Toyota Yaris: If your vehicle needs to be towed

If towing is necessary, we recommend you to have it done by your Toyota dealer or a commercial tow truck service.

Only when you cannot receive a towing service from a Toyota dealer or commercial tow truck service, tow your vehicle carefully in accordance with the instructions given in “—Emergency towing” in this Section.

Proper equipment will help ensure that your vehicle is not damaged while being towed. Commercial operators are generally aware of the state/provincial and local laws pertaining to towing.

Your vehicle can be damaged if it is towed incorrectly. Although most operators know the correct procedure, it is possible to make a mistake. To avoid damage to your vehicle, make sure the following few precautions are observed. If necessary, show this page to the tow truck driver.

TOWING PRECAUTIONS:

Use a safety chain system for all towing, and abide by the state/provincial and local laws. The wheels and axle on the ground must be in good condition. If they are damaged, use a towing dolly.

(a) Towing with wheel lift type truck

From front—Release the parking brake.

NOTICE.

When lifting wheels, take care to ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Otherwise, the bumper and/or underbody of the towed vehicle will be damaged during towing.

From rear—

- Manual transmission:

We recommend using a towing dolly under the front wheels. If you do not use a towing dolly, place the ignition key in the “ACC” position and put the transmission in neutral.

NOTICE.

The steering lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheels straight.

- Automatic transmission:

Use a towing dolly under the front wheels.

NOTICE.

Never tow a vehicle with an automatic transmission from the rear with the front wheels on the ground, as this may cause serious damage to the transmission.

(b) Using flat bed truck

(c) Towing with sling type truck

NOTICE.

Do not tow with sling type truck, either from the front or rear. This may cause body damage.

—Emergency towing

Front

Rear

If towing is necessary, we recommend you to have it done by your Toyota dealer or a commercial tow truck service.

Vehicles with an automatic transmission, use only the front towing eyelet when towing your vehicle.

To install the front towing eyelet, see “—Installing front towing eyelet”.

NOTICE.

Vehicles with an automatic transmission, never tow a vehicle from the rear with four wheels on the ground. This may cause serious damage to the transmission.

A driver must be in the vehicle to steer it and operate the brakes.

Towing in this manner may be done only on hard-surfaced roads for a short distance and at low speeds. Also, the wheels, axles, drive train, steering and brakes must all be in good condition.

CAUTION.

Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which would place excessive stress on the emergency towing eyelets and towing cable or chain. The eyelets and towing cable or chain may break and cause serious injury or damage.

NOTICE.

Do not use the left rear eyelet. It is not designed for towing.

Before towing, release the parking brake and put the transmission in neutral (manual) or “N” (automatic). The key must be in “ACC” (engine off) or “ON” (engine running).

CAUTION.

If the engine is not running, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not work so steering and braking will be much harder than usual.

—Installing front towing eyelet

1. Remove the front towing eyelet cover on the front bumper, using a flathead screwdriver which is wrapped with a cloth.

2. Use the towing eyelet in the tool bag.

Secure the front towing eyelet to the hole on the front bumper by turning clockwise. (For the tool bag storage location, see “—Required tools and spare tire”).

3. Tighten the front towing eyelet securely by a wheel nut wrench.

CAUTION.

When installing the eyelet on the vehicle, be sure to tighten the front eyelet securely. If the eyelet is loose, it may come off when being towed and result in death or serious injury.