TOYOTA HIGHLANDER 2023 Owners Manual

1213-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Before driving
■Smart key system
Carry the electronic key to
enable this function.
1 Unlocks all the doors
The doors cannot be unlocked for 3
seconds after the doors are locked.
2Locks all the doors
Check that the d oor is securely
locked.
■Wireless remote control
 P.115
■Operation signals
 P. 1 1 6
■Door lock switches
 P.118
■Opening the back door
Raise the back door while push-
ing up the back door opener
switch.
■Closing the back door
Lower the back door using a
back door handle, and then
push the back door from the out-
side to close it.
WARNING
●Do not pull on the back door
damper stay (vehicles without a
power back door) ( P.122) or
back door spindle (vehicles with
a power back door) ( P.129) to
close the back door, and do not
hang on the back door damper
stay (vehicles without a power
back door) or back door spindle
(vehicles with a power back
door).
Doing so may cause hands to be
caught or the back door damper
stay (vehicles without a power
back door) or back door spindle
(vehicles with a power back door)
to break, causing an accident.
●If a heavy object is attached to
the back door, it may suddenly
shut again after being opened,
causing someone’s hands,
arms, head or neck to be caught
and injured. Do not attach any
accessories other than genuine
Toyota parts to the back door.
Unlocking and locking the
back door from the out-
side
Unlocking and locking the
back door from the inside
Opening/closing the back
door (vehicles without a
power back door)

1223-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
Be careful not to pull the back
door sideways when using a
handle.
■Open door warning buzzer
 P. 1 1 8
■Opening/closing the back
door using the wireless
remote control
Press and hold the switch.
Pressing the switch while the back
door is opening/closing will stop the
operation. Pressing and holding the
switch again will operate the back
door in the opposite direction.
■Opening/closing the back
door using the power back
door switch on the instru-
ment panel
Press and hold the switch.
Unlock the back door before oper-
ating.
Pressing the switch while the back
door is opening/closing will stop the
operation. Pressing and holding the
switch again will operate the back
door in the opposite direction.
NOTICE
■Back door damper stays
The back door is equipped with
damper stays that hold the back
door in place.
Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to do so may cause
damage to the back door damper
stay, resulting in malfunction.
●Do not attach any foreign
objects, such as stickers, plastic
sheets, or adhesives to the
damper stay rod.
●Do not touch the damper stay
rod with gloves or other fabric
items.
●Do not attach any accessories
other than genuine Toyota parts
to the back door.
●Do not place your hand on the
damper stay or apply lateral
forces to it.
Opening/closing the back
door (vehicles with a
power back door)

1233-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Before driving
■Opening the back door
using the back door opener
switch
When the back door is
unlocked: Press the back door
opener switch.
When the back door is locked:
While carrying the electronic key
on your person, press the back
door opener switch.
Pressing the switch while the back
door is opening/closing will stop the
operation. Pressing the switch
again will open the back door.
■Opening/closing the back
door using the power back
door switch on the back
door
Press the switch.
Pressing the switch while the back
door is opening/closing will stop the
operation. Pressing the switch again will operate the back door in
the opposite direction.
■Closing the back door
using the back door handle
Lower the back door using the
back door handle, then a buzzer
sounds and the back door auto-
matically closes.
■Opening/closing the back
door using the kick sensor
(vehicles with a Hands Free
Power Back Door)
Vehicles without tow hitch
The Hands Free Power Back
Door enables automatic opening
and closing of the power back
door by putting your foot near
the lower center part of the rear
bumper and moving it away
from the rear bumper.

1243-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
Vehicles with tow hitch
The Hands Free Power Back
Door enables automatic opening
and closing of the power back
door by putting your foot near
the lower left side of the rear
bumper and moving it away
from the rear bumper.
The center of the Hands Free
Power Back Door sensor is indi-
cated by the mark.
1 While carrying an electronic
key, stand within the smart
key system operation range,
approximately 13.8 to 21.7 in.
(35 to 55 cm) from the rear
bumper.
Vehicles without tow hitch
Kick sensor
Hands Free Power Back
Door operation detection
area
Smart key system operation
detection area ( P.132)
Vehicles with tow hitch
Kick sensor
Hands Free Power Back
Door operation detection
area
Smart key system operation
detection area ( P.132)
2 Perform a kick operation by
moving your foot to within
approximately 3.9 in. (10 cm)
of the rear bumper and then
pulling it back.
• Perform the entire kick opera- tion within 1 second.
• The back door will not start operating while a foot is
detected under the rear
bumper.
• Operate the Hands Free Power Back Door without
contacting the rear bumper
with your foot.
• If another electronic key is in the cabin or luggage compart-
ment, it may take slightly lon-
ger than normal for the

