LEXUS NX300h 2018 Owners Manual

1514-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving multi-information display while the sys-
tem is operating.■
Restraining sudden start (Drive-Start
Control)●
When the following unusual operation is
performed, the hybrid system output may
be restrained.
• When the shift lever is shifted from R to D,
D to R, N to R, P to D, or P to R (D
includes S) with the accelerator pedal
depressed, a warning message appears
on the multi-information display. If a
warning message is shown on the multi-
information display, read the message
and follow the instructions.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed
too while the vehicl e is in reverse.●
While Drive-Start Control is being acti-
vated, your vehicle may have trouble
escaping from the mud or fresh snow. In
such case, deactivate TRAC ( → P.251) to
cancel Drive- Start Control so that the
vehicle may become able to escape from
the mud or fresh snow.■
Breaking in your new Lexus
To extend the life of the vehicle, observing
the following precautions is recommended: ●
For the first 200 miles (300 km):
Avoid sudden stops.●
For the first 1000 miles (1600 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. 
Vehicles with towing package●
For the first 500miles (800 km):
Do not tow a trailer.
■
Operating your vehicle in a foreign
country
Comply with the relevant vehicle registra-
tion laws and confirm the availability of the
correct fuel. ( → P.408)
■
Eco-friendly driving
→ P.82 WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury. ■
When 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. ■
When driving the vehicle ●
Do 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 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.
●
The driver should pay extra attention
to pedestrians when the vehicle is
powered only by the electric motor
(traction motor). As there is no engine
noise, the pedestrians may misjudge
the vehicle’s movement.
●
Do not drive the vehicle over or stop
the vehicle near flammable materials.
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.

152 4-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U WARNING●
During 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 vehi-
cle in the normal way: → P.358●
Use engine braking (downshift) to
maintain a safe speed when driving
down a steep hill.
Using the brakes continuously may
cause the brakes to overheat and lose
effectiveness. ( → P.176)●
Do 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.●
Always check that all passengers’
arms, heads or other parts of their
body are not outside the vehicle.●
Do not drive the vehicle off-road.
This is not an AWD vehicle designed
for off-road driving. Proceed with all
due caution if it becomes unavoidable
to drive off-road.
●
Do not drive across a river or through
other bodies of water.
This may cause electric/electronic
components to shor t circuit, damage
the hybrid system or cause other seri-
ous damage to the vehicle. ●
Do 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 failur e, loss of control and
possible injury. Be sure to consult a tire
dealer to determine whether the tires
on your vehicle are high-speed capa-
bility tires or not befo re driving at such
speeds. ■
When driving on slippery road sur-
faces ●
Sudden braking, acceleration and
steering may cause tire slippage and
reduce your ability to control the vehi-
cle. ●
Sudden acceleration, engine braking
due to shifting, or changes in engine
speed could cause the vehicle to skid. ●
After 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 con-
trol may be affected.
■
When shifting the shift lever ●
Do 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.
●
Do not shift the shif t lever to P while
the vehicle is moving.
Doing so can damage the transmission
and may result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol.
●
Do 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.

1534-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving WARNING●
Do 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.●
Shifting the shift lever to N while the
vehicle is moving will disengage the
hybrid system.
Engine braking is not available when N
is selected.●
Be careful not to shift the shift lever
with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Shifting the shift lever to any position
other than P or N may lead to unex-
pected rapid acceleration of the vehi-
cle that may cause an accident and
result in death or serious injury.■
If 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.
■
When the vehicle is stopped●
Do 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.
●
In 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. ●
If 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. ●
Avoid 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. ■
When the vehicle is parked ●
Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters,
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 ma y 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. ●
Do not leave cigarette lighters in the
vehicle. If a cigare tte 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.
●
Do 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.
●
Do 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.

