Page 129 of 596

1293-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
4RUNNER (U)
■Jam protection function
During Automatic running boards operation:
If  a  board  contacts  an  obstacle  when  extending,  it  will  retract .  If  an  obstacle
gets  caught between  a  board  and  the  vehicle  when  retracting,  th e board  will
extend. 
If  an  obstacle  is  detected  3  times  in  a  row  during Automatic  ru nning  boards
operation, the board will stop at the position it contacts the  obstacle. When a
side  door  on  the  same  side  as  the  board  is  opened  and  closed  on e  more
time,  the  board  will  extend  and  retract,  or  retract  and  extend.  After  this,  the
board will resume normal operation. 
■ Automatic retraction function
The boards will be automatically retracted, for safety, under t he following con-
ditions:
● A board is not completely retracted
● Vehicle speed is approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) or higher
The boards will not automatically extend again when vehicle spe ed returns to
less than 5 mph (8 km/h). 
■ If  the  Automatic  running  boards  indicator  comes  on  when  driving  first
commences
A  board  has not  completely retracted. Check  that  nothing  is  caught between
the board and the vehicle. 
Additionally, if the engine is started immediately after a door has been closed,
the  automatic  running  board  may  not  retract  completely  and  the  automatic
running boards indicator may illuminate. In this case, open and close the door
to retract the running board and turn off the indicator.
■ If the Automatic running boards indicator light flashes
There  may  be  a  malfunction  in  the Automatic  running  boards  syst em.  Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.
■ When snow or mud is attached to the board or the board is froze n
The Automatic running boards may not operate correctly. Before stepping on
a board, check that it is completely extended. If the Automatic  running boards
are  not  operating  correctly,  turn  the Automatic  running  boards  switch  off  and
refrain from use.
When removing snow or mud, turn the Automatic running boards sw itch off.
■ After recharging/reconnecting the battery
If  the Automatic  running  boards  have  not  completely  extended  or   retracted,
the boards may not move in the intended direction the first tim e they are oper-
ated. However, from the second time onwards, the boards will re sume normal
operation.
■ When getting in and out of the vehicle
Take care because clothes and shoes may become dirty due to con tact with
the lower part of the vehicle body. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 130 of 596

1303-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
■Jam protection function
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may cause serious injury.
Never use any part of your body to intentionally activate the j am protection
function.
The  jam  protection  function  may  not  work  depending  on  the  shape  of  the
object  that  is  caught.  Be  careful  not  to  get  fingers  or  other  b ody  parts
caught. 
■ Cautions regarding the Automatic running boards
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may cause serious injury.
● Check  to  make  sure  that  all  passengers  and  people  in  the  vehicle’s  sur-
rounding area do not have a hand on a board or any part of thei r body in a
position  where  it  could  be  caught  between  a  board  and  the  vehic le  when
an Automatic running board is being operated.
● Confirm that the boards have completely extended or retracted b efore get-
ting in or out of the vehicle. If someone gets in or out of the vehicle during
Automatic  running  board  operation,  the  boards  may  stop  extendin g  or
retracting.
● Drive  the  vehicle  after  confirming  that  the  boards  have  complet ely
retracted.  Driving  with  a  board  extended  is  dangerous  because  it  may  hit
other people or objects.
● Take care when pressing the Automatic running boards switch. Th e board
will extend or retract and may hit other people or objects.
● Always check that the Automatic running boards switch is turned  off when
cleaning a board. 
● Do not allow children to operate the Automatic running boards. 
Operating Automatic running boards in a manner so that a board  contacts
someone can cause serious injury, and in some instances, even d eath. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 131 of 596
1313-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
4RUNNER (U)
◆Smart key system (if equipped)
Carry the electronic key to enable this function.
Press  the  button  to  unlock
the door.
Press  the  button  to  lock  the
door.
Check  that  the  door  is  securely
locked.
◆Wireless remote control
 P.   1 1 0
◆Key (vehicles without  a smart key system)
Turning the key operates the doors as follows: Locks all the doors
Unlocks all the doors
Back door
Unlocking and locking the back door from the outside
1
2
1
2 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 132 of 596
1323-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
4RUNNER (U)
Locks all the doors
Unlocks all the doors
Raise the back door while pushing
up the back door opener switch.
The  rear  step  bumper  is  intended
for  rear  end  protection  and  easier
step-up loading.
Lower  the  back  door  using  the
back  door  strap  and/or  the  back
door  handle,  and  make  sure  to
push the back door down from the
outside to close it.
Unlocking and locking the  back door from the inside
1
2
Opening the back door from outside the vehicle
Rear step bumper
When closing the back door 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 133 of 596

