TOYOTA RAV4 PHEV 2021 Owners Manual
Manufacturer: TOYOTA, Model Year: 2021, Model line: RAV4 PHEV, Model: TOYOTA RAV4 PHEV 2021Pages: 666, PDF Size: 161.28 MB
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319
5 
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
power switch to OF F, the hybrid sys- 
tem may not start in some cases. After  turning the power switch to OFF,  
please wait a few seconds before 
restarting the hybrid system.
■Customization 
If the smart entry & start system has  
been deactivated in a customized set - 
ting, refer to P.605.
1 Stop the vehicle completely. 
2 If the parking brake is in manual  
mode, set the parking brake. 
( →P.326)
Check the parking brake indicator is  
illuminated.
3 Shift the shift lever to P. 
4 Press the power switch shortly  
and firmly.
The hybrid system w ill stop, and the  meter display will be extinguished. 
Release the shift lever when pressing  
the power switch.
5 Release the brake pedal and  
check that “ACCESSORY” or 
“IGNITION ON” is not shown on 
the multi-inform ation display.
WARNING
■When starting the hybrid system 
Always start the hyb rid system while  
sitting in the drive r’s seat. Do not  
depress the accelerator pedal while  starting the hybri d system under any  
circumstances. 
Doing so may cause an accident  resulting in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving 
If hybrid system fai lure occurs while  
the vehicle is moving, do not lock or 
open the doors until the vehicle  reaches a safe and complete stop.  
Activation of the steering lock in this 
circumstance may lead to an acci - dent, resulting in death or serious  
injury.
NOTICE
■When starting the hybrid system 
If the hybrid  system becomes difficult  
to start, have your vehicle checked by 
any authorized Toyo ta retailer or  Toyota authorized repairer, or any  
reliable repairer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunc - 
tion with the power switch 
If the power switch seems to be oper - ating somewhat differently than usual,  
such as the switch  sticking slightly,  
there may be a malfunction. Contact  any authorized Toyo ta retailer or  
Toyota authorized repairer, or any 
reliable repairer immediately.
Stopping the hybrid system
WARNING
■Stopping the hybrid system in an 
emergency
●If you want to sto p the hybrid sys- tem in an emergency while driving  
the vehicle, press and hold the 
power switch for  more than 2 sec- onds, or press it b riefly 3 times or  
more in succession. ( →P.560) 
However, do not touch the power  switch while driving except in an  
emergency. Turning the hybrid sys - 
tem off while driving will not cause a  loss of steering or braking control.  
However, power assist for the 
steering wheel may be lost making  it difficult to st eer smoothly before  
stopping the vehi cle depending on  
the remaining charge in the 12-volt  battery or usage co nditions. In this  
situation, you should pull over and 
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe  to do so. 
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3205-2. Driving procedures
Modes can be changed by pressing  
the power switch with the brake 
pedal released. (The mode 
changes each time the switch is 
pressed.) 
1 OFF*
The emergency flashers can be used.
2ACC
Some electrical components such as  
the audio system can be used. 
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the  
multi-information display.
3 ON
All electrical components can be used. 
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the  
multi-information display.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other 
than P when turning  off the hybrid  
system, the power s witch will remain  
ON, will not turn to OFF.
■Auto power off function
●If the vehicle is le ft in ACC or ON (the  hybrid system is no t operating) for  
more than 20 minutes with the shift 
lever in P, the power switch will auto - matically turn to OFF.
●If the 12-volt batte ry is low with the  shift lever is in P and the power switch  
is in ACC or ON (t he hybrid system is  
not operating), a buzzer sounds and a  message will be displayed on the  
multi-information dis play. If this con- 
tinues, the power switch is automati - cally turn to OFF. 
However, this functi on cannot entirely  
prevent the 12-volt battery discharge.  Do not leave the vehicle with the power  
switch in ACC or ON for long periods of 
time when the hybrid system is not oper - ating.
WARNING
●If the power switch is operated  
while the vehicle is running, a warn - 
ing message will  be shown on the  multi-information display and a  
buzzer sounds.
●When restarting the hybrid system 
after an emergency shutdown, shift 
the shift lever to N and press the 
power switch shortly and firmly.
Changing power switch  
modes
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery dis - 
charge
●Do not leave the  power switch in  ACC or ON for long periods of time  
without the hybr id system on.
●If “ACCESSORY” or “IGNITION  
ON” is displayed on the multi-infor - 
mation display, the power switch is  not in OFF. Exit the vehicle after  
turning the power switch to OFF. 
