2021 LEXUS RX450h traction control

2894-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
4-6.Driving tips
When using Eco drive mode, the
torque corresponding to the accelera-
tor pedal depression amount can be
generated more smoothly than it is in
normal conditions. In addition, the
operation of the air conditioning sys-
tem (heating/cooling) will be mini-
mized, improving the fuel economy.
( P.281)
The Eco-friendly driving is possible by
keeping the indicator needle (except F
SPORT models) or bar display (F
SPORT models) of Hybrid System
Indicator within Eco area. ( P.85)
Shift the shift lever to D when stopped
at a traffic light, or driving in heavy traf-
fic, etc. Shift the shift lever to P when
parking. When using the N, there is no
positive effect on fuel consumption. In
the N, the gasoline engine operates
but electricity cannot be generated.
Also, when using the air conditioning
system, etc., the hybrid battery (trac-
tion battery) power is consumed. 
Drive your vehicle smoothly. Avoid
abrupt acceleration and decelera-
tion. Gradual acceleration and
deceleration will make more effec-
tive use of the electric motor (trac-
tion motor) without having to use
gasoline engine power.
 Avoid repeated acceleration.
Repeated acceleration consumes
hybrid battery (traction battery)
power, resulting in poor fuel con-
sumption. Battery power can be
restored by driving with the acceler-
ator pedal slightly released.
Make sure to operate the brakes gently
and in a timely manner. A greater
amount of electrical energy can be
regenerated when slowing down.
Repeated acceleration and decelera-
tion, as well as long waits at traffic
lights, will lead to bad fuel economy.
Check traffic reports before leaving
and avoid delays as much as possible.
When driving in a traffic jam, gently
release the brake pedal to allow the
vehicle to move forward slightly while
avoiding overuse of the accelerator
pedal. Doing so can help control
excessive gasoline consumption.
Hybrid vehicle driving tips
For economical and ecological
driving, pay attention to the follow-
ing points:
Using Eco drive mode
Use of Hybrid System Indicator
Shift lever operation
Accelerator pedal/brake pedal
operation
When braking
Delays

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”.

4307-2. Steps to take in an emergency
not be charged when the shift lever is in N,
shift the shift lever to P when the vehicle is
stopped.
■If “Traction Battery Needs to be Pro-
tected. Shift into P to Restart.” is dis-
played
This message is displayed when the hybrid
battery (traction battery) charge has
become extremely low because the shift
lever has been left in N for a certain amount
of time.
When operating the vehicle, shift to P and
restart the hybrid system.
■If “Shift Is in N Release Accelerator
Before Shifting” is displayed
Message is displayed when the accelerator
pedal has been depressed and the shift
lever is in N.
Release the accelerator pedal and shift the
shift lever to D or R.
■If “Depress Brake when Vehicle Is
Stopped Hybrid Syst em May Overheat”
is displayed
Message is displayed when the accelerator
pedal is depressed to maintain the vehicle
position when stopped on a upward slope,
etc.
If this continues, th e hybrid system may
overheat.
Release the accelerator pedal and depress
the brake pedal.
■If “Power Turned Off to Save Battery” is
displayed
This message is displayed when the power
was cut off due to the automatic power off
function. The next time the hybrid system is
started, increase the engine speed slightly
and maintain it at that speed for approxi-
mately 5 minutes to recharge the 12-volt
battery.
■If “Headlight System Malfunction Visit
Your Dealer” is displayed
The following systems may be malfunction-
ing. Have the vehicle inspected by your
Lexus dealer immediately.
●The LED headlight system
●AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) (if equipped)
●The automatic headlight leveling system
●Automatic High Beam
■If “Radar Cruise Control Unavailable
See Owner's Manual” is displayed
The dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range system is suspended tem-
porarily or until the problem shown in the
message is re solved. (causes and coping
methods: P.218)
■If “Radar Cruise Control Unavailable” is
displayed
The dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range system cannot be used
temporarily. Use the system when it
becomes available again.
■If a message that indicates the malfunc-
tion of front camera is displayed
The following systems may be suspended
until the problem shown in the message is
resolved. ( P.218, 424)
●PCS (Pre-Collision system)
●LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)
●Automatic High Beam
●RSA (Road Sign Assist) (if equipped)
●Dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range
■If “Maintenance Required Soon” is dis-
played (U.S.A. only)
Indicates that all maintenance according to
the driven distance on the maintenance
schedule
* should be performed soon.
Comes on approximately 4500 miles
(7200 km) after the message has been
reset. If necessary, perform maintenance.
Please reset the message after the mainte-
nance is performed. ( P.362)
*: Refer to the separate “Scheduled Main-
tenance” or “Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment” for the main tenance interval
applicable to your vehicle.
■If “Maintenance Required Visit Your
Dealer” is displayed (U.S.A. only)
Indicates that all mainte nance is required to
correspond to the driven distance on the

