Toyota Prius Prime (2020 year). Owner's manual — part 4

56

1-1. For safe use

Exhaust gas precautions

Harmful substance to the human body is included in exhaust
gases if inhaled.

WARNING

Exhaust gases include harmful carbon monoxide (CO), which is colorless and
odorless. Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause exhaust gases enter the vehicle and may lead to
an accident caused by light-headedness, or may lead to death or a serious
health hazard.

■

Important points while driving

●

Keep the back door closed.

●

If you smell exhaust gases in the vehicle even when the back door is
closed, open the side windows and have the vehicle inspected at your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.

■

When parking

●

If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated area or a closed area, such as a
garage, stop the hybrid system.

●

Do not leave the vehicle with the hybrid system on for a long time.
If such a situation cannot be avoided, park the vehicle in an open space
and ensure that exhaust fumes do not enter the vehicle interior.

●

Do not leave the hybrid system operating in an area with snow build-up, or
where it is snowing. If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the
hybrid system is operating, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehi-
cle.

■

Exhaust pipe
The exhaust system needs to be checked periodically. If there is a hole or
crack caused by corrosion, damage to a joint or abnormal exhaust noise, be
sure to have the vehicle inspected and repaired by your Toyota dealer.

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1-2. Child safety

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Riding with children

● 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. (

P. 282, 312)

● Do not let small children operate equipment which may catch or

pinch body parts, such as the power window, hood, back door,
seats etc.

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 side windows 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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1-2. Child safety

Child restraint systems

Points to remember. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. P. 58
Child restraint system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. P. 60
When using a child restraint system . . . . . . . . . . . P. 61
Child restraint system installation method

• Fixed with a seat belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... P. 64
• Fixed with a child restraint LATCH anchor . . . . . . . ... P. 70
• Using an anchor bracket (for top tether strap) . . . . . . . P. 73

The laws of all 50 states of the U.S.A. as well as Canada now require
the use of child restraint systems.
● Prioritize and observe the warnings, as well as the laws and regula-

tions for child restraint systems.

● Use a child restraint system until the child becomes large enough to

properly wear the vehicle’s seat belt.

● Choose a child restraint system that suits your vehicle and is appro-

priate to the age and size of the child.

Before installing a child restraint system in the vehicle, there are
precautions that need to be observed, different types of child
restraint systems, as well as installation methods, etc., written in
this manual.

● Use a child restraint system when riding with a small child that

cannot properly use a seat belt. For the child’s safety, install the
child restraint system to a rear seat. Be sure to follow the installa-
tion method that is in the operation manual enclosed with the
restraint system.

Table of contents

Points to remember

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1-2. Child safety

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WARNING

■

When a child is riding
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

●

For effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child
must be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system
which is correctly installed. For installation details, refer to the operation
manual enclosed with the child restraint system. General installation
instructions are provided in this manual.

●

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

●

Holding a child in your or someone else’s arms is not a substitute for a
child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be crushed against the
windshield or between the holder and the interior of the vehicle.

■

Handling the child restraint system
If the child restraint system is not properly fixed in place, the child or other
passengers may be seriously injured or even killed in the event of sudden
braking, sudden swerving, or an accident.

●

If the vehicle were to receive a strong impact from an accident, etc., it is
possible that the child restraint system has damage that is not readily visi-
ble. In such cases, do not reuse the restraint system.

●

Make sure you have complied with all installation instructions provided
with the child restraint system manufacturer and that the system is prop-
erly secured.

●

Keep the child restraint system properly secured on the seat even if it is
not in use. Do not store the child restraint system unsecured in the pas-
senger compartment.

●

If it is necessary to detach the child restraint system, remove it from the
vehicle or store it securely in the luggage compartment.

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1-2. Child safety

■

Types of child restraint system installation methods
Confirm with the operation manual enclosed with the child restraint
system about the installation of the child restraint system.

Child restraint system

Installation method

Page

Seat belt
attachment

P. 64

Child
restraint
LATCH
anchors
attachment

P. 70

Anchor
brackets (for
top

tether

strap) attach-
ment

P. 73

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■

When installing a child restraint system to a front passenger
seat
For the safety of a child, install a child restraint system to a rear
seat. When installing child restraint system to the front passenger
seat is unavoidable, adjust the seat as follows and install the child
restraint system.
● Raise the seatback as much

as possible

● Move the seat to the rear-

most position

● If the head restraint interferes

with the child restraint sys-
tem installation and the head
restraint can be removed,
remove the head restraint

When using a child restraint system

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1-2. Child safety

WARNING

■

When using a child restraint system
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

●

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 passenger airbag
can cause death or serious injury to the child if the rear-facing 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.

●

When a booster seat is installed, always ensure that the shoulder belt is
positioned across the center of the child’s shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from the child’s neck, but not so that it could fall off the child’s
shoulder.

●

A forward-facing child restraint system
may be installed on the front passenger
seat only when it is unavoidable. When
installing a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front passenger seat,
move the seat as far back as possible,
even if the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator
light is illuminated.
If the head restraint interferes with the
child restraint system installation and
the head restraint can be removed,
remove the head restraint.

●

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 or
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.

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WARNING

■

When using a child restraint system

●

Use a child restraint system suitable to the age and size of the child and
install it to the rear seat.

●

If the driver’s seat interferes with the
child restraint system and prevents it
from being attached correctly, attach the
child restraint system to the right-hand
rear seat.

●

Adjust the front passenger seat so that
it does not interfere with the child
restraint system.

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1-2. Child safety

A child restraint system for a small child or baby must itself be prop-
erly restrained on the seat with the lap portion of the lap/shoulder belt.