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5 
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
If the hybrid system is stopped with  
the shift lever in  a position other  
than P, the power switch will not be 
turned to OFF but instead be turned 
to ACC. Perform the following pro - 
cedure to turn the switch to OFF: 
1 Check that the parking brake is  
set. 
2 Shift the shift lever to P. 
3 Check that “IGNITION ON” is  
displayed on the multi-informa - 
tion display and press the power 
switch shortly and firmly. 
4 Check that “ACCESSORY” or  
“IGNITION ON” on the multi-
information display is off.
*1: To improve fuel efficiency and  
reduce noise, shift  the shift lever to  
D for normal driving.
*2: Vehicles with paddle shift switches 
only: Selecting shift ranges in the D 
position allows suitable use of 
engine braking. ( →P.323)
*3: By selecting shift ranges using S  
mode, you can control accelerating 
force and engine braking force.
■When driving with dynamic radar  
cruise control with full-speed range  or cruise control activated (if  
equipped) 
Even when performing the following  actions with the intent of enabling  
engine braking, engine braking will not 
activate because dyn amic radar cruise  control with full-speed range, or cruise  
control will not be canceled.
●While driving in D  or S mode, down-
When stopping the hybrid  
system with the shift lever in  
a position other than P
NOTICE
■To prevent 12-volt battery dis - 
charge 
Do not stop the hybrid system when  the shift lever is i n a position other  
than P. If the hy brid system is  
stopped in another shift lever position,  the power switch will not be turned to  
OFF but instead remain ON. If the 
vehicle is left in ON , 12-volt battery  discharge may occur.
Hybrid transmission
Select the shift position  
depending on your purpose 
and situation.
Shift position purpose and  
functions
Shift  
positionObjective or function
PParking the vehicle/start - 
ing the hybrid system
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1, 2
SS mode driving*3 
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3225-2. Driving procedures 
shifting to 5 or 4. ( →P.323, 324)
●When switching the driving mode to  
sport mode while driving in D position. 
( →P.434)
■Restraining sudden start (Drive- Start Control) 
→ P.301
 While the power switch is  
in ON and the brake pedal  
depressed*, shift the shift lever  
while pushing the shift release but - 
ton on the shift knob. 
 Shift the shift lever while  
pushing the shift release button on  
the shift knob. 
 Shift the shift lever nor - 
mally.
When shifting the shift lever between P  
and D, make sure that the vehicle is 
completely stopped  and the brake  
pedal is depressed.
*: For the vehicle to be able to be 
WARNING
■When driving on slippery road  
surfaces 
Be careful of down shifting and sud- 
den acceleration, as this could result 
in the vehicle skidding to the side or  spinning.
NOTICE
■Hybrid battery ( traction battery)  charge 
If the shift lever is in N, the hybrid bat - 
tery (traction battery) will not be  charging, even when the engine is  
running. Therefore, if the vehicle is 
left with the shift le ver in N for a long  
period of tim e, the hybrid battery  (traction battery) will discharge, and  
this may result in  the vehicle not  
being able to start.
Shifting the shift lever 
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5 
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
shifted from P, the brake pedal must  
be depressed before the shift release 
button is pushed. If the shift release 
button is pushed first, the shift lock 
will not be released.
■Shift lock system 
The shift lock system  is a system to pre- vent accidental operation of the shift  
lever in starting.
The shift lever can be shifted from P  only when the power switch is in ON, the  
brake pedal is depressed and the shift 
release button is pushed.
■If the shift lever cannot be shifted  from P 
First, check whether the brake pedal is  
being depressed. If the shift lever cannot be shifted even  
though the brake pedal is depressed 
and the shift releas e button is pushed,  there may be a problem with the shift  
lock system. Have the vehicle inspected 
by any authorized T oyota retailer or  Toyota authorized repairer, or any reli - 
able repairer immediately.
The following steps may be used as an  emergency measure to ensure that the  
shift lever ca n be shifted. 
Releasing the shift lock: 
1 Pull the parking brake switch to  
check that the park ing brake is set.  ( →P.326) 
2 Turn the power switch off. 
3 Depress the brake pedal. 
4 Pry the cover up with a flathead  
screwdriver or equivalent tool.
To prevent damage  to the cover,  cover the tip of the screwdriver with  
a rag. 
5 Press and hold the shift lock override  
button and then push the button on  the shift knob. 
The shift lever can be shifted while 
both buttons are pressed.
