
1393-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER HV_U
3
Before driving
detection area ( P.146)
2 Perform a kick operation by 
moving your foot to within 
approximately 3.9 in. (10 cm) 
of the rear bumper and then 
pulling it back.
• Perform the entire kick opera- tion within 1 second.
• The back door will not start  operating while a foot is 
detected under the rear 
bumper.
• Operate the Hands Free  Power Back Door without 
contacting the rear bumper 
with your foot.
• If another electronic key is in  the cabin or luggage compart-
ment, it may take slightly lon-
ger than normal for the 
operation to occur.
Kick sensor
Hands Free Power Back 
Door operation detection 
area
3 When the sensor detects that 
your foot is pulled back, a 
buzzer will sound and the 
back door will automatically 
fully open/close.If kick operation is performed while 
the back door is opening/closing, 
the back door will  stop the opera-
tion. Perform a kick operation again 
will operate  the back door in the 
opposite direction.
■Back door closer
In the event that the back door is left 
slightly open, the back door closer 
will automatically clo se it to the fully 
closed position.
●The back door closer can function 
when the power switch is in any 
mode.
●The back door can be opened 
using the back door opener switch 
even if the back door closer is 
operating.
■Power back door operating con-
ditions
If the following conditions are met, 
the power back door can be opened 
and closed automatically.
●When the power back door sys-
tem is enabled. ( P.526)
●When the power switch is in ON, 
one of the following conditions 
must be met in a ddition to the 
above conditions:
• The parking brake is engaged.
• The brake pedal is depressed.
• The shift lever is in P.
■Operation of the power back 
door
●When the power back door begins 
to operate, the  emergency flash-
ers will flash twice and a buzzer 
will sound.
●When the power back door is dis-
abled, the powe r back door will 
not operate but can be opened 
and closed manually.
●When the power back door is 
opening/closing, if the power back 
door becomes obstructed, opera-
tion will stop. 

1403-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■Jam protection function
Sensors are installed on the right 
and left sides of the power back 
door. When the door is automati-
cally closing and the sensors are 
pushed due to an object being 
clamped, etc., the jam protection 
function operates.
From that position the door auto-
matically moves a little in the oppo-
site direction and then the function 
stops.
■Back door reserve lock function
This function reserves the locking of 
the power back door when the 
power back door is open. If the fol-
lowing operations are performed, all 
of the doors except the power back 
door will lock and t hen the power 
back door will lock when it is com-
pletely closed.
1 Close all of the doors, except the 
back door.
2 Perform an automatic closing 
operation of the power back door 
and lock the doors using the 
wireless remote control 
( P.131) or smart key system 
(  P.131) while the power back 
door is closing.
A buzzer sounds and the emer-
gency flashers flash to indicate that 
all the doors have been closed and 
locked.
●If the electronic key is placed 
inside the vehicle  after starting a 
close operation via the door 
reserve lock function, the elec-
tronic key may  become locked 
inside the vehicle.
●If the back door does not fully 
close due to the operation of the  jam protection function, etc., while 
the back door is automatically 
closing after a do
or reserve lock 
operation is performed, the door 
reserve lock function is canceled 
and all the doors will unlock.
●Before leaving the vehicle, make 
sure that all the doors are closed 
and locked.
■Kick sensor operating condi-
tions (vehicles with a Hands 
Free Power Back Door)
●When the kick sensor operation 
setting is turned on ( P.526) and 
the power switch is turned off.
●When an electronic key is carried 
within the operation detection 
area.
■Situations in which the Hands 
Free Power Back Door may not 
operate properly (if equipped)
In the following si tuations, the 
Hands Free Power Back Door may 
not operate properly:
●When a foot remains under the 
rear bumper.
●If the rear bumper  is strongly hit 
with a foot or is  touched for a 
while.
If the rear bumper has been touched 
for a while, wait f or a short time 
before attempting to operate the 
Hands Free Power Back Door 
again.
●When standing excessively close 
to the rear bumper.
●When an external radio wave 
source interferes with the commu-
nication between the electronic 
key and the vehicle. ( P.147)
●When the vehicle is parked near 
an electrical noise source which 
affects the sensitivity of the Hands 
Free Power Back Door, such as a 
pay parking spot, gas station, 
electrically heated road, or fluo-
rescent light.
●When the vehicle is near a TV 
tower, electric pow er plant, radio  

