
2164-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER_U
Use the wire harness stored in the
rear end under body.
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. Help to avoid
an  accident,  death  or  serious  injury,  keep  the  following  in  min d when
towing:
● Speed  limits  for  towing  a  trailer  vary  by  state  or  province.  Do  not
exceed the posted to wing speed limit.
● Toyota  recommends  that  the  vehicl e-trailer  speed  limit  is  65  mph
(104 km/h) on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exceed this li mit, the
posted  towing  speed  limit  or  the  speed  limit  for  your  trailer  as  set
forth  in  your  trailer owner’s  manu al,  whichever is  lowest.  Instability
of the towing vehicle-trailer combination (trailer sway) increa ses as
speed increases. Exceeding speed limits may cause loss of contr ol.
● Before  starting  out,  check  the  trailer  lights,  tires  and  the  vehicle-
trailer connections. Recheck af ter driving a short distance.
● Practice turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer attac hed in
an area away from traffic until you become accustomed  to  the fe el
of the vehicle-trailer combination.
● Reversing with a trailer attached is difficult and requires pra ctice.
Grip  the  bottom  of  the  steering  wheel  and  move  your  hand  to  the
left  to  move  the  trailer  to  the  left.  Move  your  hand  to  the  rig ht  to
move  the  trailer  to  right.  (This  is  generally  opposite  to  reversing
without  a  trailer  attached.) Avoid  sharp  or  prolonged  turning.  Have
someone  guide  you  when  reversing  to  reduce  the  risk  of  an  acci-
dent.
Connecting trailer lights
Trailer towing tips 

2194-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
■Matching trailer ball height  to trailer coupler height
■ Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are properly inflated. ( P. 662)
● Trailer  tires  are  inflated  according  to  the  trailer  manufacture r’s  recommen-
dation.
● All trailer lights work as required by law.
● All lights work each time you connect them.
● The trailer ball is set at the proper height for the coupler on  the trailer.
● The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and check for imprope r tongue weight,
overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
● The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
● The  rear  view  mirrors  conform  to  all  applicable  federal,  state/provincial  or
local regulations. If they do not, install rear view mirrors ap propriate for tow-
ing purposes.
No  matter  which  class  of  tow  hitch
applies,  for  a  more  safe  trailer  hookup,
the  trailer  ball  setup  must  be  the  proper
height for the coupler on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball
1
2 

2224-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER_U
WARNING
●Vehicle-trailer  instability  is  more  likely  on  steep  long  downhi lls.  Before
descending  steep  or  long  downhill  grades,  slow  down  and  downshi ft.  Do
not  make  sudden  downshifts  when  descending  steep  or  long  downhi ll
grades.  Avoid  holding  the  brake  pedal  down  too  long  or  applying  the
brakes  too  frequently. This  could cause  the  brakes  to overheat  and  result
in reduced braking efficiency.
● Vehicles with a compact spare tire: Do not tow a trailer when t he compact
spare tire is installed on your vehicle.
■ Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities estab lished by the
hitch  manufacturer.  Even  though  the  vehicle  may  be  physically  capable  of
towing  a  higher  weight,  the  operator  must  determine  the  maximum   weight
rating  of  the  particular  hitch  assembly  and  never  exceed  the  ma ximum
weight rating specified  for the trailer-hitch. Exceeding the ma ximum weight
rating  set  by  the  trailer-hitch  manufacturer  can  cause  an  accid ent  resulting
in death or serious personal injuries.
■ When towing a trailer
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any appl icable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
● If  the  gross  trailer  weight  exceeds  unbraked  TWR,  trailer  brake s  are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform t o all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.
● Never tap  into your  vehicle’s  hydraulic  system, as this  will  lo wer the vehi-
cle’s braking effectiveness.
● Never  tow  a  trailer  without  using  a  safety  chain  securely  attac hed  to  both
the  trailer  and  the  vehicle.  If  damage  occurs  to  the  coupling  u nit  or  hitch
ball, there is danger of the trailer wandering into another lan e.
NOTICE
■When installing a trailer hitch
Use  only  the  position  recommended  by  your  Toyota  dealer.  Do  not  install
the trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
■ Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Directly splicing traile r lights may damage
your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction. 

2394-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
Right turn
Lane change to the right (move
the  lever  partway  and  release
it)
The  right  hand  signals  will  flash  3
times.
Lane  change  to  the  left  (move
the  lever  partway  and  release
it)
The  left  hand  signals  will  flash  3
times.
Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated when
Vehicles without a smart key system
The engine switch is in the “ON” position.
Vehicles with a smart key system
The engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode.
■ If the indicator flashes faster than usual
Check  that  a  light  bulb  in  the  front  or  rear  turn  signal  lights   has  not  burned
out.
■ Customization
The  number  of  times  the  turn  signals  flash  during  a  lane  change   can  be
changed. (Customizable feature  P. 690)
Turn signal lever
Operating instructions
1
2
3
4 

