Rav4 hybrid noise when in reverse

tennishoes, how did you do that?

Just bought a 2019 RAV4 Hybrid XSE. The noise when backing up is unbearable. When looking into the grille, it’s the speaker to the right. Unclip the plastic trim just under the hood and you can reach your hand in there to unplug it. Very easy fix.

Alex, do you now get "Vehicle Proximity Modification System Malfunction" on the screen in front of the steering wheel--all the time?

We were told that the warning light will stay on indefinitely till you reinstall. If it were just a small ico lit up - no problem but the warning is large and in your range of sight on the screen behind the steering wheel. Bummer. We bought the car then cancelled the deal because of this ridiculous sound. 2020 prius does not have sound nor does new CRV hybrid nor 2020 lexus hybrids. It was a complete dealbreaker for us. Wish there was a way to reduce the sound rather than unplug it. We waited for this car, paid the dealer and when we heard it, we immediately ask for our money back. Really sad about this. Even a backup truck sound would have made more sense. At least people are used to hearing this rather than a "choir of Angels" (As wonderful as they are) being the sound.

Does anyone know if you can just turn down the sound on rav 4 hybrid?

Jacqueline, no you can't.

Please note that the solution to this issue is to replace the noise generator speaker with a 4 ohm, 20 watt ceramic resistor. There is another thread on this site called "RAV4 hybrid noise". It has over 90 posts now (June 11/120). A few months ago Alex posted the complete solution. It is not difficult, nor is it expensive. Check it out on that thread.

Whoever said that the CR-V hybrid doesn't make a warning noise, that is false. The backup noise is there, but not as obnoxious as the Rav4, but when going forward it is twice as loud as the Rav4.

Agreed. I could live with the Rav4 forward warning, and the CR-V reverse warning.

If you know anyone who severely sight impaired or blind, you would probably understand the need for the noises. Blind people rely heavily on sounds in the surrounding environment. Hybrid cars that are completely quite make them very nervous.

I suggest leaving it on. I road bike a lot and these silent hybrid/electric cars are a real hazard. I just can't hear them. That's going forward and reverse. BTW I just bought a 2021 RAV4 hybrid and wondered about the noise it makes in reverse. It sounds more like a grinding noise to me, and any beep beep beep truck backing up. Can't we standardize the sound these vehicles make? What good is it to have a Toy make a grinding sound, and a Honda make a whoosh whoosh (or whatever sound) and real trucks go beep beep beep.

My excitement about having a new car after 10 years was short-lived, due to the noise. I hate it.

Rav4 makes noise going forward and backwards if the engine isn't running. It's just fairly quiet when going forward.

My car does not make noise if the engine is working when back up.

People who complain about reverse noise for pedestrians are the same people who are responsible for manufacturers adding fake exhaust notes to the interior. It’s not for you it’s for people you could hit. Same as a mask stfu and deal with it.

Haha. Yes. Also I forgot to mention it’s also the same people manufacturers add fake shift points and paddle shifters to CVTs.

@Ed92626 Do you have any more info on replacing this? I'd like to make it the Imperial March. :)

You don't need this if you pay attention and use the tools available to you, for example the back up camera. The key is when you back up you need to move ultra slowly and observe left/right and rearwards to be sure you're free of pedestrians and proceed at such speed that you can't really hurt a pedestrian even if you struck them. This will work far better than the noise maker because after all deaf people won't hear the annoying noise anyway. And the noisemaker won't protect even people with hearing if you back up wrecklessly. I will plan on disabling the noise maker until a 3rd party develops a suitable substitude plug and play replacement. There are zillions of the cars being sold now and very likely the aftermarket will jump in to fill the demand hopefully sooner than later.

Wow, Karen alert for the hybrid noise. Just be aware of your surroundings.

Electric & Hybrid-Electric vehicles run much quieter than regular internal combustion vehicles, so the noise you're hearing is a safety issue.. As of September 2019, NHTSA has required that all cars with electric or hybrid drive trains emit a noise when going under twenty miles per hour. And that is required in both forward & reverse. However, Car companies have removed the forward requirement in certain cases where they show a vehicle can be heard properly. Toyota's RAV4 is one of them. You might hate it, but at least the noise is only in reverse.

Just step on the gas pedal before reversing. The car will go into gas mode and will not make the noise.

The noise is obnoxious. I do not mind a beep sound or a bit less noise but it is so loud and it alerts my neighbors at night I'm coming and going. Everyone in the parking lot at the cafes, etc..just stop and stare like where the hell is that loud noise coming from. It is tooooo much noise. They really should modify it to be less like grinding metal noise. I am sorry I bought this car and it is my first hybrid. I hope other hybrids are less obnoxious.

We just got a 2023 Rav4, got it home and went to go for a drive, put the car in reverse and thought we had a serious problem. It sounded like grinding gears or brakes. We parked the car and called the dealership who had no idea what the problem was and asked us to bring it in for service. I understand a possible need for some sound to alert people, especially in reverse but this not only is so much loader than a gas car but it makes it sounds like the car has a serious mechanical issue. HATE IT!

WAY TOO LOAD..RAV SUV.. Take your ear buds out. Give me some peace. Toyota made a sound mistake . They distroyed a good car by adding that at such a high DB...

WE HAVE FRONT AND REAR SENSORS , SPEAKERS FWD AND BACK UP SPEAKER, DID NANCY PELOSI SUGGEST THIS. WHO GOT THE CHECK FOR THIS INSANITY. MAYBE EAR BUDS WITH A WARNING.

Toyota has a lemon. The warning noise when backing up the car is realy loud, deal braker loud. 2023 RAV4 HYBRID is sick.