Page 1 of 732
HIGHLANDER_U
Pictorial indexSearch by illustration
1For safety 
and securityMake sure to read through them
2Instrument 
clusterHow to read the gauges and meters, the variety of 
warning lights and indicators, etc.
3
Operation of 
each 
componentOpening and closing the doors and windows, 
adjustment before driving, etc.
4DrivingOperations and advice which are necessary for 
driving
5Audio systemOperating the audio system
6Interior featuresUsage of the interior features, etc.
7Maintenance 
and careCaring for your vehicle and maintenance 
procedures
8When trouble 
arisesWhat to do in case of malfunction or emergency
9Vehicle 
specificationsVehicle specifications, customizable features, etc.
10For ownersReporting safety defects for U.S. owners, and seat 
belt and SRS airbag instructions for Canadian 
owners
IndexSearch by symptom
Search alphabetically 
     
        
        Page 29 of 732

291-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
HIGHLANDER_U
Make  sure  that  you  can  see  backward  clearly  by  adjusting  the  inside
and outside rear view  mirrors properly. (P. 174, 176)
Adjusting the mirrors
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
●Do not adjust the position of the driver’s seat while driving.
Doing so could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Do not place a cushion between the driver or passenger and the seatback.
A  cushion  may  prevent  correct  posture  from  being  achieved,  and  reduce
the effectiveness of the seat belt and head restraint.
● Do not place anything under the front seats.
Objects  placed  under  the  front  seats  may  become  jammed  in  the  s eat
tracks  and  stop  the  seat  from  locking  in  place.  This  may  lead  t o  an  acci-
dent and the adjustment mechanism may also be damaged.
● Always observe the legal speed limit when driving on public roads.
● When  driving  over  long distances, take  regular breaks  before yo u  start  to
feel tired.
Also, if  you feel  tired  or  sleepy  while driving,  do not force y ourself  to con-
tinue driving and take a break immediately. 
     
        
        Page 155 of 732
155
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_U
3-3. Adjusting the seats
Manual seat
Power seat
Front seats
Adjustment procedure
Seat position adjustment lever
Seatback  angle  adjustment
leverVertical  height  adjustment
lever (driver’s side only)1
2
3
Seat  position  adjustment
switch
Seatback  angle  adjustment
switch
Seat  cushion  (front)  angle
adjustment  switch  (driver’s
side only)Vertical  height  adjustment
switch (driver’s side only)
Seat  cushion  length  adjust-
ment  switch  (if  equipped,  for
driver’s seat only)
Lumbar  support  adjustment
switch (driver’s side only)1
2
3
4
5
6 
     
        
        Page 156 of 732

1563-3. Adjusting the seats
HIGHLANDER_U
WARNING
■When adjusting the seat position
● Take  care  when  adjusting  the  seat  position  to  ensure  that  other  passen-
gers are not injured by the moving seat.
● Do  not  put  your  hands  under  the  seat  or  near  the  moving  parts  t o  avoid
injury.
Fingers or hands may become jammed in the seat mechanism.
● Make sure to leave enough space around the feet so they do not  get stuck.
■ Seat adjustment
● Be careful that the seat does not hit passengers or luggage.
● To  reduce  the  risk  of  sliding  under  the  lap  belt  during  a  colli sion,  do  not
recline the seat more than necessary.
If  the  seat  is  too  reclined,  the  lap  belt  may  slide  past  the  hi ps  and  apply
restraint  forces  directly  to  the  abdomen,  or  your  neck  may  cont act  the
shoulder belt, increasing  the risk of death  or  serious  injury i n the  event of
an accident.
Adjustments should not be made while driving as the seat may un expect-
edly move and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Manual  seat  only:  After  adjusting  the  seat,  make  sure  that  the  seat  is
locked in position. 
     
