2021 LEXUS RX450h warning

2884-5. Using the driving support systems
WARNING
■Trailer Sway Control precaution
The Trailer Sway Control system is not
able to reduce trailer sway in all situa-
tions. Depending on many factors such
as the conditions of the vehicle, trailer,
road surface and driving environment,
the Trailer Sway Control system may not
be effective. Refer to your trailer owner’s
manual for information on how to tow
your trailer properly.
■If trailer sway occurs
Observe the following precautions.
Failing to do so may cause death or seri-
ous injury.
●Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer
straight ahead. Do not try to control
trailer sway by turning the steering
wheel.
●Begin releasing the accelerator pedal
immediately but very gradually to
reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply
vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with
the steering or brakes, your vehicle and
trailer should stabilize.
■Secondary Collision Brake
Do not rely solely upon the Secondary
Collision Brake. This system is designed
to help reduce the possibility of further
damage due to a secondary collision,
however, that effect changes according
to various conditions. Overly relying on
the system may result in death or serious
injury.

2914-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
Use fluids that are appropriate to
the prevailing outside temperatures.
•Engine oil
• Engine/power control unit coolant
•Washer fluid
Have a service technician inspect
the condition of the 12-volt battery.
 Have the vehicle fitted with four
snow tires or purchase a set of tire
chains for the front tires.
Ensure that all tires ar e of the specified size
and the same brand, and that chains match
the size of the tires.
Perform the following according to the
driving conditions:
 Do not try to forcibly open a window
or move a wiper that is frozen. Pour
warm water over the frozen area to
melt the ice. Wipe away the water
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary prepara-
tions and inspections before driving
the vehicle in winter. Always drive
the vehicle in a manner appropriate
to the prevailing weather condi-
tions.
Pre-winter preparations
WARNING
■Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions to
reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in a loss of
vehicle control and cause death or seri-
ous injury.
●Use tires of the specified size.
●Maintain the recommended level of air
pressure.
●Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120
km/h), regardless of the type of snow
tires being used.
●Use snow tires on all, not just some
wheels.
■Driving with tire chains
Observe the following precautions to
reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in the vehicle
being unable to be driven safely, and may
cause death or serious injury.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed
limit specified for the tire chains being
used, or 30 mph (50 km/h), which-
ever is lower.
●Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces
or over potholes.
●Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt
steering, sudden br aking and shifting
operations that cause sudden engine
braking.
●Slow down sufficiently before entering
a curve to ensure that vehicle control is
maintained.
●Do not use the LTA (Lane Tracing
Assist) system.
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing snow tires
Request repairs or replacement of snow
tires from your Lexus dealer or legitimate
tire retailers.
This is because the removal and attach-
ment of snow tires affects the operation
of the tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters.
Before driving the vehicle

2934-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
length)
Regulations regarding the use of tire
chains vary depending on location and
type of road. Always check local regu-
lations before installing chains.
■Tire chain installation
Observe the following precautions when
installing and removing chains:
●Install and remove tire chains in a safe
location.
●Install tire chains on the front tires only.
Do not install tire chains on the rear tires.
●Install tire chains on fr ont tires as tightly as
possible. Retighten chains after driving
1/4 1/2 mile (0.5 1.0 km).
●Install tire chains following the instruc-
tions provided with the tire chains.
To enable the windshield wipers to be
lifted when heavy snow or icy condi-
tions are expected, change the rest
position of the windshield wipers from
the retracted position below the hood
to the service position using the wiper
lever. ( P.208) 
Specific design characteristics give
it a higher center of gravity than
ordinary passenger cars. This vehi-
cle design feature causes this type
of vehicle to be more likely to roll-
over. And, utility vehicles have a sig-
nificantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles.
 An advantage of th e higher ground
clearance is a better view of the
road allowing you to anticipate
problems.
 It is not designed for cornering at
the same speeds as ordinary pas-
senger cars any more than
low-slung sports cars are designed
to perform satisfactorily under
off-road conditions. Therefore,
sharp turns at excessive speeds may
cause the vehicle to rollover.
Regulations on the use of tire
chains
NOTICE
■Fitting tire chains
The tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters may not function correctly
when tire chains are fitted.
Windshield wipers
Utility vehicle precautions
This vehicle belongs to the utility
vehicle class, which has higher
ground clearance and narrower
tread in relation to the height of its
center of gravity.
Utility vehicle feature
WARNING
■Utility vehicle precautions
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of death, seri-
ous injury or damage to your vehicle:

