How to Use Traction Control in a Toyota RAV4
Traction control is an essential feature in all modern cars. It is a key safety feature that has surely prevented countless accidents over the years.
Toyota’s traction control system is particularly impressive. I’ve seen it do a great job on many types of slippery road surfaces.
What Does Traction Control Do?
Traction control was first introduced on the Toyota RAV4 for the 2004 model year. That means nearly 20 years of technological development has been put into Toyota’s current traction control system.
Although Toyota’s traction control technology has evolved over the last two decades, the essential function of traction control remains the same.
Over the years, Toyota’s traction control has evolved to become smarter when detecting slips and applying power. However, since the beginning, traction control has been a very effective safety feature that has prevented many accidents and improved the driver’s control over the vehicle.
Let’s talk about how to toggle traction control on or off depending on your RAV4’s model year.
How to Turn Traction Control On/Off in a Toyota RAV4
I’ll start by clarifying one point: traction control is turned on by default! You don’t need to enable it. Each time your vehicle is turned on, the traction control is turned on as well (except when you have an engine light/error).
However, there are some scenarios when you may want to disable traction control.
Traction control works great when you’re driving, but sometimes disabling it when you are stuck can help you get unstuck.
For example, let’s imagine you’re stuck in some sand.
If traction control is ON, your wheels will immediately start cutting power to the wheels because a slip will be detected. This means you may not have enough power to get out of the sand. By turning traction control off, you will be able to apply as much power as needed to get unstuck from the mud.
If you’re ready to turn off traction control, you’ll need to use the traction control toggle switch.
I’ve dug through the RAV4 owner’s manuals to figure out the placement of this switch in all model years. Click on the model year below to view instructions for toggling traction control on your Toyota RAV4:
2019-2023 Toyota RAV4
In a 2019-2023 Toyota RAV4, the traction control toggle switch is located in the center console area in front of the gear shifter.
Push the button quickly to toggle traction control on or off.
Press and hold the button to turn off vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control.
Warning indicator lights will appear in the instrument cluster to indicate that traction control and/or VSC are off.
2017-2018 Toyota RAV4
In a 2017-2018 Toyota RAV4, the traction control toggle switch is located on the top of the dashboard towards the center.
Push the button quickly to toggle traction control on or off.
Press and hold the button to turn off vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control.
Warning indicator lights will appear in the instrument cluster to indicate that traction control and/or VSC are off.
2013-2016 Toyota RAV4
In a 2013-2016 Toyota RAV4, the traction control toggle switch is located on the lower section of the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Push the button quickly to toggle traction control on or off.
Press and hold the button to turn off vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control.
Warning indicator lights will appear in the instrument cluster to indicate that traction control and/or VSC are off.
2009-2012 Toyota RAV4
In a 2009-2012 Toyota RAV4, the traction control toggle switch is located in the center console area in front of the gear shifter.
Push the button quickly to toggle traction control on or off.
Press and hold the button to turn off vehicle stability control (VSC) and traction control.
Warning indicator lights will appear in the instrument cluster to indicate that traction control and/or VSC are off.
2004-2008 Toyota RAV4
In a 2004-2008 Toyota RAV4, the traction control toggle switch is located on the lower section of the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Push the button to toggle traction control on or off.
Warning indicator lights will appear in the instrument cluster to indicate that traction control is off.
Why Is the Traction Control Light On?
There are a few different scenarios where your traction control light will be on. This will either be in the form of a “TRAC OFF” indicator or traction control icon (see below).
There are several reasons why the traction control light may be on:
- You’ve disabled traction control
- There is an engine error (your check engine light will be on too)
- Traction control is not working properly
NOTE: If the traction control icon is flashing, you are slipping and the traction control system is kicking in.
Staying Safe
The traction control system on the Toyota RAV4 does a great job and it is recommended to keep it on (unless you’re stuck).
I’ve been very impressed with the RAV4’s traction control system, particularly up long snowy hills. It’s much easier to control the vehicle and keep your speed up when driving a snowy, uphill slope.
Even with limited grip, Toyota’s smart technology does a fantastic job of keeping your car safe on the road.