2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER fold seats

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
362003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-
hicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-
erly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow sitting on top of a
foldeddown seatback, or in the
luggage compartment or cargo area.
Persons not properly seated and/or
properly restrained by seat belts
can be severely injured in the event
of emergency braking or a collision.
During driving, do not allow pas-
sengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Severe inju-
ries can occur in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
CAUTION
The SRS side airbags are installed in
the driver and front passenger seats.
Observe the following precautions.
Do not lean against the front door
when the vehicle is in use, since
the side airbag inflates with consid-
erable speed and force. Otherwise,
you may be killed or seriously in-
jured.
Do not use seat accessories which
cover the parts where the side air-
bags inflate. Such accessories may
prevent the side airbags from acti-
vating correctly, causing death or
serious injury.
Do not modify or replace the seats
or upholstery of the front seats
with the side airbags. Such changes
may disable the system or cause
the side airbags to inflate acciden-
tally, resulting in death or serious
injury. Consult your Toyota dealer if
you insist on modifications of this
kind.
Adjust the driver’s seat so that the foot
pedals, steering wheel and instrument
panel controls are within easy reach of
the driver.
CAUTION
Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving, as the
seat may unexpectedly move and
cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When adjusting the seat, be careful
that the seat does not hit a passen-
ger or luggage.
After adjusting the seat position,
try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is locked in posi-
tion.
After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.
Do not put objects under the seats.
Otherwise, the objects may interfere
with the seatlock mechanism or
unexpectedly push up the seat posi-
tion adjusting lever and the seat
may suddenly move, causing the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Seats Front seats—
—Front seat precautions (on vehicles with SRS side airbags)—Seat adjustment precautions

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
412003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
CAUTION
Do not allow passengers to ride on
the flattened seat while driving; use
the seat in the normal position.
After putting back the seat, try
pushing the seat and seatback for-
ward and rearward to make sure it
is secured in place. Be certain to
replace head restraint.
CAUTION
Adjustment should not be made
while the vehicle is moving.
When adjusting the seatback, be
careful not to hit the seat against
a passenger or luggage.
After adjusting the seatback, push
back your body to make sure it is
locked in position.
When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the follow-
ing precautions in order to prevent
personal injury in a collision or
sudden stop:
Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
Folding rear seatbacks will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See “Luggage stow-
age precautions” on page 195 in Section
2 for precautions in loading luggage.
SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING LEVER
Pull the lever up. Then lean back to the
desired angle and release the lever.
CAUTION
Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving.
Rear seats—
—Rear seat precautions —Adjusting rear seats

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
422003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
passengers are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats. If you
are reclined, the lap belt may slide
past your hips and apply restraint
forces directly to the abdomen. In
the event of a frontal collision, the
more the seat is reclined, the great-
er the risk of personal injury.
After adjusting the seatback, push
back your body to make sure it is
locked in position.
NOTICE
Do not fold the seatback forward
while the luggage cover is set.
BEFORE FOLDDOWN REAR SEAT
1. Stow the rear seat belt buckles as shown in the illustration.2. Make sure the outer seat beltspasses through the hangers when
folding the rear seat.
This prevents the shoulder belt from being
damaged.
CAUTION
The seat belt must be removed from
the hangers when they are in use.
—Folddown rear seats

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
432003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
FOLDDOWN REAR SEATS
Pull the lock release lever and fold
down the seatback.
NOTICE
Do not fold the seatback forward
while the luggage cover is set.
Folding down the rear seats will enlarge
the luggage compartment. See “Luggage
stowage precautions” on page 195 in Sec-
tion 2 for precautions in loading luggage.
CAUTION
When returning the seatback to the
upright position, observe the follow-
ing precautions in order to prevent
personal injury in a collision or sud-
den stop:
Make sure the seatback is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback.
Failure to do so will prevent the
seat belt from operating properly.
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught in the seatback
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.Front
Rear
Head restraints

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
492003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
CAUTION
Both highpositioned lap belts and
loosefitting belts could cause seri-
ous injuries due to sliding under
the lap belt during a collision or
other unintended result. Keep the
lap belt positioned as low on hips
as possible.
For your safety, do not place the
shoulder belt under your arm.
To release the belt, press the bucklere-
lease button and allow the belt to re-
tract.
If the belt does not retract smoothly, pull
it out and check for kinks or twists. Then
make sure it remains untwisted as it re-
tracts.The rear seat belt buckles can be
stowed when not in use.
Seat belt buckles must be stowed before
you fold the seat back. (See “—Folddown
rear seats” on page 42 in this section.)
—Stowing rear seat belt
buckles

’03 HIGHLANDER_U (L/O 0208)
2482003 HIGHLANDER from Aug. ’02 Prod. (OM48441U)
INSIDE THE VEHICLE
Items listed below should be checked
regularly, e.g. while performing periodic
services, cleaning the vehicle, etc.
Lights
Make sure the headlights, stop lights, tail
lights, turn signal lights, and other lights
are all working. Check headlight aim.
Service reminder indicators and warning
buzzers
Check that all service reminder indicators
and warning buzzers function properly.
Steering wheel
Check that it has the specified free play.
Be alert for changes in steering condition,
such as hard steering or strange noise.
Seats
Check that all seat controls such as seat
adjusters, seatback recliner, etc. operate
smoothly and that all latches lock securely
in any position. Check that the head re-
straints move up and down smoothly and
that the locks hold securely in any latched
position. For foldingdown rear seatbacks,
check that the latches lock securely. Seat belts
Check that the seat belt system such as
buckles, retractors and anchors operate
properly and smoothly. Make sure the belt
webbing is not cut, frayed, worn or dam-
aged.
Accelerator pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
uneven pedal effort or catching.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and
that the pedal has the proper clearance.
Check the brake booster function.
Brakes
At a safe place, check that the brakes do
not pull to one side when applied.
Parking brake
Check that the pedal has the proper travel
and that, on a safe incline, your vehicle
is held securely with only the parking
brake applied.
Automatic transmission “Park” mecha-
nism
Check the lock release button of the se-
lector lever for proper and smooth opera-
tion. On a safe incline, check that your
vehicle is held securely with the selector
lever in “P” position and all brakes re-
leased.
IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Items listed below should be checked
from time to time, e.g. each time when
refueling.
Washer fluid
Make sure there is sufficient fluid in the
tank. See page 279 in Section 73 for
additional information.
Engine coolant level
Make sure the coolant level is between
the “F” and “L” lines on the seethrough
reservoir when the engine is cold. See
page 263 in Section 72 for additional
information.
Radiator, condenser and hoses
Check that the front of the radiator and
condenser are clean and not blocked with
leaves, dirt or insects. See page 264 in
Section 72 for additional information.