Page 186 of 660
1864-1. Before driving
NX200t_OM_USA_OM78081U
●Always place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and the trailer’s wheels
when parking. Put the transmission in P and apply the parking brake. Avoid
parking on a slope, but if unavoidable, do so only after performing the follow-
ing: Apply the brakes and keep them applied.
Have someone place wheel blocks under both the vehicle’s and trailer’s
wheels.
When the wheel blocks are in place, release the brakes slowly until the
blocks absorb the load.
Shift into P and apply the parking brake.
Turn off the engine.
●When restarting after parking on a slope:With the transmission in P, start the engine. Be sure to keep the brake pedal
depressed.
Shift into a forward gear. If reversing, shift into R.
If the parking brake is in manual mode, release the parking brake.
( P. 2 0 5 )
Release the brake pedal, and slowly pull or back away from the wheel
blocks. Stop and apply the brakes.
Have someone retrieve the blocks.
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Page 188 of 660

1884-1. Before driving
NX200t_OM_USA_OM78081U
■Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components (such as an
engine, transmission, differential or wheel bearing), Lexus recommends that you do not
tow a trailer until the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km), you can start towing.
However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a speed of less than
50 mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full throttle acceleration.
■Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance due to the addi-
tional load. (See “Warranty and Services Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supplement” or
“Scheduled Maintenance”.)
●Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ba ll and bracket after approximately 600 miles
(1000 km) of trailer towing.
■If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can adversely
affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer sway ing by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal i mmediately but very gradually to reduce
speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your vehicle and trailer
should stabilize.
●After the trailer sw aying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer. Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred is beyond
the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination. Drive at a lower speed to pre-
vent instability. Remember that swaying of the towing vehicle-trailer increases as
speed increases.
Page 189 of 660

1894-1. Before driving
4
Driving
NX200t_OM_USA_OM78081U
WA R N I N G
■Trailer towing precautions
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in accordance with the
trailer’s characteristics and operating conditions. Failure to do so could cause an acci-
dent resulting in death or serious injury. Vehicle stability and braking performance are
affected by trailer stability, brake setting and performance, and the hitch. Your vehicle
will handle differently when towing a trailer.
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not exceed the TWR, unbrak ed TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR.
●Adjust the tongue weight within the approp riate range. Place heavier loads as close
to the trailer axle as possible.
●Do not exceed 65 mph (104 km/h), the posted towing speed limit or the speed limit
for your trailer as set forth in your trailer owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Slow
down sufficiently before making a turn, in cr oss winds, on wet or slippery surface, etc.
to help avoid an accident. If you experience a vehicle-trailer instability from reducing
a certain speed, slow down and make sure you keep your vehicle speed under the
speed of which you expe rience the instability.
●Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.
●Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you may skid, resulting in ja ckknifing and loss of
vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or slippery surfaces.
●Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle
weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.
●Do not use the following systems when trailer towing.
• Cruise control (if equipped)
• Dynamic radar cruise control (if equipped)
• Dynamic cruise control with full-speed range (if equipped)
●Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do not
make sudden downshifts while descen ding steep or long downhill grades.
●Vehicle-trailer instability is more likely on steep long downhills. Before descending
steep or long downhill grades, slow down and downshift. Do not make sudden down-
shifts when descending stee p or long downhill grades. Avoid holding the brake pedal
down too long or applying the brakes too frequently. This could cause the brakes to
overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency.
●Vehicles with a compact spare tire: Do no t tow a trailer when the compact spare tire
is installed on your vehicle.
■Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the hitch manu-
facturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of towing a higher weight,
the operator must determine the maximum weig ht rating of the particular hitch assem-
bly and never exceed the maximum weight rating specified for the trailer-hitch.
Exceeding the maximum weight rating set by the trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause
an accident resulting in death or serious personal injuries.
Page 190 of 660

1904-1. Before driving
NX200t_OM_USA_OM78081U
WA R N I N G
■When towing a trailer
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable federal and
state/provincial regulations.
●If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are required. Lexus
recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable federal and state/pro-
vincial regulations.
●Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehicle’s braking
effectiveness.
●Never tow a trailer without using a safety ch ain securely attached to both the trailer
and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the coupling unit or hitch ball, there is danger of
the trailer wandering into another lane.
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by your Lexus dealer. Do not install the trailer
hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
■Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Dire ctly splicing trailer lights may damage your
vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.
Page 193 of 660

1934-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
NX200t_OM_USA_OM78081U
Engine (ignition) switch
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is in P.
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
and a message will be displayed
on the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, the engine cannot
be started.
Press the engine switch.
The engine will crank until it starts or for
up to 30 seconds, whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal
until the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any
engine switch mode.
Stop the vehicle completely.
Shift the shift lever to P. ( P. 1 9 8 )
Set the parking brake. ( P. 2 0 5 )
If the parking brake is in automatic mode, the parking brake is set automatically when
shifting the shift lever to P. (
P. 2 0 4)
Press the engine switch.
Release the brake pedal and check that th e display on the instrument cluster is
off.
Performing the following op erations when carrying the electronic key on your
person starts the engine or changes engine switch modes.
Starting the engine
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2
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4
Stopping the engine
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Page 194 of 660

1944-2. Driving procedures
NX200t_OM_USA_OM78081U
Modes can be changed by pressing the engine switch with brake pedal released.
(The mode changes each time the switch is pressed.) Off
*
The emergency flashers can be used.
ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
IGNITION ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other thanP when turning off the engine, the
engine switch will be turned to ACCES-
SORY mode, not to off.
If the engine is stopped with the shift le ver in a position other than P, the engine
switch will not be turned off but inst ead be turned to ACCESSORY mode. Per-
form the following procedure to turn the switch off:
Check that the parking brake is set.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” is displayed on the multi-information display
and then press the engine switch once.
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” on the multi-information display is off.
Changing engine switch modes
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2
3
When stopping the engine with the shift lever in a position other than P
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3
4
Page 198 of 660
1984-2. Driving procedures
NX200t_OM_USA_OM78081U
Automatic transmission
While the engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode, move the shift lever
with the brake pedal depressed.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D, make sure that the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever to D for normal driv-
ing.
*2: Any gear range can be fixed when driving in M mode.
Shifting the shift lever
Shift position purpose
Shift positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
MM mode driving*2 ( P. 2 0 0 )
Page 204 of 660

2044-2. Driving procedures
NX200t_OM_USA_OM78081U
Parking brake
The parking brake is set or released automatically according to shift lever opera-
tion.
Even when in automatic mode, the parkin g brake can be set and released manu-
ally. ( P. 2 0 5 )
Turns automatic mode on (while the
vehicle is stopped, pull and hold the
parking brake switch until the auto-
matic mode lamp turns on)
• When the shift lever is moved out of P, the parking brake will be released,
and the parking brake indicator light
and parking brake lamp turn off.
• When the shift lever is moved into P, the parking brake will be set, and the
parking brake indicator light and
parking brake lamp turn on.
Operate the shift lever with the brake
pedal depressed.
Turns automatic mode off (while the
vehicle is stopped, press and hold
the parking brake switch until the
automatic mode lamp turns off)
A selections can be made as de sired from the following modes.
Automatic mode
Automatic
mode lampAutomatic
mode lamp
Pa r k i n g
brake lamp Pa r k i n g
brake lamp
U.S.A.Canada
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