ESP LEXUS RX350 2019 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: LEXUS, Model Year: 2019, Model line: RX350, Model: LEXUS RX350 2019Pages: 777, PDF Size: 12.44 MB
Page 204 of 777

2034-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D. (  P. 240)
Pull the parking brake switch and parking brake is set manually. (  P. 248)
Release the brake pedal and gently de press the accelerator pedal to acceler-
ate the vehicle.
Press the parking brake switch and pa rking brake is released manually. 
(  P. 248) ■
When starting off on a uphill
The hill-start assist control will activate. (  P. 378)■
Driving in the rain ●
Drive carefully when it is ra ining, because visibility will  be reduced, the windows may
become fogged-up, and the road will be slippery. ●
Drive carefully when it starts to rain, beca use the road surface will be especially slip-
pery. ●
Refrain from high speeds when driving on an expressway in the rain, because there may
be a layer of water between the tires and th e road surface, preventing the steering and
brakes from operating properly. ■
Engine speed while driving
In the following conditions, th e engine speed may become high while driving. This is due
to automatic up-shifting control or down-shi fting implementation to meet driving condi-
tions. It does not indica te sudden acceleration.●
The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill ●
When the accelerato r pedal is released●
When the brake pedal is depressed while sport mode is selected ■
Restraining the engine output  (Brake Override System)●
When the accelerator and brake pedals are depressed at the same time, the engine
output may be restrained. ●
A warning message is displayed on the mult i-information display while the system is
operating. If a warning messa ge is shown on the multi-in formation display, read the
message and follow the instructions. ■
Restraining sudden start  (Drive-Start Control)●
When the following unusual operation is  performed, the engine 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 M or S) with the accelerator pedal depressed, a warning message appears
on the multi-information display. If a wa rning message is shown on the multi-infor-
mation display, read the messa ge and follow the instructions.
• When the accelerator pedal is depressed t oo much while the vehicle is in reverse.●
While Drive-Start Control is  being activated, your vehicle may have trouble escaping
from the mud or fresh snow. In such case, deactivate TRAC (  P. 380) to cancel
Drive-Start Control so that the vehicle ma y become able to escape from the mud or
fresh snow.Starting off on a uphill 1
2
3
4 
Page 224 of 777

2234-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U Your vehicle will handle differently when  towing a trailer. Help to avoid an acci-
dent, death or serious injury, keep  the following in mind when towing:●
Speed limits for towing a tr ailer vary by state or province. Do not exceed the
posted towing speed limit. ●
Lexus recommends that the vehicle-traile r speed limit is 65 mph (104 km/h)
on a flat, straight, dry road. Do not exce ed this limit, the posted towing speed
limit or the speed limit for your trailer  as set forth in your trailer owner’s man-
ual, whichever is lowest. Instability of  the towing vehicle-trailer combination
(trailer sway) increases as speed incr eases. Exceeding speed limits may cause
loss of control. ●
Before starting out, check the trailer lights, tires and the vehicle-trailer con-
nections. Recheck after driving a short distance. ●
Practice turning, stopping  and reversing with the trailer attached in an area
away from traffic until you become acc ustomed to the feel of the vehicle-
trailer combination. ●
Reversing with a trailer attached is di fficult and requires practice. Grip the
bottom of the steering wheel and move  your hand to the left to move the
trailer to the left. Move your hand to the  right to move the trailer to right. (This
is generally opposite to reversing with out a trailer attached.) Avoid sharp or
prolonged turning. Have someone guid e you when reversing to reduce the
risk of an accident. ●
As stopping distance is increased when towing a trailer, vehicle-to vehicle dis-
tance should be increased. For each 10 mph (16 km/h) of speed, allow at least
one vehicle and trailer length. ●
Avoid sudden braking as you may skid, re sulting in the trailer jackknifing and a
loss of vehicle control. This is especi ally true on wet or slippery surfaces.●
Avoid jerky starts or sudden acceleration. ●
Avoid jerky steering and sharp turns, an d slow down before making a turn.●
Note that when making a turn, the trailer wheels will be closer than the vehicle
wheels to the inside of the turn. Compensate by making a wider than normal
turning radius. ●
Slow down before making a turn, in cross winds, on wet or slippery surfaces,
etc.
Increasing vehicle speed can destabilize the trailer. ●
Take care when passing other vehicles . Passing requires considerable dis-
tance. After passing a vehicle, do not fo rget the length of your trailer, and be
sure you have plenty of room before changing lanes.Trailer towing tips 
Page 228 of 777

