
TABLE OF CONTENTS2
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)For your information....................... 8
Reading this manual .................... 12
How to search .............................. 13
Pictorial index .............................. 14
1-1.  For safe use
Before driving ...................... 26
For safety drive ................... 28
Seat belts ............................ 30
SRS airbags ........................ 40
Front passenger occupant classification system ......... 53
Safety information for  children ............................. 60
Child restraint systems ........ 61
Installing child restraints ...... 65
Exhaust gas precautions ..... 79
1-2. Theft deterrent system Engine immobilizer system............................... 80
Alarm ................................... 82
2. Instrument cluster Warning lights and indicators........................... 86
Gauge and meters .............. 92
Multi-information display  (with monochrome 
display).............................. 95
Multi-information display  (with color display) ............ 99
Eco Driving Indicator ......... 105
Fuel consumption  information ...................... 107 3-1. Key information
Keys................................... 112
3-2.  Opening, closing and  locking the doors
Side doors ......................... 119
Back door .......................... 127
Glass hatch........................ 141
Smart key system .............. 146
3-3. Adjusting the seats Front seats......................... 154
Rear seats ......................... 156
Driving position memory .... 163
Head restraints .................. 167
3-4. Adjusting the steering  wheel and mirrors
Steering wheel ................... 171
Inside rear view mirror ....... 173
Outside rear view  mirrors ............................. 175
3-5. Opening and closing  the windows
Power windows.................. 177
Moon roof .......................... 181
Panoramic moon roof ........ 185
1For safety and security
2Instrument cluster
3Operation of each 
component 

3
1
8 7
6
5
4
3
2
9
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
10
4-1. Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 192
Cargo and luggage............ 201
Vehicle load limits ............. 206
Trailer towing..................... 207
Dinghy towing.................... 224
4-2. Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without 
a smart key system) ........ 225
Engine (ignition) switch  (vehicles with 
a smart key system) ........ 228
Automatic transmission ..... 234
Turn signal lever................ 239
Parking brake .................... 240
4-3. Operating the lights  and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 241
Automatic High Beam ....... 246
Fog light switch ................. 252
Windshield wipers and  washer ............................ 253
Rear window wiper and  washer ............................ 257
4-4. Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 259 4-5.  Using the driving 
support systems
Cruise control .................... 263
Dynamic radar cruise  control.............................. 268
LDA  (Lane Departure Alert)..... 283
Rear view monitor  system ............................. 291
All-wheel drive lock  switch .............................. 300
Driving assist systems ....... 301
Downhill assist control  system ............................. 307
PCS (Pre-Collision  System) ........................... 309
BSM  (Blind Spot Monitor)......... 316
• The Blind Spot Monitor  function.........................  320
• The Rear Cross Traffic  Alert function ................  323
4-6. Driving tips Winter driving tips .............. 326
Utility vehicle precautions ...................... 330
4Driving 

TABLE OF CONTENTS6
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)7-1.  Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 488
Cleaning and protecting  the vehicle interior ........... 492
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements ................... 495
General maintenance ........ 498
Emission inspection and  maintenance (I/M) 
programs ......................... 502
7-3. Do-it-yourself  maintenance
Do-it-yourself service  precautions ..................... 503
Hood.................................. 505
Positioning a floor jack ...... 507
Engine compartment ......... 508
Tires .................................. 520
Tire inflation pressure........ 531
Wheels .............................. 534
Air conditioning filter .......... 536
Wireless remote control/ electronic key battery ...... 538
Checking and replacing  fuses ............................... 541
Light bulbs ......................... 545 8-1. Essential information
Emergency flashers ........... 560
If your vehicle has to be stopped 
in an emergency .............. 561
8-2. Steps to take  in an emergency
If your vehicle needs  to be towed ...................... 563
If you think something  is wrong ........................... 567
Fuel pump shut off  system ............................. 568
If a warning light turns  on or a warning buzzer 
sounds ............................. 569
If a warning message  is displayed...................... 578
If you have a flat tire .......... 596
If the engine will  not start ........................... 621
If the shift lever cannot  be shifted from P ............. 623
If the electronic key does  not operate properly  ....... 624
If the vehicle battery  is discharged ................... 627
If your vehicle overheats.... 632
If the vehicle becomes  stuck ................................ 635
7Maintenance and care8When trouble arises 

