![TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2020  Owners Manual (in English) 761-4. Hybrid system
HIGHLANDER HV_U[11.3 L, 2.4 Imp. gal.], when the 
vehicle is on a level surface. This 
value may vary whe
n the vehicle is 
on a slope. Add extra fuel when the 
vehicle is incline TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2020  Owners Manual (in English) 761-4. Hybrid system
HIGHLANDER HV_U[11.3 L, 2.4 Imp. gal.], when the 
vehicle is on a level surface. This 
value may vary whe
n the vehicle is 
on a slope. Add extra fuel when the 
vehicle is incline](/manual-img/14/42576/w960_42576-75.png)
761-4. Hybrid system
HIGHLANDER HV_U[11.3 L, 2.4 Imp. gal.], when the 
vehicle is on a level surface. This 
value may vary whe
n the vehicle is 
on a slope. Add extra fuel when the 
vehicle is inclined.)
■Electromagnetic waves
●High voltage parts and cables on 
hybrid vehicles incorporate elec-
tromagnetic shielding, and there-
fore emit approximately the same 
amount of electromagnetic waves 
as conventional gasoline pow-
ered vehicles or home electronic 
appliances.
●Your vehicle may cause sound 
interference in some third 
party-produced radio parts.
■Hybrid battery (tr action battery)
The hybrid battery (traction battery) 
has a limited service  life. The lifes-
pan of the hybrid battery (traction 
battery) can change in accordance 
with driving style and driving condi-
tions.
WA R N I N G
■High voltage precautions
This vehicle has high voltage DC 
and AC systems as well as a 
12-volt system. DC and AC high 
voltage is very dangerous and 
can cause severe burns and elec-
tric shock that may result in death 
or serious injury.
●Never touch, disassemble, 
remove or replace the high volt-
age parts, cables or their con-
nectors.
●The hybrid sys tem will become 
hot after starting as the system 
uses high voltage. Be careful of 
both the high voltage and the 
high temperature, and always 
obey the warning labels 
attached to the vehicle.
●Never try to open the service 
plug access hole located under 
the rear seat. The service plug 
is used only when the vehicle is 
serviced and is subject to high 
voltage.
■Road accident cautions
Observe the following precautions 
to reduce the risk of death or seri-
ous injury:
●Pull your vehicle off the road, 
shift the shift le ver to P, apply 
the parking brake, and turn the 
hybrid system off.
●Do not touch the high voltage 
parts, cables and connectors.
●If electric wires are exposed 
inside or outside your vehicle, 
an electric shock may occur. 
Never touch exposed electric 
wires.
●If a fluid leak occurs, do not 
touch the fluid as it may be 
strong alkaline electrolyte from 
the hybrid battery (traction bat-
tery). If it comes into contact 
with your skin or eyes, wash it 
off immediately with a large 
amount of water or, if possible, 
boric acid solution. Seek imme-
diate medical attention.
●If a fire occurs in the hybrid 
vehicle, leave the vehicle as 
soon as possible. Never use a 
fire extinguisher that is not 
meant for electric fires. Using 
even a small amount of water 
may be dangerous. 

1964-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake and 
shift the shift lever to P. Failure to 
do so may cause the vehicle to 
move or the vehi cle may acceler-
ate suddenly if the accelerator 
pedal is accidentally depressed.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle 
parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel 
fully in either direction and hold 
it there for an extended period 
of time.
Doing so may damage the 
power steering motor.
●When driving over bumps on 
the road, drive as slowly as pos-
sible to avoid damaging the 
wheels, underside of the vehi-
cle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driv-
ing
A flat or damaged tire may cause 
the following situations. Hold the 
steering wheel firmly and gradu-
ally depress the brake pedal to 
slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your 
vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal 
sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnor-
mally.
Information on what to do in case 
of a flat tire (
P.474)
■When encountering flooded 
roads
Do not drive on a road that has 
flooded after heavy rain etc. 
Doing so may cause the following 
serious damage to the vehicle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by 
water immersion
In the event that you drive on a 
flooded road and the vehicle is 
flooded, be sure to have your Toy-
ota dealer check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality 
of oil and fluid used for the 
engine, hybrid transaxle (front 
and rear [AWD models]), etc.
●Lubricant condition for bearings 
and suspension joints (where 
possible), and the function of all 
joints, bearings, etc. 

