Toyota Highlander Hybrid (2022 year). Manual in english

189

ing

Driving

4-1. Before driving

Driving the vehicle.......

190

Cargo and luggage .....

197

Vehicle load limits .......

200

Trailer towing...............

201

Dinghy towing .............

212

4-2. Driving procedures

Power (ignition) switch

..................................

213

EV drive mode ............

217

Hybrid transmission ....

219

Turn signal lever..........

222

Parking brake..............

223

Brake Hold ..................

226

4-3. Operating the lights and

wipers

Headlight switch..........

229

Automatic High Beam .

232

Fog light switch ...........

235

Windshield wipers and

washer.......................

235

Rear windshield wiper and

washer.......................

238

4-4. Refueling

Opening the fuel tank cap

..................................

240

4-5. Using the driving support

systems

Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 +

..................................

243

PCS (Pre-Collision System)

..................................

249

LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)

..................................

260

Dynamic radar cruise con-

trol with full-speed range

..................................

271

RSA (Road Sign Assist)

..................................

283

BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)

..................................

286

Intuitive parking assist.

292

RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic

Alert) function ............

301

PKSB (Parking Support

Brake)........................

308

Parking Support Brake func-

tion (static objects) ....

315

Parking Support Brake func-

tion (rear-crossing vehi-
cles)...........................

318

Driving mode select switch

..................................

319

Trail Mode ...................

320

Driving assist systems

..................................

322

4-6. Driving tips

Hybrid vehicle driving tips

..................................

328

Winter driving tips........

330

Utility vehicle precautions

..................................

333

190

4-1. Before driving

4-1.Before driving

■

Starting the hybrid system



P.213

■

Driving

With the brake pedal
depressed, shift the shift
lever to D. (



P.219)

Release the parking brake.
(



P.223)

If the parking brake is in automatic

mode, the parking brake is

released automatically when shift-

ing the shift lever to any position

other than P. (



P.224)

Gradually release the brake
pedal and gently depress the
accelerator pedal to acceler-
ate the vehicle.

■

Stopping

With the shift lever in D,
depress the brake pedal.

If necessary, set the parking
brake. (



P.223)

If the vehicle is to be stopped for an

extended period of time, shift the

shift lever to P or N. (



P.219)

■

Parking the vehicle

With the shift lever in D,
depress the brake pedal.

Set the parking brake
(



P.223), and shift the shift

lever to P (



P.219).

Press the power switch to
stop the hybrid system.

Lock the door, making sure
that you have the electronic
key on your person.

If parking on a hill, block the wheels

as needed.

■

Starting off on a steep
uphill

With the brake pedal
depressed, shift the shift
lever to D. (



P.220)

Pull the parking brake switch
and parking brake is set man-
ually. (



P.223)

Release the brake pedal and
gently depress the accelera-
tor pedal to accelerate the
vehicle.

Push the parking brake
switch and parking brake is
released manually.

■

When starting off on a uphill

The hill-start assist control will acti-

vate. (



P.322)

■

For fuel-efficient driving

Keep in mind that hybrid vehicles

are similar to conventional vehicles,

and it is necessary to refrain from

activities such as sudden accelera-

tion. (



P.328)

■

Driving in the rain

●

Drive carefully when it is raining,

because visibility will be reduced,

the windows may become

fogged-up, and the road will be

Driving the vehicle

The following procedures
should be observed to
ensure safe driving:

Driving procedure

191

4-1. Before driving

ing

slippery.

●

Drive carefully when it starts to

rain, because the road surface will

be especially slippery.

●

Refrain from high speeds when

driving on an expressway in the

rain, because there may be a

layer of water between the tires

and the road surface, preventing

the steering and brakes from

operating properly.

■

ECO Accelerator Guidance

(



P.94, 104)

It is easier to drive in an Eco-friendly

manner by driving while referring to

the ECO Accelerator Guidance dis-

play. Also, by using the ECO Accel-

erator Guidance it is easier to

increase the “Eco Score” evaluation.

●

When starting off:

While staying within the ECO

Accelerator Guidance range,

gradually depress the accelerator

pedal and accelerate to the

desired speed. If excessive accel-

eration is avoided, the “Start”

score will increase.

●

When driving:

After accelerating to the desired

speed, release the accelerator

pedal and drive at a stable speed

within the ECO Accelerator Guid-

ance range. By keeping the vehi-

cle within the ECO Accelerator

Guidance range, the “Cruise”

score will increase.