154 4-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U WARNING●
Always 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.●
Do not touch the exhaust pipes while
the “READY” indicator is illuminated
or immediately after turning the hybrid
system off.
Doing so may cause burns.■
When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Other-
wise, 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, exha ust gases may col-
lect and enter the ve hicle, leading to
death or a serious health hazard. ■
When braking●
When 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 differently
than the other side. Also, the parking
brake may not securely hold the vehi-
cle.
●
If 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 increase. Have your
brakes fixed immediately. ●
The 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 distance will
increase. Have your brakes fixed
immediately. ■
If the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessively when
any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehi-
cle is stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may
damage the driveline components or
propel the vehicle forward or backward,
causing an accident.
NOTICE■
When driving the vehicle ●
Do not depress the accelerator and
brake pedals at the same time during
driving, as this may restrain the hybrid
system output. ●
Do not use the accelerator pedal or
depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the
vehicle on a hill. ■
Avoiding damage to vehicle parts ●
Do 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.
●
When driving over bumps in the road,
drive as slowly as possible to avoid
damaging the wheels, underside of the
vehicle, etc.
■
If 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.
●
It may be difficult to control your vehi-
cle.

1554-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving NOTICE●
The vehicle will make abnormal
sounds or vibrations.●
The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Information on what to do in case of a flat
tire ( → P.377)■
When 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: ●
Engine stalling●
Short in electrical components●
Engine 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: ●
Brake function●
Changes in quantity and quality of oil
and fluid used for the engine, hybrid
transmission, etc.●
Lubricant condition for the bearings
and suspension joints (where possi-
ble), and the function of all joints, bear-
ings, etc.
■
When 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 sudden ly if the accelera-
tor pedal is accidentally depressed. Cargo and luggage Take notice of the following infor-
mation about storage precautions,
cargo capacity and load. WARNING■
Things that must not be carried in the
luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if
loaded in the luggage compartment: ●
Receptacles containing gasoline ●
Aerosol cans ■
Storage 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. ●
Stow cargo and luggage in the lug-
gage compartment whenever possi-
ble. ●
Do not stack cargo and luggage in the
luggage compartment higher than the
seatbacks.
●
When you fold down the rear seats,
long items should not be placed
directly behind the front seats.
●
Never allow anyone to ride in the lug-
gage compartment. It is not designed
for passengers. They should ride in
their seats with thei r seat belts prop-
erly fastened.
●
Do 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 luggage cover
• On the instrument panel
•On the dashboard

156 4-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 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.158)
Vehicles without towing package:
Lexus does not recommend towing a WARNING●
Secure all items in the occupant com-
partment.■
When using a roof luggage carrier
(vehicles with roof rails)
Observe the following precautions: ●
Place the cargo so that its weight is dis-
tributed evenly between the front and
rear axles.●
If loading long or wide cargo, never
exceed the vehicle overall length or
width. ( → P.400)●
Before driving, make sure the cargo is
securely fastened on the roof luggage
carrier.●
Loading cargo on the roof luggage
carrier will make the center of gravity
of the vehicle higher. Avoid high
speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns,
sudden braking or abrupt maneuvers,
otherwise it may result in loss of con-
trol or vehicle rollover due to failure to
operate this vehicle correctly and
result in death or serious injury.●
If driving for a long distance, on rough
roads, or at high sp eeds, stop the vehi-
cle now and then during the trip to
make sure the cargo remains in its
place.
●
Do not exceed 176.3 lb. (80 kg) cargo
weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■
When loading cargo (vehicles with
moon roof)
Do not set luggage on the moon roof.
Failure to observe so may lead to cause
damage.
Capacity and distribution

1574-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving trailer with your vehicle. Your vehicle is
not designed for trailer towing.
Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle capac-
ity weight) ( → P.400)
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 occupant s 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■
Capacity and distribution●
Do not exceed the maximum axle
weight rating or the total vehicle
weight rating.●
Even 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

158 4-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U ■
Total load capacity (vehicle capac-
ity weight):
→ P.400
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 maximum
number of occupants whose esti-
mated average weight is 150 lb. (68
kg) per person. ■
TWR (Trailer Weight Rating) (vehi-
cles with towing package):
→ P.163, 400
TWR means the maximum gross trailer
weight (trailer weight plus its cargo
weight) that your vehicle is able to tow. ■
TWR (Trailer Weight Rating) (vehi-
cles without towing package)
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. ■
Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire
and loading information label. ( → P.343)
Vehicle load limits Vehicle load limits include total
load capacity, seating capacity,
towing capacity and cargo capac-
ity.
Description 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.

