LEXUS ES300h 2022 Owners Manual

1394-1. Before driving
4
Driving
QBreaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing
the following precautions is recommended:
OFor the first 186 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.
OFor the first 621 miles (1000 km):
• Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
• Avoid sudden acceleration.
• Do not drive continuously in low gears.
• Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
QOperating your vehicle in a foreign
country
Comply with the releva nt vehicle registra-
tion laws and confirm the availability of the
correct fuel. ( P.403)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury.
QWhen starting the vehicle
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal while stopped with the “READY”
indicator is illuminated. This prevents the
vehicle from creeping.
QWhen driving the vehicle
ODo not drive if you are unfamiliar with
the location of the brake and accelera-
tor pedals to avoid depressing the
wrong pedal.
• Accidentally depressing the accelera- tor pedal instead of the brake pedal
will result in sudden acceleration that
may lead to an accident.
• When backing up, you may twist your body around, leading to a difficulty in
operating the pedals. Make sure to
operate the pedals properly.
• Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving the vehicle
only slightly. This allows you to depress
the brake and accelerator pedals
properly.
• Depress the brake pedal using your right foot. Depressing the brake pedal
using your left foot may delay
response in an emer gency, resulting in
an accident.
OThe driver should pay extra attention
to pedestrians when the vehicle is
powered only by the electric motor
(traction motor). As there is minimal
motor noise, pedestrians may mis-
judge the vehicle’s movement. Even if
the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting system
is operating, drive with care as pedes-
trians in the vicinity may still not notice
the vehicle if the surrounding area is
noisy.
ODo not drive the vehicle over or stop
the vehicle near flammable materials
such as leaves, paper or rags.
The exhaust system and exhaust gases
can be extremely hot. These hot parts
may cause a fire if there is any flamma-
ble material nearby.

1404-1. Before driving
WARNING
ODuring normal driving, do not turn off
the hybrid system. Turning the hybrid
system off while driving will not cause
loss of steering or braking control,
however, power assist to the steering
will be lost. This will make it more diffi-
cult to steer smoothly, so you should
pull over and stop the vehicle as soon
as it is safe to do so.
In the event of an emergency, such as
if it becomes impossible to stop the
vehicle in the normal way: P.358
OUse engine braking (downshift) to
maintain a safe sp eed when driving
down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may
cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. ( P.154)
ODo not adjust the positions of the
steering wheel, the seat, or the inside
or outside rear view mirrors while driv-
ing.
Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle
control.
OAlways check that all passengers’
arms, heads or other parts of their
body are not outside the vehicle.
ODo not drive in excess of the speed
limit. Even if the legal speed limit per-
mits it, do not drive over 85 mph (140
km/h) unless your vehicle has high-
speed capability tires. Driving over 85
mph (140 km/h) may result in tire fail-
ure, loss of control and possible injury.
Be sure to consult a tire dealer to
determine whether the tires on your
vehicle are high-speed capability tires
or not before driving at such speeds.
QWhen driving on slippery road sur-
faces
OSudden braking, acceleration and
steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehi-
cle.
OSudden acceleration, engine braking
due to shifting, or changes in engine
speed could cause the vehicle to skid,
resulting in an accident.
OAfter driving through a puddle, lightly
depress the brake pedal to make sure
that the brakes are functioning prop-
erly. Wet brake pads may prevent the
brakes from functioning properly. If
the brakes on only one side are wet
and not functioning properly, steering
control may be affected.
QWhen shifting the shift lever
ODo not let the vehicle roll backward
while the shift lever is in a driving posi-
tion, or roll forward while the shift lever
is in R.
Doing so may result in an accident or
damage to the vehicle.
ODo not shift the shift lever to P while
the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
ODo not shift the shift lever to R while
the vehicle is moving forward.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
ODo not shift the shift lever to a driving
position while the vehicle is moving
backward.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
OShifting the shift lever to N while the
vehicle is moving will disengage the
hybrid system. Engine braking is not
available when N is selected.
OBe careful not to shift the shift lever
with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Shifting the shift lever to a gear other
than P or N may lead to unexpected
rapid acceleration of the vehicle that
may cause an accident and result in
death or serious injury.

