2021 TOYOTA RAV4 Owners Manual (in English)

3614-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
■Dynamic Torque Control
AWD vehicles
Press the snow mode switch.
When the switch is pressed, the
system switches to snow mode and
the snow mode indicator illuminates
on the multi-info rmation display.
When the switch is pressed again,
the snow mode indicator turns off.
■Dynamic Torque Vectoring
AWD vehicles
Press the snow mode switch.
When the switch is pressed, the
system switches to snow mode and
the snow mode indicator illuminates
on the multi-info rmation display. When the switch is pressed again,
the snow mode indicator turns off.
■When changing to snow mode
The background of the multi-infor-
mation display changes.
■Canceling the snow mode
Snow mode is automatically can-
celed when the engine switch is
turned off or Mud & Sand or Rock &
Dirt mode is selected for Multi-ter-
rain Select.
Snow mode switch
(AWD vehicles)
Snow mode can be selected
to suit the conditions when
driving on slippery road sur-
faces, such as on snow.
System operation

3624-5. Using the driving support systems
*: If equipped
Press the “DAC” switch.
The downhill assist control system
indicator will come on and the sys-
tem will operate.
When the system is in operation,
the slip indicator light will flash, and
the stop lights/high mounted stop
lights will be lit. A sound may also
occur during the operation. This
does not indicate a malfunction.
Press the “DAC” switch while
the system is in operation.
The downhill assist control system
indicator will flash as the system
gradually ceases operation, and will
turn off when the system is fully off.
Press the “DAC” switch while the
downhill assist control system indi-
cator is flash ing to start the system
again.
■Operating tips
The system will o perate when the
shift lever is in D or 1 range of S
mode or R.
■If the downhill a ssist control
system indicator flashes
●In the following situ ations, the indi-
cator flashes and the system will
not operate:
• The shift lever is in a position
other than D or 1 range of S mode
or R.
• The accelerator or brake pedal is
depressed.
• The vehicle speed exceeds approximately 15 mph (25 km/h).
• The brake system overheats.
●In the following situation, the indi-
cator flashes to alert the driver,
but the system will operate:
• The “DAC” switch is turned off
while the system is operating.
The system will gradually ceases
Downhill assist con-
trol system*
The downhill assist control
system helps to prevent
excessive speed on steep
downhill slopes.
The system will operate
when the vehicle is traveling
under 15 mph (25 km/h) with
the accelerator and brake
pedals released.
WARNING
■When using downhill assist
control system
Do not rely overmuch on the
downhill assist control system.
This function does not extend the
vehicle’s performance limitations.
Always thoroughly check the road
conditions, and drive safely.
System operation
Turning off the system

3634-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
operation. The indicator will flash
during operation, and then go off
when the system is fully off.
■When the downhill assist con-
trol system is operated continu-
ously
This may cause the brake actuator
to overheat. In this case, the down-
hill assist control system will stop
operating, a buzze r will sound and
the downhill assist control system
indicator will start flashing. Refrain
from using the s ystem until the
downhill assist control system indi-
cator stays on. (T he vehicle can be
driven normally during this time.)
■Sounds and vibrations caused
by the downhill assist control
system
●A sound may be heard from the
engine compartment when the
engine is started or just after the
vehicle begins to move. This
sound does not indicate that a
malfunction has occurred in down-
hill assist control system.
●Either of the following conditions
may occur when the downhill
assist control system is operating.
None of these are indicators 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.
■System malfunction
In the following ca ses, have your
vehicle checked by your Toyota
dealer.
●The downhill assist control system
indicator does not come on when
the engine switch is turned to ON.
●The downhill assist control system
indicator does not come on when
the “DAC” switch is pressed.
●The slip indicator light comes on.
WARNING
■The system may not operate
on the following surfaces,
which may lead to an acci-
dent causing death or serious
injury
●Slippery surfaces such as wet
or muddy roads
●Icy surface
●Unpaved roads

3644-5. Using the driving support systems
■ABS (Anti-lock Brake Sys-
tem)
Helps to prevent wheel lock
when the brakes are applied
suddenly, or if the brakes are
applied while driving on a slip-
pery road surface
■Brake assist
Generates an increased level of
braking force after the brake
pedal is depressed when the
system detects a panic stop sit-
uation
■VSC (Vehicle Stability Con-
trol)
Helps the driver to control skid-
ding when swerving suddenly or
turning on slippery road sur-
faces.
■Enhanced VSC (Enhanced
Vehicle Stability Control)
Provides cooperative control of
the ABS, TRAC, VSC and EPS.
Helps to maintain directional
stability when swerving on slip-
pery road surfaces by con-
trolling steering performance.
■Trailer Sway Control
Helps the driver to control trailer
sway by selectively applying
brake pressure for individual
wheels and reducing driving
torque when trailer sway is
detected.
■TRAC (Traction Control)
Helps to maintain drive power
and prevent the drive wheels
from spinning when starting the
vehicle or accelerating on slip-
pery roads
■Active Cornering Assist
(ACA)
Helps to prevent the vehicle
from drifting to the outer side by
performing inner wheel brake
control when attempting to
accelerate while turning
■Hill-start assist control
Helps to reduce the backward
movement of the vehicle when
starting on an uphill
■EPS (Electric Power Steer-
ing)
Employs an electric motor to
reduce the amount of effort
Driving assist systems
To keep driving safety and
performance, the following
systems operate automati-
cally in response to various
driving situations. Be
aware, however, that these
systems are supplementary
and should not be relied
upon too heavily when oper-
ating the vehicle.
Summary of the driving
assist systems

3654-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
needed to turn the steering
wheel
■Dynamic Torque Control
AWD system (if equipped)
Automatically switches from
front-wheel drive to all-wheel
drive (AWD) according to the
driving conditions, helping to
ensure reliable handling and
stability. Examples of condi-
tions where the system will
switch to AWD are when corner-
ing, going uphill, starting off or
accelerating, and when the road
surface is slippery due to snow,
rain, etc.
■Dynamic Torque Vectoring
AWD system (if equipped)
Automatically switches from
front wheel drive to all-wheel
drive (AWD) according to the
driving conditions, helping to
ensure reliable handling and
stability. Examples of condi-
tions where the system will
switch to AWD are when corner-
ing, going uphill, starting off or
accelerating, and when the road
surface is slippery due to snow,
rain, etc.
Also, when the vehicle is corner-
ing, the drive torque distribution
between the front and rear
wheels and between the rear left
and right wheels is precisely
controlled to improve drivability
and stability.
■The Secondary Collision
Brake
When the SRS airbag sensor
detects a collision and the sys-
tem operates, the brakes and
brake lights are automatically
controlled to reduce the vehicle
speed and help reduce the pos-
sibility of further damage due to
a secondary collision.
■When the TRAC/VSC/Trailer
Sway Control systems are oper-
ating
The slip indicator light will flash
while the TRAC/VSC /Trailer Sway
Control systems are operating.
■Disabling the TRAC system
If the vehicle gets stuck in mud, dirt
or snow, the TRAC system may
reduce power from the engine to the
wheels.
Pressing to turn the system off
may make it easier for you to rock
the vehicle in order to free it.
To turn the TRAC system off,
quickly press and release .
“Traction Contro l Turned OFF” will

3664-5. Using the driving support systems
be shown on the multi-information
display.
Press again to turn the system
back on.
■Turning off the
TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway Con-
trol systems
To turn the TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway
Control systems off, press and hold
for more than 3 seconds while
the vehicle is stopped.
The VSC OFF indicator light will
come on and the “Traction Control
Turned OFF” will be shown on the
multi-information display.
*
Press again to tu rn the systems
back on.
*: PCS will also be disabled (only
Pre-Collision warning is avail-
able). The PCS warning light will
come on and a message will be
displayed on the multi-information
display. ( P.239)
■When the message is dis-
played on the multi-information
display showing that TRAC has
been disabled even if has
not been pressed
TRAC is temporary deactivated. If
the information continues to show,
contact your Toyota dealer.
■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.
■Automatic system cancelation
of hill-start assist control
The hill-start assist control will turn
off in any of the fo llowing situations:
●The shift lever is shifted to P or N.
●The accelerator pedal is
depressed.
●The parking brake is engaged.
●No more than 2 seconds have
elapsed after the brake pedal is
released.
■Sounds and vibrations caused
by the ABS, brake assist, VSC,
Trailer Sway Control, TRAC and
hill-start assist control systems
●A sound may be heard from the
engine compartment when the
brake pedal is depressed repeat-
edly, when the engine is started or
just after the vehicle begins to
move. This sound does not indi-
cate that a malfunction has
occurred in any of these systems.
●Any of the following conditions
may occur when the above sys-
tems are operating. 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 also after the vehicle comes to a stop.
• The brake pedal may pulsate
slightly after th e ABS is activated.
• The brake pedal may move down
slightly after th e ABS is activated.
■Active Cornering Assist opera-
tion sounds and vibrations
When the Active Cornering Assist is
operated, operation sounds and
vibrations may be generated from
the brake system, but this is not a
malfunction.
■AWD system operation sounds
and vibrations when switching
between AWD and front wheel
drive
When the vehicle switches from
AWD to front wheel drive and vice

