oil TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2021 Owners Manual (in English)

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HIGHLANDER_U
Pictorial indexSearch by illustration
For safety
and securityMake sure to read through them
(Main topics: Child seat, theft deterrent system)
Vehicle status
information and
indicatorsReading driving-related information
(Main topics: Meters, multi-information display)
Before driving
Opening and closing the doors and windows,
adjustment before driving
(Main topics: Keys, doors, seats)
Driving
Operations and advice which are necessary for
driving
(Main topics: Starting engine, refueling)
Interior featuresUsage of the interior features
(Main topics: Air conditioner, storage features)
Maintenance
and careCaring for your vehicle and maintenance
procedures
(Main topics: Interior and exterior, light bulbs)
When trouble
arisesWhat to do in case of malfunction and emergency
(Main topics: Battery discharge, flat tire)
Vehicle
specificationsVehicle specifications, customizable features
(Main topics: Fuel, oil, tire inflation pressure)
For ownersReporting safety defects for U.S. owners, and seat
belt, SRS airbag and headlight aim instructions for
Canadian owners
IndexSearch by symptom
Search alphabetically

4TABLE OF CONTENTS
HIGHLANDER_U
Emission inspection and mainte-nance (I/M) programs....... 406
6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precau-tions ................................. 408
Hood .................................. 410
Positioning a floor jack ....... 411
Engine compartment .......... 412
Tires ................................... 419
Tire inflation pressure......... 431
Wheels ............................... 433
Air conditioning filter ........... 434
Electronic key battery ......... 436
Checking and replacing fuses ......................................... 438
Headlight aim ..................... 440
Light bulbs .......................... 441
7-1. Essential information Emergency flashers ........... 450
If your vehicle has to be stopped in an emergency .............. 450
If the vehicle is trapped in rising water ................................ 451
7-2. Steps to take in an emergency If your vehicle needs to be towed......................................... 453
If you think something is wrong ......................................... 456
Fuel pump shut off system ......................................... 457
If a warning light turns on or a warning buzzer sounds .... 458
If a warning message is dis- played .............................. 468
If you have a flat tire ........... 472
If the engine will not start ... 486
If you lose your keys .......... 487If the fuel filler door cannot be
opened ............................. 488
If the electronic key does not operate properly............... 489
If the vehicle battery is dis- charged ............................ 491
If your vehicle overheats .... 495
If the vehicle becomes stuck ......................................... 497
8-1. Specifications Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.) .................................. 500
Fuel information ................. 509
Tire information .................. 511
8-2. Customization Customizable features ....... 521
8-3. Initialization Items to initialize ................ 533
9-1. For owners Reporting safety defects for U.S. owners ............................. 536
Seat belt instructions for Cana- dian owners (in French) ... 536
SRS airbag instructions for Canadian owners (in French)......................................... 538
Headlight aim instructions for Canadian owners (in French)
........ ................................. 545
What

to do if... (Troubleshooting)
......................................... 548
Alphabetical Index.............. 551
7When trouble arises
8Vehicle specifications
9For owners
Index

14Pictorial index
HIGHLANDER_UPrecautions for winter seas
on.............................................. P.327
To prevent freezing (windshiel d wiper de-icer) ............. P.338, 343
Precautions for car wash
*.................................................... P.397
Fuel filler door ............................................... ..................... P.227
Refueling method ............................................... .................. P.227
Fuel type/fuel tan k capacity ................................... .............. P.501
Tires.......................................................... ........................... P.419
Tire size/inflation pressure ................................... ........ P.419, 505
Winter tires/tire chains ....................................... .................. P.327
Checking/rotation/tire pressur e warning system ..................P.419
Coping with flat tires......................................... .................... P.472
Hood ........................................................... ......................... P.410
Opening ............................................................................... P.410
Engine oil ..................................................... ........................ P.502
Coping with overheating ...................................................... P.495
Warning messages ............................................... ............... P.468
Front turn signal lights/parking lights
*................... P.210P.216
Parking lights
*............................................................... ..... P.216
Headlights/daytime running lights
*.................................. P.216
Headlights..................................................... ...................... P.216
Daytime running lights .. .................................................... P.216
Front side marker lights ....................................... ............. P.216
Parking lights
*/daytime running lights*........................... P.216
Front fog lights
*............................................................... ... P.222
Stop/tail lights ............................................... ..................... P.216
Tail lights.................................................... ......................... P.216
Back-up lights
Shifting the shift lever to R ................................................... P.206
Light bulbs of the exterior lights for driving
(Replacing method: P.441, Watts: P.507)