2384-3. Operating the lights and wipers
HIGHLANDER HV_Uwindshield wipers are operating, if a 
front door is opened, the operation 
of the windshield wipers will be 
stopped to prevent anyone enter-
ing/exiting the vehicle from being 
sprayed by water from the wipers, 
provided the vehicle is stopped with 
the parking brake applied or the shift 
lever in P. When the front door is 
closed, wiper operation will resume.
Operating the   switch 
operates the rear wiper as fol-
lows.
1
 (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Off
2  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Intermittent operation
3  (U.S.A.) or   (Canada) 
Normal operation
WA R N I N G
■Caution regarding the use of 
windshield wipers in AUTO 
mode (vehicles with 
rain-sensing wi ndshield wip-
ers)
The windshield wipers may oper-
ate unexpectedly if the sensor is 
touched or the windshield is sub-
ject to vibration in AUTO mode. 
Take care that your fingers, etc. 
do not become caught in the 
windshield wipers.
■Caution regarding the use of 
washer fluid
When it is cold, do not use the 
washer fluid until  the windshield 
becomes warm. The fluid may 
freeze on the windshield and 
cause low visibility. This may lead 
to an accident, resulting in death 
or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When the washer fluid tank is 
empty
Do not operate the switch continu-
ally as the washer fluid pump may 
overheat.
■When a nozzle becomes 
blocked
In this case, contact your Toyota 
dealer.
Do not try to clear it with a pin or 
other object. The nozzle will be 
damaged.
Rear windshield wiper 
and washer
NOTICE
■When the rear window is dry
Do not use the wiper, as it may 
damage the rear window.
Operating the wiper lever 

4026-2. Maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
General maintenance
Listed below are the general 
maintenance items that 
should be performed at the 
intervals specified in the 
“Owner’s Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet” or “Owner’s 
Manual Supplement/Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide”. It 
is recommended that any 
problem you notice should 
be brought to the attention 
of your Toyota dealer or 
qualified service shop for 
advice.
WA R N I N G
■If the hybrid system is operat-
ing
Turn the hybrid system off and 
ensure that there is adequate 
ventilation before performing 
maintenance checks.
Engine compartment
ItemsCheck points
Brake fluid
Is the brake fluid at 
the correct level? 
(  P.414)
Engine/power 
control unit 
coolant
Is the 
engine/power con-
trol unit coolant at 
the correct level? 
( P.413)
Engine oil
Is the engine oil at 
the correct level? 
( P.410)
Exhaust sys-
temThere should not 
be any fumes or 
strange sounds.
Radiator/con-
denser
The radiator and 
condenser should 
be free from for-
eign objects. 
( P.414)
Washer fluid
Is there sufficient 
washer fluid? 
( P.415)
Luggage compartment
ItemsCheck points
12-volt batteryCheck the connec-
tions. ( P.416)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator 
pedal
• The accelerator 
pedal should 
move smoothly 
(without uneven 
pedal effort or 
catching).
Hybrid trans-
mission “Park” 
mechanism
• When parked on a slope and the 
shift lever is in P, 
is the vehicle 
securely 
stopped?
ItemsCheck points 

4066-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
6-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself  ser vice 
precautions
If you perform maintenance 
by yourself, be sure to fol-
low the correct procedure 
as given in these sections.
Maintenance
ItemsParts and tools
12-volt battery 
condition 
( P.416)
•Grease
• Conventional 
wrench (for ter-
minal clamp 
bolts)
Brake fluid 
level ( P.414)
• FMVSS No.116 
DOT 3 or SAE 
J1703 brake fluid
• Rag or paper  towel
• Funnel (used  only for adding 
brake fluid)
Engine/power 
control unit 
coolant level 
( P.413)
• “Toyota Super 
Long Life Cool-
ant” or a similar 
high quality eth-
ylene gly-
col-based 
non-silicate, 
non-amine, 
non-nitrite and 
non-borate cool-
ant with long-life 
hybrid organic 
acid technology
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super 
Long Life Cool-
ant” is pre-mixed 
with 50% cool-
ant and 50% 
deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super 
Long Life Cool-
ant” is pre-mixed 
with 55% cool-
ant and 45% 
deionized water.
• Funnel (used  only for adding 
coolant)
Engine oil level 
( P.410)
• “Toyota Genuine 
Motor Oil” or 
equivalent
• Rag or paper  towel
• Funnel (used  only for adding 
engine oil)
Fuses 
( P.439)• Fuse with same 
amperage rating 
as original
ItemsParts and tools 