4577-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
1Stop the hybrid system. Shift the
shift lever to P and set the parking
brake.
2 Remove the mud, snow or sand
from around the front wheels.
3 Place wood, stones or some other
material under the front wheels to
help provide traction.
4 Restart the hybrid system.
5 Shift the shift lever to D or R and
release the parking brake. Then,
while exercising caution, depress
the accelerator pedal.
■When it is difficult to free the vehicle
Press to turn off TRAC.
WARNING
●After the hybrid system has been
turned off, check that the “READY”
indicator is off.
When the hybrid system is operating,
the gasoline engine may automatically
start, or the cooling fans may suddenly
operate even if the gasoline engine
stops. Do not touch or approach rotat-
ing parts such as the fans, which may
lead to fingers or cl othing (especially a
tie, a scarf or a muffler) getting caught,
resulting in serious injury.
●Do not loosen the radiator cap and the
coolant reservoir caps while the hybrid
system and radiator are hot.
High temperature steam or coolant
could spray out.
NOTICE
■When adding engine/power control
unit coolant
Add coolant slowly after the hybrid sys-
tem has cooled down sufficiently. Adding
cool coolant to a hot hybrid system too
quickly can cause damage to the hybrid
system.
■To prevent damage to the cooling sys-
tem
Observe the following precautions:
●Avoid contaminating the coolant with
foreign matter (such as sand or dust,
etc.).
●Do not use any coolant additive.
If the vehicle becomes stuck
Carry out the following proce-
dures if the tires spin or the vehicle
becomes stuck in mud, dirt or snow:
Recovering procedure

4748-1. Specifications
Your Lexus dealer will help answer any
questions you may have as you read this
information.
■DOT quality grades
All passenger vehicle tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades. Quality
grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width.
For example: Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
■Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and a half (1 - 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performa nce of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use.
Performance may differ significantly from
the norm due to variatio ns in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
■Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C, and they
represent the tire’s ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified govern-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
■Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudd en tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Fede ral Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grades of a tire
assume that it is properly inflated and not
overloaded.
Excessive speed, unde rinflation, or exces-
sive loading, either separately or in combi-
nation, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.

