2021 LEXUS ES300h brakes

301-1. For safe use
Driver’s seat belt buckle switch
Airbag sensor assembly
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights
Front passenger’s seat belt buckle switch
Front impact sensors
Your vehicle is equipped with ADVA NCED AIRBAGS designed based on the
US motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS208). The airbag sensor assembly
(ECU) controls airbag deployment based on information obtained from the sen-
sors etc. shown in the system compon ents diagram above. This information
includes crash severity and occupant info rmation. As the airbags deploy, a chemi-
cal reaction in the inflators quickly fills the airbags with non-toxic gas to help
restrain the motion of the occupants.
■If the SRS airbags deploy (inflate)
●Slight abrasions, burns, bruising etc., may
be sustained from SRS airbags, due to the
extremely high speed deployment (infla-
tion) by hot gases.
●A loud noise and white powder will be
emitted.
●Parts of the airbag module (steering
wheel hub, airbag cover and inflator) as
well as the front seat s, parts of the front
and rear pillars, and r oof side rails may be
hot for several minutes. The airbag itself
may also be hot.
●The windshield may crack.
●The hybrid system will be stopped and
fuel supply to the engine will be stopped.
(  P.67)
●All of the doors will be unlocked.
( P.102)
●The brakes and stop lights will be con-
trolled automatically. ( P.248)
●The interior lights will turn on automati-
cally. ( P.278)
●The emergency flashers will turn on auto-
matically. ( P.358)
●For Lexus Enform Safety Connect sub-
scribers, if any of the following situations
occur, the system is designed to send an
emergency call to the response center,
notifying them of the vehicle’s location (without needing to push the “SOS” but-
ton) and an agent will attempt to speak
with the occupants to ascertain the level
of emergency and assistance required. If
the occupants are unable to communi-
cate, the agent automatically treats the
call as an emergency and helps to dis-
patch the necessary emergency services.
(
 P.55)
• An SRS airbag is deployed.
• A seat belt pretensioner is activated.
• The vehicle is involved in a severe rear- end collision.
■SRS airbag deployment conditions (SRS
front airbags)
●The SRS front airbags will deploy in the
event of an impact that exceeds the set
threshold level (the level of force corre-
sponding to an approximately 12 - 18
mph [20 - 30 km/h] frontal collision with
a fixed wall that does not move or
deform).
However, this threshold velocity will be
considerably higher in the following situ-
ations:
• If the vehicle strikes an object, such as a
parked vehicle or sign pole, which can
move or deform on impact
• If the vehicle is involved in an underride collision, such as a collision in which the
front of the vehicle “underrides”, or goes
under, the bed of a truck
●Depending on the type of collision, it is
N
O
P
Q
R

1364-1. Before driving
4-1.Before driving
■Starting the hybrid system
 P.145
■Driving
1 With the brake pedal depressed,
shift the shift lever to D. ( P.153)
2 If the parking brake is in manual
mode, release the parking brake.
(P.157)
3 Gradually release the brake pedal
and gently depress the accelerator
pedal to accelerate the vehicle.
■Stopping
1 With the shift in D, depress the
brake pedal.
2 If necessary, set the parking brake.
If the vehicle is to be stopped for an
extended period of time, shift the shift lever
to P. ( P.153)
■Parking the vehicle
1 With the shift lever in D, depress
the brake pedal.
2 Set the parking brake ( P.157),
and shift the shift lever to P
( P.153).
3 Press the power switch to stop the
hybrid system.
4 Lock the door, making sure that
you have the electronic key on your
person.
If parking on a hill, block the wheels as
needed.
■Starting off on a steep uphill
1 Make sure that the parking brake is
set with the brake pedal depressed,
and then shift the shift lever to D.
2 Release the brake pedal and gently
depress the accelerator pedal.
3 Release the parking brake.
■When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate.
(  P.248)
■For fuel-efficient driving
Keep in mind that hybrid vehicles are simi-
lar to conventional vehicles, and it is neces-
sary to refrain from activities such as
sudden acceleration. ( P.252)
■Coasting (Auto Glide Control)
When Eco drive mode is selected, under
certain conditions, Auto Glide Control will
operate automatically and allow the vehicle
coast, enhancing fuel economy. ( P.214)
■Driving in the rain
●Drive carefully when it is raining, because
visibility will be reduced, the windows
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 wa ter between the tires
and the road surface, preventing the
steering and brakes from operating
properly.
■Restraining the hybrid system output
(Brake Override System)
●When the accelerato r and brake pedals
are depressed at the same time, the
hybrid system output may be restrained.
●A warning message is displayed on the
multi-information display while the sys-
tem is operating. ( P.367)
Driving the vehicle
The following procedures should be
observed to ensure safe driving:
Driving procedure