772-1. Instrument cluster
2
Vehicle status information and indicators
HIGHLANDER_U
7-inch display
The units used on the meters and some indicators may differ
depending on the target region.
Warning lights inform the driver
of malfunctions in the indicated
vehicle’s systems.
Warning lights
(U.S.A.)
Brake system warning
light
*1 (  P.458)
(red)
(Canada)
Brake system warning
light
*1 (  P.458)
(yellow)
Brake system warning
light
*1 ( P.458)
High coolant temperature
warning light
*2 (  P.458)
Charging system warning
light
*1 (  P.459)
Low engine oil pressure
warning light
*2 (  P.459)
(U.S.A.)
Malfunction indicator
lamp
*1 ( P.459)
(Canada)
Malfunction indicator
lamp
*1 ( P.459)
SRS warning light
*1
(  P.459)
(U.S.A.)
ABS warning light*1
(  P.460)
(Canada)
ABS warning light*1
(  P.460)
Brake Overri de System
warning light/Drive-Start
Control warning light
*2
(  P.460)
(red/yel-
low)
Electric power steering
system warning light
( P.460)
Low fuel leve l warning
light
*1(  P.461)
Driver’s and front passen-
ger’s seat belt reminder
light ( P.461)

832-1. Instrument cluster
2
Vehicle status information and indicators
HIGHLANDER_U
■Display items
 Odometer
Displays the total distance the vehi-
cle has been driven.
Trip meter A/trip meter B
Displays the distan ce the vehicle
has been driven si nce the meter
was last reset. Trip meters A and B
can be used to record and display
different distances independently.
 Distance until next engine oil
change
Displays the distan ce the vehicle
can be driven until an oil change is
necessary.
■Changing the display
Each time the “ODO TRIP”
switch is pressed, the displayed
item will be changed. When the
trip meter is displayed, pressing
and holding the switch will reset
the trip meter.
■Pop-up display
In some situations the following
will be temporarily displayed:
Distance until next engine oil
change
Displays the distance until the next
engine oil change. This display will
be displayed in the following situa-
tions:
 When the engine switch is
turned to ON.
 When a warning message
indicating that oil mainte-
nance should be performed
soon or is required is dis-
played.
The brightness of the instrument
panel lights can be adjusted.
NOTICE
●The engine may be overheating
if the engine coolant tempera-
ture gauge is in the red zone
(H). In this case, immediately
stop the vehicle in a safe place,
and check the engine after it
has cooled completely.
(  P.495)
Odometer and trip meter
display
Changing the instrument
panel light brightness

912-1. Instrument cluster
2
Vehicle status information and indicators
HIGHLANDER_Upower back door system operates.

(Stop & Start) (if
equipped) ( P.272)
Select to set the length of time the
Stop & Start system will operate
when the “A/C” switch of the air
conditioning system is on.
 “TPWS” (Tire Pressure Warn-
ing System) ( P.422)
• “Set Pressure” (tire pressure
warning system initialization)
Select to initialize the tire pressure
warning system.
• “Change Wheel” (register tire pressure warning system sensor
ID codes)
Select to register the ID codes of
the tire pressure s ensors to the tire
pressure warning system.
 “Rear Seat Reminder”
( P. 1 1 9 )
Select to enable/disable the rear
seat reminder.
“Scheduled Maintenance”
( P.403)
Select to reset the scheduled main-
tenance information (maintenance
required message and distance
until maintenance necessary) after
all maintenance is performed.
“Oil Maintenance” ( P.412)
Select to reset the oil maintenance
information (maintenance required
message and distance until mainte-
nance necessary) after an oil
change is performed.
■ Meter settings
Press and hold to change the settings of the following
items:

Language
Select to change the language dis-
played.
Units
Select to change the units of mea-
sure displayed.
 Eco Driving Indicator Light
( P.86)
Select to enable/disable the Eco
Driving Indi cator Light.

Fuel economy display
Select to change the average fuel
consumption display between after
start/after reset. ( P. 8 6 )

Select to displa y/not display the
audio system linked display.

Select to change the displayed con-
tent of the following:
• Display contents
Select to displa y/not display the
AWD control (if equipped). ( P.88)
• Drive information type
Select to change the drive informa-
tion type display between after
start/after reset.
• Drive information items
Select to set the first and second
items of the drive information dis-
play to any of the following: aver-
age vehicle
speed/distance/elapsed time.

1012-1. Instrument cluster
2
Vehicle status information and indicators
HIGHLANDER_USelect to register
the ID codes of
the tire pressure s ensors to the tire
pressure warning system.
 “Rear Seat Reminder”
( P. 1 1 9 )
Select to enable/disable the rear
seat reminder.
“Scheduled Maintenance”
( P.403)
Select to reset the scheduled main-
tenance information (maintenance
required message and distance
until maintenance necessary) after
all maintenance is performed.
“Oil Maintenance” ( P.412)
Select to reset the oil maintenance
information (maintenance required
message and distance until mainte-
nance necessary) after an oil
change is performed.
■ Meter settings
Press and hold to change
the settings of the following
items:
 Language
Select to change the language dis-
played.
 Units
Select to change t he units of mea-
sure displayed.
 Eco Driving Indicator Light
( P. 9 5 )
Select to enable/disable the Eco
Driving Indicator Light.
Speedometer display (digital
speed)
Select to enable/disable the speed- ometer display.