1253-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Before driving
operation to occur.
Kick sensor
Hands Free Power Back
Door operation detection
area
3 When the kick sensor detects
that your foot is pulled back,
a buzzer will sound and the
back door will automatically
fully open/close.
If kick operation is performed while
the back door is opening/closing,
the back door will st op the opera-
tion. Perform a kick operation again
will operate the ba ck door in the
opposite direction.
■Back door closer
In the event that the back door is left
slightly open, the back door closer
will automatically close it to the fully
closed position.
●The back door closer can function
when the engine s witch is in any
mode.
●The back door can be opened
using the back door opener switch
even if the back door closer is
operating.
■Power back door operating con-
ditions
If the following conditions are met,
the power back door can be opened
and closed automatically.
●When the power back door sys- tem is enabled. (
P.494)
●When the engine s witch is in ON,
one of the following conditions
must be met in a ddition to the
above conditions:
• The parking brake is engaged.
• The brake pedal is depressed.
• The shift lever is in P.
■Operation of the power back
door
●When the power back door begins
to operate, the emergency flash-
ers will flash twice and a buzzer
will sound.
●When the power back door is dis-
abled, the powe r back door will
not operate but can be opened
and closed manually.
●When the power back door is
opening/closing, if the power back
door becomes obstructed, opera-
tion will stop.
■Jam protection function
Sensors are installed on the right
and left sides of the power back
door. When the door is automati-
cally closing and the sensors are
pushed due to an object being
clamped, etc., the jam protection
function operates.
From that position the door auto-
matically moves a little in the oppo-
site direction and then the function
stops.
■Back door reserve lock function
This function reserves the locking of
the power back door when the
power back door is open. If the fol-
lowing operations are performed, all
of the doors except the power back
door will lock and then the power

1263-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
back door will lock when it is com-
pletely closed.
1Close all of the doors, except the
back door.
2 Perform an automatic closing
operation of the power back door
and lock the doors using the
wireless remote control ( P. 1 1 5 )
or smart key system ( P.115)
while the power back door is
closing.
A buzzer sounds and the emer-
gency flashers flash to indicate that
all the doors have been closed and
locked.
●If the electronic key is placed
inside the vehicle after starting a
close operation via the door
reserve lock function, the elec-
tronic key may become locked
inside the vehicle.
●If the back door does not fully
close due to the operation of the
jam protection function, etc., while
the back door is automatically
closing after a door reserve lock
operation is performed, the door
reserve lock function is canceled
and all the do ors will unlock.
●Before leaving t he vehicle, make
sure that all the doors are closed
and locked.
■Kick sensor operating condi-
tions (vehicles with a Hands
Free Power Back Door)
●When the kick sensor operation
setting is turned on ( P.494) and
the engine switch is turned off.
●When an electronic key is carried
within the operation detection
area.
■Situations in which the Hands
Free Power Back Door may not
operate properly (if equipped)
In the following situations, the
Hands Free Power Back Door may
not operate properly:
●When a foot remains under the
rear bumper.
●If the rear bumper is strongly hit
with a foot or is touched for a
while.
If the rear bumper has been touched
for a while, wait f or a short time
before attempting to operate the
Hands Free Power Back Door
again.
●When standing excessively close
to the rear bumper.
●When an external radio wave
source interferes with the commu-
nication between the electronic
key and the vehicle. ( P.133)
●When the vehicle is parked near
an electrical noise source which
affects the sensitivity of the Hands
Free Power Back Door, such as a
pay parking spot, gas station,
electrically heated road, or fluo-
rescent light.
●When the vehicle is near a TV
tower, electric pow er plant, radio
station, large display, airport or
other facility that generates strong
radio waves or electrical noise.
●When a large amount of water is
applied to the rea r bumper, such
as when the vehicle is being
washed or in heavy rain.
●When mud, snow, ice, etc. is
attached to the rear bumper.
●When the vehicle has been
parked for a while near objects
that may move and contact the
rear bumper, such as plants.
●When an accessory i s installed to
the rear bumper.
If an accessory has been installed,
turn the kick sensor operation set-
ting off. ( P.494)
■Preventing unintentional opera-
tion of the Hands Free Power
Back Door (if equipped)
When an electronic key is in the
operation detection area, the Hands
Free Power Back Door may operate
unintentionally, so be careful in the
following situations:

