TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID 2021 Owners Manual
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8 
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When trouble arises
a malfunction, as  the hybrid system  
will start normally on the second  attempt.
●The power switch mode is memorized by the vehicle. When  the 12-volt bat- 
tery is reconnected , the system will  
return to the mode it was in before the  12-volt battery was discharged.  
Before disconnecting the 12-volt bat - 
tery, turn the power switch off. If you are unsure what mode the  
power switch was in before the 12-volt 
battery discharged, be especially  careful when reconnecting the 12-volt  
battery.
■When replacing the 12-volt battery
●Use a 12-volt battery that conforms to 
European regulations.
●Use a 12-volt batt ery that the case  
size is same as  the previous one  
(LN2), 20 hours rate capacity (20HR)  is equivalent (55Ah ) or greater, and  
performance rating (CCA) is equiva - 
lent (345A) or greater. • If the sizes differ,  the 12-volt battery  
cannot be properly secured.
• If the 20 hour rate capacity is low,  even if the time period where the vehi - 
cle is not used is a  short time, the 12- 
volt battery may discharge and hybrid  system may not be  able to start.
●Use a ventilation type calcium battery
●Use a 12-volt battery with a handle. If  
a 12-volt battery  without a handle is  used, removal is more difficult.
●When removing the 12-volt battery: → P.508
●After replacing, firmly attach the fol- lowing items to the exhaust hole of the  
12-volt battery.
• Use the exhaust hose that was 
attached to the 12-volt battery before  replacing and confirm that it is firmly  
connected to the hole section of the 
vehicle. • Use the exhaust hole plug included  
with the new 12-volt battery or the one 
installed on the battery prior to the  replacement. (Depending on the new  
12-volt battery installed, the exhaust  
hole may be plugged.) 
For details, consult any authorized  
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized 
repairer, or any reliable repairer. 
Exhaust hole 
Exhaust hose 
Hole section of the vehicle
●The terminals can be connected to the  
body side when the negative terminal  of the 12-volt batte ry is disconnected,  
as shown in the illustration.
WARNING
■When removing the battery ter - 
minals 
Always remove the  negative (-) termi- 
nal first. If the posi tive (+) terminal  
contacts any metal in the surrounding  area when the positiv e (+) terminal is  
removed, a spark m ay occur, leading  
to a fire in addition to electrical shocks  and death or serious injury.
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6108-2. Steps to take in an emergency
WARNING
■Avoiding 12-volt battery fires or  
explosions 
Observe the following precautions to  prevent accidentally igniting the flam - 
mable gas that may be emitted from 
the 12-volt battery:
●Make sure each jumper cable is 
connected to the correct terminal 
and that it is not unintentionally in 
contact with any  other than the  intended terminal.
●Do not allow the  other end of the  jumper cable conne cted to the “+”  
terminal to come into contact with 
any other parts or metal surfaces in  the area, such as brackets or  
unpainted metal.
●Do not allow the +  and - clamps of  
the jumper cables to come into con - 
tact with each other.
●Do not smoke, use matches, ciga - 
rette lighters or allow open flame  near the 12-volt battery.
■12-volt battery precautions 
The 12-volt battery contains poison - 
ous and corrosive acidic electrolyte, 
while related part s contain lead and  lead compounds. Observe the follow - 
ing precautions when handling the 
12-volt battery:
●When working with the 12-volt bat - 
tery, always wear  safety glasses  
and take care not to allow any bat - tery fluids (acid)  to come into con- 
tact with skin, clothing or the vehicle 
body.
●Do not lean over the 12-volt battery.
●In the event that battery fluid comes 
into contact with  the skin or eyes,  
immediately wash the affected area  with water and seek medical atten - 
tion.
Place a wet sponge or cloth over  the affected area until medical  
attention can be received.
●Always wash your hands after han - dling the 12-volt battery support,  
terminals, and other battery-related 
parts.
●Do not allow children near the 12-
volt battery.
■After recharging the 12-volt bat - 
tery 
Have the 12-volt bat tery inspected at  
any authorized Toyota retailer or 
Toyota authorized repairer, or any  reliable repairer as soon as possible. 
If the 12-volt batter y is deteriorating,  
continued use may cause the 12-volt  battery to emit a malodorous gas,  
which may be det rimental to the  
health of passengers.
■When replacing the 12-volt bat - 
tery
●For information re garding 12-volt  
battery replacem ent, contact any  
authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota  authorized repairer, or any reliable  
repairer.
●After replacing, securely attach the 
exhaust hose and exhaust hole 
plug to the exhaust hole of the  replaced 12-volt battery. If not prop - 
erly installed, gases (hydrogen) 
may leak into the vehicle interior,  and there is the possible danger of  
the gas igniting and exploding. 
