[Bikes&Boards]

Recently, my 2019 XLE with standard infotainment has started flashing this message on the display (both OEM screen and in carplay) every few minutes. This popup appears even if my phone is not connected over usb or bluetooth so I'm pretty sure that isn't the issue.
In addition to this, my SOS button is blinking between red and green nonstop.
I don't see the DCM showing up as connected on the display.

I've already attempted to troubleshoot it by unplugging/reconnecting the battery (which has fixed other DCM related issues in the past) but that didn't fix it.
I also tried to update the software through the infotainment, but it says it can't connect and to try again later.

Mysteriously, this issue popped up shortly after toyota removed my connected services after the 3 year trial (which is just the SOS button and wifi which I didn't subscribe to, I don't have remote start). I'm hoping there is a way to fix this without having to pay for services I don't want.

Does anyone know if the vehicle will still receive over the air software updates without the paid tier of connected services?

 

[JFox562]

I don't have an answer to your situation but I do have a possible solution for you regarding the software update issue.

If the over-the-air can't connect, you can always go to this link to determine if there is an software update. My 2019 never would find any updates so I gave up. I read a thread which pointed me to the link below and I have done 2 updates already this year. Technically 3 since I have the Navigation system. Give it a try since it uses a USB drive to update the software.

Home (toyota.com)

One other thing, you will need to provide your VIN number to that site.

 

[Bikes&Boards]

I don't have an answer to your situation but I do have a possible solution for you regarding the software update issue.

If the over-the-air can't connect, you can always go to this link to determine if there is an software update. My 2019 never would find any updates so I gave up. I read a thread which pointed me to the link below and I have done 2 updates already this year. Technically 3 since I have the Navigation system. Give it a try since it uses a USB drive to update the software.

Home (toyota.com)

One other thing, you will need to provide your VIN number to that site.

Thanks for this link! Unfortunately the software version shown is already what my car has installed, so I'll need to find something else to try before I become too annoyed by the popup and blinking lights and head to the dealership.

 

[JFox562]

Thanks for this link! Unfortunately the software version shown is already what my car has installed, so I'll need to find something else to try before I become too annoyed by the popup and blinking lights and head to the dealership.

Out of curiosity, have you tried to reset the multimedia system by pressing and holding the volume/power knob until it reboots? I've had a few instances early on where this resolved some weird issues.

 

[Tazio Nuvolari]

In addition to this, my SOS button is blinking between red and green nonstop.
I don't see the DCM showing up as connected on the display.

The red and green lights blinking by the SOS button is a symptom of a DCM malfunction. Unfortunately the well known DCM TSB does not apply to the 2019 model. You may be out of warranty by this time but this issue may have to be dealt with by the dealer.

 

[Numbers]

Have you considered having your car battery checked? I've had strange electronic symptoms in past cars that had marginal batteries. After installing a new battery, problems disappeared.

 

[Tazio Nuvolari]

Have you considered having your car battery checked? I've had strange electronic symptoms in past cars that had marginal batteries. After installing a new battery, problems disappeared.

This is true. There are several threads in this forum and also a google search confirms that many makes of recent cars get strange and even bogus warning messages or DTCs if their batteries are defective, or weak and failing. A new battery many times fixes the issue. Many car parts stores will give you a free battery test. I don't know whether this would relate to a DCM issue though where both those red and green LEDs are displaying as in OP's case.

 

[Bikes&Boards]

Thanks all for the additional replies. I'll check the battery, though I don't anticipate that being the issue.
Is there a way to disable the DCM altogether? Is there any purpose to having it if I'm not planning to pay for the connected services and the button won't do anything anyways?

Coming up on my 50k miles service, so I'll have the dealership take a look at it when I bring it in.

 

[Tazio Nuvolari]

Is there a way to disable the DCM altogether? Is there any purpose to having it if I'm not planning to pay for the connected services and the button won't do anything anyways?

I remember an early thread in this forum back in late 2019 or early 2020 where a few posters were disconnecting or disabling the DCM because they valued their privacy and did not like Toyota collecting data and tracking them by GPS. I would personally not attempt it. I think you have to be really knowledgeable and savvy about the electronics. I think doing it incorrectly might totally screw up the RAV and cost a fortune to repair. Use the search function to find those early DCM disconnect threads.

