When Can A Child Sit In The Front Seat TOYOTA Corolla VIII Liftback (E110) (04.1997 - 01.2002)

For a 1998 Toyota Corolla, the safest practice is to have children sit in the rear seats until they are at least 13 years old and approximately 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm) tall, as recommended by child safety experts and general guidelines for airbag safety. This is because airbags, designed for adults, can cause serious injury or death to smaller children, especially those in rear-facing or forward-facing child restraints placed in the front seat.

Specific Age and Height Guidelines
- Minimum age: 13 years old before sitting in the front seat.
- Minimum height: Around 4 feet 9 inches (145 cm) to ensure proper seatbelt fit and safe airbag interaction.
- Children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat, which offers better protection and avoids airbag risk.

Child Restraint Use in the Front Seat
- If it is unavoidable to place a child in the front seat (e.g., no rear seats or medical reasons), use a properly installed child restraint system.
- Adjust the front passenger seat fully back to maximize distance from the airbag.
- Ensure the child restraint fits snugly against the seatback and the headrest is in the highest position.
- Never place a rearward-facing child seat in the front seat if the airbag is active, as this is extremely dangerous and often illegal.

Passenger Airbag Deactivation
- The 1998 Toyota Corolla may have a manual passenger airbag on/off switch (often key-operated) to deactivate the airbag when a child is seated in front.
- To deactivate, insert the key into the airbag switch (usually located on the dashboard or near the glove box) and turn it to "off" with the ignition off.
- Confirm deactivation via the airbag indicator light on the dashboard.
- If your vehicle does not have a manual switch, consult a Toyota dealer about options for disabling the passenger airbag safely.