
TABLE OF CONTENTS4
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)5-1. Using the air conditioning
system and defogger
Front automatic air conditioning system ........ 328
Rear automatic air conditioning system ........ 335
Heated steering wheel/ seat heaters/
seat ventilators ................ 338
5-2. Using the interior lights Interior lights list ................ 341
• Interior lights ................. 342
• Personal lights .............. 342
5-3. Using the storage features
List of storage features...... 344
• Glove box...................... 345
• Console box .................. 345
• Bottle holders ................ 346
• Cup holders .................. 347
• Auxiliary boxes.............. 349
• Open tray ...................... 350
Luggage compartment features ........................... 351 5-4. Using the other interior
features
Other interior features........ 353
• Sun visors ..................... 353
• Vanity mirrors ................ 353
• Conversation mirror....... 354
• Clock ............................. 355
• Outside temperature display ........................... 355
• Power outlets ................ 356
• Rear sunshades ............ 359
• Armrest.......................... 360
• Coat hooks .................... 361
• Assist grips .................... 361
• Side table ...................... 362
Garage door opener .......... 363
Safety Connect .................. 370
Compass ........................... 376
5Interior features

5
1
8 7
6
5
4
3
2
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
9
6-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior ................ 382
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior ................. 386
6-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ................... 389
General maintenance ........ 392
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs ......................... 396
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service precautions ..................... 397
Hood.................................. 399
Positioning a floor jack ...... 401
Engine compartment ......... 402
12-volt battery ................... 410
Tires .................................. 415
Tire inflation pressure........ 425
Wheels .............................. 428
Air conditioning filter .......... 430
Electronic key battery ........ 432
Checking and replacing fuses ............................... 434
Light bulbs ......................... 438 7-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers ........... 454
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency....................... 455
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed ...................... 456
If you think something is wrong ........................... 460
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds ............................. 461
If a warning message is displayed ......................... 470
If you have a flat tire .......... 490
If the hybrid system will not start ........................... 514
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P ............... 516
If the electronic key does not operate properly ........ 517
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ....................... 520
If your vehicle overheats.... 525
If the vehicle becomes stuck ................................ 529
6Maintenance and care7When trouble arises

19Pictorial index
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 243
Applying/releasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 243
Precautions against winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 320
Warning buzzer/message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 470
Turn signal lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 242
Headlight switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 244
Headlights/tail lights/daytime running lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 244
Front fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 254
Wiper and washer switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 255, 259
Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 255, 259
Adding washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 409
Warning messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 480
Emergency flasher switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 454
Hood lock release lever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 399
Tilt and telescopic steering lock release lever . . . . . . . . . . P. 173
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 173
Automatic air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 328
Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 328
Rear window defogger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 330
Audio system
*
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 355
Power back door main switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 136
Fuel filler door opener switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 263
*: Refer to “NAVIGATION AND MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM OWNER’S MANUAL”.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

24Pictorial index
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
■Interior
SRS airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 41
Floor mats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 28
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 156
Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 169
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 32
Console box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 345
Cup holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 347
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 158
Rear automatic air conditioning switches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 335
Second seat heater switches
*1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 340
Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 360
Side table
*1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P. 362
Rear seat entertainment system
*1, 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12

491-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)■
SRS airbag deployment conditions (SRS front airbags)
●The SRS front airbags will deploy in the event of an impact that exceeds the
set threshold level (the level of force corresponding to an approximately 12 -
18 mph [20 - 30 km/h] frontal collision with a fixed wall that does not move or
deform).
However, this threshold velocity will be considerably higher in the following
situations:
• If the vehicle strikes an object, such as a parked vehicle or sign pole,
which can move or deform on impact
• If the vehicle is involved in an underride collision, such as a collision in which the front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes under, the bed of a
truck
● Depending on the type of collision, it is possible that only the seat belt pre-
tensioners will activate.
● The SRS front airbags for the front pass enger will not activate if there is no
passenger sitting in the front passenger seat. However, the SRS front air-
bags for the front passenger may deploy if luggage is put in the seat, even if
the seat is unoccupied. ( P. 54)
● The SRS seat cushion airbag on the front passenger’s seat will not operate
if the occupant is not wearing a seat belt.
■ SRS airbag deployment conditions (SRS side and curtain shield airbags)
● The SRS side and curtain shield airbags will deploy in the event of an
impact that exceeds the set threshold level (the level of force corresponding
to the impact force produced by an approximately 3300 lb. [1500 kg] vehicle
colliding with the vehicle cabin from a direction perpendicular to the vehicle
orientation at an approximate speed of 12 - 18 mph [20 - 30 km/h]).
● The SRS curtain shield airbags will deploy in the event of vehicle rollover.
● The SRS side and curtain shield airbags will deploy in the event of a severe
frontal collision.

501-1. For safe use
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)■
Conditions under which the SRS airbags may deploy (inflate), other than
a collision
The SRS front airbags and SRS side and curtain shield airbags may also
deploy if a serious impact occurs to the underside of your vehicle. Some
examples are shown in the illustration.
The SRS curtain shield airbags may also deploy under the situations shown
in the illustration.
■ Types of collisions that may not de ploy the SRS airbags (SRS front air-
bags)
The SRS front airbags do not generally inflate if the vehicle is involved in a
side or rear collision, if it rolls over, or if it is involved in a low-speed frontal
collision. But, whenever a collision of any type causes sufficient forward
deceleration of the vehicle, deployment of the SRS front airbags may occur. ● Hitting a curb, edge of pavement or hard
surface
● Falling into or jumping over a deep hole
● Landing hard or falling
● The angle of vehicle tip-up is marginal
● The vehicle skids and hits a curb stone
● Collision from the side
● Collision from the rear
● Vehicle rollover

541-1. For safe use
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)
Front passenger occupant classification
system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant classi-
fication system. This system detects the conditions of the front
passenger seat and activates or deactivates the devices for the
front passenger.
Seat belt reminder light
SRS warning light
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light
“AIR BAG ON” indicator light1
2
3
4

551-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM48F12U)■
Adult*1
Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant classi-
fication system
Indicator/
warning light
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights“AIR BAG ON”
SRS warning lightOff
Seat belt reminder lightOff*2 or
flashing
*3
Devices
Front passenger airbag
ActivatedSide airbag
on the front passenger seat
Curtain shield airbag
in the front passenger side
Front passenger seat cushion airbag
Activated*2
or
deactivated
*3
Front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner and force limiterActivated