
2024-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
●All trailer lights work as required 
by law.
●All lights work each time you con-
nect them.
●The trailer ball is set at the proper 
height for the coupler on the 
trailer.
●The trailer is level when it is 
hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not 
level, and check for improper 
tongue weight, overloading, worn 
suspension, or other possible 
causes.
●The trailer cargo is securely 
loaded.
●The rear view mirrors conform to 
all applicable federal, state/provin-
cial or local regu lations. If they do 
not, install rear  view mirrors 
appropriate for towing purposes.
■Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped 
with any new power train compo-
nents (such as an engine, hybrid 
transmission, rear differential or 
wheel bearing), Toyota recommends 
that you do not tow  a trailer until the 
vehicle has been driven for over 500 
miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for 
over 500 miles (800 km), you can 
start towing. However, for the next 
500 miles (800 km), drive the vehi-
cle at a speed of less than 50 mph 
(80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and 
avoid full throttle acceleration.
■Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle 
will require more f requent mainte-
nance due to the additional load. 
(See “Scheduled Maintenance 
Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Sup-
plement”.)
●Retighten the fixing bolts of the 
towing ball and bracket after 
approximately 600 miles (1000 
km) of trailer towing.
■If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, 
passing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) 
can adversely affect handling of 
your vehicle and trailer, causing 
instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel.  Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to contr ol trailer sway-
ing by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator  pedal immediately but very gradu-
ally to reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not 
apply vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction 
with the steering or brakes, your 
vehicle and trailer  should stabilize. 
(if enabled, Trailer Sway Control can 
also help to stabilize the vehicle and 
trailer.)
●After the trailer swaying has 
stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occu- pants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and  the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not 
shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is 
appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is not over-
loaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the 
speed at which trailer swaying 
occurred is beyond the limit of your 
particular vehicle-trailer combina-
tion. Drive at a lower speed to pre-
vent instability. Remember that 
swaying of the towing vehicle-trailer 
increases as speed increases. 

2394-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
4  Washer/wiper dual 
operation
Pushing the lever operates the 
wiper and washer.
The wiper will automatically operate 
a couple of times after the washer 
squirts.
The washer will au tomatically oper-
ate and clean the camera for the 
Digital Rearview Mirror
*1 (  P.172) 
and rear camera
*2.
*1: If equipped
*2: Refer to “NAVIGATION AND  MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM 
OWNER’S MANUAL”.
■The rear window wiper and 
washer can be operated when
The power swit ch is in ON.
■If no washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzle is not 
blocked if there is  washer fluid in the 
washer fluid tank.
■Reverse-linked rear window 
wiper function
When the shift lever is shifted to R 
when the front wipers are operating, 
the rear window  wiper will operate 
once.
■Customization
Setting of the reverse-linked func-
tion can be changed. ( P.526)
NOTICE
■When the washer fluid tank is 
empty
Do not operate the switch continu-
ally as the washer fluid pump may 
overheat. 

2454-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
●Do not attach objects, such as 
stickers, transparent stickers, 
etc., to the oute r side of the 
windshield in fr ont of the front 
camera (shaded  area in the 
illustration).
From the top of the windshield 
to approximately 0.4 in. (1 cm) 
below the bottom of the front 
camera
Approximately 7.9 in. (20 cm) 
(Approximately 4.0 in. [10 cm] 
to the right and left from the 
center of the front camera)
●If the part of the windshield in 
front of the front camera is 
fogged up or covered with con-
densation, or ice, use the wind-
shield defogger to remove the 
fog, condensation, or ice. 
(
P.338)
●If water droplets cannot be 
properly removed from the area 
of the windshield in front of the 
front camera by the windshield 
wipers, replace the wiper insert 
or wiper blade.
●Do not attach win dow tint to the 
windshield.
●Replace the windshield if it is 
damaged or cracked. 
After replacing the windshield, 
the front camera must be recali-
brated. Contact your Toyota 
dealer for details.
●Do not allow liquids to contact 
the front camera.
●Do not allow bright lights to 
shine into the front camera.
●Do not dirty or damage the front 
camera. 
When cleaning the inside of the 
windshield, do not allow glass 
cleaner to contact the lens of 
the front camera. Also, do not 
touch the lens.
If the lens is dirty or damaged, 
contact your Toyota dealer.
●Do not subject the front camera 
to a strong impact.
●Do not change the installation 
position or direction of the front 
camera or remove it.
●Do not disasse mble the front 
camera.
●Do not modify any components 
of the vehicle around the front 
camera (inside rear view mirror, 
etc.) or ceiling.
●Do not attach a ny accessories 
to the hood, front grille or front 
bumper that may obstruct the 
front camera. Contact your Toy-
ota dealer for details.
●If a surfboard or other long 
object is to be mounted on the 
roof, make sure  that it will not 
obstruct the front camera.
●Do not modify the headlights or 
other lights. 

