2020 LEXUS RX350 emergency towing

14Pictorial index
■Instrument panel
Engine switch ........................................................................................................... P.176
Starting the engine/changing the modes .................................................................P.176
Emergency stop of the engine ........................ ............................................................ P.404
When the engine will not start .....................................................................................P.438
Warning messages .......................................................................................................... P.422
Shift lever.................................................................................................................. P. 180
Changing the shift position ..............................................................................................P.181
Precautions for towing ................................................................................................... P.407
When the shift lever does not move ............................................................................P.181
Meters ......................................................................................................................... .P.75
Reading the meters/adjusting the instrume nt panel light........................... P.75, 78
Warning lights/indicator lights ...................................................................................... P.70
When a warning light turns on ..................................................................................... P.413
Multi-information display ....................................................................................... P.79
Display ........................................................................................................................ .............. P.79
When the warning messages are displayed.......................................................... P.422A
B
C
D

1724-1. Before driving
Ball diameter
Matches the size of the trailer coupler.
Most couplers are stamped with the
required trailer ball size.
Shank length
Protrudes beyond the bottom of the lock
washer and nut by at least 2 threads.
Shank diameter
Matches the ball mount hole diameter size.
Weight carrying ball position
• RX350 : 44.96 in. (1142 mm)
• RX350L : 49.72 in. (1263 mm)
Hitch receiver pin hole position
• RX350 : 35.94 in. (913 mm)
• RX350L : 45.08 in. (1145 mm)
Use the wire harness stored in the rear
end under body.
■Auto current cut-off function
In case of over current, the auto cut-off
function stops the power flowing to the
trailer lights to prevent damage to the vehi-
cle’s electrical system.
This function is activ ated when the rated
current of any of the following trailer light
circuit components is exceeded:
●Tail lights: maximum 7.8 A
●Stop/turn signal light (right): maximum
4.5 A
●Stop/turn signal light (left): maximum 4.5
A
■When the auto current cut function is
activated
If a trailer light does not come on due to the
activation of the auto current cut function,
the light system will need to be reset.
Follow the reset procedure shown below.
●If a tail light does not come on, turn off the
headlight switch.
●If the right-side stop/turn signal light does
not come on, put the turn signal in the off
position or remove foot from the brake
pedal.
●If the left-side stop/t urn signal light does
not come on, put the turn signal in the off
position or remove foot from the brake
pedal.
If the emergency flashers do not operate,
press the emergency flasher switch to turn
them off.
After the light system is reset, operate the
light switches again to see if the lights oper-
ate normally.
If the lights do not operate normally, have
Positions for towing hitch
receiver and hitch ball
Connecting trailer lights
B
C
D
A
B

2194-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
WARNING
●When tires of a size other than speci-
fied are installed.
●Vehicle is driven in traffic lanes other
than that highways and freeways.
●When your vehicle is towing a trailer
(vehicles with towing package) or
during emergency towing.
■Preventing LTA system malfunctions
and operations performed by mistake
●Do not modify the headlights or place
stickers, etc. on the surface of the
lights.
●Do not modify the suspension etc. If
the suspension etc. needs to be
replaced, contact your Lexus dealer.
●Do not install or place anything on the
hood or grille. Also, do not install a
grille guard (bull bars, kangaroo bar,
etc.).
●If your windshield needs repairs, con-
tact your Lexus dealer.
■Conditions in which functions may
not operate properly
In the following situations, the functions
may not operate properly and the vehicle
may depart from its lane. Drive safely by
always paying careful attention to your
surroundings and operate the steering
wheel to correct the path of the vehicle
without relying solely on the functions.
●When the follow-up cruising display is
displayed (P.223) and the preced-
ing vehicle changes lanes. (Your vehi-
cle may follow the preceding vehicle
and also change lanes.)
●When the follow-up cruising display is
displayed (P.223) and the preced-
ing vehicle is swaying. (Your vehicle
may sway accordingly and depart from
the lane.)
●When the follow-up cruising display is
displayed (
P.223) and the preced-
ing vehicle departs from its lane. (Your
vehicle may follow the preceding vehi-
cle and depart from the lane.)
●When the follow-up cruising display is
displayed (
P.223) and the preced-
ing vehicle is being driven extremely
close to the left/right lane line. (Your
vehicle may follow the preceding vehi-
cle and depart from the lane.)
●Vehicle is being driven around a sharp
curve.
●Objects or patterns that could be mis-
taken for white (yellow) lines are pres-
ent on the side of the road (guardrails,
reflective poles, etc.).