Gadget content
Select to turn the display of a gad-
get.
Fuel economy type
Select to change the average fuel
consumption display and an item to
be displayed as gadget.
Pop-up display
Select to enable/disable pop-up
displays for each relevant system.
Multi-information display off
Displays a blank screen.
Default setting
Select to reset the meter display
settings to the default setting.
■Vehicle functions and set-
tings that can be changed
 P.521
■Background color of the indica-
tor/shift position display area
The background color of the indica-
tor/shift position display area is
changed accordi ng to the driving
mode as follows ( P.314):
●Eco drive mode: Blue
●Sport mode: Red
■Suspension of the settings dis-
play
●Some settings cannot be changed
while driving. When changing set-
tings, park the vehicle in a safe
place.
●If a warning message is displayed,
operation of the settings display
will be suspended.
■Pop-up displays
Depending on the pop-up display,
the currently displayed item in the

1353-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Before driving
HIGHLANDER_Uwireless remote control or the
mechanical key, to unlock the
doors.
■Turning an electronic key to
battery-saving mode
When battery-savi ng mode is set,
battery depletion is minimized by
stopping the electronic key from
receiving radio waves.
Press twice while pressing and
holding . Confirm that the elec-
tronic key indicator flashes 4 times.
While the battery-saving mode is
set, the smart key system cannot be
used. To cancel the function, press
any of the electronic key buttons.
■Conditions affecting operation
The smart key system uses weak
radio waves. In the following situa-
tions, the communication between
the electronic key and the vehicle
may be affected, preventing the
smart key system, wireless remote
control and engine immobilizer sys-
tem from operating properly. (Ways
of coping: P.489)
●When the electronic key battery is
depleted
●Near a TV tower, electric power
plant, gas station , radio station,
large display, airpo rt or other facil-
ity that generates strong radio
waves or electrical noise
●When the electronic key is in con-
tact with, or is covered by the fol-
lowing metallic objects
• Cards to which al uminum foil is
attached
• Cigarette boxes that have alumi- num foil inside • Metallic wallets or bags
•Coins
• Hand warmers made of metal
• Media such as CDs and DVDs
●When other wirel
ess keys (that
emit radio waves) are being used
nearby
●When carrying the electronic key
together with the following devices
that emit radio waves
• Portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wireless
communication devices
• Another electronic key or a wire- less key that emits radio waves
• Personal computers or personal
digital assistants (PDAs)
• Digital audio players
• Portable game systems
●If window tint wit h a metallic con-
tent or metallic objects are
attached to the rear window
●When the electronic key is placed
near a battery charger or elec-
tronic devices
●When the vehicle is parked in a
pay parking spot where radio
waves are emitted
■Note for the entry function
●Even when the electronic key is
within the effective range (detec-
tion areas), the system may not
operate properly in the following
cases:
• The electronic key is too close to the window or outside door han-
dle, near the ground, or in a high
place when the doors are locked
or unlocked.
• The electronic key is on the instru-
ment panel, luggage compart-
ment, floor, or in the door pockets
or glove box when the engine is
started or engine switch modes
are changed.
●Do not leave the electronic key on
top of the instrument panel or near
the door pockets when exiting the
vehicle. Depending on the radio
wave reception conditions, it may
be detected by the antenna out-

1854-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_U
NOTICE
●When driving over bumps on
the road, drive as slowly as pos-
sible to avoid damaging the
wheels, underside of the vehi-
cle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driv-
ing
A flat or damaged tire may cause
the following situations. Hold the
steering wheel firmly and gradu-
ally depress the brake pedal to
slow down the vehicle.
●It may be difficult to control your
vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal
sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnor-
mally.
Information on what to do in case
of a flat tire (
P.472)
■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 vehicle:
●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 Toy-
ota dealer check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality
of oil and fluid used for the
engine, transaxle, transfer
(AWD models), rear differential
(AWD models), etc.
●Lubricant condition for the pro-
peller shaft (AWD models),
bearings and suspension joints
(where possible), and the func-
tion of all joints, bearings, etc.

2464-5. Using the driving support systems
HIGHLANDER_Upre-collision brake assist and
pre-collision braking functions are
also disabled.
●The PCS warning lig
ht will turn on
and “VSC Turned OFF Pre-Colli-
sion Brake System Unavailable”
will be display ed on the
multi-informat ion display.
LTA (Lane Tracing
Assist)
While driving on a road with
clear white (yellow) lane
lines, the LTA system warns
the driver if the vehicle may
deviate from the current
lane or course
*, and also
can slightly operate the
steering wheel to help avoid
deviation from the lane or
course
*. Also, while the
dynamic radar cruise con-
trol with full-speed range
( P.257) is operating, this
system will operate the
steering wheel to maintain
the vehicle’s lane position.
The LTA system recognizes
white (yellow) lane lines or a
course
* using the front cam-
era. Additionally, it detects
preceding vehicles using
the front camera and radar.
*: Boundary between asphalt and the side of the road, such as
grass, soil, or a curb