Page 480 of 621
479
PRIUS v_OM_OM47887U_(U)
8When trouble arises
8-1. Essential informationEmergency flashers .......... 480
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ...................... 481
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed ......................... 482
If you think something is wrong .............................. 487
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds ............................ 488
If a warning message is displayed......................... 501
If you have a flat tire.......... 518
If the hybrid system will not start ........................... 532
If the electronic key does not operate properly........ 534
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ...................... 536
If your vehicle overheats ... 541
If the vehicle becomes stuck ............................... 546
Page 488 of 621
487
PRIUS v_OM_OM47887U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If you think something is wrong
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air co nditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● High coolant temperature warning light flashes or comes on
● Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the hybrid system
● Engine missing, stumbling or running roughly
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, spon gy feeling, pedal almost touches
the floor
If you notice any of the follow ing symptoms, your vehicle proba-
bly needs adjustment or repair. Contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms
Page 494 of 621

4938-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47887U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
*1: Brake system warning buzzer:When there is a possible problem that could affect braking performance,
the warning light will come on and a warning buzzer will sound.
Parking brake engaged warning buzzer:
A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is driven at a speed of approximately 3
mph (5 km/h) or more.
*2: 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]).
*3: Seat belt buzzer:
The seat belt warning buzzer sounds to alert the driver and/or front pas-
senger that their seat belts are not fastened. If the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened, the buzzer will sound for 6 seconds once the power switch is
turned to ON mode. If the vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h),
the buzzer will sound once. If the seat belt is still unfastened after 30 sec-
onds, 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.
Tire pressure warning light When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure such as
• Natural causes ( P. 495)
• Flat tire ( P. 518)
Adjust the tire inflation pressure 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. 495)
Have the system checked by your Toyota dealer.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
Page 496 of 621

4958-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47887U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
■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 ti re inflation pressure will turn off the
warning light (after a few minutes).
■When a tire is replaced with a spare tire
The compact spare tire is not equipped with a tire pressure warning valve
and transmitter. If a tire goes flat, the tire pressure warning light will not
turn off even though the flat tire has been replaced with the spare tire.
Replace the spare tire with the repaired tire and adjust the tire inflation
pressure. The tire pressu re warning light will go off after a few minutes.
■If the tire pressure warning system is not functioning
P. 4 4 6
■If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking
for 1 minute
If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for
1 minute when the power switch is tu rned to ON mode, have it checked
by your Toyota dealer.
■ Warning buzzer
In some cases, the buzzer may not be heard due to being in a noisy location
or audio sound.
Page 497 of 621

4968-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47887U_(U)
WARNING
■If both the ABS and the brake system warning lights remain on
Stop your vehicle in a safe place immediately and contact your Toyota
dealer. The vehicle will become extremely unstable during braking, and the
ABS system may fail, which could cause an accident resulting in death or
serious injury.
■ When the electric power steerin g system warning light comes on
The steering wheel may become extremely heavy.
If the steering wheel becomes heavie r than usual when operating, hold
firmly and operate using more force than usual.
■
If the tire pressure warning light comes on
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could
cause a loss of vehicle control and result 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 probable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires.
If a tire is flat, change it with th e 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 system may not activate immediately.
Page 498 of 621

4978-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47887U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
WARNING
■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 dif-
ferent 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 pressure 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 pre ssure telltale (tire pressure warning light) when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressure 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.
Please note that the TPMS (tire pres sure warning system) is not a sub-
stitute for proper ti re maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has not reached
the level to trigger illumina tion of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale (tire
pressure warning light).
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warn-
ing system) malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunc-
tion indicator is combined with the lo w tire pressure telltale (tire pressure
warning light). When the system dete cts a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately one minute and then remain continuously illumi-
nated. This sequence will continue up on subsequent vehicle start-ups
as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illu-
minated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pres-
sure as intended.
TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunctions may occur for a vari-
ety of reasons, including the installati on of replacement or alternate tires
or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS (tire pressure warning
system) from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS (tire pres-
sure warning system) malfunction te lltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alter-
nate tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) to
continue to function properly.
Page 519 of 621
518
PRIUS v_OM_OM47887U_(U)
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If you have a flat tire
●Stop the vehicle on a hard, flat surface.
● Set the parking brake.
● Shift the shift position to P.
● Stop the hybrid system.
● Turn on the emergency flashers. ( P. 480)
Your vehicle is equipped with a spare tire. The flat tire can be
replaced with the spare tire.
For details about tires: P. 4 4 1
WARNING
■If you have a flat tire
Do not continue driving with a flat tire.
Driving even a short distance with a fl at tire can damage the tire and the
wheel beyond repair, which could result in an accident.
Before jacking up the vehicle
Page 521 of 621

5208-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47887U_(U)
WARNING
■Using the tire jack
Observe the following precautions.
Improper use of the tire jack may cause the vehicle to suddenly fall off
the jack, leading to death or serious injury.
●Do not use the tire jack for any purpose other than replacing tires or
installing and removing tire chains.
●Only use the tire jack that comes with this vehicle for replacing a flat
tire.
Do not use it on other vehicles, and do not use other tire jacks for
replacing tires on this vehicle.
●Put the jack properly in its jack point.
●Do not put any part of your body und er the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack.
●Do not start the hybrid system or drive the vehicle while the vehicle is
supported by the jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle while someone is inside.
●When raising the vehicle, do not put an object on or under the jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle to a height greater than that required to
replace the tire.
●Use a jack stand if it is necessary to get under the vehicle.
●When lowering the vehicle, make su re that there is no-one near the
vehicle. If there are people nearby, warn them vocally before lowering.