2021 TOYOTA RAV4 transmission

2014-2. Driving procedures
4
Driving
*1: Shifting to the D position allows the system to select a gear suit-
able for the driving conditions.
Setting the shift lever to the D
position is recommended for nor-
mal driving.
*2: Selecting shift ranges using S mode restricts the upper limit of
the possible gear ranges, con-
trols engine brak ing force, and
prevents unnecessary upshifting.
■When driving with dynamic
radar cruise control with full-
speed range activated
Even when performing the following
actions with the in tent of enabling
engine braking, e ngine braking will
not activate because dynamic radar
cruise control with full-speed range will not be canceled.
●While driving in S mode, down-
shifting to 7, 6
, 5, or 4. (P.203)
●When switching th e driving mode
to sport mode while driving in D.
(  P.355)
■If “High Transmission Fluid
Temp See Owner’s Manual” is
displayed on the multi-informa-
tion display (AWD models)
Make sure to return to D position
driving and reduce speed by easing
off the accelerato r pedal. Stop the
vehicle in a safe place, shift the shift
lever to P and let the engine idle
until the warning message goes out.
When the warning message goes
out, the vehicle can be driven again.
If the warning message does not go
out after waiting a while, have your
vehicle inspected by your Toyota
dealer.
■Restraining sudden start (Drive-
Start Control)
 P.172
■AI-SHIFT
The AI-SHIFT automa tically selects
the suitable gear according to driver
performance and driving conditions.
The AI-SHIFT automatically oper-
ates when the shift lever is in D.
(Shifting the shift lever to S cancels
the function.)
Automatic transmis-
sion
Select the shift position
depending on your purpose
and situation.
Shift position purpose
and functions
Shift
positionObjective or function
PParking the vehi-
cle/starting the engine
RReversing
NNeutral
DNormal driving*1
SS mode driving*2
(  P.203)
WARNING
■When driving on slippery
road surfaces
Do not accelerate or shift gears
suddenly.
Sudden changes in engine brak-
ing may cause the vehicle to spin
or skid, resulting in an accident.

2044-2. Driving procedures
■Downshifting restriction warn-
ing buzzer
To help ensure safety and driving
performance, downshifting opera-
tion may sometimes b e restricted. In
some circumstances, downshifting
may not be possible even when the
shift lever is operated. (A buzzer will
sound twice.)
■If the “S” indicator does not
come on or the “D” indicator is
displayed even after shifting the
shift lever to S
This may indicate a malfunction in
the automatic tra nsmission system.
Have the vehicle inspected by your
Toyota dealer imme diately. (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 s ignals 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.
4Left turn
■Turn signals can be operated
when
The engine switch is in ON.
■If the indicator flashes faster
than usual
Check that a light bulb in the front or
rear turn signal lights has not
Turn signal lever
Operating instructions

3514-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
• The vehicle has been driven a cer-tain amount of time.
• The brake pedal is being depressed firmly. (except when
the vehicle is stopped by the
dynamic radar cruise control with
full-speed range when in vehicle-
to-vehicle distanc e control mode)
• The D shift position is selected.
• The driver’s seat belt is fastened.
• The driver’s door is closed.
• The selected driv ing mode is nor-
mal or Eco drive mode.
• The selected driv ing mode is not
snow mode (AWD models).
• Mud & Sand or Rock & Dirt mode
is not selected for Multi-terrain
Select (AWD models).
• The windshield defogger is off.
(vehicles without a manual air
conditioning system)
• The accelerator pedal is not being depressed.
• The engine is adequately warmed up.
• The outside temperature is 23°F (-
5°C) or higher.
• The hood is closed. ( P.352)
●In the following situations, the
engine may not be stopped by the
Stop & Start syste m. This is not a
malfunction of the Stop & Start
system.
• When the air conditioning system
is being used.
• When the battery is undergoing a periodic recharge.
• When the battery is not sufficiently charged, such as if the vehicle
has been parked for a long time
and the battery charge has
decreased, the e lectric load is
large, the battery fluid tempera-
ture is excessively low or the bat-
tery has deteriorated.
• When the brake booster vacuum
is low.
• When the elapsed time since the engine was restarted is short.
• When the vehicle is stopped fre- quently, such as when in a traffic
jam.
• When the engine coolant tem- perature or transmission fluid tem- perature is extremely low or high.
• When the vehicle is stopped on a
steep incline.
• When the steering wheel is being
operated.
• When the vehicle is being driven in a high altitude area.
• When the battery fluid tempera- ture is extremely low or high.
• For a while after the battery termi-
nals have been disconnected and
reconnected.
●When the engine is stopped by
the Stop & Star t system, the
engine will be restarted automati-
cally if any of the following condi-
tions are met:
(To enable the engine to be
stopped by the Stop & Start sys-
tem again, drive the vehicle.)
• The air conditioning system is turned on. (vehicles without a
manual air conditioning system)
• The windshield defogger is turned on. (vehicles without a manual air
conditioning system)
• The shift lever is shifted from D.
• The driver’s seat belt is unfas- tened.
• The driver’s door is opened.
• The driving mode is changed from normal or Eco drive mode to
another mode.
• The driving mode is changed to
snow mode (AWD models).
• Mud & Sand or Rock & Dirt mode is selected for Mult i-terrain Select
(AWD models).
• The Stop & Start cancel switch is pressed.
• The steering wheel is operated.
• The accelerator pedal is depressed.
• The vehicle starts to roll on an incline.
●When the engine is stopped by
the Stop & Star t system, the
engine may restart automatically
in the following situations: (To
enable the engine to be stopped
by the Stop & Start system again,
drive the vehicle.)
• When the brake pedal is pumped

