Page 3 of 600

3
1
9 8 6 5
4
3
2
PRIUS c_U
10
7
4-1.  Before drivingDriving the vehicle ............. 172
Cargo and luggage............ 181
Vehicle load limits ............. 185
Trailer towing..................... 186
Dinghy towing.................... 187
4-2.  Driving procedures Power (ignition) switch (vehicles without a 
smart key system) ........... 188
Power (ignition) switch  (vehicles with a 
smart key system) ........... 192
EV drive mode................... 199
Hybrid transmission........... 202
Turn signal lever................ 206
Parking brake .................... 207
4-3.  Operating the lights  and wipers
Headlight switch ................ 208
Fog light switch ................. 212
Windshield wipers  and washer ..................... 214
Rear window wiper  and washer ..................... 218 4-4.  Refueling
Opening the fuel tank cap ........................... 221
4-5.  Toyota Safety Sense C Toyota Safety Sense C...... 225
PCS (Pre-Collision System)..... 231
LDA  (Lane Departure Alert)..... 241
Automatic High Beam ........ 246
4-6.  Using the driving  support systems
Cruise control .................... 251
Rear view monitor  system ............................. 255
Driving assist systems ....... 265
4-7.  Driving tips Hybrid vehicle driving tips ....................... 271
Winter driving tips .............. 274
4Driving 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 6 of 600

TABLE OF CONTENTS6
PRIUS c_U7-1.  Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior .......... 400
Cleaning and protecting  the vehicle interior ........... 403
7-2.  Maintenance Maintenance requirements ................... 409
General maintenance ........ 412
Emission inspection and  maintenance (I/M) 
programs ......................... 415
7-3.  Do-it-yourself  maintenance
Do-it-yourself service  precautions ..................... 416
Hood.................................. 419
Positioning a floor jack ...... 421
Engine compartment ......... 422
12-volt battery ................... 431
Tires .................................. 435
Tire inflation pressure........ 444
Wheels .............................. 447
Air conditioning filter .......... 449
Wireless remote control/ electronic key battery ...... 451
Checking and  replacing fuses ................ 454
Light bulbs ......................... 458 8-1.  Essential information
Emergency flashers ........... 468
If your vehicle has to be stopped in 
an emergency.................. 469
If the vehicle is trapped  in rising water .................. 471
8-2.  Steps to take in  an emergency
If your vehicle needs  to be towed ...................... 472
If you think something  is wrong ........................... 479
If a warning light turns  on or a warning buzzer 
sounds ............................. 480
If a warning message  is displayed...................... 488
If you have a flat tire .......... 505
If the hybrid system  will not start ..................... 518
If the electronic key does  not operate properly .......... 520
If the vehicle 12-volt 
battery is discharged ....... 522
If your vehicle overheats.... 529
If the vehicle  becomes stuck ................ 533
7Maintenance and care8When trouble arises 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 18 of 600

18Pictorial index
PRIUS c_U
■Instrument panel
Power switch  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 188, 192
Starting the hybrid system/changing the modes  . . . . . . .  P. 188, 192
Emergency stop of the hybrid system  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . .  P. 469
When the hybrid system will not start  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 518
Warning message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 488
Shift lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 202
Changing the shift position  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . .  P. 202
Precautions against towing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 472
When the shift lever does not move  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 204
Meters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 99
Reading the meters/adjusting the meter light  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 99
Warning lights/indicator lights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . .  P. 94
When the warning lights come on  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 480
Multi-information display  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 103
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 103
When the warning messages are displayed  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 4881
2
3 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 32 of 600
321-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U■
Releasing the seat belt
Release  the  rear  center  seat  belt  only  when  necessary,  such  as
when folding down the rear seat. For safety, always store the p
late
in the designated place after releasing it.
To  release  tab  “A”,  press  the
release button.
To  release  tab  “B”,  insert  the
key  ( P.  120)  or  tab  “A”  into
the hole on the buckle.
Retract  the  belt  slowly  when
releasing  and  stowing  the  seat
belt.
A
1
A
B
B
O 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 33 of 600
331-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
Holding  tab  “A”  and  “B”
together,  insert  both  tabs  all
the way into the cover on the
roof.
With  tab  “B”  inserted  all  the
way into the cover, move tab
“A”  slightly  back  toward  the
cover’s inlet, so that it blocks
the inlet.
B
A
3
BA
Q 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 37 of 600