1384-1. Before driving
WARNING
●During normal driving, do not turn off
the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid
system off while driving will not cause
loss of steering or braking control,
however, power assist to the steering
will be lost. This will make it more diffi-
cult to steer smoothly, so you should
pull over and stop the vehicle as soon
as it is safe to do so.
In the event of an emergency, such as
if it becomes impossible to stop the
vehicle in the normal way: P.358
●Use engine braking (downshift) to
maintain a safe speed when driving
down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may
cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. ( P.152)
●Do not adjust the positions of the
steering wheel, the seat, or the inside
or outside rear view mirrors while driv-
ing.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
●Always check that all passengers’
arms, heads or other parts of their
body are not outside the vehicle.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140
km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85
mph (140 km/h) may result in tire fail-
ure, loss of control and possible injury.
Be sure to consult a tire dealer to
determine whether the tires on your
vehicle are high-speed capability tires
or not before driving at such speeds.
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
●Sudden braking, acceleration and
steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehi-
cle.
●Sudden acceleration, engine braking
due to shifting, or changes in engine
speed could cause the vehicle to skid,
resulting in an accident.
●After driving through a puddle, lightly
depress the brake pedal to make sure
that the brakes are functioning prop-
erly. Wet brake pads may prevent the
brakes from functioning properly. If
the brakes on only one side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering
control may be affected.
■When shifting the shift lever
●Do not let the vehicle roll backward
while the shift lever is in a driving posi-
tion, or roll forward while the shift lever
is in R.
Doing so may result in an accident or
damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shif t lever to P while
the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Do not shift the shift lever to R while
the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Do not shift the shift lever to a driving
position while the vehicle is moving
backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●Shifting the shift lever to N while the
vehicle is moving will disengage the
hybrid system. Engine braking is not
available when N is selected.
●Be careful not to shift the shift lever
with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Shifting the shift lever to a gear other
than P or N may lead to unexpected
rapid acceleration of the vehicle that
may cause an accident and result in
death or serious injury.

1404-1. Before driving
WARNING
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Oth-
erwise, if you accident ally move the shift
lever or depress the accelerator pedal,
this could cause an accident or fire due
to hybrid system overheating. Addition-
ally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly
ventilated area, exhaust gases may col-
lect and enter the ve hicle, 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 differ-
ently than the other side. Also, the
parking brake may not securely hold
the vehicle.
●If the electronically controlled brake
system 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 brak-
ing distance will increase. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
●The brake system consists of 2 or
more individual hydraulic systems; if
one of the systems fails, the other(s)
will still operate. In this case, the brake
pedal should be depressed more
firmly than usual and the braking dis-
tance will increase. Have your brakes
fixed immediately.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and
brake pedals at the same time while
driving, as this may restrain the hybrid
system output.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or
depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the
vehicle on a hill.
■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 motor.
●When driving over bumps in the road,
drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the
vehicle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the fol-
lowing situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually depress the
brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your vehi-
cle.
●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.379)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded
after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause
the following serious damage to the vehi-
cle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water
immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded
road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure
to have your Lexus dealer check the fol-
lowing:
●Brake function

