
3
1
8 7
6
5
4
3
2
9
HIGHLANDER_U
10
4-1.  Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 192
Cargo and luggage............ 201
Vehicle load limits ............. 206
Trailer towing..................... 207
Dinghy towing.................... 223
4-2.  Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without a 
smart key system) ........... 224
Engine (ignition) switch  (vehicles with a 
smart key system) ........... 227
Automatic transmission ..... 233
Turn signal lever................ 239
Parking brake .................... 240
4-3.  Operating the lights  and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 241
Automatic High Beam ....... 245
Fog light switch ................. 249
Windshield wipers and  washer ............................ 250
Rear window wiper and  washer ............................ 254 4-4.  Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap ........................... 256
4-5.  Using the driving  support systems
Toyota Safety Sense P ...... 260
PCS  (Pre-Collision System)..... 267
LDA (Lane Departure  Alert with steering 
control) ............................ 281
Dynamic radar  cruise control ................... 291
Stop & Start system ........... 304
Rear view monitor  system ............................. 314
BSM  (Blind Spot Monitor)......... 323
• BSM function ................. 328
• RCTA function ............... 331
All-wheel drive lock  switch .............................. 337
Driving assist systems ....... 338
Downhill assist  control system ................. 344
4-6.  Driving tips Winter driving tips .............. 346
Utility vehicle precautions ...................... 350
4Driving 

14
HIGHLANDER_U
Pictorial index
Pictorial index
■Exterior
Doors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 121
Locking/unlocking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 121
Opening/closing the side windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 178
Locking/unlocking by using the mechanical key
* . . . . . . . . . .  P. 637
Warning messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 595
Back door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 129
Locking/unlocking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 121
Warning messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 595
Glass hatch
* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 142
Warning messages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 595
Outside rear view mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 176
Adjusting the mirror angle  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 176
Folding the mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 176
Driving position memory
* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 164
Defogging the mirrors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 444, 450
Windshield wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 250
Precautions for winter season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 346
To prevent freezing (windshield wiper de-icer). . . . . . . . .  P. 444, 451
1
2
3
4
5 

191
4Driving
HIGHLANDER_U4-1.  Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 192
Cargo and luggage ........... 201
Vehicle load limits ............. 206
Trailer towing..................... 207
Dinghy towing ................... 223
4-2.  Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without a 
smart key system) ........... 224
Engine (ignition) switch  (vehicles with a 
smart key system) ........... 227
Automatic transmission ..... 233
Turn signal lever................ 239
Parking brake .................... 240
4-3.  Operating the lights  and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 241
Automatic High Beam ....... 245
Fog light switch ................. 249
Windshield wipers and  washer ............................ 250
Rear window wiper and  washer ............................ 254
4-4.  Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .......................... 256 4-5.  Using the driving 
support systems
Toyota Safety Sense P ..... 260
PCS  (Pre-Collision System) .... 267
LDA (Lane Departure  Alert with steering 
control) ............................ 281
Dynamic radar cruise  control ............................. 291
Stop & Start system .......... 304
Rear view monitor  system ............................ 314
BSM  (Blind Spot Monitor) ........ 323
• BSM function ................ 328
• RCTA function .............. 331
All-wheel drive lock  switch .............................. 337
Driving assist systems ...... 338
Downhill assist control  system ............................ 344
4-6.  Driving tips Winter driving tips ............. 346
Utility vehicle precautions ..................... 350 

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.  

