
2
HIGHLANDER HV_UTABLE OF CONTENTS
For your information ........................
5
Reading this manual ...................... 10
How to search ................................ 11
Pictorial index ................................ 12
1-1. For safe use Before driving ........................ 24
For safe driving ..................... 25
Seat belts .............................. 27
SRS airbags .......................... 34
Front passenger occupant clas- sification system.................. 43
Exhaust gas precautions....... 48
1-2. Child safety Riding with children ............... 49
Child restraint systems .......... 50
1-3. Emergency assistance Safety Connect ..................... 65
1-4. Hybrid system Hybrid system features ......... 71
Hybrid system precautions .... 75
1-5. Theft deterrent system Immobilizer system ............... 79
Alarm ..................................... 81
2-1. Instrument cluster Warning lights and indicators............................................ 84
Gauges and meters .............. 89
Multi-information display  (4.2-inch display)................. 92
Multi-information display (7-inch  display)............................. 102
Head-up display ................. 112
Energy monitor/consumption  screen .............................. 1173-1. Key information
Keys ................................... 128
3-2. Opening, closing and locking  the doors
Side doors .......................... 131
Back door ........................... 135
Smart key system .............. 146
3-3. Adjusting the seats Front seats ......................... 153
Rear seats.......................... 154
Driving position memory .... 159
Head restraints................... 162
3-4. Adjusting the steering wheel  and mirrors
Steering wheel ................... 165
Inside rear view mirror ....... 166
Digital Rearview Mirror....... 167
Outside rear view mirrors ... 177
3-5. Opening, closing the win- dows and moon roof
Power windows .................. 179
Moon roof ........................... 182
Panoramic moon roof......... 185
4-1. Before driving Driving the vehicle.............. 190
Cargo and luggage ............ 197
Vehicle load limits .............. 200
T r
ailer towing...................... 201
Dinghy towing .................... 212
4-2. Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch ....... 213
EV drive mode ................... 218
Hybrid transmission ........... 220
Turn signal lever................. 223
1For safety and security
2Vehicle status information 
and indicators
3Before driving
4Driving 

12Pictorial index
Pictorial index
■Exterior
The shape of the lights may diff er depending on the grade, etc.
Side doors ......... ................................. ................................ P.131
Locking/unlocking .............................................. .................. P.131
Opening/closing the side windows ............................... ........ P.179
Locking/unlocking by using the mechanical key .................. P. 4 8 9
Warning lights/warning messages ............................... P .460, 470
Back door ...................................................... ..................... P.135
Opening from inside the cabin
*............................................ P.137
Opening from outside........................................... ................ P.137
Warning lights/warning messages ............................... P .460, 470
Outside rear view mirrors ................................................. P.177
Adjusting the mirror angle ..................................... ............... P.177
Folding the mirrors ............................................ ................... P.178
Driving position memory
*..................................................... P.159
Defogging the mirrors .......................................... ................ P.338
Windshield wipers.............................................. ................ P.235 

16Pictorial index
HIGHLANDER HV_U
When the warning messages are displayed ........................ P. 4 7 0
Turn signal lever.............................................. ................... P.223
Headlight switch ............................................... ................. P.229
Headlights/side marker lights/pa rking lights/tail lights/license plate 
lights/daytime running lights .................................. ............... P.229
Front fog lights ............................................... ...................... P.235
Windshield wiper and washer sw itch....................... P.235, 238
Usage.......................................................... ................. P.235, 238
Adding washer fluid .............................................................. P.415
Warning messages ............................................... ............... P.470
Emergency flasher switch ....................................... .......... P.452
Hood lock release lever ........................................ ............. P.408
Tilt and telescopic steering  lock release lever ................P. 1 6 5
Adjustment ..................................................... ...................... P.165
Air conditioning  system ............................. ....................... P.336
Usage................................................................................... P.336
Rear window defogger ........................................... .............. P.338
Windshield wiper de-icer
*1................................................... P.338
Audio system
*2
Fuel filler door opener swi tch ........................................... P.240
*1: If equipped
*2: Refer to “NAVIGATION AND MULTIMEDIA  SYSTEM OWNER’S MAN-
UAL”. 

