2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID Owners Manual

5
When trouble arises
529
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Stop the vehicle immediately.
The following warnings indicate the possibility of damage to the vehi-
cle that may lead to an accident. Immediately stop the vehicle in a
safe place and contact your Toyota dealer.
Have the vehicle inspected immediately.Failing to investigate the cause of the following warnings may lead to
the system operating abnormally and possibly cause an accident.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
Charging system warning light Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system.
Warning lightWarning light/Details
(U.S.A.)
(Canada) Malfunction indicator lamp
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The hybrid system;
• The electronic engine control system;
• The electronic throttle control system; or
• The electronic transmission control system.
SRS warning light Indicates a malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system;
• The front passenger occupant classification system; or
• The seat belt pretensioner system.
(U.S.A.)
(Canada) ABS warning light
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The ABS; or
• The brake assist system.

530 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Brake system warning light in yellowIndicates a malfunction in:
• The regenerative brake system; or
• The electronically controlled brake system
Electric power steering warning light Indicates a malfunction in the EPS.
Slip indicator light
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The VSC system;
• The TRAC system; or
• The hill-start assist control system
(Flashes) Cruise control indicator light
Indicates a malfunction in the cruise control system.
■ If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on while driving
First check the following:
● Is the fuel tank empty?
If it is, fill the fuel tank immediately.
● Is the fuel tank cap loose?
If it is, tighten it securely.
The light will go off after taking several driving trips.
If the light does not go off even after several trips, contact your Toyota dealer
as soon as possible.
■ Brake system warning light operation
The following does not indicate a malfunction:
●After the hybrid system is turned on, the red and yellow brake system
warning lights may stay on for about 60 seconds.
● Depressing the brake pedal repeatedly may turn on the red brake system
warning light and buzzer.
Warning lightWarning light/Details

5
When trouble arises
531
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Follow the correction procedures.
After taking the specified steps to correct the suspected problem,
check that the warning light turns off.
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
Open door warning light
(warning buzzer)
*1
Indicates that a door is not
fully closed. Check that all doors are
closed.
Low fuel level warning
light Indicates that remaining
fuel is about 2.5 gal. (9.8
L, 2.1 lmp. gal.) or less Refuel the vehicle.
Driver’s seat belt
reminder light
(warning buzzer)
*2
Warns the driver to fasten
his/her seat belt. Fasten the seat belt.
*3
*4
(On the center
panel) Front passenger’s seat
belt reminder light
(warning buzzer)
*2
Warns the front passen-
ger to fasten his or her
seat belt.
Fasten the seat belt.

532 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Tire pressure warning
light
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure
such as
• Natural causes (P. 534)
• Flat tire ( P. 539) Adjust the tire inflation
pressure (including the
spare tire) to the specified
level.
The light will turn off after
a few minutes. In case
the light does not turn off
even if the tire inflation
pressure is adjusted,
have the system checked
by your Toyota dealer.
When the light comes on
after blinking for 1 minute:
Malfunction in the tire
pressure warning system
(  P. 535) Have the system checked
by your Toyota dealer.
Master warning light
A buzzer sounds and the
warning light comes on
and flashes to indicate that
the master warning system
has detected a malfunc-
tion. P. 5 3 8
Warning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure

5
When trouble arises
533
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
*1: Open door warning buzzer:
The open door warning buzzer sounds to alert one or more of the doors is
not fully closed (with the vehicle having reached a speed of 3 mph [5 km/h]).
*2: Driver's and front passenger’s seat belt reminders:
The driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminders sound to alert the
driver and front passenger that his or her seat belt is not fastened. These
buzzers sound for 10 seconds after the vehicle has reached a speed of at
least 12 mph (20 km/h). Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened, the buzzer
will sound in a different tone for 20 more seconds.
*3: Vehicles without navigation system
*4: Vehicles with navigation system
■ Key reminder buzzer (vehic les without smart key system)
The buzzer indicates that the key has not been removed with the hybrid sys-
tem off and the driver’s door opened.
■ Open moon roof reminder buzzer
The buzzer indicates that the moon roof is not fully closed with the hybrid
system off and the driver’s door opened.
■ Front passenger detection sensor and passenger seat belt reminder
● If luggage is placed on the front passenger seat, the front passenger
detection sensor may cause the warning light to flash, even if a passen-
ger is not sitting in the seat.
● If a cushion is placed on the seat, the sensor may not detect a passen-
ger, and the warning light may not operate properly.

534 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■Changing the engine oil (U.S.A. only)
Make sure to reset the oil change system. ( P. 448)
■
The tire pressure warning light ma y turn on due to natural causes
The tire pressure warning light may turn on due to natural causes such
as natural air leaks or tire inflation pressure changes caused by temper-
ature. In this case, adjusting the ti re inflation pressure will turn off the
warning light (after a few minutes).
■When a tire is replaced with a spare tire
The spare tire is also equipped with the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter. The tire pressu re warning light will turn on if the tire inflation
pressure of the spare tire is low. If a tire goes flat, even though the flat
tire is replaced with the spare tire, the tire pressure warning light does
not turn off. Replace the spare tire with the repaired tire and adjust the
proper tire inflation pressure. The ti re pressure warning light will turn off
after a few minutes.
■If the tire pressure warning system is inoperative
The tire pressure warning system will be disabled in the following condi-
tions:
(When the condition becomes normal, the system will work properly.)
●If tires not equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters are used.
●If the ID code on the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters is
not registered in the tire pressure warning computer.
●If the tire inflation pressure is 73 psi (500 kPa, 5.1 kgf/cm2 or bar) or
higher.

5
When trouble arises
535
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
The tire pressure warning system may be disabled in the following condi-
tions:
(When the condition be
comes normal, the system will work properly.)
●If electronic devices or facilities using similar radio wave frequencies
are nearby.
●If a radio set at similar frequencies is in use in the vehicle.
●If a window tint that affects the radio wave signals is installed.
●If there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehicle, in particular around the
wheels or wheel housings.
●If non-genuine Toyota wheels are used. (Even if you use Toyota
wheels, the tire pressu re warning system may not work properly with
some types of tires.)
●If tire chains are used.
●If the spare tire is in a location subject to poor radio wave signal
reception.
●If a large metallic object which can interfere with signal reception is
put in the luggage room.
■If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking
for 1 minute
Vehicles without smart key system
If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1
minute when the engine switch is turned to the “ON” position, have it
checked by your Toyota dealer. Vehicles with smart key system
If the tire pressure warning light comes on after blinking for 1 minute fre-
quently when the “POWER” switch is turned to ON mode, have it
checked by your Toyota dealer.

536 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
CAUTION
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could
cause loss of vehicle control and re sult in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire
inflation pressure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pres-
sure adjustment, it is pr obable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires.
If the tire is flat, change to the spare tire and have the flat tire repaired
by the nearest Toyota dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate,
you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur
The tire pressure warning syste m may not activate immediately.
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has tires of a differ-
ent size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load information label], you should determine the
proper tire inflation pr essure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS-ti re pressure warning system) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltal e (tire pressure warning light) when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressu re telltale (tire pressure warning light) illumi-
nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel effi ciency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle's hand ling and stopping ability.