1614-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving ■
GCWR (Gross Combination
Weight Rating)
The maximum allowable gross combi-
nation weight. The gross combination
weight is the sum of the total vehicle
weight (including the occupants, cargo
and any optional equipment installed
on the vehicle) and the weight of the
trailer being towed (including the
cargo in the trailer).
■
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating)
The maximum allowable gross vehicle
weight. The gross vehicle weight is the
total weight of the vehicle. When tow-
ing a trailer, it is the sum of the vehicle
weight (including the occupants, cargo WARNING●
Do not use the Dynamic radar cruise
control system when trailer towing.●
Slow down and downshift before
descending steep or long downhill
grades. Do not make sudden down-
shifts while descending steep or long
downhill grades.●
Vehicle-trailer instabil ity is more likely
on steep long downhills. Before
descending steep or long downhill
grades, slow down and downshift. Do
not make sudden downshifts when
descending steep or long downhill
grades. Avoid holding the brake pedal
down too long or applying the brakes
too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.●
Do not tow a trailer when the compact
spare tire is installed on your vehicle.■
When towing a trailer
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes
that conform to any applicable federal
and state/provincial regulations. ●
If the gross trailer weight exceeds
unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are
required. Lexus recommends trailers
with brakes that conform to all applica-
ble federal and state/provincial regula-
tions.
●
Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic
system, as this will lower the vehicle’s
braking effectiveness.
●
Never tow a trailer without using a
safety chain securely attached to both
the trailer and the vehicle. If damage
occurs to the coupling unit or hitch
ball, there is danger of the trailer wan-
dering into another lane. NOTICE■
When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by
your Lexus dealer. Do not install the
trailer hitch on the bumper; this may
cause body damage. ■
Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights.
Directly splicing trailer lights may dam-
age your vehicle’s electrical system and
cause a malfunction.
Towing related terms
164 4-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U Gross trailer weight
Tongue weight
Trailer hitch assemblies have different
weight capacities. Lexus recommends
the use of Lexus hitch/bracket for your
vehicle. For details, contact your Lexus
dealer.
If you wish to install a trailer hitch,
contact your Lexus dealer.
Use only a hitch that conforms to
the gross trailer weight requirement
of your vehicle.
Follow the directions supplied by the
hitch manufacturer.
Lubricate the hitch ball with a light
coating of grease.
Remove the trailer hitch whenever
you are not towing a trailer. After
removing the hitch, seal any mount-
ing hole in the vehicle body to pre-
vent entry of any substances into the
vehicle. Weight carrying ball position:
42.1 in. (1069.9 mm)
Hitch receiver pin hole position:
33.7 in. (855.6 mm)
Please consult your dealer when
installing trailer lights, as incorrect
installation may cause damage to the
vehicle’s lights. Please take care to
comply with your state’s laws when
installing trailer lights.Hitch A
B WARNING■
Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different
weight capacities established by the hitch
manufacturer. Even though the vehicle
may be physically capable of towing a
higher weight, the operator must deter-
mine the maximum weight rating of the
particular hitch assembly and never
exceed the maximum weight rating
specified for the trailer-hitch. Exceeding
the maximum weight rating set by the
trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause an
accident resulting in death or serious
personal injuries.
Positions for towing hitch
receiver and hitch ball
Connecting trailer lights A
B
176 4-2. Driving procedures
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 2 DownshiftingThe selected shift range, from 1 to 6, will be
displayed.
The initial shift range in S mode is 4. ■
Shift ranges and their functions
You can choose from 6 levels of
accelerating force and engine brak-
ing force.
A lower shift range will provide
greater accelerating force and
engine braking force than a higher
shift range, and the engine revolu-
tions will also increase. ■
Downshifting restriction warning
buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving perfor-
mance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances,
downshifting may not be possible even
when the shift lever or paddle shift switch is
operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
1 Right turn
2 Lane change to the right (move the
lever partway and release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3
times.
3 Lane change to the left (move the
lever partway and release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3
times.
4 Left turn ■
Turn signals can be operated when
The power switch is in ON mode.
■
If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or rear
turn signal lights has not burned out.
■
Customization
→ P.425Turn signal lever
Operating instructions
1874-3. Operating the lights and wipers
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving and tail lights of oncoming and preceding
vehicles
• The movement and direction of oncom-
ing and preceding vehicles
• When a oncoming or preceding vehicle
only has operational lights on one side
• When a oncoming or preceding vehicle
is a two-wheeled vehicle
• The condition of the road (gradient,
curve, condition of th e road surface, etc.)
