2021 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID Owners Manual

2814-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
message and follow the instructions.
(  P.248, 654)
■When the sensor may not be
correctly detecting the vehicle
ahead
In the case of the following and
depending on the conditions, oper-
ate the brake pedal when decelera-
tion of the system is insufficient or
operate the accelerator pedal when
acceleration is required.
As the sensor may not be able to
correctly detect these types of vehi-
cles, the approach warning
(  P.278) may not be activated.
●Vehicles that cut in suddenly
●Vehicles traveling at low speeds
●Vehicles that are not moving in
the same lane
●Vehicles with small rear ends
(trailers with no load on board,
etc.)
●Motorcycles traveling in the same
lane
●When water or snow thrown up by
the surrounding vehicles hinders
the detecting of the sensor
●When your vehicle is pointing
upwards (caused by a heavy load
in the luggage compartment, etc.)
●Preceding vehicle has an extremely high ground clearance
■Conditions under which the
vehicle-to-vehic
le distance con-
trol mode may not function cor-
rectly
In the case of the following condi-
tions, operate the brake pedal (or
accelerator pedal, depending on the
situation) as necessary.
As the sensor may not be able to
correctly detect vehicles ahead, the
system may not operate properly.
●When the road curves or when the
lanes are narrow
●When steering wheel operation or
your position in the lane is unsta-
ble
●When the vehicle ahead of you
decelerates suddenly
●When driving on a road sur-
rounded by a structure, such as in
a tunnel or on a bridge
●While the vehicle speed is

2824-5. Using the driving support systems
decreasing to the set speed after
the vehicle accelerates by
depressing the accelerator pedal
*: If equipped
BSM (Blind Spot Moni-
tor)*
The Blind Spot Monitor is a
system that has 2 functions:
The BSM (Blind Spot Moni-
tor) function
Assists the driver in making a
decision when changing lanes
 The RCTA (Rear Cross
Traffic Alert) function
Assists the driver when back-
ing up
These functions use the
same sensors.
WARNING
■Cautions regarding the use of
the BSM function
The driver is solely responsible for
safe driving. Always drive safely,
taking care to observe your sur-
roundings.
The BSM function is a supple-
mentary function which alerts the
driver that a vehicle is in a blind
spot of the outside rear view mir-
rors or is approaching rapidly from
behind into a blin d spot. Do not
overly rely on the BSM function.
A s th e f un ctio n ca nn ot jud g e if it is
safe to change lanes, over reli-
ance could lead to an accident
resulting in dea th or serious
injury.
As the system may not function
correctly under certain condi-
tions, the driver’s own visual con-
firmation of safety is necessary.

2834-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
Multi-information display
Turning the BSM function/RCTA
function on/off.
Outside rear view mirror indi-cators
BSM function:
When a vehicle is detected in a
blind spot of the outside rear view
mirrors or approaching rapidly from
behind into a blind spot, the outside
rear view mirror indicator on the
detected side will illuminate. If the
turn signal lever is operated toward
the detected side, the outside rear
view mirror indicator will flash.
RCTA function:
When a vehicle approaching from
the right or left a
t the rear of the
vehicle is detected, both outside
rear view mirror indicators will flash.
BSM indicator/RCTA OFF
indicator
When the Blind Spot Monitor is
enabled, the BSM indicator illumi-
nates.
When the RCTA function is dis-
abled, the RCTA OFF indicator illu-
minates.
Monitor screen display
(RCTA function only)
If a vehicle approaching from the
right or left at the rear of the vehicle
is detected, the RCTA icon
(  P.289) for the detected side will
be displayed.
RCTA buzzer (RCTA func-
tion only)
If a vehicle approaching from the
right or left at the rear of the vehicle
is detected, a buzzer will sound
from behind the rear seat.
WARNING
■Cautions regarding the use of
the RCTA function
The driver is solely responsible for
safe driving. Always drive safely,
taking care to o bserve your sur-
roundings.
The RCTA function is only a sup-
plementary function which alerts
the driver tha t a vehicle is
approaching from the right or left
at the rear of the vehicle. As the
RCTA function may not function
correctly under certain condi-
tions, the driver’s own visual con-
firmation of safety is necessary.
Over reliance on this function may
lead to an accident resulting
death or serious injury.
System components
A
B
C
D
E

