The color tells you how worried to be. A red light means pull over somewhere safe and stop. A yellow or orange light means something needs checking, so get to a Toyota dealer soon, but you can usually keep driving carefully. A message on the screen between the gauges usually tells you exactly what to do. Toyota's manual also says a light that comes on and then goes off doesn't always mean something is wrong, but if it keeps happening, have it checked.
Quick answers
🛑Red light or "stop" messagePull over and stopThen call a dealer
🟡Yellow or orange lightGet it checked soonUsually safe to drive
✅Common and usually simpleTires, sensors, remindersOften a quick fix
🛞Most searchedAWD System MalfunctionWhat it means
Pull over now: red lights and "stop" messages
For these, Toyota's manual says to stop somewhere safe right away. Driving on could be dangerous or cause expensive damage.
The symbols are our own drawings of the US versions shown in Toyota's manual, so they may look slightly different on your dashboard. A screen symbol means it shows up as a written message on the display between the gauges.
| Light or message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Red "BRAKE" light (a red circle with "!" in Canada) | Brake fluid is low or the brakes have a problem. It also comes on when the parking brake is set. | Check that the parking brake is fully off first. If the light stays on, stop and call a dealer. |
| Red brake light and ABS light on together | The brakes and anti-lock system both have a problem, and the car can become unstable when braking. | Stop and call a dealer. Don't drive it. |
| Engine overheating, or "Engine Coolant Temp High" | The engine is too hot. The temperature gauge may be in the red, or you may see steam. | See If it overheats below. |
| Oil can light, or "Oil Pressure Low" | Engine oil pressure is too low. Driving on it can ruin the engine. | Stop, turn it off, and call a dealer. |
| Battery light, or "Charging System Malfunction" | The charging system isn't charging the battery. | Stop and call a dealer. |
| "Braking Power Low" | The brakes have lost some of their power. | Stop and call a dealer. |
| Red steering wheel light | Power steering has stopped helping. The wheel will feel very heavy. | Hold the wheel firmly, pull over, and call a dealer. |
| Hybrid: "Hybrid System Overheated Output Power Reduced" | The hybrid system got too hot, usually from a long steep climb or backing up a steep hill. The car will feel weaker. | Stop somewhere safe and let it cool. See If it overheats. |
Get it checked soon: yellow and orange lights
These mean a system has a problem. Toyota says to have the car looked at by a dealer right away, but in most cases you can drive there carefully.
| Light or message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Check engine light (engine outline with "CHECK") | Something is wrong with the engine, emissions, or hybrid system. | First check two things: are you nearly out of gas, and is the gas cap loose? If so, fix it, and the light should go off after several drives. If it doesn't, see a dealer. |
| Yellow brake light | A problem with the electric parking brake or the brake system's electronics. | See a dealer soon. |
| ABS light alone | The anti-lock brakes aren't working. Normal braking still works. | See a dealer soon, and brake gently on slippery roads. |
| Airbag light (person with a circle) | A problem with the airbags or seat belt tensioners, so they may not work in a crash. | See a dealer soon. |
| Yellow steering wheel light | Power steering is working at reduced strength. A weak 12-volt battery can cause it. | See a dealer soon. |
| Car with squiggly lines, staying on | A problem with stability control, traction control, Trail Mode, or hill-start assist. If it's only flashing while you drive, that's normal. It means the system is working to keep you from slipping. | If it stays on, see a dealer. |
| "Hybrid System Malfunction" or "Hybrid Battery System Malfunction" | The hybrid system has a fault. | See a dealer right away. |
| "Smart Key System Malfunction" | The keyless entry and push-button start system has a fault. | See a dealer. Keep your spare key handy. |
| "Accelerator System Malfunction" | The gas pedal system has a fault. | See a dealer right away. |
| Hybrid: "Maintenance Required For Traction Battery At Your Dealer" | The hybrid battery is due to be inspected or replaced. | Book a dealer visit now. Toyota says that if you keep driving without it, the car will eventually stop starting. |
| "High Power Consumption, Partial Limit On AC/Heater" showing often | The 12-volt battery may be wearing out, or there's a charging problem. | Have the 12-volt battery and charging system checked. |
"AWD System Malfunction" and other AWD messages
Gas and hybrid RAV4s with all-wheel drive can show three AWD messages. Two of them only mean the system got too hot and needs to cool down.
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| "AWD System Overheated Switching to 2WD Mode" | The AWD system is overheating and is about to switch to front-wheel drive. | Stop somewhere safe and leave the car running. If the message goes away, there's no problem. |
| "AWD System Overheated 2WD Mode Engaged" | The car has switched to front-wheel drive to let the AWD system cool down. | Stop somewhere safe and leave the car running. AWD comes back on its own once it cools. Don't turn the car off until the message goes away. |
| "AWD System Malfunction 2WD Mode Engaged Visit Your Dealer" | The AWD system has a fault, and the car is now front-wheel drive only. | You can still drive, but without AWD, so take it easy in snow or rain. See a dealer soon. |
If either overheated message stays on after the car cools down, Toyota says to have it inspected right away.
