towing TOYOTA RAV4 2021 (in English) Owner's Guide

6328-2. Steps to take in an emergency
The following may indicate a
problem with your transmission.
Contact your Toyota dealer or
commercial towing service
WARNING
■While towing (vehicles with
towing eyelet)
●When towing using cables or
chains, avoid sudden starts, etc.
which place excessive stress on
the towing eyelets, cables or
chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become
damaged, broken debris may hit
people, and cause serious dam-
age.
●Do not turn the engine switch to
OFF.
There is a possibility that the
steering wheel is locked and
cannot be operated.
■Installing towing eyelets to
the vehicle (vehicles with
towing eyelets)
Make sure that towing eyelets are
installed securely. If not securely
installed, towing eyelets may
come loose during towing.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when towing using a
wheel-lift type truck
●Do not tow the vehicle from the
rear when the engine switch is
off or the key is removed (vehi-
cles without smart key system).
The steering lock mechanism is
not strong enough to hold the
front wheels straight.
●When raising the vehicle,
ensure adequate ground clear-
ance for towing at the opposite
end of the raised vehicle. With-
out adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while
being towed.
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when towing with a
sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck,
either from the front or rear.
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle during emergency
towing (vehicles with towing
eyelet)
Do not secure cables or chains to
the suspension components.
■When towing the vehicle
(vehicles with Stop & Start
system)
If it is necessary to tow the vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground,
perform the following procedure
before towing the vehicle, in order
to protect the system.
Turn the engine switch to OFF
and then start the engine or turn
the engine switch to ON.
■Recreational towing (behind
motor home, etc.)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to
prevent causing serious damage
to the AWD system (AWD mod-
els) and transmission. ( P.193)
Situations when it is nec-
essary to contact dealers
before towing

6338-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
before towing.
The engine is running but the
vehicle does not move.
 The vehicle makes an abnor-
mal sound.
From the front (2WD models)
Release the parking brake.
Turn automatic mode off.
( P.206)
From the front (AWD models)
Use a towing dolly under the
rear wheels.
From the rear
Use a towing dolly under the
front wheels. When using a flat-bed truck to
transport the vehicle, use tire
strapping belts. Refer to the
owner’s manual of the flat-bed
truck for the tire strapping
method.
In order to suppress vehicle
movement during transporta-
Towing with a wheel-lift
type truck
NOTICE
■Towing with a sling-type
truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck
to prevent body damage.
2WD models
AWD models
Using a flatbed truck

6348-2. Steps to take in an emergency
tion, set the parking brake and
turn the engine switch to OFF.
If a tow truck is not available in
an emergency, your vehicle may
be temporarily towed using
cables or chains secured to the
emergency towing eyelets. This
should only be attempted on
hard surfaced roads for at most
50 miles (80 km) at under 18
mph (30 km/h).
A driver must be in the vehicle to
steer and operate the brakes.
The vehicle’s wheels, drive
train, axles, steering and brakes
must be in good condition.
To have your vehicle towed by
another vehicle, the towing eye-
let must be installed to your
vehicle. Install the towing eyelet
using the following procedure.
1Take out the wheel nut
wrench and towing eyelet.
( P.654)
2 Using a flathead screw-
driver, remove eyelet cover
( ), and then remove eyelet
cover ( ).
To protect the bodywork, place a
rag between the screwdriver and the vehicle body
as shown in the
illustration.
Type A
Type B
3 Insert the towing eyelet into
the hole and tighten partially
by hand.
Type A
Emergency towing (vehi-
cles with towing eyelet)
Emergency towing proce-
dure (vehicles with towing
eyelet)
A
B

6358-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
Type B
4 Tighten down the towing eye-
let securely using a wheel nut
wrench or hard metal bar.
Type A
Type B
5 Securely attach cables or
chains to the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehi-
cle body.
6Enter the vehicle being towed
and start the engine.
Turn off the Parkin g Support Brake function (if equipped):
P.286
If the engine does not start, turn the
engine switch to ON.
Vehicles with Stop & Start system:
Before towing the ve hicle, turn the
engine switch to OFF once, and
then start the engine.
7 Shift the shift lever to N and
release the parking brake.
Turn automatic mode off. ( P.206)
When the shift lever cannot be
shifted: P.202
■While towing
If the engine is not running, the
power assist for the brakes and
steering will not function, making
steering and braking more difficult.
■Wheel nut wrench
Wheel nut wrench is installed in the
tool bag. ( P.654)

6548-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Jack
Tool bag
Spare tire
Jack handle
*1
Wheel nut wrench*1
Jack handle*2
Wheel nut wrench*2
Towing eyelet*2 (if equipped)
*1: Except for models made in Japan*3
*2
: For models made in Japan*3
*3
: The country of production is wri tten on the Certification Regulation Label.
(  P.677)
Location of the spare t ire, jack and tools
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

