2034-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
■Trailer towing precautions
To tow a trailer safely, use
extreme care and drive the vehi-
cle in accordance with the trailer’s
characteristics and operating con-
ditions. Failure to do so could
cause an accident resulting in
death or serious injury. Vehicle
stability and braking performance
are affected by trailer stability,
brake setting and performance,
and the hitch. Your vehicle will
handle different ly when towing a
trailer.
■To avoid accident or injury
●Do not exceed the TWR,
unbraked TWR, GCWR, GVWR
or GAWR.
●If the gross trailer weight is over
2000 lb. (900 kg), a sway con-
trol device with sufficient capac-
ity is required.
●Adjust the tongue weight within
the appropriate range. Place
heavier loads as close to the
trailer axle as possible.
●Do not exceed 65 mph (104
km/h), the posted towing speed
limit or the speed limit for your
trailer as set fort h in your trailer
owner’s manual, whichever is
lowest. Slow down sufficiently
before making a turn, in cross
winds, on wet or slippery sur-
face, etc. to help avoid an acci-
dent. If you experience a
vehicle-trailer instability from
reducing a certain speed, slow
down and make sure you keep
your vehicle speed under the
speed of which you experience
the instability.
●Do not make jerk y, abrupt or
sharp turns.
●Do not apply t he brakes sud-
denly as you may skid, resulting
in jack kn ifin g a nd los s o f ve hic le
control. This is especially true
on wet or slippery surfaces.
●Do not exceed the trailer hitch
assembly weight, gross vehicle
weight, gross axle weight and
trailer tongue weight capacities.
●Do not use the following sys-
tems when trailer towing.
• Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range
• LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
• PCS (Pre-Collision System)
• BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)
●Slow down and downshift
before descending steep or long
downhill grades. Do not make
sudden downshifts while
descending steep or long down-
hill grades.
●Vehicle-trailer instability is more
likely on steep long downhills.
Before descending steep or
long downhill grades, slow
down and downshift. Do not
make sudden downshifts when
descending steep or long down-
hill grades. Avoid holding the
brake pedal down too long or
applying the brakes too fre-
quently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency.
●Do not tow a trailer when the
compact spare tire is installed
on your vehicle.
■When towing a trailer
Toyota recommends trailers with
brakes that conform to any appli-
cable federal and s tate/provincial
regulations.
2514-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
■Enabling/disabling the
pre-collision system
The pre-collision system can be
enabled/disabled on ( P.98,
107) of the multi-information dis-
play.
The system is automatically
enabled each time the power
switch is turned to ON.
If the system is disabled, the
PCS warning light will turn on
and a message will be displayed
on the multi-information display.
■Changing the pre-collision
warning timing
The pre-collision warning timing
can be changed on ( P. 9 8 ,
107) of the multi-information dis-
play.
The warning timing setting is
retained when the power switch is
turned OFF. However, if the pre-col-
lision system is disabled and
re-enabled, the ope ration timing will
return to the default setting (mid-
dle).
WA R N I N G
●When your vehicle is towing
another vehicle
●When transporting the vehicle
via truck, boat, train or similar
means of transportation
●When the vehicle is raised on a
lift with the hybrid system on
and the tires are allowed to
rotate freely
●When inspecting the vehicle
using a drum tester such as a
chassis dynamometer or speed-
ometer tester, or when using an
on vehicle wheel balancer
●When a strong impact is applied
to the front bumper or front
grille, due to a n accident or
other reasons
●If the vehicle cannot be driven in
a stable manner, such as when
the vehicle has been in an acci-
dent or is malfunctioning
●When the vehicle is driven in a
sporty manner or off-road
●When the tires are not properly
inflated
●When the tires are very worn
●When tires of a size other than
specified are installed
●When tire chains are installed
●When a compact spare tire or
an emergency tire puncture
repair kit is used
●If equipment (snow plow, etc.)
that may obstruct the radar sen-
sor or front camera is temporar-
ily installed to the vehicle
Changing settings of the
pre-collision system
2584-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER HV_U
WA R N I N G
●Vehicle is driven in a construc-
tion zone.
●A spare tire, tire chains, etc. are
equipped.
●When the tires have been
excessively worn, or when the
tire inflation pressure is low.
●When tires of a size other than
specified are installed.
●Vehicle is driven in traffic lanes
other than that highways and
freeways.
●When your vehicle is towing a
trailer or during emergency tow-
ing.
■Preventing LTA system mal-
functions and operations per-
formed by mistake
●Do not modify the headlights or
place stickers, etc. on the sur-
face of the lights.
●Do not modify the suspension
etc. If the suspension etc. needs
to be replaced, contact your
Toyota dealer.
●Do not install or place anything
on the hood or gr ille. Also, do
not install a gr ille guard (bull
bars, kangaroo bar, etc.).
●If your windshield needs
repairs, contact your Toyota
dealer.
