
591-3. Hybrid system
1
For safety and security
When a certain level of impact is 
detected by the impact sensor, the 
emergency shut off system blocks the 
high voltage current and stops the fuel 
pump to minimize the risk of electrocu-
tion and fuel leakage. If the emergency 
shut off system activates, your vehicle 
will not restart. To restart the hybrid system, contact your Lexus dealer.
A message is automatically displayed 
when a malfunction occurs in the 
hybrid system or an improper opera-
tion is attempted.
If a warning message is shown on the 
multi-information display, read the 
message and follow the instructions.
■If a warning light comes on, a warning 
message is displayed, or the 12-volt bat-
tery is disconnected
The hybrid system may not start. In this 
case, try to start the system again. If the 
“READY” indicator does not come on, con-
tact your Lexus dealer.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery (traction battery) air 
intake vent
●Make sure not to block the air intake 
vent with anything, such as a seat 
cover, plastic cover, or luggage. If the 
vents become blocked, the hybrid bat-
tery (traction battery) input and output 
may be restricted, leading to a reduc-
tion in hybrid battery (traction battery) 
output and a malfunction.
●When dust etc. has accumulated in the 
air intake vent, periodically clean it 
with a vacuum cleaner to prevent the 
vent from clogging.
●A filter is installed to the air intake vent. 
When the filter remains noticeably 
dirty even after cleaning the air intake 
vent, filter cleaning or replacement is 
recommended. When cleaning or 
replacing the filter, contact your Lexus 
dealer. 
Refer to P.304 for details on how to 
clean the filter.
●Do not get water or foreign materials 
in the air intake vent as this may cause 
a short circuit and damage the hybrid 
battery (traction battery).
●Do not carry large amounts of water 
such as water cooler bottles in the 
vehicle. If water spills onto the hybrid 
battery (traction battery), the battery 
may be damaged. Have the vehicle 
inspected by your
 Lexus dealer.
Emergency shut off system
Hybrid warning message 

1614-4. Refueling
4
Driving
4-4.Refueling
Turn the power switch off and 
ensure that all the doors and win-
dows are closed.
 Confirm the type of fuel.
■Fuel types
 P.401
■Fuel tank opening for unleaded gasoline
To help prevent incorrect fueling, your vehi-
cle has a fuel tank opening that only accom-
modates the special nozzle on unleaded 
fuel pumps.
Opening the fuel tank cap
The fuel tank of your vehicle has a 
special structure, which requires a 
reduction in fuel tank pressure 
before refueling. After the opener 
switch has been pressed, it will take 
several seconds until the vehicle is 
ready for refueling.
Before refueling the vehicle
WARNING
■When refueling the vehicle
Observe the following precautions while 
refueling the vehicle. Failure to do so may 
result in death or serious injury.
●After exiting the vehicle and before 
opening the fuel door, touch an 
unpainted metal surface to discharge 
any static electricity. It is important to 
discharge static electricity before refu-
eling because sparks resulting from 
static electricity can cause fuel vapors 
to ignite while refueling.
●Always hold the grips on the fuel tank 
cap and turn it slowly to remove it. 
A whooshing sound may be heard 
when the fuel tank cap is loosened. 
Wait until the sound cannot be heard 
before fully removing the cap. In hot 
weather, pressurized fuel may spray 
out the filler neck and cause injury.
●Do not allow anyone that has not dis-
charged static electricity from their 
body to come close to an open fuel 
tank.
●Do not inhale vaporized fuel. 
Fuel contains substances that are 
harmful if inhaled.
●Do not smoke while refueling the vehi-
cle. 
Doing so may cause the fuel to ignite 
and cause a fire.
●Do not return to the vehicle or touch 
any person or object that is statically 
charged. 
This may cause static electricity to 
build up, resulting in a possible ignition 
hazard.
■When refueling
Observe the following precautions to 
prevent fuel overflowing from the fuel 
tank:
●Securely insert the fuel nozzle into the 
fuel filler neck.
●Stop filling the tank after the fuel noz-
zle automatically clicks off.
●Do not top off the fuel tank.
NOTICE
■Refueling
●Finish refueling within 30 minutes. If 
more than 30 minutes passes, the 
internal valve closes.  In this condition, 
fuel may overflow during the refueling 
process.
Press the fuel filler door opener switch 
again. 

4018-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
■Gasoline quality
In very few cases, driveability problems may 
be caused by the brand of gasoline you are 
using. If driveability  problems persist, try 
changing the brand of gasoline. If this does 
not correct the problem, consult your Lexus 
dealer.
■Gasoline quality standards
●Automotive manufacturers in the U.S.A., 
Europe and Japan have developed a 
specification for fuel quality called the 
World-Wide Fuel Charter (WWFC), 
which is expected to be applied world-
wide.
●The WWFC improves air quality by low-
ering emissions in vehicle fleets, and 
improves customer satisfaction through 
better performance.
■Recommendation of the use of gasoline 
containing detergent additives
●Lexus recommends the use of gasoline 
that contains detergent additives to avoid 
the build-up of engine deposits.
●All gasoline sold in the U.S.A. contains 
minimum detergent additives to clean 
and/or keep clean intake systems, per 
EPA’s lowest additive s concentration pro- gram.
●Lexus strongly recommends the use of 
Top Tier Detergent Gasoline. For more 
information on Top Tier Detergent Gaso-
line and a list of marketers, please go to 
the official website www.toptiergas.com.
■Recommendation of the use of low 
emissions gasoline
Gasolines containing  oxygenates such as 
ethers and ethanol, as well as reformulated 
gasolines, are available in some cities. 
These fuels are typically acceptable for use, 
providing they meet other fuel require-
ments.
Lexus recommends these fuels, since the 
formulations allow for reduced vehicle 
emissions.
■Non-recommendation of the use of 
blended gasoline
●Use only gasoline containing up to 15% 
ethanol. 
DO NOT use any flex-fuel or gasoline 
that could contain more than 15% etha-
nol, including from  any pump labeled 
E30 (30% ethanol [ ]), E50 (50% 
ethanol [ ]), E85 (85% ethanol [ ]) 
(which are only some examples of fuel 
containing more than 15% ethanol).
●If you use gasohol in your vehicle, be sure 
that it has an octane rating no lower than 
87.
●Lexus does not recommend the use of 
gasoline containing methanol.
■Non-recommendation of the use of gas-
oline containing MMT
Some gasoline contains an octane enhanc-
ing additive called MMT (Methylcyclopen-
tadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl).
Fuel information
You must only use unleaded gaso-
line.
Select unleaded gasoline with an 
octane rating of 87 (Research 
Octane Number 91) or higher 
required for optimum engine per-
formance and fuel economy. If the 
octane rating is  less than 87, dam-
age to the engine may occur and 
may void the vehicle warranty.
At minimum, the gasoline you use 
should meet the specifications of 
ASTM D4814 in the U.S.A.
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