Lexus ES350 2020 Owner's Manuals / LEXUS 2020 ES350 THROUGH SEPT. 2019 PROD. OWNER'S MANUAL (OM06174U)

1414-1. Before driving
4
Driving
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire
and loading information label. ( P.331)
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.388
Total load capacity means the com-
bined weight of occupants, cargo
and luggage.
 Seating capacity: 5 occupants
(Front 2, Rear 3)
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
■Overloading 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.

1424-1. Before driving
Dinghy towing
Your vehicle is not designed to be
dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on the
ground) behind a motor home.
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehi-
cle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four
wheels on the ground.

1434-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
4-2.Driving procedures
1Press the parking brake switch to
check that the parking brake is set.
(P.152)
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 engine cannot be
started.
4 Press the engine switch shortly and
firmly.
When operating the engine switch, one
short, firm press is enough. It is not neces-
sary to press and hold the switch.
The engine will crank until it starts or for up
to 30 seconds, whichever is less.
Continue depressing the brake pedal until
the engine is completely started.
The engine can be started from any engine switch mode.
■Engine switch illumination
According to the situation, the engine
switch illumination operates as follows.
●When a door is opened, or the engine
switch mode is changed from ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode to off,
the engine switch illumination slowly
blinks.
●When depressing the brake pedal with
carrying the electronic key on your per-
son, the engine switch illumination rapidly
blinks.
●When the engine sw itch is in ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode, the
engine switch illumination illuminates.
■If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system may not
have been deactivated. ( P.60)
Contact your Lexus dealer.
●If a message related to start-up is shown
on the multi-information display, read the
message and follow the instructions.
■If the battery is discharged
The engine cannot be started using the
smart access system with push-button start.
Refer to P.380 to restart the engine.
■Electronic key battery depletion
 P.92
Engine (ignition) switch
Performing the following opera-
tions when carryin g the electronic
key on your person starts the
engine or changes engine switch
modes.
Starting the engine

1444-2. Driving procedures
■Conditions affecting operation
 P.107
■Notes for the entry function
 P.108
■Steering lock function
●After turning the engine switch off and
opening and closing the doors, the steer-
ing wheel will be locked due to the steer-
ing lock function. Operating the engine
switch again automatically cancels the
steering lock.
●When the steering lock cannot be
released, “Push Engine Switch while
Turning Steering Whee l in Either Direc-
tion” will be displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display.
Check that the shift leve r is set in P. Press
the engine switch shor tly and firmly while
turning the steering wheel left and right.
●To prevent the steering lock motor from
overheating, operation of the motor may
be suspended if the engine is turned on
and off repeatedly in a short period of
time. In this case, refrain from operating
the engine switch. After about 10 sec-
onds, the steering lock motor will resume
functioning.
■If there is a malfun ction in the smart
access system with push-button start
If “Access System with Elec. Key Malfunc-
tion See Owner’s Manual” is displayed on
the multi-information display, the system
may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
■Electronic key battery
 P.336
■Operation of the engine switch
●If the switch is not pressed shortly and firmly, the engine switch mode may not
change or the engine may not start.
●If attempting to restart the engine imme-
diately after turning th
e engine switch off,
the engine may not start in some cases.
After turning the engine switch off, please
wait a few seconds be fore restarting the
engine.
■Customization
If the smart access system with push-button
start has been deactivated in a customized
setting, refe r to P.406.
WARNING
■When starting the engine
Always start the engine while sitting in
the driver’s seat. Do not depress the
accelerator pedal while starting the
engine under any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving
If engine failure occurs while the vehicle
is moving, do not lock or open the doors
until the vehicle reaches a safe and com-
plete stop. Activation of the steering lock
in this circumstance may lead to an acci-
dent, resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When starting the engine
●Do not race a cold engine.
●If the engine becomes difficult to start
or stalls frequently, have your vehicle
checked by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunction
with the engine switch
If the engine switch seems to be operat-
ing somewhat differently than usual, such
as the switch sticking slightly, there may
be a malfunction. Contact your Lexus
dealer immediately.

