2018 Toyota 4Runner Owner’s Manual

The 2018 Toyota 4Runner was a tough and capable SUV that continued the brand’s long history of being good off-road. With a body-on-frame design, a powerful V6 engine, and an optional four-wheel-drive system, it was made to easily handle rough terrain and exciting trips. It focused on being able to go off-road, but it also had a roomy and comfortable interior, making it good for family trips and regular driving. The 2018 4Runner was a good choice for people who wanted an SUV that could do a lot of different things and had a past of being durable.

Driving

Driving the vehicle
The following procedures should be observed to ensure safe driving:

Driving

1. With the brake pedal depressed, shift the shift lever to D.
2. Release the parking brake.
3. Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to accelerate the vehicle.

Stopping

1. With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal until the vehicle comes to a stop.
2. If necessary, set the parking brake.
3. If the vehicle is to be stopped for an extended period of time, shift the shift lever to P or N.

Parking the vehicle

1. With the shift lever in D, depress the brake pedal.
2. Set the parking brake, and shift the shift lever to P.
3. Vehicles without a smart key system: Turn the engine switch to the “LOCK” position to stop the engine.
4. Vehicles with a smart key system: Press the engine switch to stop the engine.
5. Lock the door, making sure that you have the key on your person. If parking on a hill, block the wheels as needed.

Starting off on a steep uphill

1. Make sure that the parking brake is set and shift the shift lever to D.
2. Gently depress the accelerator pedal.
3. Release the parking brake.

• 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 slippery.
  • Drive carefully when it starts to rain because the road surface will be especially slippery.
  • Refrain from driving at high speeds in the rain, as there may be a layer of water between the tires and the road surface, preventing the steering and brakes from operating properly.
• Engine speed while driving
  In the following conditions, the engine speed may become high while driving. This is due to automatic up-shifting control or down-shifting implementation to meet driving conditions. It does not indicate sudden acceleration.
  1. The vehicle is judged to be driving uphill or downhill
  2. When the accelerator pedal is released
• 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 1000 miles (1600 km):
    • Do not drive at extremely high speeds.
    • Avoid sudden acceleration.
    • Do not drive continuously in low gear.
    • Do not drive at a constant speed for extended periods.
  • Drum-in-disc type parking brake system
    Your vehicle has a drum-in-disc type parking brake system. This type of brake system needs bedding-down of the brake shoes periodically or whenever the parking brake shoes and/or drum are replaced. Have your Toyota dealer perform the bedding down operation.
  • Operating your vehicle in a foreign country
    Comply with the relevant vehicle registration laws and confirm the availability of the correct fuel.
  • When turning off the engine
    The emission system operating sounds may continue for a short time after the engine is turned off. This is not a malfunction and helps to ensure optimal performance of the emission system.

CAUTION: Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.

• When starting the vehicle
  Always keep your foot on the brake pedal while stopping with the engine running. This prevents the vehicle from creeping.
• When driving the vehicle
  • Do not drive if you are unfamiliar 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 difficulty in operating the pedals. Make sure to operate the pedals properly.
    • Make sure to keep a correct driving posture even when moving 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 emergency, resulting in an accident.
  • 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.
• When driving the vehicle
  • During normal driving, do not turn off the engine. Turning the engine off while driving will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost. This will make it more difficult to steer and brake, so you should pull over and stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
    However, in the event of an emergency, such as if it becomes impossible to stop the vehicle in the normal way:
  • Use engine braking (downshift) to maintain a safe speed when driving down a steep hill.
    Using the brakes continuously may cause the brakes to overheat and lose effectiveness.
  • Do not adjust the positions of the steering wheel, the seat, or the inside or outside rearview mirrors while driving.
    Doing so may result in a loss of vehicle control.
  • Always check that all passengers’ arms, heads, or other parts of their bodies are not outside 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. Driving 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, resulting in an accident.
  • Sudden acceleration, engine braking due to shifting or changes in engine speed could cause the vehicle to skid, resulting in an accident.
  • 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 properly. If the brakes on only one side are wet and not functioning properly, the steering control may be affected, resulting in an accident.
• When shifting the shift lever
  • Do not let the vehicle roll backward while the shift lever is in a driving position, or roll forward while the shift lever is in R.
  • Doing so may cause the engine to stall or lead to poor brake and steering performance, resulting in an accident or damage to the vehicle.
  • Do not shift the shift lever to P while the vehicle is moving.
  • Doing so can damage the transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
  • Do not shift the shift lever to R while the vehicle is moving forward. Doing so can damage the transmission 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 transmission and may result in a loss of vehicle control.
  • Moving the shift lever to N while the vehicle is moving will disengage the engine from the transmission. 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 a gear other than P or N may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle which may cause an accident and result in death or serious injury.
• 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 race the engine.
    If the vehicle is in any gear other than P or N, the vehicle 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 the engine is running, and apply the parking brake as necessary.
  • If the vehicle is stopped on an incline, in order to prevent accidents caused by the vehicle rolling 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 following:
    • 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 the 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 circuit in the vehicle’s electrical components.
  • Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a place such as a 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 metalized film such as a silver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause the glass to act as a lens, causing a fire.
  • Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the engine, and lock the vehicle.
  • Do not leave the vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
  • 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 engine is running or immediately after turning the engine off. Doing so may cause burns.

FAQ’s