2023 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HYBRID Owners Manual

2174-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
4
Driving
*1: Shifting to the D position allows the system to select a gear suit-
able for the driving conditions.
Setting the shift lever to the D
position is recommended for nor-
mal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of
the possible gear ranges, con-
trols engine brak ing force, and
prevents unnecessary upshifting.
■Driving on a downhill
On declines, there may be case
where the vehicle shifts down auto-
matically to obtain engine braking.
As a result of the downshifting, the engine speed may increase.
■To protect the a
utomatic trans-
mission
●If the tires spin continually when
the vehicle becomes stuck in mud,
dirt or snow, or if the accelerator
pedal is depressed and released
repeatedly while driving, the auto-
matic transmission temperature
may become too high and the
automatic transmission may be
damaged.
To avoid damaging the automatic
transmission, the system may
temporarily lock the gear. If the
automatic transmission tempera-
ture falls, the gear locking is can-
celed and the automatic
transmission is returned to the
normal operation.
●If the automatic tr ansmission fluid
temperature is high, “Transmis-
sion Oil Temp. High Stop in a Safe
Place and See Owner’s Manual”
will be displayed on the multi-
information display. Immediately
stop the vehicle in a safe place,
shift the shift lever to P and wait
until the warning message go off.
If the warning message go off, you
may start the vehicle again. If the
warning message do not go off,
contact your Toyota dealer.
■When driving with dynamic
radar cruise control with full-
speed range activated
Even when perform ing the following
actions with the intent of enabling
engine braking, engine braking will
not activate because dynamic radar
cruise control with full-speed range
will not be canceled.
●While driving in S mode, down-
shifting to 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 or 4.
(  P.219)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-
Start Control)
 P.193
Automatic transmis-
sion
Select the shift position
depending on your pur-
pose and situation.
Shift position purpose
and functions
Shift posi-
tionObjective or function
P
Parking the vehi-
cle/starting the hybrid system
RReversing
N
Neutral (Condition in
which the po wer is not
transmitted)
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2
(  P.219)

2184-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
■AI-SHIFT
The AI-SHIFT automatically selects
the suitable gear according to driver
operation and driving conditions.
AI-SHIFT automatically operates
when the shift lever is in D or S.
While the power switch is in
ON and the brake pedal
depressed
*, shift the shift lever
while pushing the shift release
button on the shift knob.
Shift the shift lever while
pushing the shift release button on the shift knob.
Shift the shift lever normally.
When shifting the shift lever
between P and D, make sure that
the vehicle is completely stopped.
*: For the vehicle to be able to be shifted from P, the brake pedal
must be depressed before the
shift release button is pushed. If
the shift release button is pushed
first, the shift lock will not be
released.
■Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to
prevent accidental operation of the
shift lever in starting.
The shift lever can be shifted from P
only when the power switch is in
ON, the brake pedal is depressed
and the shift release button is
pushed.
■If the shift lever cannot be
shifted from P
First, check whether the brake pedal
is being depressed.
If the shift lever cannot be shifted
even though the brake pedal is
depressed and the shift release but-
ton is pushed, the re may be a prob-
lem with the shift lock system. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer immediately.
The following steps may be used as
an emergency measure to ensure
that the shift lev er can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1 Set the parking brake.
2 Turn the power switch off.
3 Depress the brake pedal.
4 Pry the cover up with a flathead
screwdriver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover,
cover the tip of the screwdriver
with a rag.
WARNING
■When driving on slippery
road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears
suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine brak-
ing may cause the vehicle to spin
or skid, resulting in an accident.
Shifting the shift lever

2194-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
4
Driving
5 Press and hold the shift lock
override button and then push
the button on the shift knob.
The shift lever can be shifted
while both buttons are pressed.
■Drive mode
 P.366 When the shift lever is in the S
position, the shift lever can be
operated as follows:
1
Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The selected shift range, from S1 to
S10 will be displayed on the multi-
information display.
The initial shift range in S mode is
set automatically to 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8
according to vehicle speed.
However, the initial shift range may
be set to 4 if AI-SHIFT has oper-
ated while the shift lever was in the
D position. ( P.218)
■S mode
●You can choose from 10 levels of
accelerating force and engine
braking force.
●A lower shift range will provide
greater accelerating force and
engine braking force than a higher
shift range, and t he engine revolu-
tions will also increase.
●To prevent the engine from over-
revving, upshifting may automati-
cally occur.
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when
releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock
override button, make sure to set
the parking brake and depress the
brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally depressed instead of the
brake pedal when the shift lock
override button is pressed and the
shift lever is shifted out of P, the
vehicle may suddenly start, possi-
bly leading to an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving
mode
Changing shift ranges in
S mode

2204-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
●To protect the automatic transmis-
sion, a function is adopted that
automatically select s a h i g h e r s h i f t
range when the fluid temperature
is high.
●When the shift range is 9 or lower,
holding the shift lever toward “+”
sets the shift range to 10.
■Downshifting restriction warn-
ing buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving
performance, downshifting opera-
tion may sometimes b e restricted. In
some circumstances, downshifting
may not be possible even when the
shift lever is opera ted. (A buzzer will
sound twice.)
■If the S indicator does not come
on even after shifting the shift
lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in
the automatic tra nsmission system.
Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
Use “TOW HAUL” or “TOW+”
mode when pulling a trailer or
hauling a heavy load. Activating
“TOW HAUL” or “TOW+” mode
is changes engine, transmis-
sion, steering, and suspension
(vehicles with AVS [adaptive
variable suspension system]) to
be more suitable when pulling a
trailer. “TOW HAUL” indicator
“TOW+” indicator
“TOW HAUL” switch
Mode select switch
1 Press the “TOW HAUL”
switch
The “TOW HAUL” indicator will
come on.
Press the switch once more to can-
cel the mode.
2Turn the mode select switch
to change between “TOW
HAUL” or “TOW+” modes.
When more towing power is
needed than is available in “TOW
HAUL” mode, use “TOW+” mode.
( P.221)
The “TOW+” indicator will come on.
■Automatic deactivation of
“TOW HAUL” and “TOW+”
mode
“TOW HAUL” and “TOW+” mode is
deactivated the following conditions:
●When the front-wheel drive control
switch is in “4L”
“TOW HAUL” switch

