2016 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER Owners Manual

5698-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
If a warning light turns on or a warning
buzzer sounds
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights
comes on or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but then
goes off, this does not necessarily indicate a malfunction in the
system. However, if this continues to occur, have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
Warning light and warning buzzer list
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
Brake system warning light (warning buzzer)*1
Indicates that:
• The brake fluid level is low; or
• The brake system is malfunctioning This light also comes on when the parking brake is not
released. If the light turns off after the parking brake is
fully released the system is operating normally.
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer. Continuing to drive the vehi-
cle may be dangerous.
Charging system warning light*2
Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
Low engine oil pressure warning light (warning
buzzer)
*2
Indicates that the engine oil pressure is too low.
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
Malfunction indicator lamp Indicates a malfunction in:
• The electronic engine control system;
• The electronic throttle control system; or
• The electronic automatic transmission control system.
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.

5708-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
SRS warning lightIndicates a malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system;
• The front passenger occupant classification system; or
• The seat belt pretensioner system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
ABS warning light Indicates a malfunction in:
• The ABS; or
• The brake assist system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Electric power steering system warning light (warning
buzzer)
Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric Power Steer-
ing) system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Flashes)
Pre-collision system warning light*3, 4
Indicates a malfunction in the PCS (Pre-Collision System)
The warning light will operate as follows, even when the
system is not malfunctioning:
• The light will flash quickly when the system is operating.
(P. 309)
• The light will turn on when the pre-collision system is disabled. ( P. 310)
• The light will turn on when the VSC (Vehicle Stability
Control) system is disabled. ( P. 304)
• The light will flash when the system cannot temporarily be used. ( P. 589)
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Slip indicator
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) system;
• The TRAC (Traction Control) system;
• The hill-start assist control system; or
• The downhill assist control system
*4
The light will flash when the VSC or the TRAC system is
operating.
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions

5718-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
Open door warning light (warning buzzer)*2, 5
Indicates that one or more of the doors, the back door or
the glass hatch
*4 is not fully closed
 Check that all the doors, the back door and the glass
hatch
*4 are closed.
Low fuel level warning light Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately 2.9 gal.
(10.7 L, 2.4 Imp. gal.) or less
 Refuel the vehicle.
Seat belt reminder light (warning buzzer)*6
Warns the driver and/or front passenger to fasten their
seat belts
 Fasten the seat belt.
If the front passenger’s seat is occupied, the front
passenger’s seat belt also needs to be fastened to
make the warning light (war ning buzzer) turn off.
Master warning light
A buzzer sounds and the warning light comes on and
flashes to indicate that the master warning system has
detected a malfunction.
 P. 578
Tire pressure warning light
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure such as
• Natural causes ( P. 573)
• Flat tire ( P. 596)
 Adjust the tire inflation pressure (including the
full-size spare tire) 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. 574)
 Have the system checked by your Toyota dealer.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions

5728-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
*1: Parking brake engaged warning buzzer: P. 583
*2: Vehicles with monochrome display
*3: Vehicles with color display
*4: If equipped
*5: Open door warning buzzer:P. 580
*6: Driver’s seat belt buzzer:
Vehicles without a smart key system: The driver’s seat belt buzzer sounds
to alert the driver that his or her seat belt is not fastened. Once the engine
switch is turned to the “ON” position, the buzzer sounds for 6 seconds. If
the vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h), the buzzer sounds once.
If the seat belt is still unfastened after 25 seconds, 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.
Vehicles with a smart key system: The driver’s seat belt buzzer sounds to
alert the driver that his or her seat belt is not fastened. Once the engine
switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode, the buzzer sounds for 6 seconds.
If the vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h), the buzzer sounds
once. If the seat belt is still unfastened after 25 seconds, the buzzer will
sound intermittently for 10 seconds. Then, if the seat belt is still unfas-
tened, the buzzer will sound in a different tone for 20 more seconds.
Front passenger’s seat belt buzzer:
The front passenger’s seat belt buzzer sounds to alert the front passenger
that his or her seat belt is not fastened. The buzzer sounds once if the\
vehicle reaches a speed of 12 mph (20 km/h). If the seat belt is still unfas-
tened after 25 seconds, 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.

5738-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
■SRS warning light
This warning light system monitors the airbag sensor assembly, front impact
sensors, side impact sensors (front door), side impact sensors (rear), driver’s
seat position sensor, driver’s seat belt buckle switch, front passenger occu-
pant classification system (ECU and sensors), “AIR BAG ON” indicator light,
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light, front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch,
driver’s seat belt pretensioner, front passenger’s seat belt pretensioner and
force limiter, airbags, interconnecting wiring and power sources. ( P. 42)
■ Front passenger detection sensor, seat belt reminder and warning
buzzer
If luggage is placed on the front passenger seat, the front passenger detec-
tion sensor may cause the warning light to flash and the warning buzzer to
sound even if a passenger is not sitting in the seat.
■ If the malfunction indicator la mp comes on while driving
First check the following:
● Is the fuel tank empty?
If it is, fill the fuel tank immediately.
● Is the fuel tank cap loose?
If it is, tighten it securely.
The light will go off after several driving trips.
If the light does not go off even after several trips, contact your Toyota dealer
as soon as possible.
■ Electric power steering system warning light (warning buzzer)
When the battery charge becomes insufficient or the voltage temporarily
drops, the electric power steering system warning light may come on and the
warning buzzer may sound.
■
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).

5748-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)■
When a tire is replaced with a spare tire
Vehicles with a compact 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.
Vehicles with a full-size spare tire
The spare tire is also equipped with the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter. The tire pressure warning light will turn on if the tire inflation
pressure of the spare tire is low. If a tire goes flat, even though the flat tire
is replaced with the spare tire, the tire pressure warning light does not
turn off. Replace the spare tire with the repaired tire and adjust to the
proper tire inflation pressure. The tire pressure warning light will turn off
after a few minutes.
■Conditions that the tire pressure warning system may not function
properly
 P. 5 2 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 engine switch is turned on, have it checked by your
Toyota dealer.
■ Customization that can be co nfigured at Toyota dealer
The vehicle speed linked seat belt reminder buzzer can be disabled.
(Customizable features P. 676) However, Toyota recommends that the seat
belt reminder buzzer be operational to alert the driver and front passenger
when seat belts are not fastened.
■ Warning buzzer
In some cases, the buzzer may not be heard because of noisy place or an
audio sound.

5758-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
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 extrem ely 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.

5768-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
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.