6608-2. Steps to take in an emergency
installed on the compact spare
tire.
6Stow the flat tire, tire jack and
all tools.
■The compact spare tire
●The compact spare tire is identi-
fied by the label “TEMPORARY
USE ONLY” on the tire sidewall.
Use the compact s pare tire tem-
porarily, and only in an emer-
gency.
●Make sure to check the tire infla-
tion pressure of the compact
spare tire. ( P.683)
■When using the compact spare
tire
As the compact sp are tire is not
equipped with a tire pressure warn-
ing valve and transmitter, low infla-
tion pressur e of the spar e tire will
not be indicated by the tire pressure
warning system. Also, if you replace
the compact spare tire after the tire
pressure warning light comes on,
the light remains on.
■When the compact spare tire is
attached
The vehicle height may become
lower when driving with the compact
spare tire compared to when driving
with standard tires.
■If you have a flat front tire on a
road covered with snow or ice
Install the compact spare tire on one
of the rear wheels of the vehicle.
Perform the following steps and fit
tire chains to the front tires:
1 Replace a rear tire with the com-
pact spare tire.
2 Replace the flat front tire with the
tire removed from the rear of the
vehicle.
3 Fit tire chains to the front tires.
■When stowing the jack
Before storing the jack, adjust the
height of the jack to match the shape of the jack holder.
The storage direction of the jack dif-
fers depending on the type, so make
sure to store the ja
ck in the correct
direction.
Except for models made in Japan
*:
For models made in Japan
*:
*: The country of production is writ- ten on the Certification Regulation
Label. ( P.677)
WARNING
■When using the compact
spare tire
●Remember that the compact
spare tire provided is specifi-
cally designed for use with your
vehicle. Do not use your com-
pact spare tire on another vehi-
cle.
●Do not use more than one com-
pact spare tire simultaneously.
●Replace the comp act spare tire
with a standard tire as soon as
possible.

6738-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
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 people. The vehicle
may also lunge forward or lunge
back suddenly as it becomes free.
Use extreme caution.
■When shifting the shift lever
Be careful not to shift the shift
lever with the ac celerator pedal
depressed.
This may lead to unexpected
rapid acceleration of the vehicle
that may cause an accident
resulting in dea th or serious
injury.
NOTICE
■To avoid damaging the trans-
mission and other compo-
nents
●Avoid spinning the wheels and
depressing the accelerator
pedal more than necessary.
●If the vehicle remains stuck
even after these procedures are
performed, the vehicle may
require towing to be freed.

6779-1. Specifications
9
Vehicle specifications
*1: Unladen vehicle
*2: Vehicles without 235/55R19 tires
*3: Vehicles with 235/55R19 tires
*4: Vehicles without towing package
*5: Vehicles with towing package
■Vehicle identification num-
ber
The vehicle identification num-
ber (VIN) is the legal identifier
for your vehicle. This is the pri-
mary identification number for
your Toyota. It is used in regis-
tering the ownership of your
vehicle.
This number is stamped on the
top left of the instrument panel.
On some models, this number is also stamped under the right-
hand front seat.
This number is also on the Certi-
fication Regulation Label.
Vehicle capacity weight (Occupants +
luggage)900 lb. (410 kg)
Trailer Weight Rating (Trailer weight
+ cargo weight)1500 lb. (680 kg)*4
3500 lb. (1590 kg)*5
Seating capacity
Seating capacity5 (Front 2, Rear 3)
Vehicle identification

7059-2. Customization
9
Vehicle specifications
*1: If equipped
*2: The operation buzzer that sounds when the back door begins to operate
cannot be turned off.
*3: The open position is set by the power back door switch. ( P.128)
*4: When the towing hitch is installe d, Hands Free Power Back Door does
not work.
■Driving position memory* (  P.138)
switch of the wireless
remote control operationPress and hold
One short press
––OPush twice
Off
Operation buzzer volume31–O–2
Operation buzzer while the
back door is operating
*2OffOn––O
Opening angle5
1 to 4
–O–
User setting*3
Power back door open oper-
ation when the back door
opener switch is pressed
OnOff––O
Back door closing assistOnOff––O
Hands Free Power Back
Door
*1, 4OnOff–OO
FunctionDefault settingCustomized setting
Selection the door linking
driving position memory with
door unlock operation
Driver’s doorAll doors––O
Function to prevent contact
between the head restraint
and ceiling (while moving to
memory location)
OnOff––O
FunctionDefault settingCustomized settingABC
ABC

732Alphabetical Index
Digital Rear-view Mirror ......... 147
Dimensions ............................. 676
Dinghy towing ........................ 193
DisplayBSM (Blind Spot Monitor)..... 265
Drive information .................... 93
Driving information ................. 91
Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed range .......... 253
Fuel consumption information 99
Intuitive parking assist .......... 273
LTA (Lane-Tracing Assist) ... 246
Multi-information display ........ 89
RCTA ................................... 265
Warning messages .............. 649
Do-it-yourself maintenance ...... ........... 573, 577
Door lock Back door ............................. 115
Side doors ............................ 109
Smart key system................. 129
Wireless remote control ....... 104
Doors
Automatic door locking and unlocking system................ 114
Back door ............................. 115
Door glasses ........................ 158
Door lock .............................. 109
Open door warning buzzer ... 113
Outside rear view mirrors ..... 156
Rear door child-protectors.... 114
Side doors ............................ 109
Downhill assist control system ............................................... 362
Drive information ..................... 93
Driver’s seat belt reminder light ............................................... 645
Driver’s seat position memory ............................................... 138Driving position memory....... 138
Memory recall function ......... 140
Driving Break-in tips .........................172
Correct posture .......................27
Driving mode select switch ...355
Procedures ...........................171
Winter drive tips....................371
Driving information display .....91
Driving mode select switch ...355
Driving position memory .......138 Memory recall function .........140
Driving support system informa- tion display..............................93
Dynamic radar cruise control with full-speed rangeFunction................................253
Warning message . ...............649
Dynamic Torque Control AWD system ...................................365
Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD system ...................................365
E
Eco drive mode .......................355
Eco Driving Indicator ...............92
Eco Driving Indicator Light......92
EDR (Event data recorder) .......10
Elapsed time .............................93
Electric Power Steering (EPS) Function................................364
Warning light ........................640
Electronic key Battery-saving function .........130
If the electronic key does not operate properly .................664
Replacing the battery ...........613
Electronic sunshade ..............164 Jam protection function ........165
Operation..............................164
Emergency, in case of If a warning buzzer sounds ..638
If a warning light turns on .....638
If a warning message is dis-played .................................649