Page 483 of 624
483
PRIUS v_OM_OM47B23U_(U)
8When trouble arises
8-1. Essential informationEmergency flashers .......... 484
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an
emergency ...................... 485
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed ......................... 486
If you think something is wrong .............................. 491
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer
sounds ............................ 492
If a warning message is displayed ......................... 506
If you have a flat tire.......... 524
If the hybrid system will not start ........................... 537
If the electronic key does not operate properly........ 539
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ...................... 541
If your vehicle overheats ... 546
If the vehicle becomes stuck ............................... 551
Page 486 of 624

486
PRIUS v_OM_OM47B23U_(U)
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be towed
In the following situations, it is not possible to be towed by another
vehicle using cables or chains, as the front wheels may be locked due
to the parking lock. Contact your Toyota dealer or commercial towing
service.
●There is a malfunction in the shift control system. ( P. 494, 508)
● There is a malfunction in the immobilizer system. ( P. 83)
● There is a malfunction in the smart key system. ( P. 539)
● The 12-volt battery is discharged. ( P. 541)
The following may indicate a problem with your hybrid transmission.
Contact your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service before tow-
ing.
● The hybrid system warning light turns on or the hybrid system
warning message is displayed on the multi-information display and
the vehicle does not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
Do not tow with a sling-type truck
to prevent body damage.
If towing is necessary, we re commend having your vehicle
towed by your Toyota dealer or commercial towing service,
using a wheel-lift type tr uck or flat bed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by all state/
provincial and local laws.
Situations when it is not possibl e to be towed by another vehicle
Situations when it is necessary to contact dealers before towing
Towing with a sling-type truck
Page 505 of 624
5058-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47B23U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
Once(Flashes in
yellow for 15 seconds)
Smart key system
warning light
Indicates that the elec-
tronic key battery is
low.
Replace the bat-
tery. (P. 464)
Once(Flashes in
yellow for 15 seconds)
Smart key system
warning light
Indicates a malfunc-
tion in the smart key
system.Have the vehicle
inspected by your
Toyota dealer
immediately.
Once(Flashes in
yellow for 30 seconds)
Smart key system
warning light
• When the doors were
unlocked with the
mechanical key and
then the power switch
was pressed, the elec-
tronic key could not be
detected in the vehicle.
• The electronic key could not be detected
in the vehicle even
after the power switch
was pressed two con-
secutive times.
Touch the elec-
tronic key to the
power switch
while depressing
the brake pedal.
InteriorbuzzerExterior buzzerWarning lightWarning light/DetailsCorrection procedure
Page 522 of 624
5228-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47B23U_(U)
Once
The driver’s door was opened
and closed with the power
switch turned off and then the
power switch was put in
ACCESSORY mode twice with-
out the hybrid system being
started.
Press the power switch
while depressing the brake
pedal.
During a hybrid system starting
procedure in the event that the
electronic key was not function-
ing properly ( P. 539), the
power switch was touched with
the electronic key.
Press the power switch
within 10 seconds of the
buzzer sounding.
Once
An attempt was made to start
the hybrid system with the shift
position in N.
Shift the shift position to P
and start the hybrid sys-
tem.
Once
The electronic key has a low
battery.
Replace the electronic key
battery. ( P. 464)
Once
Indicates a malfunction in the
smart key system
Have the vehicle inspected
by your Toyota dealer.
Interior
buzzerExterior buzzerWarning messageDetails/Actions
(Flashes)
(Flashes)
(Flashes)
Page 537 of 624

537
PRIUS v_OM_OM47B23U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If the hybrid system will not star t
One of the following may be the cause of the problem:
●The electronic key may not be functioning properly.
* ( P. 539)
● There may not be sufficient fuel in the vehicle’s tank.
Refuel the vehicle. ( P. 80)
● There may be a malfunction in the immobilizer system.
* ( P. 8 3 )
● There may be a malfunction in the shift control system.
*
( P. 179, 494, 508)
● The hybrid system may be malfunctioning due to an electrical prob-
lem such as electronic key battery depletion or a blown fuse. How-
ever, depending on the type of malfunction, an interim measure is
available to start the hybrid system. ( P. 538)
*: It may not be possible to shift the shift position other than P.
One of the following may be the cause of the problem:
● The 12-volt battery may be discharged. ( P. 541)
● The 12-volt battery terminal con nections may be loose or corroded.
( P. 442)
Reasons for the hybrid system not starting vary depending on
the situation. Check the follo wing and perform the appropriate
procedure:
The hybrid system will not start even though the correct starting
procedure is being followed. ( P. 174)
The interior lights and headlights are dim, or the horn does not
sound or sounds at a low volume.
Page 539 of 624

