
1133-5. Opening, closing the windows and moon roof
RC350AWD_RC350_RC300AWD_RC30
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3
Before driving
■The moon roof can be operated when
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON 
mode.
■Operating the moon roof after turning 
the engine off
The moon roof can be operated for approx-
imately 45 seconds after the engine switch 
is turned to ACCESSORY mode or turned 
off. It cannot, however, be operated once 
either door is opened.
■Jam protection function
If an object is detected between the moon 
roof and the frame while the moon roof is 
closing or tilting down, travel is stopped and 
the moon roof opens slightly.
■Sunshade
The sunshade can be opened and closed 
manually. However, the sunshade will open 
automatically when the moon roof is 
opened.
■Door lock linked moon roof operation
●The moon roof can be opened and 
closed using the mechanical key.* 
(  P.305)
●The moon roof can be opened using the 
wireless remote control.* ( P.84)*: These settings must  be customized at 
your Lexus dealer.
■If the moon roof does not close normally
Perform the following procedure:
1 Stop the vehicle.
2 Press and hold the “CLOSE” switch.
*
The moon roof will close, reopen and pause 
for approximately 10 se conds. Then it will 
close again and stop at the completely 
closed position.
3 Check to make sure that the moon roof 
is completely closed and then release 
the switch.
*: If the switch is released at the incorrect 
time, the procedure will have to be per-
formed again from the beginning.
If the moon roof does not fully close even 
after performing the above procedure cor- rectly, have the vehicle inspected by your 
Lexus dealer.
■If the moon roof does not move normally
If the moon roof does not open or close 
normally or the automatic opening function 
does not operate, perform the following ini-
tialization procedure.
1 Turn the engine switch to IGNITION 
ON mode.
2 Operate the moon roof.
Depending on the kind  of malfunction per-
form either of the following:
If the moon roof does  not open when the 
“OPEN” switch is pressed
3 Press and hold the “DOWN” switch or 
“CLOSE” switch until the moon roof is 
completely closed. 
The moon roof will open and close a few 
times before it closes completely.
4 Confirm that the moon roof has com-
pletely stopped and release the switch.
If the moon roof does not open com-
pletely automatically even though it tilts 
up and opens while the “OPEN” switch is 
being pressed and held
3 Press and hold the “O PEN” switch until 
the moon roof opens completely.
4 Press and hold th e “CLOSE” switch 
until the moon roof closes completely.
5 Press and hold the “U P” switch until the 
moon roof tilts up and stops.
6 Press and hold the “DOWN” switch 
until the moon roof  tilts down and stops 
at the completely closed position.
If you release the switch while the moon 
roof is moving, perform the procedure 
again from the beginning.
If, after performing the above procedures 
correctly, the moon roof still does not open 
or close normally or the automatic opening 
function does not operate, have the vehicle 
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Moon roof open warning buzzer
A buzzer sounds and a message is shown 
on the multi-informat ion display in the 
instrument cluster when  the engine switch  

1164-1. Before driving
RC350AWD_RC350_RC300AWD_RC30
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4-1.Before driving
■Starting the engine
 P.125
■Driving
1 With the brake pedal depressed, 
shift the shift lever to D. ( P.128)
2 Release the parking brake. 
(P.134)
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.128)
■Parking the vehicle
1 With the shift lever in D, depress the 
brake pedal.
2 Set the parking brake ( P.134), 
and shift the shift lever to P 
( P.128).
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 and shift the shift lever to D.
2 Gently depress the accelerator 
pedal.
3 Release the parking brake.
■When starting off on an uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. 
(  P.192)
■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 depressed while 
sport mode is selected
■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.
●A warning message is displayed on the 
multi-information display while the sys-
tem is operating. 
Driving the vehicle
The following procedures should be 
observed to ensure safe driving:
Driving procedure 