1604-2. Driving procedures
tion, if any of the conditions are detected
while the system is holding the brake, a
warning buzzer will sound and a message
will be shown on the multi-information dis-
play. The parking brake will then be set
automatically.
■Brake hold function
●If the brake pedal is left released for a
period of about 3 minutes after the sys-
tem has started holding the brake, the
parking brake will be set automatically. In
this case, a warning buzzer sounds and a
message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display.
●To turn the system off while the system is
holding the brake, firmly depress the
brake pedal and press the button again.
●The brake hold function may not hold the
vehicle when the vehicle is on a steep
incline. In this situation, it may be neces-
sary for the driver to apply the brakes. A
warning buzzer will sound and the multi-
information display will inform the driver
of this situation. If a warning message is
shown on the multi-information display,
read the message and follow the instruc-
tions.
■When the parking brake is set automati-
cally while the system is holding the
brakes
Perform any of the follo wing operations to
release the parking brake.
●Depress the accelerator pedal. (The
parking brake will not be released auto-
matically if the seat belt is not fastened.)
●Operate the parking brake switch with
the brake pedal depressed.
Make sure that the pa rking brake indicator
light goes off. ( P.157)
■When an inspection at your Lexus
dealer is necessary
When the brake hold standby indicator
(green) does not illuminate even when the
brake hold switch is pressed with the brake
hold system operating conditions met, the
system may be malfun ctioning. Have the
vehicle inspected at your Lexus dealer.
■If “Brake Hold Fault Depress Brake to
Deactivate Visit Your Dealer” or
“Brake Hold Malfunction Visit Your
Dealer” is displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display
The system may be ma lfunctioning. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
■Warning message and buzzers
Warning messages and buzzers are used to
indicate a system malfunction or to inform
the driver of the need for caution. If a warn-
ing message is shown on the multi-informa-
tion display, read the message and follow
the instructions.
■If the brake hold operated indicator
flashes
 P.372
WARNING
■When the vehicle is on a steep incline
When using the brake hold system on a
steep incline exercise caution. The brake
hold function may not hold the vehicle in
such a situation.
■When stopped on a slippery road
The system cannot stop the vehicle when
the gripping ability of the tires has been
exceeded. Do not use the system when
stopped on a slippery road.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle
The brake hold system is not designed
for use when parking the vehicle for a
long period of time. Turning the power
switch off while the system is holding the
brake may release the brake, which
would cause the vehicle to move. When
operating the power switch, depress the
brake pedal, shift the shift lever to P and
set the parking brake.

1804-5. Using the driving support systems
The system can detect the following:
Vehicles
 Bicyclists
 Pedestrians
■Pre-collision warning
When the system determines that the
possibility of a frontal collision is high, a
buzzer will sound and a warning mes-
sage will be displayed on the multi-
information display to urge the driver to take evasive action.
■Pre-collision brake assist
When the system determines that the
possibility of a frontal collision is high,
the system applies greater braking
force in relation to how strongly the
brake pedal is depressed.
■Pre-collision braking
If the system determines that the possi-
bility of a frontal collision is extremely
high, the brakes are automatically
applied to help avoid the collision or
reduce the impact of the collision.
PCS (Pre-Collision System)
The pre-collision system uses a
radar sensor and front camera to
detect objects ( P.180) in front of
the vehicle. When the system
determines that the possibility of a
frontal collision with an object is
high, a warning operates to urge
the driver to take evasive action
and the potential brake pressure is
increased to help the driver avoid
the collision. If the system deter-
mines that the possibility of a frontal
collision with an object is extremely
high, the brakes are automatically
applied to help avoid the collision or
help reduce the impact of the colli-
sion.
The pre-collision system can be dis-
abled/enabled and the warning tim-
ing can be changed. ( P.182)
Detectable objects
System functions
WARNING
■Limitations of the pre-collision sys-
tem
●The driver is solely responsible for safe
driving. Always drive safely, taking
care to observe your surroundings.
Do not use the pre-collision system
instead of normal braking operations
under any circumstances. This system
will not prevent collisions or lessen col-
lision damage or injury in every situa-
tion. Do not overly rely on this system.
Failure to do so may lead to an acci-
dent, resulting in death or serious
injury.

