2023 TOYOTA RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID warning

2925-1. Before driving
WARNING
●Avoid revving or racing the engine. Running the engine at high speed
while the vehicle is stopped may cause the exhaust system to over-heat, which could result in a fire if
combustible material is nearby.
■When the vehicle is parked
●Do not leave glasses, cigarette lighters, spray cans, or soft drink cans in the vehicle when it is in the
sun. Doing so may result in the follow-ing:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can, and may lead to a fire.
• The temperature inside the vehicle may cause the plastic lenses and plastic material of glasses to
deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture, caus- ing the contents to spray over the
interior of the vehicle, and may also cause a short circuit in the vehicle’s electrical components.
●Do not leave cigarette lighters in the vehicle. If a cigarette lighter is in a
place such as the glove box or on the floor, it may be lit accidentally when luggage is loaded or the seat
is adjusted, causing a fire.
●Do not attach adhesive discs to the
windshield or windows. Do not place containers such as air fresh-eners on the instrument panel or
dashboard. Adhesive discs or con- tainers may act as lenses, causing a fire in the vehicle.
●Do not leave a door or window open if the curved glass is coated
with a metallized film such as a sil- ver-colored one. Reflected sunlight may cause the glass to act as a
lens, causing a fire.
●Always apply the parking brake, shift the shift lever to P, stop the hybrid system and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave the vehicle unat- tended while the “READY” indicator is illuminated.
If the vehicle is parked with the shift lever in P but the parking brake is not set, the vehicle may start to
move, possibly leading to an acci- dent.
●Do not touch the exhaust pipes while the “READY” indicator is illu-minated or immediately after turn-
ing the hybrid system off. Doing so may cause burns.
■When taking a nap in the vehicle
Always turn the hybrid system off. Otherwise, if you accidentally move
the shift lever or depress the acceler- ator pedal, this could cause an acci-dent or fire due to hybrid system
overheating. Additionally, if the vehi- cle is parked in a poorly ventilated area, exhaust gases may collect and
enter the vehicle, leading to death or a serious health hazard.
■When braking
●When the brakes are wet, drive more cautiously.
Braking distance increases when the brakes are wet, and this may cause one side of the vehicle to
brake differently than the other side. Also, the parking brake may not securely hold the vehicle.
●If the electronically controlled brake system does not operate, do not fol-
low other vehicles closely and avoid hills or sharp turns that require braking.
In this case, braking is still possible, but the brake pedal should be depressed more firmly than usual.
Also, the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.

293
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●The brake system consists of 2 or more individual hydraulic systems;
if one of the systems fails, the other will still operate. In this case, the brake pedal should be depressed
more firmly than usual and the braking distance will increase. Have your brakes fixed immediately.
■If the vehicle becomes stuck
Do not spin the wheels excessively
when any of the tires is up in the air, or the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, etc. This may damage the driveline
components or propel the vehicle for- ward or backward, causing an acci-dent.
NOTICE
■When driving the vehicle
●Do not depress the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time
during driving, as this may restrain the hybrid system output.
●Do not use the accelerator pedal or depress the accelerator and brake
pedals at the same time to hold the vehicle on a hill.
■Avoiding damage to vehicle parts
●Do not turn the steering wheel fully
in either direction and hold it there for an extended period of time.Doing so may damage the power
steering motor.
●When driving over bumps in the
road, drive as slowly as possible to avoid damaging the wheels, under-side of the vehicle, etc.
■If you get a flat tire while driving
A flat or damaged tire may cause the
following situations.
●It may be difficult to control your vehicle.
●The vehicle will make abnormal sounds or vibrations.
●The vehicle will lean abnormally.
Hold the steering wheel firmly and gradually depress the brake pedal to
slow down the vehicle.
Information on what to do in case of a flat tire ( P.548, 559)
■When encountering flooded roads
Do not drive on a road that has flooded after heavy rain, etc. Doing so may cause the following serious dam-
age to the vehicle:
●Engine stalling
●Short in electrical components
●Engine damage caused by water
immersion
In the event that you drive on a
flooded road and the vehicle is flooded, be sure to have any autho-rized Toyota retailer or Toyota autho-
rized repairer, or any reliable repairer check the following:
●Brake function
●Changes in quantity and quality of oil and fluid used for the engine,
hybrid transaxle (front and rear), etc.
●Lubricant condition for the bearings and suspension joints (where possi-ble), and the function of all joints,
bearings, etc.
●Components connected to the trac-
tion battery.
■When parking the vehicle
Always set the parking brake, and shift the shift lever to P. Failure to do so may cause the vehicle to move or
the vehicle may accelerate suddenly if the accelerator pedal is accidentally depressed.