2314-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
WARNING
■Cautions regarding the driving assist
systems
Observe the following precautions, as
there are limitations to the assistance
provided by the system. Failure to do so
may cause an accident resulting in death
or serious injury.
●Assisting the driver to measure follow-
ing distance
The dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range is only intended to help
the driver in determining the following
distance between the driver’s own vehi-
cle and a designated vehicle traveling
ahead. It is not a me chanism that allows
careless or inattentive driving, and it is
not a system that can assist the driver in
low-visibility conditions.
It is still necessary for driver to pay close
attention to the vehicle’s surroundings.
●Assisting the driver to judge proper
following distance
The dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range determines whether the
following distance be tween the driver’s
own vehicle and a designated vehicle
traveling ahead is within a set range. It is
not capable of making any other type of
judgement. Therefore, it is absolutely
necessary for the driver to remain vigi-
lant and to determine whether or not
there is a possibility of danger in any
given situation.
●Assisting the driver to operate the
vehicle
The dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range does not include func-
tions which will prevent or avoid colli-
sions with vehicles ahead of your vehicle.
Therefore, if there is ever any possibility
of danger, the driver must take immedi-
ate and direct control of the vehicle and
act appropriately in order to ensure the
safety of all involved.
■Situations unsuitable for dynamic
radar cruise control with full-speed
range
Do not use dynamic radar cruise control
with full-speed range in any of the follow-
ing situations. Doing so may result in
inappropriate speed control and could
cause an accident resulting in death or
serious injury.
●Roads where there are pedestrians,
cyclists, etc.
●In heavy traffic
●On roads with sharp bends
●On winding roads
●On slippery roads, such as those cov-
ered with rain, ice or snow
●On steep downhills, or where there
are sudden changes between sharp up
and down gradients
Vehicle speed may exceed the set
speed when driving down a steep hill.
●At entrances to freeways and highways
●When weather conditions are bad
enough that they may prevent the sen-
sors from detectin g correctly (fog,
snow, sandstorm, heavy rain, etc.)
●When there is rain, snow, etc. on the
front surface of the radar or front cam-
era
●In traffic conditions that require fre-
quent repeated acceleration and
deceleration
●When your vehicle is towing a trailer
or during emergency towing
●When an approach warning buzzer is
heard often

4077-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be
towed
If towing is necessary, we recom-
mend having your vehicle towed by
your Lexus dealer or commercial
towing service, using a wheel-lift
type truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all
towing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws.
2WD models: If towing your vehicle
with a wheel-lift type truck from the
front, the vehicle’s rear wheels and
axles must be in good conditions.
(  P.409)
If they are damaged, use a towing
dolly or flatbed truck.
AWD models: If towing your vehi-
cle with a wheel-lift type truck, use
a towing dolly. ( P.409)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
2WD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with the
front wheels raised or with all four wheels
raised off the ground. If the vehicle is
towed with the front wheels contacting
the ground, the drivetrain and related
parts may be damaged.
AWD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the driv etrain or related
parts may be damaged, the vehicle may
fly off the truck.
■While towing
●When towing using cables or chains,
avoid sudden starts, etc. which place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets,
cables or chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become dam-
aged, broken debris may hit people,
and cause serious damage.

4087-2. Steps to take in an emergency
The following may indicate a problem
with your transmission. Contact your
Lexus dealer or commercial towing
service before towing.
The engine is running but the vehi-
cle does not move.
 The vehicle makes an abnormal
sound.
Do not tow with a sling-type truck to
prevent body damage.
WARNING
●Do not turn the engine switch off.
There is a possibility that the steering
wheel is locked and cannot be oper-
ated.
■Installing towing eyelets to the vehi-
cle
Make sure that towing eyelets are
installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets
may come loose during towing.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the vehicle
when towing using a wheel-lift type
truck
●Do not tow the vehicle from the rear
when the engine switch is off. The
steering lock mechanism is not strong
enough to hold the front wheels
straight.
●When raising the vehicle, ensure ade-
quate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle.
Without adequate clearance, the vehi-
cle could be damaged while being
towed.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle
when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either
from the front or rear.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle
during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the
suspension components.
■Recreational towing (behind motor
home, etc)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to pre-
vent causing serious damage to the
Dynamic Torque Control AWD system
(AWD models) and transmission.
(  P.175)
Situations when it is necessary to
contact dealers before towing
Towing with a sling-type truck

4097-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
From the front (2WD models)
Release the parking brake.
From the front (AWD models)
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
From the rear
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels. If your vehicle is transported by a flat-
bed truck, it should be tied down at the
locations shown in the illustration.
If you use chains or cables to tie down
your vehicle, the angles shaded in
black must be 45°.
Do not overly tighten the tie downs or
the vehicle may be damaged.
If a tow truck is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be tem-
porarily towed using cables or chains
secured to the emergency towing eye-
lets. This should only be attempted on
hard surfaced roads for at most 50
miles (80 km) at under 18 mph (30
km/h).
Towing with a wheel-lift type
truckUsing a flatbed truck
Emergency towing (vehicles
with towing eyelets)

4107-2. Steps to take in an emergency
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer
and operate the brakes. The vehicle’s
wheels, drive train, axles, steering and
brakes must be in good condition.
To have your vehicle towed by another
vehicle, the towing eyelet must be
installed to your vehicle. Install the tow-
ing eyelet using the following proce-
dure.
1 Take out the towing eyelet.
(P.427)
2 Remove the eyelet cover.
Except F SPORT models
F SPORT models 3
Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by hand.
4 Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut wrench
or hard metal bar.
5 Securely attach cables or chains to
the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehicle body.
6Enter the vehicle being towed and
start the engine.
If the engine does not start, turn the engine
switch to IGNITION ON mode.
7Shift the shift lever to N and release
the parking brake.
When the shift lever cannot be shifted:
P.181
■While towing
If the engine is not running, the power assist
for the brakes and steering will not function,
making steering and braking more difficult.
■Wheel nut wrench
Wheel nut wrench is installed in luggage
Emergency towing procedure
(vehicles with towing eyelets)