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8 
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When trouble arises
■If the high coolant temperature  
warning light comes on, 
flashes or “Engine Coolant 
Temp High Stop  in a Safe  
Place See Owner’s Manual” is 
shown on the multi-informa - 
tion display 
1 Stop the vehicle in a safe place  
and turn off the air conditioning 
system, and then stop the hybrid 
system. 
2 If you see steam: 
Carefully lift th e hood after the  
steam subsides.
If you do no t see steam: 
Carefully lift the hood.
NOTICE
■When handling jumper cables 
When connecting the jumper cables,  
ensure that they do not become  entangled in the cooling fan, etc.
■To prevent damaging the vehicle 
The exclusive jump starting terminal  
is to be used when charging the 12-
volt battery from another vehicle in an 
emergency. It cannot be used to jump  start another vehicle.
If your vehicle overheats
The following may indicate that  
your vehicle is overheating. 
 The high coolant temperature  
warning light ( →P.170) comes  
on or flashes, or a loss of 
hybrid system power is experi - 
enced. (For example, the vehi - 
cle speed does not increase.) 
 “Engine Coolant Temp High  
Stop in a Safe Place See 
Owner’s Manual” or “Hybrid 
System Overheated Output 
Power Reduced” is shown on 
the multi-information display. 
 Steam comes out from under  
the hood.
Correction procedures 
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6128-2. Steps to take in an emergency
3After the hybrid system has  
cooled down sufficiently, inspect 
the hoses and radiator core 
(radiator) for any leaks. 
Radiator 
Cooling fan
If a large amount of coolant leaks,  
immediately contac t any authorized  Toyota retailer or  Toyota authorized  
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
4 The coolant level is satisfactory  
if it is between the “FULL” and 
“LOW” lines on the reservoir. 
Reservoir 
“FULL” line
“LOW” line 
5 Add coolant if necessary.
Water can be used in an emergency if  
engine coolant is unavailable.
If water was added in an emergency,  
have the vehicle i nspected at any  
authorized Toyota r etailer or Toyota  authorized repairer, or any reliable  
repairer as soon as possible.
6 Start the hybrid system and turn  
the air conditioning system on to 
check that the radiator cooling 
fan operates and  to check for  
coolant leaks from the radiator 
or hoses.
The fan operates when the air condi - 
tioning system is turned on immediately 
after a cold start. Confirm that the fan is  operating by check ing the fan sound  
and air flow. If it is difficult to check 
these, adjust the temperature control  switch to “LO” and turn the “A/C” switch  
ON and OFF. After t his, turn the air  
conditioning system o n and off repeat- edly. (The fan may  not operate in freez- 
ing temperatures.)
7 If the fan is not operating: 
Stop the hybrid system immedi - 
ately and contact any authorized 
Toyota retailer or Toyota autho - 
rized repairer, or any reliable 
repairer.
If the fan is operating:
Have the vehicle  inspected at  
the nearest authorized Toyota 
retailer or Toyota authorized 
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
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8 
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When trouble arises
8 Check if “Engine Coolant Temp  
High Stop in a Safe Place See 
Owner’s Manual” is shown on 
the multi-information display.
If the message does not disap - 
pear:
Stop the hybrid system and con - 
tact any authorized Toyota 
retailer or Toyo ta authorized  
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
If the message is not displayed:
Have the vehicle inspected at 
the nearest authorized Toyota 
retailer or Toyo ta authorized  
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
■If “Hybrid System Overheated 
Output Power Reduced” is 
shown on the multi-informa - 
tion display 
1 Stop the vehicle in a safe place. 
2 Stop the hybrid system and  
carefully lift the hood. 
3 After the hybrid system has  
cooled down, inspect the hoses 
and radiator core (radiator) for 
any leaks. 
Radiator 
Cooling fan
If a large amount o f coolant leaks,  
immediately contact any authorized  Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized  
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
4 The coolant level is satisfactory  
if it is between the “FULL” and 
“LOW” lines on the reservoir. 
Reservoir 
“FULL” line
“LOW” line 
5 Add coolant if necessary.
Water can be used in an emergency if  
power control unit  coolant is unavail- able.  
If water was added in an emergency, 
have the vehicle i nspected at any  authorized Toyota r etailer or Toyota  
authorized repairer, or any reliable 
repairer as soon as possible.
6 After stopping the hybrid system  
and waiting for 5 minutes or 
more, start the hybrid system 
again and check th e multi-infor-
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6148-2. Steps to take in an emergency
mation display. 