17Pictorial index
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■ Switches
Driving position memory switches*1................................ P.159
Window lock switch ............................................. .............. P.181
Power window switches ....... ............................................. P.179
Door lock switches ............................................................ P.134
Outside rear view mirror swi tches ................................... P.177
“ODO TRIP” switch .............................................. ................ P.91
Instrument panel light control switches ........................ .... P.92
Automatic High Beam switch ..................................... ...... P.232
Camera switch
*2
AC 120V switch*1P. 3 7 8
Power back door switch ... ................................................. P.137
Heated steering wheel switch
*1........................................ P.353
Windshield wiper de-icer
*1................................................ P.346
*1: If equipped
*2: Refer to “NAVIGATI ON AND MULTIMEDIA  SYSTEM OWNER’S MAN-
UAL”. 

361-1. For safe use
HIGHLANDER HV_U
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed 
based on the US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The 
airbag sensor assembly (ECU) controls airbag deployment based on 
information obtained from the sensors etc. shown in the system 
components diagram above. This in formation includes crash sever-
ity and occupant information. As the airbags deploy, a chemical  
reaction in the inflators quickly  fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to 
help restrain the motion of the occupants.
■If the SRS airbags deploy 
(inflate)
●Slight abrasions,  burns, bruising 
etc., may be sustained from SRS 
airbags, due to the extremely high 
speed deployment (inflation) by 
hot gases.
●A loud noise and white powder will 
be emitted.
●Parts of the airbag module (steer-
ing wheel hub, airbag cover and 
inflator) as well as the front seats, 
parts of the front  and rear pillars, 
and roof side rails, may be hot for 
several minutes. T he airbag itself 
may also be hot.
●The windshield may crack.
●The hybrid system will be stopped 
and fuel supply to the engine will 
be stopped. ( P. 7 8 )
●All of the doors will be unlocked. 
( P.132)
●The brakes and st op lights will be 
controlled automatically. ( P.320)
●The interior lights will turn on auto-
matically. ( P.358)
●The emergency flashers will turn 
on automatically. ( P.452)
●For Safety Connect subscribers, if 
any of the following situations 
occur, the system is designed to 
send an emergency call to the 
response center, notifying them of 
the vehicle’s location (without 
needing to push the “SOS” button) 
and an agent will attempt to speak 
with the occupants to ascertain 
the level of emergency and assis- tance required. If the occupants 
are unable to communicate, the 
agent automatically treats the call 
as an emergency and helps to dis-
patch the necessary emergency 
services. (
P. 6 5 )
• An SRS airbag is deployed.
• A seat belt pretensioner is acti-
vated.
• The vehicle is involved in a severe 
rear-end collision.
■SRS airbag deployment condi-
tions (SRS front airbags)
●The SRS front airbags will deploy 
in the event of an impact that 
exceeds the set  threshold level 
(the level of forc e corresponding 
to an approximately 12 - 18 mph 
[20 - 30 km/h] frontal collision with 
a fixed wall that does not move or 
deform).
However, this threshold velocity will 
be considerably higher in the follow-
ing situations:
• If the vehicle strikes an object,  such as a parked vehicle or sign 
pole, which can move or deform 
on impact
• If the vehicle is involved in an  underride collision, such as a colli-
sion in which the front of the vehi-
cle “underrides”, or goes under, 
the bed of a truck
●Depending on the type of collision, 
it is possible that only the seat belt 
pretensioners will activate.
●The SRS front airbags for the front 
passenger will not activate if there 
is no passenger sitting in the front 
passenger seat. However, the  