2484-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_U• When  driving  in  inclement  weather  (heavy  rain,  snow,  fog,  sand
storms,
etc.)
• When the windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt, etc.
• When the windshield is cracked or damaged
• When the camera sensor is deformed or dirty
• When the temperature of the camera sensor is extremely high
• When  the  surrounding  brightness  level  is  equal  to  that  of  head lights,  tail
lights or fog lights
• When  headlights  or  tail  lights  of  vehicles  ahead  are  turned  off,  dirty, changing color, or not aimed properly
• When the vehicle is hit by water, snow, dust, etc. from a prec eding  vehi-
cle
• When  driving  through  an  area  of  intermittently  changing  brightness  and
darkness
• When  frequently  and  repeatedly  driving  ascending/descending  roads,  or roads  with  rough,  bumpy  or  uneven  surfaces  (such  as  stone-paved
roads, gravel roads, etc.)
• When  frequently  and  repeatedly  taking  curves  or  driving  on  a  w inding
road
• When  there  is  a  highly  reflective  object  ahead  of  the  vehicle,  such  as  a sign or mirror
• When the back of a preceding vehicle is highly reflective, suc h as a con-
tainer on a truck
• When  the  vehicle's  headlights  are  damaged  or  dirty,  or  are  not  aimed
properly
• When the vehicle is listing or titling due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed, etc.
• When  the  headlights  are  changed  between  the  high  beams  and  low beams repeatedly in an abnormal manner
• When the driver believes that the high beams may be flashing or dazzling
pedestrians or other drivers
■ Temporarily lowering sensor sensitivity
The sensitivity of the sensor can be temporarily lowered.
Turn the engine switch off while the following conditions are m et.
• The headlight switch is in   or  .
• The headlight switch lever is in the high beam position.
• Automatic High Beam switch is on.
Turn  the  engine  switch  to  the  “ON”  position  (vehicles  without  a  smart key
system) or IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with a smart key system).
Within 30 seconds after  , repeat pulling the headlight switch l ever to the
original position then pushing it to the high beam position qui ckly 10 times,
then leave the lever in the high beam position.
If the sensitivity is changed, the Automatic High Beam indicato r will turn on
and off 3 times.
Automatic  High  Beam  (headlights)  may  turn  on  even  when  the  vehicle  is
stopped.
1
2
32
4 

2504-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_U
Operating the   lever operates the wipers or washer as follows.
Intermittent windshield wiper with interval adjuster
*1 or *2
Intermittent  windshield
wiper operation
*1 or *2
Low  speed  windshield
wiper operation
*1 or *2
High  speed  windshield
wiper operation
*1 or *2
Temporary operation
*1: For U.S.A.
*2: For Canada
Wiper  intervals  can  be  adjusted  when  intermittent  operation  is
selected.
Increases the intermittent wind-
shield wiper frequency
Decreases  the  intermittent
windshield wiper frequency
Washer/wiper dual oper-
ation
Pulling  the  lever  operates  the  wip-
ers and washer.
Wipers will automatically operate a
couple  of  times  after  the  washer
squirts.
Windshield wipers and washer
Operating the wiper lever
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 

2514-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
With “AUTO” selected, the wipers will operate automatically whe n the
sensor  detects  falling  rain.  The  system  automatically  adjusts  w iper
timing in accordance with ra in volume and vehicle speed.
 Rain-sensing windshield  wiper operation
*1 or *2
Low  speed  windshield
wiper operation
*1 or *2
High  speed  windshield
wiper operation
*1 or *2
Temporary operation
*1: For U.S.A.
*2: For Canada
When AUTO mode is selected, the s ensor sensitivity can be adjusted
by turning the switch ring.
Increases the  sensitivity
Decreases the sensitivity
Washer/wiper dual oper-
ation
Pulling  the  lever  operates  the  wip-
ers and washer.
Wipers will automatically operate a
couple  of  times  after  the  washer
squirts.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 

2524-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER_U
■The windshield wiper and washer 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.
■ Dripping prevention wiper sweep (vehicles with rain-sensing win dshield
wipers)
After  performing  a  washing  and  wiping  operation  several  times,  the  wipers
operate one more time after a short delay to prevent dripping.
However, this final wiper operation will not be performed while  driving.
■ Effects  of  vehicle  speed  on  wip er  operation  (vehicles  with  rain-sensing
windshield wipers)
Even  when  the  wipers  are  not  in  “AUTO”  mode,  wiper  operation  va ries
depending on vehicle speed when the washer is being used (delay  until drip
prevention wiper sweep occurs).
■ Raindrop sensor (vehicles with rain-sensing windshield wipers)
●If the wiper switch is turned to the “AUTO” position while the  engine switch is
in  IGNITION  ON  mode,  the  wiper  will  operate  once  to  show  that  “ AUTO”
mode is activated.
● When  the  sensor  sensitivity  ring  is  turned  toward  high  while  in “AUTO”
mode,  the  wipers  will  operate  once  to  indicate  that  the  sensor  sensitivity  is
enhanced.
● If  the  temperature  of  the  raindrop  sensor  is  194 F  (90 C)  or  higher,  or  5 F
(-15 C)  or  lower,  automatic  operation  may  not  occur.  In  this  case,  o perate
the wipers in any mode other than “AUTO”.
■ If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles  are not  blocked if there is  washe r  fluid in the
windshield washer fluid reservoir. ● The  raindrop  sensor  judges  the  amount
of raindrops.
An optical sensor is adopted. It may not
operate properly when sunlight from the
rising or setting of the sun intermittently
strikes the windshield, or if bugs etc. are
present on the windshield.