Car manufacturers strive to develop as many safety features as possible for their vehicles. They invent new technology to lessen the probability of accidents happening on the road.
In this article, we researched and asked the experts, what is the hold button on the Toyota RAV4, and how does it increase vehicle safety for passengers?
The hold button on the RAV4 is a neat safety feature. When activated, it automatically engages your brake system without having to step on the pedal. The idea behind this safety feature is to assist drivers with braking in traffic and at stoplights.
After turning on the hold button, you can take your foot off the brake pedal without shifting to neutral or worrying your car will move automatically.
Are you interested to learn more about the Toyota Rav4's hold button and other safety features? Stick around as we discuss related topics such as maintenance for the RAV4, common problems, and automatic braking. We will also share some interesting articles at the end of this write-up, so you can learn more.
The RAV4's brake hold system
The brake hold button is located in the center console, usually beside your car's shifter. You'll see the button is labeled with the word "Hold" on it with a circle and parenthesis-like labels on top.
The brake hold system is also called an automatic parking brake because it acts very similar to a parking brake when activated.
When this feature is on, you'll need to step on the gas pedal for your car to move. It disables automatic forward or backward movement whenever you put your gears in drive or reverse.
In normal mode, your car's automatic transmission moves the car forward or backward when you step on the gas, as long as it's in the proper gear.
Keep in mind this saves energy when driving in heavy traffic. It eliminates the need for you to shift or pull your parking brake when coming to a momentary stop.
For the RAV4, the hold button is beside the parking brake button or electronic parking brake. There are no brake levers that you have to pull when engaging your parking brake. This neat feature is available in newer models of the RAV4.
The main difference between the two buttons is the hold button is best for temporary stops in traffic, while the parking brake is used for a longer stop or to leave your car parked.
How do you turn off the automatic parking brake on a Toyota RAv4?
There are two ways that you can turn off this safety feature. One is by pressing the button while it is on. The other way is by completely turning off the car, which will shut down everything, including the hold system.
Remember, when activating this feature after starting your car, it won't turn on unless you have strapped on your seatbelt. This is another safety feature that Toyota has added, which encourages passengers and drivers to always fasten their seatbelts while the car is moving.
Does the RAV4 have automatic braking?
Fortunately for the RAV4, it is part of a lineup that Toyota chose to have a pre-collision safety system stock installed. The system is powered by a camera and a hidden laser that serves as a sensor.
When the sensor picks up that you are about to collide with something, it will flash a warning sign that tells you to apply the brakes immediately.
If you fail to apply the brakes, the sensor will trigger the brakes to automatically apply without stepping on the brake pedals. This safety feature is handy, especially if a driver accidentally falls asleep behind the wheel.
Note this safety feature greatly reduces the chance of accidents caused due to sleeping at the wheel, distractions, or a miscalculation while driving. It also aids in parking, sensing if you are going to hit something while backing up or moving forward to position your car.
Other Toyota models that include this safety feature are the following.
- Land Cruiser
- Highlander
- Highlander Hybrid
- RAV4 Hybrid
- Tundra
- Sequoia
- Tacoma
- Sienna
What other safety features does the RAV4 have?
Safety is one of the utmost priorities on the road. That is why throughout the decades, countless safety innovations were invented to make driving safe.
Aside from the hold button, Toyota included additional safety features for the RAV4.
Enhanced Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC) uses a system of automatic computer-controlled braking installed in each wheel. The feature helps gain greater control and handling driving on slippery and wet road conditions. ESC prevents the loss of road traction by monitoring steering wheel activity using different sensors.
Traction Control
Similar to ESC, traction control also helps prevent the loss of traction and spinning out. Traction control is ideal for driving uphill on slippery roads. It also helps you gain more traction and assists acceleration on an incline.
Smart Stop Technology
Another brake-related feature that Toyota added is their smart stop technology. It helps you stop if you accidentally accelerate your car.
The technology is designed to reduce the number of pedal confusion accidents, which is when a driver presses the wrong pedal instead of what they intended.
Electronic Brake-Force Distribution
The brake-force distribution's main job is to evenly distribute the brake's force as the weight of the vehicle shifts. The system will read which part of the vehicle should apply more braking power to ensure a smoother and better braking performance.
Anti-Lock Brake System
The anti-lock brake system is responsible for preventing your wheels from locking up when braking, especially in sudden brake situations. It also helps maintain the traction of your wheels by braking but still allows the wheels to spin, increasing the tires' grip.
Anti-lock brakes also help increase the lifespan of the tire treads.
What are the most common problems with Toyota RAV4?
Toyota vehicles have enjoyed such a good reputation when it comes to reliability; its name is synonymous with the word in the car world. And so, like all other Toyota products, you can expect to have little to no problems with its major parts.
Problems like overheating, transmission problems, and brake malfunctioning are non-existent in the RAV4.
But, there are some reported issues with the vehicle regarding the cylinder head gasket, navigation screen, gearbox, water pump failure, and steering clicking.
All of these are easy to fix and not too costly if you encounter problems. You are lucky if the Toyota RAV4 is still under warranty and might not have to pay for repairs.
If your car is under warranty and you run into a problem, we recommend using the warranty to avoid potential high payments. When a car's warranty expires, it's smart to take it to a trusted, certified mechanic or a legitimate shop.
Is the Toyota RAV4 expensive to maintain?
The maintenance costs for the RAV4 are fairly inexpensive. You can expect to pay a minimum of $5,531 for the first ten years of ownership! That's a pretty sweet deal.
The Toyota RAV4 is so budget-friendly it is more than $3,300 cheaper to maintain than other car brands with the same length of ownership.
The RAV4 also only gives owners a 16% chance of encountering any major repairs within its first decade of ownership. Note this translates to a 5.4% lesser chance of breaking down compared to competitors. It is a testament to how well-built and engineered Toyota vehicles are.
Quick Summary
The Rav4's hold button is a safety feature that disables the automatic forward or backward movement of your car while at a temporary stop. It does this even if you are shifted into drive. It is a great feature if in a traffic jam or while at a stoplight.
The hold button is usually near the electronic parking button and has very similar functions. Innovations like this are in place to ensure customers have a safer driving experience.
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