
TABLE OF CONTENTS2
PRIUS c_UFor your information....................... 8
Reading this manual .................... 14
How to search .............................. 15
Pictorial index .............................. 16
1-1.  For safe use
Before driving ...................... 26
For safe driving ................... 28
Seat belts ............................ 30
SRS airbags ........................ 39
Front passenger occupant classification system ......... 52
Safety information  for children ........................ 57
Child restraint systems ........ 58
Installing child restraints ...... 62
Exhaust gas precautions ..... 73
1-2.  Hybrid system Hybrid system features ....... 74
Hybrid system precautions ....................... 79
1-3.  Theft deterrent system Immobilizer system ............. 86
Theft prevention labels ........ 89 2.
Instrument cluster
Warning lights and indicators .................... 92
Gauges and meters ............. 97
Multi-information  display ............................. 101
Energy monitor/ consumption screen ........ 110
3-1.  Key information Keys................................... 118
3-2.  O pening, closing and
loc king the doors
Side doors ......................... 125
Back door .......................... 134
Smart key system .............. 139
3-3.  Adjusting the seats Front seats......................... 148
Rear seats ......................... 149
Head restraints .................. 153
3-4.  A djusting the steering
wheel a nd mirrors
Steering wheel ................... 156
Inside rear view mirror ....... 158
Outside rear view  mirrors ............................. 159
3-5.  Opening and closing the windows
Power windows.................. 161
Moon roof .......................... 165
1For safety and security
2Instrument cluster
3Operation of each 
component 

3
1
9 8 6 5
4
3
2
PRIUS c_U
10
7
4-1.  Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 170
Cargo and luggage............ 179
Vehicle load limits ............. 183
Trailer towing..................... 184
Dinghy towing.................... 185
4-2.  Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch (vehicles without a 
smart key system) ........... 186
Power (ignition) switch  (vehicles with a 
smart key system) ........... 190
EV drive mode................... 197
Hybrid transmission........... 200
Turn signal lever................ 204
Parking brake .................... 205
4-3.  Operating the lights  and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 206
Fog light switch ................. 210
Windshield wipers  and washer ..................... 212
Rear window wiper  and washer ..................... 216 4-4.  Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap ........................... 219
4-5.  Toyota Safety Sense C Toyota Safety Sense C...... 223
PCS (Pre-Collision System)..... 229
LDA  (Lane Departure Alert)..... 239
Automatic High Beam ........ 244
4-6.  Using the driving  support systems
Cruise control .................... 249
Rear view monitor  system ............................. 253
Driving assist systems ....... 263
4-7.  Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips ....................... 269
Winter driving tips .............. 272
4Driving 

TABLE OF CONTENTS6
PRIUS c_U7-1.  Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 398
Cleaning and protecting  the vehicle interior ........... 401
7-2.  Maintenance Maintenance requirements ................... 407
General maintenance ........ 410
Emission inspection and  maintenance (I/M) 
programs ......................... 413
7-3.  Do-it-yourself  maintenance
Do-it-yourself service  precautions ..................... 414
Hood.................................. 417
Positioning a floor jack ...... 419
Engine compartment ......... 420
12-volt battery ................... 429
Tires .................................. 433
Tire inflation pressure........ 442
Wheels .............................. 445
Air conditioning filter .......... 447
Wireless remote control/ electronic key battery ...... 449
Checking and  replacing fuses ................ 452
Light bulbs ......................... 456 8-1.  Essential information
Emergency flashers ........... 466
If your vehicle has to be stopped in 
an emergency.................. 467
8-2.  Steps to take in  an emergency
If your vehicle needs  to be towed ...................... 469
If you think something  is wrong ........................... 476
If a warning light turns  on or a warning buzzer 
sounds ............................. 477
If a warning message  is displayed...................... 485
If you have a flat tire .......... 502
If the hybrid system  will not start ..................... 515
If the electronic key does  not operate properly ........ 517
If the vehicle 12-volt  battery is discharged ....... 519
If your vehicle  overheats......................... 526
If the vehicle  becomes stuck ................ 530
7Maintenance and care8When trouble arises 