1174-1. Before driving
RC350AWD_RC350_RC300AWD_RC30
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4
Driving
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start 
Control)
●When the following unusual operation is 
performed, the engine output may be 
restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D,  D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D 
includes M) with the accelerator pedal 
depressed, a warning message appears 
on the multi-information display. If a 
warning message is shown on the 
multi-information disp lay, read the mes-
sage and follow the instruction.
• When the accelerator  pedal is depressed 
too much while the vehicle is in reverse.
●While Drive-Start Control is being acti-
vated, your vehicle may have trouble 
escaping from the mud or fresh snow. In 
such case, deactivate TRAC ( P.193) to 
cancel Drive-Start Control so that the 
vehicle may become able to escape from 
the mud or fresh snow.
■Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing 
the following precautions is recommended:
●For the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for 
extended periods.
■Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type park-
ing brake system. This type of brake system 
needs bedding-down of the brake shoes 
periodically or whenever the parking brake 
shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your 
Lexus dealer perform the bedding down 
operation.
■Operating your vehicle in a foreign 
country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registra-
tion laws and confirm the availability of the 
correct fuel. ( P.318)
■Idling time before engine stop (RC300)
To prevent damage to the turbocharger,  allow the engine to idle immediately after 
high-load driving.
Driving conditionIdling time
Normal city driving or 
high-speed driving (at the 
highway speed limit or rec-
ommended speed)
Not neces-
sary
Steep hill driving, continuous 
driving (race track driving 
etc.)Approxi-mately 1 minute
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 run-
ning. This prevents the vehicle from 
creeping.
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with 
the location of the brake and accelera-
tor pedals to avoid depressing the 
wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelera- tor 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 
operating the pedals. Make sure to 
operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving  posture even when moving the vehicle 
only slightly. This allows you to depress 
the brake and accelerator pedals 
properly. 

1234-1. Before driving
RC350AWD_RC350_RC300AWD_RC30
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4
Driving
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire 
and loading information label. ( P.261)
WARNING
●To prevent cargo and luggage from 
sliding forward during braking, do not 
stack anything in th e enlarged trunk. 
Keep cargo and luggage low, as close 
to the floor as possible.
●When you fold down the rear seats, 
long items should not be placed 
directly behind the front seats.
●Never allow anyone to ride in the 
enlarged trunk. It is not designed for 
passengers. They should ride in their 
seats with their seat belts properly fas-
tened.
●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
●Do not exceed the maximum axle 
weight rating or the total vehicle 
weight rating.
●Even if the total load of occupant’s 
weight and the cargo load is less than 
the total load capacity, do not apply the 
load unevenly. Improper loading may 
cause deterioration of steering or 
braking control which may cause 
death or serious injury.
Vehicle load limits
Vehicle load limits include total 
load capacity, seating capacity, 
towing capacity and cargo capac-
ity.
 Total load capacity (vehicle 
capacity weight):  P.316
Total load capacity means the com-
bined weight of occupants, cargo 
and luggage.
 Seating capacity: 4 occupants 
(Front 2, Rear 2)
Seating capacity means the maxi-
mum number of occupants whose 
estimated average weight is 150 lb. 
(68 kg) per person.
 Towing capacity
Lexus does not recommend towing 
a trailer with your vehicle.
 Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or 
decrease depending on the weight 
and the number of occupants.
WARNING
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires, 
but also degrade steering and braking 
ability, resulting in an accident. 

1254-2. Driving procedures
RC350AWD_RC350_RC300AWD_RC30
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4
Driving
4-2.Driving procedures
1 Check that the parking brake is set.
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 engine cannot be 
started.
4 Press the engine switch shortly and 
firmly.
When operating the engine switch, one 
short, firm press is enough.
It is not necessary to press and hold the 
switch.
The engine will crank until it starts or for up 
to 30 seconds, whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until 
the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any engine 
switch mode.
■If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system may not  have been deactivated. (
P.57) 
Contact your Lexus dealer.
●Check that the shift leve r is securely set in 
P. The engine may not start if the shift 
lever is displaced out of P. “To Start Vehi-
cle. Put Shift Lever into P” will be dis-
played on the multi-information display.
■Electronic key battery depletion
 P.82
■Conditions affecting operation
 P.94
■Notes for the entry function
 P.95
■Steering lock function
●After turning the engine switch off and 
opening and closing the doors, the steer-
ing wheel will be lock ed due to the steer-
ing lock function. Operating the engine 
switch again automatically cancels the 
steering lock.
●When the steering lock cannot be 
released, “Steering Wheel Lock Press 
Engine Switch while  Turning Wheel” will 
be displayed on the  multi-information dis-
play.
Check that the shift lever is in P. Press the 
engine switch while turning the steering 
wheel left and right.
●To prevent the steering lock motor from 
overheating, operation of the motor may 
be suspended if the engine is turned on 
and off repeatedly in a short period of 
time. In this case, refrain from operating 
the engine switch. After about 10 sec-
onds, the steering lock  motor will resume 
functioning.
Engine (ignition) switch
Performing the following opera-
tions when carryin g the electronic 
key on your person starts the 
engine or changes engine switch 
modes.
Starting the engine 

