towing TOYOTA PRIUS 2010 3.G Owners Manual

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PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............... 150
Power (ignition) switch ........ 162
EV-Drive Mode.................... 168
Transmission....................... 171
Turn signal lever ................. 178
Parking brake ...................... 179
Horn .................................... 180
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ............ 181
Indicators and warning 
lights ................................. 185
Multi-information display ..... 188
2-3. Operating the lights 
and windshield wipers
Headlight switch .................. 206
Fog light switch ................... 209
Windshield wipers 
and washer ....................... 210
Rear window wiper 
and washer ....................... 212
Headlight cleaner switch ..... 213 2-4. Using other driving systems
Cruise control ..................... 214
Dynamic radar 
cruise control .................... 218
Rear view monitor 
system .............................. 231
LKA (Lane-Keeping 
Assist) .............................. 235
Hill-start assist control ........ 243
Driving assist systems ........ 245
Pre-Collision System .......... 249
2-5. Driving information Cargo and luggage ............. 255
Vehicle load limits............... 260
Winter driving tips ............... 261
Trailer towing ...................... 266
Dinghy towing ..................... 267
2When driving

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1-1. Hybrid system
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Before driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
CAUTION
■
Road accident cautions
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of injury.
● Pull your vehicle off the road, push the “P” position switch, apply the park-
ing brake and turn the hybrid system off.
● Do not touch the high voltage parts, cables and connectors.
● If electric wires are exposed inside or outside your vehicle, an electric
shock may occur. Never touch exposed electric wires.
● If a fluid leak occurs, do not touch it as it may be strong alkaline electrolyte
from the hybrid battery (traction battery). If it comes into contact with your
skin or eyes, wash it off immediately with a large amount of water or if pos-
sible, boric acid solution. Seek immediate medical attention.
● If a fire occurs in the hybrid vehicle, leave the vehicle as soon as possible.
Never use a fire extinguisher that is not meant for electric fires. Using even
a small amount of water may be dangerous.
● If your vehicle needs to be towed, do so with the front wheels raised. If the
wheels with the electric motor (traction motor) are on the ground when
towing, the motor may continue to generate electricity. This may cause an
electricity leakage leading to a fire. (
P. 487)

When driving2
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PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
2-1. Driving proceduresDriving the vehicle............ 150
Power (ignition) switch ..... 162
EV-Drive Mode................. 168
Transmission.................... 171
Turn signal lever .............. 178
Parking brake ................... 179
Horn ................................. 180
2-2. Instrument cluster Gauges and meters ......... 181
Indicators and warning 
lights .............................. 185
Multi-information  display............................ 188 2-3. Operating the lights and
windshield wipers
Headlight switch ............... 206
Fog light switch ................ 209
Windshield wipers 
and washer .................... 210
Rear window wiper  and washer .................... 212
Headlight 
cleaner switch ................ 213
2-4. Using other driving systems Cruise control ................... 214
Dynamic radar 
cruise control ................. 218
Rear view monitor 
system ........................... 231
LKA (Lane-Keeping 
Assist) ............................ 235
Hill-start assist control ...... 243
Driving assist systems ..... 245
Pre-Collision System........ 249
2-5. Driving information Cargo and luggage .......... 255
Vehicle load limits ............ 260
Winter driving tips ............ 261
Trailer towing ................... 266
Dinghy towing .................. 267

256 2-5. Driving information
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Capacity and distributionCargo capacity depends on the total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load capa city) — (Total weight of occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit—
(1) Locate the statement “The comb ined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehi-
cle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will
be five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400 - 750 (5
 150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a tr ailer, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicle. C onsult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity
of your vehicle. ( P. 260)
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Your vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.

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2-5. Driving information
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Vehicle load limits
■Total load capacity and seating capacity
These details are also described on the tire and loading information
label. (P. 451)
CAUTION
■Overloading the vehicle
Do not overload the vehicle. 
It may not only cause damage to the ti res, but also degrade steering and
braking ability, resulting in an accident.
Vehicle load limits include total load capacity, seating capacity,
towing capacity and cargo capacity.
■ Total load capacity: 825 lb. (370 kg)
Total load capacity means the combined weight of occupants,
cargo and luggage.
■ Seating capacity: 5 occupants (Front 2, Rear 3)
Seating capacity means the ma ximum number of occupants
whose estimated average weight is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.
Even if the number of occupants are within the seating capacity,
do not exceed the total load capacity.
■ Towing capacity
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
■ Cargo capacity
Cargo capacity may increase or decrease depending on the
weight and the number of occupants.

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2-5. Driving information
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Trailer towing
Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with your vehicle.
Toyota also does not recommend the installation of a tow hitch or
the use of a tow hitch carrier for a wheelchair, scooter, bicycle, etc.
Your Toyota is not designed for tr ailer towing or for the use of tow
hitch mounted carriers.
ITO25P102

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2-5. Driving information
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When driving
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Dinghy towing
NOTICE
■To avoid serious damage to your vehicle
Do not tow your vehicle with four wheels on the ground.
Your vehicle is not designed to be dinghy towed (with 4 wheels on
the ground) behind a motor home.
ITO25P10P

374 3-5. Using the storage features
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
Bottle holders
ITO35P121
CAUTION
■Items unsuitable for the bottle holder
Do not place anything other than pet bottles in the bottle holders. 
Other items may be thrown out of the holders in the event of sudden braking,
sudden swerving or an accident and cause injury.
NOTICE
■ Items that should not be stowed in the bottle holders
Put the cap on before stowing a bottle. Do not place open bottles in the bot-
tle holders, or glasses and paper cups containing liquid. The contents may
spill and glasses may break.
Bottle holders

388 3-6. Other interior features
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
■Stowing the luggage cover (vehicles with center auxiliary box type A
only)
■ When not using the luggage cover
Place the cover in a horizontal position.
CAUTION
■When the cargo hooks are not in use
To avoid injury, always return the cargo hooks to their positions when they
are not in use.
■ While driving
Do not place anything on the luggage cover. Such items may be thrown
about and possibly injure people in the vehicle during sudden braking or an
accident.
Remove the side deck boards and
open the center auxiliary box.
Adjust the cover so that “TOP” is facing
up.STEP1
STEP2

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3-6. Other interior features
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Interior features
PRIUS_U (OM47668U) U.S.A.
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Stolen Vehicle Location
If your vehicle is stolen, Safety Connect can work with local author-
ities to assist them in locating and recovering the vehicle. After fil-
ing a police report, call the Safe ty Connect response center at 1-
800-331-4331 and follow the prompts for Safety Connect to initiate
this service. 
In addition to assisting law enforcem ent with recovery of a stolen
vehicle, Safety-Connect-equipped vehicle location data may, under
certain circumstances, be shared with third parties to locate your
vehicle. Further information is available at Toyota.com.
■ Emergency Assistance Button (“SOS”)
In the event of an emergency on the road, push the “SOS” button
to reach the Safety Connect response center. The answering
agent will determine your vehicl e’s location, assess the emer-
gency, and dispatch the necessary assistance required.
If you accidentally press the “SOS” button, tell the response-center agent
that you are not experiencing an emergency.
■ Roadside Assistance
Subscribers can press the “SOS” bu tton to reach a Safety Connect
response-center agent, who can help with a wide range of needs,
such as: towing, flat tire, fuel deliv ery, etc. For a description of the
Roadside Assistance services and th eir limitations, please see the
Safety Connect Terms and Condit ions, which are available at
To y o t a . c o m .