●

When stopping:

When stopping the vehicle, early

releasing the accelerator pedal

will cause the “Stop” score to

increase.

■

Restraining the hybrid system

output (Brake Override System)

●

When the accelerator and brake

pedals are depressed at the same

time, the hybrid system output

may be restrained.

●

A warning message is displayed

on the multi-information display

and head-up display (if equipped)

while the system is operating.

■

Restraining sudden start

(Drive-Start Control)

●

When the following unusual oper-

ation is performed, the hybrid sys-

tem output may be restrained.

• When the shift lever is shifted from

R to D, D to R, N to R, P to D, or P

to R (D includes S) with the accel-

erator pedal depressed, a warning

message appears on the

multi-information display and

head-up display (if equipped). If a

warning message is shown on the

multi-information display and

head-up display (if equipped),

read the message and follow the

instructions.

• When the accelerator pedal is

depressed too much while the

vehicle is in reverse.

●

While Drive-Start Control is being

activated, your vehicle may have

trouble escaping from the mud or

fresh snow. In such case, deacti-

vate TRAC (



P.323) to cancel

Drive-Start Control so that the

vehicle may become able to

escape from the mud or fresh

snow.

●

AWD models: Drive-Start Control

does not work when Trail Mode is

turned on.

■

Breaking in your new Toyota

To extend the life of the vehicle,

observing the following precautions

is recommended:

●

For the first 200 miles (300 km):

Avoid sudden stops.

●

For the first 500 miles (800 km):

Do not tow a trailer.

●

For the first 600 miles (1000 km):

• Do not drive at extremely high

speeds.

• Avoid sudden acceleration.

• Do not drive continuously in low

gears.

• Do not drive at a constant speed

for extended periods.

192

4-1. Before driving

■

Operating your vehicle in a for-

eign country

Comply with the relevant vehicle

registration laws and confirm the

availability of the correct fuel.

(



P.509)

■

Eco-friendly driving



P.90

WARNING

Observe the following precau-

tions.

Failure to do so may result in

death or serious injury.

■

When starting the vehicle

Always keep your foot on the

brake pedal while stopped with

the “READY” indicator is illumi-

nated. This prevents the vehicle

from creeping.

■

When driving the vehicle

●

Do not drive if you are unfamil-

iar with the location of the brake

and accelerator pedals to avoid

depressing the wrong pedal.

• Accidentally depressing the

accelerator pedal instead of the

brake pedal will result in sudden

acceleration that may lead to an

accident.

• When backing up, you may twist

your body around, leading to a

difficulty in operating the pedals.

Make sure to operate the pedals

properly.

• Make sure to keep a correct

driving posture even when mov-

ing the vehicle only slightly. This

allows you to depress the brake

and accelerator pedals properly.

• Depress the brake pedal using

your right foot. Depressing the

brake pedal using your left foot

may delay response in an emer-

gency, resulting in an accident.

●

The driver should pay extra

attention to pedestrians when

the vehicle is powered only by

the electric motor (traction

motor). As there is no engine

noise, the pedestrians may mis-

judge the vehicle’s movement.

Even though the vehicle is

equipped with the acoustic vehi-

cle alerting system, drive with

care as pedestrians in the vicin-

ity may still not notice the vehi-

cle if the surrounding area is

noisy.

●

Do not drive the vehicle over or

stop the vehicle near flammable

materials.

The exhaust system and

exhaust gases can be

extremely hot. These hot parts

may cause a fire if there is any

flammable material nearby.

●

During normal driving, do not

turn off the hybrid system. Turn-

ing the hybrid system off while

driving will not cause loss of

steering or braking control, how-

ever, power assist to the steer-

ing 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.

In the event of an emergency,

such as if it becomes impossible

to stop the vehicle in the normal

way:



P.456

●

Use engine braking (downshift)

to maintain a safe speed when

driving down a steep hill.

Using the brakes continuously

may cause the brakes to over-

heat and lose effectiveness.

(



P.219)

●

Do not adjust the positions of

the steering wheel, the seat, or

the inside or outside rear view

mirrors while driving.

Doing so may result in a loss of

vehicle control.

193

4-1. Before driving

ing

WARNING

●

Always check that all passen-

gers’ arms, heads or other parts

of their body are not outside the

vehicle.

●

AWD models: Do not drive the

vehicle off-road. This is not an

AWD vehicle designed for

off-road driving.Drive with due

care if it becomes unavoidable

to drive off-road.

●

Do not drive across a river or

through other bodies of water.