2944-6. Driving tips
Your vehicle is not designed to be
driven off-road. However, in the event
that off-road driving cannot be
avoided, please observe the following
precautions to help avoid the areas
prohibited to vehicles.
Drive your vehicle only in areas
where off-road vehicles are permit-
ted to travel. 
Respect private property. Get
owner’s permission before entering
private property.
 Do not enter areas that are closed.
Honor gates, barriers and signs that
restrict travel.
 Stay on established roads. When
conditions are wet, driving tech-
niques should be changed or travel
delayed to prevent damage to
roads.
 Avoid driving on very steep, slippery
roads and other surfaces, such as
sand, where the tires are liable to
lose traction. Your vehicle may not
perform as well as conventional
AWD on-road vehicles on these
surfaces.
■Additional informatio n for off-road driv-
ing
For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and
Puerto Rico:
To obtain additional information pertaining
to driving your vehicle off-road, consult the
following organizations.
●State and Local Parks and Recreation
Departments
●State Motor Vehicle Bureau
●Recreational Vehicle Clubs
●U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management
WARNING
●In a rollover crash, an unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. Therefore,
the driver and all passengers should
always fasten th eir seat belts.
●Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers, if at all possible.
Failure to operate this vehicle correctly
may result in loss of control or vehicle
rollover causing death or serious
injury.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage
carrier will make the center of the
vehicle gravity higher. Avoid high
speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns,
sudden braking or abrupt maneuvers,
otherwise it may result in loss of con-
trol or vehicle rollover due to failure to
operate this vehicle correctly.
●Always slow down in gusty crosswinds.
Because of its profile and higher cen-
ter of gravity, your vehicle is more sen-
sitive to side winds than an ordinary
passenger car. Slowing down will allow
you to have better control.
●Do not drive horizontally across steep
slopes. Driving straig ht up or straight
down is preferred. Your vehicle (or any
similar off-road vehicle) can tip over
sideways much more easily than for-
ward or backward.
Off-road driving
WARNING
■Off-road driving precautions
Always observe the following precau-
tions to minimize the risk of death, seri-
ous injury or damage to your vehicle:
●Drive carefully when off the road. Do
not take unnecessary risks by driving in
dangerous places.

2954-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
WARNING
●Do not grip the steering wheel spokes
when driving off-road. A bad bump
could jerk the wheel and injure your
hands. Keep both hands and especially
your thumbs on the outside of the rim.
●Always check your brakes for effec-
tiveness immediately after driving in
sand, mud, water or snow.
●After driving through tall grass, mud,
rock, sand, rivers, etc., check that there
is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stone,
sand, etc. adhering or trapped on the
underbody. Clear off any such matter
from the underbody. If the vehicle is
used with these materials trapped or
adhering to the underbody, a break-
down or fire could occur.
●When driving off-road or in rugged
terrain, do not drive at excessive
speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike
objects, etc. This may cause loss of
control or vehicle rollover causing
death or serious injury. You are also
risking expensive damage to your
vehicle’s suspension and chassis.
NOTICE
■To prevent water damage
Take all necessary sa fety measures to
ensure that water da mage to the hybrid
battery (traction battery), hybrid system
or other components does not occur.
●Water entering the engine compart-
ment may cause severe damage to the
hybrid system. Water entering the inte-
rior may cause the hybrid battery
(traction battery) stowed under the
rear seats to short circuit.
●Water entering the hybrid transmis-
sion and rear electr ic motor (traction
motor) will cause deterioration in
transmission quality. The malfunction
indicator may come on, and the vehi-
cle may not be drivable.
●Water can wash the grease from wheel
bearings, causing rusting and prema-
ture failure, and may also enter the
hybrid transmission case, reducing the
gear oil’s lubricating qualities.
■When you drive through water
If driving through water, such as when
crossing shallow streams, first check the
depth of the water and the bottom of the
riverbed for firmness. Drive slowly and
avoid deep water.
■Inspection after off-road driving
●Sand and mud that has accumulated
around brake discs may affect braking
efficiency and may damage brake sys-
tem components.
●Always perform a maintenance
inspection after each day of off-road
driving that has taken you through
rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For
scheduled maintena nce information,
refer to the “Warranty and Services
Guide/Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment/Scheduled Maintenance”.

