TOYOTA RAV4 2021 (in English) Service Manual

411-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
WARNING
●Vehicles without smart key sys-
tem: Do not attach any heavy,
sharp or hard objects such as
keys and accessories to the
key. The objects may restrict
the SRS knee airbag inflation or
be thrust into the driver’s seat
area by the force of the deploy-
ing airbag, thus causing a dan-
ger.
●Do not hang coat hangers or
other hard objects on the coat
hooks. All of these items could
become projectiles and may
cause death or serious injury,
should the SRS curtain shield
airbags deploy.
●I f a vin yl co ver is p u t on t he ar ea
where the SRS knee airbag will
deploy, be sure to remove it.
●Do not use seat accessories
which cover the parts where the
SRS side airbags and SRS seat
cushion airbag inflate as they
may interfere with inflation of
the SRS airbags. Such acces-
sories may prevent the SRS
side airbags and SRS seat
cushion airbag from activating
correctly, disable the system or
cause the SRS side airbags and
SRS seat cushion airbag to
inflate accidentally, resulting in
death or serious injury.
●Do not strike or apply significant
levels of force to the area of the
SRS airbag components or the
front doors.
Doing so can cause the SRS
airbags to malfunction.
●Do not touch any of the compo-
nent parts immediately after the
SRS airbags have deployed
(inflated) as they may be hot.
●If breathing becomes difficult
after the SRS airbags have
deployed, open a door or side
window to allow fresh air in, or
leave the vehicle if it is safe to
do so. Wash off any residue as
soon as possible to prevent skin
irritation.
●If the areas where the SRS air-
bags are stored, such as the
steering wheel pad and front
and rear pillar garnishes, are
damaged or cracked, have
them replaced by your Toyota
dealer.
●Do not place anything, such as
a cushion, on the front passen-
ger’s seat. Doing so will
disperse the passenger’s
weight, which prevents the sen-
sor from detecting the passen-
ger’s weight properly. As a
result, the SRS front airbags for
the front passenger may not
deploy in the event of a colli-
sion.

421-1. For safe use
WARNING
■Modification and disposal of
SRS airbag system compo-
nents
Do not dispose of your vehicle or
perform any of the following modi-
fications without consulting your
Toyota dealer. T he SRS airbags
may malfunction or deploy
(inflate) accidentally, causing
death or serious injury.
●Installation, removal, disassem-
bly and repair of the SRS air-
bags
●Repairs, modifications, removal
or replacement of the steering
wheel, instrument panel, dash-
board, seats or seat upholstery,
front, side and rear pillars, roof
side rails, front door panels,
front door trims or front door
speakers
●Modifications to the front door
panel (such as making a hole in
it)
●Repairs or modifications of the
front fender, front bumper, or
side of the occ upant compart-
ment
●Installation of a grille guard (bull
bars, kangaroo bar, etc.), snow
plows, winches or roof luggage
carrier
●Modifications to the vehicle’s
suspension system
●Installation of electronic devices
such as mobile two-way radios
and CD players
●Modifications to your vehicle for
a person with a physical disabil-
ity

431-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
SRS warning light
Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
“AIR BAG OFF” indicator light
“AIR BAG ON” indicator light
Front passenger occupant classification system
Your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger occupant
classification system. This system detects the conditions of
the front passenger seat and activates or deactivates the front
passenger airbag and seat cushion airbag in the front passen-
ger side.
System components
A
B
C
D
:$51,1*
■Front passenger occupant
classification system precau-
tions
Observe the following precautions
regarding the front passenger
occupant classification system.
Failure to do so may cause death
or serious injury.
●Wear the seat belt properly.
●Make sure the front passenger’s
seat belt plate has not been left
inserted into the buckle before
someone sits in the front pas-
senger seat.

