
1284-1. Before driving
WARNING
●During normal driving, do not turn off 
the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid 
system off while driving will not cause 
loss of steering or braking control, 
however, power assist to the steering 
will be lost. This will make it more diffi-
cult to steer smoothly, so you should 
pull over and stop the vehicle as soon 
as it is safe to do so. 
In the event of an emergency, such as if 
it becomes impossible to stop the vehi-
cle in the normal way: P.350
●Use engine braking (downshift) to 
maintain a safe speed when driving 
down a steep hill. 
Using the brakes continuously may 
cause the brakes to overheat and lose 
effectiveness. ( P.141)
●Do not adjust the positions of the 
steering wheel, the seat, or the inside 
or outside rear view mirrors while driv-
ing. 
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle 
control.
●Always check that all passengers’ 
arms, heads or other parts of their 
body are not outside the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed 
limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 
km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85 
mph (140 km/h) may result in tire fail-
ure, loss of control and possible injury. 
Be sure to consult a tire dealer to 
determine whether the tires on your 
vehicle are high-speed capability tires 
or not before driving at such speeds.
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and 
steering may cause tire slippage and 
reduce your ability to control the vehi-
cle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine braking 
due to shifting, or changes in engine 
speed could cause the vehicle to skid, 
resulting in an accident.
●After driving through a puddle, lightly 
depress the brake pedal to make sure 
that the brakes are functioning prop-
erly. Wet brake pads may prevent the 
brakes from functioning properly. If the 
brakes on only one side are wet and 
not functioning properly, steering con-
trol may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward 
while the shift lever is in a driving posi-
tion, or roll forward while the shift lever 
is in R. 
Doing so may result in an accident or 
damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shif t lever to P while 
the vehicle is moving. 
Doing so can damage the transmission 
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while 
the vehicle is moving forward. 
Doing so can damage the transmission 
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Do not shift the shift lever to a driving 
position while the vehicle is moving 
backward. 
Doing so can damage the transmission 
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Shifting the shift lever to N while the 
vehicle is moving will disengage the 
hybrid system. Engine braking is not 
available when N is selected.
●Be careful not to shift the shift lever 
with the accelerator pedal depressed. 
Shifting the shift lever to a gear other 
than P or N may lead to unexpected 
rapid acceleration of the vehicle that 
may cause an accident and result in 
death or serious injury. 

1294-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
■If you hear a squealing or scraping 
noise (brake pad wear limit indica-
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and 
replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as 
possible. Rotor damage may result if the 
pads are not replaced when needed. It is 
dangerous to drive the vehicle when the 
wear limits of the brake pads and/or 
those of the brake discs are exceeded.
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not depress the accelerator pedal 
unnecessarily. 
If the shift lever is in any position other 
than P or N, the vehicle may acceler-
ate suddenly and unexpectedly, caus-
ing an accident.
●In order to prevent accidents due to 
the vehicle rolling away, always keep 
depressing the brake pedal while 
stopped with the “READY” indicator is 
illuminated, and apply the parking 
brake as necessary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, 
in order to prevent accidents caused 
by the vehicle rolling forward or back-
ward, always depress the brake pedal 
and securely apply the parking brake 
as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the engine. 
Running the engine at high speed 
while the vehicle is stopped may cause 
the exhaust system to overheat, which 
could result in a fire if combustible 
material is nearby.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses,  cigarette lighters, 
spray cans, or soft drink cans in the 
vehicle when it is in the sun. 
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter  or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle  may cause the plastic lenses and plas-
tic material of glasses to deform or 
crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing  the contents to spray over the interior 
of the vehicle, and may also cause a 
short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical 
components.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the 
vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a 
place such as the glove box or on the 
floor, it may be lit accidentally when 
luggage is loaded or the seat is 
adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to the 
windshield or windows. Do not place 
containers such as air fresheners on 
the instrument panel or dashboard. 
Adhesive discs or containers may act 
as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window open if 
the curved glass is coated with a met-
allized film such as a silver-colored 
one. Reflected sunlight may cause the 
glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift 
the shift lever to P, stop the hybrid sys-
tem and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended 
while the “READY” indicator is illumi-
nated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift 
lever in P but the parking brake is not 
set, the vehicle may start to move, pos-
sibly leading to an accident.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes while 
the “READY” indicator is illuminated 
or immediately after turning the hybrid 
system off.
Doing so may cause burns. 