2274-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U 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 conditio ns. Failure to do so could cause an acci-
dent resulting in deat h or serious injury. Vehicle stab ility and braking performance are
affected by trailer stability, brake setting an d 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. ●
If the gross trailer weight is  over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control device with suffi-
cient capacity is required. ●
Adjust the tongue weight within the approp riate 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 trai ler owner’s manual, whichever is lowest. Slow
down sufficiently before making a turn, in cr oss winds, on wet or slippery surface, etc.
to help avoid an accident. If you experien ce a vehicle-trailer in stability from reducing
a certain speed, slow down and make sure you keep your vehicle speed under the
speed of which you expe rience the instability.●
Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns. ●
Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you ma y skid, resulting in jackknifing and loss of
vehicle control. This is especially  true on wet or slippery surfaces.●
Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly  weight, gross vehicle weight, gross axle
weight and trailer tongue weight capacities. ●
Do not use the following systems when trailer towing.
• Dynamic radar cruise cont rol with full-speed range
• LKA (Lane-Keeping Assist)
• PCS (Pre-Collision System)
• BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)
*
* : If equipped ●
Slow down and downshift before descending steep or long downhill grades. Do not
make sudden downshifts while descending steep or long downhill grades. ●
Vehicle-trailer instability is more likely  on steep long downhills. Before descending
steep or long downhill grades, slow down  and downshift. Do not make sudden down-
shifts when descending steep or long do wnhill grades. Avoid ho lding the brake pedal
down too long or applying the brakes too  frequently. This could cause the brakes to
overheat and result in reduced braking efficiency. ●
Do not tow a trailer when the compact sp are tire is installed on your vehicle. 
Page 275 of 777

274
RX350/RX350L_U 4-5. Using the driving support systems
◆ PCS (Pre-Collision System)
 P. 281
◆ LKA (Lane-Keeping Assist)
 P. 291
◆ Automatic High Beam
 P. 256
◆ Dynamic radar cruise contro l with full-speed range
 P. 300Lexus Safety System+ The Lexus Safety System+ consists of the following drive assist systems and
contributes to a safe and comfo rtable driving experience:
WARNING ■
Lexus Safety System+
The Lexus Safety System+ is designed to operate under the assumption that the driver
will drive safely, and is design ed to help reduce the impa ct to the occupants and the
vehicle in the case of a collision or assist  the driver in normal driving conditions. 
As there is a limit to the degree of reco gnition accuracy and control performance that
this system can provide, do not overly rely on  this system. The driver is always responsi-
ble for paying attention to the vehicl e's surroundings and driving safely. 
Page 276 of 777

2754-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U The pre-collision system is equipped with a sophisticated computer that will
record certain data, such as:
• Accelerator status
•Brake status
• Vehicle speed
• Operation status of the pre-collision system functions
• Information (such as the distance an d relative speed between your vehicle
and the vehicle ahead or other objects)
• Images from the camera sensor (available only when the pre-collision braking
function or the pre-collision brake assist function was operating)
The pre-collision system does not record co nversations, sounds or images of the
inside of the vehicle. ●
Data usage
Lexus may use the data recorded in this  computer to diagnose malfunctions,
conduct research and develo pment, and improve quality.
Lexus will not disclose the recorded  data to a third party except:
• With the consent of the vehicle owner or with the consent of the lessee if
the vehicle is leased
• In response to an official request by the police, a court of law or a govern-
ment agency
• For use by Lexus in a lawsuit
• For research purposes where the data  is not tied to a specific vehicle or
vehicle owner●
Recorded images can be erased  using a specialized device.
The image recording function can be disa bled. However, if the function is dis-
abled, data from when the pre-collision  system operates will not be available.Vehicle data recording 
Page 283 of 777