Common lights that are usually simple
| Light or message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Tire pressure light (horseshoe with "!"), staying on | One or more tires is low. Cold weather is a very common cause, because tire pressure drops when it gets cold. | Check all four tires and fill them to the pressure on the sticker in the driver's door frame. The light goes off a few minutes after the pressure is right. If it won't, you may have a slow leak. |
| Tire pressure light that blinks for about a minute, then stays on | The tire pressure system itself isn't working. This often happens with winter wheels that don't have pressure sensors, or when you're driving on the compact spare. | Have a tire shop or dealer add or register sensors. |
| "Key Battery Low Replace Key Battery" | The battery in your key fob is getting weak. | Replace the key's coin battery. Your owner's manual shows how. |
| "Maintenance Required Soon" | A reminder that your next scheduled service is coming up. It shows about 4,500 miles after it was last reset. | Book your service. The shop resets it afterward. |
| "Maintenance Required Visit Your Dealer" | Your scheduled service is due. It shows about 5,000 miles after the last reset. | Get the service done and have the reminder reset. |
| "Engine Oil Level Low Add or Replace" | The oil may be low. It can also show up just because you're parked on a slope. | Move to level ground. If it's still there, check the dipstick and add oil if needed. |
| Low fuel light | About 2.2 gallons left. | Get gas soon. |
| Seat belt light with nobody in the passenger seat | A bag or heavy item on the passenger seat can trip the seat sensor. | Move the item to the floor or back seat. |
| Pre-collision (PCS) light flashing with no beep, or a front camera or radar message | The safety systems are paused because the windshield camera or the front radar is dirty, iced over, fogged, or too hot or cold. Lane assist, radar cruise, and auto high beams may pause too. | Clean the windshield and the Toyota emblem area on the grille, and defog. The systems come back once they can see again or warm up or cool down. |
| Parking sensor or rear cross traffic light flashing with no beep | A sensor in the bumper is dirty or covered with ice or snow. | Clean the bumper sensors. |
| "Radar Cruise Control Unavailable" | Adaptive cruise can't work right now, often because of bad weather. | Use it again when it becomes available. |
| Hybrid: "Traction Battery Needs to be Protected" | The car has been sitting in Neutral. The hybrid battery can't charge in N. | Shift into Park when you stop. If it says "Shift into P to Restart," shift to P and restart the car. |
| Hybrid: "Press Brake when Vehicle is Stopped" | You're holding the car still on a hill with the gas pedal, which can overheat the hybrid system. | Use the brake pedal to hold the car instead. |
| Hybrid: "Maintenance Required for Traction Battery Cooling Parts" | The filter or air vent that cools the hybrid battery may be clogged or blocked. | Clean the hybrid battery air vent. Your owner's manual shows where it is. If the message stays, see a dealer. |
| "Auto Power OFF to Conserve Battery" | The car turned itself off to save the 12-volt battery after being left on. | Next time you start the car, let it run for about 5 minutes to recharge the battery. |
| Pedal warning light or a message about the pedals | The car cut power because you pressed the gas and brake together (Brake Override), or because Drive-Start Control stopped what looked like a mistaken start. | Let off the gas and press the brake, then drive normally. |
If it overheats
Toyota's steps, in plain English:
- Pull over somewhere safe, turn off the air conditioning, and turn the car off.
- If you see steam, wait until it stops before carefully opening the hood. Never open the radiator cap on a hot engine.
- Once it cools, look for leaks from the radiator or hoses. If a lot of coolant is leaking, call a dealer.
- Check the coolant tank. It should be between the FULL and LOW lines. Add coolant if it's low. In an emergency, water works, but have it checked soon after.
- Start the car and turn on the air conditioning. The radiator fan should come on. If it doesn't, turn the car off and call a dealer.
Your owner's manual is the final word. Lights and wording vary a little by year and trim. The full list is in the "When trouble arises" chapter of your manual, which you can get free from Toyota's owner site.
RB
Buddy's take
Red means stop, every time. A tow costs a lot less than a new engine.
Cold morning and a tire light? That's the most common one by far. Check your tires before you worry about anything else.
Safety systems suddenly off in snow or rain? It's almost always a dirty windshield or grille. Clean them and the systems come back.
Not sure? Take a photo of the light or message and call your dealer's service desk. They can usually tell you over the phone whether it's safe to drive in.
Still to come
Pictures of each light as it looks on the RAV4's dashboard, and step-by-step guides for the most common fixes, like changing the key battery and cleaning the hybrid battery vent.
Where this comes from
- Toyota's RAV4 owner's manuals, "Steps to take in an emergency" section. We read the 2023 to 2025 gas manual (OM0R100U) and hybrid manual (OM0R102U), and compared them with earlier gas and hybrid manuals (OM0R024U and OM0R025U).
- AWD messages from the "Driving" chapter of the same manuals.
- The RAV4 Prime has a few extra lights and messages for charging that aren't covered here yet.
RAV Buddy is an independent fan site. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Toyota. RAV4 is a trademark of Toyota Motor Corporation.