491-2. Child safety
HIGHLANDER HV_U
1
For safety and security
1-2.Child safety
Riding with children
Observe the following pre-
cautions when children are 
in the vehicle.
Use a child restraint system 
appropriate for the child, 
until the child becomes 
large enough to properly 
wear the vehicle’s seat belt.
 It is recommended that chil-
dren sit in the rear seats to 
avoid accidental contact 
with the shift lever, wiper 
switch, etc.
 Use the rear door child-pro-
tector lock or the window 
lock switch to avoid children 
opening the door while driv-
ing or operating the power 
window accidentally. 
( P.134, 181)
 Do not let small children 
operate equipment which 
may catch or pinch body 
parts, such as the power 
window, hood, back door, 
seats etc.
WA R N I N G
■When children are in the vehi-
cle
Never leave children unattended 
in the vehicle, and never allow 
children to have or use the key.
Children may be able to start the 
vehicle or shift the vehicle into 
neutral. There is also a danger 
that children ma y injure them-
selves by playing with the win-
dows, the moon roof or panoramic 
moon roof, or other features of the 
vehicle. In addition, heat build-up 
or extremely cold temperatures 
inside the vehicle can be fatal to 
children. 

551-2. Child safety
HIGHLANDER HV_U
1
For safety and security
A child restraint system for a 
small child or baby must itself be 
properly restrained on the seat 
with the lap portion of the 
lap/shoulder belt.
■Installing child restraint 
system using a seat belt 
(child restraint lock func-
tion belt)
Install the child restraint system 
in accordance to the operation 
manual enclosed with the child 
restraint system.
■Rear-facing  Infant 
seat/convertible seat
1 Adjust the rear seat
If there is a gap between the child 
seat and the seatb ack, adjust the 
seatback angle until good contact is 
achieved.
WA R N I N G
●Do not allow the child to lean 
his/her head or any part of 
his/her body against the door or 
the area of the seat, front or rear 
pillars, or roof  side rails from 
which the SRS side airbags or 
SRS curtain shield airbags 
deploy even if the child is 
seated in the child restraint sys-
tem. It is dangerous if the SRS 
side airbags and curtain shield 
airbags inflate, and the impact 
could cause death or serious 
injury to the child.
●When a booster seat is 
installed, always ensure that the 
shoulder belt is positioned 
across the center of the child’s 
shoulder. The belt should be 
kept away from the child’s neck, 
but not so that it could fall off the 
child’s shoulder.
●Use child restraint system suit-
able to the age and size of the 
child and install  it to the rear 
seat.
●If the driver’s seat interferes 
with the child restraint system 
and prevents it from being 
attached correct ly, attach the 
child restraint system to the 
right-hand rear seat.
●Adjust the front passenger seat 
so that it does not interfere with 
the child restraint system.
Child restraint system 
fixed with a seat belt 

811-5. Theft deterrent system
HIGHLANDER HV_U
1
For safety and security
*: If equipped
■Items to check before lock-
ing the vehicle
To prevent unexpected trigger-
ing of the alarm and vehicle 
theft, make sure of the following:
 Nobody is in the vehicle.
 The windows, moon roof (if 
equipped) and panoramic 
moon roof (if equipped) are 
closed before the alarm is set.
 No valuables or other per-
sonal items are left in the 
vehicle.
■Setting
Close the doors and hood, and 
lock all the doors. The system  will be set automatically after 30 
seconds.
The security indicator changes from 
being on to flashing when the sys-
tem is set.
■Canceling or stopping
Do one of the following to deac-
tivate or stop the alarms:
 Unlock the doors.
 Turn the power switch to ACC 
or ON, or start the hybrid sys-
tem. (The alarm will be deacti-
vated or stopped after a few 
seconds.)
■System maintenance
The vehicle has a mainte-
nance-free type alarm system.
■Triggering of the alarm
The alarm may be triggered in the 
following situations: 
(Stopping the alarm deactivates the 
alarm system.)
●A person inside the vehicle opens 
a door or hood, or unlocks the 
vehicle.
Alarm*
The alarm uses light and 
sound to give an alert when 
an intrusion is detected. 
The alarm is triggered in the 
following situations when 
the alarm is set:
 A locked door is unlocked or 
opened in any way other 
than using the entry func-
tion, wireless remote control 
or mechanical key. (The 
doors will lock again auto-
matically.)
 The hood is opened.
Setting/canceling/stop-
ping the alarm system