The Queensland Police Service (QPS) has issued a warning to its officers that their Toyota RAV4 AWD Hybrid patrol cars could overheat or shut down under extreme driving conditions, potentially forcing them to pull over during high-speed pursuits, according to Car.News.
The issue — identified during a recent driver training program — is linked to the RAV4’s high-voltage battery, which may overheat “under extreme conditions of hard braking combined with high acceleration and high RPMs.” The QPS has advised officers to “cease urgent driving duty and pull over to allow the system to cool” if vehicle warning indicators appear.
A leaked internal memo from an assistant commissioner further noted that in “extreme circumstances,” the vehicle could enter limp-home mode, drastically reducing power output and relying solely on the petrol engine, which limits acceleration.
Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior expressed concern to 7News Brisbane, asking, “What danger does that put our people at? If there is any risk whatsoever, those cars simply should not be on the road. All that testing should’ve been done beforehand. We shouldn’t be talking about this after we’ve purchased 400.”
The QPS maintains that since the RAV4’s introduction in 2020, there have been no reports of overheating during normal operational duties. The force’s Safe Driving Policy also requires vehicles to be driven within both the vehicle’s and driver’s limits.
Footage aired by 7News Brisbane shows a RAV4 Hybrid’s traction control system shutting down during hard driving, reducing rear-end traction and stability. However, it remains unclear whether this is directly related to the overheating issue.
A Toyota Australia spokesperson told Car.News that the RAV4 Hybrid includes a built-in failsafe system designed to protect the powertrain, emphasizing that no fault has been detected.
“Toyota Australia technical teams have inspected the vehicles in question and determined they are functioning as designed,” the spokesperson said. “In extreme scenarios such as police driver training, the vehicle may intervene to protect the hybrid system. As noted by the QPS, there have been no incidents of this nature during normal duties.”
In January 2025, the QPS purchased 400 new RAV4 Hybrid patrol cars to replace hundreds of Toyota Camrys across Queensland. Approximately 200 of these have already been deployed as of October 2025.
A QPS spokesperson confirmed that the RAV4 Hybrid will continue to serve frontline duties, expressing confidence in Toyota’s hybrid systems and safety protocols.
“The QPS is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our members and continually monitors the operational environment to ensure that all equipment meets our ongoing needs,” the spokesperson stated.
All-wheel-drive RAV4 Hybrids pair a 2.5-litre petrol engine with a CVT transmission, using a separate electric motor to power the rear wheels. This setup enhances traction but can experience overheating during high-intensity driving — such as police training exercises — due to the stress placed on the hybrid components.
Despite the reported concerns, testing under normal and off-road conditions has not shown any unusual issues with the RAV4 beyond its known drivetrain limitations.