1454-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
1Stop the vehicle completely.
2
Set the parking brake ( P.152),
and shift the shift lever to P
( P.148).
3
Press the engine switch.
4
Release the brake pedal and check
that “ACCESSORY” or “IGNI-
TION ON” is not shown on the
meter.
■Automatic engine shut off feature
●The vehicle is equipped with a feature
that automatically shuts off the engine
when the shift lever is in P with the engine
running for an extended period.
●The engine will automatically shut off
after approximately 1 hour if it has been
left running while the shift lever is in P.
●The timer for the automatic engine shut
off feature will reset if the brake pedal is
depressed or if the shif t lever is in a posi-
tion other than P.
●After the vehicle is parked, if the door is
locked with the door lock switch ( P.97)
from the inside or the mechanical key
from the outside, the automatic engine
shut off feature will be disabled. The timer
for the automatic engine shut off feature
will be re-enabled if the driver’s door is
opened.
■Locking the door from outside with the
engine running
1
With the driver’s door open, pull the
driver’s door handle and insert the
mechanical key. 2
Turn the mechanical key counterclock-
wise.
3
Pull out the mechanical key and close
the door.
Stopping the engine
WARNING
■Stopping the engine in an emergency
●If you want to stop the engine in an
emergency while driving the vehicle,
press and hold the engine switch for
more than 2 seconds, or press it briefly
3 times or more in succession.
(  P.346)
However, do not touch the engine
switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the engine off while
driving will not cause loss of steering
or braking control, but the power assist
these systems will be lost. This will
make it more difficult to steer and
brake, so you should pull over and stop
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
●If the engine switch is operated while
the vehicle is running, a warning mes-
sage will be shown on the multi-infor-
mation display and a buzzer sounds.
●When restarting the engine after an
emergency shutdown, press the
engine switch.
■When parking
Exhaust gases include harmful carbon
monoxide (CO), which is colorless and
odorless. Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may cause exhaust gases
to enter the vehicle and may lead to an
accident caused by light-headedness, or
may lead to death or a serious health
hazard.

1464-2. Driving procedures
Modes can be changed by pressing
the engine switch with the brake pedal
released. (The mode changes each
time the switch is pressed.)
1
Off*
The emergency flashers can be used.
2ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such as the
audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
meter.
3IGNITION ON mode
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the
meter.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other than P when turning off the engine, the
engine switch will be turned to ACCES-
SORY mode, not to off.
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode
for more than 20 minutes or IGNITION
ON mode (the engine is not running) for
more than an hour with the shift lever in P,
the engine switch will automatically turn off.
However, this function cannot entirely pre-
vent the battery discharge. Do not leave the
vehicle with the engine switch in ACCES-
SORY or IGNITION ON mode for long
periods of time when the engine is not run-
ning.
If the engine is stopped with the shift
lever in a position other than P, the
engine switch will not be turned off but
instead be turned to ACCESSORY
mode. Perform the following proce-
dure to turn the switch off:
1
If the parking brake is in manual
mode, set the parking brake.
( P.152)
2
Shift the shift lever to P.
WARNING
●If the vehicle is in a poorly ventilated
area or a closed area, such as a
garage, stop the engine.
●Do not leave the vehicle with the
engine running for a long time. If such
a situation cannot be avoided, park the
vehicle in an open space and ensure
that exhaust fumes do not enter the
vehicle interior.
●Do not leave the engine running in an
area with snow build-up, or where it is
snowing. If snowbanks build up around
the vehicle while the engine is running,
exhaust gases may collect and enter
the vehicle.
Changing engine switch modes
When stopping the engine with
the shift lever in a position other
than P