1414-1. Before driving
4
Driving
WARNING
QIf you hear a squealing or scraping
noise (brake pad wear limit indica-
tors)
Have the brake pads checked and
replaced by your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible. Rotor damage may result if the
pads are not replaced when needed. It is
dangerous to drive the vehicle when the
wear limits of the brake pads and/or
those of the brake discs are exceeded.
QWhen the vehicle is stopped
ODo not depress the accelerator pedal
unnecessarily.
If the shift lever is in any position other
than P or N, the vehicle may acceler-
ate suddenly and unexpectedly, caus-
ing an accident.
OIn order to prevent accidents due to
the vehicle rolling away, always keep
depressing the brake pedal while
stopped with the “READY” indicator is
illuminated, and apply the parking
brake as necessary.
OIf the vehicle is stopped on an incline,
in order to prevent accidents caused
by the vehicle rolling forward or back-
ward, always depress the brake pedal
and securely apply the parking brake
as needed.
OAvoid revving or racing the engine.
Running the engine at high speed
while the vehicle is stopped may cause
the exhaust system to overheat, which
could result in a fire if combustible
material is nearby.
QWhen the vehicle is parked
ODo not leave glasses, cigarette light-
ers, spray cans, or soft drink cans in the
vehicle when it is in the sun.
Doing so may result in the following:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plas-
tic material of glasses to deform or
crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, causing the contents to spray over the interior
of the vehicle, and may also cause a
short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical
components.
ODo not leave cigarette lighters in the
vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the
floor, it may be lit accidentally when
luggage is loaded or the seat is
adjusted, causing a fire.
ODo not attach adhesive discs to the
windshield or windows. Do not place
containers such as air fresheners on
the instrument panel or dashboard.
Adhesive discs or containers may act
as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
ODo not leave a door or window open if
the curved glass is coated with a met-
allized film such as a silver-colored
one. Reflected sunlight may cause the
glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
OAlways apply the parking brake, shift
the shift lever to P, stop the hybrid sys-
tem and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended
while the “READY” indicator is illumi-
nated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift
lever in P but the parking brake is not
set, the vehicle may start to move, pos-
sibly leading to an accident.
ODo not touch the exhaust pipes while
the “READY” indicator is illuminated
or immediately after turning the hybrid
system off.
Doing so may cause burns.

1424-1. Before driving
WARNING
QWhen taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Oth-
erwise, if you accidentally move the shift
lever or depress the accelerator pedal,
this could cause an accident or fire due
to hybrid system overheating. Addition-
ally, if the vehicle is parked in a poorly
ventilated area, exhaust gases may col-
lect and enter the vehicle, leading to
death or a serious health hazard.
QWhen braking
OWhen the brakes are wet, drive more
cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the
brakes are wet, and this may cause
one side of the vehicle to brake differ-
ently than the other side. Also, the
parking brake may not securely hold
the vehicle.
OIf the electronically controlled brake
system does not operate, do not follow
other vehicles closely and avoid hills or
sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but
the brake pedal should be depressed
more firmly than usual. Also, the brak-
ing distance will in crease. Have your
brakes fixed immediately.
OThe brake system consists of 2 or
more individual hydraulic systems; if
one of the systems fails, the other(s)
will still operate. In this case, the brake
pedal should be depressed more
firmly than usual and the braking dis-
tance will increase. Have your brakes
fixed immediately.
NOTICE
QWhen driving the vehicle
ODo not depress the accelerator and
brake pedals at the same time while
driving, as this may restrain the hybrid
system output.
ODo not use the accelerator pedal or
depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the
vehicle on a hill.
QAvoiding damage to vehicle parts
ODo not turn the steering wheel fully in
either direction and hold it there for an
extended period of time.
Doing so may damage the power
steering motor.
OWhen driving over bumps in the road,
drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the
vehicle, etc.
QIf you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the fol-
lowing situations. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and gradually depress the
brake pedal to slow down the vehicle.
OIt may be difficult to control your vehi-
cle.
OThe vehicle will make abnormal
sounds or vibrations.
OThe vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat
tire ( P.379)
QWhen encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded
after heavy rain etc. Doing so may cause
the following serious damage to the vehi-
cle:
OEngine stalling
OShort in electrical components
OEngine damage caused by water
immersion
In the event that you drive on a flooded
road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure
to have your Lexus dealer check the fol-
lowing:
OBrake function