2945-1. Before driving
When the following unusual opera-
tion is performed with the accelera-
tor pedal depressed, the hybrid
system output may be restrained.
 When the shift lever is shifted to
R*.
 When the shift lever is shifted
from P or R to forward drive shift
position such as D*.
When the system operates, a message
appears on the multi-information dis-
play. Read the message and follow the
instruction.
*: Depending on the situation, the shift
position may not be changed.
■Drive-Start Control (DSC)
●When the TRC is turned off ( P.417), sudden start restraint control also does not operate. If your vehicle have
trouble escaping from the mud or fresh snow due to sudden start restraint control operation, deactivate
TRC ( P.417) so that the vehicle may become able to escape from the mud or fresh snow.
Also, sudden start restraint control will
not operate in the following condition:
• When Trail Mode is turned on
Sudden start restraint con-
trol (Drive-Start Control
[DSC])
Cargo and luggage
Take notice of the following
information about storage pre-
cautions, cargo capacity and
load.
WARNING
■Things that must not be carried in the luggage compartment
The following things may cause a fire if loaded in the luggage compartment:
●Receptacles containing gasoline
●Aerosol cans
■Storage precautions
Observe the following precautions. Failure to do so may prevent the ped-
als from being depressed properly, may block the driver’s vision, or may result in items hitting the driver or
passengers, possibly causing an acci- dent.
●Stow cargo and luggage in the lug-
gage compartment whenever pos- sible.
●Do not stack anything in the lug-gage compartment higher than the seatbacks.
●When you fold down the rear seats, long items should not be placed
directly behind the front seats.
●Never allow anyone to ride in the
luggage compartment. It is not designed for passengers. They should ride in their seats with their
seat belts properly fastened. Other- wise, they are much more likely to suffer death or serious bodily injury,
in the event of sudden braking, sud- den swerving or an accident.

295
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
●Do not place cargo or luggage in or on the following locations.
• At the feet of the driver
• On the front passenger or rear seats (when stacking items)
• On the luggage cover (if equipped)
• On the instrument panel
• On the dashboard
●Secure all items in the occupant compartment.
■Load and distribution
●Do not overload your vehicle.
●Do not apply loads unevenly.
Improper loading may cause deterio-
ration of steering or braking control which may cause death or serious injury.
■When loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier (if equipped)
Observe the following precautions:
●Place the cargo so that its weight is distributed evenly between the front
and rear axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, never
exceed the vehicle overall length or width. ( P.584)
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is securely fastened on the roof lug-gage carrier.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of grav-
ity of the vehicle higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or abrupt maneu-
vers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover due to failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly and result in death or serious injury.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough roads, or at high speeds, stop the vehicle now and then
during the trip to make sure the cargo remains in its place.
●Do not exceed 80 kg (176.4 lb.) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier (if equipped)
Be careful not to scratch the surface
of the panoramic moon roof (if equipped).

297
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
Check the allowable towing capac-
ity, GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass),
MPAC (Maximum Permissible Axle
Capacity), and permissible drawbar
load before towing. ( P.584)
Toyota recommends the use of the
Toyota hitch/bracket for your vehi-
cle. Other products of a suitable
nature and comparable quality may
also be used.
For vehicles where the towing
device blocks any of the lights or
license plate, the following shall be
observed:
 Do not use towing devices that
cannot be easily removed or
repositioned.
 Towing devices must be
removed or repositioned when
not in use.
Please consult any authorized
Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized
repairer, or any reliable repairer
when installing trailer lights, as
incorrect installation may cause
damage to the vehicle’s lights.
Please take care to comply with
your state’s laws when installing
trailer lights.
WARNING
Follow all the instructions described in this section.
Failure to do so could cause an acci- dent resulting in death or serious injury.
■Trailer towing precautions
When towing, make sure that none of the weight limits are exceeded.
( P.298)
■To avoid accident or injury
●Vehicles with compact spare tire: Do not tow a trailer when the com-pact spare tire is installed on your
vehicle.
●Vehicles with emergency tire punc-
ture repair kit: Do not tow a trailer when the tire installed is repaired with the emer-
gency tire puncture repair kit.
●Do not use dynamic radar cruise
control with full-speed range (if equipped) or cruise control (if equipped) when trailer towing.
■Vehicle speed in towing
Observe the legal maximum speeds
for trailer towing.
■Before descending hills or long
declines
Reduce speed and downshift. How- ever, never downshift suddenly while
descending steep or long downhill grades.
■Operation of the brake pedal
Do not hold the brake pedal depressed often or for long periods of
time. Doing so may result in the brake over-heating or reduce braking effects.
Weight limits
Towing hitch/bracket
Connecting trailer lights