513Alphabetical Index
Alphabetical Index
A
A/CAir conditioning filter ...............................390
Front automatic air conditioning system.........................................................................304
Front seat concentr ated airflow mode
(S-FLOW)................................................... 312
Micro dust and pollen filter...................... 311
Rear automatic air conditioning system ...........................................................................315
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System).............. 283 Warning light ............................................... 420
ACA (Active Cornering Assist) ........... 284
Active Cornering Assist (ACA) ........... 284
Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS)202
Adaptive Variable Suspension System284
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System)202
AHB (Automatic High Beam) ............... 203
Air conditioning filter ................................. 390
Air conditioning system Air conditioning filter ...............................390
Front automatic air conditioning system.........................................................................304
Front seat concentr ated airflow mode
(S-FLOW)................................................... 312
Micro dust and pollen filter...................... 311
Rear automatic air conditioning system ...........................................................................315
Airbags Airbag operating conditions................... 33
Airbag precautions for your child ........ 36
Correct driving posture ............................ 25
Curtain shield airbag operating condi- tions .................................................................. 33
Curtain shield airbag precautions ....... 36
Front passenger occupant classification system ............................................................. 39
General airbag precautions ................... 36
Locations of airbags.................................... 30
Modification and disposal of airbags . 38
Side airbag operating conditions ......... 33 Side airbag precautions ............................ 36
Side and curtain shie
ld airbags operating
conditions ...................................................... 33
Side and curtain shield airbags precau- tions .................................................................. 36
SRS airbags......................................................30
SRS warning light.......................................420
Alarm ................................................................... 75 Warning buzzer .......................................... 418
Anchor brackets ..................................... 46, 57
Antennas (smart acc ess system with
push-button start).......................................125
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS).............. 283 Warning light ...............................................420
Approach warning...................................... 244
Armrest............................................................ 342
Assist grips ..................................................... 342
Audio system-linked display ...................... 92
Automatic headlight leveling system ....201
Automatic High Beam .............................. 203
Automatic light control system..............200
Auxiliary boxes ................................... 329, 331
Average fuel economy................................. 90
Average vehicle speed ................................ 90
AWD Control.................................................... 91
B
Back door .......................................................... 113
Back-up light Wattage ......................................................... 468
Back-up lights Replacing light bulbs ...................400, 406
Battery (12-volt battery) Battery checking ........................................ 376
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ....449
Preparing and checking before winter............................................................................291
Warning light ................................................ 419
Battery (traction batter y) ............................ 69
Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)........................247
Bottle holders ................................................ 328

515Alphabetical Index
DifferentialRear differential oil ....................................465
Dimension ...................................................... 460
Dinghy towing................................................ 183
Display Center Display........................................... 300
Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range ...................................... 238
Energy monitor.............................................. 99
Head-up display ........................................... 95
Intuitive parking assist.............................. 255
LTA (Lane Tracing Assist).................... 232
Multi-information display ..........................88
RCTA ................................................................ 261
Warning message..................................... 428
Distance until next engine oil change .... 87
Do-it-yourself maintenance .................... 363
Door courtesy lights .....................................321 Wattage..........................................................468
Door lock Power back door.......................................... 113
Side doors ...................................................... 109
Smart access system with push-button start ..................................................................125
Wireless remote control..........................107
Door pockets ................................................ 328
Doors Automatic door lock ing and unlocking
system ..............................................................112
Door glasses ..................................................153
Door lock warning buzzer ...................... 110
Open door warning buzzer ....................112
Outside rear view mirrors ..................... 150
Rear door child-protectors ......................112
Side doors ...................................................... 109
Drive distance .................................................. 90
Driver’s seat position memory Driving position memory......................... 142
Memory recall function ............................143
Power easy access system ..................... 142
Drive-start control ........................................165 Driving
Break-in tips .................................................. 165
Correct driving posture ............................ 25
Driving mode select switch ................... 281
Hybrid vehicle driving tips ................... 289
Procedures .................................................... 164
Winter drive tips ...........................................291
Driving assist system information ............ 92
Driving information display ........................ 90
Driving position memory............................ 142 Memory recall function.............................143
Power easy access system .....................142
Driving range ................................................... 90
Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range ........................................ 238Warning message ..................................... 246
E
ECB (Electronically Controlled Brake Sys-
tem) ................................................................ 283
EDR (Event data recorder) ........................... 8
E-Four .............................................................. 284
Elapsed time ..................................................... 90
Electric motor (traction motor) ................ 66
Electric Power Steering (EPS) .............. 284 Warning light .................................................421
Electronic key ................................................ 106 Battery-saving function.............................126
If the electronic key does not operate properly ....................................................... 447
Replacing the battery ...............................393
Electronic sunshade Jam protection function ........................... 159
Operation ....................................................... 158
Electronically Controlled Brake System (ECB) ............................................................ 283
Emergency flashers ..................................... 410
Emergency, in case of If a warning buzzer sounds.................... 418
If a warning light turns on........................ 418
If a warning message is displayed .....428
If the 12-volt battery is discharged ....449