381-1. For safe use
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
WARNING
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags.
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
●The driver and all passengers in the vehicle must wear their seat belts properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be us ed with the seat belts.
●The SRS driver airbag deploys with considerable force, and can cause death or seri-
ous injury especially if the driver is very close to the airbag. The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3 in. (50 - 75 mm) of inflation,
placing yourself 10 in. (250 mm) from your driver airbag provides you with a clear
margin of safety. This distance is measured from the center of the steering wheel to
your breastbone. If you sit less than 10 in . (250 mm) away now, you can change your
driving position in several ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reaching the pedals com-
fortably.
• Slightly recline the back of the seat. Although vehicle designs vary, many drivers can achieve the 10 in. (250 mm) dis-
tance, even with the driver seat all the wa y forward, simply by reclining the back of
the seat somewhat. If reclining the back of your seat makes it hard to see the road,
raise yourself by using a firm , non-slippery cushion, or raise the seat if your vehicle
has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is ad justable, tilt it downward. This points the airbag toward
your chest instead of your head and neck.
The seat should be adjusted as recommended by NHTSA ab ove, while still maintain-
ing control of the foot pedals, steering whee l, and your view of the instrument panel
controls.
143
3
Operation of each component
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U3-3. Adjusting the seats
■Power easy access system (if equipped)
The driver’s seat and steering wheel move in
accordance with engine switch mode and
the driver’s seat belt condition. ( P. 147)
■When adjusting the seat
●Take care when adjusting the seat so that the head restraint does not touch the ceiling.
●When folding down a rear seatback, if it inte rferes with a front seatback, adjust the front
seat position so that the seats no longer inte rfere with each other. However, if adjusting
the front seat position causes the correct driving posture to not be maintained, return
the rear seatback to its original position. ( P. 145)
Front seats
Adjustment procedure
Seat position adjustment
Seatback angle adjustment
Seat cushion (front) angle adjust-
ment Seat cushion (rear) angle adjust-
ment
Lumbar support adjustment (if
equipped)1
2
3
4
5
1754-1. Before driving
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopped with the engine running. This
prevents the vehicle from creeping.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accelerator ped-
als to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake pedal will
result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a difficulty in oper-
ating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving po sture even when moving the vehicle only
slightly. This allows you to depress th e brake and accelerator pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal using your left foot may delay re sponse in an emergency, resulting in an accident.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot parts may
cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby.
●During normal driving, do not turn off the engine. Turning the engine off while driving
will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems
will be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull over
and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the
vehicle in the normal way: P. 515
●Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving down a steep
hill.
Using the brakes continuously may cause th e brakes to overheat and lose effective-
ness. ( P. 191)
●Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside rear
view mirrors while driving.
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 across a river or th rough other bodies of water.
This may cause electric/elect ronic components to short circuit, damage the engine or
cause other serious damage to the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the legal speed limit permits 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 failure, 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 no t before driving at such speeds.
2384-5. Using the driving support systems
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U • 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 making 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 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 ca mera sensor is misaligned
●In some situations such as the following, sufficient braking forc e 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 system 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 ra in coat, long skirt, etc.), making their sil-
houette obscure
• Pedestrians who are carrying large baggage, 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 be hind a vehicle or a large object
• Pedestrians who are extremely close to the side of the vehicle (outside rear view mirror, etc.)
• If the front of the vehicle is raised or low-
ered
2514-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
This mode employs a radar sensor to detect the presence of vehicles up to
approximately 328 ft. (100 m) ahead, determines the current vehicle-to-vehicle
following distance, and operates to main tain a suitable following distance from
the vehicle ahead.
Note that vehicle-to-vehicle distance will cl ose in when traveling on downhill slopes.
Example of constant speed cruising
When there are no vehicles ahead
The vehicle travels at the speed set by the driver. The desired vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance can also be set by operating the vehicle-to-vehicle distance switch.
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 deceler-
ates 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 the system cannot
decelerate sufficie ntly to prevent your vehicle from closing in on the vehicle ahead.