This may cause electric/elec-

tronic components to short cir-

cuit, damage the hybrid system

or cause other serious damage

to the vehicle.

●

Do not drive in excess of the

speed limit. Even if the legal

speed limit permits it, do not

drive over 85 mph (140 km/h)

unless your vehicle has

high-speed capability tires. Driv-

ing over 85 mph (140 km/h)

may result in tire failure, loss of

control and possible injury. Be

sure to consult a tire dealer to

determine whether the tires on

your vehicle are high-speed

capability tires or not before

driving at such speeds.

■

When driving on slippery

road surfaces

●

Sudden braking, acceleration

and steering may cause tire

slippage and reduce your ability

to control the vehicle.

●

Sudden acceleration, engine

braking due to shifting, or

changes in engine speed could

cause the vehicle to skid.

●

After driving through a puddle,

lightly depress the brake pedal

to make sure that the brakes

are functioning properly. Wet

brake pads may prevent the

brakes from functioning prop-

erly. If the brakes on only one

side are wet and not functioning

properly, steering control may

be affected.

■

When shifting the shift lever

●

Do not let the vehicle roll back-

ward while a forward driving

position is selected, or roll for-

ward while the shift lever is in R.

Doing so may result in an acci-

dent or damage to the vehicle.

●

Do not shift the shift lever to P

while the vehicle is moving.

Doing so can damage the trans-

mission and may result in a loss

of vehicle control.

●

Do not shift the shift lever to R

while the vehicle is moving for-

ward.

Doing so can damage the trans-

mission and may result in a loss

of vehicle control.

●

Do not shift the shift lever to a

driving position while the vehicle

is moving backward.

Doing so can damage the trans-

mission and may result in a loss

of vehicle control.

●

Shifting the shift lever to N while

the vehicle is moving will disen-

gage the hybrid system. Engine

braking is not available when N

is selected.

●

Be careful not to shift the shift

lever with the accelerator pedal

depressed. Shifting the shift

lever to any position other than

P or N may lead to unexpected

rapid acceleration of the vehicle

that may cause an accident and

result in death or serious injury.

194

4-1. Before driving

WARNING

■

If you hear a squealing or

scraping noise (brake pad

wear limit indicators)

Have the brake pads checked and

replaced by your Toyota dealer as

soon as possible.

Rotor damage may result if the

pads are not replaced when

needed.
It is dangerous to drive the vehicle

when the wear limits of the brake

pads and/or those of the brake

discs are exceeded.

■

When the vehicle is stopped

●

Do not depress the accelerator

pedal unnecessarily.

If the shift lever is in any posi-

tion other than P or N, the vehi-

cle may accelerate suddenly

and unexpectedly, causing an

accident.

●

In order to prevent accidents

due to the vehicle rolling away,

always keep depressing the

brake pedal while stopped with

the “READY” indicator is illumi-

nated, and apply the parking

brake as necessary.

●

If the vehicle is stopped on an

incline, in order to prevent acci-

dents caused by the vehicle roll-

ing forward or backward, always

depress the brake pedal and

securely apply the parking

brake as needed.

●

Avoid revving or racing the

engine.

Running the engine at high

speed while the vehicle is

stopped may cause the exhaust

system to overheat, which could

result in a fire if combustible

material is nearby.

■

When the vehicle is parked

●

Do not leave glasses, cigarette

lighters, spray cans, or soft

drink cans in the vehicle when it

is in the sun.

Doing so may result in the fol-

lowing:

• Gas may leak from a cigarette

lighter or spray can, and may

lead to a fire.

• The temperature inside the

vehicle may cause the plastic

lenses and plastic material of

glasses to deform or crack.

• Soft drink cans may fracture,

causing the contents to spray

over the interior of the vehicle,

and may also cause a short cir-

cuit in the vehicle’s electrical

components.

●

Do not leave cigarette lighters in

the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter

is in a place such as the glove

box or on the floor, it may be lit

accidentally when luggage is

loaded or the seat is adjusted,

causing a fire.

●

Do not attach adhesive discs to

the windshield or windows. Do

not place containers such as air

fresheners on the instrument

panel or dashboard. Adhesive

discs or containers may act as

lenses, causing a fire in the

vehicle.

●

Do not leave a door or window

open if the curved glass is

coated with a metallized film

such as a silver-colored one.

Reflected sunlight may cause

the glass to act as a lens, caus-

ing a fire.

