Lexus ES350 2018 Owner's Manuals / LEXUS 2018 ES350 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM06134U)

ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)
2514-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
WARNING
■Handling the radar sensor
One Blind Spot Monitor sensor is installed inside the left and right side of the vehicle
rear bumper respectively. Observe the following to ensure the Blind Spot Monitor sys-
tem can function correctly.
●Do not subject the sensor or surrounding area on the bumper to a strong impact. If
the sensor moves even slight ly off position, the system may malfunction and vehicles
that enter the detection area may not be detected. If the sensor or surrounding area is
subject to a strong impact, always have the area inspected by your Lexus dealer.
●Do not disassemble the sensor.
●Do not attach accessories or stickers to the sensor or surrounding area on the
bumper.
●Do not modify the sensor or su rrounding area on the bumper.
●Do not paint the rear bumper any colo r other than an official Lexus color.
●Keep the sensor and its surrounding area on
the bumper clean at all times.

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ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
The Blind Spot Monitor function uses rada
r sensors to detect vehicles that are
traveling in an adjacent lane in the area that is not reflected in the outside rear
view mirror (the blind spot ), and advises the driver of the vehicles existence via
the outside rear view mirror indicator.
The areas that vehicles can be detected in are outlined below.
The range of the detection area
extends to:
Approximately 11.5 ft. (3.5 m) from
the side of the vehicle
The first 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) from the side of
the vehicle is not in the detection area
Approximately 9.8 ft. (3 m) from the
rear bumper
Approximately 3.3 ft. (1 m) forward
of the rear bumper
The Blind Spot Monitor function
The Blind Spot Monitor function detection areas
1
2
3
WARNING
■Cautions regarding the use of the system
The driver is solely responsible for safe driving. Always drive safely, taking care to
observe your surroundings.
The Blind Spot Monitor function is a supp lementary function which alerts the driver
that a vehicle is present in the blind spot. Do not overly rely on the Blind Spot Monitor
function. The function cannot judg e if it is safe to change lanes, therefore over reliance
could cause an accident resultin g in death or serious injury.
According to conditions, the system does have operational limitations. Therefore the
driver’s own visual confirmation of safety is necessary.

ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)
2534-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■The Blind Spot Monitor function is operational when
●The BSM main switch is set to on
●Vehicle speed is greater than approximately 10 mph (16 km/h).
■The Blind Spot Monitor function will detect a vehicle when
●A vehicle in an adjacent lane overtakes your vehicle.
●Another vehicle enters the detection area when it changes lanes.
■Conditions under which the Blind Spot Monitor function will not detect a vehicle
The Blind Spot Monitor function is not design ed to detect the following types of vehicles
and/or objects:
●Small motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians etc.*
●Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction
●Guardrails, walls, signs, parked vehi cles and similar stationary objects*
●Following vehicles that are in the same lane*
●Vehicles driving 2 lanes across from your vehicle*
*
: Depending on conditions, detection of a vehicle and/or object may occur.
■Conditions under which the Blind Spot Monitor function may not function correctly
●The Blind Spot Monitor function may not dete ct vehicles correctly in the following con-
ditions:
• During bad weather such as heavy rain, fog, snow etc.
• When ice or mud etc. is attached to the rear bumper
• When driving on a road surface that is wet due to rain, standing water etc.
• When there is a significant difference in speed between your vehicle and the vehicle that enters the detection area
• When a vehicle is in the detection area from a stop and remains in the detection
area as your vehicle accelerates
• When driving up or down consecutive steep inclines, such as hills, a dip in the road
etc.
• When multiple vehicles approach with only a small gap between each vehicle
• When vehicle lanes are wide, and the vehicle in the next lane is too far away from
your vehicle
• When the vehicle that enters the detection area is traveling at about the same speed
as your vehicle
• When there is a significant difference in height between your vehicle and the vehicle that enters the detection area
• Directly after the BSM main switch is set to on
• When items such as a bicycle carrier are installed on the rear of the vehicle
●Instances of the Blind Spot Monitor functi on unnecessarily detecting a vehicle and/or
object may increase under the following conditions:
• When there is only a short distance betw een your vehicle and a guardrail, wall etc.
• When there is only a short distance betw een your vehicle and a following vehicle
• When vehicle lanes are narrow and a vehicle driving 2 lanes across from your vehi- cle enters the detection area
• When items such as a bicycle carrier are installed on the rear of the vehicle

254
ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert functions when your vehicle is in reverse. It can
detect other vehicles approaching from the ri
ght or left rear of the vehicle. It uses
radar sensors to alert the driver of the other vehicle’s existence through flashing
the outside rear view mirror indicators and sounding a buzzer.
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function
Approaching vehicles Detection areas12
WARNING
■Cautions regarding the use of the system
The driver is solely responsible for safe driving. Always drive safely, taking care to
observe your surroundings.
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function is only an assist and is not a replacement for care-
ful driving. Driver must be careful when ba cking up, even when using Rear Cross Traffic
Alert function. The driver’s own visual conf irmation of behind you and your vehicle is
necessary and be sure there are no pedestrians, other vehicles etc. before backing up.
Failure to do so could caus e death or serious injury.
According to conditio ns, the system may not function correctly. Therefore the driver’s
own visual confirmation of safety is necessary.

ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)
2554-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
The areas that vehicles can be detected in are outlined below.
To give the driver a more consistent time to react, the buzzer can alert for faster
vehicles from farther away.
Example:
■The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function is operational when
●The BSM main switch is set to on.
●The shift lever is in R.
●Vehicle speed is less than ap proximately 5 mph (8 km/h).
●Approaching vehicle speed is between appr oximately 5 mph (8 km/h) and 18 mph (28
km/h).
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function detection areas
Approaching vehicleSpeedApproximate
alert distance
Fast18 mph (28 km/h)65 ft. (20 m)
Slow5 mph (8 km/h)18 ft. (5.5 m)
1

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ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
■Conditions under which the Re
ar Cross Traffic Alert function will not detect a vehicle
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function is no t designed to detect the following types of
vehicles and/or objects.
●Small motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians etc.*
●Vehicles approaching from directly behind
●Guardrails, walls, signs, parked vehi cles and similar stationary objects*
●Vehicles moving away from your vehicle
●Vehicles approaching from the parking spaces next to your vehicle*
●Vehicles backing up in the parking space next to your vehicle*
*
: Depending on conditions, detection of a vehicle and/or object may occur.
■Conditions under which the Re ar Cross Traffic Alert function may not function cor-
rectly
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function may no t detect vehicles correctly in the following
conditions:
●When ice or mud etc. is attached to the rear bumper
●During bad weather such as heavy rain, fog, snow etc.
●When multiple vehicles approach continuously
●Shallow angle parking
●When a vehicle is approaching at high speed
●When parking on a steep incline, su ch as hills, a dip in the road etc.
●Directly after the BSM main switch is set to on
●Vehicles that the sensors cannot detect
because of obstacles

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ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
Driving assist systems
◆ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the br
akes are applied suddenly, or if the
brakes are applied while drivin g on a slippery road surface
◆Brake assist
Generates an increased level of br aking force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a panic stop situation
◆VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to contro l skidding when swerving suddenly or turning on
slippery road surfaces
◆Enhanced VSC (Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control)
Provides cooperative control of the ABS, TRAC, VSC and EPS.
Helps to maintain directional stability when swerving on slippery road sur-
faces by controlling steering performance.
◆TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and pr event the drive wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads
◆Hill-start assist control
Helps to prevent the vehicle from ro lling backward when starting on an
incline.
To help enhance driving safety and perf ormance, the following systems oper-
ate automatically in response to variou s driving situations. Be aware, however,
that these systems are supplementary and should not be relied upon too heav-
ily when operating the vehicle.

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ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
◆EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce the
amount of effort needed to turn the
steering wheel
The slip indicator light will flash while
the TRAC/VSC systems are operating.
If the vehicle gets stuck in mud, dirt or snow, the TRAC system may reduce
power from the engine to the wheels. Pressing 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 and release .
The “Traction Control Turned Off” will
be shown on the multi-information dis-
play. Press again to turn the sys-
tem back on.
When the TRAC/VSC systems are operating
Disabling the TRAC system

ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)
2594-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■Turning off both TRAC and VSC systems
To turn the TRAC and VSC systems off, press and hold for more than 3 seconds
while the vehicle is stopped.
The VSC OFF indicator light will come on an d the “Traction Control Turned Off” will be
shown on the multi-information display.
*
Press again to turn the systems back on.
*: On vehicles with pre-collision system, pre-co llision brake assist and pre-collision brak-
ing will also be disabled. The PCS warning light will come on and the message will be
shown on the multi-information display. ( →P. 187)
■When the message is displayed on the mu lti-information display showing that TRAC
has been disabled even if the VSC OFF switch has not been pressed
TRAC cannot be operated. Contact your Lexus dealer.
■When the battery is disconnected
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, TRAC, VSC and hill-start assist
control 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 sys-
tems.
●Any of the following conditions may occur when the above systems are operating.
None of these indicates that a malfunction has occurred.
• Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
• A motor sound may be heard afte r the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate slig htly after the ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down s lightly after the ABS is activated.
■EPS 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 and VSC systems
After turing the TRAC and VSC systems off, the syst ems will be automatically re-
enabled in the following situations:
●When the engine swit ch 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.

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ES350_OM_OM06134U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
■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/backward on
an upward incline).
●The vehicle is stopped.
●The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
●The parking brake is not engaged.
■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.
●Approximately 2 seconds elapse af ter the brake pedal is released.
■Reduced effectiveness of the EPS system
The effectiveness of the EPS system is reduced to prevent the system from overheating
when there is frequent steering input over an extended period of time. The steering
wheel may feel heavy as a result. Should this occur, refrain from excessive steering input
or stop the vehicle and turn the engine off. The EPS system should return to normal
within 10 minutes.