If the "PASSENGER 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 "PASSENGER AIR BAG ON" indicator light is illuminated. If you use the seat belt extender while the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light is illuminated, 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 (e.g. seatback pocket).
• 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.
• Do not recline the front passenger seatback so far that it touches a rear seat. This may cause the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator light to be illuminated, which indicates that the SRS airbags for the front passenger will not activate 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 "PASSENGER AIR BAG ON" indicator light is illuminated. If the "PASSENGER 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 "PASSENGER 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 passenger seat in the proper order.

WARNING

• Do not kick the front passenger seat or subject it to severe impact. Otherwise, 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 rear seat should not contact the front seatbacks.
• Do not use a seat accessory, such as a cushion and seat cover, that covers the seat cushion surface.
• Do not modify or replace the upholstery of the front seat.

Front passenger occupant classification system conditions and operation

Adult*1

Child*4

Child restraint system with infant*5

Unoccupied

System malfunction

*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 not recognize them as an adult depending on their 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:For some children, child in seat, child in booster seat or child in convertible seat, the system may not recognize them as a child. Factors which may affect this can be the 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.

*6:In case the indicator light is not illuminated, consult this manual on how to install the child restraint system properly.

SRS airbagsExhaust gas precautions