Page 515 of 716

5157-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)■
Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be
between the “MAX” and “MIN”
lines on the tank.
■Adding fluid
Make sure to check the fluid ty
pe and prepare the necessary item.
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture from the air
Excess moisture in the brake fluid can cause a dangerous loss of braking effi-
ciency. Use only newly opened brake fluid.
Brake fluid
Fluid typeFMVSS No.116 DOT 3 or SAE J1703 brake fluid
ItemClean funnel
WARNING
■When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm your hands and eyes and damage
painted surfaces.
If fluid gets on your hands or in your eyes, flush the affected area with clean
water immediately.
If you still experience discomfort, see a doctor.
NOTICE
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level to go down slightly as the brake pads
wear out or when the fluid level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent refilling, there may be a serious problem.
Page 561 of 716

5618-1. Essential information
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
Steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet and firmly depress it.
Do not pump the brake pedal repeatedly as this will increase the effort
required to slow the vehicle.
Shift the shift lever to N.
If the shift lever is shifted to N
After slowing down, stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.
Stop the engine.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted to N
Keep depressing the brake pedal with both feet to reduce vehicle
speed as much as possible.
Vehicles without a smart key
system: Stop the engine by
turning the engine switch to the
“ACC” position.
Vehicles with a smart key sys-
tem: To stop the engine, press
and hold the engine switch for 2
consecutive seconds or more,
or press it briefly 3 times or
more in succession.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place by the road.
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency
Only in an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop
the vehicle in the normal way, st op the vehicle using the follow-
ing procedure:
1
2
3
4
3
4
Press and hold for 2 seconds or
more, or press briefly 3 times or
more
4
5
Page 562 of 716
5628-1. Essential information
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
WARNING
■If the engine has to be turned off while driving
●Power assist for the brakes and steering wheel will be lost, making the
brake pedal harder to depress and the steering wheel heavier to turn.
Decelerate as much as possible before turning off the engine.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Never attempt to remove the key, as
doing so will lock the steering wheel.
Page 564 of 716
5648-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
If your vehicle is transported by a
flatbed truck, it should be tied
down at the locations shown in the
illustration.
Towing with a wheel-lift type truck
From the front (2WD models)From the front (AWD models)
Release the parking brake. Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
From the rear
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
Using a flatbed truck
Page 567 of 716
5678-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle.
(Water dripping from the air co nditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● Engine coolant temperature gauge needle continually points higher
than normal.
● Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the engine
● 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 think something is wrong
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 569 of 716

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.
Page 570 of 716

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
Page 572 of 716

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.