Toyota RAV4 (2022 year). Manual in english - page 22

 

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Toyota RAV4 (2022 year). Manual in english - page 22

 

 

353

4-5. Using the driving support systems

4

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ing

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.

*

: 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.

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

354

4-5. Using the driving support systems

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 flashing to start the system 
again.

Operating tips

The system will operate when the 

shift lever is in a 1 range of S mode 

or R.

If the downhill assist control 

system indicator flashes

In the following situations, the indi-

cator flashes and the system will 

not operate:

• The shift lever is in a position 

other 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 
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 buzzer will sound and 

the downhill assist control system 

indicator will start flashing, and 

“Traction Control Turned OFF” will 

be shown on the multi-information 

display. Refrain from using the sys-

tem until the downhill assist control 

system indicator stays on and the 

message goes off. (The 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 cases, 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.

Turning off the system

355

4-5. Using the driving support systems

4

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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.

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

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

356

4-5. Using the driving support systems

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 

needed to turn the steering 
wheel.

Dynamic Torque Control 
AWD system (AWD models) 
(if equipped)

Automatically controls the drive 
system such as to front-wheel 
drive or AWD (all wheel drive) 
according to various running 
conditions including normal driv-
ing, during cornering, on a 
uphill, when starting off, during 
acceleration, on a slippery roads 
due to snow or rain, thus con-
tributing to stable operability and 
driving stability.

Dynamic Torque Vectoring 
AWD system (AWD models) 
(if equipped)

Automatically controls the drive 
system such as to front-wheel 
drive or AWD (all wheel drive) 
according to various running 
conditions including normal driv-
ing, during cornering, on a 
uphill, when starting off, during 
acceleration, on a slippery roads 
due to snow or rain, thus con-
tributing to stable operability and 
driving stability.
Also, drive torque distribution is 
precisely controlled during cor-
nering, contributing to improve-
ments in operability and 
stability.

The Secondary Collision 
Brake

When the SRS airbag sensor 

357

4-5. Using the driving support systems

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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/Multi-ter-

rain Select/Trailer Sway Con-

trol systems are operating

The slip indicator light will flash 

while the TRAC/VSC/Multi-terrain 

Select/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 

.

The “Traction Control Turned OFF” 

will be shown on the multi-informa-

tion 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 turn the systems 

back on.

*

: PCS (Pre-Collision System) will 

also be disabled (only pre-collision 
warning is available). The PCS 
warning light will come on and a 
message will be displayed on the 
multi-information display. 
(

P.234)

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 all of the following 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

358

4-5. Using the driving support systems

The engine switch is in ON

Automatic system cancelation 

of hill-start assist control

The hill-start assist control will turn 

off in any of the following situations:

The shift lever is shifted to P or N

The accelerator pedal is 

depressed

The parking brake is engaged

2 seconds at maximum elapsed 

after the brake pedal is released

The engine switch is turned to 

OFF

Sounds and vibrations caused 

by the ABS, brake assist, VSC, 

TRAC, Trailer Sway Control 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 the ABS is activated.

• The brake pedal may move down 

slightly after the 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 

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 sound (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 occur 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 attempting 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 effectiveness 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 

359

4-5. Using the driving support systems

4

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result. Should this occur, refrain 

from excessive steering input or 

stop the vehicle and turn the engine 

off. The EPS system should return 

to normal within 10 minutes.

Secondary Collision Brake 

operating conditions

The system operates when the SRS 

airbag sensor detects a collision 

while the vehicle is in motion. How-

ever, the system does not operate 

when the components are dam-

aged.

Secondary Collision Brake 

automatic cancellation

The system is automatically can-

celed in any of the following situa-

tions.

The vehicle speed is below 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.

“AWD System Overheated 

Switching to 2WD Mode”

AWD system is overheated. Stop 
the vehicle in a safe place with the 
engine running.

*

If the message disappears after a 
while, there is no problem. If the 
message remains, have the vehicle 
inspected by your Toyota dealer 
immediately.

“AWD System Overheated 2WD 

Mode Engaged”

AWD system has been temporarily 
released and switched to front-
wheel drive due to overheating. 
Stop the vehicle in a safe place with 

the engine running.

*

If the message disappears after a 
while, AWD system will automati-
cally recover. If the message 
remains, have the vehicle inspected 
by your Toyota dealer immediately.

“AWD System Malfunction 2WD 

Mode Engaged Visit Your Dealer”

A malfunction occurs in the AWD 
system. Have the vehicle inspected 
by your Toyota dealer immediately.

*

: When stopping the vehicle, do not 

stop the engine until the display 
message has turned off.