1413-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER HV_U
3
Before driving
station, large display, airport or 
other facility that  generates strong 
radio waves or electrical noise.
●When a large amount of water is 
applied to the rear bumper, such 
as when the vehicle is being 
washed or in heavy rain.
●When mud, snow, ice, etc. is 
attached to the rear bumper.
●When the vehicle has been 
parked for a while near objects 
that may move and contact the 
rear bumper, such as plants.
●When an accessory is installed to 
the rear bumper.
If an accessory has been installed, 
turn the kick sensor operation set-
ting off. ( P.526)
■Preventing unintentional opera-
tion of the Hands Free Power 
Back Door (if equipped)
When an electronic key is in the 
operation detection area, the Hands 
Free Power Back Door may operate 
unintentionally, so be careful in the 
following situations:
●When a large amount of water is 
applied to the rear bumper, such 
as when the vehicle is being 
washed or in heavy rain.
●When dirt is wiped  off the rear 
bumper.
●When a small animal or small 
object, such as a ball, moves 
under the rear bumper.
●When an object is moved from 
under the rear bumper.
●If someone is swinging their legs 
while sitting on the rear bumper.
●If the legs or another part of some-
one’s body contacts the rear 
bumper while passi ng by the vehi-
cle.
●When the vehicle is parked near 
an electrical noise source which 
affects the sensitivity of the Hands 
Free Power Back Door, such as a 
pay parking spot , gas station,  electrically heated road, or fluo-
rescent light.
●When the vehicle is near a TV 
tower, electric pow
er plant, radio 
station, large display, airport or 
other facility that generates strong 
radio waves or electrical noise.
●When the vehicle is parked in a 
place where objects such as 
plants are near the rear bumper.
●When luggage, etc. is set in or 
removed from the luggage com-
partment from outside of the vehi-
cle.
●If accessories or a vehicle cover is 
installed/removed near the rear 
bumper.
●When snow attached to the inner 
side of the rear bumper melts.
To prevent unintentional operation, 
turn the kick sensor operation set-
ting off. ( P.526)
■When reconnecting the 12-volt 
battery
To enable the power back door to 
operate properly, close the back 
door manually.
■Customization
Some functions can be customized. 
(  P.526) 

1443-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER HV_U
NOTICE
■To prevent malfunction of the 
power back door
●Make sure that there is no ice 
between the back door and 
frame that would prevent move-
ment of the back door. Operat-
ing the power back door when 
excessive load is present on the 
back door may cause a mal-
function.
●Do not apply excessive force to 
the power back door while the 
back door is operating.
●Take care not to damage the 
sensors (installed on the right 
and left edges of the power 
back door) with a knife or other 
sharp object. If a sensor is dis-
connected, the power back door 
will not close automatically.
■Hands Free Power Back Door 
precautions (if equipped)
The kick sensor is located behind 
lower center part of the rear 
bumper. Observe  the following to 
ensure that the Hands Free 
Power Back Door function oper-
ates properly:
●Keep the lower center part of 
the rear bumper clean at all 
times.
If the lower center part of the rear 
bumper is dirty or covered with 
snow, the kick sensor may not 
operate. In this situation, clean off 
the dirt or snow, move the vehicle 
from the current position and then 
check if the kick sensor operates. 
If it does not operate, have the 
vehicle inspected by your Toyota 
dealer.
●Do not apply coatings that have 
a rain cleari ng (hydrophilic) 
effect, or other coatings, to the 
lower center par t of the rear 
bumper.
●Do not park the vehicle near 
objects that may move and con-
tact the lower center part of the 
rear bumper, such as grass or 
trees.
If the vehicle has been parked for 
a while near objects that may 
move and contact the lower cen-
ter part of the rear bumper, such 
as grass or trees, the kick sensor 
may not operate. In  this situation, 
move the vehicle from the current 
position and then check if the kick 
sensor operates. If it does not 
operate, have the vehicle 
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
●Do not subject the kick sensor 
or its surroundi ng area to a 
strong impact.
If the kick sensor or its surround-
ing area has been subjected to a 
strong impact, the kick sensor 
may not operate properly.
If the kick sensor does not oper-
ate in the following situations, 
have the vehicle inspected by 
your Toyota dealer.
• The kick sensor or its surround- ing area has been subjected to 
a strong impact.
• The lower center part of the rear  bumper is scratched or dam-
aged.
●Do not disassemble the rear 
bumper.
●Do not attach stickers to the 
rear bumper.
●Do not paint the rear bumper.
●If a heavy objec t is attached to 
the power back door, disable 
the kick sensor. 

