
1284-1. Before driving
4-1.Before driving
■Starting the engine
 P.137
■Driving
1 With the brake pedal depressed, 
shift the shift lever to D. ( P.142)
2 If the parking brake is in manual 
mode, release the parking brake. 
(P.146)
3 Gradually release the brake pedal 
and gently depress the accelerator 
pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
■Stopping
1 With the shift lever in D, depress the 
brake pedal.
2 If necessary, set the parking brake.
If the vehicle is to be stopped for an 
extended period of time, shift the shift lever 
to P or N. ( P.142)
■Parking the vehicle
1 With the shift lever in D, depress the 
brake pedal.
2 Set the parking brake ( P.146), 
and shift the shift lever to P 
( P.142).
3 Press the engine switch to stop the 
engine.
4 Lock the door, making sure that you 
have the electronic key on your 
person.
If parking on a hill,  block the wheels as 
needed.
■Starting off on a steep uphill
1 Make sure that the parking brake is 
set with the brake pedal depressed, 
and then shift the shift lever to D.
2 Release the brake pedal and gently 
depress the accelerator pedal.
3 Release the parking brake.
■When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. 
(  P.236)
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because 
visibility will be reduced, the windows 
may become fogged-up, and the road 
will be slippery.
●Drive carefully when it starts to rain, 
because the road surface will be espe-
cially slippery.
●Refrain from high speeds when driving on 
an expressway in the rain, because there 
may be a layer of wa ter between the tires 
and the road surface, preventing the 
steering and brakes from operating prop-
erly.
■Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine 
speed may become high while driving. This 
is due to automatic up-shifting control or 
down-shifting implementation to meet driv-
ing conditions. It does not indicate sudden 
acceleration.
●The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill 
or downhill
●When the accelerato r pedal is released
●When the brake pedal is firmly or quickly 
depressed
■Restraining the engine output (Brake 
Override System)
●When the accelerator and brake pedals 
are depressed at the same time, the 
engine output may be restrained.
Driving the vehicle
The following procedures should be 
observed to ensure safe driving:
Driving procedure 

1304-1. Before driving
WARNING
●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 cause the engine to stall 
or lead to poor brake and steering 
performance, resulting 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 
engine from the transmission. 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.
■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. 

1314-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
■When the vehicle is stopped
●Do not race the engine. 
If the vehicle is in any gear other than P 
or N, the vehicle may accelerate sud-
denly and unexpectedly, causing an 
accident.
●In order to prevent accidents due to 
the vehicle rolling away, always keep 
depressing the brake pedal while the 
engine is running, and apply the park-
ing 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 engine and 
lock the vehicle. 
Do not leave the vehicle unattended 
while the engine is running.
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 engine is running or immediately 
after turning the engine off. 
Doing so may cause burns.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, if 
you accidentally move  the shift lever or 
depress the accelerator pedal, this could 
cause an accident or fire due to engine 
overheating. Additionally, if the vehicle is 
parked in a poorly ventilated area, 
exhaust gases may collect and enter the 
vehicle, leading to death or a serious 
health hazard.
■When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive more 
cautiously. 
Braking distance in creases 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. 

1324-1. Before driving
WARNING
●If the brake booster device 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.
●Do not pump the brake pedal if the 
engine stalls.
Each push on the brake pedal uses up 
the reserve for the power-assisted 
brakes.
●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 engine 
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.362)
■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
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil 
and fluid used for the engine, auto-
matic 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 suddenly if the accelera-
tor pedal is accidentally depressed. 

1494-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
standby indicator light will go off. In addi-
tion, if any of the conditions are detected 
while the system is holding the brake, a 
warning buzzer will sound and a message 
will be shown on the multi-information dis-
play. The parking brake will then be set 
automatically.
■Brake hold function
●If the brake pedal is left released for a 
period of about 3 minutes after the sys-
tem has started holding the brake, the 
parking brake will be set automatically. In 
this case, a warning buzzer sounds and a 
message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display.
●To turn the system off while the system is 
holding the brake, firmly depress the 
brake pedal and press the button again.
●The brake hold function may not hold the 
vehicle when the vehicle is on a steep 
incline. In this situation, it may be neces-
sary for the driver to apply the brakes. A 
warning buzzer will sound and the multi-
information display will inform the driver 
of this situation. If a warning message is 
shown on the multi-information display, 
read the message and follow the instruc-
tions.
■When the parking brake is set automati-
cally while the system is holding the 
brakes
Perform any of the follo wing operations to 
release the parking brake.
●Depress the accelerator pedal. (The 
parking brake will not be released auto-
matically if the seat belt is not fastened.)
●Operate the parking brake switch with 
the brake pedal depressed.
Make sure that the pa rking brake indicator 
light goes off. ( P.146)
■When an inspection at your Lexus 
dealer is necessary
When the brake hold standby indicator 
(green) does not illuminate even when the 
brake hold switch is pressed with the brake 
hold system operating conditions met, the 
system may be malfun ctioning. Have the 
vehicle inspected at your Lexus dealer.
■If “Brake Hold Fault Depress Brake to 
Deactivate Visit Your Dealer” or “Brake 
Hold Malfunction Visit Your Dealer” is 
displayed on the multi-information dis-
play
The system may be ma lfunctioning. Have 
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Warning message and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are used to 
indicate a system malfunction or to inform 
the driver of the need for caution. If a warn-
ing message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follow 
the instructions.
■If the brake hold operated indicator 
flashes
 P.355
WARNING
■When the vehicle is on a steep incline
When using the brake hold system on a 
steep incline exercise caution. The brake 
hold function may not hold the vehicle in 
such a situation.
■When stopped on a slippery road
The system cannot stop the vehicle when 
the gripping ability of the tires has been 
exceeded. Do not use the system when 
stopped on a slippery road.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
The brake hold system is not designed 
for use when parking the vehicle for a 
long period of time. Turning the engine 
switch off while the sy stem is holding the 
brake may release the brake, which 
would cause the vehicle to move. When 
operating the engine switch, depress the 
brake pedal, shift the shift lever to P and 
set the parking brake. 