Example of acceleration
When there are no longer any preceding vehicles driving slower than the set
speed
The system accelerates until the set speed is reached. The system then returns to con-
stant speed cruising.
Driving in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
1
2
3
2564-5. Using the driving support systems
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
When constant speed control mode is se lected, your vehicle will maintain a set
speed without controlling the vehicle-to-veh icle distance. Select this mode only
when vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode does not function correctly due
to a dirty radar sensor, etc.
With the cruise control off, press and
hold the “ON/OFF” button for 1.5
seconds or more.
Immediately after the “ON/OFF” but-
ton is pressed, the radar cruise control
indicator will come on. Afterwards, it
switches to the cruise control indicator.
Switching to constant speed control
mode is only possible when operating
the lever with the cruise control off.
Accelerate or decelerate, with
accelerator pedal operation, to the
desired vehicle speed (at or above
approximately 30 mph [50 km/h])
and push the lever down to set the
speed.
Cruise control “SET” indicator will come
on.
The vehicle speed at the moment the
lever is released becomes the set speed.
Adjusting the speed setting: P. 253
Canceling and resuming the speed setting: P. 254
Selecting constant speed control mode
1
2
2574-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
■Dynamic radar cruise control can be set when
●The shift lever is in D.
●Range 4 or higher of D has been selected by using the paddle shift switch.
●Vehicle speed is at or above approximately 30 mph (50 km/h).
■Accelerating after setting the vehicle speed
The vehicle can accelerate by operating the accelerator pedal. After accelerating, the
set speed resumes. However, during vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode, the vehi-
cle speed may decrease below the set speed in order to maintain the distance to the pre-
ceding vehicle.
■Automatic cancelation of vehicle- to-vehicle distance control mode
Vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode is automatically canceled in the following situ-
ations:
●Actual vehicle speed falls at or below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
●VSC is activated.
●TRAC is activated for a period of time.
●When the VSC or TRAC system is turned off.
●When snow mode is set.
●The sensor cannot detect correctly because it is covered in some way.
●Pre-collision braking is activated.
If vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode is automatically canceled for any other rea-
son, there may be a malfunction in th e system. Contact your Lexus dealer.
■Automatic cancelation of constant speed control mode
Constant speed control mode is automatica lly canceled in the following situations:
●Actual vehicle speed is more than approxim ately 10 mph (16 km/h) below the set vehi-
cle speed.
●Actual vehicle speed falls below approximately 25 mph (40 km/h).
●VSC is activated.
●TRAC is activated for a period of time.
●When the VSC or TRAC system is turned off.
●Pre-collision braking is activated.
If constant speed control mode is automati cally canceled for any other reason, there may
be a malfunction in the system . Contact your Lexus dealer.
■Brake system operation sound
If the brakes are applied automatically while the vehicle is in vehicle-to-vehicle distance
control mode, a brake system operation soun d may be heard. This does not indicate a
malfunction.
■Warning messages and buzzers fo r dynamic radar cruise control
Warning messages and buzzers are used to indicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need for ca ution while driving. If a warning message is shown on the
multi-information display, read the message and follow the instructions.
3014-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
◆ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the brakes are applied suddenly, or if the
brakes are applied while drivin g on a slippery road surface
◆Brake assist
Generates an increased level of br aking force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a panic stop situation
◆VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to contro l skidding when swerving suddenly or turning on
slippery road surfaces.
◆Enhanced VSC (Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control)
Provides cooperative control of the ABS, TRAC, VSC and EPS.
Helps to maintain directional stability when swerving on slippery road sur-
faces by controlling steering performance.
◆TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and pr event the drive wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads
◆Hill-start assist control
Helps to reduce the backward movement of the vehicle when starting on an
uphill
Driving assist systems
To help enhance driving safety and perf ormance, the following systems oper-
ate automatically in response to variou s driving situations. Be aware, however,
that these systems are supplementary and should not be relied upon too heav-
ily when operating the vehicle.