
4TABLE OF CONTENTS
HIGHLANDER HV_U
Hood ..................................408
Positioning a floor jack ....... 409
Engine compartment .......... 410
12-volt battery .................... 416
Tires ................................... 418
Tire inflation pressure......... 430
Wheels ............................... 432
Air conditioning filter ........... 433
Cleaning the hybrid battery (trac- tion battery) air intake vents 
and filter ........................... 435
Electronic key battery ......... 438
Checking and replacing fuses ......................................... 439
Headlight aim ..................... 442
Light bulbs .......................... 443
7-1. Essential information Emergency flashers ........... 452
If your vehicle has to be stopped  in an emergency .............. 452
If the vehicle is trapped in rising  water ................................ 453
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency If your vehicle needs to be towed......................................... 455
If you think something is wrong ......................................... 458
If a warning light turns on or a  warning buzzer sounds .... 460
If a warning message is dis- played .............................. 470
If you have a flat tire ........... 474
If the hybrid system will not start ......................................... 486
If you lose your keys .......... 488
If the fuel filler door cannot be  opened ............................. 488
If the electronic key does not  operate properly ............... 489If the 12-volt battery is dis-
charged ............................ 491
If your vehicle overheats .... 497
If the vehicle becomes stuck ......................................... 500
8-1. Specifications Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.) .................................. 504
Fuel information ................. 514
Tire information .................. 516
8-2. Customization Customizable features ....... 526
8-3. Initialization Items to initialize ................ 538
9-1. For owners Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners ............................. 540
Seat belt instructions for Cana- dian owners (in French) ... 540
SRS airbag instructions for  Canadian owners (in French)......................................... 542
Headlight aim instructions for  Canadian owners (in French)......................................... 549
What to do if... (Troubleshooting)  ......................................... 55
2
Alphab
 etical Index.............. 555
7When trouble arises
8Vehicle specifications
9For owners
Index 

13Pictorial index
HIGHLANDER HV_U
Precautions for winter seas on.............................................. P.327
To prevent freezing (windshiel d wiper de-icer) ..................... P.338
Precautions for car wash
*.................................................... P.395
Fuel filler door ............................................... ..................... P.240
Refueling method ............................................... .................. P.240
Fuel type/fuel tan k capacity ................................... .............. P.507
Tires.......................................................... ........................... P.418
Tire size/inflation pressure ................................... ........ P.418, 511
Winter tires/tire chains ....................................... .................. P.327
Checking/rotation/tire pressur e warning system ..................P.418
Coping with flat tires......................................... .................... P.474
Hood ........................................................... ......................... P.408
Opening ............................................................................... P.408
Engine oil ..................................................... ........................ P.508
Coping with overheating ...................................................... P.497
Warning messages ............................................... ............... P.470
Headlights..................................................... ...................... P.229
Parking lights ................................................. .................... P.229
Front turn signal lights ....................................... ............... P.223
Parking lights
*/daytime running lights............................. P.229
Front side marker lights ....................................... ............. P.229
Front fog lights ............................................... .................... P.235
Stop/tail lights ............................................... ..................... P.229
Tail lights.................................................... ......................... P.229
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to  R ................................................... P.220
License plate lights........................................... ................. P.229
Rear turn signal lights ........................................ ............... P.223
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P.443, Watts: P.512) 