539
PRIUS v_OM_OM47B23U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If the electronic key does not operate
properly
Use the mechanical key (P. 11 7 )
in order to perform the following
operations:
Locks all the doors
Unlocks the door
Turning the key rearward unlocks
the driver’s door. Turning the key
once again within 3 seconds
unlocks the other doors.
Ensure that the shift position is in P and depress the brake pedal.
Touch the Toyota emblem side
of the electronic key to the
power switch.
When the electronic key is
detected, a buzzer sounds and the
power switch will turn to ON mode.
When the smart key system is
deactivated in customization set-
ting, the power switch will turn to
ACCESSORY mode.
Firmly depress the brake pedal and check that the smart key sys-
tem indicator light (green) turns on (vehicles without multi-informa-
tion display) or is shown on the multi-information display
(vehicles with multi-information display).
If communication between the electronic key and vehicle is
interrupted ( P. 133) or the electronic key cannot be used
because the battery is depleted, the smart key system and
wireless remote control cannot be used. In such cases, the
doors can be opened and the hybr id system can be started by
following the procedure below.
Locking and unlocking the doors
1
2
Starting the hybrid system
1
2
3
Page 540 of 624

5408-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47B23U_(U)
Press the power switch.
In the event that the hybrid system still cannot be operated, contact
your Toyota dealer.
■ Stopping the hybrid system
Set the parking brake, shift the shift position to P and press the power switch
as you normally do when stopping the hybrid system.
■ Replacing the key battery
As the above procedure is a temporary measure, it is recommended that the
electronic key battery be replaced immediately when the battery is depleted.
( P. 464)
■ Changing power switch modes
Release the brake pedal and press the power switch in step above.
The hybrid system does not start and modes will be changed each time the
switch is pressed. ( P. 177)
■ When the electronic key does not work properly
●Make sure that the smart key system has not been deactivated in the cus-
tomization setting. If it is off, turn the function on.
(Customizable features: P. 577)
● Check if battery-saving mode is set. If it is set, cancel the function.
( P. 133)
4
3
Page 543 of 624

5438-2. Steps to take in an emergency
PRIUS v_OM_OM47B23U_(U)
8
When trouble arises
Make sure the “READY” indicator comes on. If the indicator light
does not come on, contact your Toyota dealer.
Once the hybrid system has started, remove the jumper cables in
the exact reverse order from which they were connected.
Close the exclusive jump starting terminal cover, and reinstall the
fuse box cover to its original position.
When installing, first hook the fuse box cover onto the two rear tabs.
Once the hybrid system starts, have the vehicle inspected at your
Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
■ Starting the hybrid system when th e 12-volt battery is discharged
The hybrid system cannot be started by push-starting.
■ To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Turn off the headlights and the audio system while the hybrid system is off.
● Turn off any unnecessary electrical components when the vehicle is running
at a low speed for an extended period, such as in heavy traffic.
■ Charging the 12-volt battery
The electricity stored in the 12-volt battery will discharge gradually even when
the vehicle is not in use, due to natural discharge and the draining effects of
certain electrical appliances. If the vehicle is left for a long time, the 12-volt
battery may discharge, and the hybrid system may be unable to start. (The
12-volt battery recharges automatically while the hybrid system is operating.)
■ When recharging or repl acing the 12-volt battery
● In some cases, it may not be possible to unlock the doors using the smart
key system when the 12-volt battery is discharged. Use the wireless remote
control or the mechanical key to lock or unlock the doors.
● The hybrid system may not start on the first attempt after the 12-volt battery
has recharged but will start normally after the second attempt. This is not a
malfunction.
● The power switch mode is memorized by the vehicle. When the 12-volt bat-
tery is reconnected, the system will return to the mode it was in before the
12-volt battery was discharged. Before disconnecting the 12-volt battery,
turn the power switch off. If you are unsure what mode the power switch was
in before the 12-volt battery discharged, be especially careful when recon-
necting the 12-volt battery.
● If the 12-volt battery discharges while the shift position is in P, it may not be
possible to shift the shift position to other positions. In this case, the vehicle
cannot be towed without lifting both front wheels because the front wheels
will be locked. ( P. 486)
● When the 12-volt battery is reconnected, start the hybrid system and con-
firm that the shift position can be changed to each position using the shift
position indicator.
6
7
8