2804-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER HV_Ucorrectly detect vehicles ahead, the 
system may not operate properly.
●When the road curves or when the 
lanes are narrow
●When steering wheel operation or 
your position in t
he lane is unsta-
ble
●When the vehicle ahead of you 
decelerates suddenly
●When driving on a road sur-
rounded by a structure, such as in 
a tunnel or on a bridge
●While the vehicle speed is 
decreasing to the set speed after 
the vehicle accelerates by 
depressing the accelerator pedal
BSM (Blind Spot Moni-
tor)
The Blind Spot Monitor is a 
system that uses rear side 
radar sensors installed on 
the inner side of the rear 
bumper on the left and right 
side to assist the driver in 
confirming safety when 
changing lanes.
WA R N I N G
■Cautions regarding the use of 
the system
The driver is solely responsible for 
safe driving. Always drive safely, 
taking care to observe your sur-
roundings.
The Blind Spot Monitor is a sup-
plementary function which alerts 
the driver that a vehicle is in a 
blind spot of the outside rear view 
mirrors or is approaching rapidly 
from behind into a blind spot. Do 
not overly rely on the Blind Spot 
Monitor. As the function cannot 
judge if it is safe to change lanes, 
over reliance could lead to an 
accident resulting in death or seri-
ous injury.
As the system may not function 
correctly under  certain condi-
tions, the driver’s own visual con-
firmation of safety is necessary. 

2814-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
Meter control switches
Turning the Blind Spot Monitor 
on/off.
When the BSM function is disabled, 
the BSM OFF indicator illuminates.
Outside rear view mirror indi-
cators
When a vehicle is detected in a 
blind spot of the outside rear view 
mirrors or approaching rapidly from 
behind into a blind spot, the outside 
rear view mirror indicator on the 
detected side will illuminate. If the 
turn signal lever is operated toward 
the detected side, the outside rear  view mirror indicator flashes.
■Outside rear vie
w mirror indica-
tor visibility
In strong sunlight, the outside rear 
view mirror indicator may be difficult 
to see.
■When “Blind Spot Monitor 
Unavailable” is shown on the 
multi-information display
Ice, snow, mud, etc., may be 
attached to the rear bumper around 
the sensors. ( P.282) The system 
should return to normal operation 
after removing the ice, snow, mud, 
etc. from the rear bumper. Addition-
ally, the sensors may not operate 
normally when drivin g in extremely 
hot or cold environments.
■When “Blind Spot Monitor Mal-
function Visit Your Dealer” is 
shown on the multi-information 
display
There may be a sensor malfunction 
of misaligned. Have the vehicle 
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
■Customization
Some functions can be customized. 
(  P.526)
■Certification
For vehicles sold in the U.S.A.
System components 

