2018 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID Owners Manual (in English)

5458-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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8
When trouble arises
If you use chains or cables to tie
down your vehicle, the angles
shaded in black must be 45°.
Do not overly tighten the tie
downs or the vehicle may be dam-
aged.
Towing with a wheel-lift type truck
From the frontFrom the rear
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels. Use a towing dolly under the
front wheels.
Using a flatbed truck

5468-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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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 short distance 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.
Take out the towing eyelet.
Remove the eyelet cover using
a flathead screwdriver.
To protect the bodywork, place a
rag between the screwdriver and
the vehicle body as shown in the
illustration.
Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by
hand.
Emergency towing (vehicles with a towing eyelet)
Emergency towing procedure (veh icles with a towing eyelet)
1
2
3

5478-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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8
When trouble arises
Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut
wrench or hard metal bar.
Securely attach cables and chains to the towing eyelet.
Take care not to damage the vehicle body.
Enter the vehicle being towed and start the hybrid system.
If the hybrid system does not start, turn the power switch to ON mode.
Shift the shift lever to N and release the parking brake.
When the shift lever cannot be shifted: →P. 212
■While towing (vehicles with a towing eyelet)
If the hybrid system is off, the power assist for the brakes and steering will not
function, making steering and braking more difficult.
■ Wheel nut wrench (vehic les with a towing eyelet)
Wheel nut wrench is installed in the tool bag. ( →P. 582)
4
5
6
7

5488-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4-HV_OM_OM42B81U_(U)
WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
■ While towing (vehicles with a 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 eye-
lets, cables or chains may become damaged, broken debris may hit peo-
ple, and cause serious damage.
● Do not turn the power switch off.
There is a possibility that the steering wheel is locked and cannot be oper-
ated.
■ Installing towing eyelets to the vehic le (vehicles with a towing eyelet)
Make sure that towing eyelets are installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets may come loose during towing.
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the drivetrain or related parts
may be damaged, the vehicle may fly off
the truck, or electricity generated by the
operation of the motor may cause a fire
to occur depending on the nature of the
damage or malfunction.

5498-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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8
When trouble arises
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 power switch is off. The
steering lock mechanism is not strong enough to hold the front wheels
straight.
● When raising the vehicle, ensure adequate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle. Without adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while being towed.
■ To prevent damage to the vehicle wh en 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 vehic le during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the suspension components.
■ Recreational towing (beh ind motor home, etc.)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to prevent
causing serious damage to the hybrid
transmission and AWD system.
(→P. 200)

550
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8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
If you think something is wrong
●Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air co nditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● Engine coolant temperature gauge needle continually points higher
than normal
● Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the hybrid system
● Engine missing, stumbling or running roughly
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, spon gy feeling, pedal almost touches
the floor
If you notice any of the follow ing symptoms, your vehicle proba-
bly needs adjustment or repair. Contact your Toyota dealer as
soon as possible.
Visible symptoms
Audible symptoms
Operational symptoms

551
RAV4-HV_OM_OM42B81U_(U)
8-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
If a warning light turns on or a warning
buzzer sounds
Calmly perform the following actions if any of the warning lights
comes on or flashes. If a light comes on or flashes, but then
goes off, this does not necessarily indicate a malfunction in the
system. However, if this continues to occur, have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
Warning light and warning buzzer list
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
(U.S.A.)
(Red)
(Canada)
Brake system warning light (warning buzzer)*1
Indicates that:
• The brake fluid level is low; or
• The brake system is malfunctioning
This light also comes on when the parking brake is not
released. If the light turns off after the parking brake is fully
released the system is operating normally.
→ Immediately stop the vehicle in a safe place and con-
tact your Toyota dealer. Continuing to drive the vehi-
cle may be dangerous.
(Yellow)
Brake system warning light
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The regenerative braking system; or
• The electronically controlled brake system
→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
Malfunction indicator lamp Indicates a malfunction in:
• The hybrid system;
• The electronic throttle control system;
• The electronic hybrid transmission control system
→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
SRS warning light
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The SRS airbag system;
• The front passenger occupant classification system; or
• The seat belt pretensioner system
→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.

5528-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RAV4-HV_OM_OM42B81U_(U)
(U.S.A.)
(Canada)
ABS warning light Indicates a malfunction in:
• The ABS; or
• The brake assist system
→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Electric power steering system warning light (warning
buzzer)
Indicates a malfunction in the EPS (Electric Power Steer-
ing) system
→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
(Flashes or
illuminates)
PCS warning light (if equipped)
Indicates a malfunction in the PCS (Pre-Collision System)
or that the system is temporarily unavailable due to the
vehicle being extremely hot/cold, or dirt around a front
sensor, etc. ( →P. 258, 560)
→ Follow the instructions displayed on the multi-infor-
mation display. (→P. 258, 560).
If the PCS (Pre-Collision Syst em) or VSC (Vehicle Stability
Control) system is disabled, the PCS warning light will illu-
minate.
→ P. 314
Slip indicator
Indicates a malfunction in:
• The VSC system;
• Trailer sway control system;
• The TRAC system; or
• The hill-start assist control system
The light will flash when the TRAC, VSC, ABS or Trailer
Sway Control system is operating.
→ Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer
immediately.
Low fuel level warning light
Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately 2.2 gal.
(8.4 L, 1.8 Imp. gal.) or less
→ Refuel the vehicle.
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions