
331-1. For safe use
HIGHLANDER HV_U
1
For safety and security
WA R N I N G
■Seat belt pretensioners
Observe the following precautions 
to reduce the risk of injury in the 
event of sudden braking, sudden 
swerving or an accident. Failure 
to do so may cause death or seri-
ous injury.
●Do not place anything, such as 
a cushion, on the front passen-
ger’s seat. Doing so will 
disperse the passenger’s 
weight, which prevents the sen-
sor from detecting the passen-
ger’s weight properly. As a 
result, the seat belt pretensioner 
for the front passenger’s seat 
may not activate  in the event of 
a collision.
●If the pretensioner has acti-
vated, the SRS warning light will 
come on. In that case, the seat 
belt cannot be used again and 
must be replaced at your Toyota 
dealer. 

421-1. For safe use
HIGHLANDER HV_U
WA R N I N G
●Do not attach anything to areas 
such as a door, windshield, side 
windows, front or rear pillar, roof 
side rail and assist grip.
●Do not hang coat hangers or 
other hard objects on the coat 
hooks. All of these items could 
become projectiles and may 
cause death or serious injury, 
should the SRS curtain shield 
airbags deploy.
●I f a vin yl co ver  is p u t on  t he  ar ea  
where the SRS knee airbag will 
deploy, be sure to remove it.
●Do not use seat accessories 
which cover the parts where the 
SRS side airbags and SRS seat 
cushion airbag inflate as they 
may interfere with inflation of 
the SRS airbags. Such acces-
sories may prevent the side air-
bags and seat cushion airbag 
from activating correctly, disable 
the system or cause the side 
airbags and seat cushion airbag 
to inflate accidentally, resulting 
in death or serious injury.
●Do not strike or apply significant 
levels of force to the area of the 
SRS airbag components or the 
front doors. Doing so can cause 
the SRS airbags to malfunction.
●Do not touch any of the compo-
nent parts immediately after the 
SRS airbags have deployed 
(inflated) as they may be hot.
●If breathing becomes difficult 
after the SRS airbags have 
deployed, open a door or win-
dow to allow fresh air in, or 
leave the vehicle if it is safe to 
do so. Wash off any residue as 
soon as possible to prevent skin 
irritation.
●If the areas where the SRS air-
bags are stored, such as the 
steering wheel pad and front 
and rear pillar  garnishes, are 
damaged or cracked, have 
them replaced by your Toyota 
dealer.
●Do not place anything, such as 
a cushion, on the front passen-
ger’s seat. Doing so will 
disperse the passenger’s 
weight, which prevents the sen-
sor from detecting the passen-
ger’s weight properly. As a 
result, the SRS front airbags for 
the front passenger may not 
deploy in the event of a colli-
sion.
■Modification and disposal of 
SRS airbag system compo-
nents
Do not dispose of your vehicle or 
perform any of the following modi-
fications without consulting your 
Toyota dealer. The SRS airbags 
may malfunction or deploy 
(inflate) accidentally, causing 
death or serious injury.
●Installation, re moval, disassem-
bly and repair of the SRS air-
bags
●Repairs, modifications, removal 
or replacement of the steering 
wheel, instrument panel, dash-
board, seats or seat upholstery, 
front, side and rear pillars, roof 
side rails, front door panels, 
front door trims or front door 
speakers 

511-2. Child safety
HIGHLANDER HV_U
1
For safety and security
WA R N I N G
●Toyota strongly urges the use of 
a proper child restraint system 
that conforms to the weight and 
size of the child,  installed on the 
second seat. According to acci-
dent statistics, the child is safer 
when properly restrained in the 
second seat than in the front 
seat.
●Holding a child in your or some-
one else’s arms is not a substi-
tute for a child restraint system. 
In an accident, the child can be 
crushed against the windshield 
or between the  holder and the 
interior of the vehicle.
■Handling the child restraint 
system
If the child restrai nt system is not 
properly fixed in place, the child or 
other passengers may be seri-
ously injured or e ven killed in the 
event of sudden braking, sudden 
swerving, or an accident.
●If the vehicle were to receive a 
strong impact from an accident, 
etc., it is possib le that the child 
restraint system has damage 
that is not readily visible. In 
such cases, do not reuse the 
restraint system.
●Make sure you have complied 
with all installation instructions 
provided with the child restraint 
system manufacturer and that 
the system is properly secured.
●Keep the child restraint system 
properly secured on the seat 
even if it is not in use. Do not 
store the child restraint system 
unsecured in the passenger 
compartment.
●If it is necessary  to detach the 
child restraint system, remove it 
from the vehicle or store it 
securely in the luggage com-
partment. 

1974-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
Cargo capacity depends on the 
total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load 
capacity) — (Total weight of 
occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct 
Load Limit —
(1) Locate the statement “The 
combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your 
vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined 
weight of the driver and passen-
gers that will be riding in your 
vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined 
weight of the driver and passen-
gers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals 
the available amount of cargo 
and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” 
amount equals 1400 lbs. and 
there will be five 150 lb passen-
gers in your vehicle, the amount 
of available cargo and luggage 
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 −  750 (5 
 150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined 
weight of luggage and cargo 
being loaded on the vehicle. 
That weight may not safely 
exceed the available cargo and 
luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing 
a trailer, load from your trailer 
will be transferred to your vehi-
cle. Consult this manual to 
determine how this reduces the 
available cargo and luggage 
load capacity of your vehicle. 
( P.200)
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle 
capacity weight) ( P.504)
When 2 people with the com-
bined weight of A lb. (kg) are rid-
ing in your vehicle, which has a 
total load capacity (vehicle 
capacity weight) of B lb. (kg), 
the available amount of cargo 
and luggage load capacity will 
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following 
information about storage 
precautions, cargo capacity 
and load.
Capacity and distribution
Calculation formula for 
your vehicle 

1984-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
be C lb. (kg) as follows:
B
*2 lb. (kg) - A*1 lb. (kg) = C*3 lb. 
(kg)
*1: A =Weight of people
*2: B =Total load capacity
*3: C =Available cargo and luggage  load
In this condition , if 3 more passen-
gers with the combined weight of D 
lb. (kg) get on, the available cargo 
and luggage load  will be reduced E 
lb. (kg) as follows:
C lb. (kg) - D*4 lb. (kg) = E*5 lb. 
(kg)
*4: D =Additional weight of people
*5: E =Available cargo and luggage  load
As shown in the example above, 
if the number of occupants 
increases, the cargo and lug-
gage load will be reduced by an 
amount that equals the 
increased weight due to the 
additional occupants. In other 
words, if an increase in the num-
ber of occupants causes an 
excess of the total load capacity 
(combined weight of occupants 
plus cargo and luggage load), 
you must reduce the cargo and 
luggage on your vehicle.
WA R N I N G
■Things that must not be car-
ried in the luggage compart-
ment
The following things may cause a 
fire if loaded in the luggage com-
partment:
●Receptacles containing gaso-
line
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may prevent the 
pedals from being depressed 
properly, may block the driver’s 
vision, or may res ult in items hit-
ting the driver or passengers, pos-
sibly causing an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the 
luggage compartment when-
ever possible.
●Do not stack cargo and luggage 
in the luggage compartment 
higher than the seatbacks.
●When you fold down the rear 
seats, long items should not be 
placed directly behind the front 
seats.
●Never allow anyon e to ride in 
the luggage compartment. It is 
not designed for passengers. 
They should ride in their seats 
with their seat belts properly 
fastened.
●Do not place cargo or luggage 
in or on the follo wing locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear  seats (when stacking items)
• On the luggage cover
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
●Secure all items in the occupant 
compartment.
■Capacity and distribution
●Do not exceed the maximum 
axle weight rating or the total 
vehicle weight rating. 

1994-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER HV_U
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
●Even if the tota l load of occu-
pant’s weight and the cargo 
load is less than  the total load 
capacity, do not apply the load 
unevenly. Improper loading may 
cause deteriorat ion of steering 
or braking control which may 
cause death or serious injury.
■When using a roof luggage 
carrier (vehicles with roof 
rails)
Observe the following precau-
tions: 
●Place the cargo so that its 
weight is distributed evenly 
between the front and rear 
axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, 
never exceed the vehicle overall 
length or width. (
P.504)
●Before driving,  make sure the 
cargo is securel y fastened on 
the roof luggage carrier.
●Loading cargo on the roof lug-
gage carrier will make the cen-
ter of gravity of the vehicle 
higher. Avoid high speeds, sud-
den starts, sharp turns, sudden 
braking or abrupt maneuvers, 
otherwise it may result in loss of 
control or vehicle rollover due to 
failure to operate this vehicle 
correctly and resu lt in death or 
serious injury.
●If driving for a long distance, on 
rough roads, or at high speeds, 
stop the vehicle now and then 
during the trip to make sure the 
cargo remains in its place.
●Do not exceed 165 lb. (75 kg) 
cargo weight on the roof lug-
gage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading cargo
Be careful not to scratch the sur-
face of the moon roof or pan-
oramic moon roof. 

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. 

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.