
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. 

4326-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
HIGHLANDER HV_U
When replacing wheels, care 
should be taken to ensure that 
they are equivalent to those 
removed in load capacity, diam-
eter, rim width and inset
*.
Replacement wheels are avail-
able at your Toyota dealer.
*: Conventionally referred to as off- set.
Toyota does not recommend 
using the following:
 Wheels of different sizes or 
types
 Used wheels
 Bent wheels that have been 
straightened
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are 
equipped with tire pressure warning 
valves and transmit ters that allow 
the tire pressure warning system to 
provide advance warning in the 
event of a loss in tire inflation pres-
sure. Whenever wheels are 
replaced, tire pressure warning 
valves and transmitters must be 
installed. ( P.423)
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or 
heavily corroded, it should 
be replaced. Otherwise, the 
tire may separate from the 
wheel or cause a loss of 
handling control.
Wheel selection
WA R N I N G
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a dif-
ferent size from  those recom-
mended in the Owner’s Manual, 
as this may result in a loss of 
handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a 
leaking wheel which is designed 
for a tubeless tire.
Doing so may result in an acci-
dent, causing death or serious 
injury.
■When installing the wheel 
nuts
Never use oil or grease on the 
wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the 
wheel nuts to be excessively tight-
ened, leading to bolt or disc wheel 
damage. In addition, the oil or 
grease can cause the wheel nuts 
to loosen and the wheel may fall 
off, causing an accident and 
resulting in death or serious injury. 
Remove any oil or grease from 
the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
■Use of defective wheels pro-
hibited
Do not use cracke d or deformed 
wheels. Doing so could cause the 
tire to leak air during driving, pos-
sibly causing an accident.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warn-
ing valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replace-
ment may affect the tire pres-
sure warning valves and 
transmitters, make sure to have 
tires serviced by your Toyota 
dealer or other qualified service 
shop. In additio n, make sure to 
purchase your tire pressure 
warning valves  and transmit-
ters at your Toyota dealer. 

4817-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER HV_U
7
When trouble arises
your Toyota dealer.
1 Remove any dirt or foreign 
matter from the wheel con-
tact surface.
If foreign matter  is on the wheel 
contact surface, the wheel nuts 
may loosen while the vehicle is in 
WA R N I N G
■Replacing a flat tire
●Do not touch the disc wheels or 
the area around the brakes 
immediately after the vehicle 
has been driven.
After the vehicle has been 
driven the disc  wheels and the 
area around the  brakes will be 
extremely hot. Touching these 
areas with hands , feet or other 
body parts while changing a tire, 
etc. may result in burns.
●Failure to follow these precau-
tions could cause the wheel 
nuts to loosen and the tire to fall 
off, resulting in death or serious 
injury.
• Never use oil or grease on the  wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the 
wheel nuts to be excessively 
tightened, leading to bolt or disc 
wheel damage. In addition, the 
oil or grease can cause the 
wheel nuts to loosen and the 
wheel may fall off, causing an 
accident and resulting in death 
or serious injury. Remove any 
oil or grease from the wheel 
bolts or wheel nuts.
• Have the wheel nuts tightened  with a torque wrench to 76 ft•lbf 
(103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m) as soon 
as possible after changing 
wheels.
• When installing a tire, only use  wheel nuts that have been spe-
cifically designed for that wheel.
• If there are any  cracks or defor-
mations in the bolt screws, nut 
threads or bolt holes of the 
wheel, have the vehicle 
inspected by your Toyota 
dealer.
• Do not attach a  heavily dam-
aged wheel ornament, as it may 
fly off the wheel while the vehi-
cle is moving.
●Observe the fo llowing precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may result in 
serious injury:
• Do not try to remove the wheel  ornament by hand. Take due 
care in handling the ornament to 
avoid unexpected personal 
injury.
• Lower the spare tire completely  to the ground before removing it 
from under the vehicle.
■Replacing a flat  tire for vehi-
cles with power back door
In cases such as when replacing 
tires, make sure to turn off the 
power back door main switch 
(  P.526). Failure to do so may 
cause the back door to operate 
unintentionally if the power back 
door switch is accidentally 
touched, resulti ng in hands and 
fingers being caught and injured.
Installing the spare tire