2021 LEXUS RX450h maintenance schedule

1744-1. Before driving
for a more safe trailer hookup, the trailer
ball setup must be the proper height for the
coupler on the trailer.Coupler
Trailer ball
■Before towing
Check that the following conditions are
met:
●Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are prop-
erly inflated. ( P.466)
●Trailer tires are inflated according to the
trailer manufacturer’s recommendation.
●All trailer lights work as required by law.
●All lights work each time you connect
them.
●The trailer ball is set at the proper height
for the coupler on the trailer.
●The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and
check for improper tongue weight, over-
loading, worn suspension, or other possi-
ble causes.
●The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
●The rear view mirrors conform to all
applicable federal, state/provincial or local regulations. If they do not, install
rear view mirrors appropriate for towing
purposes.
■Adaptive Variable Suspension System
(if equipped)
The suspension can be switched for
improvement in driveability. ( P.284)
■Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any
new power train components (such as an
engine, hybrid transmission, rear differential
or wheel bearing), Lexus recommends that
you do not tow a trailer until the vehicle has
been driven for over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over
500 miles (800 km), you can start towing.
However, for the next 500 miles (800 km),
drive the vehicle at a speed of less than 50
mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and
avoid full throttle acceleration.
■Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will
require more frequent maintenance due
to the additional load. (See “Warranty
and Services Guide”, “Owner’s Manual
Supplement” or “Scheduled Mainte-
nance”.)
●Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing
ball and bracket after approximately 600
miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
■If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing
vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can adversely
affect handling of your vehicle and trailer,
causing instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by
turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing th e 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. (if enabled, Trailer Sway
Control can also help to stabilize the vehicle
A
B

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”.

3626-2. Maintenance
6-2.Maintenance
■Repair and replacement
It is recommended that genuine Lexus parts
be used for repairs to ensure performance
of each system. If non-Lexus parts are used
in replacement or if a repair shop other than
a Lexus dealer perfor ms repairs, confirm
the warranty coverage.
■Allow inspection and repairs to be per-
formed by a Lexus dealer
●Lexus technicians are well-trained spe-
cialists and are kept up to date with the
latest service information. They are well
informed about the operation of all sys-
tems on your vehicle.
●Keep a copy of the repa ir order. It proves
that the maintenance that has been per-
formed is under warra nty coverage. If any
problem should arise while your vehicle is
under warranty, your Lexus dealer will
promptly take care of it.
General maintenance should be per-
formed on a daily basis. This can be
done by yourself or by a Lexus dealer.
Scheduled maintenance should be
performed at specified intervals
according to the maintenance sched-
ule.
For details about ma intenance items and
schedules, refer to the “Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide”, “Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment” or “Scheduled Maintenance”.
■Resetting the message indicating main-
tenance is required (U.S.A. only)
After the required maintenance is pre-
formed according to the maintenance
schedule, please reset the message.
To reset the message, follow the procedures
described below:
1 Press or of the meter control
switch to select .
2 Press or of the meter control
switch, select the “Scheduled Mainte-
nance” screen and then press and hold
the .
Maintenance requirements
To ensure safe and economical driv-
ing, day-to-day care and regular
maintenance are essential. It is the
owner’s responsibility to perform
regular checks. Lexus recommends
the following maintenance:
WARNING
■If your vehicle is not properly main-
tained
Improper maintenanc e could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and possi-
ble death or serious injury.
■Handling of the 12-volt battery
●Engine exhaust, some of its constitu-
ents, and a wide variety of automobile
components contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects and
other reproductive harm. Work in a
well ventilated area.
●Oils, fuels and fluids contained in vehi-
cles as well as waste produced by
component wear contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of Cali-
fornia to cause cancer and birth
defects or other re productive harm.
Avoid exposure and wash any affected
area immediately.
●12-volt battery post s, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and
lead compounds which are known to
cause brain damage. Wash your hands
after handling. ( P.376)
General maintenance
Scheduled maintenance

3656-2. Maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Seats• Do the seat controls operate properly?
Steering wheel
• Does the steering wheel rotate
smoothly?
• Does the steering wheel have the cor-
rect amount of free
play?
•There should not be any strange sounds
coming from the
steering wheel.
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Doors• Do the doors oper-ate smoothly?
Engine hood
•Does the engine hood lock system
work properly?
Fluid leaks
•There should not be any signs of fluid
leakage after the
vehicle has been
parked.
ItemsCheck points
Tires
• Is the tire inflation pressure correct?
• The tires should not be damaged or
excessively worn.
• Have the tires been rotated according to
the maintenance
schedule?
•The wheel nuts should not be loose.
Windshield wip-
ers/rear window
wiper
• The wiper blades should not show any
signs of cracking,
splitting, wear, con-
tamination or defor-
mation.
• The wiper blades should clear the
windshield/rear win-
dow without streak-
ing or skipping.
ItemsCheck points