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.

Stopping distance when the 

ABS is operating may exceed 

that of normal conditions

The ABS is not designed to 

shorten the vehicle’s stopping dis-

tance. Always maintain a safe dis-

tance from the vehicle in front of 

you, especially in the following sit-

uations:

When driving on dirt, gravel or 

snow-covered roads

When driving with tire chains

When driving over bumps in the 

road

When driving over roads with 

potholes or uneven surfaces

360

4-5. Using the driving support systems

WARNING

TRAC/VSC may not operate 

effectively when

Directional control and power may 

not be achievable while driving on 

slippery road surfaces, even if the 

TRAC/VSC system is operating.

Drive the vehicle carefully in con-

ditions where stability and power 

may be lost.

Active Cornering Assist does 

not operate effectively when

Do not overly rely on Active 

Cornering Assist. Active Corner-

ing Assist may not operate 

effectively when accelerating 

down slopes or driving on slip-

pery road surfaces.

When Active Cornering Assist 

frequently operates, Active Cor-

nering Assist may temporarily 

stop operating to ensure proper 

operation of the brakes, TRAC 

and VSC.

Hill-start assist control does 

not operate effectively when

Do not overly rely on hill-start 

assist control. Hill-start assist 

control may not operate effec-

tively on steep inclines and 

roads covered with ice.

Unlike the parking brake, hill-

start assist control is not 

intended to hold the vehicle sta-

tionary for an extended period 

of time. Do not attempt to use 

hill-start assist control to hold 

the vehicle on an incline, as 

doing so may lead to an acci-

dent.

When the TRAC/VSC/Trailer 

Sway Control is activated

The slip indicator light flashes. 

Always drive carefully. Reckless 

driving may cause an accident. 

Exercise particular care when the 

indicator light flashes.

When the TRAC/VSC/Trailer 

Sway Control systems are 

turned off

Be especially careful and drive at 

a speed appropriate to the road 

conditions. As these are the sys-

tems to help ensure vehicle stabil-

ity and driving force, do not turn 

the TRAC/VSC/Trailer Sway Con-

trol systems off unless necessary.
Trailer Sway Control is part of the 

VSC system and will not operate 

if VSC is turned off or experiences 

a malfunction.

Dynamic Torque Vectoring 

AWD system (if equipped)

The cornering performance of the 

newly developed AWD system 

has been improved. However, do 

not overly rely on the system and 

drive with caution.

Replacing tires

Make sure that all tires are of the 

specified size, brand, tread pat-

tern and total load capacity. In 

addition, make sure that the tires 

are inflated to the recommended 

tire inflation pressure level.

The ABS, TRAC, Trailer Sway 

Control and VSC systems will not 

function correctly if different tires 

are installed on the vehicle.

Contact your Toyota dealer for 

further information when replacing 

tires or wheels.

Handling of tires and the sus-

pension

Using tires with any kind of prob-

lem or modifying the suspension 

will affect the driving assist sys-

tems, and may cause a system to 

malfunction.

361

4-5. Using the driving support systems

4

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WARNING

Trailer Sway Control precau-

tion

The Trailer Sway Control system 

is not able to reduce trailer sway 

in all situations. Depending on 

many factors such as the condi-

tions of the vehicle, trailer, road 

surface and driving environment, 

the Trailer Sway Control system 

may not be effective. Refer to 

your trailer owner’s manual for 

information on how to tow your 

trailer properly.

If trailer sway occurs

Observe the following precau-

tions. 

Failing to do so may cause death 

or serious injury.

Firmly grip the steering wheel. 

Steer straight ahead. Do not try 

to control trailer sway by turning 

the steering wheel.

Begin releasing the accelerator 

pedal immediately but very 

gradually to reduce speed.

Do not increase speed. Do not 

apply vehicle brakes.

If you make no extreme correction 
with the steering or brakes, your 
vehicle and trailer should stabi-
lize. (

P.177)

Secondary Collision Brake

Do not rely solely upon the Sec-

ondary Collision Brake. This sys-

tem is designed to help reduce 

the possibility of further damage 

due to a secondary collision, how-

ever, that effect changes accord-

ing to various conditions. Overly 

relying on the system may result 

in death or serious injury.

362

4-6. Driving tips

4-6.Driving tips

Use fluids that are appropriate 
to the prevailing outside tem-
peratures.

• Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Washer fluid

Have a service technician 
inspect the condition of the 
battery.

Have the vehicle fitted with 
four snow tires or purchase a 
set of tire chains for the front 
tires.

*

Ensure that all tires are the same 
size and brand, and that chains 
match the size of the tires.

