
1894-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
The Blind Spot Monitor is a system that
has 2 functions:
The BSM (Blind Spot Monitor) func-
tion
Assists the driver in making a deci-
sion when changing lanes
The RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert)
function
Assists the driver when backing up
These functions use same sensors. BSM main switch
This switch is for both the BSM function
and RCTA function.
Pressing the switch turns the system on or
off. When the switch is
turned on, the indi-
cator on the switch illuminates.
Outside rear view mirror indicators
BSM function:
When a vehicle is detected in a blind spot
of the outside rear view mirrors or
approaching rapidly from behind into a
blind spot, the outside rear view mirror
indicator on the detected side will illumi-
nate. If the turn signal lever is operated
toward the detected side, the outside rear
view mirror indicator will flash.
RCTA function:
When a vehicle approaching from the right
or left at the rear of the vehicle is detected,
both outside rear view mirror indicators
will flash.
Center Display
If a vehicle approaching from the right or
left at the rear of the vehicle is detected,
the RCTA icon ( P.194) for the detected
side will be displaye d on the Center Dis-
play.
This illustration shows an example of a
vehicle approaching from both sides of the
vehicle.
R C T A b u z z e r ( R C T A f u n c t i o n o n l y )
If a vehicle approaching from the right or
left at the rear of the vehicle is detected, a
buzzer will sound. The buzzer also sounds
for approximately 1 second immediately
after the BSM main swit ch is operated to
turn the system on.
■Outside rear view mirror indicator visi-
bility
In strong sunlight, the outside rear view mir-
ror indicator may be difficult to see.
BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)
The Blind Spot Monitor is a system
that uses rear side radar sensors
installed on the in ner side of the
rear bumper on the left and right
side to assist the driver in confirm-
ing safety when changing lanes.
Summary of the Blind Spot Mon-
itor
A
B
C
D

1904-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
■Hearing the RCTA buzzer
The RCTA buzzer may be difficult to hear
over loud noises, such as if the audio system
volume is high.
■When “Blind Spot Monitor Unavailable”
is shown on the multi-information dis-
play
Ice, snow, mud, etc., may be attached to the
rear bumper around the sensors. (P.190)
The system should return to normal opera-
tion after removing the ice, snow, mud, etc.
from the rear bumper. Additionally, the sen-
sors may not operate no rmally when driving
in extremely hot or cold environments.
■When there is a malfunction in the Blind
Spot Monitor
If a system malfunction is detected due to
any of the following, a warning message will
be displayed: ( P.301)
●A sensor is malfunctioning
●A sensor is dirty or covered with snow or
a sticker
●The outside temperature is extremely
high or low
●Sensor voltage is abnormal
●A sensor is misaligned
WARNING
■Handling the radar sensor
Blind Spot Monitor se nsors are installed
behind the left and right sides of the rear
bumper respectively. Observe the fol-
lowing to ensure the Blind Spot Monitor
can function correctly.
●Keep the sensors and the surrounding
areas on the rear bumper clean at all
times.
If a sensor or its surrounding area on
the rear bumper is dirty or covered
with snow, the Blind Spot Monitor may
not operate and a warning message
(
P.301) will be displayed. In this sit-
uation, clear off the dirt or snow and
drive the vehicle with the operation
conditions of the BSM function
(
P.192) satisfied for approximately
10 minutes. If the warning message
does not disappear, have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
●Do not subject a sensor or its sur-
rounding area on the rear bumper to a
strong impact.
If a sensor is moved even slightly off
position, the system may malfunction
and vehicles may not be detected cor-
rectly.
In the following situations, have your
vehicle inspected by your Lexus
dealer.
• A sensor or its surrounding area is subject to a strong impact.
• If the surrounding area of a sensor is scratched or dented, or part of them
has become disconnected.
●Do not disassemble the sensor.
●Do not attach stickers to the sensor or
surrounding area on the rear bumper.
●Do not modify the sensor or surround-
ing area on the rear bumper.
●Do not paint the rear bumper any
color other than an official Lexus color.