■Conditions in which functions
may not operate properly
In the following s ituations, the
functions may not operate prop-
erly and the vehicle may depart
from its lane. Drive safely by
always paying careful attention to
your surroundings and operate
the steering wheel to correct the
path of the vehicle without relying
solely on the functions.
●When the follow- up cruising dis-
play is displayed (P.262) and
the preceding vehicle changes
lanes. (Your vehicle may follow
the preceding vehicle and also
change lanes.)
●When the follow- up cruising dis-
play is displayed (
P.262) and
the preceding vehicle is sway-
ing. (Your vehicle may sway
accordingly and depart from the
lane.)
●When the follow- up cruising dis-
play is displayed (P.262) and
the preceding vehicle departs
from its lane. (Y our vehicle may
follow the preceding vehicle and
depart from the lane.)
●When the follow- up cruising dis-
play is displayed (
P.262) and
the preceding vehicle is being
driven extremely close to the
left/right lane line. (Your vehicle
may follow the preceding vehi-
cle and depart from the lane.)
●Vehicle is being driven around a
sharp curve.
4186-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
Check if the treadwear indica-
tors are showing on the tires.
Also check the tires for uneven
wear, such as excessive wear
on one side of the tread.
Check the spare tire condition
and pressure if not rotated.
New tread
Worn tread
Treadwear indicator
The location of treadwear indicators
is shown by a “TWI” or “ ” mark,
WA R N I N G
●If electrolyte gets on your
clothes
It can soak through clothing on
to your skin. Immediately take
off the clothing and follow the
procedure above if necessary.
●If you accidentally swallow elec-
trolyte
Drink a large quantity of water
or milk. Get emergency medical
attention immediately.
■When replacing the 12-volt
battery
Use a 12-volt battery designed for
this vehicle. Failure to do so may
cause gas (hydrogen) to enter the
passenger compartment, causing
a fire or explosion.
For replacement of the 12-volt
battery, contact your Toyota
dealer.
■When handling the 12-volt
battery
P. 4 9 5
NOTICE
■When recharging the 12-volt
battery
Never recharge the 12-volt bat-
tery while the hybrid system is
operating. Also, b e sure all acces-
sories are turned off.
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in
accordance with mainte-
nance schedules and tread-
wear.
Checking tires
4196-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
6
Maintenance and care
etc., molded into the sidewall of
each tire.
Replace the tires if the treadwear
indicators are showing on a tire.
■When to replace your vehicle’s
tires
Tires should be replaced if:
●The treadwear indicators are
showing on a tire.
●You have tire damage such as
cuts, splits, cracks deep enough
to expose the fabric, and bulges
indicating internal damage.
●A tire goes flat r epeatedly or can-
not be properly repaired due to the
size or location of a cut or other
damage.
If you are not sure, consult with your
Toyota dealer.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be
checked by a qualified technician
even if it has seldom or never been
used or damage i s not obvious.
■Proper storage of the spare tire
As an improperly stored spare tire
may cause damage to the wire
cable that holds it, check that the
spare tire is stored properly on a
daily basis.
●If the stored spare tire appears to
be slanted or rattl es while driving,
the spare tire may not be properly
stored. Store the spare tire again
by performing the following tire
change procedure correctly: 1
If the spare tire is slanted, the
hoist assembly may be stuck in
the wheel opening. If the spare
tire rattles while driving, it may
not be fully raised. Lower the
spare tire to the ground and
make sure that the hoist assem-
bly is perpendicular to the wheel
opening.
2 Raise the tire slowly and steadily
until a click is heard and the jack
handle skips.
If the spare tire cannot be lowered,
the wire cable may be severed.
Have the vehicle inspected at your
Toyota dealer.
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the n umber given by
dividing the maximum load by 1.10
of the replacement tire is greater
than 1/2 of the Gross Axle Weight
Ratings (GAWR) of either the front
axle or the rear axle, whichever is
greater.
For the GAWR, see the Certification
Label.
For the maximum load of the tire,
see the load limit at maximum cold
tire inflation pressure mentioned on
the sidewall of the tire. ( P.516)
■Tire types
●Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed perfor-
mance tires best suited to highway
driving under dry conditions. Since
summer tires do not have the same
traction performance as snow tires,
summer tires are inadequate for
4206-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_Udriving on snow-covered or icy
roads. For driving on snow-covered
roads or icy roads, the use of snow
tires is recommended. When install-
ing snow tires, be sure to replace all
four tires.
●All season tires
All season tires are designed to pro-
vide better traction in snow and to
be adequate for driving in most win-
ter conditions a s well as for use
year-round. All season tires, how-
ever, do not have adequate traction
performance compared with snow
tires in heavy or loose snow. Also,
all season tires fall short in accelera-
tion and handling performance com-
pared with summer tires in highway
driving.
●Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads
or icy roads, we recommend using
snow tires. If you need snow tires,
select tires of the same size, con-
struction and load capacity as the
originally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial t ires as original
equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construction.
Do not install stud ded tires without
first checking local regulations for
possible restrictions. Snow tires
should be installed on all wheels.
( P.327)
■If the tread on snow tires wears
down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tires as
snow tires is lost.
WA R N I N G
■When inspecting or replacing
tires
Observe the following precautions
to prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause dam-
age to parts of the drive train as
well as dangerous handling char-
acteristics, which may lead to an
accident resulting in death or seri-
ous injury.
●Do not mix tires of different
makes, models or tread pat-
terns.
Also, do not mix tires of remark-
ably different treadwear.
●Do not use tire sizes other than
those recommended by Toyota.
●Do not mix differently con-
structed tires (rad ial, bias-belted
or bias-ply tires).
●Do not mix summer, all season
and snow tires.
●Do not use tires that have been
used on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not
know how they were used previ-
ously.
●Do not tow if your vehicle has a
compact spare tire installed.
NOTICE
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving
on roads with loose surfaces or
potholes.
These conditions may cause
losses in tire inflation pressure,
reducing the cush ioning ability of
the tires. In addition, driving on
rough roads may cause damage
to the tires themselves, as well as
the vehicle’s wheels and body.
4306-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
The recommended cold tire
inflation pressure and tire size
are displayed on the tire and
loading information label.
(P. 5 1 1 )
Tire valve
Tire pressure gauge
1 Remove the tire valve cap. 2
Press the tip of the tire pres-
sure gauge onto the tire
valve.
3 Read the pressure using the
gauge gradations.
4 If the tire inflation pressure is
not at the recommended
level, adjust the pressure.
If you add too much air, press
the center of the valve to
deflate.
5 After completing the tire infla-
tion pressure measurement
and adjustment, apply soapy
water to the valve and check
for leakage.
6 Put the tire valve cap back
on.
■Tire inflation pressure check
interval
You should check ti re inflation pres-
sure every two week s, or at least
once a month. Do not forget to
check the spare.
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation
pressure
Driving with incorrec t tire inflation
pressure may resul t in the following:
●Reduced fuel economy
●Reduced driving comfort and poor
handling
●Reduced tire life due to wear
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent inflating,
have it checked by your Toyota
dealer.
■Instructions for checking tire
inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pres-
Tire inflation pressure
Checking the specified
tire inflation pressure
Inspection and adjust-
ment procedure
4687-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■Electric power steering system
warning light (warning buzzer)
When the 12-volt battery charge
becomes insufficien t or the voltage
temporarily drops, the electric power
steering system warning light may
come on and the warning buzzer
may sound.
■When the tire pressure warning
light comes on
Inspect the tires to check if a tire is
punctured.
If a tire is punctured: P.474
If none of the tires are punctured:
Turn the power switch off then turn it
to ON. Check if the tire pressure
warning light comes on or blinks.
If the tire pressure warning light
blinks for 1 minute then stays on
There may be a malfunction in the
tire pressure warning system. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer immediately.
If the tire pressure warning light
comes on
1 After the temperature of the tires
has lowered sufficiently, check
the inflation pressure of each tire
and adjust them to the specified
level.
2 If the warning light does not turn
off even after several minutes
have elapsed, check that the
inflation pressure of each tire is
at the specified level and perform
initialization. ( P.425)
If the warning light does not turn off
several minutes afte r the initializa-
tion has been perf ormed, have the
vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer immediately.
■The tire pressure warning light
may come on due to natural
causes
The tire pressure warning light may
come on due to natural causes such
as natural air leaks and tire inflation
pressure changes caused by tem-
perature. In this case, adjusting the tire inflation pressure will turn off the
warning ligh
t (after a few minutes).
■When a tire is replaced with a
spare tire
The compact spare tire is not
equipped with a tire pressure warn-
ing valve and tran smitter. If a tire
goes flat, the tire pressure warning
light will not turn off even though the
flat tire has been replaced with the
spare tire. Replac e the spare tire
with the repaired tire and adjust the
tire inflation pressure. The tire pres-
sure warning light will go off after a
few minutes.
■Conditions that the tire pres-
sure warning system may not
function properly
P.422
WA R N I N G
■If both the ABS and the brake
system warning lights remain
on
Stop your vehicle in a safe place
immediately and contact your Toy-
ota dealer.
The vehicle will become
extremely unstable during brak-
ing, and the ABS system may fail,
which could cause an accident
resulting in death o r serious injury.
■When the electric power
steering system warning light
comes on
When the light comes on yellow,
the assist to the power steering is
restricted. When the light comes
on red, the assis t to the power
steering is lost and handling oper-
ations of the steering wheel
become extremely heavy.
When steering wheel operations
are heavier than usual, grip the
steering wheel firmly and operate
it using more fo rce than usual.