1483-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER HV_U• Metallic wallets or bags
• Coins
• Hand warmers made of metal
• Media such as CDs and DVDs
●When other wireless keys (that 
emit radio waves) are being used 
nearby
●When carrying the electronic key 
together with the following devices 
that emit radio waves
• Portable radio, cellular phone,  cordless phone or other wireless 
communication devices
• Another electronic key or a wire- less key that emits radio waves
• Personal computers or personal 
digital assistants (PDAs)
• Digital audio players
• Portable game systems
●If window tint with a metallic con-
tent or metallic objects are 
attached to the rear window
●When the electronic key is placed 
near a battery charger or elec-
tronic devices
●When the vehicle is parked in a 
pay parking spot where radio 
waves are emitted
■Note for the entry function
●Even when the electronic key is 
within the effective range (detec-
tion areas), the system may not 
operate properly in the following 
cases:
• The electronic key is too close to  the window or outside door han-
dle, near the ground, or in a high 
place when the doors are locked 
or unlocked.
• The electronic key is on the instru-
ment panel, luggage compart-
ment, floor, or in the door pockets 
or glove box when the hybrid sys-
tem is started or power switch 
modes are changed.
●Do not leave the electronic key on 
top of the instrument panel or near 
the door pockets when exiting the 
vehicle. Depending on the radio 
wave reception conditions, it may 
be detected by the antenna out- side the cabin and the door will 
become lockable from the outside, 
possibly trapping the electronic 
key inside the vehicle.
●As long as the electronic key is 
within the effective range, the 
doors may be locked or unlocked 
by anyone. However, only the 
doors detecting the electronic key 
can be used to unlock the vehicle.
●Even if the electro
nic key is not 
inside the vehicle, it may be possi-
ble to start the hybrid system if the 
electronic key is near the window.
●The doors may unlock or lock if a 
large amount of water splashes on 
the door handle, such as in the 
rain or in a car  wash when the 
electronic key is within the effec-
tive range. (The  doors will auto-
matically be locked after 
approximately 60 seconds if the 
doors are not opened and closed.)
●If the wireless remote control is 
used to lock the doors when the 
electronic key is near the vehicle, 
there is a possib ility that the door 
may not be unlocked by the entry 
function. (Use the wireless remote 
control to unlock the doors.)
●Touching the door lock or unlock 
sensor while wearing gloves may 
prevent lock or unlock operation.
●When the lock operation is per-
formed using the lock sensor, rec-
ognition signals will be shown up 
to two consecutive times. After 
this, no recognition signals will be 
given.
●If the door handle becomes wet 
while the electronic key is within 
the effective range, the door may 
lock and unlock repeatedly. In that 
case, follow the  following correc-
tion procedures to wash the vehi-
cle:
• Place the electronic key in a loca- tion 6 ft. (2 m) or more away from 
the vehicle. (Take care to ensure 
that the key is not stolen.)
• Set the electronic key to bat- 

1493-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
HIGHLANDER HV_U
3
Before driving
tery-saving mode to disable the 
smart key system. ( P.147)
●If the electronic key is inside the 
vehicle and a door handle 
becomes wet during a car wash, a 
message may be shown on the 
multi-information display and a 
buzzer will sound outside the vehi-
cle. To turn off the alarm, lock all 
the doors.
●The lock sensor may not work 
properly if it com es into contact 
with ice, snow, mud, etc. Clean 
the lock sensor and attempt to 
operate it again, or use the lock 
sensor on the lower part of the 
door handle.
●A sudden handle operation or a 
handle operation immediately 
after entering the effective range 
may prevent the doors from being 
unlocked. Touch the door unlock 
sensor and check that the doors 
are unlocked bef ore pulling the 
door handle again.
●If there is another electronic key in 
the detection area, it may take 
slightly longer to unlock the doors 
after the door handle is gripped.
■When the vehicle  is not driven 
for extended periods
●To prevent theft of the vehicle, do 
not leave the electronic key within 
6 ft. (2 m) of the vehicle.
●The smart key system can be 
deactivated in advance. ( P.526)
●Setting the electronic key to bat-
tery-saving mode helps to reduce 
key battery depletion. ( P.147)
■To operate the system properly
Make sure to carry the electronic 
key when operating the system. Do 
not get the electronic key too close 
to the vehicle when operating the 
system from the ou tside of the vehi-
cle.
Depending on the position and hold-
ing condition of the electronic key, 
the key may not be detected cor- rectly and the system may not oper-
ate properly. (The alarm may go off 
accidentally, or the door lock pre-
vention may not operate.)
■If the smart key
 system does 
not operate properly
If the doors cannot be 
locked/unlocked using the smart key 
system, lock/unlock the doors by 
performing any of the following:
●Bring the electronic key close to 
either front door handle and oper-
ate the entry function.
●Operate the wireless remote con-
trol.
If the doors cannot be 
locked/unlocked using the above 
methods, use the mechanical key. 
(  P.489)
If the hybrid system cannot be 
started using the  smart key system, 
refer to P.490.
■Customization
Some functions can be customized. 
(  P.526)
■If the smart key system has 
been deactivated in a custom-
ized setting
●Locking and unlocking the doors: 
Use the wireless remote control or 
mechanical key. ( P.131, 489)
●Starting the hybr id system and 
changing power switch modes: 
 P. 4 9 0
●Stopping the hybrid system: 
P. 2 1 5 