3085-3. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
■Main control screen
Using the touchpad of the Remote
Touch, select the button on the screen.
This system can also be operated by
the touch screen.
Vehicles with DUAL-ZONE climate
control
Sub menu
Selecting the sub menu item to switch the
main screen. : Display the air co nditioning control
screen
: Display the option control screen
Adjust the left side seat tempera-
ture setting
Adjust the fan speed setting
Select the air flow mode
: Air flows to the upper body
: Air flows to the upper body and feet
: Air flows to the feet
: Air flows to the feet and the wind-
shield defogger operates
Adjust the right side seat tempera-
ture setting
Function on/off indicators
When the function is on, the indicator illu-
minates on the control screen.
Sub function menu
When the sub function button on the
WARNING
■To prevent the windshield from fog-
ging up
Do not use the windshield defogger
switch during cool air operation in
extremely humid weather. The difference
between the temperature of the outside
air and that of the windshield can cause
the outer surface of the windshield to fog
up, blocking your vision.
■When the outside rear view mirror
defoggers are operating
Do not touch the outside rear view mir-
ror surfaces, as they can become very
hot and burn you.
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
Do not leave the air conditioning system
on longer than necessary when the
hybrid system is off.
■When repairing/replacing parts of
the air conditioning system
Have repair/replace ment performed by
your Lexus dealer.
When a part of the air conditioning sys-
tem, such as the evaporator, is to be
replaced, it must be replaced with a new
one.
Air conditioning control screen
A
B
C
D
E
F
G

3115-3. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
5
Interior features
■Side display
Vehicles with DUAL-ZONE climate
control
Adjust the left side seat tempera-
ture setting
Adjust the fan speed setting
Adjust the right side seat tempera-
ture setting
Set cooling and dehumidification
function on/off
Adjusting the temperature for
driver and passenger seats sepa-
rately (“DUAL” mode) ( P.313)
Select the air flow mode
Vehicles with 3-ZONE climate con-
trol
Adjust the left side seat tempera-
ture setting
Adjust the fan speed setting Adjust the right side seat tempera-
ture setting
Set cooling and dehumidification
function on/off
Adjust the temperature for driver,
passenger and rear seats sepa-
rately (“3-ZONE” mode)
(
P.313)
Select the air flow mode
■Windshield wiper de-icer (if equipped)
This feature is used to prevent ice from
building up on the windshield and wiper
blades.
The windshield de-icer will automatically
turn off after a while.
■Micro dust and pollen filter
Outside air mode switches to
(recirculated air) mode. Pollen is removed
from the air and the air flows to the upper
part of the body.
Usually the system will automatically turn
off after a while.
In order to prevent the windshield from fog-
ging up when the outside air is cold, the
dehumidification function may operate or
the outside/recirculated air mode may not
switch to (recirculated air) mode.
Pollen is filtered even if the micro dust and
pollen filter is turned off.
A
B
C
D
E
F
A
B
WARNING
■To prevent burns (vehicles with wind-
shield wiper de-icer)
Do not touch the glass at lower part of
the windshield or to the side of the front
pillars when the windshield wiper de-icer
is on.
C
D
E
F

3145-3. Using the air conditioning system and defogger
■Adjusting the position of and open-
ing and closing the air outlets
Front center
1 Direct air flow to the left or right, up
or down
2 Turn the knob to open or close the
vent
Front side
1 Direct air flow to the left or right, up
or down
2 Turn the knob to open or close the
vent
Rear
1 Direct air flow to the left or right, up
or down
2 Turn the knob to open or close the
vent
WARNING
■To prevent the windshield defogger
from operating improperly
Do not place anything on the instrument
panel which may cover the air outlets.
Otherwise, air flow may be obstructed,
preventing the windshield defoggers
from defogging.