1694-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
The system can detect the following:
Vehicles
 Bicyclists
 Pedestrians
■Pre-collision warning
When the system determines that the 
possibility of a frontal collision is high, a 
buzzer will sound and a warning mes-
sage will be displayed on the multi-
information display to urge the driver  to take evasive action.
■Pre-collision brake assist
When the system determines that the 
possibility of a frontal collision is high, 
the system applies greater braking 
force in relation to  how strongly the 
brake pedal is depressed.
■Pre-collision braking
If the system determines that the possi-
bility of a frontal collision is extremely 
high, the brakes are automatically 
applied to help avoid the collision or 
reduce the impact of the collision.
■Suspension control (if equipped)
When the system determines that the 
possibility of a frontal collision is high, 
the Adaptive Variable Suspension Sys-
tem ( P.236) will control the damp-
ing force of the shock absorbers to 
help maintain an appropriate vehicle 
posture.
PCS (Pre-Collision System)
The pre-collision system uses a 
radar sensor and front camera to 
detect objects ( P.169) in front of 
the vehicle. When the system 
determines that the possibility of a 
frontal collision with an object is 
high, a warning operates to urge 
the driver to take evasive action 
and the potential brake pressure is 
increased to help the driver avoid 
the collision. If the system deter-
mines that the possibility of a frontal 
collision with an object is extremely 
high, the brakes are automatically 
applied to help avoid the collision or 
help reduce the impact of the colli-
sion.
The pre-collision system can be dis-
abled/enabled and the warning tim-
ing can be changed. ( P.171)
Detectable objects
System functions 

1754-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
• If a vehicle ahead is a child sized bicycle, a bicycle that is carrying a large load, a 
bicycle ridden by more than one person, 
or a uniquely shaped  bicycle (bicycle with 
a child seat, tandem bicycle, etc.)
• If a pedestrian/or the riding height of a  bicyclist ahead is shorter than approxi-
mately 3.2 ft. (1 m) or taller than approxi-
mately 6.5 ft. (2 m)
• If a pedestrian/bicyclist is wearing over-
sized clothing (a rain coat, long skirt, 
etc.), making their silhouette obscure
• If a pedestrian is bending forward or 
squatting or bicyclist is bending forward
• If a pedestrian/bicyclist is moving fast
• If a pedestrian is pushing a stroller, wheel- chair, bicycle or other vehicle
• When driving in incl ement weather such 
as heavy rain, fog, snow or a sandstorm
• When driving through steam or smoke
• When the surrounding area is dim, such  as at dawn or dusk, or while at night or in 
a tunnel, making a detectable object 
appear to be nearly the same color as its 
surroundings
• When driving in a place where the sur-
rounding brightness  changes suddenly, 
such as at the entrance or exit of a tunnel
• After the engine 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 front cam- era
• The vehicle is being driven at extremely  high speeds.
• When driving on a hill • If the radar sensor or front camera is mis-
aligned
●In some situations su ch 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
■If VSC is disabled
●If VSC is disabled ( P.237), the pre-col-
lision brake assist and pre-collision brak-
ing functions are also disabled.
●The PCS warning light will turn on and 
“VSC Turned OFF Pre-Collision Brake 
System Unavailable” will be displayed on 
the multi-information display. 

1904-5. Using the driving support systems
This mode employs a radar to detect the presence of vehicles up to approximately 
328 ft. (100 m) ahead, determines the cu rrent vehicle-to-vehicle following dis-
tance, and operates to maintain a suitab le following distance from the vehicle 
ahead. The desired vehicle-to-vehicle distance can also be set by operating the 
vehicle-to-vehicle distance switch.
When driving on downhill slopes, the vehicl e-to-vehicle distance may become shorter.
Example of constant speed cruising
When there are no vehicles ahead
The vehicle travels at the speed set by the driver.
Example of deceleration cruising and follow-up cruising
When a preceding vehicle driving slower than the set speed appears
When a vehicle is detected running ahead of  you, the system automatically decelerates 
your vehicle. When a greater reduction in vehicle speed is necessary, the system applies 
the brakes (the stop lights will come on at this time). The system will respond to changes in 
the speed of the vehicle ahead in order to maintain the vehicle-to-vehicle distance set by 
the driver. Approach warning warns you when th e system cannot decelerate sufficiently to 
prevent your vehicle from closing in on the vehicle ahead. 
When the vehicle ahead of you stops, your vehi cle will also stop (vehicle is stopped by sys-
tem control). After the vehicle ahead starts off,  pressing the +RES switch or depressing the 
accelerator pedal (start-off operation) will re sume follow-up cruising. If the start-off opera-
tion is not performed, system control  continues to keep your vehicle stopped.
When the turn signal lever is operated and your vehicle moves to a left lane while driving at 
50 mph (80 km/h) or more, the  vehicle will quickly accelerate to help to overtake a pass-
ing vehicle.
Example of acceleration
Driving in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
A
B
C