2017 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID Owners Manual

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Driving
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert functions when your vehicle is in reverse.
It can detect other vehicles approaching from the right or left rear of
the vehicle. It uses radar sensors to alert the driver of the other vehi-
cle’s existence through flashing the outside rear view mirror indicators
and sounding a buzzer.
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function
Approaching vehicles Detection areas12
WARNING
■Cautions regarding the use of the system
The driver is solely responsible for safe driving. Always drive safely, taking
care to observe your surroundings.
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function is only an assist and is not a replace-
ment for careful driving. The driver must be careful when backing up, even
when using the Rear Cross Traffic Alert function. The driver’s own visual
confirmation of behind you and your vehicle is necessary and be sure there
are no pedestrians, other vehicles, etc. before backing up. Failure to do so
could cause death or serious injury.
According to conditions, the system may not function correctly. Therefore
the driver’s own visual confirmation of safety is necessary.

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The areas that vehicles can be detected in are outlined below.
To give the driver a more consistent time to react, the buzzer can alert
for faster vehicles from farther away.
Example:
■ The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function is operational when
● The Blind Spot Monitor system is turned on.
● The shift lever is in R.
● Vehicle speed is less than approximately 5 mph (8 km/h).
● Approaching vehicle speed is between approximately 5 mph (8 km/h) and
18 mph (28 km/h).
The Rear Cross Traffic Aler t function detection areas
Approaching vehicleSpeedApproximate
alert distance
Fast18 mph (28 km/h)65 ft. (20 m)
Slow5 mph (8 km/h)18 ft. (5.5 m)
1

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Driving
■Conditions under which the Rear Cr oss Traffic Alert function will not
detect a vehicle
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function is not designed to detect the following
types of vehicles and/or objects.
● Small motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, etc.
*
●Vehicles approaching from directly behind
● Guardrails, walls, signs, parked vehi cles and similar stationary objects
*
●Vehicles moving away from your vehicle
● Vehicles approaching from the parking spaces next to your vehicle
*
●Vehicles backing up in the parking space next to your vehicle*
*
: Depending on conditions, detection of a vehicle and/or object may occur.
■ Conditions under which the Rear Cr oss Traffic Alert function may not
function correctly
The Rear Cross Traffic Alert function may not detect vehicles correctly in the
following conditions:
● When ice, mud, etc. is attached to the rear bumper
● During bad weather such as heavy rain, fog, snow, etc.
● When multiple vehicles approach continuously
● Shallow angle parking
● When a vehicle is approaching at high speed
● When parking on a steep incline, such as hills, a dip in the road, etc.
● Directly after the Blind Spot Monitor system is turned on
● Directly after the hybrid system is started with the Blind Spot Monitor system
is set to on
● When towing a trailer
● Vehicles that the sensors cannot detect
because of obstacles

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Driving assist systems
◆ECB (Electronically Controlled Brake System)
The electronically controlled system generates braking force correspond-
ing to the brake operation
◆ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps to prevent wheel lock when the brakes are applied suddenly, or if the
brakes are applied while driving on a slippery road surface
◆Brake assist
Generates an increased level of braking force after the brake pedal is
depressed when the system detects a panic stop situation
◆VSC (Vehicle Stability Control)
Helps the driver to control skidding when swerving suddenly or turning on
slippery road surfaces
◆TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power and prevent the drive wheels from spinning
when starting the vehicle or accelerating on slippery roads
◆Hill-start assist control
Helps to reduce the vehicle from rolling backward when starting on an
incline
◆EPS (Electric Power Steering)
Employs an electric motor to reduce the amount of effort needed to turn
the steering wheel
To help enhance driving safety and performance, the following
systems operate automatically in response to various driving
situations. Be aware, however, that these systems are supple-
mentary and should not be relied upon too heavily when operat-
ing the vehicle.

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Driving
◆E-Four (Electronic On-Demand AWD system)
Automatically switches from front wheel drive to four-wheel drive (AWD)
according to the driving conditions, helping to ensure reliable handling and
stability. Examples of conditions where the system will switch to AWD are
when cornering, going uphill, starting off or accelerating, and when the
road surface is slippery due to snow, rain, etc.
◆Trailer Sway Control
Helps the driver to control trailer sway by selectively applying brake pres-
sure for individual wheels and reducing engine torque when trailer sway is
detected.
Trailer Sway Control is part of the VSC system and will not operate if VSC
turned off or experiences a malfunction.
The slip indicator will flash while
the TRAC/VSC/ABS/Trailer Sway
Control systems are operating.
When the TRAC/VSC/ABS/Trailer Sway Control systems are
operating

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If the vehicle gets stuck in mud, di rt or snow, the TRAC system may
reduce power from the hybrid syst em to the wheels. Pressing to
turn the system off may make it eas ier for you to rock the vehicle in
order to free it.
To turn the TRAC system off,
quickly press and release .
“Traction Control Turned Off” will
be shown on the multi-information
display.
Press again to turn the system
back on.
■ Turning off the TRAC, VSC an d Trailer Sway Control systems
To turn the TRAC, VSC and Trailer Sway Control systems off, press and hold
for more than 3 seconds while the vehicle is stopped.
“Traction Control Turned Off” will be shown and the VSC OFF indicator light
will come on.
*
Press again to turn the systems back on.
*:On vehicles with pre-collision system, pre-collision brake assist and pre-
collision brake braking will also be disabled. The PCS warning light will
come on and the message will be shown on the multi-information display.
( →P. 240)
■ When the message is displayed on th e multi-information display show-
ing that TRAC has been disabled even if the VSC OFF switch has not
been pressed
TRAC and hill-start assist control cannot be operated. Contact your Toyota
dealer.
Disabling the TRAC system

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Driving
■Sounds and vibrations cau sed by the ABS, brake assist, VSC, Trailer
Sway Control, TRAC and the hill-start assist control systems
Any of the following conditions may occur when the above systems are oper-
ating. None of these indicates that a malfunction has occurred.
● Vibrations may be felt through the vehicle body and steering.
● A motor sound may be heard after the vehicle comes to a stop.
● The brake pedal may pulsate slightly after the ABS is activated.
● The brake pedal may move down slightly after the ABS is activated.
■ ECB operating sound
ECB operating sound may be heard in the following cases, but it does not
indicate that a malfunction has occurred.
●Operating sound heard from the engine compartment when the brake pedal
is operated.
● Motor sound of the brake system heard from the front part of the vehicle
when the driver’s door is opened.
● Operating sound heard from the engine compartment when 1 or 2 minutes
passed after the stop of the hybrid system.
■ EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is operated, a motor sound (whirring sound) may be
heard. This does not indicate a malfunction.
■ Automatic reactivation of TRAC, VS C and Trailer Sway Control systems
After turning the TRAC, VSC and Trailer Sway Control systems off, the sys-
tems will be automatically re-enabled in the following situations:
● When the power switch is turned off.
● If only the TRAC system is turned off, the TRAC will turn on when vehicle
speed increases
If the TRAC, VSC and Trailer Sway Control systems are turned off, auto-
matic re-enabling will not occur when vehicle speed increases.
■ Reduced effectiveness of the EPS system
The effectiveness of the EPS system is reduced to prevent the system from
overheating when there is frequent steering input over an extended period of
time. The steering wheel may feel heavy as a result. Should this occur, refrain
from excessive steering input or stop the vehicle and turn the hybrid system
off. The EPS system should return to normal within 10 minutes.
■ Operating conditions of hill-start assist control
When the following four conditions are met, the hill-start assist control will
operate:
● The shift lever is in a position other than P or N (when starting off forward/
backward on an upward incline).
● The vehicle is stopped.
● The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
● The parking brake is not engaged.

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■Automatic system cancelation of hill-start assist control
The hill-start assist control will turn off in any of the following situations:
●The shift lever is moved to P or N.
● The accelerator pedal is depressed.
● The parking brake is engaged.
● Approximately 2 seconds elapse after the brake pedal is released.
WARNING
■The ABS does not operate effectively when
● The limits of tire gripping performance have been exceeded (such as
excessively worn tires on a snow covered road).
● The vehicle hydroplanes while driving at high speed on wet or slick roads.
■ Stopping distance when the ABS is operating may exceed that of nor-
mal conditions
The ABS is not designed to shorten the vehicle’s stopping distance. Always
maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, especially in the
following situations:
● When driving on dirt, gravel or snow-covered roads
● When driving with tire chains
● When driving over bumps in the road
● When driving over roads with potholes or uneven surfaces
■ TRAC may not operat e effectively when
Directional control and power may not be achievable while driving on slip-
pery road surfaces, even if the TRAC system is operating.
Drive the vehicle carefully in conditions where stability and power may be
lost.
■ Hill- start assist control does not operate effectively when
● Do not overly rely on hill-start assist control. Hill-start assist control may
not operate effectively on steep inclines and roads covered with ice.
● Unlike the parking brake, hill-start assist control is not intended to hold the
vehicle stationary for an extended period of time. Do not attempt to use
hill-start assist control to hold the vehicle on an incline, as doing so may
lead to an accident.
■ When the TRAC/VSC/ABS/Traile r Sway Control is activated
The slip indicator flashes. Always drive carefully. Reckless driving may
cause an accident. Exercise particular care when the indicator light flashes.
■ When the TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway Control systems ar e turned off
Be especially careful and drive at a speed appropriate to the road condi-
tions. As these are the systems to help ensure vehicle stability and driving
force, do not turn the TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway Control systems off unless
necessary.