1864-5. Using the driving support systems
bicycle ridden by more than one person,
or a uniquely shaped bicycle (bicycle with
a child seat, tandem bicycle, etc.)
• If a pedestrian/or the riding height of a bicyclist ahead is shorter than approxi-
mately 3.2 ft. (1 m) or taller than approxi-
mately 6.5 ft. (2 m)
• If a pedestrian/bicyclist is wearing over- sized clothing (a rain coat, long skirt,
etc.), making their silhouette obscure
• If a pedestrian is bending forward or squatting or bicyclist is bending forward
• If a pedestrian/bicyclist is moving fast
• If a pedestrian is pushing a stroller, wheelchair, bicycle or other vehicle
• When driving in incl ement weather such
as heavy rain, fog, snow or a sandstorm
• When driving through steam or smoke
• When the surrounding area is dim, such
as at dawn or dusk, or while at night or in
a tunnel, making a detectable object
appear to be nearly the same color as its
surroundings
• When driving in a place where the sur-
rounding brightness changes suddenly,
such as at the entrance or exit of a tunnel
• After the hybrid system has started the
vehicle has not been driven for a certain
amount of time
• While making a left/right turn and for a
few seconds after makin g a left/right turn
• While driving on a curve and for a few seconds after driving on a curve
• If your vehicle is skidding
• If the front of the vehicle is raised or low- ered
• If the wheels are misaligned
• If a wiper blade is blocking the front cam- era
• The vehicle is being driven at extremely high speeds
• When driving on a hill
• If the radar sensor or front camera is mis-
aligned●In some situations su ch as the following,
sufficient braking force may not be
obtained, preventing the system from
performing properly:
• If the braking functions cannot operate to their full extent, such as when the brake
parts are extremely cold, extremely hot,
or wet
• If the vehicle is not properly maintained
(brakes or tires are excessively worn,
improper tire inflation pressure, etc.)
• When the vehicle is being driven on a
gravel road or other slippery surface
■If VSC is disabled
●If VSC is disabled ( P.249), the pre-
collision brake assist and pre-collision
braking functions are also disabled.
●The PCS warning light will turn on and
“VSC Turned OFF Pre-Collision Brake
System Unavailable” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.

2014-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
This mode employs a radar to detect the presence of vehicles up to approximately
328 ft. (100 m) ahead, determines the cu rrent vehicle-to-vehicle following dis-
tance, and operates to maintain a suitab le following distance from the vehicle
ahead. The desired vehicle-to-vehicle distance can also be set by operating the
vehicle-to-vehicle distance switch.
When driving on downhill slopes, the vehicl e-to-vehicle distance may become shorter.
Example of constant speed cruising
When there are no vehicles ahead
The vehicle travels at the speed set by the driver.
Example of deceleration cruising and follow-up cruising
When a preceding vehicle driving slower than the set speed appears
When a vehicle is detected running ahead of you, the system automatically decelerates
your vehicle. When a greater reduction in vehicle speed is necessary, the system applies
the brakes (the stop lights will come on at this time). The system will respond to changes in
the speed of the vehicle ahead in order to maintain the vehicle-to-vehicle distance set by
the driver. Approach warning warns you when th e system cannot decelerate sufficiently to
prevent your vehicle from closing in on the vehicle ahead.
When the vehicle ahead of you stops, your vehi cle will also stop (vehicle is stopped by sys-
tem control). After the vehicle ahead starts off, pressing the “+RES” switch or depressing
the accelerator pedal (start-off operation) will resume follow-up cruising. If the start-off
operation is not performed, system contro l continues to keep your vehicle stopped.
When the turn signal lever is operated and yo ur vehicle moves to an overtaking lane while
driving at 50 mph (80 km/h) or more, the vehicle will accelerate to help to overtake a
passing vehicle.
The system’s identification of what is an over taking lane may be determined solely based on
the location of the steering wheel in the vehicl e (left side driver position versus right side
Driving in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
A
B