2214-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
4
Driving
●When driving mode select or
Multi-terrain Select (if equipped) is
selected
■Differences with “TOW HAUL”
mode and “TOW+” mode
It is recommend ed to use each
mode according to the weight of the
trailer to be towed.
●“TOW HAUL” mode is used when
towing trailers that weigh less than
5000 lb. (2268 kg).
●“TOW+” mode is used when tow-
ing trailers that weigh more than
5000 lb. (2268 kg).
1 Right turn
2 Lane change to the right
(move the lever partway and
release it)
The right hand s ignals will flash 3
times.
3 Lane change to the left
(move the lever partway and
release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3
times.
4Left turn
Tur n signal lever
Operating instructions

2224-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
■Turn signals can be operated
when
The power swit ch is in ON.
■If the indicator flashes faster
than usual
Check that the front or rear turn sig-
nal lights has not burned out.
■If the turn signals stop flashing
before a lane change has been
performed
Operate the lever again.
■Using the manual mode
The parking brake can be set
and released manually.
U.S.A.
Canada
1 Pull the switch to set the
parking brake.
The parking brake indicator light
will turn on.
Pull and hold the parking brake
Parking brake
The parking brake can be
set or released automati-
cally or manually. In auto-
matic mode, the parking
brake can be set or released
automatically according to
shift lever operation.
Also, even in automatic
mode, the parking brake can
be set or released manually.
Operating instructions

2234-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_en
4
Driving
switch if an emergency occurs and
it is necessary to operate the park-
ing brake while driving.
2 Push the switch to release
the parking brake.
• Operate the parking brake switch
while depressing the brake pedal
or the accelerator pedal. When
using this function, slowly
depress the accelerator pedal.
• Parking brake automatic release function ( P.224)
Make sure that t he parking brake
indicator light turn off.
If the parking brake indicator
light flashes, operate the switch
again. ( P.514)
■Turning the automatic
mode on
While the vehicle is stopped,
pull and hold the parking brake
switch until a buzzer sounds and
message is displayed on the
multi-information display.
“EPB Shift Inte rlock Function
Activated”
When the automatic mode is
turned on, the parking brake
operates as follows.
 When the shift lever is shifted from P, the parking brake will
be released, and the parking
brake indicator light will turn
off.
 When the shift lever is shifted
to P, the parking brake will be
set, and the parking brake
indicator light will turn on.
Operate the shift lever with the
vehicle stopped and the brake
pedal depressed.
■Turning the automatic
mode off
While the vehicle is stopped and
depressing the brake pedal,
press and hold the parking
brake switch until a buzzer
sounds and message is dis-
played on the multi-information
display.
“EPB Shift Interlock Function
Deactivated”
■Parking brake operation
●When the power switch is not in
ON, the parking brake cannot be
released using the parking brake
switch.
●When the power switch is not in
ON, automatic mode (automatic
brake setting and releasing) is not

2244-2. Driving procedures
Owners Manual_USA_M0C043_enavailable.
■Parking brake automatic
release function
The parking brake will be released
automatically when the accelerator
pedal is slowly depressed under the
following conditions:
●The driver’s door is closed
●The driver is wearing the seat belt
●The shift lever is in a forward or
reverse position.
●The malfunction in dicator lamp or
brake system warning light is not
illuminated
If the automatic release function
does not operate, release the park-
ing brake manually.
■Parking brake automatic lock
function
The parking brake will be set auto-
matically under the following condi-
tions:
●The driver does not operate the
brake pedal
●The driver’s doo r is not closed
●The driver is not wearing the seat
belt
●The shift lever position is not in P
or N
●The malfunction in dicator lamp or
brake system warning light is not
illuminated
■If “Parking Brake Temporarily
Unavailable” i s displayed on
the multi-information display
If the parking brake is operated
repeatedly over a short period of
time, the system may restrict opera-
tion to prevent overheating. If this
happens, refrain from operating the
parking brake. Nor mal operation will
return after about 1 minute.
■If “Parking Brake Unavailable”
is displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display
Operate the parking brake switch. If the message does not disappear
after operating the switch several
times, the system may be malfunc-
tioning. Have the vehicle inspected
by your Toyota dealer.
■Parking brake operation sound
When the parking brake operates, a
motor sound (whirr ing sound) may
be heard. This does not indicate a
malfunction.
■Parking brake indicator light
●Depending on the power switch
mode, the parking brake indicator
light will turn on and stay on as
described below:
ON: Comes on until the parking
brake is released.
Not in ON: Stays on for approxi-
mately 15 seconds.
●When the power switch is turned
to OFF with the parking brake set,
the parking brake indicator light
will stay on for abo ut 15 seconds.
This does not indicate a malfunc-
tion.
■When the parking brake switch
malfunctions
Automatic mode (automatic brake
setting and releas ing) will be turned
on automatically.
■Parking the vehicle
 P.187
■Parking brake engaged warning
buzzer
A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is
driven with the parking brake
engaged. “Parking Brake ON” is dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play (with the vehicle reaching a
speed of 3 mph [5 km/h]).
■If the brake system warning
light comes on
 P.509
■Usage in winter time
 P.402