282 4-5. Using the driving support systems
RX350/RX350L_U WARNING ■
Limitations of the  pre-collision system●
The driver is solely responsible for safe  driving. Always drive safely, taking care to
observe your surroundings. 
Do not use the pre-collision sy stem instead of normal braking operations under any
circumstances. This system will not preven t collisions or lessen collision damage or
injury in every situation. Do not overly rely  on this system. Failure to do so may lead to
an accident, resulting in death or serious injury. ●
Although this system is designed to help  avoid a collision or help reduce the impact of
the collision, its effectivenes s may change according to various conditions, therefore
the system may not always be able to achieve the same level of performance. 
Read the following conditions  carefully. Do not overly rely  on this system and always
drive carefully.
• Conditions under which the system may oper ate even if there is no possibility of a
collision:   P. 286
• Conditions under which the system may not operate properly:   P. 288●
Do not attempt to test the operation of the pre-collision system yourself, as the system
may not operate properly, possib ly leading to an accident.■
Pre-collision braking ●
When the pre-collision braking function is  operating, a large amount of braking force
will be applied. ●
If the vehicle is stopped by the operation  of the pre-collision braking function, the pre-
collision braking function operation will be  canceled after approximately 2 seconds.
Depress the brake pedal as necessary. ●
The pre-collision braking fu nction may not operate if certain operations are per-
formed by the driver. If the accelerator pedal is being depressed strongly or the steer-
ing wheel is being turned, the system may de termine that the driver is taking evasive
action and possibly prevent the pre-coll ision braking function from operating.●
In some situations, wh ile the pre-collision braking function is operating, operation of
the function may be canceled if the accele rator pedal is depressed strongly or the
steering wheel is turned and the system de termines that the driv er is taking evasive
action. ●
If the brake pedal is being depressed, the sy stem may determine that the driver is tak-
ing evasive action and possibly delay the op eration timing of the pre-collision braking
function. 
Page 295 of 777

294 4-5. Using the driving support systems
RX350/RX350L_U WARNING ■
Before using LKA system
Do not rely solely upon the LKA system.  LKA is not a system which automatically
drives the vehicle or reduces the amount of  attention that must be paid to the area in
front of the vehicle. The driver must always  assume full responsibility for driving safely
by always paying careful attention to the  surrounding conditions and operate the steer-
ing wheel to correct the path of the vehicle. Also, make sure to take adequate breaks
when fatigued, such as from driv ing for a long period of time.
Failure to perform appropriate driving operat ions and pay careful  attention may lead to
an accident, resulting in death or serious injury. ■
To avoid operating LKA by mistake
When not using the LKA system, use the LKA switch to turn the system off. ■
Situations unsuitable for LKA
Do not use the LKA system in the following situations.
The system may not operate properly and lead to an accident, resulting in death or
serious injury. ●
A spare tire, tire chains, etc., are equipped. ●
When the tires have been excessively worn, or when the tire inflation pressure is low. ●
Tires which differ by structure, manufacturer, brand or tread pattern are used. ●
Objects or patterns that could be mistaken  for white (yellow) lines are present on the
side of the road (guardrails, cu rbs, reflective poles, etc.).●
Vehicle is driven on a snow-covered road. ●
White (yellow) lines are difficult to  see due to rain, snow, fog, dust, etc.●
Asphalt repair marks, white (y ellow) line marks, etc., are present due to road repair.●
Vehicle is driven in a temporary lane or  restricted lane due to construction work.●
Vehicle is driven on a road surface which is  slippery due to rainy weather, fallen snow,
freezing, etc. ●
Vehicle is driven in traffic lanes ot her than on highways and freeways.●
Vehicle is driven in a construction zone. ●
When your vehicle is towing a trailer or during emergency towing ■
Preventing LKA system malfunctions  and operations perf ormed by mistake●
Do not modify the headlights  or place stickers, etc., on the surface of the lights.●
Do not modify the suspension etc. If the suspension etc. needs to be replaced, con-
tact your Lexus dealer. ●
Do not install or place anything  on the hood or grille. Also, do not install a grille guard
(bull bars, kangaroo bar, etc.). ●
If your windshield needs repair s, contact your Lexus dealer. 
Page 302 of 777