3764-6. Driving tips
WARNING
●When driving off-road or in rug-
ged terrain, do not drive at
excessive speeds, jump, make
sharp turns, strike objects, etc.
This may cause loss of control
or vehicle rollover causing
death or serious injury. You are
also risking expensive damage
to your vehicle’s suspension
and chassis.
NOTICE
■To prevent the water damage
Take all necessary safety mea-
sures to ensure that water dam-
age to the engine or other
components does not occur.
●Water entering the engine air
intake will cause severe engine
damage.
●Water entering the automatic
transmission will cause deterio-
ration in shift quality, locking up
of your transmission accompa-
nied by vibration, and ultimately
damage.
●Water can wash the grease
from wheel bearings, causing
rusting and premature failure,
and may also enter the differen-
tials, transmission and transfer
case (AWD models), reducing
the gear oil’s lub ricating quali-
ties.
■When you drive through
water
If driving through water, such as
when crossing shallow streams,
first check the depth of the water
and the bottom of the riverbed for
firmness. Drive slowly and avoid
deep water.
■Inspection after off-road driv-
ing
●Sand and mud that has accu-
mulated around brake discs
may affect braking efficiency
and may damage brake system
components.
●Always perform a maintenance
inspection after each day of off-
road driving that has taken you
through rough terrain, sand,
mud, or water. For scheduled
maintenance information, refer
to the “Scheduled Maintenance
Guide” or “Owner’s Manual
Supplement”.

4135-4. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
5
Audio
Auto connection is established,
the function of some system but-
tons will change.
●When an Apple CarPlay/Android
Auto connection is established,
some system functions, such as
the following, will be replaced by
similar Apple CarPlay/Android
Auto functions or will become
unavailable:
• iPod (Audio Playback)
• USB audio/USB video
• Bluetooth
® audio
• Bluetooth® phone (Apple CarPlay
only)
• Toyota Apps
*
*
: This function is not made avail- able in some countries or areas.
●When an Apple CarPlay/Android
Auto connection is established,
voice command system (Siri/Goo-
gle Assistant) and map application
voice guidance volume can be
changed by selecting “Voice Vol-
ume” on the voice settings screen.
It cannot be changed by “POWER
VOLUME” knob on Audio control
panel. ( P.422)
●Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is an
application developed by Apple
Inc/Google LLC. Its functions and
services may be terminated or
changed without notice depending
on the connected device’s opera-
tion system, hardware and soft-
ware, or due to changes in Apple
CarPlay/Android Auto specifica-
tions.
●For a list of the apps supported by
Apple CarPlay or Android Auto,
refer to their respective website.
●While using these functions, vehi-
cle and user information, such as
location and vehicle speed, will be
shared with the respective appli-
cation publisher and the cellular
service provider.
●By downloading and using each
application, you agree to their
terms of use.
●Data for these functions is trans-
mitted using the in ternet and may
incur charges. For information
about data transmission fees,
contact your cellular service pro-
vider.
●Depending on the application, cer-
tain functions, such as music play-
back, may be restricted.
●As the applications for each func-
tion are provided by a third-party,
they may be subject to change or
discontinuation without notice. For
details, refer to th e website of the
function.
●If the USB cable is disconnected,
operation of Apple Car-
Play/Android Auto will end. At this
time, sound outp ut will stop and
change to the system screen.
■Certification
●Use of the Apple CarPlay logo
means that a vehicle user inter-
face meets Apple performance
standards. Apple is not responsi-
ble for the operation of this vehicle
or its compliance with safety and
regulatory standards. Please note
that the use of this product with
iPhone or iPod may affect wire-
less performance.
●Apple CarPlay is a trademark of
Apple Inc.

