
1444-1. Before driving
WARNING
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not drive if you are unfamiliar with 
the location of the brake and accelera-
tor pedals to avoid depressing the 
wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelera- tor 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 difficulty 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 accelerator pedals 
properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your  right foot. Depressing the brake pedal 
using your left foot may delay 
response in an emergency, resulting in 
an accident.
●LC500h: The driver  should pay extra 
attention to pedestrians when the vehi-
cle is powered only by the electric 
motor (traction motor). As there is no 
engine noise, the pedestrians may mis-
judge the vehicle’s movement. Even 
though the vehicle is equipped with the 
vehicle proximity notification system, 
drive with care as pedestrians in the 
vicinity may still not notice the vehicle if 
the surrounding area is noisy.
●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 flamma-
ble material nearby.
●During normal driving, do not turn off 
the engine 
the engine 
driving will not cause loss of steering 
or braking control, however, power 
assist to the steering  will be lost. This 
will make it more difficult 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 vehi-
cle in the normal way:  P.338
●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.162, 169)
●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 re sult 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. 

1454-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
●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 con-
trol may be affected.
■When shifting the shift position
●LC500: Do not let the vehicle roll 
backward while a forward driving posi-
tion is selected, or roll forward while 
the shift position is in R. 
Doing so may cause the engine to stall 
or lead to poor brake and steering 
performance, resulting in an accident 
or damage to the vehicle. 
LC500h: Do not let the vehicle roll 
backward while a forward driving posi-
tion is selected, or roll forward while 
the shift position is in R. 
Doing so may result in an accident or 
damage to the vehicle.
●Do not shift the shift position 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 position 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 position to a driv-
ing position while the vehicle is moving 
backward. 
Doing so can damage the transmission 
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●LC500: Changing the shift position to 
N while the vehicle is moving will dis-
engage the engine from the transmis-
sion. Engine braking is not available 
when N is selected. 
LC500h: Changing the shift position 
to N while the vehicle is moving will 
disengage the hybrid system. Engine 
braking is not available with the hybrid 
system disengaged.
●Be careful not to change the shift posi-
tion with the accelerator pedal 
depressed. Changing the shift posi-
tion to any positions other than P or N 
may lead to unexpected rapid acceler-
ation of the vehicle that may cause an 
accident and result in death or serious 
injury. 
After changing the shift position, make 
sure to confirm the current shift posi-
tion displayed on the shift position indi-
cator inside the meter.
■Brake pad wear
If any of the following situations occurs, 
have the brake pads visually checked and 
replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as 
possible.
●If the thickness of the brake pads 
exceeds the brake pad wear limit when 
visually checking all four brake pads 
(for the brake pad wear limit, refer to 
P.392)
●If “Brake Pad Wear Visit Your Dealer” 
is displayed (only the right-side pads 
can be detected)
Rotor damage may result if the pads are 
not replaced when needed. Moderate 
levels of the brake pad and disc wear 
allow enhanced braking power. As a 
result, the discs may wear more quickly 
than conventional brake discs. Therefore, 
when replacing the brake pads, Lexus 
recommends that you also have the 
thickness of the discs measured. It is dan-
gerous to drive the vehicle when the 
wear limits of the brake pads and/or 
those of the brake discs are exceeded. 

1464-1. Before driving
WARNING
■When the vehicle is stopped
●LC500: Do not race the engine. 
If the shift position is any position other 
than P or N, the vehicle may acceler-
ate suddenly and unexpectedly, caus-
ing an accident. 
LC500h: Do not depress the acceler-
ator pedal unnecessarily. 
If the shift position is any position other 
than P or N, the vehicle may acceler-
ate suddenly and unexpectedly, caus-
ing an accident.
●LC500: In order to prevent accidents 
due to the vehicle rolling away, always 
keep depressing the brake pedal while 
the engine is running, and apply the 
parking brake as necessary.
LC500h: In order to prevent acci-
dents due to the vehicle rolling away, 
always keep depressing the brake 
pedal while stopped with the 
“READY” indicator is illuminated, and 
apply the parking brake as necessary.
●If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, 
in order to prevent accidents caused 
by the vehicle rolling forward or back-
ward, always depress the brake pedal 
and securely apply the parking brake 
as needed.
●Avoid revving or racing the engine. 
Running the engine at high speed 
while the vehicle is stopped may cause 
the exhaust system to overheat, which 
could result in a fire if combustible 
material is nearby.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, 
spray cans, or soft drink cans in the 
vehicle when it is in the sun. 
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter  or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle  may cause the plastic lenses and plas-
tic material of glasses to deform or 
crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing  the contents to spray over the interior 
of the vehicle, and may also cause a 
short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical 
components.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the 
vehicle. If a cigare tte lighter is in a 
place such as the glove box or on the 
floor, it may be lit accidentally when 
luggage is loaded or the seat is 
adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to the 
windshield or windows. Do not place 
containers such as air fresheners on 
the instrument panel or dashboard. 
Adhesive discs or containers may act 
as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window open if 
the curved glass is coated with a met-
allized film such as a silver-colored 
one. Reflected sunlight may cause the 
glass to act as a lens, causing a fire. 