→ P.434 
To drive using temporary shift  
range selection, operate the “-” 
paddle shift switch. The shift range 
can then be selected by operating  
the “-” and “+” paddle shift  
switches. Changing the shift range 
allows restriction of the highest 
gear, preventing upshifting and 
WARNING
■To prevent an accident when  releasing the shift lock 
Before pressing the shift lock override  
button, make sure to set the parking  brake and depress the brake pedal. 
If the accelerator pedal is accidentally  
depressed instead of the brake pedal  when the shift lock override button is  
pressed and the shift lever is shifted 
out of P, the vehicle may suddenly  start, possibly leading to an accident  
resulting in death  or serious injury.
Selecting the driving mode
Selecting shift ranges in the  
D position (vehicles with  
paddle shift switches) 
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3245-2. Driving procedures
enabling the level of engine braking  
force to be selected. 
1 Upshifting 
2 Downshifting
The selected shift range, from D1 to  
D6, will be displayed on the multi-infor - 
mation display.
■Shift ranges and their functions
●You can choose from 6 levels of  
accelerating force and engine braking  force.
●A lower shift range will provide greater accelerating force and engine braking  
force than a higher shift range, and 
the engine revolutions will also  increase.
■Downshifting restriction warning  
buzzer 
To help ensure safe ty and driving per- formance, downshifting operation may  
sometimes be restricted. In some cir - 
cumstances, downshifting may not be  possible even when the paddle shift  
switch is operated. (A buzzer will sound 
twice.)
■Automatic deacti vation of shift  
range selection i n the D position 
Shift range selection in the D position  
will be deactivated in the following situa - 
tions:
●When the vehicle comes to a stop
●If the accelerator pedal is depressed 
for more than a cert ain period of time
●When the shift lever is shifted to a  
position other than D
●When the “+” paddle shift switch is 
held down for a period of time
When the shift lever is in the S posi - 
tion, the shift lev er or paddle shift  
switches (if equipped) can be oper - 
ated as follows: 
1 Upshifting 
2 Downshifting
The selected shift range, from S1 to S6,  
will be displayed on the multi-informa - 
tion display.
The initial shift  range in S mode is  
set automatically to S4.*
*: It is set to S3 when the driving mode  
is set to sport mode. ( →P.434)
Changing shift ranges in S  
mode 
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325
5 
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
■S mode
●You can choose from 6 levels of  
accelerating force and engine braking  force.
●A lower shift range will provide greater accelerating force and engine braking  
force than a higher shift range, and 
the engine revolutions will also  increase.
●To prevent the eng ine from over-rev- ving, upshifting may automatically  
occur when the shif t range is 3 or  
lower.
●When the shift range is 4 or lower, 
holding the shift le ver toward “+” sets  the shift range to 6.
■Downshifting restriction warning  
buzzer 
To help ensure safe ty and driving per- formance, downshifting operation may  
sometimes be restricted. In some cir - 
cumstances, downshifting may not be  possible even when the shift lever or  
paddle shift switches (if equipped) is 
operated. (A buzze r will sound twice.)
■If the “S” indicator does not come  on or the “D” indicator is displayed  
even after shifting t he shift lever to  
S 
This may indicate a malfunction in the  transmission system.  Have the vehicle  
inspected by any authorized Toyota 
retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or  any reliable repairer immediately. (In  
this situation, the transmission will oper - 
ate in the same manner as when the  shift lever is in D.)
1 Right turn 
2 Lane change to the right (move  
the lever partway and release it)
The right hand signals will flash 3 times.
3 Lane change to the left (move  
the lever partway and release it)
The left hand signals will flash 3 times.
4 Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated when 
The power switch is in ON.
■If the indicator flashes faster than  
usual 
Check that a light b ulb in the front or  rear turn signal lights has not burned  
out.
Turn signal lever
Operating instructions 
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3265-2. Driving procedures
■If the turn signals stop flashing  
before a lane change has been per - formed 
Operate the lever again.
■To discontinue flashing of the turn  
signals during a lane change 
Operate the lever in the opposite direc - 
tion.
■Using the manual mode 
The parking brake can be set and  
released manually. 
Parking brake indicator light 
Parking brake switch indicator 
1 Pull the switch to set the parking  
brake.
The parking brake indicator light and  
parking brake switch  indicator will turn  
on. 
Pull and hold the parking brake switch if 
Parking brake
The parking brake can be set  
or released automatically or 
manually. In automatic mode, 
the parking brake can be set or 
released autom atically accord- 
ing to shift lever operation. 