195

4-1. Before driving

ing

WARNING

●

Always apply the parking brake,

shift the shift lever to P, stop the

hybrid system and lock the vehi-

cle.

Do not leave the vehicle unat-

tended while the “READY” indi-

cator is illuminated.

If the vehicle is parked with the

shift lever in P but the parking

brake is not set, the vehicle may

start to move, possibly leading

to an accident.

●

Do not touch the exhaust pipes

while the “READY” indicator is

illuminated or immediately after

turning the hybrid system off.

Doing so may cause burns.

■

When taking a nap in the vehi-

cle

Always turn the hybrid system off.

Otherwise, if you accidentally

move the shift lever or depress

the accelerator pedal, this could

cause an accident or fire due to

hybrid system overheating. Addi-

tionally, if the vehicle is parked in

a poorly ventilated area, exhaust

gases may collect and enter the

vehicle, leading to death or a seri-

ous health hazard.

■

When braking

●

When the brakes are wet, drive

more cautiously.

Braking distance increases

when the brakes are wet, and

this may cause one side of the

vehicle to brake differently than

the other side. Also, the parking

brake may not securely hold the

vehicle.

●

If the electronically controlled

brake system does not operate,

do not follow other vehicles

closely and avoid hills or sharp

turns that require braking. In this

case, braking is still possible,

but the brake pedal should be

depressed more firmly than

usual. Also, the braking dis-

tance will increase. Have your

brakes fixed immediately.

●

The brake system consists of 2

or more individual hydraulic sys-

tems; if one of the systems fails,

the other(s) will still operate. In

this case, the brake pedal

should be depressed more

firmly than usual and the brak-

ing distance will increase. Have

your brakes fixed immediately.

■

If the vehicle becomes stuck

(AWD models)

Do not spin the wheels exces-

sively when any of the tires is up

in the air, or the vehicle is stuck in

sand, mud, etc. This may damage

the driveline components or pro-

pel the vehicle forward or back-

ward, causing an accident.

NOTICE

■

When driving the vehicle

●

Do not depress the accelerator

and brake pedals at the same

time while driving, as this may

restrain the hybrid system out-

put.

●

Do not use the accelerator

pedal or depress the accelera-

tor and brake pedals at the

same time to hold the vehicle on

a hill.

196

4-1. Before driving

NOTICE

■

When parking the vehicle

Always set the parking brake and

shift the shift lever to P. Failure to

do so may cause the vehicle to

move or the vehicle may acceler-

ate suddenly if the accelerator

pedal is accidentally depressed.

■

Avoiding damage to vehicle

parts

●

Do not turn the steering wheel

fully in either direction and hold

it there for an extended period

of time.

Doing so may damage the

power steering motor.

●

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.479)

■

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, hybrid transaxle (front

and rear [AWD models]), etc.

●

Lubricant condition for bearings

and suspension joints (where

possible), and the function of all

joints, bearings, etc.

197

4-1. Before driving

ing

Cargo capacity depends on the
total weight of the occupants.
(Cargo capacity) = (Total load
capacity) — (Total weight of
occupants)
Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit —
(1) Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your
vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined
weight of the driver and passen-
gers that will be riding in your
vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and passen-
gers 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 passen-
gers in your vehicle, the amount
of available 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
luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your trailer
will be transferred to your vehi-
cle. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces the
available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
(



P.200)

Cargo capacity
Total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight) (



P.508)

When 2 people with the com-
bined weight of A lb. (kg) are rid-
ing in your vehicle, which has a
total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight) of B lb. (kg),
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity will

Cargo and luggage

Take notice of the following
information about storage
precautions, cargo capacity
and load.

Capacity and distribution

Calculation formula for
your vehicle

198

4-1. Before driving

be C lb. (kg) as follows:

lb. (kg) - A

lb. (kg) = C

lb.

(kg)

:A =Weight of people

:B =Total load capacity

:C =Available cargo and luggage

load

In this condition, if 3 more passen-
gers with the combined weight of D
lb. (kg) get on, the available cargo
and luggage load will be reduced E
lb. (kg) as follows:

C lb. (kg) - D

lb. (kg) = E

lb.

(kg)

:D =Additional weight of people

:E =Available cargo and luggage

load

As shown in the example above,
if the number of occupants
increases, the cargo and lug-
gage load will be reduced by an
amount that equals the
increased weight due to the
additional occupants. In other
words, if an increase in the num-
ber of occupants causes an
excess of the total load capacity
(combined weight of occupants
plus cargo and luggage load),
you must reduce the cargo and
luggage on your vehicle.