299
5
5-1. Before driving
Driving
WARNING
■When the gross vehicle mass or maximum permissible axle
capacity is exceeded
Failing to observe this precaution may lead to an accident causing death or
serious injury.
●Add an additional 20.0 kPa (0.2
kgf/cm2 or bar, 3 psi) to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure value. ( P.590)
●Do not exceed the established speed limit for towing a trailer in
built-up areas or 100 km/h (62 mph), whichever is lower.

3125-2. Driving procedures
tem immediately after turning the
power switch to OFF, the hybrid sys- tem may not start in some cases. After turning the power switch to OFF,
please wait a few seconds before restarting the hybrid system.
■Customization
If the smart entry & start system has
been deactivated in a customized set- ting, refer to P.572.
1 Stop the vehicle completely.
2 If the parking brake is in manual
mode, set the parking brake.
( P.320)
Check the parking brake indicator is illuminated.
3 Shift the shift lever to P.
Do not press the shift lever button after shifting the shift lever to P.
4 Press the power switch shortly
and firmly.
The hybrid system will stop, and the meter display will be extinguished.
Release the shift lever when pressing the power switch.
5 Release the brake pedal and
check that “ACCESSORY” or
“IGNITION ON” is not shown on
the multi-information display.
WARNING
■When starting the hybrid system
Always start the hybrid system while sitting in the driver’s seat. Do not depress the accelerator pedal while
starting the hybrid system under any circumstances. Doing so may cause an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
■Caution while driving (vehicles
with steering lock function)
If hybrid system failure occurs while the vehicle is moving, do not lock or
open the doors until the vehicle reaches a safe and complete stop. Activation of the steering lock in this
circumstance may lead to an acci- dent, resulting in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■When starting the hybrid system
If the hybrid system becomes difficult to start, have your vehicle checked by any authorized Toyota retailer or
Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer immediately.
■Symptoms indicating a malfunc-tion with the power switch
If the power switch seems to be oper-
ating somewhat differently than usual, such as the switch sticking slightly, there may be a malfunction. Contact
any authorized Toyota retailer or Toyota authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer immediately.
Stopping the hybrid system

313
5
5-2. Driving procedures
Driving
Modes can be changed by pressing
the power switch with the brake
pedal released. (The mode
changes each time the switch is
pressed.)
“ACCESSORY”
“IGNITION ON”
1 OFF*
The emergency flashers can be used.
2ACC
Some electrical components such as
the audio system can be used.
“ACCESSORY” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
3 ON
All electrical components can be used.
“IGNITION ON” will be displayed on the
multi-information display.
*: If the shift lever is in a position other
than P or the shift lever button is
pressed when turning off the hybrid
system, the power switch will remain
ON, will not turn to OFF.
■Auto power off function
●If the vehicle is left in ACC or ON (the hybrid system is not operating) for more than 20 minutes with the shift
lever is in P or the shift lever button is not pressed, the power switch will automatically turn to OFF.
●If the 12-volt battery is low with the
WARNING
■Stopping the hybrid system in an emergency
●If you want to stop the hybrid sys-tem in an emergency while driving the vehicle, press and hold the
power switch for more than 2 sec- onds, or press it briefly 3 times or more in succession. ( P.526)
However, do not touch the power switch while driving except in an emergency. Turning the hybrid sys-
tem off while driving will not cause a loss of steering or braking control. However, power assist for the
steering wheel may be lost making it difficult to steer smoothly before stopping the vehicle depending on
the remaining charge in the 12-volt battery or usage conditions. In this situation, you should pull over and
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
●If the power switch is operated while the vehicle is running, a warn-ing message will be shown on the
multi-information display and a buzzer sounds.
●When restarting the hybrid system after an emergency shutdown, shift the shift lever to N and press the
power switch shortly and firmly.
Changing power switch
modes
A
B