2020 Toyota Highlander Owners Manual - Child restraint systems

Child restraint precautions

• for effective protection in automobile accidents and sudden stops, a child must be properly restrained, using a seat belt or child restraint system depending on the age and size of the child. Holding a child in your arms is not a substitute for a child restraint system. In an accident, the child can be crushed against the windshield, or between you and the vehicle's interior.
• Toyota strongly urges the use of a proper child restraint system that conforms to the size of the child, installed on the rear seat. According to accident statistics, the child is safer when properly restrained in the rear seat than in the front seat.
• 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 passenger 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.

  Adjust the seatback as upright as possible and always move the seat as far back as possible even if the "air bag off" indicator light is illuminated, because the front passenger airbag could inflate with considerable speed and force. Otherwise, the child may be killed or seriously injured.

• Do not use the seat belt extender when installing a child restraint system on the front or rear passenger seat. If installing a child restraint system with the seat belt extender connected to the seat belt, 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 an accident.

Child restraint precautions

• 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 and 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.
• Make sure you have complied with all installation instructions provided by the child restraint manufacturer and that the system is properly secured. If it is not secured properly, it may cause death or serious injury to the child in the event of a sudden stop or accident.

When children are in the vehicle

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 injuries that could result in death.

If this occurs and the buckle cannot be unfastened, scissors should be used to cut the belt.

When the child restraint system is not in use

• 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 passenger compartment.
• If it is necessary to detach the child restraint system, remove it from the vehicle or store it securely in the luggage compartment. If a head restraint was removed when installing a child restraint system, always install the head restraint before driving. This will prevent it from injuring passengers in the event of a sudden stop or accident.

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.

When installing a child restraint system

Follow the directions given in the child restraint system installation manual and fix the child restraint system securely in place.

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

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

• Only put a forward-facing child restraint system on the front seat when 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. Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury if the airbags deploy (inflate).

When installing a child restraint system

• when installing a child restraint system on the center second and third seat, adjust both seat cushions to the same position (second seat only) and align both seatbacks at the same angle. The seatbacks must be adjusted to the same angle. Otherwise, the child restraint system cannot be securely restrained and this may cause death or serious injury in the event of sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.
• When using the latch anchors for a child restraint system, move the seat as far back as possible (second seat only), with the seatback close to the child restraint system.
• 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. Failing to do so may result in death or serious injury in the event of sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.
• 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.
• Follow all installation instructions provided by the child restraint system manufacturer.
• When using the right-hand second and third seat for the child restraint system, do not sit in the center second and third seat. Seat belt function may be impaired, such as being positioned overly high or loose-fitting, which may result in death or serious injury in the event of sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.

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 a sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.

To correctly attach a child restraint system to the anchors

When using the latch anchors, be sure that there are no foreign objects around the anchors and that the seat belt is not caught behind the child restraint system. Make sure the child restraint system is securely attached, or it may cause death or serious injury to the child or other passengers in the event of sudden braking, sudden swerving or an accident.

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 and glass hatch closed.
• If you smell exhaust gases in the vehicle even when the back door and glass hatch are closed, open the 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 engine.
• Do not leave the vehicle with the engine 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 engine running in an area with snow build-up, or where it is snowing. If snowbanks build up around the vehicle while the engine is running, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle.

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.