WARNING

■

Things that must not be car-

ried in the luggage compart-

ment

The following things may cause a

fire if loaded in the luggage com-

partment:

●

Receptacles containing gaso-

line

●

Aerosol cans

■

Storage precautions

Observe the following precau-

tions.

Failure to do so may prevent the

pedals from being depressed

properly, may block the driver’s

vision, or may result in items hit-

ting the driver or passengers, pos-

sibly causing an accident.

●

Stow cargo and luggage in the

luggage compartment when-

ever possible.

●

Do not stack cargo and luggage

in the luggage compartment

higher than the seatbacks.

●

When you fold down the rear

seats, long items should not be

placed directly behind the front

seats.

●

Never allow anyone to ride in

the luggage compartment. It is

not designed for passengers.

They should ride in their seats

with their seat belts properly

fastened.

●

Do not place cargo or luggage

in or on the following locations.

• At the feet of the driver

• On the front passenger or rear

seats (when stacking items)

• On the luggage cover

• On the instrument panel

• On the dashboard

●

Secure all items in the occupant

compartment.

■

Capacity and distribution

●

Do not exceed the maximum

axle weight rating or the total

vehicle weight rating.

199

4-1. Before driving

ing

WARNING

●

Even if the total load of occu-

pant’s weight and the cargo

load is less than the total load

capacity, do not apply the load

unevenly. Improper loading may

cause deterioration of steering

or braking control which may

cause death or serious injury.

■

When using a roof luggage

carrier (vehicles with roof

rails)

Observe the following precau-

tions:

●

Place the cargo so that its

weight is distributed evenly

between the front and rear

axles.

●

If loading long or wide cargo,

never exceed the vehicle overall

length or width. (



P.508)

●

Before driving, make sure the

cargo is securely fastened on

the roof luggage carrier.

●

Loading cargo on the roof lug-

gage carrier will make the cen-

ter of gravity of the vehicle

higher. Avoid high speeds, sud-

den starts, sharp turns, sudden

braking or abrupt maneuvers,

otherwise it may result in loss of

control or vehicle rollover due to

failure to operate this vehicle

correctly and result in death or

serious injury.

●

If driving for a long distance, on

rough roads, or at high speeds,

stop the vehicle now and then

during the trip to make sure the

cargo remains in its place.

●

Do not exceed 165 lb. (75 kg)

cargo weight on the roof lug-

gage carrier.

NOTICE

■

When loading cargo

Be careful not to scratch the sur-

face of the moon roof or pan-

oramic moon roof.

200

4-1. Before driving

■

Total load capacity and seating

capacity

These details are also described on

the tire and loading information

label. (



P.434)

Vehicle load limits

Vehicle load limits include
total load capacity, seating
capacity, trailer weight rat-
ing and cargo capacity.



Total load capacity (vehicle
capacity weight):



P.508

Total load capacity means the
combined weight of occupants,
cargo and luggage.



Seating capacity:



P.508

Seating capacity means the max-
imum number of occupants
whose estimated average weight
is 150 lb. (68 kg) per person.



TWR (Trailer Weight Rat-
ing):



P.206, 508

TWR means the maximum gross
trailer weight (trailer weight plus
its cargo weight) that your vehicle
is able to tow.



Cargo capacity

Cargo capacity may increase or
decrease depending on the
weight and the number of occu-
pants.

WARNING

■

Overloading the vehicle

Do not overload the vehicle.

It may not only cause damage to

the tires, but also degrade steer-

ing and braking ability, resulting in

an accident.

201

4-1. Before driving

ing

■

Matching trailer ball height to

trailer coupler height

No matter which class of tow hitch

applies, for a more safe trailer

hookup, the trailer ball setup must

be the proper height for the coupler

on the trailer.

Coupler
Trailer ball

■

Before towing

Check that the following conditions

are met:

●

Ensure that your vehicle’s tires

are properly inflated. (



P.513)

●

Trailer tires are inflated according

to the trailer manufacturer’s rec-

ommendation.

Trailer towing

Your vehicle is designed pri-
marily as a passen-
ger-and-load-carrying
vehicle. Towing a trailer can
have an adverse impact on
handling, performance,
braking, durability, and fuel
consumption. For your
safety and the safety of oth-
ers, you must not overload
your vehicle or trailer. You
must also ensure that you
are using appropriate tow-
ing equipment, that the tow-
ing equipment has been
installed correctly and used
properly, and that you
employ the requisite driv-
ing habits.