1273-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Before driving
●When a large amount of water is
applied to the rear bumper, such
as when the vehicle is being
washed or in heavy rain.
●When dirt is wiped off the rear
bumper.
●When a small animal or small
object, such as a ball, moves
under the rear bumper.
●When an object is moved from
under the rear bumper.
●If someone is swinging their legs
while sitting on the rear bumper.
●If the legs or another part of some-
one’s body contacts the rear
bumper while passing by the vehi-
cle.
●When the vehicle is parked near
an electrical noise source which
affects the sensitivity of the Hands
Free Power Back Door, such as a
pay parking spot , gas station,
electrically heated road, or fluo-
rescent light.
●When the vehicle is near a TV
tower, electric po wer plant, radio
station, large display, airport or
other facility that generates strong
radio waves or electrical noise.
●When the vehicle is parked in a
place where objects such as
plants are near the rear bumper.
●When luggage, etc. is set in or
removed from the luggage com-
partment from outside of the vehi-
cle.
●If accessories or a vehicle cover is
installed/removed near the rear
bumper.
●When snow attached to the inner
side of the rear bumper melts.
To prevent unintentional operation,
turn the kick sensor operation set-
ting off. ( P.494)
■When reconnecting the battery
To enable the power back door to
operate properly, close the back
door manually.
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.494)
WARNING
■Back door closer
●In the event that the back door
is left slightly open, the back
door closer will automatically
close it to the fu lly closed posi-
tion. It takes several seconds
before the back door closer
begins to operate. Be careful
not to get fingers caught or any-
thing else in the back door, as
this may cause bone fractures
or other serious injuries.
●Use caution when using the
back door closer as it still oper-
ates when the power back door
system is disabled.
■Power back door
Observe the following precautions
when operating the power back
door. Failure to do so may cause
death or serious injury.
●Check the safety of the sur-
rounding area to make sure
there are no obs tacles or any-
thing that could cause any of
your belongings to get caught.
●If anyone is in the vicinity, make
sure they are safe and let them
know that the back door is
about to open or close.

1283-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
WARNING
●If the power back door system is
disabled while the power back
door is operating, the back door
will stop operating. The back
door must then be operated
manually. Take extra care in this
situation, as the back door may
open or close suddenly.
●If the operating conditions of the
power back door (
P.125) are
no longer met, a buzzer may
sound and the back door may
stop opening or closing. The
back door must then be oper-
ated manually. Take extra care
on an incline in this situation, as
the back door may move sud-
denly.
●On an incline, t he back door
may suddenly shut after it
opens. Make sure the back door
is fully open and secure.
●In the following situations, the
power back door may detect an
abnormality and automatic
operation may be stopped. In
this case, the back door must
then be operated manually.
Take extra care in this situation,
as the stopped back door may
suddenly open or close, causing
an accident.
• When the back door contacts an obstacle
• When the battery voltage sud- denly drops, such as when the
engine switch is turned to ON or
the engine is started during
automatic operation
●If a heavy objec t is attached to
the back door, the back door
may not operate, causing a mal-
function, or the back door may
suddenly shut again after being
opened, causing someone’s
hands, arms, head or neck to be
caught and injured. Do not
attach any acce ssories other
than genuine Toyota parts to the
back door.
■Jam protection function
Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to do so may cause
death or serious injury.
●Never use any part of your body
to intentionally activate the jam
protection function.
●The jam protection function may
not work if something gets
caught just before the back door
fully closes. Be careful not to
get fingers caught or anything
else.
●The jam protection function may
not work depending on the
shape of the object that is
caught. Be careful not to catch
fingers or anything else.
■Hands Free Power Back Door
(if equipped)
Observe the following precautions
when operating the Hands Free
Power Back Door. Failure to do so
may cause death or serious injury.
●Check the safety of the sur-
rounding area to make sure
there are no obs tacles or any-
thing that could cause any of
your belongings to get caught.
●Exhaust gasses cause the
exhaust pipes to become quite
hot. When operating the Hands
Free Power Back Door, be care-
ful not to touch the exhaust
pipe.