1474-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
●LC500: Always apply the parking 
brake, shift the shift position to P, 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 
position in P but the parking brake is 
not set, the vehicle may start to move, 
possibly leading to an accident.
LC500h: Always apply the parking 
brake, shift the shift position to P, stop 
the hybrid system and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended 
while the “READY” indicator is illumi-
nated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift 
position in P but the parking brake is 
not set, the vehicle may start to move, 
possibly leading to an accident.
●LC500: Do not touch the exhaust 
pipes while the engine is running or 
immediately after turning the engine 
off. 
Doing so may cause burns.
LC500h: Do not touch the exhaust 
pipes while the “READY” indicator is 
illuminated or immediately after turn-
ing the hybrid system off.
Doing so may cause burns.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the engine 
off. Otherwise, if yo u accidentally move 
the shift lever or de press the accelerator 
pedal, this could cause an accident or fire 
due to engine 
ing. Additionally, if the vehicle is parked 
in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases 
may collect and enter the vehicle, lead-
ing 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 vehi-
cle.
●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 in crease. 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 distance will 
increase. Have your brakes fixed 
immediately.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and 
brake pedals at th e same time while 
driving, as this may restrain the engine 
●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. 

1484-1. Before driving
Cargo capacity depends on the total 
weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
ity)  (Total weight of occupants)
NOTICE
●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.362)
■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
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil 
and fluid used for the engine, transmis-
sion, differential, etc.
●Lubricant condition for the propeller 
shaft, bearings and suspension joints 
(where possible), and the function of 
all joints, bearings, etc.
If the shift control system is damaged by 
flooding, it may not  be possible to shift 
the shift position to P, or from P to other 
positions. In this case, contact your Lexus 
dealer.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift 
the shift position 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.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following infor-
mation about storage precautions, 
cargo capacity and load:
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried in the 
trunk
The following things may cause a fire if 
loaded in the trunk:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals 
from being depressed properly, may 
block the driver’s vision, or may result in 
items hitting the driver or passengers, 
possibly causing an accident.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the trunk 
whenever possible.
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on 
the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats  (when stacking items)
• On the package tray
• On the instrument panel
•On the dashboard
• In front of the Center Display
●Secure all items in the occupant com-
partment.
Capacity and distribution 

1524-2. Driving procedures
4-2.Driving procedures
1Press the parking brake switch to 
check that the parking brake is set. 
(P.176)
The parking brake indicator will come on.
2 Firmly depress the brake pedal.
 and a message will be displayed on 
the multi-information display. 
If it is not displayed, the engine cannot be 
started.
3 Press the engine switch shortly and 
firmly.
When operating the engine switch, one 
short, firm press is enough. It is not neces-
sary to press and hold the switch.
The engine will crank until it starts or for up 
to 30 seconds, whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until 
the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any engine  switch mode.
■Engine switch illumination
According to the situation, the engine 
switch illumination operates as follows.
●When a door is opened, or the engine 
switch mode is changed from ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode to off, 
the engine switch illumination slowly 
blinks.
●When depressing the brake pedal with 
carrying the electronic key on your per-
son, the engine switch illumination rapidly 
blinks.
●When the engine sw itch is in ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode, the 
engine switch illumination illuminates.
■If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system may not 
have been deactivated. ( P.70) 
Contact your Lexus dealer.
●If a message related to  start-up is shown 
on the multi-information display, read the 
message and follow the instructions.
●If the door is unlock ed with the mechani-
cal key, the engine cannot be started 
using the smart access system with push-
button start. Refer toP.368 to start the 
engine. However, if the electronic key is 
carried inside the vehicle and the doors 
are locked ( P.112), engine can be 
started.
Engine (ignition) switch 
(LC500)
Performing the following opera-
tions when carryin g the electronic 
key on your person starts the 
engine or changes engine switch 
modes.
Starting the engine 