1994-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
■TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and pre-
vent the drive wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerat-
ing on slippery roads
■Hill-start assist control
Helps to reduce the backward move-
ment of the vehicle when starting on an
uphill
■VGRS (Variable Gear Ratio Steer-
ing) (if equipped)
Adjusts the front wheel turning angle in
accordance with the vehicle speed and
steering wheel movement
■DRS (Dynamic Rear Steering) (if
equipped)
Contributes to the turning characteris-
tics and responsiveness of the vehicle
by adjusting the rear wheel angle of the
vehicle in accordance with steering
wheel movement.
■EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce
the amount of effort needed to turn the
steering wheel
■Adaptive Variable Suspension Sys-
tem (if equipped)
By independently controlling the
damping force of the shock absorbers
for each of the 4 wheels according to
the road and driving conditions, this
system combines riding comfort with
superior vehicle stability, and helps
good vehicle posture.
■LDH (Lexus Dynamic Handling
system) (if equipped)
Provides integrated control of the
VGRS, DRS and EPS. Contributes to
turning characteristics at low speeds,
responsiveness at medium speeds and
safety at high speeds by controlling the
steering angle of the front and rear
wheels in accordance with the steering
wheel operation and vehicle speed.
■VDIM (Vehicle Dynamics Inte-
grated Management)
Provides integrated control of the
ABS, brake assist, TRAC, VSC,
hill-start assist control, EPS and VGRS
systems
Helps to maintain vehicle stability when
swerving on slippery road surfaces by
controlling the brakes, engine output,
steering assist, and steering ratio
■When the TRAC/VSC systems are
operating
The slip indicator light will flash while the
TRAC/VSC systems are operating.
■Disabling the TRAC system
If the vehicle gets stuck in mud, dirt or snow,
the TRAC system may reduce power from
the engine to the wheels. Pressing the
switch to turn the system off may make it
easier for you to rock the vehicle in order to
free it.
To turn the TRAC system off, quickly press

2004-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
and release the switch.
The “Traction Control Turned Off” will be
shown on the multi-information display.
Press the switch again to turn the sys-
tem back on.
■Turning off both TRAC and VSC sys-
tems
To turn the TRAC and VSC systems off,
press and hold the switch for more
than 3 seconds while the vehicle is stopped.
The VSC OFF indicator light will come on
and the “Traction Control Turned Off” will
be shown on the mult i-information display.
*
Press the switch again to turn the sys-
tems back on.
*: On vehicles with PCS (Pre-Collision
System), pre-collision brake assist,
pre-collision braking, and steering con-
trol (performed through cooperative
control of PCS and LDH) (if equipped)
will also be disabl ed. The Pre-Collision
System warning light will come on and a
message will be displayed on the
multi-information display. ( P.166)
■When the message is displayed on the
multi-information display showing that
TRAC has been disabled even if the
switch has not been pressed
TRAC is temporary deactivated. If the infor-
mation continues to show, contact your
Lexus dealer.
■Operating conditions of hill-start assist
control
When the following four conditions are met,
the hill-start assist control will operate:
●The shift lever is in a position other than P
or N (when starting off forward/back-
ward on an upward incline).
●The vehicle is stopped.
●The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
●The parking brake is not engaged.
●Engine switch is turned to IGNITION
ON mode
■Automatic system cancelation of
hill-start assist control
The hill-start assist control will turn off in any
of the following situations:
●The shift lever is moved to P or N.
●The accelerator pedal is depressed.
●The parking brake is engaged.
●2 seconds at maximum elapsed after the
brake pedal is released
●Engine switch is turned to off
■VGRS is disabled when
VGRS may stop operat ing in the following
situations.
In this event, the steering wheel may move
from its straight forward position, but it will
return when the system restarts.
●When the steering wheel is operated for
an extended period of time while the
vehicle is stopped or is moving very
slowly
(on vehicles with LDH, DRS is disabled
together with VGRS)
●When the steering wheel has been held
fully to the left or right
The center position of the steering wheel
may change when VGRS is disabled. How-

2014-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
4
Driving
ever, the position will return to normal after
VGRS is reactivated.
■When the battery is disconnected (vehi-
cles with VGRS)
The steering wheel may move from its
straight forward position, but this will be
corrected automatically when driving.
■Sounds and vibrations caused by the
ABS, brake assist, VS C, TRAC, hill-start
assist control and VGRS systems
●A sound may be heard from the engine
compartment when the brake pedal is
depressed repeatedly, when the engine is
started or just after the vehicle begins to
move. This sound does not indicate that a
malfunction has occurred in any of these
systems.
●Any of the following conditions may
occur when the above systems are oper-
ating. None of these indicates that a mal-
function has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard also after the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate slightly after
the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
■EPS, VGRS and DR S operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a
motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
■Automatic reactivation of TRAC/VSC
systems
After turning the TRAC and VSC systems
off, the systems w ill be automatically
re-enabled in the following situations:
●When the engine switch is turned off
●If only the TRAC system is turned off, the
TRAC will turn on when vehicle speed
increases
If both the TRAC and VSC systems are
turned off, automatic re-enabling will not
occur when vehicle speed increases.
■Reduced effectiveness of the EPS sys-
tem
The effectiveness of the EPS system is
reduced to prevent the system from over-
heating when there is frequent steering
input over an extended period of time. The
steering wheel may feel heavy as a result.
Should this occur, re frain from excessive
steering input or stop the vehicle and turn
the engine off. The EPS system should
return to normal within 10 minutes.
WARNING
■The ABS does not operate effectively
when
●The limits of tire gripping performance
have been exceeded (such as exces-
sively worn tires on a snow covered
road).
●The vehicle hydroplanes while driving
at high speed on wet or slick roads.
■Stopping distance when the ABS is
operating may exceed that of normal
conditions
The ABS is not designed to shorten the
vehicle’s stopping di stance. Always main-
tain a safe distance from the vehicle in
front of you, especially in the following
situations:
●When driving on dirt, gravel or
snow-covered roads
●When driving with tire chains
●When driving over bumps in the road
●When driving over roads with potholes
or uneven surfaces
■TRAC/VSC may not operate effec-
tively when
Directional control and power may not
be achievable while driving on slippery
road surfaces, even if the TRAC/VSC
system is operating. Drive the vehicle
carefully in conditions where stability and
power may be lost.