*

: Tire chains cannot be mounted 

on vehicles with 235/55R19 tires.

Winter driving tips

Carry out the necessary 
preparations and inspec-
tions before driving the 
vehicle in winter. Always 
drive the vehicle in a man-
ner appropriate to the pre-
vailing weather conditions.

Pre-winter preparations

WARNING

Driving with snow tires

Observe the following precautions 

to reduce the risk of accidents.

Failure to do so may result in a 

loss of vehicle control and cause 

death or serious injury.

Use tires of the specified size.

Maintain the recommended 

level of air pressure.

Do not drive in excess of 75 

mph (120 km/h), regardless of 

the type of snow tires being 

used.

Use snow tires on all, not just 

some wheels.

Driving with tire chains 

(except 235/55R19 tires)

Observe the following precautions 

to reduce the risk of accidents.

Failure to do so may result in the 

vehicle being unable to be driven 

safely, and may cause death or 

serious injury.

Do not drive in excess of the 

speed limit specified for the tire 

chains being used, or 30 mph 

(50 km/h), whichever is lower.

Avoid driving on bumpy road 

surfaces or over potholes.

Avoid sudden acceleration, 

abrupt steering, sudden brak-

ing and shifting operations that 

cause sudden engine braking.

Slow down sufficiently before 

entering a curve to ensure that 

vehicle control is maintained.

Do not use LTA (Lane Tracing 

Assist) system.

NOTICE

Repairing or replacing snow 

tires (vehicles with tire pres-

sure warning system)

Request repairs or replacement of 

snow tires from your Toyota 

dealer or legitimate tire retailers.

This is because the removal and 

attachment of snow tires affects 

the operation of the tire pressure 

warning valves and transmitters.

363

4-6. Driving tips

4

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Perform the following according 
to the driving conditions:

Do not try to forcibly open a 
window or move a wiper that 
is frozen. Pour warm water 
over the frozen area to melt 
the ice. Wipe away the water 
immediately to prevent it from 
freezing.

To ensure proper operation of 
the climate control system 
fan, remove any snow that 
has accumulated on the air 
inlet vents in front of the wind-
shield.

Check for and remove any 
excess ice or snow that may 
have accumulated on the 
exterior lights, vehicle’s roof, 
chassis, around the tires or on 
the brakes.

Remove any snow or mud 
from the bottom of your shoes 
before getting in the vehicle.

Accelerate the vehicle slowly, 
keep a safe distance between 
you and the vehicle ahead, and 
drive at a reduced speed suit-
able to road conditions.

Park the vehicle and move 
the shift lever to P without set-

ting the parking brake. The 
parking brake may freeze up, 
preventing it from being 
released. If the vehicle is 
parked without setting the 
parking brake, make sure to 
block the wheels.
Failure to do so may be dan-
gerous because it may cause 
the vehicle to move unexpect-
edly, possibly leading to an 
accident.
When the parking brake is in 
automatic mode, release the 
parking brake after shifting 
the shift lever to P. (

P.201)

If the vehicle is left parked 
with the brakes damp in cold 
temperatures, there is a pos-
sibility of the brakes freezing.

If the vehicle is parked without 
setting the parking brake, 
confirm that the shift lever 
cannot be moved out of P

*

.

*

: The shift lever will be locked if it is 

attempted to be shifted from P to 
any other position without 
depressing the brake pedal. If the 
shift lever can be shifted from P, 
there may be a problem with the 
shift lock system. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your Toyota 
dealer immediately.

Before driving the vehicle

When driving the vehicle

When parking the vehicle

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4-6. Driving tips

Vehicles without 235/55R19 
tires

Use the correct tire chain size 
when mounting the tire chains. 
Chain size is regulated for each 
tire size.

Side chain:

0.12 in. (3 mm) in diameter

0.39 in. (10 mm) in width

1.18 in. (30 mm) in length

Cross chain:

0.16 in. (4 mm) in diameter

0.55 in. (14 mm) in width

0.98 in. (25 mm) in length

Vehicles with 235/55R19 tires

Tire chains cannot be mounted.
Snow tires should be used 

instead.

Regulations regarding the use 
of tire chains vary depending on 
location and type of road. 
Always check local regulations 
before installing chains.

Tire chain installation

Observe the following precautions 

when installing and removing 

chains:

Install and remove tire chains in a 

safe location.

Install tire chains on the front tires 

only. Do not install tire chains on 

the rear tires.

Install tire chains on front tires as 

tightly as possible. Retighten 

chains after driving 1/4 - 1/2 mile 

(0.5 - 1.0 km).

Install tire chains following the 

instructions provided with the tire 

chains.

WARNING

When parking the vehicle

When parking the vehicle without 

applying the parking brake, make 

sure to chock the wheels. If you 

do not chock the wheels, the vehi-

cle may move unexpectedly, pos-

sibly resulting in an accident.

Selecting tire chains

A

B

C

D

E

F

Regulations on the use of 
tire chains (except 
235/55R19 tires)

NOTICE

Fitting tire chains (vehicles 

with tire pressure warning 

system)

The tire pressure warning valves 

and transmitters may not function 

correctly when tire chains are fit-

ted.

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4-6. Driving tips

4

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Specific design characteris-
tics give it a higher center of 
gravity than ordinary passen-
ger cars. This vehicle design 
feature causes this type of 
vehicle to be more likely to 
rollover. And, utility vehicles 
have a significantly higher 
rollover rate than other types 
of vehicles.

An advantage of the higher 
ground clearance is a better 
view of the road allowing you 
to anticipate problems.

It is not designed for corner-
ing at the same speeds as 
ordinary passenger cars any 
more than low-slung sports 
cars are designed to perform 
satisfactorily under off-road 
conditions. Therefore, sharp 
turns at excessive speeds 
may cause the vehicle to roll-
over.

When driving your vehicle off-

Utility vehicle precau-

tions

This vehicle belongs to the 
utility vehicle class, which 
has higher ground clear-
ance and narrower tread in 
relation to the height of its 
center of gravity to make it 
capable of performing in a 
wide variety of off-road 
applications.

Utility vehicle feature

WARNING

Utility vehicle precautions

Always observe the following pre-

cautions to minimize the risk of 

death, serious injury or damage to 

your vehicle:

In a rollover crash, an unbelted 

person is significantly more 

likely to die than a person wear-

ing a seat belt. Therefore, the 

driver and all passengers 

should always fasten their seat 

belts.

Avoid sharp turns or abrupt 

maneuvers, if at all possible.

Failure to operate this vehicle 

correctly may result in loss of 

control or vehicle rollover caus-

ing death or serious injury.

Loading cargo on the roof lug-

gage carrier (if equipped) will 

make the center of the vehicle 

gravity higher. Avoid high 

speeds, sudden starts, sharp 

turns, sudden braking or abrupt 

maneuvers, otherwise it may 

result in loss of control or vehi-

cle rollover due to failure to 

operate this vehicle correctly.

Always slow down in gusty 

crosswinds. Because of its pro-

file and higher center of gravity, 

your vehicle is more sensitive to 

side winds than an ordinary 

passenger car. Slowing down 

will allow you to have better 

control.

Do not drive horizontally across 

steep slopes. Driving straight up 

or straight down is preferred. 

Your vehicle (or any similar off-

road vehicle) can tip over side-

ways much more easily than 

forward or backward.

Off-road driving

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4-6. Driving tips

road, please observe the follow-
ing precautions to ensure your 
driving enjoyment and to help 
prevent the closure of areas to 
off-road vehicles:

Drive your vehicle only in 
areas where off-road vehicles 
are permitted to travel.

Respect private property. Get 
owner’s permission before 
entering private property.

Do not enter areas that are 
closed. Honor gates, barriers 
and signs that restrict travel.

Stay on established roads. 
When conditions are wet, 
driving techniques should be 
changed or travel delayed to 
prevent damage to roads.

Additional information for off-

road driving

For owners in U.S. mainland, 

Hawaii and Puerto Rico:

To obtain additional information per-
taining to driving your vehicle off-
road, consult the following organiza-
tions:

• State and Local Parks and Recre-

ation Departments

• State Motor Vehicle Bureau

• Recreational Vehicle Clubs

• U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of 

Land Management

WARNING

Off-road driving precautions

Always observe the following pre-

cautions to minimize the risk of 

death, serious injury or damage to 

your vehicle:

Drive carefully when off the 

road. Do not take unnecessary 

risks by driving in dangerous 

places.

Do not grip the steering wheel 

spokes when driving off-road. A 

bad bump could jerk the wheel 

and injure your hands. Keep 

both hands and especially your 

thumbs on the outside of the 

rim.

Always check your brakes for 

effectiveness immediately after 

driving in sand, mud, water or 

snow.

After driving through tall grass, 

mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., 

check that there is no grass, 

bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, 

etc. adhering or trapped on the 

underbody. Clear off any such 

matter from the underbody. If 

the vehicle is used with these 

materials trapped or adhering to 

the underbody, a breakdown or 

fire could occur.

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4-6. Driving tips

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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 lubricating 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”.

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4-6. Driving tips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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