1293-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
3
Before driving
WARNING
●Do not operate the Hands Free
Power Back Door if there is little
space under the rear bumper.
NOTICE
■Back door spindles
The back door is equipped with
spindles that hold the back door in
place.
Observe the following precau-
tions. Failure to do so may cause
damage to the back door spindle,
resulting in malfunction.
●Do not attach any foreign
objects, such as stickers, plastic
sheets, or adhesives to the
spindle rod.
●Do not attach any accessories
other than genuine Toyota parts
to the back door.
●Do not place your hand on the
spindle or apply lateral forces to
it.
■To prevent back door closer
malfunction
Do not apply excessive force to
the back door while the back door
closer is operating. Applying
excessive force may cause the
back door closer to malfunction.
■To prevent malfunction of the
power back door
●Make sure that there is no ice
between the back door and
frame that would prevent move-
ment of the back door. Operat-
ing the power back door when
excessive load is present on the
back door may cause a mal-
function.
●Do not apply excessive force to
the power back d oor while the
back door is operating.
●Take care not to damage the
sensors (installed on the right
and left edges of the power
back door) with a knife or other
sharp object. If a sensor is dis-
connected, the power back door
will not close automatically.
■Hands Free Power Back Door
precautions (if equipped)
The kick sensor is located behind
lower center p art of the rear
bumper. Observe the following to
ensure that the Hands Free
Power Back Door function oper-
ates properly:
●Keep the lower c enter part of
the rear bumper clean at all
times.
If the lower center part of the rear
bumper is dirty or covered with
snow, the kick sensor may not
operate. In this situation, clean off
the dirt or snow, move the vehicle
from the current position and then
check if the kick sensor operates.
If it does not operate, have the
vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer.
●Do not apply coatings that have
a rain clearin g (hydrophilic)
effect, or other coatings, to the
lower center part of the rear
bumper.

1303-2. Opening, closing and locking the doors
The open position of the power
back door can be adjusted.
1Stop the power back door at
the desired position.
( P.122)
2 Press and hold the power
back door switch on the back
door for approximately 2 sec-
onds.
• When setting is complete, a buzzer will sound 4 times.
• The next time the power back door is opened, it will stop at
that position.
■Returning the power back door
opening position to the default
setting
Press and hold the power back door
switch on the back door for approxi-
mately 7 seconds.
A buzzer will sound 4 times, pause,
and then sound 2 more times. The
next time the power back door is
opened, it will stop at the default
position.
NOTICE
●Do not park the vehicle near
objects that may move and con-
tact the lower center part of the
rear bumper, such as grass or
trees.
If the vehicle has been parked for
a while near objects that may
move and contact the lower cen-
ter part of the rear bumper, such
as grass or trees, the kick sensor
may not operate. In this situation,
move the vehicle from the current
position and then check if the kick
sensor operates. If it does not
operate, have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
●Do not subject the kick sensor
or its surrounding area to a
strong impact.
If the kick sensor or its surround-
ing area has been subjected to a
strong impact, the kick sensor
may not operate properly.
If the kick sensor does not oper-
ate in the following situations,
have the vehicle inspected by
your Toyota dealer.
• The kick sensor or its surround- ing area has been subjected to
a strong impact.
• The lower center part of the rear bumper is scratched or dam-
aged.
●Do not disassemble the rear
bumper.
●Do not attach stickers to the
rear bumper.
●Do not paint the rear bumper.
●If a heavy object is attached to
the power back door, disable
the kick sensor.
Adjusting the open posi-
tion of the back door
(vehicles with a power
back door)