8
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)Please note that this manual applies to all models and all equipment, includ-
ing options. Therefore, you may find some explanations for equipment not
installed on your vehicle. 
All specifications provided in this manual are current at the time of printing.
However, because of the Toyota policy of continual product improvement, we
reserve the right to make changes at any time without notice.
Depending on specifications, the vehicle shown in the illustrations may differ
from your vehicle in terms of color and equipment.
Approximately five hours after the engine is turned off, you may hear sound
coming from under the vehicle for several minutes. This is the sound of a fuel
evaporation leakage check and, it does not indicate a malfunction.
A wide variety of non-genuine spare parts and accessories for Toyota vehi-
cles are currently available in the market. You should know that Toyota does
not warrant these products and is not responsible for their performance,
repair, or replacement, or for any damage they may cause to, or adverse
effect they may have on, your Toyota vehicle.
This vehicle should not be modified with non-genuine Toyota products. Modi-
fication with non-genuine Toyota products could affect its performance, safety
or durability, and may even violate governmental regulations. In addition,
damage or performance problems resulting from the modification may not be
covered under warranty.
For your infor mation
Main Owner’s Manual
Noise from under vehicle after turning off the engine
Accessories, spare parts and modification of your Toyota 

9
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)The installation of a mobile two-way radio system in your vehicle could affect
electronic systems such as: 
●
Multiport fuel injection system/sequential multiport fuel injection system
● Dynamic radar cruise control system (if equipped)
● Cruise control system (if equipped)
● Anti-lock brake system
● SRS airbag system
● Seat belt pretensioner system
Be sure to check with your Toyota dealer for precautionary measures or spe-
cial instructions regarding installation of a mobile two-way radio system.
Your Toyota is equipped with several sophisticated computers that will record
certain data, such as:
• Engine speed
• Accelerator status
• Brake status
• Vehicle speed
• Shift position
The recorded data varies according to the vehicle grade level and options
with which it is equipped. Furthermore, these computers do not record con-
versations, sounds or pictures.
●Data usage
Toyota may use the data recorded in these computers to diagnose malfunc-
tions, conduct research and development, and improve quality.
Toyota will not disclose the recorded data to a third party except:
• With the consent of the vehicle owner or with the consent of the lessee if the vehicle is leased
• In response to an official request by the police, a court of law or a govern- ment agency
• For use by Toyota in a law suit
• For research purposes where the data is not tied to a specific vehicle or vehicle owner
●Usage of data collected through Safety Connect (U.S. mainland only)
If your Toyota has Safety Connect and if you have subscribed to those ser-
vices, please refer to the Safety Connect Telematics Subscription Service
Agreement for information on data collected and its usage.
Installation of a mobile two-way radio system
Vehicle data recordings 

15Pictorial index
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)Fuel filler door  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 259
Refueling method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 259
Fuel type/fuel tank capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 641
Tires  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 520
Tire size/inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 648
Winter tires/tire chain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 326
Checking/rotation/tire pressure warning system  . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 520
Coping with flat tires  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 596
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 505
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 505
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 642
Coping with overheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 632
Warning messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 581
Headlights/daytime running lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 241
Front fog lights
*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 252
Turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 239
Stop/tail lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 241
Hill-start assist control  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 301
Downhill assist control system
*. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 307
License plate lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 241
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 234
Side marker lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 241
6
7
8
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving  
(Replacing method: P. 545, Watts: P. 651)
*: If equipped
9
10
11
12
13
14
15 

16Pictorial index
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)
■Instrument panel
Engine switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 225, 228
Starting the engine/changing the modes . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 225, 228
Emergency stop of the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 561
When the engine will not start  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 621
Warning messages
*1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 592
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 234
Changing the shift position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 234
Precautions against towing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 563
When the shift lever does not move. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 623
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 92
Reading the meters/adjusting the meter light  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 92
Warning lights/indicator lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 86
When the warning lights come on  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 569
Multi-information display  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 95, 99
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   P.  9 5, 99
When a warning message or indicator is displayed . . . . . . . . .  P. 578
1
2
3 

25
For safety and security1
HIGHLANDER_U (OM48F09U)1-1. For safe use
Before driving ...................... 26
For safety drive ................... 28
Seat belts ............................ 30
SRS airbags ........................ 40
Front passenger occupant classification system ......... 53
Safety information for  children ............................. 60
Child restraint systems........ 61
Installing child restraints...... 65
Exhaust gas precautions..... 79
1-2. Theft deterrent system Engine immobilizer system .............................. 80
Alarm................................... 82