◆

Installing child restraint system using a seat belt (child
restraint lock function belt)

Install the child restraint system in accordance to the operation
manual enclosed with the child restraint system.

■

Rear-facing — Infant seat/convertible seat

Place the child restraint sys-
tem on the rear seat facing
the rear of the vehicle.

Run the seat belt through the
child restraint system and
insert the plate into the
buckle. Make sure that the
belt is not twisted.

Fully extend the shoulder belt
and allow it to retract to put it
in lock mode. In lock mode,
the belt cannot be extended.

Child restraint system fixed with a seat belt

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While pushing the child
restraint system down into
the rear seat, allow the
shoulder belt to retract until
the child restraint system is
securely in place.

After the shoulder belt has
retracted to a point where there
is no slack in the belt, pull the
belt to check that it cannot be
extended.

After installing the child restraint system, rock it back and forth to
ensure that it is installed securely. (

P. 69)

■

Forward-facing — Convertible seat

If installing the child restraint system to the front passenger seat
is unavoidable, refer to P. 61 for front passenger seat adjustment.
If the head restraint interferes
with the child restraint sys-
tem installation and the head
restraint can be removed,
remove the head restraint.
(

P. 304)

Place the child restraint sys-
tem on the seat facing the
front of the vehicle.

4

5

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1-2. Child safety

Run the seat belt through the
child restraint system and
insert the plate into the
buckle. Make sure that the
belt is not twisted.

Fully extend the shoulder belt
and allow it to retract to put it
in lock mode. In lock mode,
the belt cannot be extended.

While pushing the child
restraint system into the rear
seat, allow the shoulder belt
to retract until the child
restraint system is securely
in place.

After the shoulder belt has
retracted to a point where there
is no slack in the belt, pull the
belt to check that it cannot be
extended.

If the child restraint has a top tether strap, follow the child
restraint manufacturer’s operation manual regarding the installa-
tion, using the top tether strap to latch onto the top tether strap
anchor. (

P. 73)

After installing the child restraint system, rock it back and forth to
ensure that it is installed securely. (

P. 69)

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7

8

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Booster seat

If installing the child restraint system to the front passenger seat
is unavoidable, refer to P. 61 for front passenger seat adjustment.
High back type: If the head
restraint interferes with your
child restraint system, and
the head restraint can be
removed, remove the head
restraint. (

P. 304)

Place the child restraint system on the seat facing the front of the
vehicle.

Sit the child in the child
restraint system. Fit the seat
belt to the child restraint sys-
tem according to the manu-
facturer’s instructions and
insert the plate into the
buckle. Make sure that the
belt is not twisted.

Check that the shoulder belt is correctly positioned over the child’s
shoulder and that the lap belt is as low as possible. (

P. 30)

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2

3



Booster type



High back type

4

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1-2. Child safety

◆

Removing a child restraint system installed with a seat belt

Press the buckle release button
and fully retract the seat belt.

When releasing the buckle, the
child restraint system may
spring up due to the rebound of
the seat cushion. Release the
buckle while holding down the
child restraint system.
Since the seat belt automatically
reels itself, slowly return it to the
stowing position.

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WARNING

■

When installing a child restraint system
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

●

Do not allow children to play with the seat belt. If the seat belt becomes
twisted around a child’s neck, it may lead to choking or other serious inju-
ries that could result in death.
If this occurs and the buckle cannot be unfastened, scissors should be
used to cut the belt.

●

Ensure that the belt and plate are securely locked and the seat belt is not
twisted.

●

Shake the child restraint system left and right, and forward and backward
to ensure that it has been securely installed.

●

After securing a child restraint system, never adjust the seat.

●

When a booster seat is installed, always ensure that the shoulder belt is
positioned across the center of the child’s shoulder. The belt should be
kept away from the child’s neck, but not so that it could fall off the child’s
shoulder.

●

Follow all installation instructions provided by the child restraint system
manufacturer.

●

When securing some types of child restraint systems in rear seats, it may
not be possible to properly use the seat belts in positions next to the child
restraint without interfering with it or affecting seat belt effectiveness. Be
sure your seat belt fits snugly across your shoulder and low on your hips. If
it does not, or if it interferes with the child restraint, move to a different
position. Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

■

When installing a booster seat
To prevent the belt from going into ALR lock mode, do not fully extend the
shoulder belt. ALR mode causes the belt to tighten only. This could cause
injury or discomfort to the child. (

P. 31)

■

Do not use a seat belt extender
If a seat belt extender is used when installing a child restraint system, the
seat belt will not securely hold the child restraint system, which could cause
death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of sud-
den braking, sudden swerving or an accident.

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1-2. Child safety

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Child restraint LATCH anchors
LATCH anchors are provided
for the rear outboard seats.
(Buttons displaying the location
of the anchors are attached to
the seats.)

■

Installation with LATCH system
Install the child restraint system in accordance to the operation
manual enclosed with the child restraint system.

If the head restraint interferes with the child restraint system
installation and the head restraint can be removed, remove the
head restraint. (

P. 304)

Flip up and fold the cover,
and fix it with the hook-and-
loop fastener.

Child restraint system fixed with a child restraint LATCH anchor

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

Type A

Latch the hooks of the lower
straps onto the LATCH
anchors.
For owners in Canada:
The symbol on a child
restraint system indicates the
presence of a lower connec-
tor system.



Type B

Latch the buckles onto the
LATCH anchors.
For owners in Canada:
The symbol on a child
restraint system indicates the
presence of a lower connec-
tor system.

If the child restraint has a top tether strap, follow the child
restraint manufacturer’s operation manual regarding the installa-
tion, using the top tether strap to latch onto the top tether strap
anchor. (

P. 73)

Canada only

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Canada only

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