2834-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
Use the meter control switches 
to turn on/off the function.
4.2-inch display
1 Press   or   of the meter 
control switches and select 
.
2 Press   or   of the meter 
control switches to select   
and then press  .
7-inch display
1 Press   or   of the meter 
control switches and select 
.
2 Press   or   of the meter 
control switches to select   
and then press  .
■Vehicles that can be detected by the Blind Spot Monitor
The Blind Spot Monitor uses rear side radar sensors to detect the fol-
lowing vehicles traveling in adjacent lanes and advises the dri ver of 
the presence of such vehicles v ia the indicators on the outside rear 
view mirrors.
WA R N I N G
●Do not attach stickers to the 
sensor or surrounding area on 
the rear bumper.
●Do not subject a  sensor or its 
surrounding area on the rear 
bumper to a strong impact.
If a sensor is  moved even 
slightly off position, the system 
may malfunction and vehicles 
may not be detected correctly.
In the following si tuations, have 
your vehicle inspected by your 
Toyota dealer.
• A sensor or its surrounding area  is subject to a strong impact.
• If the surroundin g area of a sen-
sor is scratched or dented, or 
part of them has become dis-
connected.
●Do not disassemble the sensor.
●Do not modify the sensor or sur-
rounding area on the rear 
bumper.
●If a sensor or th e rear bumper 
needs to be removed/installed 
or replaced, contact your Toyota 
dealer.
●Do not paint the rear bumper 
any color other than an official 
To y o t a   c o l o r.
Turning the Blind Spot 
Monitor on/off
Blind Spot Monitor operation 

2844-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER HV_U
Vehicles that are traveling in areas that are not visible using the 
outside rear view mirrors (the blind spots)
Vehicles that are approaching r apidly from behind in areas that  
are not visible using the outside rear view mirrors (the blind  spots)
■The Blind Spot Monitor detection areas
The areas that vehicles can be detected in are outlined below.
The range of each detection area is:
Approximately 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) to 11.5 ft. (3.5 m) from either s ide of 
the vehicle
*1
Approximately 3.3 ft. (1 m) forward of the rear bumper
Approximately 9.8 ft. (3 m) from the rear bumper
Approximately 9.8 ft. (3 m) to 197 ft. (60 m) from the rear 
bumper
*2
*1: The area between the side of the vehicle and 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) f rom the side 
of the vehicle cannot be detected.
*2: The greater the difference in speed between your vehicle and t he 
detected vehicle is, the farthe r away the vehicle will be detec ted, causing 
the outside r ear view mirror indicato r to illuminate or flash.
■The Blind Spot Monitor is oper- ational when
The Blind Spot Monitor is opera- 

2944-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER HV_U
Meter control switches
Turning the RCTA function on/off.
When the RCTA function is dis-
abled, the RCTA OFF indicator illu-
minates.
Outside rear view mirror indi-
cators
When a vehicle approaching from 
the right or left at the rear of the vehicle is detected, both outside 
rear view mirror indicators will flash.
Audio system screen
If a vehicle approaching from the 
right or left at the rear of the vehicle 
is detected, the RCTA icon 
(
 P.296) for the detected side will 
be displayed on the audio system 
screen. This illust ration shows an 
example of a vehicle approaching 
from both sides of the vehicle.
RCTA buzzer
If a vehicle approaching from the 
right or left at the rear of the vehicle 
is detected, a buzzer will sound.
4.2-inch display
Use the meter control switches 
to enable/disable the RCTA 
function. ( P.98)
1 Press   or   to select  .
2 Press   or   to select 
“RCTA” and then press  .
7-inch display
Use the meter control switches 
to enable/disable the RCTA 
function. ( P.107)
1 Press   or   to select  .
2 Press   or   to select 
“RCTA” and then press  .
When the RCTA function is dis-
abled, the RCTA OFF indicator 
( P.86) illuminates on the 
multi-information  display. (Each 
RCTA (Rear Cross Traf-
fic Aler t) function
The RCTA function uses the 
BSM rear side radar sensors 
installed behind the rear 
bumper. This function is 
intended to assist the driver 
in checking areas that are 
not easily visible when 
backing up.
System components
Turning the RCTA func-
tion on/off