Page 553 of 712
553
8When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48A12U)8-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers .......... 554
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ...................... 555
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed ......................... 557
If you think something is wrong .............................. 561
Fuel pump shut off system ............................ 562
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds ............................ 563
If a warning message is displayed ..................... 572
If you have a flat tire.......... 590
If the engine will not start ................................. 615
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P ............. 617
If the electronic key does not operate properly ........ 618
If the vehicle battery is discharged ...................... 621
If your vehicle overheats ........................ 626
If the vehicle becomes stuck ............................... 629
Page 556 of 712
5568-1. Essential information
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48A12U)
WARNING
■If the engine has to be turned off while driving
●Power assist for the brakes and steering wheel will be lost, making the
brake pedal harder to depress and the steering wheel heavier to turn.
Decelerate as much as possible before turning off the engine.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Never attempt to remove the key, as
doing so will lock the steering wheel.
Page 559 of 712
5598-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48A12U)
If you use chains or cables to tie
down your vehicle, the angles
shaded in black must be 45.
Do not overly tighten the tie
downs or the vehicle may be dam-
aged.
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■ When towing the vehicle
2WD models: Be sure to transport the
vehicle with the front wheels raised or
with all four wheels raised off the ground.
If the vehicle is towed with the front
wheels contacting the ground, the driv-
etrain and related parts may be dam-
aged.
AWD models: Be sure to transport the
vehicle with all four wheels raised off the
ground. If the vehicle is towed with the
tires contacting the ground, the drivetrain
or related parts may be damaged, the
vehicle may fly off the truck.
Page 563 of 712

5638-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48A12U)
If a war ning light tur ns on or a war ning
buzzer sounds
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights
comes on or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but then
goes off, this does not necessarily indicate a malfunction in the
system. However, if this continues to occur, have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
Warning light and warning buzzer list
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
Brake system warning light (warning buzzer)*1
Indicates that:
• The brake fluid level is low; or
• The brake system is malfunctioning This light also comes on when the parking brake is not
released. If the light turns off after the parking brake is
fully released the system is operating normally.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer. Continuing to drive the vehi-
cle may be dangerous.
Charging system warning light*2
Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
Low engine oil pressure warning light (warning
buzzer)
*2
Indicates that the engine oil pressure is too low.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
Malfunction indicator lamp Indicates a malfunction in:
• The electronic engine control system;
• The electronic throttle control system; or
• The electronic automatic transmission control system.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Page 564 of 712

5648-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48A12U)
SRS warning lightIndicates a malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system;
• The front passenger occupant classification system; or
• The seat belt pretensioner system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
ABS warning light Indicates a malfunction in:
• The ABS; or
• The brake assist system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Electric power steering system warning light (warning
buzzer) Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric Power Steer-
ing) system
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Flashes)
Pre-collision system warning light*3, 4
Indicates a malfunction in the PCS (Pre-Collision System)
The warning light will operate as follows, even when the
system is not malfunctioning:
• The light will flash quickly when the system is operating.
(P. 306)
• The light will turn on when the pre-collision system is disabled. ( P. 307)
• The light will turn on when the VSC (Vehicle Stability
Control) system is disabled. ( P. 301)
• The light will flash when the system cannot temporarily be used. ( P. 583)
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Slip indicator
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) system;
• The TRAC (Traction Control) system;
• The hill-start assist control system; or
• The downhill assist control system
*4
The light will flash when the VSC or the TRAC system is
operating.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
Page 565 of 712

5658-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48A12U)
Open door warning light (warning buzzer)*2, 5
Indicates that one or more of the doors, the back door or
the glass hatch
*4 is not fully closed
Check that all the doors, the back door and the glass
hatch
*4 are closed.
Low fuel level warning light
Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately 2.9 gal.
(10.7 L, 2.4 Imp. gal.) or less
Refuel the vehicle.
Seat belt reminder light (warning buzzer)*6
Warns the driver and/or front passenger to fasten their
seat belts
Fasten the seat belt.
If the front passenger’s seat is occupied, the front
passenger’s seat belt also needs to be fastened to
make the warning light (warning buzzer) turn off.
Master warning light
A buzzer sounds and the warning light comes on and
flashes to indicate that the master warning system has
detected a malfunction.
P. 572
Tire pressure warning light
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure such as
• Natural causes ( P. 567)
• Flat tire ( P. 590)
Adjust the tire inflation pressure (including the
full-size 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. 568)
Have the system checked by your Toyota dealer.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
Page 566 of 712

5668-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48A12U)
*1: Parking brake engaged warning buzzer: P. 577
*2: Vehicles with monochrome display
*3: Vehicles with color display
*4: If equipped
*5: Open door warning buzzer:P. 574
*6: Driver’s seat belt buzzer:
Vehicles without a smart key system: The driver’s seat belt buzzer sounds
to alert the driver that his or her seat belt is not fastened. Once the engine
switch is turned to the “ON” position, the buzzer sounds for 6 seconds. If
the vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h), the buzzer sounds once.
If the seat belt is still unfastened after 25 seconds, the buzzer will sound
intermittently for 10 seconds. Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened, the
buzzer will sound in a different tone for 20 more seconds.
Vehicles with a smart key system: The driver’s seat belt buzzer sounds to
alert the driver that his or her seat belt is not fastened. Once the engine
switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode, the buzzer sounds for 6 seconds.
If the vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h), the buzzer sounds
once. If the seat belt is still unfastened after 25 seconds, the buzzer will
sound intermittently for 10 seconds. Then, if the seat belt is still unfas-
tened, the buzzer will sound in a different tone for 20 more seconds.
Front passenger’s seat belt buzzer:
The front passenger’s seat belt buzzer sounds to alert the front passenger
that his or her seat belt is not fastened. The buzzer sounds once if the
vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h). If the seat belt is still unfas-
tened after 25 seconds, the buzzer will sound intermittently for 10 seconds.
Then, if the seat belt is still unfastened, the buzzer will sound in a different
tone for 20 more seconds.
Page 567 of 712

5678-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48A12U)
■SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front impact
sensors, side impact sensors (front door), side impact sensors (rear), driver’s
seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch, front passenger occu-
pant classification system (ECU and sensors), “AIR BAG ON” indicator light,
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch, seat
belt pretensioner, airbags, interc onnecting wiring and power sources.
( P. 42)
■ Front passenger detection sensor, seat belt reminder and warning
buzzer
If luggage is placed on the front passenger seat, the front passenger detec-
tion sensor may cause the warning light to flash and the warning buzzer to
sound even if a passenger is not sitting in the seat.
■ 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 several driving trips.
If the light does not go off even after several trips, contact your Toyota dealer
as soon as possible.
■ Electric power steering system warning light (warning buzzer)
When the battery charge becomes insufficient or the voltage temporarily
drops, the electric power steering system warning light may come on and the
warning buzzer may sound.
■
When the tire pressure warning light comes on
Check the tire inflation pressure and adjust to the appropriate level. Push-
ing the tire pressure warning reset switch will not turn off the tire pressure
warning light.
■The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes
The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes such
as natural air leaks and tire inflation pressure changes caused by temper-
ature. In this case, adjusting the tire inflation pressure will turn off the
warning light (after a few minutes).