1474-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
3Check that “Turn Power Off” is dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play and then press the engine
switch once.
4
Check that “Turn Power Off” on the
multi-information display is turned
off.
*1: Shifting to the D position allows the sys- tem to select a gear suitable for the
driving conditions. Setting the shift lever
to the D position is recommended for
normal driving. You can choose shift
range suitable for your driving situation
by operating the paddle shift switches.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of the possible
gear ranges, controls engine braking
force, and prevents unnecessary
upshifting.
■When driving with dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed range activated
Even when performing the following
actions with the intent of enabling engine
braking, engine braking will not be acti-
vated because dynamic radar cruise con-
trol with full-speed range will not be
canceled.
●While driving in the D position or S mode,
downshifting to 7, 6, 5 or 4. ( P.193)
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch in
ACCESSORY or IGNITION ON
mode for long period
s of time without
the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the meter, the
engine switch is not off.
Exit the vehicle after turning the
engine switch off.
●Do not stop the engine when the shift
lever is in a position other than P. If the
engine is stopped in another shift lever
position, the engine switch will not be
turned off but instead be turned to
ACCESSORY mode. If the vehicle is
left in ACCESSORY mode, battery
discharge may occur.
Automatic transmission
Select the shift position depending
on your purpose and situation.
Shift position purpose and func-
tions
Shift posi-
tionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2 ( P.150)

1484-2. Driving procedures
●When switching the driving mode to
sport mode while driving in D position.
( P.209)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)
 P.135
■AI-SHIFT
The AI-SHIFT automatica lly selects the suit-
able gear according to driver performance
and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically operates when
the shift lever is in D. (Shifting the shift lever to the S position or using the paddle shift
cancels the function.)
While the engine switch is in IGNITION ON mode 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
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road sur-
faces
Do not accelerate or shift gears sud-
denly.
Sudden changes in engine braking may
cause the vehicle to sp in or skid, resulting
in an accident.
Shifting the shift lever

1494-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
stopped and the brake pedal is depressed.
*: For the vehicle 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 engine switch is in IGNITION
ON mode 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 button is pushed, there may
be a problem with the shift lock system.
Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus
dealer immediately.
The following steps may be used as an
emergency measure to ensure that the shift
lever can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1
If the parking brake is in manual mode,
set the parking brake. ( P.152)
2
Turn the engine switch off.
3
Depress the brake pedal.
4
Press down and release the cup holder
lid to open.
5
Pry the cover up with a flathead screw-
driver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover, cover the
tip of the screwd river with a rag.
6
Press and hold the shift lock override
button and then push the button on the
shift knob. The shift lever can be shifted while the but-
ton is pressed

P.209
To drive using temporary shift range
selection, operate the “-” paddle shift
switch. The shift range can then be
selected by operating the “-” and “+”
paddle shift switches.
Changing the shift range allows
restriction of the highest gear, prevent-
ing unnecessary upshifting and
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when releas-
ing 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 pe dal is accidentally
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, pos-
sibly leading to an accident resulting in
death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving mode
Selecting shift ranges in the D
position

1504-2. Driving procedures
enabling the level of engine braking
force to be selected.
1Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The selected shift rang e, from D1 to D8,
will be displaye d in the meter.
■Automatic deactivation of shift range
selection in the D position
Shift range selection in the D position will
be deactivated in the following situations:
●The “+” paddle shift switch is held down
for a period of time
●When the vehicle comes to a stop
●If the accelerator pedal is depressed for
more than a certain period of time
●When the shift lever is shifted to a posi-
tion other than D
■Downshifting restriction warning
buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving perfor-
mance, downshifting operation may some-
times be restricted. In some circumstances,
downshifting may not be possible even
when the shift lever or paddle shift switch is
operated. (A buzzer will sound twice.)
To enter S mode, shift the shift lever to
S. Shift ranges can be selected by
operating the shift lever or paddle shift
switches, allowing you to drive in the
gear of your choosing. 1
Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The initial shift range in S mode is set
automatically to 4, 5 or 6 according to
vehicle’s speed. However, the initial
shift range may be set to 3 if AI-SHIFT
has operated while the shift lever was
in the D position. ( P.148)
A lower shift range will provide greater
engine braking forces than a higher
shift range.■S mode
●When the shift range is 7 or lower, hold-
ing the shift lever toward “+” sets the shift
range to 8.
●To prevent the engine from over-revving,
upshifting may automatically occur.
Selecting shift ranges in S mode
Meter displayFunction
S2 - S8
A gear in the range
between 1 and the
selected gear is
automatically cho-
sen depending on
vehicle speed and
driving conditions
S1Setting the gear at 1