Page 29 of 569
28Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance
(P 467)
Under the Hood
(P 475)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, inverter coolant, and
windshield washer fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid.
● Check the 12-volt battery condition monthly.
a
Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard.
b
Locate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up
the hood.
c
When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.
Lights
(P 488)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades
(P 495)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires
(P 497)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter
driving.
Page 76 of 569
75
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
POWER
SYSTEM
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.●Comes on if there is a problem
with the electric vehicle system.●Comes on when the High Voltage
battery temperature becomes high
while the battery is being charged.
●Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
READY Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.●Comes on when the vehicle is
ready to drive.
2Turning on the Power P. 420
EV Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.●Comes on when the vehicle is
moved by the motor, and the
engine is not operating.
—
—
EV Mode
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.●Comes on when the vehicle is in EV
mode.
2 SPORT HYBRID i-MMD
(intelligent Multi Mode
Drive) P. 10
—
Page 77 of 569

76
uuIndicators u
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when
you set the power mode to ON,
then goes off.●Comes on when the engine oil
pressure is low.
●Comes on while driving - Immediately
stop in a safe place.
2 If the Low Oil Pressure Indicator
Comes On P. 534
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
●Comes on when you set the power
mode to ON, and goes off either
when the power system is on or
after several seconds if the vehicle
did not start. If “readiness codes”
have not been set, it blinks five
times before it goes off.●Comes on if there is a problem
with the emissions control system.●Blinks when a misfire in the
engine's cylinders is detected.
●Readiness codes are part of the on board
diagnostics for the emissions control
systems.
2Testing of Readiness Codes P. 549
●Comes on while driving - Have your
vehicle checked by a dealer.●Blinks while driving - Stop in a safe
place where there are no flammable
objects. Stop the power system for 10
minutes or more, and wait for the engine
to cool down. Then, take the vehicle to a
dealer.
2 If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Comes On or Blinks P. 535
12-Volt Battery
Charging System
Indicator
●Comes on when you set the power
mode to ON, and goes off when
the power system is on.●Comes on when the 12-volt
battery is not charging.
●Comes on while driving - Turn off the
climate control system and rear defogger
in order to reduce electricity
consumption.
2 If the 12-Volt Battery Charging
System Indicator Comes On P. 534
Page 95 of 569
94
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warn ing and Information Messages
Instrument Panel
Message
Condition
Explanation
●Appears if the power system is in diagnostic mode.
●You may notice a decrease in available power. Have your
vehicle checked by a dealer.●As a result of diagnostics, the POWER SYSTEM
indicator may come on.
2 POWER SYSTEM Indicator P. 75
●Appears when you failed to select EV mode or EV
mode is automatically canceled.●The cause may be shown with the following
message:
-Ambient Temperature Too Low
- Battery Charge Too Low
- Engine Too Cold
- Cabin Being Heated
- Speed Too High
- Hard Acceleration Requested
●EV mode is available once the condition is improved or
the cause that canceled EV mode is cleared.
Page 415 of 569

414Driving
Before DrivingDriving PreparationCheck the following items before you start driving.
•Make sure there are no obstructions on the windows, door mirrors, exterior
lights, or other parts of the vehicle.
u Remove any frost, snow, or ice.
u Remove any snow on the roof, as this can slip down and obstruct your field of
vision while driving. If frozen solid, remove ice once it has softened.
u When removing ice from around the wheels, be sure not to damage the wheel
or wheel components.
• Make sure the hood is securely closed.
u If the hood opens while driving, your front view will be blocked.
• Make sure the tires are in good condition.
u Check air pressure, check for damage and excessive wear.
2 Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 497
•Make sure there are no people or objects behind or around the vehicle.
u There are blind spots from the inside.■
Exterior Checks
1Exterior ChecksNOTICEWhen doors are frozen shut, use warm water around
the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force
them open, as this can damage the rubber trim
around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid
further freezing.
Do not pour warm water into the key cylinder.
You will be unable to inse rt the key if the water
freezes in the hole.
Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite
flammable materials left under the hood, causing a
fire. If you've parked your vehicle for an extended
period, inspect and remove any debris that may have
collected, such as dried grass and leaves that have
fallen or have been carried in for use as a nest by a
small animal.
Also check under the hood for leftover flammable
materials after you or someone else has performed
maintenance on your vehicle.
Page 421 of 569

420Driving
When DrivingTurning on the Power
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
(P
, then
depress the brake pedal.
u Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N
, it is safer to start it in
(P
.
1When Driving
When you set the power mode to ON, you may feel
as if the brake pedal is sinking down. This is normal.1Turning on the Power
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the power system.
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When turning on the power system in cold weather,
turn off all electrical accessories such as the lights,
climate control system, and rear defogger in order to
reduce the 12-volt battery drain.
If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. If temperatures consistently
below -22°F (-30°C) are expected, the coolant
mixture should be changed to a higher concentration
to prevent freezing. Consult a dealer for details.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Brake Pedal
Page 449 of 569

uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability Assist (VSA® ), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
448Driving
This button is on the driver side control panel.
To partially turn the VSA features on and off,
press and hold it until you hear a beep.
The traction control stops fully functioning,
allowing the wheels to spin more freely at low
speed. The VSA® OFF indicator will also come
on.
To turn it on again, press the (VSA ® OFF)
button until you hear a beep.
VSA ® is turned on every time you turn the
power system on, even if you press the
button the last time you drove the vehicle.
■
VSA ® OFF Button
1 Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
With the button pressed, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability, but VSA ®
traction and stability enhancement becomes less
effective.
In certain unusual conditions when your vehicle gets
stuck in shallow mud or fresh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the button pressed.
When the button is pressed, the traction control
function becomes less effective. This allows for the
wheels to spin more freely at low speed. You should
only attempt to free your vehicle with the button
pressed if you are not able to free it without.
Immediately after freeing your vehicle, be sure to
press the button again. We do not recommend
driving your vehicle with the button pressed
(indicator on).
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately a fter turning the power
system on or while driving. This is normal.
VSA ® OFF Indicator
Page 458 of 569

457
uuBraking uBrake System
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. The brake assist system
increases the stopping force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an
emergency situation. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering
control when braking very hard.2 Brake Assist System P. 459
2 Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) P. 458■
Foot Brake
1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brake pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply regenerative braking by taking
your foot off the accelerator pedal and shifting to .
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.
When you depress the brake pedal, you may hear a
motor sound coming from the engine compartment
while the brake system activates. This is normal.
B