
3
1
8 7
6
5
4
3
2
9
4RUNNER (U)4-1.  Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 176
Cargo and luggage............ 186
Vehicle load limits ............. 191
Trailer towing..................... 192
Dinghy towing.................... 208
4-2.  Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without a 
smart key system) ........... 209
Engine (ignition) switch  (vehicles with a 
smart key system) ........... 212
Automatic transmission ..... 218
Turn signal lever................ 223
Parking brake .................... 224
4-3.  Operating the lights  and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 225
Automatic High Beam ....... 231
Fog light switch ................. 235
Windshield wipers and  washer ............................ 237
Rear window wiper and  washer ............................ 240
4-4.  Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 243 4-5.  Using the driving 
support systems
Toyota Safety Sense P ...... 246
PCS  (Pre-Collision System)..... 254
LDA  (Lane Departure Alert)..... 265
Dynamic radar cruise  control.............................. 273
Intuitive parking assist ....... 286
Four-wheel drive system  (part-time 4WD 
models)............................ 293
Four-wheel drive system  (full-time 4WD 
models)............................ 297
Active traction control  system ............................. 301
AUTO LSD system ............ 303
Rear differential lock  system ............................. 305
Downhill assist control  system ............................. 308
Crawl Control ..................... 311
Multi-terrain Select............. 314
Driving assist systems ....... 321
4-6.  Driving tips Winter driving tips .............. 330
Off-road precautions .......... 334
4Driving 

17Pictorial index
4RUNNER (U)Multi-information display  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 90
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 90
When the warning messages are displayed  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 487
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 224
Applying/releasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 224
Precautions against winter season  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 331
Warning buzzer/message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 477, 487
Turn signal lever  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 223
Headlight switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 225
Headlights/parking lights/tail lights/daytime running lights . .
 . .  P. 225
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 235
Windshield wiper and washer switch  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 237
Usage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 237
Adding washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 418
Emergency flasher switch  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 464
Hood lock release lever. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 405
Tilt and telescopic steering lock release lever . . . . . . . . . .  P. 156
Air conditioning system  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 340, 346
Usage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 340, 346
Rear window defogger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 342, 348
Audio/Navigation system
*
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 371
*: Refer to “NAVIGATION AND MULT IMEDIA SYSTEM OWNER’S MANUAL”.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13 

832. Instrument cluster
2
Instrument cluster
4RUNNER (U)
Warning  lights  inform  the driver of  malfunctions  in  the  indicated  vehi-
cle’s systems.
Warning lights
*1
(U.S.A.)
Brake  system  warning
light ( P. 477)*1
Slip indicator ( P. 478)
*1
(Canada)
Brake  system  warning
light (P. 477)*3
(if equipped)
Four-wheel  drive  indica-
tor light ( P. 479)
*5High  coolant  tempera-
ture warning light 
(P. 477)*3
(if equipped)
Low  speed  four-wheel
drive indicator light 
(P. 479)
*1
Charging  system  warn-
ing light ( P. 477)*3
(if equipped)
Rear  differential  lock
indicator light ( P. 478)
*1
(U.S.A.)
Malfunction  indicator
lamp ( P. 478)*3
(if equipped)
Center  differential  lock
indicator light ( P. 479)
*1
(Canada)
Malfunction  indicator
lamp ( P. 478)*2, 4, 5
(if equipped)
Multi-terrain  Select  indi-
cator light ( P. 479)
*1SRS warning light 
(P. 478)*5Brake  Override  System/
Drive-Start  Control/
warning light ( P. 480)
*1
(U.S.A.)
ABS warning light 
(P. 478)
(U.S.A.)
Parking brake indicator 
(P. 480)
*1
(Canada)
ABS warning light 
(P. 478)
(Canada)
Parking brake indicator 
(P. 480) 

852. Instrument cluster
2
Instrument cluster
4RUNNER (U)
The indicators inform the driver of the operating state of the vehicle’s
various systems. 
Indicators
Turn signal indicator 
( P. 223)*1“TRAC OFF” indicator 
(P. 323)
(U.S.A.)
Headlight indicator 
(P. 225)*1, 2 Slip indicator ( P. 322)
(Canada)
Tail light indicator 
(P. 225) *1VSC OFF indicator 
(P. 323)
Headlight  high  beam
indicator ( P. 228)
Automatic High Beam 
indicator ( P. 231)
Front fog light indicator 
( P. 235)
*5Cruise control indicator 
(P. 273)
*4Security indicator 
(P. 76, 79)*5Dynamic radar cruise 
control indicator 
(P. 273)
*1, 3Eco  Driving  Indicator
Light ( P. 97)*5Cruise control set indica-
tor (P. 273)
(U.S.A.)
Parking brake indicator 
(P. 224)*1, 6PCS warning light 
(P. 254)
(Canada)
Parking brake indicator 
(P. 224)
“AIR BAG 
ON/OFF” 
indicator 
(P. 46)*1, 4
(U.S.A.)
“AIR BAG 
ON/OFF” 
indicator 
(P. 46)*1, 4
(Canada) 

