TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID 2018 Owners Manual (in English)

2214-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)■
Break-in schedule
If your vehicle is new or equipped with any new power train components
(such as an engine, transmission, differential or wheel bearing), Toyota rec-
ommends that you do not tow a trailer until the vehicle has been driven for
over 500 miles (800 km).
After the vehicle has been driven for over 500 miles (800 km), you can start
towing. However, for the next 500 miles (800 km), drive the vehicle at a speed
of less than 50 mph (80 km/h) when towing a trailer, and avoid full throttle
acceleration.
■ Maintenance
●If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance due
to the additional load. (See “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’s
Manual Supplement”.)
● Retighten the fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approximately
600 miles (1000 km) of trailer towing.
■ If trailer sway occurs
One or more factors (crosswinds, passing vehicles, rough roads, etc.) can
adversely affect handling of your vehicle and trailer, causing instability.
●If trailer swaying occurs:
• Firmly grip the steering wheel. Steer straight ahead.
Do not try to control trailer swaying by turning the steering wheel.
• Begin releasing the accelerator pedal immediately but very gradually to
reduce speed.
Do not increase speed. Do not apply vehicle brakes.
If you make no extreme correction with the steering or brakes, your vehicle
and trailer should stabilize. (if enabled, Trailer Sway Control can also help to
stabilize the vehicle and trailer.)
● After the trailer swaying has stopped:
• Stop in a safe place. Get all occupants out of the vehicle.
• Check the tires of the vehicle and the trailer.
• Check the load in the trailer.
Make sure the load has not shifted.
Make sure the tongue weight is appropriate, if possible.
• Check the load in the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is not overloaded after occupants get in.
If you cannot find any problems, the speed at which trailer swaying occurred
is beyond the limit of your particular vehicle-trailer combination. Drive at a
lower speed to prevent instability. Remember that swaying of the towing vehi-
cle-trailer increases as speed increases.

2224-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)
WARNING
■Trailer towing precautions
To tow a trailer safely, use extreme care and drive the vehicle in accordance
with the trailer’s characteristics and operating conditions. Failure to do so
could cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury. Vehicle stability
and braking performance are affected by trailer stability, brake setting and
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. (900 kg), a sway control device
with sufficient capacity is required.
● Adjust the tongue weight within the appropriate 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 trailer owner’s manual,
whichever is lowest. Slow down sufficiently before making a turn, in cross
winds, on wet or slippery surface, etc. to help avoid an accident. If you
experience a vehicle-trailer instability from reducing a certain speed, slow
down and make sure you keep your vehicle speed under the speed of
which you experience the instability.
● Do not make jerky, abrupt or sharp turns.
● Do not apply the brakes suddenly as you may skid, resulting in jackknifing
and loss of vehicle control. This is especially true on wet or slippery sur-
faces.
● Do not exceed the trailer hitch assembly weight, gross vehicle weight,
gross axle weight and trailer tongue weight capacities.
● Do not use dynamic radar cruise control when towing.
● 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 downshifts when descending steep or long downhill
grades. Avoid holding 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 s pare tire is installed on your vehi-
cle.

2234-1. Before driving
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)
WARNING
■Hitch
Trailer hitch assemblies have different weight capacities established by the
hitch manufacturer. Even though the vehicle may be physically capable of
towing a higher weight, the operator must determine the maximum weight
rating of the particular hitch assembly 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
Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to any applicable fed-
eral and state/provincial regulations.
● If the gross trailer weight exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer brakes are
required. Toyota recommends trailers with brakes that conform to all appli-
cable federal and state/provincial regulations.
● Never tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic system, as this will lower the vehi-
cle’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 coupling 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 Toyota dealer. Do not install
the trailer hitch on the bumper; this may cause body damage.
■ Do not directly splice trailer lights
Do not directly splice trailer lights. Directly splicing trailer lights may damage
your vehicle’s electrical system and cause a malfunction.

2244-1. Before driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)
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 4 wheels on the ground.
■ To prevent causing serious damage to the hybrid transmission and
AWD system
Never tow this vehicle with any of the
wheels on the ground. This may cause
serious damage to the hybrid transmis-
sion and AWD system.

225
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)
4-2. Driving procedures
Check that the parking brake is set.
Check that the shift lever is in P.
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
and a message will be displayed on the multi-information display.
If it is not displayed, the hybrid system cannot be started.
Press the power switch shortly
and firmly.
When operating the power switch,
one short, firm press is enough. It
is not necessary to press and hold
the switch.
If the “READY” indicator turns on,
the hybrid system will operate nor-
mally.
Continue depressing the brake
pedal until the “READY” indicator
is illuminated.
The hybrid system can be started
from any power switch mode.
Check that the “READY” indicator is illuminated.
The vehicle will not move when the “READY” indicator is off.
Power (ignition) switch
Performing the following operati ons when carrying the elec-
tronic key on your person starts the hybrid system or changes
power switch modes.
Starting the hybrid system
1
2
3
4
5

2264-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)
Stop the vehicle completely.
Set the parking brake (→P. 240), and shift the shift lever to P.
Press the power switch.
Release the brake pedal and check that “ACCESSORY” or
“IGNITION ON” on the multi- information display is off.
Modes can be changed by pressing th e power switch with brake pedal
released. (The mode c hanges each time the switch is pressed.)
Off
*
The emergency flashers can be
used.
ACCESSORY mode
Some electrical components such
as the power outlet can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed
on the multi-information display.
ON mode
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 hybrid sys- tem, the power switch will be turned to ACCESSORY mode, not to off.
Stopping the hybrid system
Changing power switch modes
1
2
3
4
1
2
3

2274-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)
If the hybrid system is stopped with the shift lever in a position other
than P, the power switch will not be turned off but instead be turned to
ACCESSORY mode. Perform the following procedure to turn the
switch off:
Check that the parking brake is set.
Shift the shift lever to P.
Check that “Turn Power OFF” is displayed on the multi-information
display and then press the power switch once.
Check that “Turn Power OFF” on the multi-information display is off.
■Message displays
Message illustrations used in this section are intended as examples, and may
differ from the image that is actually displayed on the multi-information dis-
play.
■ Auto power off function
If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode for more than 20 minutes or ON
mode (the hybrid system is not operating) for more than an hour with the shift
lever in P, the power switch will automatically turn off. However, this function
cannot entirely prevent 12-volt battery discharge. Do not leave the vehicle
with the power switch in ACCESSORY or ON mode for long periods of time
when the hybrid system is not operating.
■ Sounds and vibrations specific to a hybrid vehicle
→P. 8 4
■ Electronic key battery depletion
→P. 122
■ When the ambient temperature is low, such as during winter driving con-
ditions
When starting the hybrid system, the flashing time of the “READY” indicator
may be long. Leave the vehicle as it is until the “READY” indicator is steady
on, as steady means the vehicle is able to move.
■ Conditions affecting operation
→P. 149
■ Note for the entry function
→P. 150
When stopping the hybrid system with the shift lever in a posi-
tion other than P
1
2
3
4

2284-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)■
If the hybrid system does not start
●The immobilizer system may not have been deactivated. ( →P. 91)
Contact your Toyota dealer.
● Check that the shift lever is securely set in P. The hybrid system may not
start if the shift lever is displaced out of P.
■ Steering lock
After turning the power switch off and opening and closing the doors, the
steering wheel will be locked due to the steering lock function. Operating the
power switch again automatically cancels the steering lock.
■ When the steering lock cannot be released
■ Steering lock motor o verheating prevention
To prevent the steering lock motor from overheating, operation of the motor
may be suspended if the hybrid system is turned on and off repeatedly in a
short period of time. In this case, refrain from operating the hybrid system.
After about 10 seconds, the steering lock motor will resume functioning.
■ When “Check SMART Key System” will be displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display
The system may be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer immediately.
■ If the “READY” indicator does not come on
In the event that the “READY” indicator does not come on even after perform-
ing the proper procedures for starting the vehicle, contact your Toyota dealer
immediately.
■ If the hybrid system is malfunctioning
→P. 580
■ If the electronic key battery is depleted
→P. 539 “Steering Lock active” will be displayed on
the multi-information display.
Check that the shift lever is set in P. Press
the power switch while turning the steer-
ing wheel left and right.

2294-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)■
Operation of the power switch
●If the switch is not pressed shortly and firmly, the power switch mode may
not change or the hybrid system may not start.
● If attempting to restart the hybrid system immediately after turning the power
switch off, the hybrid system may not start in some cases. After turning the
power switch off, please wait a few seconds before restarting the hybrid sys-
tem.
■ If the smart key system has been deactivated in a customized setting
→P. 622
WARNING
■When starting the hybrid system
Always start the hybrid system while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not
depress the accelerator pedal while starting the hybrid system under any
circumstances.
Doing so may cause an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
■ Caution while driving
If hybrid system failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, do not lock or
open the doors until the vehicle reaches a safe and complete stop. Activa-
tion of the steering lock in this circumstance may lead to an accident, result-
ing in death or serious injury.
■ Stopping the hybrid system in an emergency
If you want to stop the hybrid system in an emergency while driving the
vehicle, press and hold the power switch for more than 2 seconds, or press
it briefly 3 times or more in succession. ( →P. 561)
However, do not touch the power switch while driving except in an emer-
gency. Turning the hybrid system off while driving will not cause loss of
steering or braking control, however, power assist to the steering will be
lost. This will make it more difficult to steer smoothly, so you should pull over
and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.

2304-2. Driving procedures
HIGHLANDER_HV_U (OM0E032U)
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery discharge
● Do not leave the power switch in ACCESSORY or ON mode for long peri-
ods if the hybrid system is not operating.
● If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION ON” is displayed on the multi-information
display while the hybrid system is not operating, the power switch is not
off. Exit the vehicle after turning the power switch off.
● Do not stop the hybrid system when the shift lever is in a position other
than P. If the hybrid system is stopped in another shift lever position, the
power switch will not be turned of f but instead be turned to ACCESSORY
mode. If the vehicle is left in ACCESSORY mode, 12-volt battery dis-
charge may occur.
■ When starting th e hybrid system
If the hybrid system becomes difficult to start, have your vehicle checked by
your Toyota dealer immediately.
■ Symptoms indicating a malf unction with the power switch
If the power 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.