tow LEXUS RX450h 2018 Owner's Guide

2354-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWARNING ■
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.

236 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWARNING ■
Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the hitch manu-
facturer. Even though the vehicle may be phys ically capable of towing a higher weight,
the operator must determine the maximum weight rating of the particular hitch assem-
bly and never exceed the maximum weight rating specified for the trailer-hitch.
Exceeding the maximum weight rating set by the trailer-hitch manufacturer can cause
an accident resulting in death or serious personal injuries. ■
When towing a trailer
Lexus recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable federal and
state/provincial regulations. ●
If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are required. Lexus
recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all applicable federal and state/pro-
vincial regulations. ●
Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehicle’s braking
effectiveness. ●
Never tow a trailer without using a safety chain securely attached to both the trailer
and the vehicle. If damage occurs to the co upling unit or hitch ball, there is danger of
the trailer wandering into another lane.
NOTICE ■
When installing a trailer hitch
Use only the position recommended by your Lexus dealer. Do not install the trailer
hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage. ■
Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splic e trailer lights. Directly splicin g trailer lights may damage your
vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.

2374-1. Before driving
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UTrailer towing (vehicles without towing package)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 wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc. Your vehicle is not designed for trailer
towing or for the use of tow hitch mounted carriers.

238 4-1. Before driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UDinghy 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 vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with the four wheels on the ground. ■
To prevent causing serious damage to the hybrid transmission and Hybrid AWD sys-
tem
Never tow this vehicle with any of the wheels
on the ground. This may cause serious damage
to the hybrid transmission and AWD system.

2494-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U■
When the “-” paddle shift switch is operated with the shift lever in the D position (vehi-
cles with paddle shift switches)
The shift range is downshifted to a range that enables engine braking force that is suit-
able to driving conditions. ■
Automatic deactivation of shif t range selection in the D position (vehicles with paddle
shift switches)
Shift range selection in the D position will be deactivated in the following situations:●
When the vehicle comes to a stop ●
If the accelerator pedal is depressed fo r more than a certain period of time●
When the shift lever is shifted to a position other than D ■
S mode ●
When the shift range is S4 or lower, holding the shift leve r toward “+” sets the shift
range to S6. ●
Automatically selects a higher shift range before the engine speed becomes too high.■
Downshifting restriction warning buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving performance, downshifti ng operation may sometimes
be restricted. In some circum stances, downshifting may not be possible even when the
shift lever or paddle shift sw itch (if equipped) is operated . (A buzzer will sound twice.)■
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 occur because dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed
range will not be canceled. ●
Vehicles without paddle shift switches: While driving in S mode, downshifting to 5 or 4.
( → P. 306) ●
Vehicles with paddle shift sw itches: While driving in D or S mode, downshifting to 5 or
4. ( → P. 306)●
When switching the driving mode to spor t mode while driving in the D position
( → P. 379)■
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 wa rning message appears on the multi-infor-
mation 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 vehicle is in reverse. ■
Shift lock system
The shift lock system is a system to prevent ac cidental operation of the shift lever in start-
ing.
The shift lever can be shifted from P only wh en the power switch is in ON mode and the
brake pedal is being depressed.

2594-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWith the headlights on, push the
lever away from you to turn on the
high beams. Pull the lever toward you to the center
position to turn the high beams off.
Pull the lever toward you and release
it to flash the high beams once. You can flash the high beams with the
headlights on or off.
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) secures excellent visibility at intersections
and on curves by automatically adjusting the direction of the light axis of the
headlights according to vehicle speed and the degree of the tire’s angle as con-
trolled by steering input. AFS operates at speeds of 6 mph (10 km/h) or higher.
●
When the steering wheel or turn signal lever is operated while the headlights
are on (low beam), a cornering light w ill turn on and light up the direction of
movement of the vehicle. The cornerin g lights are designed to ensure excel-
lent visibility when making a turn at an intersection. However, when vehicle speed is approximately 22 mph (35 km/h) or higher, the cor-
nering lights will not turn on.●
When the shift lever is in R while the headlights are on (low beam), both cor-
nering lights will turn on. This is desi gned to enhance visibility when parking.Turning on the high beam headlights 1
2
AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) (if equipped)
Cornering lights (if equipped)

2654-3. Operating the lights and wipers
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U●
In the following situations the system may not be able to correctly detect the surround-
ing brightness level. This may cause the lo w beams to remain on or the high beams to
flash or dazzle pedestrians or vehicles ahead. In such a case, it is necessary to manually
switch between the high and low beams.
• When driving in inclement weather (heavy ra in, snow, fog, sandstorms, etc.)
• When the windshield is obscured by fog, mist, ice, dirt, etc.
• When the windshield is cracked or damaged
• When the camera sensor is deformed or dirty
• When the temperature of the camera sensor is extremely high
• When the surrounding brightness level is equal to that of he adlights, tail lights or fog
lights
• When headlights or tail lights of vehicles ahead are turned off, dirty, changing color,
or not aimed properly
• When the vehicle is hit by water, snow, dust, etc. from a preceding vehicle
• When driving through an area of intermittently changi ng brightness and darkness
• When frequently and repeated ly driving ascendin g/descending roads, or roads with
rough, bumpy or uneven surfaces (such as stone-paved roads, gravel roads, etc.)
• When frequently and repeatedly taking curves or driving on a winding road
• When there is a highly reflective object ahea d of the vehicle, such as a sign or mirror
• When the back of a preceding vehicle is highly reflective, such as a container on a
truck
• When the vehicle’s headlights are damaged or dirty, or are not aimed properly
• When the vehicle is listing or titling due to a flat tire, a trailer being towed, etc.
• When the headlights are changed between the high beams and low beams repeat-
edly in an abnormal manner
• When the driver believes that the high beams may be flashing or dazzling pedestri-
ans or other drivers■
Temporarily lowering sensor sensitivity
The sensitivity of the sensor can be temporarily lowered.
Turn the power switch off while the following conditions are met.
• The headlight switch is in or .
• The headlight switch lever is in high beam position.
• Automatic High Beam switch is on.
Turn the power switch to ON mode.
Within 30 seconds after , repeat pulling th e headlight switch lever to the original
position then pushing it to the high beam position quickly 10 times, then leave the lever
in high beam position.
If the sensitivity is changed, the Automatic High Beam indicator is turn on and off 3
times.
Automatic High Beam (headlights) may turn on even when the vehicle is stopped. 1
2
3 2
4

268 4-3. Operating the lights and wipers
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWasher/wiper dual operation The wipers will automatically operate a
couple of times afte r the washer squirts.
Vehicles with headlight cleaners:
When the power switch is in ON mode
and the headlights are on, if the lever is
pulled, the headlight cleaners will oper-
ate once. After this, the headlight clean-
ers will operate every 5th time the lever
is pulled. ■
The windshield wipers and washer can be operated when
The power switch is in ON mode. ■
Dripping prevention wiper sweep
After washing and wiping operation several times, the wipers operate one more time
after a short delay to prevent dripping. However, this function will not operate while driv-
ing. ■
Effects of vehicle speed on wiper operation
Vehicle speed affects the Intermittent wiper interval. ■
Raindrop sensor
●
If the wiper switch is turned to the “AUTO” position while the power switch is in ON
mode, the wipers will operate once to show that AUTO mode is activated.●
When the sensor sensitivity ring is turned toward high while in “AUTO” position, the
wipers will operate once to indicate that the sensor sensitivity is enhanced. ●
If the temperature of the raindrop sensor is 194 ° F (90 ° C) or higher, or 5 ° F (-15 ° C) or
lower, automatic operation may not occur. In this case, operate the wipers in any mode
other than AUTO mode. ■
If no windshield washer fluid sprays
Check that the washer nozzles ar e not blocked if there is washer fluid in the washer fluid
tank. 8
●
The raindrop sensor judges the amount of
raindrops.
An optical sensor is ad opted. It may not oper-
ate properly when sunlight from the rising or
setting of the sun inte rmittently strikes the
windshield, or if bugs, etc. are present on the
windshield.

2894-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85UWARNING ■
When to disable the pre-collision system
In the following situations, di sable the system, as it may not operate properly, possibly
leading to an accident resultin g in death or serious injury:●
When the vehicle is being towed ●
When your vehicle is towing another vehicle ●
When transporting the vehicle via truck, bo at, train or similar means of transportation●
When the vehicle is raised on a lift with th e hybrid system on and the tires are allowed
to rotate freely ●
When inspecting the vehicle using a drum tester such as a chassis dynamometer or
speedometer tester, or when using an on vehicle wheel balancer ●
When a strong impact is applied to the fron t bumper or front grille, due to an accident
or other reasons ●
If the vehicle cannot be driven in a stable manner, such as when the vehicle has been
in an accident or is malfunctioning ●
When the vehicle is driven in a sporty manner or off-road●
When the tires are not properly inflated ●
When the tires are very worn ●
When tires of a size other than specified are installed ●
When tire chains are installed ●
When a compact spare tire or an emergency tire puncture repair kit is used ●
If equipment (snow plow, etc.) that may obstruct the radar sensor or camera sensor is
temporarily installed to the vehicle

2934-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
RX450h_RX450hL _U_OM48F85U• When there is a metal object (manhole cover, steel plate, etc.), steps, or a protrusion
on the road surface or roadside
• When rapidly closing on an electric toll ga te barrier, parking area barrier, or other
barrier that opens and closes
• When using an automatic car wash
• When the vehicle is hit by water, sn ow, dust, etc. from a vehicle ahead
• When driving through steam or smoke
• When there are patterns or paint on the road or a wall that may be mistaken for a
vehicle or pedestrian
• When driving near an object that reflects radio waves, such as a large truck or
guardrail
• When driving near a TV tower, broadcasting station, electric power plant, or other
location where strong radio waves or electrical noise may be present• When a crossing pedestrian approaches
very close to the vehicle
• When passing through a place with a low
structure above the road (low ceiling, traffic
sign, etc.)
• When passing under an object (billboard,
etc.) at the top of an uphill road
• When driving through or under objects
that may contact the vehicle, such as thick
grass, tree branches, or a banner