2024-5. Using the driving support systems
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
WARNING
■Hill-start assist control does not oper-
ate effectively when
●Do not overly rely on hill-start assist
control. Hill-start assist control may
not operate effectively on steep
inclines and roads covered with ice.
●Unlike the parking brake, hill-start
assist control is not intended to hold
the vehicle stationary for an extended
period of time. Do not attempt to use
hill-start assist control to hold the vehi-
cle on an incline, as doing so may lead
to an accident.
■When the TRAC/VSC is activated
The slip indicator light flashes. Always
drive carefully. Re ckless driving may
cause an accident. Exercise particular
care when the indicator light flashes.
■When the TRAC/VSC systems are
turned off
Be especially careful and drive at a speed
appropriate to the road conditions. As
these are the systems to help ensure
vehicle stability and driving force, do not
turn the TRAC/VSC systems off unless
necessary.
■Replacing tires
Make sure that all ti res are of the speci-
fied size, brand, tread pattern and total
load capacity. In addition, make sure that
the tires are inflated to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure level.
The ABS, TRAC and VSC systems will
not function correctly if different tires are
installed on the vehicle.
Contact your Lexus dealer for further
information when replacing tires or
wheels.
■Handling of tires and the suspension
Using tires with any kind of problem or
modifying the suspension will affect the
driving assist systems, and may cause a
system to malfunction.

2044-6. Driving tips
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
warm water over the frozen area to
melt the ice. Wipe away the water
immediately to prevent it from
freezing.
To ensure proper operation of the
climate control system fan, remove
any snow that has accumulated on
the air inlet vents in front of the
windshield.
Check for and remove any excess
ice or snow that may have accumu-
lated on the exterior lights, vehicle’s
roof, chassis, around the tires or on
the brakes.
Remove any snow or mud from the
bottom of your shoes before getting
in the vehicle.
Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a
safe distance between you and the
vehicle ahead, and drive at a reduced
speed suitable to road conditions.
Park the vehicle and move the shift
lever to P without setting the park-
ing brake. The parking brake may
freeze up, preventing it from being
released. If the vehicle is parked
without setting the parking brake,
make sure to block the wheels.
Failure to do so may be dangerous
because it may cause the vehicle to
move unexpectedly, possibly lead-
ing to an accident.
When the parking brake is in automatic mode, release the parking brake after shift-
ing the shift lever to P. (
P.135)
If the vehicle is parked without set-
ting the parking brake, confirm that
the shift lever cannot be moved out
of P
*.
*: The shift lever will be locked if it is
attempted to be shifted from P to any
other position with out depressing the
brake pedal. If the shift lever can be
shifted from P, ther e may be a problem
with the shift lock sy stem. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Lexus dealer
immediately.
Vehicles with front and rear tires of
the same size except for vehicles
with LDH and 19-inch tires
Use the correct tire chain size when
mounting the tire chains.
Chain size is regulated for each tire
size.
Side chain (0.12 in. [3 mm] in diam-
eter)
Cross chain (0.16 in. [4 mm] in
diameter)
When driving the vehicle
When parking the vehicle
Selecting tire chains
A
B

207
RC350/RC300 Owner's Manual
5
5
Interior features
Interior features
.5-1. Remote Touch/DisplayRemote Touch ............................ 208
Center Display ............................ 210
5-2. Using the air conditioning system Automatic air conditioning system......................................................... 213
Heated steering wheel/seat heat- ers/seat ventilators ................. 221
5-3. Using the interior lights Interior lights list......................... 223
5-4. Using the storage features List of storage features............ 225
Trunk features............................. 227
5-5. Using the other interior features
Other interior features ........... 228
Garage door opener............... 230
Compass....................................... 235