
2574-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
■When starting off on an uphill (vehicles with hill-start assist control sys- 
tem) 
The hill-start assist control will activate. ( P. 422) 
■ Driving in the rain 
● Drive carefully when it is raining, because visibility will be reduced, the win- 
dows may become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery. 
● Drive carefully when it starts to rain, because the road surface will be espe- 
cially 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 sur- 
face, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly. 
■ Engine speed while driving (automatic transmission) 
In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving. 
This is due to automatic up-shifting c ontrol or down-shifting implementation to 
meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration. 
● The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill 
● When the accelerator pedal is released 
■ Restraining the engine output (Brake Override System) 
● When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same time, the 
engine output may be restrained. 
● Vehicles without multi-information display: A warning light comes on while 
the system is operating. ( P. 637) 
● Vehicles with multi-information display: A warning message is displayed on 
the multi-information display while the system is operating. ( P. 645) 
■ Breaking in your new Toyota 
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing the following precautions is recom- 
mended: 
● For the first 300 km (200 miles): 
Avoid sudden stops. 
● For the first 800 km (500 miles) (models for model code destination W*):  
Do not tow a trailer. ( P. 269)
*: See “Checking your vehicle’s model” if you are not sure of which model 
your vehicle is. ( P.  1 2 ) 
● For the first 1000 km (600 miles): 
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds. 
• Avoid sudden acceleration. 
• Do not drive continuously in the low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods. 
• Do not drive slowly with the manual transmission in a high gear. 

2594-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. 
■ When starting the vehicle 
On vehicles with automatic transmission, always keep your foot on the 
brake pedal while stopped with the engine running. This prevents the vehi-
cle from creeping. 
■ When driving the vehicle 
● Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with the location of the brake and accel- 
erator pedals to avoid depressing the wrong pedal.  
• Accidentally depressing the accelerator pedal instead of the brake 
pedal will result in sudden acceleration that may lead to an accident. 
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a diffi- 
culty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the 
vehicle only slightly. This allows you to depress the brake and accelera- 
tor pedals properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake 
pedal using your left foot may delay response in an emergency, result- 
ing in an accident. 
● Do not drive the vehicle over or stop the vehicle near flammable materials. 
The exhaust system and exhaust gases can be extremely hot. These hot 
parts may cause a fire if there is any flammable material nearby. 
● During normal driving, do not turn off the engine. Turning the engine off 
while driving will not cause loss of  steering or braking control, but the 
power assist to these systems will be lost. This will make it more difficult to 
steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it 
is safe to do so. 
However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible 
to stop the vehicle in the normal way:  P. 625 

2634-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury. 
■ When the vehicle is parked 
● Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P (vehicles with 
automatic transmission only), stop the engine and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running. 
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 engine is running or immediately 
after turning the engine off.  
Doing so may cause burns. 
■ When taking a nap in the vehicle 
Always turn the engine off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move the shift 
lever or depress the accelerator pedal, this could cause an accident or fire 
due to engine overheating. Additionally,  if the vehicle is parked in a poorly 
ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and enter the vehicle, leading to
death or a serious health hazard. 
■ When braking 
● When the brakes are 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 brake booster device 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 distance will increase. Have your 
brakes fixed immediately. 
● Do not pump the brake pedal if the engine stalls.  
Each push on the brake pedal uses up the reserve for the power-assisted 
brakes. 
● The brake system consists of 2 individual hydraulic systems: If one of the 
systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal 
should be depressed more firmly than usual and the braking distance will 
increase.
Have your brakes fixed immediately. 
■ If the vehicle becomes stuck (4WD models) 
Do not spin the wheels excessively when any of the tires is up in the air, or 
the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage the driveline com- 
ponents or propel the vehicle forward or backward, causing an accident. 

2644-1. Before driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle 
● Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time during 
driving, as this may restrain the engine output. 
● On vehicles with automatic transmission, do not use the accelerator pedal 
or depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time to hold the
vehicle on a hill. 
● On vehicles with manual transmission, do not shift gears unless the clutch 
pedal is fully depressed. After shifting, do not release the clutch pedal
abruptly. Doing so may damage the clutch, transmission and gears. 
● On vehicles with manual transmission, observe the following to prevent 
the clutch from being damaged. Failure to do so may cause excessive pre-
mature wear or damage to the clutch, eventually making it difficult to accel- 
erate and start off from a stop. Have the vehicle inspected by any 
authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable
repairer. 
• Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving. 
Doing so may cause clutch trouble.
• Do not use any gear other than the 1st gear when starting off and mov- 
ing forward. 
Doing so may damage the clutch.
• Do not use the clutch to hold the vehicle when stopping on an uphill 
grade. 
Doing so may damage the clutch.
• Do not use the clutch pedal to adjust vehicle speed.
Doing so may damage the clutch. 
• When stopping the vehicle with the shift lever in a position other than N, 
make sure to fully depress the clutch pedal and stop the vehicle using
the brakes. 
● On vehicles with manual transmission, do not shift the shift lever to R with- 
out the vehicle completely stopped. Doing so may damage the clutch, 
transmission and gears. 
● On vehicles with manual transmission, if you cannot accelerate the vehicle 
even when the clutch is engaged and the accelerator pedal is depressed, 
this may mean that the clutch is slipping, and the vehicle may be rendered
undriveable. Have any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized 
repairer, or any reliable repairer inspect the vehicle as soon as possible. 

