2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Owners Manual

1373-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48E98U)
WARNING
●Do not pull on the back door damper stay (vehicles without a power back
door) or back door spindle (vehicles with a power back door) to close the
back door, and do not hang on the back door damper stay (vehicles with-
out a power back door) or back door spindle (vehicles with a power back
door).
Doing so may cause hands to be caught or the back door damper stay
(vehicles without a power back door) or back door spindle (vehicles with a
power back door) to break, causing an accident.
● Vehicles without a power back door: If a bicycle carrier or similar heavy
object is attached to the back door, it may suddenly shut again after being
opened, causing someone’s hands, head or neck to be caught and
injured. When installing an accessory part to the back door, using a genu-
ine Toyota part is recommended.
■ Back door closer (vehicles with a power back door)
● Use caution when using the back door closer as it still operates when the
power back door system is canceled.
●In the event that the back door is left
slightly open, the back door closer will
automatically close it to the fully closed
position. It takes several seconds
before the back door closer begins to
operate. Be careful not to catch fingers
or anything else in the back door, as this
may cause bone fractures or other seri-
ous injuries.

1383-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48E98U)
WARNING
■Power back door (if equipped)
Observe the following precautions when operating the power back door.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Check the safety of the surrounding area to make sure there are no obsta-
cles or anything that could cause any of your belongings to get caught.
● If anyone is in the vicinity, make sure they are safe and let them know that
the back door is about to open or close.
● If the power back door system is turned off with the main switch while the
back door is operating automatically, the automatic operation is stopped.
The back door then has to be operated manually. Take extra care when on
an incline, as the back door may open or close unexpectedly.
● If the operating conditions of the power back door are no longer met, a
buzzer may sound and the back door may stop opening or closing. The
back door then has to be operated manually. Take extra care when on an
incline, as the back door may open or close abruptly.
● On an incline, the back door may suddenly shut after it opens. Make sure
the back door is fully open and secure.
● In the following situations, the power back door may detect an abnormality
and automatic operation may be stopped. In this case, the back door has
to be operated manually. Take extra care when on an incline, as the back
door may open or close abruptly.
• When the back door contacts an obstacle
• When the battery voltage suddenly drops, such as when the engine
switch is turned to the “ON” position (vehicles without a smart key sys-
tem) or IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with a smart key system) or the
engine is started during automatic operation
● If a bicycle carrier or similar object is attached to the back door, the power
back door may not operate, causing itself to malfunction, or the back door
may move in the closing direction after being opened, causing someone’s
hands, head or neck to be caught and injured. When installing an acces-
sory part to the back door, ask your Toyota dealer for details.

1393-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48E98U)
WARNING
■Jam protection function (vehicles with a power back door)
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● Never use any part of your body to intentionally activate the jam protection
function.
● The jam protection function may not work if something gets caught just
before the back door fully closes. Be careful not to catch fingers or any-
thing else.
● The jam protection function may not work depending on the shape of the
object that is caught. Be careful not to catch fingers or anything else.\

1403-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48E98U)
NOTICE
■Back door damper stays (vehicles without a power back door)
The back door is equipped with damper stays that hold the back door in
place.
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause damage to the back door damper stay, resulting
in malfunction.
● Do not place your hand on the damper stay or apply lateral forces to it.
■ Back door spindles (vehicl es with a power back door)
The back door is equipped with spindles that hold the back door in place\
.
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause damage to the back door spindle, resulting in
malfunction.
● Do not place your hand on the spindle or apply lateral forces to it.
●Do not attach any foreign objects, such
as stickers, plastic sheets, or adhesives
to the damper stay rod.
● Do not touch the damper stay rod with
gloves or other fabric items.
● Do not attach any accessories other
than genuine Toyota parts to the back
door.Damper stays
●Do not attach any foreign objects, such
as stickers, plastic sheets, or adhesives
to the spindle rod.
● Do not touch the spindle rod with gloves
or other fabric items.
● Do not attach any accessories to the
back door. When attaching, ask your
Toyota dealer for details.Spindles

1413-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48E98U)
NOTICE
■To prevent back door closer malfun ction (vehicles with a power back
door)
Do not apply excessive force to the back door while the back door closer is
operating.
■ To prevent damage to the po wer back door (if equipped)
● Make sure that there is no ice between the back door and frame that
would prevent movement of the back door. Operating the power back door
when excessive load is present on the back door may cause a malfunc-
tion.
● Do not apply excessive force to the back door while the power back door
is operating.
● Take care not to damage the sensors (installed on the right and left edges
of the power back door) with a knife or other sharp object. If the sensor is
disconnected, the power back door will not close automatically.

1423-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48E98U)
The glass hatch can be opened using the glass hatch opener.
Vehicles without a smart key system
Press the button to pop up the
glass hatch.
Raise the glass hatch using the
knob
The glass hatch cannot be open
when the back door is locked.
Unlock the back door to open the
glass hatch. (P. 121)
Vehicles with a smart key system
When the back door is unlocked: Press the button to pop up the
glass hatch.
When the back door is locked: While carrying the electronic key on
your person, press the butto n to pop up the glass hatch.
Raise the glass hatch using the knob
Glass hatch
: If equipped
Opening the glass hatch
1
2
1
2

1433-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48E98U)
■Luggage compartment light
P. 133
■ The glass hatch can be opened when
The back door is closed.
■ Opening and closing the glass hatch
●Open the glass hatch slowly and carefully.
● Make sure that the rear window wiper is switched off.
● Do not rotate the rear wiper arm when the glass hatch is open. (If the rear
wiper arm is rotated, turn the wiper switch on after closing the glass hatch.
The rear wiper arm will return to the correct position automatically after
operating once.)
● Make sure that the back door is closed before closing the glass hatch.
■ After closing the glass hatch
Check that the glass hatch is firmly closed. If it is not firmly closed, the rear
window wiper and washer will not operate correctly.
■ Function to prevent the glass hatch being locked with the electronic key
inside (vehicles with a smart key system)
● When all doors are locked, closing the glass hatch with the electronic key
left inside the luggage compartment will sound an alarm.
In this case, the glass hatch can be opened by pressing the glass hatch
opener.
● If the spare electronic key is put in the luggage compartment with all the
doors locked, the key confinement prevention function will activate and the
glass hatch can be opened. In order to prevent theft, take all electronic keys
with you when leaving the vehicle.
● If the electronic key is put in the luggage compartment with all the doors
locked, the key may not be detected depending on the location of the key
and the surrounding radio wave conditions. In this case, the key confine-
ment prevention function cannot be activated, causing the doors to lock
when the glass hatch is closed. Make sure to check where the key is before
closing the glass hatch.

1443-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48E98U)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■Before driving
● Make sure that the glass hatch is fully closed. If the glass hatch is not fully
closed, it may open unexpectedly while driving and hit near-by objects or
luggage in the luggage compartment may be thrown out, causing an acci-
dent.
● Do not allow a child to open or close the glass hatch.
Doing so may cause the glass hatch to move unexpectedly, or cause the
child’s hands, head, or neck to be caught by the closing glass hatch.
■ Operating the glass hatch
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause parts of the body to be caught, resulting in death
or serious injury.
● Remove any heavy loads, such as snow and ice, from the glass hatch
before opening it. Failure to do so may cause the glass hatch to suddenly
shut again after it is opened.
● When opening or closing the glass hatch, thoroughly check to make sure
the surrounding area is safe.
● If anyone is in the vicinity, make sure they are safe and let them know that
the glass hatch is about to open or close.
● Use caution when opening or closing the glass hatch in windy weather as
it may move abruptly in strong wind.