• The number of passengers and amount of
luggage●
High beam may be turned on or off when
unexpected by the driver.●
In the situations below, the system may
not be able to correctly detect the sur-
rounding brightness levels, and may flash
or expose nearby pedestrians to the high
beam. Therefore, you should consider
turning the high beams on or off manually
rather than relying on the Automatic
High Beam system.
• In bad weather (rain, snow, fog, sand-
storms, etc.)
• The windshield is obscured by fog, mist,
ice, dirt, etc.
• The windshield is cracked or damaged.
• The camera sensor is deformed or dirty.
• The camera sensor temperature is
extremely high.
• Surrounding brightness levels are equal
to those of headlights, tail lights or fog
lights.
• Vehicles ahead have headlights or tail
lights that are either switched off, dirty,
are changing color, or are not aimed
properly.
• When driving through an area of inter-
mittently changing brightness and dark-
ness.
• When frequently and repeatedly driving
ascending/descending roads, or roads
with rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces
(such as stone-paved roads, gravel
tracks, etc.).
• When frequently and repeatedly taking
curves or driving on a winding road.
• There is a highly re flective object ahead
of the vehicle, such as a sign or a mirror.
• The back of a vehicle ahead is highly
reflective, such as a container on a truck.
• The vehicle’s headlights are damaged or
dirty. • The vehicle is listing or titling, due to a flat
tire, a trailer being towed, etc.
• The driver believes that the high beam
may be causing problems or distress to
other drivers or pedestrians nearby.
WARNING■
Limitations of the Automatic High
Beam
Do not rely on the Automatic High
Beam. Always drive safely, taking care to
observe your surroundings and turning
high beam on or off manually if neces-
sary.
NOTICE■
Notes when using the Automatic
High Beam system
Observe the following to ensure that the
Automatic High Beam functions cor-
rectly. ●
Do not touch the camera sensor.
●
Do not subject the camera sensor to a
strong impact.
●
Do not disassemble the camera sen-
sor.
●
Do not spill liquids onto the camera
sensor.
●
Do not apply window tinting or stickers
to the camera sensor or the area of
windshield near the camera sensor.
●
Do not place items on the dashboard.
There is a possibility that the camera
sensor will mistake items reflected in
the windshield for streetlights, the
headlights of other vehicles, etc.
1934-3. Operating the lights and wipers
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving strikes the windshield, or if bugs, etc. are
present on the windshield.
●
If the wiper switch is turned to the
“AUTO” position while the power switch
is in ON mode, the wipers will operate
once to show that AUTO mode is acti-
vated.●
If the temperature of the raindrop sensor
is 194°F (90°C) or higher, or 5°F (-15°C)
or lower, automatic operation may not
occur. In this case, operate the wipers in
any mode other than AUTO mode.■
If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles are not
blocked, if there is washer fluid in the
washer fluid tank.
WARNING■
Caution regarding the use of wind-
shield wipers in AUTO mode (vehi-
cles with rain-sen sing windshield
wipers)
The windshield wipers may operate
unexpectedly if the sensor is touched or
the windshield is subject to vibration in
AUTO mode. Take care that your fingers,
etc. do not become caught in the wind-
shield wipers.
■
Caution regarding the use of washer
fluid
When it is cold, do not use the washer
fluid until the windshield becomes warm.
The fluid may freeze on the windshield
and cause low visibility. This may lead to
an accident, resulting in death or serious
injury. NOTICE■
When the windshield is dry
Do not use the wipers, as they may dam-
age the windshield. ■
When the washer fluid tank is empty
Do not operate the switch continually as
the washer fluid pump may overheat. ■
When a nozzle becomes blocked
In this case, contact your Lexus dealer.
Do not try to clear it with a pin or other
object. The nozzle will be damaged. ■
To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
Do not leave the wipers on longer than
necessary when the hy brid system is off.
200 4-5. Using the driving support systems
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U WARNING●
Keep the windshield clean at all times.
• If the windshield is dirty or covered
with an oily film, water droplets, snow,
etc., clear the windshield.
• If a glass coating agent is applied to the
windshield, it will still be necessary to
use the windshield wipers to remove
water droplets, etc. from the area of
the windshield in front of the camera
sensor.
• If the inner side of the windshield
where the camera sensor is installed is
dirty, contact your Lexus dealer.●
Do not attach objects, such as stickers,
transparent stickers, etc., and so forth,
to the outer side of the windshield in
front of the camera sensor (shaded
area in the illustration).