1264-2. Driving procedures
RC350AWD_RC350_RC300AWD_RC30
0_OM_(U)_1810
■When “Access System with Elec. Key 
Malfunction See Owner's Manual” is 
displayed on the multi-information dis-
play
The system may be malfunctioning. Have 
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer 
immediately.
■Electronic key battery
 P.265
■Operation of the engine switch
●If the switch is not pressed shortly and 
firmly, the engine switch mode may not 
change or the engine may not start.
●If attempting to restart the engine imme-
diately after turning the engine switch off, 
the engine may not start in some cases. 
After turning the engine switch off, please 
wait a few seconds before restarting the 
engine.
■Customization
If the smart access sy stem with push-button 
start has been deactivated in a customized 
setting, refer to P.304.
1Stop the vehicle.
2
Set the parking brake ( P.134), 
and shift the shift lever to P.
3
Press the engine switch.
4
Release the brake pedal and check 
that the display on the meters is off.
Modes can be changed by pressing 
the engine switch with brake pedal 
released. (The mode changes each 
time the switch is pressed.)
WARNING
■When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in 
the driver’s seat. Do not depress the 
accelerator pedal while starting the 
engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving
If engine failure occurs while the vehicle 
is moving, do not lock or open the doors 
until the vehicle reaches a safe and com-
plete stop. Activation of the steering lock 
in this circumstance may lead to an acci-
dent, resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When starting the engine
●Do not race a cold engine.
●If the engine becomes difficult to start 
or stalls frequently, have your vehicle 
checked by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction 
with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operat-
ing somewhat differently than usual, such 
as the switch sticking slightly, there may 
be a malfunction. Contact your Lexus 
dealer immediately.
Stopping the engine
WARNING
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
If you want to stop th e engine in an emer-
gency while driving the vehicle, press 
and hold the engine switch for more than 
2 seconds, or press it briefly 3 times or 
more in succession. ( P.274)
However, do not touch the engine switch 
while driving except  in an emergency. 
Turning the engine off while driving will 
not cause loss of steering or braking con-
trol, 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.
Changing engine switch modes 

1274-2. Driving procedures
RC350AWD_RC350_RC300AWD_RC30
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4
Driving1Off*
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 
meters.
3IGNITION ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the 
meters.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other than  P when turning off the engine, the 
engine 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 IGNITION 
ON mode (with the engine not running) for 
more than an hour with the shift lever in P, 
the engine switch will automatically turn off. 
However, this function cannot entirely pre-
vent battery discharge. Do not leave the 
vehicle with the engine switch in ACCES- SORY or IGNITION ON mode for long 
periods of time when the engine is not run-
ning.
If the engine is stopped with the shift 
lever in a position other than P, the 
engine switch will not be turned off but 
instead be turned
 to ACCESSORY 
mode. Perform the following proce-
dure to turn the switch off:
1
Check that the parking brake is set.
2
Shift the shift lever to P.
3
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” is 
displayed on the multi-information 
display and then press the engine 
switch once.
4
Check that “Turn Off Vehicle” on 
the multi-information display is off.
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in 
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON 
mode for long periods of time without 
the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION 
ON” is displayed on the meters while 
the engine is not running, the engine 
switch is not off. Exit the vehicle after 
turning the engine switch off.
When stopping the engine with 
the shift lever in a position other 
than P 

1284-2. Driving procedures
RC350AWD_RC350_RC300AWD_RC30
0_OM_(U)_1810
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and reduce noise, shift the shift lever to D for normal 
driving.
*2: Any gear range can be fixed when driv-ing in M mode.
■To protect the automatic transmission
If the automatic transmission fluid tempera-
ture is high, “Transmission Fluid Temp High 
See Owner's Manual” will be displayed on 
the multi-information display and the vehi-
cle will go into transmission protection 
mode automatically. Have the vehicle 
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■When driving with dynamic radar cruise 
control activated
Even when performing the following 
actions with the intent of enabling engine 
braking, engine braking will not occur 
because dynamic radar cruise control will 
not be canceled.
●6-speed models: While driving in the D 
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not stop the engine when the shift 
lever is in a position other than P. If the 
engine is stopped in another shift lever 
position, the engine switch will not be 
turned off but instead be turned to 
ACCESSORY mode. If the vehicle is left 
in ACCESSORY mode, battery dis-
charge may occur.
Automatic transmission
Select the shift position depending 
on your purpose and situation.
Shift position purpose and func-
tions
Shift posi- tionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting  the engine
RReversing
N
Neutral
(Condition in which the 
power is not transmitted)
DNormal driving*1
MM mode driving*2 (  P.131)