Vehicle-trailer stability and
braking performance are
affected by trailer stability,
brake performance and set-
ting, trailer brakes, the hitch
and hitch systems (if
equipped).

To tow a trailer safely, use
extreme care and drive the
vehicle in accordance with
your trailer’s characteris-
tics and operating condi-
tions.

Toyota warranties do not
apply to damage or mal-
function caused by towing a
trailer for commercial pur-
poses.

Contact your Toyota dealer
for further information
about additional require-
ments such as a towing kit,
etc.

202

4-1. Before driving

●

All trailer lights work as required

by law.

●

All lights work each time you con-

nect them.

●

The trailer ball is set at the proper

height for the coupler on the

trailer.

●

The trailer is level when it is

hitched.

Do not drive if the trailer is not

level, and check for improper

tongue weight, overloading, worn

suspension, or other possible

causes.

●

The trailer cargo is securely

loaded.

●

The rear view mirrors conform to

all applicable federal, state/provin-

cial or local regulations. If they do

not, install rear view mirrors

appropriate for towing purposes.

■

Break-in schedule

If your vehicle is new or equipped

with any new power train compo-

nents (such as an engine, hybrid

transmission, rear differential or

wheel bearing), Toyota recommends

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 vehi-

cle 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 mainte-

nance due to the additional load.

(See “Scheduled Maintenance

Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Sup-

plement”.)

●

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 sway-

ing by turning the steering wheel.

• Begin releasing the accelerator

pedal immediately but very gradu-

ally 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 occu-

pants 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 over-

loaded 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 combina-

tion. Drive at a lower speed to pre-

vent instability. Remember that

swaying of the towing vehicle-trailer

increases as speed increases.

203

4-1. Before driving

ing

WARNING

■

Trailer towing precautions

To tow a trailer safely, use

extreme care and drive the vehi-

cle in accordance with the trailer’s

characteristics and operating con-

ditions. 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 con-

trol device with sufficient capac-

ity 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 sur-

face, etc. to help avoid an acci-

dent. 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 sud-

denly as you may skid, resulting

in jackknifing and loss of vehicle

control. This is especially true

on wet or slippery surfaces.

●

Do not exceed the trailer hitch

assembly weight, gross vehicle

weight, gross axle weight and

trailer tongue weight capacities.

●

Do not use the following sys-

tems when trailer towing.

• Dynamic radar cruise control

with full-speed range

• LTA (Lane Tracing Assist)

• PCS (Pre-Collision System)

• BSM (Blind Spot Monitor)

●

Slow down and downshift

before descending steep or long

downhill grades. Do not make

sudden downshifts while

descending steep or long down-

hill 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 down-

hill grades. Avoid holding the

brake pedal down too long or

applying the brakes too fre-

quently. This could cause the

brakes to overheat and result in

reduced braking efficiency.

●

Do not tow a trailer when the

compact spare tire is installed

on your vehicle.

■

When towing a trailer

Toyota recommends trailers with

brakes that conform to any appli-

cable federal and state/provincial

regulations.

204

4-1. Before driving

■

GCWR (Gross Combination
Weight Rating)

The maximum allowable gross
combination weight. The gross
combination weight is the sum
of the total vehicle weight
(including the occupants, cargo
and any optional equipment
installed on the vehicle) and the
weight of the trailer being towed
(including the cargo in the
trailer).

■

GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating)

The maximum allowable gross
vehicle weight. The gross vehi-
cle weight is the total weight of
the vehicle. When towing a
trailer, it is the sum of the vehicle
weight (including the occu-
pants, cargo and any optional
equipment installed on the vehi-
cle) and the tongue weight.

■

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight
Rating)

The maximum allowable gross
axle weight. The gross axle
weight is the load placed on
each axle (front and rear).

Front GAWR

WARNING

●

If the gross trailer weight

exceeds unbraked TWR, trailer

brakes are required. Toyota rec-

ommends trailers with brakes

that conform to all applicable

federal and state/provincial reg-

ulations.

●

Never tap into your vehicle’s

hydraulic system, as this will

lower the vehicle’s braking

effectiveness.

●

Never tow a trailer without using

a safety chain securely attached

to both the trailer and the vehi-

cle. If damage occurs to the

coupling unit or hitch ball, there

is danger of the trailer wander-

ing into another lane.

Towing related terms

Toyota Highlander Hybrid (2022 year). Manual in english - page 12