4106-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
Engine coolant reservoir ( P.413)
Fuse boxes ( P.439)
Engine oil filler cap ( P.411)
Engine oil level dipstick ( P.411)
Brake fluid reservoir ( P.414)
Washer fluid tank ( P.415)
Electric cooling fan
Condenser ( P.414)
Radiator ( P.414)
Power control unit coolant reservoir ( P.414)
■12-volt battery
 P. 4 1 6
With the engine at operating 
temperature and turned off, 
check the oil level on the dip-
Engine compar tment
Components
Checking and adding the 
engine oil 

4146-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■If the coolant level drops within 
a short time of replenishing
Visually check the radiator, hoses, 
engine/power control unit coolant 
reservoir caps, drain cock and water 
pump.
If you cannot find  a leak, have your 
Toyota dealer test the cap and 
check for leaks in the cooling sys-
tem.
Check the radiator and con-
denser and clear away any for-
eign objects. If either of the 
above parts is extremely dirty or 
you are not sure of their condi-
tion, have your vehicle  inspected by your Toyota dealer.
■Checking fluid level
The brake fluid level should be 
between the “MAX” and “MIN” 
lines on the tank.
■Adding fluid
Make sure to check the fluid 
type and prepare the necessary 
item.
 Fluid type
SAE J1703 or FMVSS No.116 DOT 
3 brake fluid
Item
Clean funnel
■Brake fluid can absorb moisture 
from the air
Excess moisture in  the brake fluid 
can cause a dangerous loss of brak-
ing efficiency. Use only newly 
WA R N I N G
■When the hybrid system is 
hot
Do not remove the engine/power 
control unit coolant reservoir caps 
and radiator cap.
The cooling system may be under 
pressure and may spray hot cool-
ant if the cap is removed, causing 
serious injuries, such as burns.
NOTICE
■When adding coolant
Coolant is neither plain water nor 
straight antifreeze. The correct 
mixture of water and antifreeze 
must be used to provide proper 
lubrication, corrosion protection 
and cooling. Be sure to read the 
antifreeze or coolant label.
■If you spill coolant
Be sure to wash it off with water to 
prevent it from d amaging parts or 
paint.
Checking the radiator and 
condenser
WA R N I N G
■When the hybrid system is 
hot
Do not touch the radiator or con-
denser as they may be hot and 
cause serious injuries, such as 
burns.
Checking and adding the 
brake fluid 

4156-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
6
Maintenance and care
opened brake fluid.
If any washer does not work or 
the warning message appears 
on the multi-information display, 
the washer tank may be empty. 
Add washer fluid.
WA R N I N G
■When filling the reservoir
Take care as brake fluid can harm 
your hands and eyes and damage 
painted surfaces.
If fluid gets on your hands or in 
your eyes, flush t he affected area 
with clean water immediately.
If you still experien ce discomfort, 
see a doctor.
NOTICE
■If the fluid level is low or high
It is normal for the brake fluid level 
to go down slightly as the brake 
pads wear out or when the fluid 
level in the accumulator is high.
If the reservoir needs frequent 
refilling, there ma y be a serious 
problem.
Washer fluid
WA R N I N G
■When adding washer fluid
Do not add washer fluid when the 
hybrid system is hot or operating 
as washer fluid contains alcohol 
and may catch fire if spilled on the 
engine, etc.
NOTICE
■Do not use any fluid other 
than washer fluid
Do not use soapy water or engine 
antifreeze instead of washer fluid.
Doing so may cause streaking on 
the vehicle’s painted surfaces, as 
well as damaging the pump lead-
ing to problems of the washer 
fluid not spraying.
■Diluting washer fluid
Dilute washer fluid with water as 
necessary.
Refer to the freezing tempera-
tures listed on the label of the 
washer fluid bottle.