1483-3. Adjusting the seats
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
■When folding the rear seatbacks down
Observe  the  following  precautions.  Failure  to  do  so  may  result  in  death  or
serious injury.
● Do not fold the seatbacks down while driving.
● Stop  the  vehicle  on  level  ground,  set  the  parking  brake  and  shi ft  the  shift
lever to P.
● Do not allow anyone to sit on a folded seatback or in the lugga ge compart-
ment while driving.
● Do not allow children to enter the luggage compartment.
■ Seat adjustment
● To  reduce  the  risk  of  sliding  under  the  lap  belt  during  a  colli sion,  do  not
recline the seat more than necessary.
If  the  seat  is  too  reclined,  the  lap  belt  may  slide  past  the  hi ps  and  apply
restraint  forces  directly  to  the  abdomen,  or  your  neck  may  cont act  the
shoulder belt, increasing  the risk of death  or  serious  injury i n the  event of
an accident.
Adjustments should not be made while driving as the seat may un expect-
edly move and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Take  care  when  adjusting  the  seat  position  to  ensure  that  other  passen-
gers are not injured by the moving seat.
● Do  not  put  your  hands  under  the  seat  or  near  the  moving  parts  t o  avoid
injury. 
Fingers or hands may become jammed in the seat mechanism.
■ After returning the rear seat back to the upright position
Observe  the  following  precautions.  Failure  to  do  so  may  result  in  death  or
serious injury.
● Make sure the seatback is securely locked by pushing it forward  and rear-
ward on the top.
● Check that the seat belts are not twisted or caught in the seat back.
NOTICE
■Stowing the seat belts
The  seat  belts  and  the  buckles  must  be  stowed  before  you  fold  d own  the
rear seatbacks. 

175
Driving4
4RUNNER (U)4-1.  Before driving
Driving the vehicle ............. 176
Cargo and luggage ........... 186
Vehicle load limits ............. 191
Trailer towing..................... 192
Dinghy towing ................... 208
4-2.  Driving procedures Engine (ignition) switch (vehicles without a 
smart key system) ........... 209
Engine (ignition) switch  (vehicles with a 
smart key system) ........... 212
Automatic transmission ..... 218
Turn signal lever................ 223
Parking brake .................... 224
4-3.  Operating the lights  and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 225
Automatic High Beam ....... 231
Fog light switch ................. 235
Windshield wipers and  washer ............................ 237
Rear window wiper and  washer ............................ 240
4-4.  Refueling Opening the fuel tank cap .................................. 243 4-5.  Using the driving 
support systems
Toyota Safety Sense P ..... 246
PCS  (Pre-Collision System) .... 254
LDA  (Lane Departure Alert) .... 265
Dynamic radar cruise  control ............................. 273
Intuitive parking assist....... 286
Four-wheel drive system  (part-time 4WD 
models) ........................... 293
Four-wheel drive system  (full-time 4WD 
models) ........................... 297
Active traction control  system ............................ 301
AUTO LSD system  (2WD models) ................. 303
Rear differential lock  system ............................ 305
Downhill assist control  system ............................ 308
Crawl Control .................... 311
Multi-terrain Select ............ 314
Driving assist systems ...... 321
4-6.  Driving tips Winter driving tips ............. 330
Off-road precautions ......... 334 

176
4RUNNER (U)
4-1. Before driving
P.   2 1 2
With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. ( P.   2 1 8 )
Release the parking brake. ( P.   2 2 4 )
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accele ra-
tor pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
With  the  shift  lever  in  D,  depress  the  brake  pedal  until  the  ve hicle
comes to a stop.
If necessary, set the parking brake.
If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift
lever to P or N. ( P. 218)
With the shift lever in D , depress the brake pedal.
Set the parking brake ( P. 224), and shift the shift lever to P ( P.
218).
Vehicles without a smart key system:
Turn the engine switch to the “LOC K” position to stop the engine.
Vehicles with a smart key system:
Press the engine switch  to stop the engine.
Lock the door, making sure that you have the key  on your person.
If parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.
Driving the vehicle
The  following  procedures  should  be  observed  to  ensure  safe
driving: 
Starting the engine
Driving
Stopping
Parking the vehicle
1
2
3
1
2
1
2
3
4 

1774-1. Before driving
4
Driving
4RUNNER (U)
Make sure that the parking brake is set and shift the shift lever to D.
Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
Release the parking brake.
■ Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be  reduced, the win-
dows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery.
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be espe-
cially slippery.
● Refrain  from  driving  at  high  speeds  in  the  rain,  as  there  may  b e  a  layer  of
water  between  the  tires  and  the  road  surface,  preventing  the  st eering  and
brakes from operating properly.
■ Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving.
This is due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation to
meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.
●The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
● When the accelerator pedal is released
■ Restraining the engine out put (Brake Override System)
● When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same  time, the
engine output may be restrained.
● A  warning  message  is  displayed  on  the  multi-information  display  while the
system is operating.
■ Restraining sudden start  (Drive-Start Control)
● When  the following  unusual operation is performed,  the  engine  o utput  may
be restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D, D to R, N to R, P  to D, or P to
R  (D  includes  S)  with  the  accelerator  pedal  depressed,  a  warnin g  mes-
sage appears on the multi-information display.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed too much while the veh icle is in
reverse.
● While  Drive-Start  Control  is  being  activated,  your  vehicle  may  have  trouble
escaping  from  the  mud  or  fresh  snow.  In  such  case,  perform  the  following
actions to cancel Drive-Start Control so that the vehicle may b ecome able to
escape from the mud or fresh snow.
• Deactivate TRAC ( P. 323, 324)
• 2WD models: When the AUTO LSD system is turned on. ( P. 303)
• Part-time  4WD  models:  The  four-wheel  drive  control  switch  is  in  “L4” position. ( P. 293)
• Full-time  4WD  models:  The  four-wheel  drive  control  switch  is  i n  “L4L”
position. ( P. 297)
Starting off on a steep uphill
1
2
3