3014-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U WARNING ■
Before using dynamic radar cruise  control with full-speed range●
Driving safely is the sole responsibility of  the driver. Do not rely solely on the system,
and drive safely by always paying ca reful attention to your surroundings.●
The dynamic radar cruise control with full- speed range provides driving assistance to
reduce the driver's burden. However, there  are limitations  to the assistance provided.
Read the following conditions carefully. Do  not overly rely on this system and always
drive carefully.
• When the sensor may not be correctly detecting the vehicle ahead:   P. 311
• Conditions under which the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode may not
function correctly:   P. 312●
Set the speed appropriately depending on  the speed limit, traffi c flow, road condi-
tions, weather conditions, etc. The driver  is responsible for  checking the set speed.●
Even when the system is functioning norma lly, the condition of the preceding vehicle
as detected by the system may differ from the condition observed by the driver.
Therefore, the driver must always remain  alert, assess the danger of each situation
and drive safely. Relying on this system or  assuming the system ensures safety while
driving can lead to an accident, resulting in death or serious injury. ●
Switch the dynamic radar cruise control  with full-speed range off using the “ON/
OFF” button when not in use. ■
Cautions regarding the driving assist systems
Observe the following precautions, as there are limitations to the assistance provided
by the system.
Failure to do so may cause an accident  resulting in death or serious injury.●
Assisting the driver to  measure following distance
The dynamic radar cruise cont rol with full-speed range is only intended to help the
driver in determining the following distan ce between the driver’s own vehicle and a
designated vehicle traveling ahead. It is no t a mechanism that allows careless or inat-
tentive driving, and it is not a system that  can assist the driver  in low-visibility condi-
tions. It is still necessary for driver to pa y close attention to the vehicle’s surroundings.●
Assisting the driver to judg e proper following distance
The dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range determines whether the fol-
lowing distance between the driver’s own vehicle and a designated vehicle traveling
ahead is within a set range.  It is not capable of making  any other type of judgement.
Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for the  driver to remain vigilant and to determine
whether or not there is a possibility  of danger in any given situation.●
Assisting the driver to operate the vehicle
The dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range has limited capability to pre-
vent or avoid a collision with a vehicle trave ling ahead. Therefore,  if there is ever any
danger, the driver must take immediate and direct control of the vehicle and act
appropriately in order to ensure  the safety of all involved. 
Page 304 of 777

3034-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RX350/RX350L_U This mode employs a radar sensor to detect the presence of vehicles up to
approximately 328 ft. (100 m) ahead, de termines the current vehicle-to-vehicle
following distance, and operates to main tain a suitable following distance from
the vehicle ahead. Note that vehicle-to-vehicle distance will cl ose in when traveling  on downhill slopes.
Example of constant speed cruising
When there are no vehicles ahead The vehicle travels at the speed set by the driver. The desired vehicle-to-vehicle dis-
tance can also be set by operating the vehicle-to-vehicle distance switch.
Example of deceleration cruising and follow-up cruising
When a preceding vehicle driving sl ower than the set speed appearsWhen a vehicle is detected running ahead  of you, the system automatically deceler-
ates your vehicle. When a greater reduction in vehicle speed is necessary, the system
applies the brakes (the stop lights will come  on at this time). Th e system will respond to
changes in the speed of the vehicle ahead in  order to maintain the vehicle-to-vehicle
distance set by the driver. Approach warning warns you when the system cannot
decelerate sufficie ntly to prevent your vehicle from closing in on the vehicle ahead.
When the vehicle ahead of you stops, your vehicle will also stop (vehicle is stopped by
system control). After the vehicle ahead starts off, pushing the cruise control lever up
or depressing the accelerator pedal will resume follow-up cruising.
Example of acceleration 
When there are no longer any preceding  vehicles driving slower than the set
speed The system accelerates until the set speed is reached. The system then returns to con-
stant speed cruising.Driving in vehicle-to-vehicle distance control mode
1
2
3 
Page 317 of 777

316 4-5. Using the driving support systems
RX350/RX350L_U ■
Customization
Some functions can be customized. (  P. 325, 722)
WARNING ■
Handling the radar sensor
Blind Spot Monitor sensors ar e installed behind the left and right sides of the rear
bumper respectively. Observe the following to ensure the Blind Spot Monitor can
function correctly.
●
Do not subject a sensor or its surrounding area on the rear bumper to a strong
impact. 
If a sensor is moved even slightly off po sition, the system may malfunction and vehi-
cles may not be detected correctly. 
In the following situations , have your vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
• A sensor or its surrounding area  is subject to a strong impact.
• If the surrounding area of a sensor is sc ratched or dented, or  part of them has
become disconnected. ●
Do not disassemble the sensor. ●
Do not attach stickers to the sensor or  surrounding area on the rear bumper.●
Do not modify the sensor or surro unding area on the rear bumper.●
Do not paint the rear bumper any colo r other than an official Lexus color.●
Keep the sensors and the surrounding areas
on the rear bumper clean at all times. 
If a sensor or its surrounding area on the rear
bumper is dirty or covered with snow, the
Blind Spot Monitor may not operate and a
warning message (  P. 661) will be displayed.
In this situation, clear off the dirt or snow and
drive the vehicle with the operation condi-
tions of the BSM function (  P. 319) satisfied
for approximately 10 minutes. If the warning
message does not disappear, have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer.