TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2021 Owners Manual (in English)

2014-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
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 vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with the 4
wheels on the ground.
■To prevent causing serious
damage to the transmission
and AWD system
2WD models: Never tow this vehi-
cle from the rear with the front
wheels on the ground.
This may cause serious damage
to the transmission.
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to
prevent causing serious damage
to the Dynamic Torque Control
AWD system (AWD models) or
Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD
system (AWD models) and trans-
mission.

2024-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
4-2.Driving procedures
1Check that the parking brake
is set.
2 Check that the shift lever is in
P.
3 Firmly depress the brake
pedal.
and a message will be dis-
played on the multi-information dis-
play.
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 necessary to press and hold the
switch.
The engine will crank until it starts
or for up to 30 seco nds, whichever
is less.
Continue depressing the brake
pedal until the engine is completely
started.
The engine can be started from any engine switch mode.
■If the engine does not start
●The engine immobilizer system
may not have been deactivated.
(
 P. 7 1 )
Contact your Toyota dealer.
●If a message related to start-up is
shown on the multi-information
display, read the message and fol-
low the instructions.
■If the battery is discharged
The engine cannot be started using
the smart key system. Refer to
P.491to restart the engine.
■Electronic key battery depletion
 P. 1 1 4
■Conditions affecting operation
 P.135
■Note for the entry function
 P.135
■Steering lock function
●After turning the engine switch off
and opening and closing the
doors, the steeri ng wheel will be
locked due to the steering lock
function. Operating the engine
switch again automatically can-
cels the steering lock.
●When the steering lock cannot be
released, “Push Engine Switch
while Turning Steering Wheel in
Either Direction” will be displayed
on the multi-information display.
Check that the shift lever is in P.
Press the engine switch shortly
and firmly while turning the steer-
Engine (ignition)
switch
Performing the following
operations when carrying
the electronic key on your
person starts the engine or
changes engine switch
modes.
Starting the engine

2034-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_Uing 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 repeat-
edly in a short period of time. In
this case, refrain from operating
the engine switch. After about 10
seconds, the steering lock motor
will resume functioning.
■Electronic key battery
 P. 4 3 6
■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
immediately after turning the
engine switch off, the engine may
not start in some cases. After turn-
ing the engine switch off, please
wait a few seconds before restart-
ing the engine.
■Customization
If the smart key system has been
deactivated in a customized setting,
refer to P.489.
1 Stop the vehicle completely.
2 Set the parking brake
( P.211), and shift the shift
lever to P.
Check the parking brake indicator
is illuminated.
3 Press the engine switch.
The engine will stop, and the meter
display will be extinguished.
4Release the brake pedal and
check that “ACCESSORY” or
“IGNITION ON” is not shown
WARNING
■When starting the engine
Always start the e ngine while sit-
ting in the driver’s seat. Do not
depress the accelerator pedal
while starting the engine under
any circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident
resulting 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 complete
stop. Activation of the steering
lock in this circumstance may lead
to an accident, 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
Toyota dealer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a mal-
function with the engine
switch
If the engine switch seems to be
operating somewhat differently
than usual, such as the switch
sticking slightly, there may be a
malfunction. Contact your Toyota
dealer immediately.
Stopping the engine

2044-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
on the multi-information dis-
p l a y.
■Automatic engine shut off fea-
ture
●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
shift lever is in a position other
than P.
●After the vehicle is parked, if the
door is locked with the door lock
switch ( P.120) from the inside or
the mechanical key from the out-
side, 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.
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.450)
However, do not touch the
engine switch while driving
except in an emergency. Turn-
ing the engine off while driving
will not cause loss of steering or
braking control, but the power
assist to these systems will be
lost. This will make it more diffi-
cult 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 message will be shown
on the multi-information display
and a buzzer sounds.
●To restart the engine after per-
forming an emergency shut-
down, shift the shift lever to N
and then press the engine
switch.
■When parking
Exhaust gases include harmful
carbon monoxide (CO), which is
colorless and odorless. Observe
the following precautions.
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.
●If the vehicle is in a poorly venti-
lated area or a closed area,
such as a garage, stop the
engine.

2054-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
Modes can be changed by
pressing the engine switch with
brake pedal released. (The
mode changes each time the
switch is pressed.)
1OFF
*
The emergency flashers can be
used.
2ACC
Some electrical components such
as the audio sys tem can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed
on the multi-information display.
3 ON
All electrical components can be
used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
*: If the shift lever is in a position
other than P when turning off the
engine, the engine switch will be
turned to ACC, not to OFF.
■Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACC for more
than 20 minutes or ON (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 prevent b attery discharge.
Do not leave the v ehicle with the
engine switch in ACC or ON for long
periods of time when the engine is
not running.
WARNING
●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 snow-
banks build up around the vehi-
cle while the engine is running,
exhaust gases may collect and
enter the vehicle.
Changing engine switch
modes
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
●Do not leave the engine switch
in ACC or ON for long periods of
time without the engine running.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION
ON” is displayed on the
multi-information display, the
engine switch is not off. Exit the
vehicle after turning the engine
switch off.

2064-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
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 ACC. Perform the fol-
lowing procedure to turn the
switch off:
1Check that the parking brake
is set.
2 Shift the shift lever to P.
3 Check that “ACCESSORY” is
displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display and press the
engine switch shortly and
firmly.
4 Check that “ACCESSORY”
or “IGNITION ON” on the
multi-information display are
off.
*1: Shifting to the D position allows
the system to sele ct a gear suit-
able for the driving conditions.
Setting the shift lever to the D
position is recommended for nor-
mal driving.
*2: Selecting gears using M mode fixes the gear step, controls
engine braking force, and pre-
vents unnecessary upshifting.
■To protect the a utomatic trans-
mission
If the automatic transmission fluid
temperature is high, “High Trans-
mission Fluid Temp See Owner's
Manual” will be displayed on the
multi-information display and the
vehicle will go into transmission pro-
tection mode automatically. Have
the vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer.
When stopping the engine
with the shift lever in a
position other than P
NOTICE
■To prevent battery discharge
Do not stop the engine when the
shift lever is in a position other
than P. If the engin e is stopped in
another shift lever position, the
engine switch will not be turned
off but instead be turned to ACC.
If the vehicle is left in ACC, bat-
tery discharge may occur.
Automatic transmis-
sion
Select the shift position
depending on your purpose
and situation.
Shift position purpose
Shift posi-
tionObjective or function
PParking the vehi-
cle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
MM mode driving*2
(  P.208)

2074-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
■When driving with dynamic
radar cruise control with
full-speed range activated
Even when switching the driving
mode to sport mode with the intent
of enabling engine braking, engine
braking will not act ivate because
dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range will not be can-
celed.
■Restraining sudden start
(Drive-Start Control)
 P. 1 8 0
■AI-SHIFT
●The AI-SHIFT automatically
selects the suitable gear accord-
ing to driver performance and driv-
ing conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically oper-
ates when the shi ft lever is in D.
(Shifting the shift lever to the M posi-
tion cancels the function.)
●G AI-SHIFT automat ically selects
a suitable gear for sporty driving
according to dri ver’s input and
driving conditions. G AI-SHIFT
operates automatically when the
shift lever is in D and sport mode
is selected for t he driving mode.
(Selecting normal mode with the
driving mode select switch or shift-
ing the shift lever to the M position
cancels this function.)
: While the engine switch is in
ON 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 stopped.
*: For the vehicle to 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 engi ne switch is in
WARNING
■When driving on slippery
road surfaces
Be careful of downshifting and
sudden acceleration, as this could
result in the vehicle skidding to
the side or spinning.
Shifting the shift lever

2084-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_UON and the brake pedal is being
depressed.
■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
with your foot on the brake pedal,
there may be a pr oblem with the
shift lock system. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
The following steps may be used as
an emergency measure to ensure
that the shift lev er can be shifted.
Releasing the shift lock:
1 Turn the engine switch to ON
and check that the parking brake
is set. ( P.205, 211)
2 Turn the engine switch to off.
3 Depress the brake pedal.
4 Pry the cover up with a flathead
screwdriver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage to the cover,
cover the tip of the screwdriver with
a rag.
5 Press and hold the shift lock
override button.
The shift lever can be shifted while
both buttons are pressed.
 P.314, 318
To enter M mode, shift the shift
lever to M. Gears can then be
selected by operating the shift
lever, allowing you to drive in the
gear of your choosing.
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when
releasing the shift lock
Before pressing the shift lock
override button, m ake sure to set
the parking brake and depress the
brake pedal.
If the accelerator pedal is acci-
dentally 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, possi-
bly leading to an accident result-
ing in death or serious injury.
Selecting the driving
mode and snow mode
Selecting gears in the M
position

2094-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
1Upshifting
2 Downshifting
The gear changes once every time
the shift lever or paddle shift switch
is operated.
The selected gear, from M1 to M8,
will be fixed and displayed on the
meters.
When in the M position, the gear
will not change unless the shift
lever is operated.
However, even when in the M
position, the gears will be auto-
matically changed in the follow-
ing situation:
When vehicle speed drops
(downshift only).
 When the automatic transmis-
sion fluid or engine coolant
temperature is low.
 When automatic transmis-
sion fluid temperature is high
(upshift only).
 When the needle of the
tachometer is in the red zone
(the range which exceeds the
allowable revs of the engine).
In the following situation, the
gear will not shift even if the shift
lever is operated.
 The vehicle speed is low
(upshift only).
■Downshifting restriction warn-
ing buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving
performance, downshifting opera-
tion may sometimes b e restricted. In
some circumstances, downshifting may not be possible even when the
paddle shift switch is operated. (A
buzzer will sound twice.)

2104-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_U
1Right turn
2 Lane change to the right
(move the lever partway and
release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3
times.
3Lane change to the left
(move the lever partway and
release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3
times.
4Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated
when
The engine switch is in ON.
■If the indicator flashes faster
than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or
rear turn signal lights has not burned out.
Tur n signal lever
Operating instructions