1434-1. Before driving
4
DrivingWhen the following unusual operation
is performed with the accelerator
pedal depressed, the hybrid system
output may be restrained.
When the shift lever is shifted to R
*.
 When the shift lever is shifted from P
or R to forward drive shift position
such as D
*.
When the system operates, a message
appears on the multi-information dis-
play. Read the message and follow the
instruction.
*: Depending on the situation, the shift position may not be changed.
QDrive-Start Control (DSC)
OWhen the TRAC is turned off ( P.254),
sudden start restraint control also does
not operate. If your vehicle have trouble
escaping from the mud or fresh snow due
to sudden start restraint control opera-
tion, deactivate TRAC ( P.254) so that
the vehicle may become able to escape from the mud or fresh snow.
NOTICE
OChanges in quantity and quality of oil
and fluid used for the engine, hybrid
transmission, etc.
OLubricant condition for the bearings
and suspension joints (where possi-
ble), and the function of all joints, bear-
ings, etc.
QWhen parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift
the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may
cause the vehicle to move or the vehicle
may accelerate suddenly if the accelera-
tor pedal is accidentally depressed.
Sudden start restraint control
(Drive-Start Control [DSC])

1444-1. Before driving
Cargo capacity depends on the total
weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capac-
ity)  (Total weight of occupants) Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit

(1) Locate the statement “The com-
bined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or XXX
lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from XXX
kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five
150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 − 750
(5  150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity calculated in Step
4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity of your vehicle.
(  P.146)Lexus does not recommend towing a
trailer with your vehicle. Your vehicle is not
designed for trailer towing.
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following infor-
mation about storage precautions,
cargo capacity and load:
WARNING
QThings that must not be carried in the
trunk
The following things may cause a fire if
loaded in the trunk:
OReceptacles containing gasoline
OAerosol cans
QStorage precautions
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may prevent the pedals
from being depressed properly, may
block the driver’s vision, or may result in
items hitting the driver or passengers,
possibly causing an accident.
OStow cargo and luggage in the trunk
whenever possible.
ODo not place cargo or luggage in or on
the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the package tray
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
• In front of the Center Display
OSecure all items in the occupant com-
partment.
Capacity and distribution

1454-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle capac-
ity weight) (P.402)
When 2 people with the combined
weight of A lb. (kg) are riding in your
vehicle, which has a total load capacity
(vehicle capacity weight) of B lb. (kg),
the available amount of cargo and lug-
gage load capacity will be C lb. (kg) as
follows:
B
*2 lb. (kg) - A*1 lb. (kg) = C*3 lb. (kg)
*1: A = Weight of people
*2: B = Total load capacity
*3: C = Available cargo and luggage load In this condition, if 3 more passengers with
the combined weight of D lb. (kg) get on,
the available cargo and luggage load will
be reduced E lb. (kg) as follows:
C lb. (kg) - D*4 lb. (kg) = E*5 lb. (kg)
*4: D = Additional weight of people
*5: E = Available cargo and luggage load
As shown in the example above, if the
number of occupants increases, the
cargo and luggage load will be
reduced by an amount that equals the
increased weight due to the additional
occupants. In other words, if an
increase in the number of occupants
causes an excess of the total load
capacity (combined weight of occu-
pants plus cargo and luggage load),
you must reduce the cargo and lug-
gage on your vehicle.
WARNING
QCapacity and distribution
ODo not exceed the maximum axle
weight rating or the total vehicle
weight rating.
OEven if the total load of occupant’s
weight and the cargo load is less than
the total load capacity, do not apply
the load unevenly. Improper loading
may cause deterioration of steering or
braking control which may cause
death or serious injury.
Calculation formula for your
vehicle
A
B

