
1404-1. Before driving
WARNING
■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.
• Depress the brake pedal using your  right foot. Depressing the brake pedal 
using your left foot may delay 
response in an emergency, resulting in 
an accident.
●LC500h: The driver  should pay extra 
attention to pedestrians when the vehi-
cle is powered only by the electric 
motor (traction motor). As there is no 
engine noise, the pedestrians may mis-
judge the vehicle’s movement. Even 
though the vehicle is equipped with the 
vehicle proximity notification system, 
drive with care as pedestrians in the 
vicinity may still not notice the vehicle if 
the surrounding area is noisy.
●Do not drive the vehicle over or stop 
the vehicle near flammable materials. 
The exhaust system and exhaust gases 
can be extremely hot. These hot parts 
may cause a fire if there is any flamma-
ble material nearby.
●During normal driving, do not turn off 
the engine 
the engine 
driving will not cause loss of steering 
or braking control, however, power 
assist to the steering  will be lost. This 
will make it more difficult to steer 
smoothly, so you should pull over and 
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to 
do so. 
In the event of an emergency, such as if 
it becomes impossible to stop the vehi-
cle in the normal way:  P.330
●Use engine braking (downshift) to 
maintain a safe speed when driving 
down a steep hill. 
Using the brakes continuously may 
cause the brakes to overheat and lose 
effectiveness. ( P.157, 163)
●Do not adjust the positions of the 
steering wheel, the  seat, or the inside 
or outside rear view mirrors while driv-
ing. 
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle 
control.
●Always check that all passengers’ 
arms, heads or other parts of their 
body are not outside the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed 
limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140 
km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85 
mph (140 km/h) may re sult in tire fail-
ure, loss of control and possible injury. 
Be sure to consult a tire dealer to 
determine whether the tires on your 
vehicle are high-speed capability tires 
or not before driving at such speeds.
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and 
steering may cause tire slippage and 
reduce your ability to control the vehi-
cle. 

1414-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
●Sudden acceleration, engine braking 
due to shifting, or changes in engine 
speed could cause the vehicle to skid, 
resulting in an accident.
●After driving through a puddle, lightly 
depress the brake pedal to make sure 
that the brakes are functioning prop-
erly. Wet brake pads may prevent the 
brakes from functioning properly. If the 
brakes on only one side are wet and 
not functioning properly, steering con-
trol may be affected.
■When shifting the shift position
●LC500: Do not let the vehicle roll 
backward while a forward driving posi-
tion is selected, or roll forward while 
the shift position is in R. 
Doing so may cause the engine to stall 
or lead to poor brake and steering 
performance, resulting in an accident 
or damage to the vehicle. 
LC500h: Do not let the vehicle roll 
backward while a forward driving posi-
tion is selected, or roll forward while 
the shift position is in R. 
Doing so may result in an accident or 
damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift position to P while 
the vehicle is moving. 
Doing so can damage the transmission 
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Do not shift the shift position to R while 
the vehicle is moving forward. 
Doing so can damage the transmission 
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Do not shift the shift position to a driv-
ing position while the vehicle is moving 
backward. 
Doing so can damage the transmission 
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●LC500: Changing the shift position to 
N while the vehicle is moving will dis-
engage the engine from the transmis-
sion. Engine braking is not available 
when N is selected. 
LC500h: Changing the shift position 
to N while the vehicle is moving will 
disengage the hybrid system. Engine 
braking is not available with the hybrid 
system disengaged.
●Be careful not to change the shift posi-
tion with the accelerator pedal 
depressed. Changing the shift posi-
tion to any positions other than P or N 
may lead to unexpected rapid acceler-
ation of the vehicle that may cause an 
accident and result in death or serious 
injury. 
After changing the shift position, make 
sure to confirm the current shift posi-
tion displayed on the shift position indi-
cator inside the meter.
■Brake pad wear
If any of the following situations occurs, 
have the brake pads visually checked and 
replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as 
possible.
●If the thickness of the brake pads 
exceeds the brake pad wear limit when 
visually checking all four brake pads 
(for the brake pad wear limit, refer to 
P.382)
●If “Brake Pad Wear Visit Your Dealer” 
is displayed (only the right-side pads 
can be detected)
Rotor damage may result if the pads are 
not replaced when needed. Moderate 
levels of the brake pad and disc wear 
allow enhanced braking power. As a 
result, the discs may wear more quickly 
than conventional brake discs. Therefore, 
when replacing the brake pads, Lexus 
recommends that you also have the 
thickness of the discs measured. It is dan-
gerous to drive the vehicle when the 
wear limits of the brake pads and/or 
those of the brake discs are exceeded. 

