Lexus ES: 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.

SRS airbag system

■ Location of the SRS airbags

SRS front airbags

1. SRS driver airbag/front passenger airbag
   Can help protect the head and chest of the driver and front passenger from impact with interior components
2. SRS knee airbags
   Can help provide driver and front passenger protection

SRS side and curtain shield airbags

3. SRS front side airbags
   Can help protect the torso of the front seat occupants
4. SRS rear side airbags
   Can help protect the torso of occupants in the rear outer seats
5. SRS curtain shield airbags
   • Can help protect primarily the head of occupants in the outer seats
   • Can help prevent the occupants from being thrown from the vehicle in the event of vehicle rollover

■ SRS airbag system components

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

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)

• 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.
• The interior lights will turn on automatically.
• The emergency flashers will turn on automatically.
• For Lexus Enform 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.
• An SRS airbag is deployed.
• A seat belt pretensioner is activated.
• The vehicle is involved in a severe rear-end collision.

■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 pretensioners and SRS knee airbags 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 (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 may deploy in the event of a severe side collision.
• Both SRS curtain shield airbags will deploy in the event of vehicle rollover.
• Both 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 and SRS curtain shield 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 falling

The SRS curtain shield airbags may also deploy under the situations shown in the illustration.

• The angle of vehicle tip-up is marginal.
• The vehicle skids and hits a curb stone.

■Types of collisions that may not deploy the SRS airbags (SRS front airbags) 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.

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

■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.

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

The SRS side airbags do not generally 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

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 rear
• Pitching end over end

■When to contact your Lexus dealer In the following cases, the vehicle will require inspection and/or repair. Contact your Lexus 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 accident that was not severe enough to cause the SRS front airbags to inflate.

• A portion of a door or its surrounding area is damaged, deformed or has had a hole made in it, 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 airbag or lower portion of the instrument panel is scratched, cracked, or otherwise damaged.

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

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

WARNING

■SRS airbag precautions Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS 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 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 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.

• 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.

  Lexus 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 unit or sit on the knees of a front passenger.

• Do not allow the front seat occupants to hold items on their knees.
• Do not lean against the door, the roof side rail or the front, side 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.

• Do not attach anything to or lean anything against areas such as the dashboard, steering wheel pad and lower portion of the instrument panel.

  These items can become projectiles when the SRS driver, front passenger and knee airbags deploy.

• Do not attach anything to areas such as a door, windshield, side window, front or rear pillar, roof side rail and assist grip.

• 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 SRS 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 airbag components or the front doors.

  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 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 Lexus 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.

■Modification and disposal of SRS airbag system components Do not dispose of your vehicle or perform any of the following modifications without consulting your Lexus 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, roof side rails, front door panels, front door trims or front door speakers
• Modifications to the front door panel (such as making a hole in it)
• 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, 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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