1304-1. Before driving
WARNING
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Other-
wise, if you accidentally move the shift 
lever or depress the  accelerator pedal, 
this could cause an accident or fire due 
to hybrid system overheating. Addition-
ally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly 
ventilated area, exhaust gases may col-
lect and enter the ve hicle, leading to 
death or a serious health hazard.
■When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive more 
cautiously. 
Braking distance increases when the 
brakes are wet, and this may cause one 
side of the vehicle to brake differently 
than the other side. Also, the parking 
brake may not securely hold the vehi-
cle.
●If the electronically controlled brake 
system does not operate, do not follow 
other vehicles closely and avoid hills or 
sharp turns that require braking. 
In this case, braking is still possible, but 
the brake pedal should be depressed 
more firmly than usual. Also, the brak-
ing distance will increase. Have your 
brakes fixed immediately.
●The brake system consists of 2 or more 
individual hydraulic systems; if one of 
the systems fails, the other(s) will still 
operate. In this case, the brake pedal 
should be depressed more firmly than 
usual and the braking distance will 
increase. Have your brakes fixed 
immediately.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and 
brake pedals at the same time while 
driving, as this may restrain the hybrid 
system output.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or 
depress the accelerator and brake 
pedals at the same time to hold the 
vehicle on a hill.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully in 
either direction and hold it there for an 
extended period of time. 
Doing so may damage the power 
steering motor.
●When driving over bumps in the road, 
drive as slowly as possible to avoid 
damaging the wheels, underside of the 
vehicle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the fol-
lowing situations. Hold the steering 
wheel firmly and gradually depress the 
brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehi-
cle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal 
sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat 
tire ( P.372)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded 
after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause 
the following serious damage to the vehi-
cle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water 
immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded 
road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure 
to have your Lexus dealer check the fol-
lowing:
●Brake function 

1314-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Cargo capacity depends on the total 
weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
ity)  (Total weight of occupants)
NOTICE
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil 
and fluid used for the engine, hybrid 
transmission, etc.
●Lubricant condition for the bearings 
and suspension joints (where possi-
ble), and the function of all joints, bear-
ings, etc.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift 
the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may 
cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle 
may accelerate sudden ly if the accelera-
tor pedal is accidentally depressed.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following infor-
mation about storage precautions, 
cargo capacity and load:
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried in the 
trunk
The following things may cause a fire if 
loaded in the trunk:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals 
from being depressed properly, may 
block the driver’s vision, or may result in 
items hitting the driver or passengers, 
possibly causing an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk 
whenever possible.
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on 
the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats  (when stacking items)
• On the package tray
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
• In front of the Center Display
●Secure all items in the occupant com-
partment.
Capacity and distribution 

1354-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
4-2.Driving procedures
1Press the parking brake switch to 
check that the parking brake is set. 
(P.146)
Parking brake indicator will come on.
2 Check that the shift lever is in P.
3 Firmly depress the brake pedal.
 and a message will be displayed on 
the multi-information display. 
If it is not displayed, the hybrid system can-
not be started.
4 Press the power switch shortly and 
firmly.
When operating the power switch, one 
short, firm press is enough. It is not neces-
sary to press and hold the switch.
If the “READY” indicator turns on, the 
hybrid system will operate normally.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until 
the “READY” indicator is illuminated.
The hybrid system can be started from any 
power switch mode.
5Check that the “READY” indicator 
is illuminated.
The vehicle will not move when the 
“READY” indicator is off.
■Power switch illumination
According to the situation, the power 
switch illumination operates as follows.
●When a door is opened, or the power 
switch mode is changed from ACCES-
SORY or ON mode to off, the power 
switch illumination slowly blinks.
●When depressing the brake pedal with 
carrying the electronic key on your per-
son, the power switch illumination rapidly 
blinks.
●When the power switch is in ACCES-
SORY or ON mode, the power switch 
illumination illuminates.
■If the hybrid system does not start
●The immobilizer system may not have 
been deactivated. ( P.60) 
Contact your Lexus dealer.
●If a message related to  start-up is shown 
on the multi-information display, read the 
message and follow the instructions.
■Sounds and vibrations specific to a 
hybrid vehicle
 P.54
■If the 12-volt batte ry is discharged
The hybrid system cannot be started using 
the smart access syst em with push-button 
start. Refer to P.384 to restart the hybrid 
system.
■Electronic key battery depletion
 P.88
■Conditions affecting operation
 P.103
■Notes for the entry function
 P.104
■Steering lock function
●After turning the power switch off and 
opening and closing the doors, the steer-
ing wheel will be lock ed due to the steer-
Power (ignition) switch
Performing the following opera-
tions when carrying the electronic 
key on your person starts the hybrid 
system or changes power switch 
modes.
Starting the hybrid system 