441-1. For safe use
WARNING
●Make sure the “AIR BAG OFF”
indicator light is not illuminated
when using the seat belt
extender for the front passenger
seat. If the “AIR BAG OFF” indi-
cator light is illuminated, discon-
nect the extender tongue from
the seat belt buckle, and recon-
nect the seat belt. Reconnect
the seat belt extender after
making sure the “AIR BAG ON”
indicator light is illuminated. If
you use the seat belt extender
while the “AIR BAG OFF” indi-
cator light is illuminated, the
SRS airbags for the front pas-
senger will not activate, which
could cause death or serious
injury in the ev ent of a collision.
●D o n o t a p p l y a h e a v y l o a d t o t h e
front passenger seat or equip-
ment (e.g. seatback pocket).
●Do not put weight on the front
passenger seat by putting your
hands or feet on the front pas-
senger seat seatback from the
rear passenger seat.
●Do not let a rea r passenger lift
the front passenger seat with
their feet or press on the seat-
back with their legs.
●Do not put objec ts under the
front passenger seat.
●Do not recline t he front passen-
ger seatback so far that it
touches a rear seat. This may
cause the “AIR BAG OFF” indi-
cator light to be illuminated,
which indicates that the SRS
airbags for the front passenger
will not activate in the event of a
severe accident. If the seatback
touches the rear seat, return the
seatback to a pos ition where it
does not touch the rear seat.
Keep the front passenger seat-
back as upright as possible
when the vehicle is moving.
Reclining the seatback exces-
sively may lessen the effective-
ness of the seat belt system.
●If an adult sits i n the front pas-
senger seat, the “AIR BAG ON”
indicator light i s illuminated. If
the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator is
illuminated, ask the passenger
to sit up straight, well back in
the seat, feet on the floor, and
with the seat belt worn correctly.
If the “AIR BAG OFF” indicator
still remains illumi nated, either
ask the passenger to move to
the rear seat, or if that is not
possible, move the front pas-
senger seat fully rearward.
●When it is unavoidable to install
a forward-facing c hild restraint
system on the front passenger
seat, install the child restraint
system on the front passenger
seat in the proper order.
(  P.53)
●Do not modify or remove the
front seats.
●Do not kick the front passenger
seat or subject it to severe
impact. Otherwise, the SRS
warning light m ay come on to
indicate a malfu nction of the
front passenger occupant clas-
sification system. In this case,
contact your Toyota dealer
immediately.

451-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
■Adult*1
WARNING
●Child restraint systems installed
on the rear seat should not con-
tact the front seatbacks.
●Do not use a seat accessory,
such as a cushion and seat
cover, that covers the seat
cushion surface.
●Do not modify or replace the
upholstery of the front seat.
●Adjust the front passenger seat
so that the head restraint does
not touch the ceiling. If the head
restraint is left in contact with
the ceiling, the system may not
detect the front passenger prop-
erly, leading to improper opera-
tion of the airbags.
Condition and operation in th e front passenger occupant
classification system
Indicators/warn- ing lights
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights“AIR BAG ON”
SRS warning lightOff
Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder lightOff*2 or flashing*3
Devices
Front passenger airbagActivated
Front passenger seat cushion airbagActivated *2 or
deactivated
*3

461-1. For safe use
■Child*4
■Child restraint system with infant*5
■Unoccupied
Indicators/warn-ing lights
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights“AIR BAG OFF” or “AIR BAG
ON”
*4
SRS warning lightOff
Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder lightOff*2 or flashing*3
Devices
Front passenger airbagDeactivated or
activated
*4
Front passenger seat cushion airbagDeactivated or activated
*2, 4
Indicators/warn- ing lights
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights“AIR BAG OFF” *6
SRS warning lightOff
Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder lightOff*2 or flashing*3
DevicesFront passenger airbagDeactivatedFront passenger seat cushion airbag
Indicators/warn-ing lights
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights“AIR BAG OFF”
SRS warning light
OffDriver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
DevicesFront passenger airbagDeactivatedFront passenger seat cushion airbag

471-1. For safe use
1
For safety and security
■There is a malfunction in the system
*1: The system judges a person of adult size as an adult. When a smaller
adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system may not recognize
him/her as an adult depending on his/her physique and posture.
*2: In the event the front passenger is wearing a seat belt.
*3: In the event the front passenge r does not wear a seat belt.
*4: For some children, child in seat, child in booster seat or chi ld in convert-
ible seat, the system may not recognize him/her as a child. Fac tors
which may affect this can be the physique or posture.
*5: Never install a rear-facing ch ild restraint system on the front passenger
seat. A forward-facing child res traint system should only be installed on
the front passenger sea t when it is unavoidable. ( P.53)
*6: In case the indicator light is not illuminated, consult this m anual on how
to install the child restr aint system properly. (P.50)
Indicators/warn-
ing lights
“AIR BAG ON” and “AIR BAG OFF” indicator lights“AIR BAG OFF”
SRS warning light
OnDriver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder light
DevicesFront passenger airbagDeactivatedFront passenger seat cushion airbag