1464-1. Before driving
QTotal load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire
and loading information label. ( P.338)
Vehicle load limits
Vehicle load limits include total
load capacity, seating capacity,
towing capacity and cargo capac-
ity.
 Total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight): P.402
Total load capacity means the com-
bined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
 Seating capacity: P.402
Seating capacity means the maxi-
mum number of occupants whose
estimated average weight is 150 lb.
(68 kg) per person.
 Towing capacity
Lexus does not recommend towing
a trailer with your vehicle.
 Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or
decrease depending on the weight
and the number of occupants.
WARNING
QOverloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle.
It may not only cause damage to the tires,
but also degrade steering and braking
ability, resulting in an accident.
Trailer towing
Lexus does not recommend towing
a trailer with your vehicle. Lexus
also does not recommend the
installation of a tow hitch or the use
of a tow hitch carrier for a wheel-
chair, scooter, bicycle, etc. Your
vehicle is not designed for trailer
towing or for the use of tow hitch
mounted carriers.

1474-1. Before driving
4
Driving
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be
dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on the
ground) behind a motor home.
NOTICE
QTo avoid serious damage to your vehi-
cle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four
wheels on the ground.

1484-2. Driving procedures
4-2 . D riving p roce dures
1Press the parking brake switch to
check that the parking brake is set.
( P.159)
Parking brake indicator will come on.
2 Check that the shift lever is in P.
3 Firmly depress the brake pedal.
and a message will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, the hybrid system can-
not be started.
4 Press the power switch shortly and
firmly.
When operating the power switch, one
short, firm press is enough. It is not neces-
sary to press and hold the switch.
If the “READY” indicator turns on, the
hybrid system will operate normally.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until
the “READY” indicator is illuminated.
The hybrid system can be started from any
power switch mode.
5Check that the “READY” indicator
is illuminated.
The vehicle will not move when the
“READY” indicator is off.
QPower switch illumination
According to the situation, the power
switch illumination operates as follows.
OWhen a door is opened, or the power
switch mode is changed from ACCES-
SORY or ON mode to off, the power
switch illumination slowly blinks.
OWhen depressing the brake pedal with
carrying the electronic key on your per-
son, the power switch illumination rapidly
blinks.
OWhen the power switch is in ACCES-
SORY or ON mode, the power switch
illumination illuminates.
QIf the hybrid system does not start
OThe immobilizer system may not have
been deactivated. ( P.67)
Contact your Lexus dealer.
OIf a message related to start-up is shown
on the multi-information display, read the
message and follow the instructions.
OIf the door is unlocked with the mechani-
cal key, the hybrid system cannot be
started using the smart access system
with push-button start. Refer to P.390 to
start the hybrid system. However, if the
electronic key is carried inside the vehi-
cle and the doors are locked ( P.106),
the hybrid system can be started.
QWhen the ambient temperature is low,
such as during winter driving conditions
(for vehicles sold in except Canada)
OWhen starting the hybrid system, the
flashing time of the “READY” indicator
may be long. Leave the vehicle as it is
until the “READY” indicator is steady on,
as steady means the vehicle is able to
move.
OWhen the hybrid battery (traction bat-
tery) is extremely cold (below approxi-
mately -22°F [-30°C]) under the
influence of the outside temperature, it
may not be possible to start the hybrid
Power (ignition) switch
Performing the following opera-
tions when carrying the electronic
key on your person starts the hybrid
system or changes power switch
modes.
Starting the hybrid system