2021 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID warning

4597-1. Essential information
7
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER HV_U
briefly 3 times or more in suc-
cession.
5 Stop the vehicle in a safe
place by the road. 
Remove the seat belt first.
 If the door can be opened,
open the door and exit the
vehicle.
 If the door can not be opened,
open the window using the
power window switch and exit
the vehicle through the win-
dow.
 If the window can not be
opened using the power win-
dow switch, remain calm, wait
until the water level inside the
vehicle rises to the point that
the water pressure inside of
the vehicle equals the water
pressure outside of the vehi-
cle, and then open the door
and exit the vehicle.
WARNING
■If the hybrid system has to be
turned off while driving
Power assist for the steering
wheel will be lost, making the
steering wheel heavier to turn.
Decelerate as much as possible
before turning off the hybrid sys-
tem.
If the vehicle is
trapped in rising water
In the event the vehicle is
submerged in water, remain
calm and perform the fol-
lowing.

4607-1. Essential information
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■How to distinguish laminated
glass
When looking from the cross-sec-
tional view point, laminated glass is
two sheets of glass pasted together.
Laminated glass
Tempered glass
WARNING
■Using an emergency ham-
mer*1 for emergency escape
The rear side windows and rear
window of this vehicle can be
shattered by an emergency ham-
mer
*1 used for emergency
escape, however, since the wind-
shield and front side windows
*2
are laminated glass they can not
be shattered by an emergency
hammer
*1.*1: Contact your Toyota dealer or
aftermarket accessory manu-
facturer for further information
about an emergency hammer.
*2: Vehicles with laminated glass
■Escaping the vehicle from the
window
There are cases where escaping
the vehicle from the window is not
possible due to seating position,
passenger body type, etc.
When using an emergency ham-
mer, consider your seat location
and the size of the window open-
ing to ensure that the opening is
accessible and large enough to
escape.

4617-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER HV_U
7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs
to be towed
If towing is necessary, we
recommend having your
vehicle towed by your Toy-
ota dealer or commercial
towing service, using a
wheel-lift type truck or flat-
bed truck.
Use a safety chain system
for all towing, and abide by
all state/provincial and local
laws.
If towing your vehicle with a
wheel-lift type truck from
the front, the vehicle’s rear
wheels and axles must be in
good conditions. ( P.463)
If they are damaged, use a
towing dolly or flatbed
truck.
WARNING
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so m ay result in
death or serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
2WD models
Be sure to transp ort the vehicle
with the front wheels raised or
with all four wheels raised off the
ground. If the vehicle is towed
with the front wheels contacting
the ground, the drivetrain and
related parts may be damaged or
electricity generated by the opera-
tion of the motor may cause a fire
to occur depending on the nature
of the damage or malfunction.
AWD models
Be sure to transp ort the vehicle
with all four wheels raised off the
ground. If the vehicle is towed
with the tires co ntacting the
ground, the drivetrain or related
parts may be damaged, the vehi-
cle may fly off the truck, or elec-
tricity generated by the operation
of the motor may cause a fire to
occur depending o n the nature of
the damage or malfunction.

4627-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER HV_U
The following may indicate a
problem with your transmission.
Contact your Toyota dealer or
commercial towing service
before towing.
The hybrid system warning
message is shown on the
multi-information display and
the vehicle does not move.
 The vehicle makes an abnor-
mal sound.
WARNING
■While towing
●When towing using cables or
chains, avoid sudden starts, etc.
which place excessive stress on
the towing eyelets, cables or
chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become
damaged, broken debris may hit
people, and cause serious dam-
age.
●Do not turn the power switch off.
There is a possibility that the
steering wheel is locked and
cannot be operated.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when towing using a
wheel-lift type truck
●Do not tow the vehicle from the
rear when the power switch is
off. The steering lock mecha-
nism is not strong enough to
hold the front wheels straight.
●When raising the vehicle,
ensure adequate ground clear-
ance for towing at the opposite
end of the raised vehicle. With-
out adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while
being towed.
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when towing with a
sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck,
either from the front or rear.
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle during emergency
towing
Do not secure cables or chains to
the suspension components.
■Recreational towing (behind
motor home, etc.)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to
prevent causing serious damage
to the Hybrid AWD system (AWD
models) and transmission.
(  P.212)
Situations when it is nec-
essary to contact dealers
before towing