12
PRIUS c_UThe  SRS  airbag  and  seat  belt  pretensioner  devices  in  your  Toyot
a  contain
explosive chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped with the airbag s and seat belt
pretensioners  left  as  they  are,  this  may  cause  an  accident  such  as fire. Be
sure  to  have  the  systems  of  the  SRS  airbag  and  seat  belt  preten sioner
removed and disposed of by a qualified service shop or by your  Toyota dealer
before you scrap your vehicle.
Special handling may apply, See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/ perchlorate.
Your  vehicle  has  components  that  may  contain  perchlorate.  These   compo-
nents  may  include  airbag,  seat  belt  pretensioners,  and  wireless   remote  con-
trol batteries.
Scrapping of your Toyota
Perchlorate Material
WARNING
■ General precautions while driving
Driving under the  influence:  Never drive  your vehicle when  unde r  the  influ-
ence of alcohol or drugs that have impaired your ability to operate your vehi-
cle.  Alcohol  and  certain  drugs  delay  reaction  time,  impair  judg ment  and
reduce  coordination,  which  could  lead  to  an  accident  that  could   result  in
death or serious injury.
Defensive  driving: Always  drive  defensively. Anticipate  mistake s  that  other
drivers or pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid acciden ts.
Driver  distraction:  Always  give  your  full  attention  to  driving.  Anything  that
distracts the driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a  cellular phone or
reading can result in a collision with resulting death or serio us injury to you,
your occupants or others.
■ General precaution regar ding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow  children to
have or use the key.
Children  may  be  able  to  start  the  vehicle  or  shift  the  vehicle  into  neutral.
There is also a  danger that  children  may  injure  themselves  by p laying with
the  cigarette  lighter,  the  windows,  the  moon  roof,  or  other  fea tures  of  the
vehicle. In addition, heat build-up or extremely cold temperatu res inside the
vehicle can be fatal to children. 

16
PRIUS c_U
Pictorial index
Pictorial index
■
Exterior
Doors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 125
Locking/unlocking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 125
Opening/closing the door glasses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 161
Locking/unlocking by using the mechanical key
* . . . . . . . . . .  P. 517
Warning message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 488
Back door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 134
Locking/unlocking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 134
Warning message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 488
Outside rear view mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 159
Adjusting the mirror angle  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 159
Folding the mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 159
Defogging the mirrors
* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P.  376
1
2
3 

321-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U■
Releasing the seat belt
Release  the  rear  center  seat  belt  only  when  necessary,  such  as
when folding down the rear seat. For safety, always store the p
late
in the designated place after releasing it.
To  release  tab  “A”,  press  the
release button.
To  release  tab  “B”,  insert  the
key  ( P.  118)  or  tab  “A”  into
the hole on the buckle.
Retract  the  belt  slowly  when
releasing  and  stowing  the  seat
belt.
A
1
A
B
B
O 

451-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■SRS airbag precautions
● Do  not  hang  coat  hangers  or  other  hard  objects  on  the  coat  hook s. All  of
these  items  could  become  projectiles  and  may  cause  death  or  ser ious
injury, should the SRS curtain shield airbags deploy.
● If  a  vinyl  cover  is  put  on  the  area  where  the  SRS  driver  knee  a irbag  will
deploy, be sure to remove it.
● Do  not  use  seat  accessories  which  cover  the  parts  where  the  SRS  side
airbags  and  SRS  seat  cushion  airbags  inflate  as  they  may  interf ere  with
inflation  of  the  SRS  airbags.  Such  accessories  may  prevent  the  side  air-
bags  and  seat  cushion  airbags  from  activating  correctly,  disable  the  sys-
tem  or  cause  the  side  airbags  and  seat  cushion  airbags  to  infla te
accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
● Do not strike or apply significant levels of force to the area  of the SRS air-
bag components. 
Doing so can cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.
● Do  not  touch  any  of  the  component  parts  immediately  after  the  S RS  air-
bags have deployed (inflated) as they may be hot.
● Do not attach anything to areas such as
a  door,  windshield  glass,  side  door
glass,  front  or  rear  pillar,  roof  side  rail
and assist grip.
● Vehicles  without  a  smart  key  system:
Do  not  attach  any  heavy,  sharp  or  hard
objects  such  as  keys  and  accessories
to  the  key.  The  objects  may  restrict  the
SRS  driver  knee  airbag  inflation  or  be
thrust  into  the  driver’s  seat  area  by  the
force of the deploying airbag, thus caus-
ing a danger. 

571-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
●It  is  recommended  that  children  sit  in  the  rear  seats  to  avoid  acci-
dental contact wit h the shift lever, wiper switch etc.
● Use  the  rear  door  child-protector  lock  or  the  window  lock  switc h  to
avoid  children  opening  the  door  while  driving  or  operating  the
power window accidentally.
● Do  not  let  small  children  operate  equipment  which  may  catch  or
pinch  body  parts,  such  as  the  power  window,  hood,  back  door,
seats etc.
Safety information for children
Observe the following precautions when children are in the vehi -
cle.
Use  a  child  restraint  system  app ropriate  for  the  child,  until  the
child becomes  large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat
belt.
WARNING
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow  children to
have or use the key.
Children  may  be  able  to  start  the  vehicle  or  shift  the  vehicle  into  neutral.
There is also a  danger that  children  may  injure  themselves  by p laying with
the  windows  or  other  features  of  the  vehicle.  In  addition,  heat  build-up  or
extremely cold temperatures inside the vehicle can be fatal to  children.