
TABLE OF CONTENTS2
PRIUS c_UFor your information....................... 8
Reading this manual .................... 14
How to search .............................. 15
Pictorial index .............................. 16
1-1.  For safe use
Before driving ...................... 26
For safe driving ................... 28
Seat belts ............................ 30
SRS airbags ........................ 39
Front passenger occupant classification system ......... 52
Exhaust gas precautions ..... 57
1-2.  Child safety Riding with children ............. 58
Child restraint systems ........ 59
1-3.  Hybrid system Hybrid system features ....... 76
Hybrid system precautions ....................... 81
1-4.  Theft deterrent system Immobilizer system ............. 88
Theft prevention labels ........ 91 2.  Instrument cluster
Warning lights and indicators ........................... 94
Gauges and meters ............. 99
Multi-information display .... 103
Energy monitor/ consumption screen ........ 112
3-1.  Key information Keys................................... 120
3-2.  Opening, closing and  locking the doors
Side doors ......................... 127
Back door .......................... 136
Smart key system .............. 141
3-3.  Adjusting the seats Front seats......................... 150
Rear seats ......................... 151
Head restraints .................. 155
3-4.  Adjusting the steering  wheel and mirrors
Steering wheel ................... 158
Inside rear view mirror ....... 160
Outside rear view  mirrors ............................. 161
3-5.  Opening and closing  the windows
Power windows.................. 163
Moon roof .......................... 167
1For safety and security
2Instrument cluster
3Operation of each 
component 

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 

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 

12
PRIUS c_UThe  SRS  airbag  and  seat  belt  pretensioner  devices  in  your  Toyot
a  contain
explosive chemicals. If the vehicle is scrapped with the airbag s and seat belt
pretensioners  left  as  they  are,  this  may  cause  an  accident  such  as fire. Be
sure  to  have  the  systems  of  the  SRS  airbag  and  seat  belt  preten sioner
removed and disposed of by a qualified service shop or by your  Toyota dealer
before you scrap your vehicle.
Special handling may apply, See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/ perchlorate.
Your  vehicle  has  components  that  may  contain  perchlorate.  These   compo-
nents  may  include  airbag,  seat  belt  pretensioners,  and  wireless   remote  con-
trol batteries.
Scrapping of your Toyota
Perchlorate Material
WARNING
■ General precautions while driving
Driving under the  influence:  Never drive  your vehicle when  unde r  the  influ-
ence of alcohol or drugs that have impaired your ability to operate your vehi-
cle.  Alcohol  and  certain  drugs  delay  reaction  time,  impair  judg ment  and
reduce  coordination,  which  could  lead  to  an  accident  that  could   result  in
death or serious injury.
Defensive  driving: Always  drive  defensively. Anticipate  mistake s  that  other
drivers or pedestrians might make and be ready to avoid acciden ts.
Driver  distraction:  Always  give  your  full  attention  to  driving.  Anything  that
distracts the driver, such as adjusting controls, talking on a  cellular phone or
reading can result in a collision with resulting death or serio us injury to you,
your occupants or others.
■ General precaution regar ding children’s safety
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow  children to
have or use the key.
Children  may  be  able  to  start  the  vehicle  or  shift  the  vehicle  into  neutral.
There is also a  danger that  children  may  injure  themselves  by p laying with
the  cigarette  lighter,  the  windows,  the  moon  roof,  or  other  fea tures  of  the
vehicle. In addition, heat build-up or extremely cold temperatu res inside the
vehicle can be fatal to children. 

16
PRIUS c_U
Pictorial index
Pictorial index
■
Exterior
Doors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 127
Locking/unlocking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 127
Opening/closing the door glasses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 163
Locking/unlocking by using the mechanical key
* . . . . . . . . . .  P. 520
Warning message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 491
Back door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 136
Locking/unlocking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 136
Warning message  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 492
Outside rear view mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 161
Adjusting the mirror angle  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 161
Folding the mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .  P. 161
Defogging the mirrors
* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  P.  378
1
2
3 

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 

451-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
PRIUS c_U
WARNING
■SRS airbag precautions
● Do  not  hang  coat  hangers  or  other  hard  objects  on  the  coat  hook s. All  of
these  items  could  become  projectiles  and  may  cause  death  or  ser ious
injury, should the SRS curtain shield airbags deploy.
● If  a  vinyl  cover  is  put  on  the  area  where  the  SRS  driver  knee  a irbag  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  airbags  inflate  as  they  may  interf ere  with
inflation  of  the  SRS  airbags.  Such  accessories  may  prevent  the  side  air-
bags  and  seat  cushion  airbags  from  activating  correctly,  disable  the  sys-
tem  or  cause  the  side  airbags  and  seat  cushion  airbags  to  infla te
accidentally, resulting in death or serious injury.
● Do not strike or apply significant levels of force to the area  of the SRS air-
bag components. 
Doing so can cause the SRS airbags to malfunction.
● Do  not  touch  any  of  the  component  parts  immediately  after  the  S RS  air-
bags have deployed (inflated) as they may be hot.
● Do not attach anything to areas such as
a  door,  windshield  glass,  side  door
glass,  front  or  rear  pillar,  roof  side  rail
and assist grip.
● Vehicles  without  a  smart  key  system:
Do  not  attach  any  heavy,  sharp  or  hard
objects  such  as  keys  and  accessories
to  the  key.  The  objects  may  restrict  the
SRS  driver  knee  airbag  inflation  or  be
thrust  into  the  driver’s  seat  area  by  the
force of the deploying airbag, thus caus-
ing a danger. 

58
PRIUS c_U
1-2. Child safety
●It  is  recommended  that  children  sit  in  the  rear  seats  to  avoid  acci-
dental contact wit h the shift lever, wiper switch etc.
● Use  the  rear  door  child-protector  lock  or  the  window  lock  switc h  to
avoid  children  opening  the  door  while  driving  or  operating  the
power window accidentally.
● Do  not  let  small  children  operate  equipment  which  may  catch  or
pinch  body  parts,  such  as  the  power  window,  hood,  back  door,
seats etc.
Riding with children
Observe the following precautions when children are in the vehi -
cle.
Use  a  child  restraint  system  app ropriate  for  the  child,  until  the
child becomes  large enough to properly wear the vehicle’s seat
belt.
WARNING
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle, and never allow  children to
have or use the key.
Children  may  be  able  to  start  the  vehicle  or  shift  the  vehicle  into  neutral.
There is also a  danger that  children  may  injure  themselves  by p laying with
the  windows  or  other  features  of  the  vehicle.  In  addition,  heat  build-up  or
extremely cold temperatures inside the vehicle can be fatal to  children.