4667-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■Brake system warning light
■Brake system warning light
■High coolant temperature warning light* (warning buzzer)
*: This light illuminat es on the multi-information display.
If a war ning light tur ns on or a war ning buzzer
sounds
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning
lights comes on or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but
then goes off, this does not necessarily indicate a malfunction
in the system. However, if this continues to occur, have the
vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.
Actions to the warning lights or warning buzzers
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(U.S.A.)
or
(red)
(Canada)
Indicates that:
 The brake fluid level is low; or
 The brake system is malfunctioning
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer. Continuing to drive the vehi-
cle may be dangerous.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(yellow)
Indicates a malfunction in:
The regenerative braking system;
 The electronically contr olled brake system; or
 The electric parking brake
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates that the engine coolant temperature is too high
Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place.
Handling method ( P.504)

4677-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■Hybrid system overheat warning light*(warning buzzer)
*: This light illuminat es on the multi-information display.
■Charging system warning light*
*: This light illuminates on the multi-information display.
■Low engine oil pressure warning light* (warning buzzer)
*: This light illuminates on the multi-information display.
■Malfunction indicator lamp
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates the hybrid s ystem has overheated
 Stop the vehicle in a safe place.
Handling method ( P.505)
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates a malfunction in the vehicle’s charging system
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates that the engine oil pressure is too low
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(U.S.A.)
or
(Canada)
Indicates a malfunction in:
The hybrid system;
 The electronic engine control system; or
 The electronic thrott le control system;
 Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer.

4687-2. Steps to take in an emergency
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■SRS warning light
■ABS warning light
■Brake Override System warning light/Drive-Start Control
warning light* (warning buzzer)
*: This light illuminat es on the multi-information display.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates a malfunction in:
The SRS airb ag system;
 The front passenger occupan t classification system; or
 The seat belt pretensioner system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(U.S.A.)
or
(Canada)
Indicates a malfunction in:
The ABS; or
 The brake assist system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
When a buzzer sounds:
Brake Override System is malfunctioning;
 Drive-Start Contro l is operating;
 Drive-Start Control is malfunctioning; or
 Parking Support Brake functio n (for static objects) (if
equipped) is operating
 Follow the instructions di splayed on the multi-infor-
mation display.
When a buzzer does not sound:
Brake Override System is operating
 Release the accelerator pedal and depress the brake
pedal.

4697-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
HIGHLANDER HV_U
■Electric power steering system warning light (warning
buzzer)
■Low fuel level warning light
■Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder light (warn-
ing buzzer)*
*: Driver’s seat belt warning buzzer:
The driver’s seat belt warning buzzer sounds to alert the driver that his or
her seat belt is not fastened. O nce the power switch is turned to ON, the
buzzer sounds. If the seat belt is still un fastened, the buzzer sounds inter-
mittently for a certain period of time after the vehicle reache s a certain
speed.
Front passenger’s seat belt warning buzzer:
The front passenger’s seat belt w arning buzzer sounds to alert the front
passenger that his or her seat belt is not fastened. If the seat belt is unfas-
tened, the buzzer sounds intermittently for a certain period of time after the
vehicle reaches a certain speed.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
(red/yellow)
Indicates a malfunction in th e EPS (Electric Power Steer-
ing) system
 Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately 2.6 gal. (9.7
L, 2.1 Imp. gal.) or less
 Refuel the vehicle.
Warning lightDetails/Actions
Warns the driver and/or front passenger to fasten their seat
belts
Fasten the seat belt.
If the front passenger’s se at is occupied, the front
passenger’s seat belt also needs to be fastened to
make the warning light (w arning buzzer) turn off.