Page 27 of 250
Rav4(U)
192000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
—Stowing
Install the removed sun roof panel on
the tailgate as follows.
NOTICE
If the rear seats are reclined, return
them to the upright position before
closing the tailgate. Otherwise, they
will interfere with the installed sun
roof panel, possibly damaging the
panel.
1. Remove the holder from the tailgate
by turning the bolts counterclock-
wise.2. Set the front edge of the sun roof
panel into the holders.
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Page 39 of 250

Rav4(U)
312000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
OPERATION OF INSTRUMENTS AND
CONTROLS
Seats, Seat belts, Steering wheel and Mirrors
Seats32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front seats32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear seats34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Flattening seatbacks38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Head restraints40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat belts41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SRS driver and front passenger airbags50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child restraint57 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tilt steering wheel74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Outside rear view mirrors75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anti−glare inside rear view mirror76 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SECTION 1− 3
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Page 40 of 250

Rav4(U)
322000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
Seats
While the vehicle is being driven, all ve-
hicle occupants should have the seatback
upright, sit well back in the seat and prop-
erly wear the seat belts provided.
CAUTION
Do not drive the vehicle unless the
occupants are properly seated. Do
not allow sitting on top of a
folded−down seatback, or in the
luggage compartment. Persons not
properly seated and/or properly re-
strained by seat belts can be se-
verely injured in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
During driving, do not allow pas-
sengers to stand up or move
around between seats. Severe inju-
ries can occur in the event of emer-
gency braking or a collision.
Adjust the driver’s seat so that the foot
pedals, steering wheel and instrument
panel controls are within easy reach of
the driver.
CAUTION
Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving, as the
seat may unexpectedly move and
cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When adjusting the seat, be careful
not to hit the seat against a pas-
senger or luggage.
After adjusting the seat position,
try sliding it forward and backward
to make sure it is locked in posi-
tion.
After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.
Do not put objects under the seats.
The objects may interfere with the
seat−lock mechanism or unexpect-
edly push up the seat position ad-
justing lever; the seat may suddenly
move, causing the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
While adjusting the seat, do not put
your hands under the seat or near
the moving parts. You may catch
and injure your hands or fingers.
Front seats—
—Seat adjustment precautions
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Page 41 of 250

Rav4(U)
332000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
—Adjusting front seats
1. SEAT POSITION ADJUSTING LEVER
Pull the lever up. Then slide the seat
to the desired position with slight body
pressure and release the lever.
2. SEATBACK ANGLE ADJUSTING
LEVER
Lean forward and pull the lever up.
Then lean back to the desired angle
and release the lever.
CAUTION
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision, avoid
reclining the seatback any more than
needed. The seat belts provide maxi-
mum protection in a frontal or rear
collision when the driver and the pas-
senger are sitting up straight and
well back in the seats. If you are
reclined, the lap belt may slide past
your hips and apply restraint forces
directly to the abdomen. Therefore, in
the event of a frontal collision, the
risk of personal injury may increase
with increasing recline of the seat-
back.
For easy access to the rear seat, do
this.
1. Lift the seatback angle adjusting lever
or press the pedal behind the seat-
back.
The seat will slide forward.
2. Move the seat to the front−most posi-
tion.
After passengers are in, lift up the seat-
back and return the seat until it locks.
—Moving passenger ’s seat for
rear seat entry
(2−door hardtop and soft−top)
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Page 42 of 250

Rav4(U)
342000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
CAUTION
After putting back the seat, try
pushing the seat forward and rear-
ward to make sure it is secured in
place.
Never allow anyone to rest their
foot on the release pedal while the
vehicle is moving.
Lean forward and pull the lock release
lever. Then lean back to the desired
angle and release the lever.
CAUTION
Adjustments should not be made
while the vehicle is moving.
To reduce the risk of sliding under
the lap belt during a collision,
avoid reclining the seatback any
more than needed. The seat belts
provide maximum protection in a
frontal or rear collision when the
passengers are sitting up straight
and well back in the seats. If you
are reclined, the lap belt may slide
past your hips and apply restraint
forces directly to the abdomen.
Therefore, in the event of a frontal
collision, the risk of personal injury
may increase with increasing recline
of the seatback.
After adjusting the seatback, exert
body pressure to make sure it is
locked in position.
Rear seats—
—Adjusting seatback angle
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Page 43 of 250
Rav4(U)
352000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
1. Remove the head restraint. Unlock
the seatback and fold it down.
Folding up the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See ”Luggage stow-
age precautions” in Section 2 for precau-
tions in loading luggage.2. Unlock the seat cushion. Swing the
whole seat up and forward.3. Lock the raised bottom cushion in
place by attaching the support rod
onto the hook. Then store the head
restraint in the head restraint retain-
ing holes in the bottom cushion.
—Folding up rear seats
(2−door hardtop and soft−top)
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Page 44 of 250
Rav4(U)
362000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
When returning the rear seat to its
original position, first remove the head
restraint. Unlock the seat and return it.
Be certain to replace the head restraint.
CAUTION
When returning seats to their original
position:
Make sure the seat belts are not
twisted or caught under the seat
and are arranged in their proper
position and are ready to use.
Make sure the seat is securely
locked by pushing forward and rear-
ward on the top of the seatback or
by trying to pull up the edge of the
bottom cushion. Failure to do so
will prevent seat belt from operat-
ing properly.
BEFORE FOLDING REAR SEAT
Stow the rear seat belt and buckles as
shown in the illustration.
This prevents the belt and buckles from
falling out when you fold the seatback.
NOTICE
The seat belt and buckles must be
stowed before you fold the seatback.
—Folding up rear seats
(4−door hardtop)
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Page 45 of 250
Rav4(U)
372000 RAV4 (OM42479U)
FOLDING REAR SEAT
1. Remove the head restraint. Unlock
the seatback and fold it down.
Folding up the rear seats will enlarge the
luggage compartment. See ”Luggage stow-
age precautions” in Section 2 for precau-
tions in loading luggage.2. Unlock the seat cushion. Swing the
whole seat up and forward.3. Lock the raised bottom cushion in
place by clipping the strap to the
hook. Then store the head restraint
in the head restraint retaining holes
in the bottom cushion.
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