1713-3. Adjusting the seats
3
Operation of each component
RX450h_U_OM0E013U ■
The rear seatbacks can be raised when (power seat)
When all of the following conditions are met, a rear seat operation switch can be used to
return the rear seatback:
●
When using the rear seat operation switch (luggage compartment): The back door is
open. ●
The other seat operation switch for the seat to be operated is not being pressed.
When the power switch is in ON mode, one of the following conditions must also be met
in order for the power seat to be operated:
• The parking brake is engaged.
• The brake pedal is depressed.
• The shift lever is in P. ■
Fully reclining the rear seatback (power seat)
■
Power seat operations (if equipped)
If a seat cover or seat cushion has been pu t on the seat, it may not operate properly.
When folding down the rear seatback, make sure that there is nothing on the seat that
would interfere with the operation. ■
Rear seatback jam protection function (power seat)
When folding down or raising the rear seatback, if an object is detected between the rear
seatback and seat cushion, th e rear seatback will stop an d then move in the opposite
direction slightly.
A buzzer will sound continuously when the re ar seatback stops an d intermittently when
moving in the opposite direction. ●
When the power switch is turned off or in
ACCESSORY mode ●
When using the rear seat operation switch
(rear seat): The rear seatback is in a position
within the range A shown in the illustration. ●
When using the rear seat operation switch
(rear seat): The rear door nearest to the seat to
be operated is open.
Operate the rear seat operation switch (rear
seat) to recline the rear seatback and stop it
partway. To set the rear seatback to the rear-
most position, press the button again. Most
upright
position
172 3-3. Adjusting the seats
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G ■
When folding down the rear seatbacks and when the rear seatbacks are folded
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.●
Do not fold down the rear seatbacks while driving. ●
Stop the vehicle on level ground, apply the parking brake and shift the shift lever to P.●
Do not allow anyone to sit on a folded re ar seatback or in th e luggage compartment
while driving. ●
Do not allow children to enter the luggage compartment. ■
When operating the rear seatback
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.●
Keep other passengers from being hit by the rear seatback. ●
Do not put your hands between the seats or near the moving parts, or let any part of
your body get caught. ●
Power seat: Do not let children operate the rear seatback. Other passengers may get
caught in the seat. ●
Power seat: Check that there are no passengers sitting in a seat before folding it
down. Do not let passengers sit in the seat while it is being folded down.■
Seat adjustment
To reduce the risk of sliding under the lap belt during a co llision, do not recline the seat
more than necessary.
If the seat is reclined excessively, the lap be lt may slide past the hips and apply restraint
forces directly to the abdomen, or your ne ck may contact the shoulder belt, increasing
the risk of death or serious inju ry in the event of an accident.
Adjustments should not be ma de while driving as the seat may unexpectedly move and
cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle. ■
After returning the rear seatback to the upright position
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.●
Make sure that the rear seatback is secure ly locked in position by lightly pushing it
back and forth. ●
Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught between or behind in the rear
seatback.
202
RX450h_U_OM0E013U 4-1. Before driving
Driving the vehicle..................... 204
Cargo and luggage.....................212
Vehicle load limits ........................216
Trailer towing (vehicles with
towing package)........................217
Trailer towing (vehicles
without towing
package).....................................230
Dinghy towing .............................. 231
4-2. Driving procedures
Power (ignition) switch ............ 232
EV drive mode ............................ 237
Hybrid transmission .................. 239
Turn signal lever .......................... 244
Parking brake............................... 245
Brake Hold.................................... 249
4-3. Operating the lights and
wipers
Headlight switch.......................... 251
Automatic High Beam ............. 255
Fog light switch ........................... 259
Windshield wipers and
washer ......................................... 260
Rear window wiper and
washer ......................................... 265
4-4. Refueling
Opening the fuel tank
cap..................................................2674 Driving
204
RX450h_U_OM0E013U 4-1. Before driving
P. 2 3 2
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. ( P. 2 3 9 )
Release the parking brake. ( P. 2 4 6 )If the parking brake is in automatic mode, the parking brake is released automatically
when shifting the shift lever to any position other than P. ( P. 2 4 5 )
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal
to accelerate the vehicle.
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
If necessary, set the parking brake. ( P. 2 4 6 )If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift lever to P.
( P. 2 3 9 )
With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
Shift the shift lever to P. ( P. 2 3 9 )
Set the parking brake. ( P. 2 4 6 )If the parking brake is in automatic mode, the parking brake is set automatically when
shifting the shift lever to P. ( P. 2 4 5 )
Press the power switch to stop the hybrid system.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the electronic key on your person. If parking on a hill, bloc k the wheels as needed.Driving the vehicle The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driving:
Starting the hybrid system
Driving
Stopping
Parking the vehicle 1
2
3
1
2
1
2
3
4
5
2054-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX450h_U_OM0E013U With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. ( P. 2 3 9 )
Pull the parking brake switch and parking brake is set manually. ( P. 2 4 6 )
Release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to acceler-
ate the vehicle.
Press the parking brake switch and parking brake is released manually.