481-1. For safe use
Exhaust gas precau-
tions
Harmful substance to the
human body is included in
exhaust gases if inhaled.
WARNING
Exhaust gases contain harmful
carbon monoxide (CO), which is
colorless and odorless. Observe
the following precautions.
Failure to do so may cause
exhaust gases to enter the vehicle
and may lead to an accident
caused by light-headedness, or
may lead to death or a serious
health hazard.
■Important points while driving
●Keep the back door closed.
●If you smell exhaust gases in
the vehicle even when the back
door is closed, open the side
windows and have the vehicle
inspected at your Toyota dealer
as soon as possible.
■When parking
●If the vehicle is in a poorly venti-
lated area or a closed area,
such as a garage, stop the
engine.
●Do not leave the vehicle with
the engine running for a long
time.
If such a situation cannot be
avoided, park the vehicle in an
open space and ensure that
exhaust fumes do not enter the
vehicle interior.
●Do not leave the engine running
in an area with snow build-up,
or where it is snowing. If snow-
banks build up around the vehi-
cle while the engine is running,
exhaust gases may collect and
enter the vehicle.
■Exhaust pipe
The exhaust system needs to be
checked periodically. If there is a
hole or crack caused by corro-
sion, damage to a joint or abnor-
mal exhaust noise, be sure to
have the vehicle inspected and
repaired by your Toyota dealer.

491-2. Child safety
1
For safety and security
1-2.Child safety
Riding with children
Observe the following pre-
cautions when children are
in the vehicle.
Use a child restraint system
appropriate for the child,
until the child becomes
large enough to properly
wear the vehicle’s seat belt.
It is recommended that chil-
dren sit in the rear seats to
avoid accidental contact
with the shift lever, wiper
switch, etc.
 Use the rear door child-pro-
tector lock or the window
lock switch to avoid children
opening the door while driv-
ing or operating the power
window accidentally.
( P.114, 160)
 Do not let small children
operate equipment which
may catch or pinch body
parts, such as the power
window, hood, back door,
seats, etc.
WARNING
■When children are in the vehi-
cle
Never leave children unattended
in the vehicle, and never allow
children to have or use the key.
Children may be able to start the
vehicle or shift the vehicle into
neutral. There is also a danger
that children ma y injure them-
selves by playing with the side
windows, the moon roof (if
equipped), the panoramic moon
roof (if equipped) or other features
of the vehicle. In addition, heat
build-up or extremely cold tem-
peratures inside the vehicle can
be fatal to children.

501-2. Child safety
Points to remember: P.50
Child restraint system: P.52
When using a child restraint sys-
tem: P.53
Child restraint system installa-
tion method
• Fixed with a seat belt: P.54
• Fixed with a child restraint LATCH anchor: P.59
• Using an anchor bracket (for top tether strap): P.61 The laws of all 50 states of the
U.S.A. as well as Canada now
require the use of child restraint
systems.

Prioritize and observe the
warnings, as well as the laws
and regulations for child
restraint systems.
 Use a child restraint system
until the child becomes large
enough to properly wear the
vehicle’s seat belt.
 Choose a child restraint sys-
tem that suits your vehicle
and is appropriate to the age
and size of the child.
Child restraint sys-
tems
Before installing a child
restraint system in the vehi-
cle, there are precautions
that need to be observed,
different types of child
restraint systems, as well as
installation methods, etc.,
written in this manual.
Use a child restraint system
when riding with a small child
that cannot properly use a
seat belt. For the child’s
safety, install the child
restraint system to a rear seat.
Be sure to follow the installa-
tion method that is in the oper-
ation manual enclosed with
the restraint system.
Table of contents
Points to remember
WARNING
■When a child is riding
Observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so may result in
death or serious injury.
●For effective protection in auto-
mobile accidents and sudden
stops, a child must be properly
restrained, using a seat belt or
child restraint system which is
correctly installe d. For installa-
tion details, refer to the opera-
tion manual enclosed with the
child restraint system. General
installation instructions are pro-
vided in this manual.