2654-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle 
On vehicles with automatic transmission, always set the parking brake, and 
shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move or 
the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is accidentally 
depressed. 
■ Avoiding damage to vehicle parts 
● Do not turn the steering wheel fully in either direction and hold it there for 
an extended period of time.  
Doing so may damage the power steering pump. 
● When driving over bumps in the road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid 
damaging the wheels, underside of the vehicle, etc. 
● Diesel engine: Make sure to idle the engine immediately after high-load 
driving. Stop the engine only after the turbocharger has cooled down.
Failure to do so may cause damage to the turbocharger. 
● Diesel engine: In an extremely cold environment, idle the engine for more 
than 30 seconds after starting the engine. Do not race the engine while
idling.  
■ If you get a flat tire while driving 
A flat or damaged tire may cause the following situations. Hold the steering 
wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to slow down the vehi- 
cle. 
● It may be difficult to control your vehicle. 
● The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations. 
● The vehicle will lean abnormally. 
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire. ( P. 649) 

2714-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE)
Your vehicle will handle differently when towing a trailer. In order to 
avoid accident death or serious injury, keep the following in mind 
when towing:
■Checking connections between trailer and lights 
Stop the vehicle and check the operation of the connection between 
the trailer and lights after driving for a brief period as well as before 
starting off.
■Practicing driving with a coupled trailer 
● Get the feel for turning, stopping and reversing with the trailer 
coupled by practicing in an area with no or light traffic. 
● When reversing with a coupled trailer, hold the section of the 
steering wheel nearest to you and rotate clockwise to turn the 
trailer left or counterclockwise to turn it right. Always rotate a little 
at a time to prevent steering error. Have someone guide you 
when reversing to lessen the risk of accident.
■Increasing vehicle-to-vehicle distance 
At a speed of 10 km/h (6 mph), the distance to the vehicle running 
ahead of you should be equivalent to or greater than the combined 
length of your vehicle and trailer. Avoid sudden braking that may 
cause skidding. Otherwise, the vehicle may spin out of control. This 
is especially true when driving on wet or slippery road surfaces.
■Sudden acceleration/steering input/cornering 
Executing sharp turns when towing may result in the trailer colliding 
with your vehicle. Decelerate well in advance when approaching 
turns and take them slowly and carefully to avoid sudden braking.
■Important points regarding turning 
The wheels of the trailer will travel closer to the inside of the curve 
than the wheels of the vehicle. To make allowance for this, take the 
turns wider than you would normally do.
Guidance 

2724-1. Before driving
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE) 
■Important points regarding stability 
Vehicle movement resulting from uneven road surfaces and strong 
crosswinds will affect handling. The vehicle may also be rocked by 
passing buses or large trucks. Frequently check behind when mov- 
ing alongside such vehicles. As soon as such vehicle movement 
occurs, immediately start to decelerate smoothly by slowly applying 
the brakes. Always steer the vehicle straight ahead while braking.
■Passing other vehicles 
Consider the total combined length of your vehicle and trailer and 
ensure that the vehicle-to-vehicle distance is sufficient before exe- 
cuting lane changes.
■Transmission information 
Vehicles with manual transmission: To maintain engine braking effi- 
ciency when using engine braking, do not use 5th gear and 6th 
gear. 
Vehicles with automatic transmission: To maintain engine braking 
efficiency when using engine braking, do not use the transmission 
in D. Transmission shift range position must be in 4 or lower, in S 
mode.
■If the engine overheats 
Towing a loaded trailer up a long, steep incline in temperatures 
exceeding 30 C (85F) may result in the engine overheating. If the 
engine coolant temperature gauge indicates that the engine is over- 
heating, turn the air conditioning off immediately, leave the road and 
stop the vehicle in a safe place. ( P. 678)
■When parking the vehicle 
Always place wheel chocks under the wheels of both the vehicle 
and trailer. Firmly set the parking brake and shift the shift lever to P 
for automatic transmissions, and 1 or R for manual transmissions. 

2844-2. Driving procedures
HILUX_OM_OM0K321E_(EE) 
■ When the steering lock cannot be released 
■ Key reminder function 
A buzzer sounds if the driver’s door is opened while the engine switch is in 
the “LOCK” or “ACC” position to remind you to remove the key. 
When starting the engine, the engine 
switch may seem stuck in the “LOCK” 
position. To free it, turn the key while turn- 
ing the steering wheel slightly left and
right.
WARNING
■ When starting the engine 
Always start the engine while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the 
accelerator pedal while starting the engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury. 
■ Caution when driving 
Do not turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position while driving.  
If in an emergency, you must turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving, 
turn the engine switch only to the “ACC” position to stop the engine. An
accident may result if the engine is stopped while driving. ( P. 625)
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge 
Do not leave the engine switch in the  “ACC” or “ON” position for long peri- 
ods of time without the engine running. 
■ When starting the engine 
● Do not crank the engine for more than 30 seconds at a time. This may 
overheat the starter and wiring system. 
● Do not race a cold engine. 
● If the engine becomes difficult to start or stalls frequently, have your vehi- 
cle checked by any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer immediately.