1444-1. Before driving
Cargo capacity depends on the total 
weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
ity)  (Total weight of occupants)
NOTICE
●The vehicle will make abnormal 
sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat 
tire ( P.354)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded 
after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause 
the following serious damage to the vehi-
cle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water 
immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded 
road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure 
to have your Lexus dealer check the fol-
lowing:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil 
and fluid used for the engine, transmis-
sion, differential, etc.
●Lubricant condition for the propeller 
shaft, bearings and suspension joints 
(where possible), and the function of 
all joints, bearings, etc.
If the shift control system is damaged by 
flooding, it may not  be possible to shift 
the shift position to P, or from P to other 
positions. In this case, contact your Lexus 
dealer.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift 
the shift position to P. Failure to do so 
may cause the vehicle to move or the 
vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the 
accelerator pedal is accidentally 
depressed.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following infor-
mation about storage precautions, 
cargo capacity and load:
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried in the 
trunk
The following things may cause a fire if 
loaded in the trunk:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals 
from being depressed properly, may 
block the driver’s vision, or may result in 
items hitting the driver or passengers, 
possibly causing an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk 
whenever possible.
●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 

1484-2. Driving procedures
4-2.Driving procedures
1Press the parking brake switch to 
check that the parking brake is set. 
(P.170)
Parking brake indicator will come on.
2 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.
3 Press the engine switch shortly and 
firmly.
When operating the engine switch, one 
short, firm press is enough. It is not neces-
sary 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.
■Engine switch illumination
According to the situation, the engine 
switch illumination operates as follows.
●When a door is opened, or the engine 
switch mode is changed from ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode to off, 
the engine switch illumination slowly 
blinks.
●When depressing the brake pedal with 
carrying the electronic key on your per-
son, the engine switch illumination rapidly 
blinks.
●When the engine sw itch is in ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode, the 
engine switch illumination illuminates.
■If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system may not 
have been deactivated. ( P.68) 
Contact your Lexus dealer.
●If a message related to  start-up is shown 
on the multi-information display, read the 
message and follow the instructions.
■If the 12-volt batte ry is discharged
The engine cannot be started using the 
smart access system with  push-button start. 
Refer to P.362 to restart the engine.
■Electronic key battery depletion
 P.104
Engine (ignition) switch 
(LC500)
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 

1494-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Conditions affecting operation
 P.117
■Notes for the entry function
 P.117
■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, “Push engine switch while turn-
ing the steering wheel in either direction” 
will be displayed on the multi-information 
display. 
Press the engine switch shortly and firmly 
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.
■If there is a malfun ction in the smart 
access system with push-button start
If “Access System with Elec. Key Malfunc-
tion” is displayed on the multi-information 
display, the system may be malfunctioning. 
Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus 
dealer immediately.
■Electronic key battery
 P.322
■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 th
e engine switch off, 
the engine may not start in some cases. 
After turning the engine switch off, please 
wait a few seconds be fore restarting the 
engine.
■Customization
If the smart access system with push-button 
start has been deactivated in a customized 
setting, refer to P.359.
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. 

1504-2. Driving procedures
1Stop the vehicle completely.
2 If the parking brake is in manual 
mode, set the parking brake. 
(P.170)
3 Shift the shift position to P. 
(P.160)
Check that the shift position indicator 
shows P. ( P.159)
4 Press the engine switch.
The engine will stop, and the meter display 
will be extinguished (the  shift position indi-
cator will be extinguished a few seconds 
after the meter display).
5 Check that “ACCESSORY” or 
“IGNITION ON” is not shown on 
the meter.
■Automatic P position selection function
 P.160
Modes can be changed by pressing 
the engine switch with the brake pedal 
released. (The mode changes each 
time the switch is pressed.)
1 Off
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 
meter.
3IGNITION ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the 
meter.
Stopping the engine
WARNING
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
●If you want to stop the engine in an 
emergency 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.330)
However, do not touch the engine 
switch while driving  except in an emer-
gency. Turning the engine off while 
driving will not cause loss of steering 
or braking control, however, power 
assist to the steering will be lost. This 
will make it more difficult to steer 
smoothly, so you should pull over and 
stop the vehicle as soon  as it is safe to 
do so.
●If the engine switch is operated while 
the vehicle is running, a warning mes-
sage will be shown on the multi-infor-
mation display and a buzzer sounds.
●When restarting the engine after an 
emergency shutdown, press the 
engine switch.
Changing engine switch modes 