241
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
Operating the   switch turn s on the lights as follows:
The  headlights,  day-
time running lights ( P.
242) and all the lights
listed below turn on and
off automatically.
(Vehicles  without  a
smart  key  system:
When  the  engine
switch is in the “ON”
position) 
(Vehicles  with  a  smart
key  system:  When  the
engine  switch  is  in
IGNITION ON mode)
The  side  marker,  parking,  tail,  license  plate,  instrument
panel lights, and day time running lights (P. 242) turn on. 
The  headlights  and  all  the  li ghts  listed  above  (except  day-
time running lights) turn on. 
Off
The daytime running lights turn on. ( P. 242)
*1: For U.S.A.
*2: For Canada
Headlight switch
The headlights can be operated  manually or automatically. 
Operating instructions
*2*1
1
2
3
4
(U.S.A.)
(Canada) 

2424-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_U
With  the  headlights  on,  push
the  lever  away  from  you  to turn
on the high beams. 
Pull  the  lever  toward  you  to  the
center  position  to  turn  the  high
beams off.
Pull  the  lever  toward  you  and
release  it  to  flash  the  high
beams once. 
You can flash the high beams with the headlights on or off.
■Daytime running light system
●Type A:
The daytime running lights illuminate using the same lights as the headlights
and illuminate darker than the headlights.
Type B:
The  daytime  running  lights  illuminate  using  the  same  lights  as  the  parking
lights and illuminate brighter than the parking lights.
● To  make  your  vehicle  more  visible  to  other  drivers  during  dayti me  driving,
the  daytime  running  lights  turn  on  automatically  when  all  of  the  following
conditions are met. (The daytime running lights are not designe d for use at
night.)
• The engine is running
• The parking brake is released
• The  headlight  switch  is  in  the    (Canada  only),    or  “AUTO”
*
position
*: When the surroundings are bright
The daytime running lights remain on after they illuminate, even if the parking
brake is set again.
● For U.S.A.: Daytime running lights can be turned off by operati ng the switch.
● Compared  to  turning  on  the  headlights,  the  daytime  running  ligh t  system
offers greater durability and consumes less electricity, so it  can help improve
fuel economy.
Turning on the high beam headlights
1
2 

2434-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U■
Headlight control sensor
■ Automatic light off system
Vehicles without a smart key system
● When  the  headlights  are  on:  The  headlights  and  tail  lights  turn   off  30  sec-
onds after the engine switch is turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” p osition and
any  of  the  doors  is  opened  and  closed.  (The  lights  turn  off  imm ediately  if
 on the key is pressed after all the doors are locked.)
● When  only  the  tail  lights  are  on:  The  tail  lights  turn  off  automatically  if  the
engine  switch  is  turned  to  the  “ACC”  or  “LOCK”  position  and  the   driver’s
door is opened.
To turn the lights on again, turn the engine switch to “ON” pos ition, or turn the
light switch off once and then back to  or .
If any of the doors is kept open, the lights automatically turn off after 20 min-
utes.
Vehicles with a smart key system
● When  the  headlights  are  on:  The  headlights  and  tail  lights  turn   off  30  sec-
onds  after  the  engine  switch  is  turned  to ACCESSORY  mode  or  tur ned  off
and any of the doors is opened and closed. (The lights turn off  immediately if
 on the key is pressed after all the doors are locked.)
● When  only  the  tail  lights  are  on:  The  tail  lights  turn  off  automatically  if  the
engine switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode or turned off and the driver’s
door is opened.
To turn the lights on again, turn the engine switch to IGNITION  ON mode, or
turn the light switch off once and then back to  or .
If any of the doors is kept open, the lights automatically turn  off after 20 min-
utes. The sensor may not function properly if an
object is placed on the sensor, or anything
that  blocks  the  sensor  is  affixed  to  the
windshield. 
Doing  so  interferes  with  the  sensor
detecting  the  level  of  ambient  light  and
may  cause  the  automatic  headlight  sys-
tem to malfunction.  

2444-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_U■
Light reminder buzzer
Vehicles without a smart key system
A  buzzer  sounds  when  the  engine  switch  is  turned  to  the  “LOCK”  or  “ACC”
position and the driver’s door is opened while the lights are t urned on.
Vehicles with a smart key system
A  buzzer  sounds  when  the  engine  switch  is  turned  off  or  turned  to ACCES-
SORY mode and the driver’s door is opened while the lights are  turned on.
■ Battery-saving function
In  the  following  conditions,  the  remaining  lights will  go  off  automatically  after
20 minutes in order to prevent the vehicle battery from being d ischarged:
● The headlights and/or tail lights are on.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: 
The engine switch is turned to the “ACC” or “LOCK” position. 
Vehicles with a smart key system: 
The engine switch is turned to ACCESSORY mode or turned off. 
This function will be canceled in any of the following situatio ns:
● Vehicles without a smart key system: 
When the engine switch is turned to the “ON” position.
Vehicles with a smart key system: 
When the engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode.
● When the light switch is operated.
● When any of the doors is opened or closed.
■ Customization
Settings (e.g. light sensor sensitivity) can be changed. 
(Customizable features:  P. 691)
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do  not  leave  the  lights  on  longer  than  necessary  when  the  engin e  is  not
running.