3806-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Check if the treadwear indicators are
showing on the tires. Also check the
tires for uneven wear, such as excessive
wear on one side of the tread.
Check the spare tire condition and
pressure if not rotated.New tread
Worn tread
Treadwear indicator
The location of treadwear indicators is
shown by a “TWI” or “ ” mark, etc.,
molded into the sidewall of each tire.
Replace the tires if the treadwear indica-
tors are showing on a tire.
■When to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
●The treadwear indicators are showing on
a tire.
●You have tire damage such as cuts, splits,
cracks deep enough to expose the fabric,
and bulges indicating internal damage.
●A tire goes flat repe atedly or cannot be
properly repaired due to the size or loca-
tion of a cut or other damage.
If you are not sure, consult with your Lexus
dealer.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked
by a qualified technician even if it has sel-
dom or never been used or damage is not
obvious.
■Proper storage of the spare tire
(RX450hL)
As an improperly stored spare tire may
cause damage to the wire cable that holds
it, check that the spare tire is stored prop-
erly on a daily basis.
●If the stored spare tire appears to be
slanted or rattles while driving, the spare
tire may not be properly stored. Store the
spare tire again by performing the follow-
ing tire change procedure correctly:
1 If the spare tire is slanted, the hoist
assembly may be stuck in the wheel
opening. If the spare tire rattles while
driving, it may not be fully raised. Lower
the spare tire to the ground and make
sure that the hoist assembly is perpen-
dicular to the wheel opening.
2 Raise the tire slowly and steadily until a
click is heard and the jack handle skips.
If the spare tire cannot be lowered, the wire
cable may be severed. Have the vehicle
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in accor-
dance with maintenance schedules
and treadwear.
Checking tires
A
B
C

3916-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
and the filter case should be pointing up.
■Checking interval
Inspect and replace the air conditioning fil-
ter according to the maintenance schedule.
In dusty areas or area s with heavy traffic
flow, early replacement may be required.
(For scheduled mainte nance information,
please refer to the “Owner’s Manual Sup-
plement” or “Scheduled Maintenance”.)
■If air flow from th e vents decreases dra-
matically
The filter may be clogged. Check the filter
and replace if necessary.
■Air conditioning filter with deodorizing
function
When fragrances are placed in your vehi-
cle, the deodorizing effect may become
significantly weakened in a short period.
When an air conditioning odor comes out
continuously, replace the air conditioning
filter.
NOTICE
■When using the air conditioning sys-
tem
Make sure that a filter is always installed.
Using the air conditioning system without
a filter may cause damage to the system.
■To prevent damage to the filter cover
When moving the filter cover in the
direction of arrow to release the fitting,
pay attention not to apply excessive force
to the claws. Otherwise, the claws may
be damaged.

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

4317-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
maintenance schedule*.
Comes on approximately 5000 miles
(8000 km) after the message has been
reset. (The indicator will not work properly
unless the message ha s been reset.) Per-
form the necessary maintenance. Please
reset the message after the maintenance is
performed. ( P.362)
*: Refer to the separa te “Scheduled Main-
tenance” or “Owner’s Manual Supple-
ment” for the maintenance interval
applicable to your vehicle.
■If “Oil Maintenance Required Soon” is
displayed
Indicates that the engine oil should be
scheduled to be changed.
Check the engine oil and change it if neces-
sary. After changing the engine oil, make
sure to reset the message. ( P.373)
■If “Oil Maintenance Required” is dis-
played
Indicates that the engine oil should be
changed.
Check and change the en gine oil, and oil fil-
ter by your Lexus deal er. After changing the
engine oil, make sure to reset the message.
(  P.373)
■If a message that in dicates the need for
visiting your Lexus dealer is displayed
The system or part shown on the
multi-information display is malfunctioning.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus
dealer immediately.
■If a message that in dicates the need for
referring to Owner’s Manual is dis-
played
●“Engine Coolant Temp High” is shown on
the multi-information display, follow the
instructions. ( P.454)
●If any of the following messages are
shown on the multi-information display, it
may indicate a malfunction. Have the
vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately.
• “Access System with Elec. Key Malfunc-
tion”
• “Hybrid System Malfunction” •“Check Engine”
• “Hybrid Battery System Malfunction”
• “Accelerator System Malfunction”
●If any of the following messages are
shown on the multi-info
rmation display, it
may indicate a malfun ction. Immediately
stop the vehicle and contact your Lexus
dealer.
• “Braking Power Low”
• “Charging System Malfunction”
• “Oil Pressure Low”
NOTICE
■If “High Power Consumption Partial
Limit On AC/Heater Operation” is
displayed frequently
There is a possible malfunction relating
to the charging system or the 12-volt bat-
tery may be deteriorating. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Lexus dealer.