1514-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode 
for more than 20 minutes or IGNITION 
ON mode (the engine is not running) for 
more than an hour with the shift position in 
P, the engine switch will automatically turn 
off. However, this fu nction cannot entirely 
prevent the 12-volt battery discharge. Do 
not leave the vehicle with the engine switch 
in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode 
for long periods of time when the engine is 
not running.
■When the shift control system malfunc-
tions
When attempting to turn the engine switch 
off while there is a malfunction in the shift 
control system, the engine switch mode 
may change to ACCESSORY mode. In this 
case, ACCESSORY mode may be turned 
off by applying the parking brake and press-
ing the engine switch again. If there is a mal-
function in the system, have the vehicle 
inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
1 Press the parking brake switch to 
check that the parking brake is set. 
(P.170)
Parking brake indicator will come on.
2 Firmly depress the brake pedal.
 and a message will be displayed on 
the multi-information display. 
If it is not displayed,  the hybrid system can-
not be started.
When the shift position is N, the hybrid sys-
tem cannot start. Shift the shift position to P 
when starting the hybrid system. ( P.166)
3 Press the power switch shortly and 
firmly.
When operating the power switch, one 
short, firm press is enough. It is not neces-
sary to press and hold the switch.
If the “READY” indicator turns on, the 
hybrid system will operate normally.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until 
the “READY” indicat or is illuminated.
The hybrid system can be started from any 
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in 
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON 
mode for long period s of time without 
the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION 
ON” is displayed on the meter, the 
engine switch is not off.
Exit the vehicle after turning the 
engine switch off.
Power (ignition) switch 
(LC500h)
Performing the following opera-
tions when carrying the electronic 
key on your person starts the hybrid 
system or changes power switch 
modes.
Starting the hybrid system 

1524-2. Driving procedures
power switch mode.
4Check that the “READY” indicator 
is illuminated.
If the “READY” indicator changes from a 
flashing light to a solid light and the buzzer 
sounds, the hybrid system is starting nor-
mally.
The vehicle will not move when the 
“READY” indicator is off.
The vehicle can move when the “READY” 
indicator is on even if the engine is 
stopped. (The gasoline engine starts or 
stops automatically in accordance with the 
state of the vehicle.)
■Power switch illumination
According to the situation, the power 
switch illumination operates as follows.
●When a door is opened, or the power 
switch mode is changed from ACCES-
SORY or ON mode to off, the power 
switch illumination slowly blinks.
●When depressing the brake pedal with 
carrying the electron ic key on your per-
son, the power switch illumination rapidly 
blinks.
●When the power swit ch is in ACCES-
SORY or ON mode, the power switch 
illumination illuminates.
■If the hybrid system does not start
●The immobilizer system may not have 
been deactivated. ( P.68) 
Contact your Lexus dealer.
●If a message related to start-up is shown 
on the multi-information display, read the 
message and follow  the instructions.
■When the ambient temperature is low, 
such as during winter driving conditions
●When starting the hybrid system, the 
flashing time of the “READY” indicator 
may be long. Leave the ve hicle as it is until 
the “READY” indicator is steady on, as 
steady means the vehicle is able to move.
●When the hybrid battery (traction bat-
tery) is extremely cold (below approxi-
mately -22°F [-30°C]) under the 
influence of the outside temperature, it 
may not be possible to start the hybrid 
system. In this case, try to start the hybrid 
system again after the temperature of the 
hybrid battery increases due to the out-
side temperature increase etc.
■Sounds and vibrations specific to a 
hybrid vehicle
 P.62
■If the 12-volt batte ry is discharged
The hybrid system cannot be started using 
the smart access syst em with push-button 
start. Refer to P.362 to restart the hybrid 
system.
■Electronic key battery depletion
 P.104
■Conditions affecting operation
 P.117
■Notes for the entry function
 P.117
■Steering lock function
●After turning the power 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 power 
switch again automatically cancels the 
steering lock.
●When the steering lock cannot be 
released, “Push power switch while turn-
ing the steering wheel  in either direction” 
will be displayed on the multi-information 
display. 
Press the power switch shortly and firmly 
while turning the steering wheel left and 
right.