1544-2. Driving procedures
1Stop the vehicle completely.
2 If the parking brake is in manual 
mode, set the parking brake. 
(P.176)
3 Shift the shift position to P. 
(P.165)
Check that the shift position indicator 
shows P. ( P.164)
4 Press the engine switch.
The engine will stop, and the meter display 
will be extinguished (the  shift position indi-
cator will be extinguished a few seconds 
after the meter display).
5 Check that “ACCESSORY” or 
“IGNITION ON” is not shown on 
the meter.
■Automatic engine shut off feature
●The vehicle is equipped with a feature 
that automatically shuts off the engine 
when the shift position is in P with the 
engine running for an extended period.
●The engine will automatically shut off 
after approximately 1 hour if it has been 
left running while the shift position is in P.
●The timer for the automatic engine shut 
off feature will reset  if the brake pedal is 
depressed or if the shift position is in a 
position other than P.
●After the vehicle is parked, if the door is 
locked with the door lock switch ( P.112) 
from the inside or the mechanical key  (
 P.367) from the outside, the auto-
matic engine shut off feature will be dis-
abled. The timer for the automatic engine 
shut off feature will be re-enabled if the 
driver’s door is opened.
■Automatic P position selection function
 P.165
NOTICE
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction 
with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operat-
ing somewhat differently than usual, such 
as the switch sticking slightly, there may 
be a malfunction. Contact your Lexus 
dealer immediately.
Stopping the engine
WARNING
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
●If you want to stop the engine in an 
emergency while driving the vehicle, 
press and hold the engine switch for 
more than 2 seconds, or press it briefly 
3 times or more in succession. 
(  P.338)
However, do not touch the engine 
switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the engine 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 difficult to steer 
smoothly, so you should pull over and 
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to 
do so.
●If the engine switch  is operated while 
the vehicle is running, a warning mes-
sage will be shown on the multi-infor-
mation display and a buzzer sounds.
●When restarting the engine after an 
emergency shutdown, press the 
engine switch.
■When parking
Exhaust gases include harmful carbon 
monoxide (CO), which is colorless and 
odorless. Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may cause exhaust gases 
to enter the vehicle and may lead to an 
accident caused by light-headedness, or 
may lead to death or a serious health 
hazard.
●If the vehicle is in  a poorly ventilated 
area or a closed area, such as a 
garage, stop the engine. 

1554-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
Modes can be changed by pressing 
the engine switch with the brake pedal 
released. (The mode changes each 
time the switch is pressed.)
1Off
The emergency flashers can be used.
2ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such as the 
audio system can be used. “ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the 
meter.
3
IGNITION ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the 
meter.
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode 
for more than 20 minutes or IGNITION 
ON mode (the engine is not running) for 
more than an hour with the shift position in 
P, the engine switch will automatically turn 
off. However, this function cannot entirely 
prevent the 12-volt battery discharge. Do 
not leave the vehicle with the engine switch 
in ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON mode 
for long periods of time when the engine is 
not running.
■When the shift control system malfunc-
tions
When attempting to turn the engine switch 
off while there is a ma lfunction in the shift 
control system, the engine switch mode 
may change to ACCESSO RY mode. In this 
case, ACCESSORY mode may be turned 
off by applying the parking brake and press-
ing the engine switch ag ain. If there is a mal-
function in the system, have the vehicle 
inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
WARNING
●Do not leave the vehicle with the 
engine running for a long time. If such 
a situation cannot be avoided, park the 
vehicle in an open space and ensure 
that exhaust fumes do not enter the 
vehicle interior.
●Do not leave the engine running in an 
area with snow build-up, or where it is 
snowing. If snowbanks build up around 
the vehicle while the engine is running, 
exhaust gases may collect and enter 
the vehicle.
Changing engine switch modes
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in 
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON 
mode for long periods of time without 
the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION 
ON” is displayed on the meter, the 
engine switch is not off.
Exit the vehicle after turning the 
engine switch off.