Also, even in automatic mode, 
the parking brake can be set or 
released manually.
Operating instructions
A
B 
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5 
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
an emergency occurs and it is neces - 
sary to operate the parking brake while 
driving.
2 Push the switch to release the  
parking brake.
• Operate the parki ng brake switch  
while depressing the brake pedal.
• Parking brake automatic release 
function ( →P.327) 
Make sure that the parking brake indi - 
cator light and park ing brake switch  
indicator turn off.
If the parking brake indicator light  
and parking brake switch indicator 
flash, operate the switch again. 
( →P.574)
■Turning the automatic mode  
on 
While the vehicle is  stopped, pull  
and hold the parking brake switch  
until a buzzer so unds and a mes- 
sage is shown on the multi-informa - 
tion display. 
When the automatic mode is turned  
on, the parking brake operates as 
follows. 
 When the shift lever is shifted  
from P, the parking brake will be 
released, and the parking brake 
indicator light and parking brake  
switch indicator  will turn off. 
 When the shift lever is shifted to  
P, the parking brake will be set, 
and the parking brake indicator 
light and parking brake switch 
indicator will turn on. 
Operate the shift  lever with the  
vehicle stopped and the brake 
pedal depressed.
■Turning the automatic mode 
off 
While the vehicle is stopped and  
depressing the brake pedal, press 
and hold the parking brake switch 
until a buzzer sounds and a mes - 
sage is shown on the multi-informa - 
tion display.
■Parking brake operation
●When the power switch is not in ON,  
the parking brake cannot be released 
using the parking brake switch.
●When the power switch is not in ON, 
automatic mode (automatic brake set - 
ting and releasing) is not available.
■Parking brake automatic release  function 
The parking brake will be released auto - 
matically when the accelerator pedal is  slowly depressed under the following  
conditions:
●The driver’s door is closed 
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3285-2. Driving procedures
●The driver is wearing the seat belt
●The shift lever is in a forward or  
reverse position.
●The malfunction indicator lamp or 
brake system warning light is not illu - 
minated 
If the automatic release function does  
not operate, release the parking brake 
manually.
■If “Parking Brake Temporarily  Unavailable” is displayed on the  
multi-information display 
If the parking brake is operated repeat - edly over a short period of time, the sys - 
tem may restrict oper ation to prevent  
overheating. If this happens, refrain from  operating the parking brake. Normal  
operation will return  after about 1 min- 
ute.
■If “Parking Brake Unavailable” is  displayed on the multi-information  
display 
Operate the parking brake switch. If the  message does not di sappear after oper- 
ating the switch several times, the sys - 
tem may be malfunctioning. Have the  vehicle inspected by any authorized  
Toyota retailer or  Toyota authorized  
repairer, or any reliable repairer.
■Parking brake operation sound 
When the parking brake operates, a  
motor sound (whirring sound) may be 
heard. This does not indicate a malfunc - tion.
■Parking brake indicator light
●Depending on the power switch mode, the parking brake in dicator light will  
turn on and stay on as described 
below:
ON: Comes on until the parking brake  is released. 
Not in ON: Stays on for approximately 
15 seconds.
●When the power switch is turned off 
with the parking brake set, the parking  brake indicator li ght will stay on for  
about 15 seconds. This does not indi - 
cate a malfunction.
■When the parking brake switch  
malfunctions 
Automatic mode (automatic brake set - 
ting and releasing) will be turned on 
automatically.
■Parking the vehicle 
→ P.300
■Parking brake engaged warning  
buzzer 
A buzzer will sound if the vehicle is  driven with the pa rking brake engaged.  
“Parking Brake ON” is displayed on the 
multi-information display (with the vehi - cle reaching a speed of 5 km/h [3 mph]).
■If the brake system warning light  
comes on 
→ P.568
■Usage in winter time 
→ P.446
WARNING
■When parking the vehicle 
Do not leave a child in the vehicle  
alone. The parking brake may be  released unintentionally by a child  
and there is the dang er of the vehicle  
moving that may lead to an accident  resulting in death  or serious injury.
■Parking brake switch 
Do not set any objects near the park - 
ing brake switch.  Objects may inter- 
fere with the switch  and may lead the  parking brake to unexpectedly oper - 
ate.
NOTICE
■When parking the vehicle 
Before you leave the vehicle, shift the  
shift lever to P, set the parking brake 
and make sure that  the vehicle does  not move.