1333-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
4RUNNER (U)
■Luggage compartment lights
Each luggage compartment light has the following 3 positions:
If  the  luggage  compartment  lights  remain  on,  the  lights  will  go   off  automati-
cally after 20 minutes.
■ If the back door opener is inoperative or the battery is discha rged
P. 509 Turns the light off
Turns the light on
Turns the light on/off linked to back door
position
WARNING
■
Before driving
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
● Make  sure  that  the  back  door  is  fully  closed.  If  the  back  door  is  not  fully
closed,  it  may  open  unexpectedly  while  driving  and  hit  near-by  objects  or
luggage in the luggage compartment may be thrown out, causing a n acci-
dent.
● Do not allow children to play in the luggage compartment.
If  a  child  is  accidentally  locked  in  the  luggage  compartment,  they  could
have heat exhaustion or other injuries.
● Do not allow a child to open or close the back door.
Doing  so  may  cause  the  back  door  to  move  unexpectedly,  or  cause  the
child’s hands, head, or neck to be caught by the closing back d oor.
● Do not get on the rear step bumper.
■ Important points while driving
Never  let  anyone  sit  in  the  luggage  compartment.  In  the  event  of  sudden
braking or a collision, they are susceptible to death or seriou s injury.
1
2
3 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 134 of 596

1343-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
■Operating the back door
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause parts of the body to be caught, resu lting in death
or serious injury.
● Remove  any  heavy  loads,  such  as  snow  and  ice,  from  the  back  doo r
before  opening  it.  Failure  to  do  so  may  cause  the  back  door  to  suddenly
shut again after it is opened.
● When  opening  or  closing  the  back  door,  thoroughly  check  to  make  sure
the surrounding area is safe. 
● If anyone is in the vicinity, make sure they are safe and let t hem know that
the back door is about to open or close.
● Use caution when opening or closing the back door in windy weat her as it
may move abruptly in strong wind.
● The back door may suddenly shut if it is
not  opened  fully.  It  is  more  difficult  to
open  or  close  the  back  door  on  an
incline  than  on  a  level  surface,  so
beware  of  the  back  door  unexpectedly
opening  or  closing  by  itself.  Make  sure
that  the  back  door  is  fully  open  and
secure  before  using  the  luggage  com-
partment. 
● When  closing  the  back  door,  take  extra
care  to  prevent  your  fingers  etc.  from
being caught.
● When closing the back door, make sure
to  press  it  lightly  on  its  outer  surface.  If
the back door handle or back door strap
is  used  to  fully  close  the  back  door,  it
may  result  in  hands  or  arms  being
caught.  
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 135 of 596

1353-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Operation of each component
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
●Do  not  pull  on  the  back  door  damper  stay  to  close  the  back  door ,  and  do
not hang on the back door damper stay. 
Doing so may cause hands to be caught or the back door damper stay to
break, causing an accident.
● If  a  bicycle  carrier  or  similar  heavy  object  is  attached  to  the  back  door,  it
may  suddenly  shut  again  after  being  opened,  causing  someone’s  hands,
head or neck to be caught and injured. When installing an acces sory part
to the back door, using a genuine Toyota part is recommended.
NOTICE
■ To prevent damage to the back door components
Do not allow more than one person to get on the rear step bumpe r at a time.
■ Back door damper stays
The  back  door  is  equipped  with  damper  stays  that  hold  the  back  door  in
place.
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause damage to the back door damper stay, resulting
in malfunction.
● Do not place your hand on the damper stay or apply lateral forc es to it.
●Do  not  attach  any  foreign  objects,  such
as stickers, plastic sheets, or adhesives
to the damper stay rod.
● Do  not  touch  the  damper  stay  rod  with
gloves or other fabric items.
● Do  not  attach  any  accessories  other
than  genuine  Toyota  parts  to  the  back
door. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 137 of 596
1373-3. Adjusting the seats
3
Operation of each component
4RUNNER (U)
When  the  occupant’s  lower  back
presses  against  the  seatback
during  a  rear-end  collision,  the
head  restraint  moves  slightly  for-
ward  and  upward  to  help  reduce
the  risk  of  whiplash  to  the  seat
occupant.
■The auto away function for exiting the driver seat
If  the  seat  is  already  close  to  the  rearmost  position,  the  auto   away  function
may not operate when the driver exits the vehicle.
■ Active head restraints
Even  small  forces  applied  to  the  seatback  may  cause  the  head  re straint  to
move.  Pushing  up  a  locked  head  restraint  forcibly  may  appear  th e  head
restraint inner structure. These do not indicate problems.
Active head restraints
Inner 
structure During 
rear-end 
collision