        
        Page 157 of 732
1573-3. Adjusting the seats
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_U■
Second seats
■Third seats
Seatback  angle  adjustment
strap
Rear seats
Adjustment procedure
Without a side tableWith a side table
Seat position adjustment lever
Seatback angle adjustment lever
Pull the lever until the lock is completely released.
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2 
     
        
        Page 163 of 732

1633-3. Adjusting the seats
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_U
WARNING
■When folding the rear seatbacks down
Observe  the  following  precautions.  Failure  to  do  so  may  result  in  death  or
serious injury.
● Do not fold the seatbacks down while driving.
● Stop  the  vehicle  on  level  ground,  set  the  parking  brake  and  shi ft  the  shift
lever to P.
● Do not allow anyone to sit on a folded seatback or in the lugga ge compart-
ment while driving.
● Do not allow children to enter the luggage compartment.
● Do not fold down a rear seatback when there are passengers sitt ing in the
rear seats or when there is luggage placed on the rear seats.
● Be careful not to catch your hand when folding the rear seatbac ks.
■ Seat adjustment
● To  reduce  the  risk  of  sliding  under  the  lap  belt  during  a  colli sion,  do  not
recline the seat more than necessary.
If  the  seat  is  too  reclined,  the  lap  belt  may  slide  past  the  hi ps  and  apply
restraint  forces  directly  to  the  abdomen,  or  your  neck  may  cont act  the
shoulder belt, increasing  the risk of death  or  serious  injury i n the  event of
an accident.
Adjustments should not be made while driving as the seat may un expect-
edly move and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Be careful that the seat does not hit passengers or luggage.
● Be careful not to get your hands or feet caught in the seat.
■ After adjusting or returning the seats
Observe  the  following  precautions.  Failure  to  do  so  may  result  in  death  or
serious injury.
● Make  sure  that  the  seat  and  seatback  are  securely  locked  in  position  by
lightly rocking them back and forth.
● Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught in the seat back. 
     
        
        Page 165 of 732

1653-3. Adjusting the seats
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_U■
Recall procedure
Check that the shift lever is in P.
Turn the engine switch to IGNITION ON mode.
Press  one  of  the  buttons  for
the  driving  position  you  want
to  recall  until  the  buzzer
sounds. 
■To stop the position recall operation part-way through
Perform any of the following:
●Press the “SET” button.
● Press button “1” or “2”.
● Operate  any  of  the  seat  adjustment  switches  (only  cancels  seat  position
recall).
■ Seat positions that can be memorized ( P. 155)
The  seat  position,  with  the  exception  of  the  portions  adjusted  by  the  seat
cushion length switch and lumbar support switch, can be recorde d.
■ Operating  the  driving  position  m emory  after  turning  the  engine switch
off
Recorded seat positions can be activated up to 180 seconds after the driver’s
door is opened and another 60 seconds after it is closed again.  
■ In order to correctly use the dr iving position memory function
If  a  seat  position  is  already  in  the  furthest  possible  position   and  the  seat  is
operated in the same direction, the recorded position may be sl ightly different
when it is recalled.
1
2
3 
     
        
        Page 167 of 732

1673-3. Adjusting the seats
3
Operation of each component
HIGHLANDER_U■
Cancelation procedure
Carry  only  the  key  you  want  to  cancel  and  then  close  the  driver
’s
door.
If  2  or  more  keys  are  in  the  vehicle,  the  driving  position  cann ot  be
canceled properly.
Check that the shift lever is in P.
Turn the engine switch to IGNITION ON mode.
While  pressing  the  “SET”  button,   press  and  hold  the  door  lock
switch (either lock or unlock)  until the buzzer sounds twice.
If the button could not be canceled, the buzzer sounds continuo usly for
approximately 3 seconds.
■ Recalling the driving position u sing the memory recall function
● Different  driving  positions  can  be  registered  for  each  electronic  key. There-
fore,  the  driving  position  that  is  recalled  may  be  different  de pending  on  the
key being carried.
● If a door other than the driver’s door is unlocked with the sma rt key system,
the  driving  position  cannot  be  recalled.  In  this  case,  press  the  driving  posi-
tion button which has been set.
■ Customization
The  unlock  door  settings  of  the  memory  recall  function  can  be  customized.
(Customizable features:  P. 689)
WARNING
■Seat adjustment caution
Take  care  during  seat  adjustment  so  that  the  seat  does  not  stri ke the rear
passenger or squeeze your body against the steering wheel.
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2
3