371-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■Seat belt damage and wear
● Do  not  damage  the  seat  belts  by  allowing  the  belt,  plate,  or  bu ckle  to  be
jammed in the door.
● Inspect the seat belt system periodically. Check for cuts, fray ing, and loose
parts.  Do  not  use  a  damaged  seat  belt  until  it  is  replaced.  Dam aged  seat
belts cannot protect an occupant from death or serious injury.
● Ensure that the belt and plate are locked and the belt is not twisted.
If the seat belt does not function correctly, immediately conta ct your Toyota
dealer.
● Replace  the  seat  assembly,  including  the  belts,  if  your  vehicle  has  been
involved in a serious accident, even if there’s no obvious dama ge.
● Do  not  attempt  to  install,  remove,  modify,  disassemble  or  dispo se  of  the
seat belts. Have any necessary repairs carried out by your Toyota dealer.
Inappropriate  handling  of  the  pretensioner  may  prevent  it  from  operating
properly, resulting in death or serious injury.
■ When using or storing th e rear center seat belt
● For vehicles with split rear seats, do not allow anyone sit on  the rear center
seat if the rear right seat is folded down, as the seat belt bu ckle for the rear
center  seat  belt  is  then  concealed  under  the  folded  seat  and  ca nnot  be
used.
● When  storing  the  rear  center  seat  belt,  ensure  that  the  tabs  ar e  securely
inserted into the cover on the roof. If the tabs are not stowed  properly, they
may drop from the cover while driving, resulting in serious inj ury.
●Do not use the rear center seat belt with
either buckle released. 
Fastening only one of the buckles may
result in death or serious injury in case
of sudden braking or a collision. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 42 of 600

421-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVANCED AIRBAGS designed based
on  the  US  motor  vehicle  safety  standards  (FMVSS208).  The  airbag
sensor  assembly  (ECU)  controls  airbag  deployment  based  on  infor-
mation  obtained  from  the  sensors  etc.  shown  in  the  system  compo -
nents  diagram  above.  This  informat ion  includes  crash  severity  and
occupant  information.  As  the  airbags  deploy,  a  chemical  reactio n  in
the inflators quickly fills the  airbags with non-toxic gas to h elp restrain
the motion of t he occupants.
WARNING
■SRS airbag precautions
Observe the following precautions regarding the SRS airbags. 
Failure to do so may cause death or serious injury.
● The  driver  and  all  passengers  in  the  vehicle  must  wear  their  se at  belts
properly.
The SRS airbags are supplemental devices to be used with the se at belts.
● The  SRS  driver  airbag  deploys  with  considerable  force,  and  can  cause
death  or  serious  injury  especially  if  the  driver  is  very  close  to  the  airbag.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advi ses:
Since the risk zone for the driver’s airbag is the first 2 - 3  in. (50 - 75 mm)
of  inflation,  placing  yourself  10  in.  (250  mm)  from  your  driver   airbag  pro-
vides  you  with  a  clear  margin  of  safety.  This  distance  is  measured  from
the center of the steering wheel to your breastbone. If you sit  less than 10
in.  (250  mm)  away  now,  you  can  change  your  driving  position  in  several
ways:
• Move your seat to the rear as far as you can while still reach ing the ped-
als comfortably.
• Slightly  recline  the  back  of  the  seat.  Although  vehicle  design s  vary,
many  drivers  can  achieve  the  10  in.  (250  mm)  distance,  even  wit h  the
driver seat all the way forward, simply by reclining the back o f the seat
somewhat.  If  reclining  the  back  of  your  seat  makes  it  hard  to  s ee  the
road,  raise  yourself  by  using  a  firm,  non-slippery  cushion,  or  raise  the
seat if your vehicle has that feature.
• If your steering wheel is adjustable, tilt it downward. This points the air-
bag toward your chest instead of your head and neck.
The  seat  should  be  adjusted  as  recommended  by  NHTSA  above,  whil e
still  maintaining  control  of  the  foot  pedals,  steering  wheel,  and  your  view
of the instrument panel controls. 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 44 of 600
441-1. For safe use
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■SRS airbag precautions
● Do  not  allow  a  child  to  stand  in  front  of
the  SRS  front  passenger  airbag  unit  or
sit on the knees of a front passenger.
● Do not allow the front seat occupants to
hold items on their knees.
● Do  not  lean  against  the  door,  the  roof
side  rail  or  the  front,  side  and  rear  pil-
lars.
● Do  not  allow  anyone  to  kneel  on  the
passenger  seat  toward  the  door  or  put
their head or hands outside the vehicle.
● Do  not  attach  anything  to  or  lean  any-
thing  against  areas  such  as  the  dash-
board,  steering  wheel  pad  and  lower
portion of the instrument panel. 
These  items  can  become  projectiles
when  the  SRS  driver,  front  passenger
and driver knee airbags deploy.