1673-4. Adjusting the steering wheel and mirrors
HIGHLANDER HV_U
3
Before driving
■To prevent sensor error (vehi-
cles with auto ant i-glare inside 
rear view mirror)
To ensure that the sensors operate 
properly, do not touch or cover 
them.
*: If equipped
Digital Rear view Mir-
ror*
The Digital Rearview Mirror 
is a system that uses the 
camera on the rear of the 
vehicle and displays its 
image on the display of the 
Digital Rearview Mirror.
The Digital Rearview Mirror 
can be changed between 
optical mirror mode and dig-
ital mirror mode by operat-
ing the lever.
The Digital Rearview Mirror 
allows the driver to see the 
rear view despite obstruc-
tions, such as the head 
restraints or luggage, ensur-
ing rear visibility. Also, the 
rear seats are not displayed 
and privacy of the passen-
gers is enhanced.
WA R N I N G
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may result in 
death or serious injury.
■Before using the  Digital Rear-
view Mirror
●Make sure to adjust the mirror 
before driving. ( P.169)
• Change to optical mirror mode  and adjust the position of the 
Digital Rearview Mirror so that 
the area behind your vehicle 
can be viewed properly. 

1713-4. Adjusting the steering wheel and mirrors
HIGHLANDER HV_U
3
Before driving
The setting display will be dis-
played.
3 Press   or   to 
enable (“ON”)/disable 
(“OFF”) the automatic 
anti-glare function.
The icons will disapp ear if a button 
is not operated fo r approximately 5 
seconds or more.
■Adjusting the display (digital 
mirror mode)
●If the displayed image is adjusted, 
it may appear distorted. This is not 
a malfunction.
●If the brightness of the Digital 
Rearview Mirror is set too high, it 
may cause eye strain. Adjust the 
Digital Rearvie w Mirror to an 
appropriate brightness. If your 
eyes become tired, change to 
optical mirror mode.
●The brightness of the Digital Rear-
view Mirror will ch ange automati-
cally according to the brightness 
of the area in fron t of your vehicle.
■To prevent the light sensors 
from malfunctioning
To prevent the light sensors from 
malfunctioning, do not touch or 
cover them.
WA R N I N G
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may result in 
death or serious injury.
■While driving
●Do not adjust the position of the 
Digital Rearview Mirror or adjust 
the display settings while driv-
ing.
Stop the vehicle and operate 
the Digital Rearview Mirror con-
trol switches. 
Failure to do so may cause a 
steering wheel operation error, 
resulting in an  unexpected acci-
dent.
●Always pay attention to the 
vehicle’s surroundings.
The size of the vehicles and other 
objects may look different when in 
digital mirror mode and optical 
mirror mode.
When backing up, make sure to 
directly check the safety of the 
area around your vehicle, espe-
cially behind the vehicle.
Additionally, if a vehicle 
approaches from the rear in the 
dark, such as at night, the sur-
rounding area may appear dim.
■To prevent causes of fire
If the driver continues using the 
Digital Rearview Mirror while 
smoke or odor comes from the 
mirror, it may result in fire. Stop 
using the system immediately and 
contact your Toyota dealer.