2844-5. Using the driving support systems
The BSM function and the
RCTA function can be
enabled/disabled on the
screen of the multi-information
display. (P.109)
■Outside rear view mirror indica-
tors visibility
In strong sunlight, the outside rear
view mirror indicato r may be difficult
to see.
■Hearing the RCTA buzzer
The RCTA buzzer may be difficult to
hear over loud noises such as high
audio volume.
■When “Blind Spot Monitor
Unavailable” or “Rear Cross
Traffic Alert Unavailable” is
shown on the multi-information
display
The sensor voltage has become abnormal, or water, snow, mud,
etc., may be built up in the vicinity of
the sensor area of the rear bumper.
(
 P.285)
Removing the water, snow, mud,
etc., from the vicini ty of the sensor
area should return it to normal.
Also, the sensor may not function
normally when used in extremely
hot or cold weather.
■When “Blind Spot Monitor Sys-
tem Malfunction Visit Your
Dealer” or “Rear Cross Traffic
Alert Malfunction Visit Your
Dealer” is shown on the multi-
information display
There may be a sensor malfunction
or misaligned. Have the vehicle
inspected at a Toyota dealer.
■Customization
Some functions can be customized.
(  P.109)
■Certification for the Blind Spot Monitor
For vehicles sold in t he U.S.A., Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Saipan
and Puerto Rico
Turning the BSM func-
tion/RCTA function on/off

2854-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
For vehicles sold in Canada
WARNING
■Handling the radar sensor
Blind Spot Monitor sensors are
installed inside t he left and right
sides of the rear bumper respec-
tively. Observe the following to
ensure the Blind Spot Monitor can
function correctly.
●Keep the sensors and the sur-
rounding areas on the rear
bumper clean at all times.
If a sensor or its surrounding
area on the rear bumper is dirty
or covered with snow, the Blind
Spot Monitor may not operate
and a warning message
(  P.284) will be displayed. In
this situation, clear off the dirt or
snow and drive the vehicle with
the operation conditions of the
BSM function ( P.287) satis-
fied for approximately 10 min-
utes. If the warning message
does not disappear, have the
vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer.
●Do not subject a sensor or its
surrounding area on the rear
bumper to a strong impact.
If a sensor is moved even
slightly off position, the system
may malfunction and vehicles
may not be detected correctly.
In the following si tuations, have
your vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer.
• A sensor or its surrounding area is subject to a strong impact.

2864-5. Using the driving support systems
■Vehicles that can be
detected by the Blind Spot
Monitor
The BSM function uses radar
sensors to detect the following
vehicles traveling in adjacent
lanes and advises the driver of
the presence of such vehicles
via the indicators on the outside
rear view mirrors. Vehicles that are traveling in
areas that are not visible
using the outside rear view
mirrors (the blind spots)
Vehicles that are approach-
ing rapidly from behind in
areas that are not visible
using the outside rear view
mirrors (the blind spots)
■The BSM function detection
areas
The areas that vehicles can be
detected in are outlined below.
WARNING

