TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2021 Owners Manual (in English)
Manufacturer: TOYOTA, Model Year: 2021, Model line: 4RUNNER, Model: TOYOTA 4RUNNER 2021Pages: 592, PDF Size: 13.3 MB
Page 461 of 592

461
When trouble arises7
4RUNNER (U)7-1.  Essential information
Emergency flashers .......... 462
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an 
emergency ...................... 463
If the vehicle is trapped in  rising water ..................... 465
7-2.  Steps to take in an  emergency
If your vehicle needs to be  towed .............................. 466
If you think something is  wrong .............................. 472
Fuel pump shut off  system ............................ 473
If a warning light turns  on or a warning buzzer 
sounds ............................ 474
If a warning message is  displayed......................... 484
If you have a flat tire.......... 489
If the engine will not  start ................................. 504
If you cannot operate  back door opener ............ 506
If the electronic key does  not operate properly 
(vehicles with a smart 
key system)..................... 507
If the vehicle battery is  discharged ...................... 510
If your vehicle  overheats ........................ 514
If the vehicle becomes  stuck ............................... 517 
Page 462 of 592

462
4RUNNER (U)
7-1. Essential information
Press the switch.
All the turn signals will flash.
To  turn  them  off,  press  the  switch
once again.
■Emergency flashers
If  the  emergency  flashers  are  used  for  a  long  time  while  the  en gine  is  not
operating, the battery may discharge.
Emergency flashers
The emergency flashers are used to warn other drivers when the
vehicle has to be stopped in the road due to a breakdown, etc. 
Page 463 of 592

4637-1. Essential information
7
When trouble arises
4RUNNER (U)
Steadily step on the brake pedal with both feet and firmly depress it.
Do  not  pump  the  brake  pedal  repeatedly  as  this  will  increase  th e  effort
required to slow the vehicle.
Shift the shift lever to N.
If the shift lever is shifted to N
After slowing down, stop the vehi cle in a safe place by the road.
Stop the engine.
If the shift lever cann ot be shifted to N
Keep  depressing  the  brake  pedal  with  both  feet  to  reduce  vehicl e
speed as much as possible.
Vehicles  without  a  smart  key
system:  Stop  the  engine  by
turning the engine switch to the
“ACC” position.
Vehicles  with  a  smart  key  sys-
tem:  To  stop  the  engine,  press
and hold the engine switch for 2
consecutive  seconds  or  more,
or press it briefly 3 times or
more in succession.
Stop the vehicle in a s afe place by the road.
If  your vehicle has to be stopped in an 
emergency
Only in an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop
the vehicle in the normal way, st op the vehicle using the follow-
ing procedure:
1
2
3
4
3
4
Press and hold for 2  seconds or more 
or press briefly 3 times or more
Q
R 
Page 464 of 592

4647-1. Essential information
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
■If the engine has to be tu rned off while driving
● Power  assist  for  the  brakes  and  steering  wheel  will  be  lost,  ma king  the
brake  pedal  harder  to  depress  and  the  steering  wheel  heavier  to  turn.
Decelerate as much as possible before turning off the engine.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: 
Never attempt to remove the key, as doing so will lock the stee ring wheel. 
Page 465 of 592

4657-1. Essential information
7
When trouble arises
4RUNNER (U)
●Remove the seat belt first.
● If the door can be opened, open the door and exit the vehicle.
● If  the  door  can  not  be  opened,  open  the  window  using  the  power
window switch and exit the  vehicle through the window.
● If  the  window  can  not  be  opened  using  the  power  window  switch,
remain calm, wait until the water  level inside the vehicle rise s to the
point that the water pressure i nside of the vehicle equals the  water
pressure outside of the vehicl e, and then open the door and exi t the
vehicle.
If  the vehicle is trapped in rising water
In the event the vehicle is submerged in water, remain calm and
perform the following.
WARNING
■ Using an emergency hammer* for emergency escape
The front side windows and rear side windows, as well as  the  re ar window
can be shattered with an emergency hammer
* used for emergency escape.
However, an emergency hammer can not shatter the windshield as  it is lam-
inated glass.
*: Contact  your  Toyota  dealer  or  aftermarket  accessory  manufactur er  for
further information about an emergency hammer.
■ Escaping the vehicle from the window
There are  cases  where escaping  the  vehicle  from  the  window  is  n ot  possi-
ble due to seating position, passenger body type, etc.
When  using  an  emergency  hammer,  consider  your  seat  location  and  the
size  of  the  window  opening  to  ensure  that  the  opening  is  accessible  and
large enough to escape. 
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4RUNNER (U)
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If  your vehicle needs to be towed
If  towing  is  necessary,  we  recommend  having  your  vehicle
towed  by  your  Toyota  dealer  or  commercial  towing  service,
using a wheel-lift type t ruck or flatbed truck.
Use  a  safety  chain  system  for  all  towing,  and  abide  by  all  stat e/
provincial and local laws.
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■ When towing the vehicle
2WD  models:  Be  sure  to  transport  the
vehicle  with  the  rear  wheels  raised  or
with all four wheels raised off the ground.
If  the  vehicle  is  towed  with  the  rear
wheels  contacting  the  ground,  the  drive-
train  and  related  parts  may  be  damaged
or  an  accident  may  occur  due  to  a
change in direction of the vehicle.
4WD  models:  Be  sure  to  transport  the
vehicle with all four wheels raised  off  the
ground.  If  the  vehicle  is  towed  with  the
tires contacting the ground, the drivetrain
or  related  parts  may  be  damaged,  the
vehicle may fly off the truck. 
Page 467 of 592

4677-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
4RUNNER (U)
WARNING
■While towing
● When towing using cables or chains, avoid sudden starts, etc. w hich place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets, cables or chains. The towing eye-
lets,  cables  or  chains  may  become  damaged, broken  debris  may  hit  peo-
ple, and cause serious damage.
● Vehicles with a smart key system: Do not turn the engine switch off. 
There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and ca nnot be oper-
ated.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Do not turn the engine switch to the
“LOCK” position. 
There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and ca nnot be oper-
ated.
NOTICE
■ To  prevent  damage  to  the  vehicle  when  towing  using  a  wheel-lift  type
truck
● Vehicles  with  a  smart  key  system:  Do  not  tow  the  vehicle  from  the  rear
when  the  engine  switch  is  off. The  steering  lock  mechanism  is  n ot  strong
enough to hold the front wheels straight.
● Vehicles without a smart key system: Do not tow the vehicle fro m the rear
when  the  engine  switch  is  in  the  “LOCK”  position  or  the  key  is  removed.
The steering lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheels
straight.
● When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for  towing at
the  opposite  end  of  the  raised  vehicle.  Without  adequate  clearance,  the
vehicle could be damaged while being towed.
■ To prevent damage to the vehicle  when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or re ar.
■ To prevent damage to the vehic le during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the suspension components.
■ Recreational towing (behind mo tor home, etc.) (4WD models)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to prevent
causing serious damage to the transmis-
sion. (P. 208) 
Page 468 of 592

4687-2. Steps to take in an emergency
4RUNNER (U)
The following may indicate a problem with your transmission. Contact
your Toyota dealer or commercial  towing service before towing.
● The engine is running but t he vehicle does not move.
● The vehicle makes an abnormal sound.
From the front
Use  a  towing  dolly  under  the  rear
wheels.
From the rear (2WD models)
Turn  the  engine  switch  to  the
“ACC” position (vehicles without a
smart  key  system)  or  ACCES-
SORY  mode  (vehicles  with  a
smart  key  system)  so  that  the
steering wheel is unlocked.
From the rear (4WD models)
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
Situations when it is necessary to contact dealers before towing
Towing with a wheel-lift type truck 
Page 469 of 592

4697-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
4RUNNER (U)
When using a flat-bed truck to transport the vehicle, use tire strapping
belts.  Refer  to  the  owner's  manual  of  the  flat-bed  truck  for  th e  tire
strapping method.
Vehicles with a smart key system: In order to suppress vehicle  move-
ment during transportation, set the parking brake and turn the engine
switch off.
Vehicles  without  a  smart  key  system:  In  order  to  suppress  vehic le
movement  during  transportation,  set  the  parking  brake  and  turn  the
engine switch to the “LOCK” position.
If  a  tow  truck  is  not  available  in  an  emergency,  your  vehicle  m ay  be
temporarily  towed  using  cables  or  chains  secured  to  the  emergen cy
towing hooks. This  should  only be   attempted on hard  surfaced  roads
for at most 80 km (50 miles) at under 30 km/h (18 mph).
A  driver  must  be  in  the  vehicle  to  steer  and  operate  the  brakes .  The
vehicle’s  wheels,  drive  train,  a xles,  steering  and  brakes  must  be  in
good condition.
NOTICE
■ Towing with a sling-type truck
Using a flatbed truck
Emergency towing
Do not tow with  a sling-type  truck  to pre-
vent body damage. 
Page 470 of 592

4707-2. Steps to take in an emergency
4RUNNER (U)
Vehicles  with  front  covers  only:
Before  using  the  front  emer-
gency  towing  eyelet(s),  remove
the cover(s).Removing the clips
Installing the clips
Securely  attach  cables  or
chains to the towing hook.
Take  care  not  to  damage  the  vehi-
cle body.
Enter the vehicle being towed and start the engine.
Vehicles  with  a  smart  key  system:  If  the  engine  does  not  start,  turn  the
engine switch to ON.
Vehicles without a smart key system: If the engine does not sta rt, turn the
engine switch to the “ON” position.
Emergency towing procedure
1
1
2
2
3