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1
INDEX
1 Visit your Toyota dealer for information on customizing this feature.2 Programmable by customer. Refer to the Owner’s Manual for instructio\
ns and more information.3 HomeLink® is a registered trademark of Gentex Corporation.  
HIGHLANDER 2018
This Quick Reference Guide is a summary of basic vehicle
operations. It contains brief descriptions of fundamental
operations so you can locate and use the vehicle’s main 
equipment quickly and easily.
The Quick Reference Guide is not intended as a substitute for 
the Owner’s Manual located in your vehicle’s glove box. We 
strongly encourage you to review the Owner’s Manual and 
supplementary manuals so you will have a better understanding 
of your vehicle’s capabilities and limitations.
Your dealership and the entire staff of Toyota Motor North  
America, Inc. wish you many years of satisfied driving in your 
new Highlander.
A word about safe vehicle operations
This Quick Reference Guide is not a full description of Highlander operations. 
Every Highlander owner should review the Owner’s Manual that accompanies 
this vehicle.
Pay special attention to the boxed   information highlighted in color throughout 
the Owner’s Manual. Each box contains safe operating instructions to \
help you 
avoid injury or equipment malfunction.
All information in this Quick Reference Guide is current at the time of \
printing. 
Toyota reserves the right to make changes at any time without notice.
Engine maintenance 9
Fuel tank door release & cap  
8
Hood release 
 
8
Indicator symbols
 
4-5
Instrument cluster
 
4
Instrument panel
 
2-3
Instrument panel light control
 
8
  
Keyless entry
1,2 6-7
Smart Key system1,2 7
OVERVIEW
FEATURES & OPERATIONS FEATURES & OPERATIONS (continued)
SAFETY & EMERGENCY FEATURES TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE™ P (TSS-P)
Air conditioning1,2/heating 24-25
All-wheel drive lock switch  
27
Audio
 
23
Auto lock/unlock1 10
Automatic transmission  
10
Clock
  10
Door locks
1,2 11
Downhill Assist Control system (DAC)  
2
 7
Driver Easy Speak
 
22
Garage door opener (HomeLink®)3 11
Lights1,2 & turn signals1 18
Moonroof1 12
Multi-Information Display (MID)2 19
Panoramic moonroof 
 
12
Parking brake
 
11
Power Liftgate (back door)1,2 13 
Power outlets-
 
12V DC/120V AC/USB 2.1A 17
Rear seat entertainment system  
22
Seat adjustments-Front
 
14
Seat adjustments-Rear
 
15
Seat heaters/ventilators
 
26
Seats-Head restraints
 
15
Seats-Stowing &
 
returning 3rd row seats
 
15
Snow mode button
 
27
Steering lock release
 
11
Steering wheel switches &
 
telephone controls (Bluetooth
®) 20 Stop & Start Engine System  
21
Tilt & telescopic steering wheel
  
14
USB 2.0/AUX port
  
22
Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)/
  
TRAC OFF switch   
26
Windows-Power1 19
Windshield wipers & washers1 16
Automatic High Beams (AHB)
 
37-38
Dynamic Radar
 
Cruise Control (DRCC)
 
34-37
Lane Departure Alert with Steering
Assist function (LDA w/SA)
 
31-34
Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian 
Detection function (PCS w/PD)
 
29-31
Quick overview-
 
Toyota Safety Sense™ P (TSS-P)
 
28
Sensors
  28
BLUETOOTH® DEVICE  
PAIRING SECTION  44-53
Floor mat installation
 
43
Rear door child safety locks
 
40
  
Seat belt reminder indicator
 
39
Seat belts
 
39
Seat belts-3rd row center
 
39
Seat belts-Shoulder belt anchor
 
39
Spare tire & tools
 
41
Star Safety SystemTM 42-43
Tire Pressure Monitoring   
(warning) System (TPMS)
 
40 
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OVERVIEW
FEATURES & OPERATIONS
TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE
SAFETY & EMERGENCY FEATURES  
     
        
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2
Steering wheel controls
Audio remote 
control switches2Multi-Information Display 
(MID) switches
Dynamic Radar Cruise 
Control 
(DRCC)
Dynamic Radar 
Cruise Control 
(DRCC) vehicle-
to-vehicle distance 
button
Lane Departure 
Alert (LDA) switch
Tilt and telescopic steering 
lock release lever Headlight, turn signal and front fog light
1 controlsWindshield wiper and 
washer controls Meter/Multi-information display (MID)
“ENGINE START 
STOP” button 
(Smart Key)
Ignition (Standard Key)
Hood lock release leverFuel tank door release lever
Tire pressure warning reset switch Windshield wiper de-icer switchHeated steering wheel switch
1
Parking assist sensors switch1,2
Automatic High Beam (AHB) switch
Stop & Start Engine System cancel switch
1
Birds Eye View Camera switch1,2
Power back door switch1
Voice command switch2
Telephone 
switches2
OVERVIEW
Instrument panel 
     
        
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6
GraspCarry
Smart Key remote
Front door unlock*
Carry
Smart Key remote
Front door lock
Carry
Smart Key remote Touch
NOTE: If a door is not opened within 60 seconds of unlocking, all doors will 
relock for safety.
NOTE: Power back door will not open if glass hatch is open.
* Driver door unlocking function can be programmed to unlock driver door only, or 
all doors. Grasping passenger door handle will unlock all doors.
NOTE: Doors may also be locked/unlocked using remote.
(1) Push
Push
Lock
Push Unlock
Carry remote to unlock Carry remote to lock/unlock
(2) Lift
GLASS HATCH UNLOCK (IF EQUIPPED)BACK DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK (IF EQUIPPED)
Smart Key
Smart Key
Smart Key
Push
Push and holdPush
Push  ONCE: Driver door
  TWICE: All doors
LOCKING OPERATION
UNLOCKING OPERATION
POWER LIFTGATE OPERATION (IF EQUIPPED)
Keyless entry
OVERVIEW
Push and hold 
     
        
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7
OVERVIEW FEATURES & OPERATIONS TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE SAFETY & EMERGENCY FEATURES
All systems OFF.
Accessories such as the radio will operate.
Power ON; all electrical systems can be used. NOTE: Parking brake must be set. Shift lever is set to P.
Push
Depress 
brake pedal
 will be displayed on the multi-
information display.  If it is not 
displayed, the engine cannot be 
started.
Without depressing the brake pedal, pressing the “ENGINE START STOP” switch will change 
the operation mode in succession from:
Smart Key
Push and hold
START FUNCTION
POWER (WITHOUT STARTING ENGINE)
PANIC BUTTON
Smart Key system 
     
        
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11
OVERVIEW FEATURES & OPERATIONS TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE SAFETY & EMERGENCY FEATURESLockUnlock
Unlock
Lock
With Smart Key system Without Smart Key system
PushTurn Turn
Turn
Set: Depress
Release: Depress again
Garage door opener (HomeLink®)* (if equipped)
Garage door openers manufactured under license from HomeLink®* can be 
programmed to operate garage doors, estate gates, security lighting, etc.
Refer to “Garage door opener,” Section 6-4 in the Owner’s Manual for more details.
For programming assistance, contact HomeLink
® at 1-800-355-3515, or visit 
http://www.homelink.com.
* HomeLink®
 is a registered trademark of Gentex Corporation.
HomeLink® indicator light
ButtonsGarage door operation indicator
Door locks
Parking brake
Steering lock release 
     
        
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13
OVERVIEW FEATURES & OPERATIONS TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE SAFETY & EMERGENCY FEATURES
Power Liftgate (back door) (if equipped)
PushPush and hold
Instrument panel
Open and close
Open: Push and hold
Close: Push and hold again
NOTE:  If battery is disconnected, the power back door needs to be reinitialized.
Refer to the Owner’s Manual for more details.
Open only
Remote
control
(without
Smartkey)
Remote
control
(with
Smartkey)
1. When the liftgate reaches the desired height, push the rear liftgate close-button (on the 
door jam of the liftgate) once. Press and hold the button until the buzzer sounds.
2. To reset the height, with the liftgate open and not moving, press and hold the rear liftgate 
close-button until it buzzes, and continue to hold until it buzzes again -then let go. Push 
the same button to close the liftgate. When you next open the liftgate it will open to the 
maximum height.
3. The height can also be set through the “Setup” screen on the audio display.  Setup > 
Vehicle Customization > Other Vehicle Settings > Power Back Door Opening Adjust. 
Through this screen, there are 5 height options to choose from.
NOTE: If the liftgate has stopped operating, check inside the glove box, on the left side, to 
ensure the PWR DOOR OFF button has not been pushed.
For detailed instructions, see Owner’s Manual.
PROGRAMMABLE POWER LIFTGATE