2874-5. Using the driving support systems
4
DrivingThe range of each detection area
is:
Approximately 1.6 ft. (0.5 m)
to 11.5 ft. (3.5 m) from either
side of the vehicle
The area between the side of the
vehicle and 1.6 ft. (0.5 m) from the
side of the vehicle cannot be
detected.
Approximately 3.3 ft. (1 m)
forward of the rear bumper
Approximately 9.8 ft. (3 m)
from the rear bumper
Approximately 9.8 ft. (3 m) to
197 ft. (60 m) from the rear
bumper
The greater the difference in speed
between your vehicle and the
detected vehicle is, the farther
away the vehicle will be detected,
causing the outside rear view mirror
indicator to illuminate or flash.
■The BSM function is operational
when
The BSM function is operational
when all of the fo llowing conditions
are met:
●The BSM function is on.
●The shift lever is in a position
other than R.
●The vehicle speed is greater than
approximately 10 mph (16 km/h).
■The BSM function will detect a
vehicle when
The BSM function w ill detect a vehi-
cle present in the detection area in
the following situations:
●A vehicle in an adjacent lane over-
takes your vehicle.
●You overtake a vehicle in an adja-
cent lane slowly.
●Another vehicle enters the detec-
tion area when it changes lanes.
■Conditions under which the
BSM function will not detect a
vehicle
The BSM function is not designed to
detect the following types of vehi-
cles and/or objects:
●Small motorcycles, bicycles,
pedestrians, etc.*
●Vehicles traveling in the opposite
direction
●Guardrails, walls, signs, parked
vehicles and similar stationary
objects
*
●Following vehicles that are in the
same lane*
●Vehicles traveling 2 lanes away
from your vehicle*
●Vehicles which are being over-
taken rapidly by your vehicle
*: Depending on the conditions, detection of a v ehicle and/or
object may occur.
A
B
C
D

2884-5. Using the driving support systems
■Conditions under which the
BSM function may not function
correctly
●The BSM function may not detect
vehicles correctly in the following
situations:
• When the sensor is misaligned
due to a strong impact to the sen-
sor or its surrounding area
• When mud, snow, ice, a sticker, etc. is covering the sensor or sur-
rounding area on the rear bumper
• When driving on a road surface that is wet with standing water
during bad weather, such as
heavy rain, snow, or fog
• When multiple vehicles are approaching with only a small gap
between each vehicle
• When the distanc e between your
vehicle and a following vehicle is
short
• When there is a significant differ- ence in speed between your vehi-
cle and the vehicle that enters the
detection area
• When the difference in speed between your vehicle and another
vehicle is changing
• When a vehicle enters a detection area traveling at about the same
speed as your vehicle
• As your vehicle starts from a stop, a vehicle remains in the detection
area
• When driving up and down con- secutive steep inclines, such as
hills, dips in the road, etc.
• When driving on roads with sharp bends, consecutive curves, or
uneven surfaces
• When vehicle lanes are wide, or when driving on the edge of a
lane, and the vehicle in an adja-
cent lane is far away from your
vehicle
• When an accessory (such as a bicycle carrier) is installed to the
rear of the vehicle
• When there is a significant differ- ence in height between your vehi-
cle and the vehicle that enters the
detection area
• Immediately after the BSM func- tion/RCTA function are turned on
• When towing a trailer
●Instances of the BSM function
unnecessarily detecting a vehicle
and/or object may increase in the
following situations:
• When the sensor is misaligned due to a strong impact to the sen-
sor or its surrounding area
• When the distance between your vehicle and a guardrail, wall, etc.
that enters the detection area is
short
• When driving up and down con- secutive steep inclines, such as
hills, dips in the road, etc.
• When vehicle lanes are narrow, or when driving on the edge of a
lane, and a vehicle traveling in a
lane other than the adjacent lanes
enters the detection area
• When driving on r oads with sharp
bends, consecutive curves, or
uneven surfaces
• When the tires are slipping or
spinning
• When the distance between your vehicle and a following vehicle is
short
• When an accessory (such as a bicycle carrier) is installed to the
rear of the vehicle
• When the vehicle throws up water or snow behind.
■Operation of the RCTA
function
The RCTA function uses radar
sensors to detect vehicles
approaching from the right or left
at the rear of the vehicle and
alerts the driver of the presence
of such vehicles by flashing the
outside rear view mirror indica-
The Rear Cross Traffic
Alert function (if
equipped)