( P. 2 4 6 ) ■
When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist co ntrol will activate. ( P. 3 8 1 )■
For fuel-efficient driving
Keep in mind that hybrid vehicles are similar to conventional vehicles, and it is necessary
to refrain from activities such as sudden acceleration. ( P. 3 8 7 )■
Driving in the rain ●
Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the windows may
become fogged-up, and th e road will be slippery.●
Drive carefully when it starts to rain, becau se the road surface will be especially slip-
pery. ●
Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain, because there may
be a layer of water between the tires and the road surface, preventing the steering and
brakes from operating properly. ■
Restraining the hybrid system output (Brake Override System) ●
When the accelerator and brake pedals are de pressed at the same time, the hybrid sys-
tem output may be restrained. ●
A warning message is displayed on the multi-information display while the system is
operating. If a warning message is shown on the multi-information display, read the
message and follow the instructions.■
Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start Control) ●
When the following unusual op eration is performed, the hybrid system output may be
restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D
includes S) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears on
the multi-information display. If a warnin g message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follow the instructions.
• When the accelerator pedal is depresse d too while the vehicle is in reverse.●
While Drive-Start Control is being activate d, your vehicle may have trouble escaping
from the mud or fresh snow. In such case, deactivate TRAC ( P. 383) to cancel Drive-
Start Control so that the vehicle may become able to escape from the mud or fresh
snow.Starting off on a uphill 1
2
3
4
2094-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. ■
If you hear a squealing or scraping noise (brake pad wear limit indicators)
Have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
Rotor damage may result if the pads are not replaced when needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle when the wear limits of the brake pads and/or those
of the brake discs are exceeded. ■
When the vehicle is stopped ●
Do not depress the accelerator pedal unnecessarily.
If the shift lever is in any position other than P or N, the vehicle may accelerate sud-
denly and unexpectedly, causing an accident. ●
In order to prevent accidents due to the vehicle rolling away, always keep depressing
the brake pedal while stopped with the “R EADY” indicator is illuminated, and apply
the parking brake as necessary. ●
If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the
vehicle rolling forward or backward, always depress the brake pedal and securely
apply the parking brake as needed. ●
Avoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed while the vehicle is stopped may cause the exhaust
system to overheat, which could result in a fire if combustible material is nearby. ■
When the vehicle is parked ●
Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, sp ray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehicle
when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic mate-
rial of glasses to deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior of the
vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical components. ●
Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a place such as
the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded or the
seat is adjusted, causing a fire. ●
Do not attach adhesive discs to the windsh ield or windows. Do not place containers
such as air fresheners on the instrument panel or dashboard. Adhesive discs or con-
tainers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle. ●
Do not leave a door or window open if th e curved glass is coated with a metallized
film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause the glass to act as a
lens, causing a fire. ●
Always shift the shift lever to P, apply the parking brake, stop the hybrid system and
lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended wh ile the “READY” indicator is illuminated.●
Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the “R EADY” indicator is illuminated or imme-
diately after turning the hybrid system off.
Doing so may cause burns.
210 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_U_OM0E013U WA R N I N G
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. ■
When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift lever or
depress the accelerator pedal, this could caus e an accident or fire due to hybrid system
overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust
gases may collect and enter the vehicle, lead ing to death or a serious health hazard.■
When braking ●
When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause one side of
the vehicle to brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may not
securely hold the vehicle. ●
If the electronically controlled brake function does not operate, do not follow other
vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is st ill possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed more
firmly than usual. Also, the braking distan ce will increase. Have your brakes fixed
immediately. ●
The brake system consists of 2 or more indi vidual hydraulic systems; if one of the sys-
tems fails, the other(s) wi ll still operate. In this case, the brake pedal should be
depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will increase. Have your
brakes fixed immediately. ■
If the vehicle becomes stuck (AWD models)
Do not spin the wheels excessively when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage th e driveline components or propel the vehi-
cle forward or backward, causing an accident.
2114-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX450h_U_OM0E013U NOTICE ■
When driving the vehicle ●
Do not depress the accelerator and brake peda ls at the same time during driving, as
this may restrain driving torque. ●
Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the
same time to hold the vehicle on a hill. ■
When parking the vehicle
Always shift the shift lever to P, set the parking brake. Failure to do so may cause the
vehicle to move or the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the acce lerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed. ■
Avoiding damage to vehicle parts ●
Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for an
extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power steering motor. ●
When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damaging
the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc. ■
If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the follo wing situations. Hold the steering wheel
firmly and gradually depress the brak e pedal to slow down the vehicle.●
It may be difficult to control your vehicle. ●
The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations. ●
The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( P. 5 4 9 )■
When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain, etc. Doing so may cause the
following serious damage to the vehicle: ●
Engine stalling ●
Short in electrical components ●
Engine damage caused by water immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure to have
your Lexus dealer check the following: ●
Brake function ●
Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine, hybrid transmis-
sion, rear differential (AWD models), etc. ●
Lubricant condition for the bearings and susp ension joints (where possible), and the
function of all joints, bearings, etc.