1594-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U 4
Driving
Contact your Lexus dealer for further
information about additional require-
ments such as a towing kit, etc. ■
Matching trailer ball height to trailer
coupler height
No matter which class of tow hitch applies,
for a more safe trailer hookup, the trailer
ball setup must be the proper height for the
coupler on the trailer. Coupler
Trailer ball ■
Before towing
Check that the following conditions are
met: ●
Ensure that your vehicle’s tires are prop-
erly inflated. ( → P.406)●
Trailer tires are inflated according to the
trailer manufacturer’s recommendation. ●
All trailer lights work as required by law. ●
All lights work each time you connect
them. ●
The trailer ball is set at the proper height
for the coupler on the trailer. ●
The trailer is level when it is hitched.
Do not drive if the trailer is not level, and
check for improper tongue weight, over-
loading, worn suspension, or other possi-
ble causes.
●
The trailer cargo is securely loaded.
●
The rear view mirrors conform to all
applicable federal, state/provincial or
local regulations. If they do not, install
rear view mirrors appropriate for towing
purposes.
■
Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any
new power train components (such as an
engine, transmission, di fferential or wheel
bearing), Lexus recommends that you do
not tow a trailer until the vehicle has been Trailer towing (vehicles with
towing package) Your vehicle is de signed primarily
as a passenger-and-load-carrying
vehicle. Towing a trailer can have an
adverse impact on handling, per-
formance, braking, durability, and
fuel consumption. For your safety
and the safety of others, you must
not overload your vehicle or trailer.
You must also ensure that you are
using appropriate towing equip-
ment, that the towing equipment
has been installed correctly and
used properly, and that you employ
the requisite driving habits.
Vehicle-trailer stability and braking
performance are affected by trailer
stability, brake performance and
setting, trailer brakes, the hitch and
hitch systems (if equipped).
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme
care and drive the vehicle in accor-
dance with your trailer’s character-
istics and operating conditions.
Lexus warranties do not apply to
damage or malfunction caused by
towing a trailer for commercial pur-
poses. A
B

160 4-1. Before driving
LEXUS NX300h Owners Manu-
al_USA_OM78212U driven for over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over
500 miles (800 km), you can start towing.
However, for the next 500 miles (800 km),
drive the vehicle at a speed of less than 50
mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and
avoid full throttle acceleration. ■
Maintenance●
If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will
require more frequent maintenance due
to the additional load. (See “Warranty
and Services Guide”, “Owner’s Manual
Supplement” or “Scheduled Mainte-
nance”.)●
Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing
ball and bracket after approximately 600
miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.■
If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing
vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can adversely
affect handling of your vehicle and trailer,
causing instability. ●
If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer
straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by
turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal
immediately but very gradually to reduce
speed.
Do not increase sp eed. Do not apply
vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the
steering or brakes, your vehicle and trailer
should stabilize. ●
After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants
out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the
trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropri-
ate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle.
Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded
after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the speed
at which trailer swaying occurred is beyond
the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination. Drive at a lower speed to pre-
vent instability. Reme mber that swaying of
the towing vehicle-trailer increases as
speed increases.
WARNING■
Trailer towing precautions
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care
and drive the vehicle in accordance with
the trailer’s characteristics and operating
conditions. Failure to do so could cause
an accident resulting in death or serious
injury. Vehicle stability and braking per-
formance are affected by trailer stability,
brake setting and performance, and the
hitch. Your vehicle will handle differently
when towing a trailer. ■
To avoid accident or injury ●
Do not exceed the TWR, unbraked
TWR, GCWR, GVWR or GAWR. ●
Adjust the tongue weight within the
appropriate range. Place heavier loads
as close to the trailer axle as possible. ●
Do not exceed 65 mph (104 km/h),
the posted towing speed limit or the
speed limit for your trailer as set forth
in your trailer owner’s manual, which-
ever is lowest. Slow down sufficiently
before making a turn, in cross winds,
on wet or slippery surface, etc. to help
avoid an accident. If you experience a
vehicle-trailer instability from reduc-
ing a certain speed, slow down and
make sure you keep your vehicle
speed under the speed of which you
experience the instability.
●
Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp
turns.
●
Do not apply the brakes suddenly as
you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of vehicle control. This is
especially true on wet or slippery sur-
faces.
●
Do not exceed the trailer hitch assem-
bly weight, gross vehicle weight, gross
axle weight and tra iler tongue weight
capacities.