3674-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
versa, operation sounds and vibra-
tions may be generated, but this is
not a malfunction.
■EPS operation sound
When the steering wheel is oper-
ated, a motor sou nd (whirring
sound) may be heard. This does not
indicate a malfunction.
■Automatic reactivation of
TRAC, Trailer Sway Control and
VSC systems
After turning the TRAC, Trailer
Sway Control and VSC systems off,
the systems will be automatically re-
enabled in the following situations:
●When the engine switch is turned
off.
●If only the TRAC system is turned
off, the TRAC will turn on when
vehicle speed increases.
If both the TRAC and VSC sys-
tems are turned off, automatic re-
enabling will not oc cur when vehi-
cle speed increases.
■Operating conditions of Active
Cornering Assist
The system operates when the fol-
lowing occurs.
●TRAC/VSC can operate
●The driver is at tempting to accel-
erate while turning
●The system detects that the vehi-
cle is drifting to the outer side
●The brake pedal is released
■Reduced effectiveness of the
EPS system
The effect iveness of the EPS sys-
tem is reduced to prevent the sys-
tem from overheating when there is
frequent steering input over an
extended period of time. The steer-
ing wheel may feel heavy as a
result. Should this occur, refrain
from excessive steering input or
stop the vehicle and turn the engine
off. The EPS syste m should return
to normal within 10 minutes.
■Secondary Collision Brake
operating conditions
The system operates when the SRS
airbag sensor de tects a collision
while the vehicle is in motion. How-
ever, the system does not operate in
any of the following situations.
●The vehicle speed is below 6 mph
(10 km/h)
●Components are damaged
■Secondary Collision Brake
automatic cancellation
The system is automatically can-
celed in any of th e following situa-
tions.
●The vehicle speed drops below
approximately 6 mph (10 km/h)
●A certain amount of time elapses
during operation
●The accelerator pedal is
depressed a large amount
■If a message about AWD is shown on the multi-information display
(AWD models)
Perform the following actions.

3684-5. Using the driving support systems
*: After stopping the vehicle, do not stop the engine until the display mes-
sage has turned off.
MessageDetails/Actions
“AWD System Over- heated Switching to 2WD Mode”
AWD system is overheating.
Perform the following actions.
• Reduce the vehicle sp eed until the message
disappears.
• Stop the vehicle in a s afe place and let the
engine idle.
*
Once the display message on the multi-informa-
tion display turns off, there is no problem continu-
ing to drive.
If the message does not disappear, have your
vehicle checked by your Toyota dealer immedi-
ately.
“AWD System Over- heated 2WD Mode Engaged”
The vehicle switched from all-wheel drive (AWD)
to front wheel drive due to overheating.
 Perform the following actions.
• Reduce the vehicle sp eed until the message
disappears.
• Stop the vehicle in a s afe place and let the
engine idle.
*
Once the display message on the multi-informa-
tion display turns off, the AWD system returns to
normal.
If the message does not disappear, have your
vehicle checked by your Toyota dealer immedi-
ately.
“AWD System Malfunc-
tion 2WD Mode
Engaged Visit Your Dealer”A malfunction occurred in the AWD system.
 Have your vehicle checked by your Toyota
dealer immediately.
WARNING
■The ABS does not operate
effectively when
●The limits of tire gripping perfor-
mance 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.