1374-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
1Stop the vehicle completely.
2
Set the parking brake ( P.146), 
and shift the shift lever to P 
( P.142).
3
Press the power switch.
4
Release the brake pedal and check 
that “ACCESSORY” or “IGNI-
TION ON” is not shown on the 
meter.
Modes can be changed by pressing 
the power switch with the brake pedal 
released. (The mode changes each  time the switch is pressed.)
1
Off*
The emergency flashers can be used.
2ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such as the 
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the 
meter.
3ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the 
meter.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other than 
P when turning off the hybrid system, the 
power switch will be turned to ACCES-
SORY mode, not to off.
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode 
for more than 20 minutes or ON mode (the 
hybrid system is not operating) for more 
than an hour with the shift lever in P, the 
power switch will automatically turn off. 
However, this function cannot entirely pre-
vent the 12-volt battery discharge. Do not 
Stopping the hybrid system
WARNING
■Stopping the hybrid system in an 
emergency
●If you want to stop the hybrid system in 
an emergency while driving the vehi-
cle, press and hold the power switch 
for more than 2 seconds, or press it 
briefly 3 times or more in succession. 
(  P.350)
However, do not touch the power 
switch while driving  except in an emer-
gency. Turning the hybrid system off 
while driving will not cause loss of 
steering or braking control, however, 
power assist to the steering will be lost. 
This will make it more difficult to steer 
smoothly, so you should pull over and 
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to 
do so.
●If the power switch is operated while 
the vehicle is running, a warning mes-
sage will be shown on the multi-infor-
mation display and a buzzer sounds.
●When restarting the hybrid system 
after an emergency shutdown, press 
the power switch.
Changing power switch modes 

1384-2. Driving procedures
leave the vehicle with the power switch in 
ACCESSORY or ON mode for long peri-
ods of time when the hybrid system is not 
operating.
If the hybrid system is stopped with the 
shift lever in a position other than P, the 
power switch will not be turned off but 
instead be turned to ACCESSORY 
mode. Perform the following proce-
dure to turn the switch off:
1
If the parking brake is in manual 
mode, set the parking brake. 
(P.146)
2
Shift the shift lever to P.
3
Check that “Turn Power Off” is dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play and then press the power 
switch once.
4
Check that “Turn Power Off” on the 
multi-information display is off.
When stopping the hybrid sys-
tem with the shift lever in a posi-
tion other than P
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Do not leave the power switch in 
ACCESSORY or ON mode for long 
periods of time without the hybrid sys-
tem on.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION 
ON” is displayed on the meter, the 
power switch is not off. Exit the vehicle 
after turning the power switch off.
●Do not stop the hybrid system when 
the shift lever is in a position other than 
P. If the hybrid system is stopped in 
another shift lever position, the power 
switch will not be turned off but instead 
be turned to ACCESSORY mode. If 
the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY 
mode, 12-volt battery discharge may 
occur. 

1424-2. Driving procedures
 While the power switch is in ON mode and the brake pedal depressed*, 
shift the shift lever while pushing the shift release button on the shift knob.
 Shift the shift lever while pushing the  shift release button on the shift knob.
 Shift the shift lever normally.
When shifting the shift lever between P and D,  make sure that the vehicle is completely 
stopped and the brake pedal is depressed.
*: For the vehicle be able to be shifted from P, the brake pedal must be depressed before  the shift release button is pushed. If the shift  release button is pushed first, the shift lock 
will not be released.
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is  a system to prevent 
accidental operation of  the shift lever in 
starting.
The shift lever can be  shifted from P only 
when the power switch  is in ON mode the 
brake pedal is depressed and the shift 
release button is pushed.■If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P
First, check whether the brake pedal is 
being depressed.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted even 
though the brake pedal is depressed and 
the shift release button is pushed, there may 
be a problem with th e shift lock system. 
Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus 
dealer immediately.
The following steps may be used as an 
Shifting the shift lever