If the message does not disap - 
pear: Stop the hybrid system 
and contact any authorized 
Toyota retailer or Toyota autho - 
rized repairer, or any reliable 
repairer.
If the message is no t displayed: The  
hybrid system temperature has  dropped and the vehicle may be driven  
normally. 
However, if the message appears again  frequently, contact any authorized  
Toyota retailer or  Toyota authorized  
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
WARNING
■When inspecting under the hood  of your vehicle 
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may result in serious  injury such as burns.
●If steam is seen coming from under  
the hood, do not open the hood  until the steam has subsided. The  
engine compartment may be very 
hot.
●After the hybrid  system has been  
turned off, check that the “READY”  indicator is off. 
When the hybrid system is operat - 
ing, the gasoline engine may auto - matically start, or the cooling fan  
may suddenly operate even if the 
gasoline engine stops. Do not touch  or approach rotatin g parts such as  
the fan, which may lead to fingers 
or clothing (especia lly a tie, a scarf  or a muffler) getting caught, result - 
ing in serious injury.
●Do not loosen the c oolant reservoir  
cap while t he hybrid system and  
radiator are hot. High temperature steam or coolant  
could spray out.
NOTICE
■When adding engine/power con - 
trol unit  coolant 
Add coolant slowly after the hybrid  system has cooled down sufficiently.  
Adding cool coolant to a hot hybrid 
system too quickly  can cause dam- age to the hybrid system.
■To prevent damage to the cool - 
ing system 
Observe the following precautions:
●Avoid contaminating the coolant  
with foreign matter (such as sand or  dust, etc.).
●Do not use any coolant additive. 
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8 
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When trouble arises
1 Stop the hybrid system. Set the  
parking brake and shift the shift 
lever to P. 
2 Remove the mud, snow or sand  
from around the stuck tire. 
3 Place wood, stones or some  
other material to help provide 
traction under the tires. 
4 Restart the hybrid system. 
5 Shift the shift lever to D or R and  
release the parking brake. Then, 
while exercising caution, 
depress the accelerator pedal.
■When it is difficult to free the vehi - cle 
Press   to turn off TRC. ( →P.439)
If the vehicle becomes  
stuck
Carry out the following proce - 
dures if the tires spin or the 
vehicle becomes stuck in mud, 
dirt or snow:
Recovering procedure
WARNING
■When attempting to free a stuck  
vehicle 
If you choose to push the vehicle  back and forth to free it, make sure  
the surrounding area is clear to avoid 
striking other vehicles, objects or peo - ple. The vehicle may also lunge for - 
ward or lunge back suddenly as it 
becomes free. Use  extreme caution.
■When shifting the shift lever 
Be careful not to sh ift the shift lever  
with the accelerator pedal depressed. 
This may lead to  unexpected rapid  
acceleration of the vehicle that may 
cause an accident resulting in death  or serious injury.
NOTICE
■To avoid damaging the transmis - sion and other components
●Avoid spinning the wheels and  
depressing the accelerator pedal 
more than necessary.
●If the vehicle remains stuck even 
after these procedures are per - formed, the vehicle may require  
towing to be freed. 
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6168-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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9
617
9
Vehicle specifications
Vehicle specifications
9-1. Specifications 
Maintenance data (fuel, oil  
level, etc.) ....................... 618 
Fuel information ................ 627 
9-2. Customization 
Customizable features ...... 629 
9-3. Initialization 
Items to initialize ............... 643 
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6189-1. Specifications
9-1.Specifications
*: Unladen vehicle
■Vehicle identification number 
The vehicle identification number  
(VIN) is the legal identifier for your 
vehicle. This is the primary identifi - 
cation number for your Toyota. It is 
used in registering the ownership of 
your vehicle. 
On some models, this number is  
stamped on the top left of the  
instrument panel.
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.)
Dimensions
Overall length*4600 mm (181.1 in.)
Overall width*1855 mm (73.0 in.)
Overall height*With18-inch wheels1685 mm (66.3 in.)
With19-inch wheels1690 mm (66.5 in.)
Wheelbase*2690 mm (105.9 in.)
Tread*
With18-inch wheelsFront1605 mm (63.2 in.)
Rear1625 mm (64.0 in.)
With19-inch wheelsFront1595 mm (62.8 in.)
Rear1615 mm (63.6 in.)
Weights
Gross vehicle mass2510 kg (5534 lb.)
Maximum permissible axle capacityFront1265 kg (2789 lb.)
Rear1315 kg (2899 lb.)
Drawbar load70 kg (154 lb.)
Towing capacityWithout brake750 kg (1653 lb.)
With brake1500 kg (3307 lb.)
Vehicle identification