5747-2. Maintenance
Exhaust sys-
temThere should not
be any fumes or
strange sounds.
Radiator/con-
denser
The radiator and
condenser should
be free from for-
eign objects.
( P.585)
Washer fluid
Is there sufficient
washer fluid?
( P.587)
Vehicle interior
ItemsCheck points
Accelerator
pedal
• The accelerator
pedal should
move smoothly
(without uneven
pedal effort or
catching).
Automatic
transmission
“Park” mecha-
nism
• When parked on a slope and the
shift position is in
P, is the vehicle
securely
stopped?
Brake pedal
• Does the brake pedal move
smoothly?
• Does the brake pedal have
appropriate
clearance from
the floor?
• Does the brake pedal have the
correct amount
of free play?
ItemsCheck points
Brakes
• The vehicle should not pull to
one side when
the brakes are
applied.
• The brakes should work
effectively.
• The brake pedal should not feel
spongy.
• The brake pedal should not get
too close to the
floor when the
brakes are
applied.
Head
restraints
• Do the head restraints move
smoothly and
lock securely?
Indica-
tors/buzzers
• Do the indica-tors and buzzers
function prop-
erly?
Lights• Do all the lights come on?
Parking brake
• Does the park-ing brake oper-
ate normally?
• When parked on a slope and the
parking brake is
on, is the vehicle
securely
stopped?
ItemsCheck points

6328-2. Steps to take in an emergency
The following may indicate a
problem with your transmission.
Contact your Toyota dealer or
commercial towing service
WARNING
■While towing (vehicles with
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 eyelets,
cables or chains may become
damaged, broken debris may hit
people, and cause serious dam-
age.
●Do not turn the engine switch to
OFF.
There is a possibility that the
steering wheel is locked and
cannot be operated.
■Installing towing eyelets to
the vehicle (vehicles with
towing eyelets)
Make sure that towing eyelets are
installed securely. If not securely
installed, towing eyelets may
come loose during towing.
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 engine switch is
off or the key is removed (vehi-
cles without smart key system).
The steering lock mechanism is
not strong enough to hold the
front wheels straight.
●When raising the vehicle,
ensure adequate ground clear-
ance for towing at the opposite
end of the raised vehicle. With-
out adequate clearance, the
vehicle could be damaged while
being towed.
■To prevent damage to the
vehicle when 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
vehicle during emergency
towing (vehicles with towing
eyelet)
Do not secure cables or chains to
the suspension components.
■When towing the vehicle
(vehicles with Stop & Start
system)
If it is necessary to tow the vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground,
perform the following procedure
before towing the vehicle, in order
to protect the system.
Turn the engine switch to OFF
and then start the engine or turn
the engine switch to ON.
■Recreational towing (behind
motor home, etc.)
Never dinghy tow your vehicle to
prevent causing serious damage
to the AWD system (AWD mod-
els) and transmission. ( P.193)
Situations when it is nec-
essary to contact dealers
before towing

6508-2. Steps to take in an emergency
shown while the dr iving support sys-
tems such as PCS (Pre-Collision
system) or the dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed range is oper-
ating. If a warning message is
shown, be sure to decelerate the
vehicle or follow an instruction
shown on the multi -information dis-
play.
A warning message is shown when
Brake Override Syst em, Drive-Start
Control or Parking Support Brake (if
equipped) ( P.172, 281) operates.
Follow the instruct ions on the multi-
information display.
●If a message about an operation
of the engine switch is shown (if
equipped)
An instruction for operation of the
engine switch is shown when the
incorrect procedure for starting the
engine is performed or the engine
switch is operated incorrectly. Fol-
low the instructi ons shown on the
multi-information display to operate
the engine switch again.
●If a message abou t a shift lever
operation is shown
To prevent the shift lever from being
operated incorrectly or the vehicle
from moving unexpectedly, a mes-
sage that requires shifting the shift
lever may be sho wn on the multi-
information display. In that case, fol-
low the instruction of the message
and shift the shift lever.
●If a message or image about an
open/close state of a part or
replenishment of a consumable is
shown
Confirm the part indicated by the
multi-information display or a warn-
ing light, and then perform the cop-
ing method such as closing the open door or replenishing a con-
sumable.
■If a message that indicates the
need for visiting your Toyota
dealer is displayed
The system or part shown on the
multi-information di splay is malfunc-
tioning. Have the vehicle inspected
by your Toyota dea ler immediately.
■If a message that indicates the
need for referring to Owner’s
Manual is displayed
●If “Engine Coolant Temp High” is
shown, follow the instructions
( P.670).
●If the following messages are
shown, there may be a malfunc-
tion.
Immediately stop the vehicle in a
safe place and contact your
Toyota dealer. Continuing to drive
the vehicle may be dangerous.
• “Charging System Malfunction”
• “High Transmission Fluid Temp”
• “Smart Key System Malfunction”
●If the following messages are
shown, there may be a malfunc-
tion.
Immediately have the vehicle
inspected by your Toyota dealer.
• “Oil Pressure Low”
• “Braking Power Low”
■If “Shift to P when Parked” is
shown (if equipped)
Message is displayed when the
driver’s door is opened without turn-
ing the engine s witch to OFF with
the shift lever in any position other
than P.
Shift the shift lever to P.
■If “Auto Power OFF to Conserve
Battery” is shown (if equipped)
Power was turned off due to the
automatic power off function.
Next time when starting the engine,
increase the engine speed slightly
and maintain that level for approxi-
mately 5 minutes t o recharge the