1914-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
slippery.
●Drive carefully whe n it starts to 
rain, because the road surface will 
be especially slippery.
●Refrain from high speeds when 
driving on an expressway in the 
rain, because there may be a 
layer of water between the tires 
and the road surface, preventing 
the steering and brakes from 
operating properly.
■ECO Accelerator Guidance 
(  P.94, 104)
It is easier to drive in an Eco-friendly 
manner by driving  while referring to 
the ECO Accelerator Guidance dis-
play. Also, by using the ECO Accel-
erator Guidance it is easier to 
increase the “Eco Score” evaluation.
●When starting off:
While staying within the ECO 
Accelerator Guidance range, 
gradually depress the accelerator 
pedal and accelerate to the 
desired speed. If excessive accel-
eration is avoid ed, the “Start” 
score will increase.
●When driving:
After accelerating to the desired 
speed, release the accelerator 
pedal and drive at  a stable speed 
within the ECO Ac celerator Guid-
ance range. By keeping the vehi-
cle within the ECO Accelerator 
Guidance range, the “Cruise” 
score will increase.
●When stopping:
When stopping the vehicle, early 
releasing the accelerator pedal 
will cause the “Stop” score to 
increase.
■Restraining the hybrid system 
output (Brake Override System)
●When the accelerator and brake 
pedals are depressed at the same 
time, the hybrid  system output 
may be restrained.
●A warning messag e is displayed 
on the multi-information display 
and head-up display (if equipped)  while the system is operating.
■Restraining sudden start 
(Drive-Start Control)
●When the following unusual oper-
ation is performed, the hybrid sys-
tem output may b
e restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from  R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P 
to R (D includes S) with the accel-
erator pedal depressed, a warning 
message appears on the 
multi-information display and 
head-up display (i f equipped). If a 
warning message is shown on the 
multi-information display and 
head-up display (if equipped), 
read the message and follow the 
instructions.
• When the accelerator pedal is  depressed too much while the 
vehicle is in reverse.
●While Drive-Start Control is being 
activated, your v ehicle may have 
trouble escaping from the mud or 
fresh snow. In such case, deacti-
vate TRAC ( P.320) to cancel 
Drive-Start Cont rol so that the 
vehicle may become able to 
escape from the mud or fresh 
snow.
●AWD models: Drive-Start Control 
does not work when Trail Mode is 
turned on.
■Breaking in your new Toyota
To extend the life of the vehicle, 
observing the following precautions 
is recommended:
●For the first 200  miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
●For the first 500  miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
●For the first 600  miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high  speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low  gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed  for extended periods. 

1934-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
●Always check that all passen-
gers’ arms, heads or other parts 
of their body are not outside the 
vehicle.
●AWD models: This is not an 
AWD vehicle designed for 
off-road driving. Proceed with all 
due caution if it becomes 
unavoidable to drive off-road.
●Do not drive across a river or 
through other bodies of water.
This may cause electric/elec-
tronic components to short cir-
cuit, damage the hybrid system 
or cause other serious damage 
to the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the 
speed limit. Even if the legal 
speed limit permits it, do not 
drive over 85 mph (140 km/h) 
unless your vehicle has 
high-speed capabilit y tires. Driv-
ing over 85 mp h (140 km/h) 
may result in tire failure, loss of 
control and possible injury. Be 
sure to consult a tire dealer to 
determine whether the tires on 
your vehicle are high-speed 
capability tires or not before 
driving at such speeds.
■When driving on slippery 
road surfaces
●Sudden braking, acceleration 
and steering may cause tire 
slippage and reduce your ability 
to control the vehicle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine 
braking due to shifting, or 
changes in engine speed could 
cause the vehicle to skid.
●After driving through a puddle, 
lightly depress the brake pedal 
to make sure t hat the brakes 
are functioning properly. Wet 
brake pads may prevent the 
brakes from functioning prop-
erly. If the brakes on only one 
side are wet and not functioning 
properly, steering control may 
be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll back-
ward while a fo rward driving 
position is selected, or roll for-
ward while the shift lever is in R.
Doing so may result in an acci-
dent or damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the sh ift lever to P 
while the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the trans-
mission and may result in a loss 
of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the sh ift lever to R 
while the vehicle is moving for-
ward.
Doing so can damage the trans-
mission and may result in a loss 
of vehicle control.
●Do not shift the shift lever to a 
driving position while the vehicle 
is moving backward.
Doing so can damage the trans-
mission and may result in a loss 
of vehicle control.
●Shifting the shift lever to N while 
the vehicle is moving will disen-
gage the hybrid system. Engine 
braking is not a vailable when N 
is selected.
●Be careful not to shift the shift 
lever with the accelerator pedal 
depressed. Shifting the shift 
lever to any position other than 
P or N may lead to unexpected 
rapid acceleration of the vehicle 
that may cause an accident and 
result in death or serious injury. 

1954-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
●Always apply the parking brake, 
shift the shift lever to P, stop the 
hybrid system and lock the vehi-
cle.
Do not leave the vehicle unat-
tended while the “READY” indi-
cator is illuminated.
If the vehicle is parked with the 
shift lever in P but the parking 
brake is not set, the vehicle may 
start to move, possibly leading 
to an accident.
●Do not touch the  exhaust pipes 
while the “READY” indicator is 
illuminated or immediately after 
turning the hybrid system off.
Doing so may cause burns.
■When taking a nap in the vehi-
cle
Always turn the hybrid system off. 
Otherwise, if you accidentally 
move the shift lever or depress 
the accelerator p edal, this could 
cause an accident or fire due to 
hybrid system overheating. Addi-
tionally, if the vehicle is parked in 
a poorly ventilated area, exhaust 
gases may collect and enter the 
vehicle, leading to death or a seri-
ous health hazard.
■When braking
●When the brakes a re wet, drive 
more cautiously.
Braking distance increases 
when the brakes  are wet, and 
this may cause one side of the 
vehicle to brake differently than 
the other side. Also, the parking 
brake may not securely hold the 
vehicle.
●If the electronically controlled 
brake system does not operate, 
do not follow other vehicles 
closely and avoid hills or sharp 
turns that require braking. In this 
case, braking is still possible, 
but the brake pedal should be 
depressed more firmly than 
usual. Also, the braking dis-
tance will increa se. Have your 
brakes fixed immediately.
●The brake system consists of 2 
or more individual hydraulic sys-
tems; if one of the systems fails, 
the other(s) will still operate. In 
this case, the brake pedal 
should be depressed more 
firmly than usual and the brak-
ing distance will increase. Have 
your brakes fixed immediately.
■If the vehicle becomes stuck 
(AWD models)
Do not spin the  wheels exces-
sively when any of the tires is up 
in the air, or the vehicle is stuck in 
sand, mud, etc. This may damage 
the driveline components or pro-
pel the vehicle forward or back-
ward, causing an accident.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator 
and brake pedals at the same 
time while driving, as this may 
restrain the hybrid system out-
put.
●Do not use the accelerator 
pedal or depress the accelera-
tor and brake pedals at the 
same time to hold the vehicle on 
a hill. 

2004-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■Total load capacity and seating 
capacity
These details are also described on 
the tire and loading information 
label. ( P.430)
Vehicle load limits
Vehicle load limits include 
total load capacity, seating 
capacity, trailer weight rat-
ing and cargo capacity.
 Total load capacity (vehicle 
capacity weight):  P. 5 0 4
Total load capacity means the 
combined weight of occupants, 
cargo and luggage.
 Seating capacity:  P.504
Seating capacity means the max-
imum number of occupants 
whose estimated average weight 
is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
 TWR (Trailer Weight Rat-
ing):  P.206, 504
TWR means the maximum gross 
trailer weight (tr ailer weight plus 
its cargo weight) that your vehicle 
is able to tow.
 Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or 
decrease depending on the 
weight and the number of occu-
pants.
WA R N I N G
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to 
the tires, but also degrade steer-
ing and braking ability, resulting in 
an accident. 

2014-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
■Matching trailer ball height to 
trailer coupler height
No matter wh ich class of tow hitch 
applies, for a m ore safe trailer 
hookup, the trailer ball setup must 
be the proper height for the coupler 
on the trailer.
Coupler
Trailer ball
■Before towing
Check that the fo llowing conditions 
are met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires 
are properly inflated. ( P.511)
●Trailer tires are inflated according 
to the trailer manufacturer’s rec-
ommendation.
Trailer towing
Your vehicle is designed pri-
marily as a passen-
ger-and-load-carrying 
vehicle. Towing a trailer can 
have an adverse impact on 
handling, performance, 
braking, durability, and fuel 
consumption. For your 
safety and the safety of oth-
ers, you must not overload 
your vehicle or trailer. You 
must also ensure that you 
are using appropriate tow-
ing equipment, that the tow-
ing equipment has been 
installed correctly and used 
properly, and that you 
employ the requisite driv-
ing habits.
Vehicle-trailer stability and 
braking performance are 
affected by trailer stability, 
brake performance and set-
ting, trailer brakes, the hitch 
and hitch systems (if 
equipped).
To tow a trailer safely, use 
extreme care and drive the 
vehicle in accordance with 
your trailer’s characteris-
tics and operating condi-
tions.
Toyota warranties do not 
apply to damage or mal-
function caused by towing a 
trailer for commercial pur-
poses.
Contact your Toyota dealer 
for further information 
about additional require-
ments such as a towing kit, 
etc. 

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.