From the top of the windshield to
approximately 0.4 in. (1 cm) below
the bottom of the camera sensor
Approximately 7.9 in. (20 cm)
(Approximately 4.0 in. (10 cm) to the
right and left from the center of the
camera sensor)
●
If the part of the windshield in front of
the camera sensor is fogged up or
covered with condensation or ice, use
the windshield defogger to remove the
fog, condensation or ice. ( → P.269)A
B ●
If water droplets cannot be properly
removed from the area of the wind-
shield in front of the camera sensor by
the windshield wipers, replace the
wiper insert or wiper blade.
If the wiper inserts or wiper blades
need to be replaced, contact your
Lexus dealer. ●
Do not attach window tinting to the
windshield. ●
Replace the windshield if it is damaged
or cracked.
If the windshield ne eds to be replaced,
contact your Lexus dealer. ●
Do not get the camera sensor wet. ●
Do not allow bright lights to shine into
the camera sensor. ●
Do not dirty or damage the camera
sensor.
When cleaning the inside of the wind-
shield, do not allow glass cleaner to
contact the lens. Also, do not touch the
lens.
If the lens is dirty or damaged, contact
your Lexus dealer. ●
Do not subject the camera sensor to a
strong impact.
●
Do not change the installation position
or direction of the camera sensor or
remove it.
●
Do not disassemble the camera sen-
sor.
●
Do not modify any components of the
vehicle around the camera sensor
(inside rear view mirror, etc.) or ceiling.
●
Do not attach any accessories that
may obstruct the camera sensor to the
hood, front grille or front bumper.
Contact your Lexus dealer for details.
●
If a surfboard or other long object is to
be mounted on the roof, make sure
that it will not obstruct the camera sen-
sor.
2014-5. Using the driving support systems
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving ■
Certification
For vehicles sold in the U.S.A.
For vehicles sold in Canada WARNING●
Do not modify the headlights or other
lights.
2094-5. Using the driving support systems
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving rounding brightness changes suddenly,
such as at the entrance or exit of a tunnel
• When a very bright light, such as the sun
or the headlights of oncoming traffic,
shines directly in to the camera sensor
• When the surrounding area is dim, such
as at dawn or dusk, or while at night or in
a tunnel
• After the hybrid system has started the
vehicle has not been driven for a certain
amount of time
• While making a left/right turn and for a
few seconds after makin g a left/right turn
• While driving on a curve and for a few
seconds after driving on a curve
• If your vehicle is skidding
• If the front of the vehicle is raised or low-
ered
• If the wheels are misaligned
• If a wiper blade is blocking the camera
sensor
• The vehicle is wobbling.
• The vehicle is being driven at extremely
high speeds.
• When driving on a hill
• If the radar sensor or camera sensor is
misaligned●
In some situations such as the following,
sufficient braking force may not be
obtained, preventing the system from
performing properly:
• If the braking functions cannot operate to
their full extent, such as when the brake
parts are extremely cold, extremely hot,
or wet
• If the vehicle is not properly maintained
(brakes or tires are excessively worn,
improper tire inflation pressure, etc.)
• When the vehicle is being driven on a
gravel road or other slippery surface
●
Some pedestrians such as the following
may not be detected by the radar sensor
and camera sensor, preventing the sys-
tem from operating properly: • Pedestrians shorter than approximately
3.2 ft. (1 m) or taller than approximately
6.5 ft. (2 m)
• Pedestrians wearing oversized clothing
(a rain coat, long skir t, etc.), making their
silhouette obscure
• Pedestrians who are carrying large bag-
gage, holding an umbrella, etc., hiding
part of their body
• Pedestrians who are bending forward or
squatting
• Pedestrians who are pushing a stroller,
wheelchair, bicycle or other vehicle
• Groups of pedestrians which are close
together
• Pedestrians who are wearing white and
look extremely bright
• Pedestrians in the dark, such as at night
or while in a tunnel
• Pedestrians whose clothing appears to
be nearly the same color or brightness as
their surroundings
• Pedestrians near walls, fences, guardrails,
or large objects
• Pedestrians who are on a metal object
(manhole cover, steel plate, etc.) on the
road
• Pedestrians who are walking fast
• Pedestrians who are changing speed
abruptly
• Pedestrians running out from behind a
vehicle or a large object
• Pedestrians who are extremely close to
the side of the vehicle (outside rear view
mirror, etc.) ■
If the PCS warning light flashes or illumi-
nates and a warning message is dis-
played on the multi-information display
The pre-collision system may be temporar-
ily unavailable or there may be a malfunc-
tion in the system.
●
In the following situations, the warning
light will turn off, the message will disap-
pear and the system will become opera-
tional when normal operating conditions
return:
• When the radar sensor or camera sensor
or the area around either sensor is hot,
such as in the sun
• When the radar sensor or camera sensor
or the area around either sensor is cold,
such as in an extremely cold environment
• When a front sensor is dirty or covered