 

[Erebus31]

Another 2019 XLE owner here and I'm having the exact same issue, I see that pop-up every 15-30 seconds along with the SOS light switching between red and green. Even though I get the pop-up, from what I can tell everything still functions perfectly fine when connected via Bluetooth or USB

 

[WillRav4Tacos]

For those having the flashing red/green back and forth on the SOS light, this is the behavior of the DCM booting up fresh (IE: on my car when I pull the 12v battery and let the car sit for 30+ minutes). Reconnecting the 12v battery will cause this behavior, but it should stop in less than 30 seconds once the DCM fully boots. It will only ever do this if the DCM's internal backup battery completely dies on top of your Rav4's battery under the hood (Or I guess the hatch in Hybrids)

If it is doing this repeatedly there is an issue with the DCM and it sounds like it is stuck in a boot loop. Try pulling your 12v battery for 30+ minutes to let the DCM's built in backup battery drain completely, then reconnect your 12v and start your car. The flashing back and forth should stop after ~30 seconds. If the behavior continues beyond that, you have a DCM issue that probably will warrant a visit with your service department.

After you reconnect your 12v you will need to re-initialize several things:

1. If you have a power back door and leave it open after pulling your battery, it won't work until you close it gently manually. On mine I also had to disable/enable the PBD in the MID to fully reset it.
   
   
2. If you have the Dynamic backup camera lines on your model and have the <!>, place your car in reverse. With your foot on the break pedal turn your steering wheel lock to lock fully then back center to regain the dynamic guidelines.
   
   
3. If you have parking sensors they will be flashing orange on the MID and display an error about being unavailable. Drive your Rav4 for ~30 seconds in a straight line around 25 MPH and they will also reinitialize on their own and the lights/error will clear.
   
   
4. Fully roll down each window/moonroof and fully roll up. They will sound slightly different as the motors "learn" the travel required to open/close and may make a straining noise. This stops on subsequent uses once the travel distance is learned.

 

[Erebus31]

I left my battery disconnected overnight and it didn't resolve my issue so I guess I'm going to have to go to the dealership. This month marks 2 full years of having this thing and I bought it pre-owned so the dealership warranty for pre-owned has expired. If this is going to cost me an arm and a leg to fix I'm going to be pissed.

Or I'll just pull the DCM fuse and be done with it

 

[Bikes&Boards]

Finally got annoyed enough and took it into the dealer for this issue. It took two appointments due to them needing to order the part from another dealership, but the issue appears to be resolved. The popup on the infotainment screen no longer appears, and the SOS lights remain off rather than blinking, which is the proper state when there is not an active connected services subscription.

They identified a TSB for telematics/bluetooth/speaker issues caused by the DCM (which a poster above called as the issue, but in this case is a different service bulletin applies). T-SB-0112-20, which applies to the 2019 model, recommends a replacement of the "Transceiver Assembly, Telephone".

This should be covered under the 3yr/36k warranty if your car is newer, and was covered for me due to an extended warranty (which after this and a replacement for the tailgate struts last year has now paid for itself, so I guess I'm lucky and unlucky haha). The transceiver is an $886 part according to my receipt, so if you're paying out of pocket it might only make sense to replace if you currently have an SOS/connected services subscription and those aren't functioning.

 

[Erebus31]

Finally got annoyed enough and took it into the dealer for this issue. It took two appointments due to them needing to order the part from another dealership, but the issue appears to be resolved. The popup on the infotainment screen no longer appears, and the SOS lights remain off rather than blinking, which is the proper state when there is not an active connected services subscription.

They identified a TSB for telematics/bluetooth/speaker issues caused by the DCM (which a poster above called as the issue, but in this case is a different service bulletin applies). T-SB-0112-20, which applies to the 2019 model, recommends a replacement of the "Transceiver Assembly, Telephone".

Mine ended up being the exact same issue. Initially they were going to replace my entire radio along with the DCM and tried to the blame the "The connected device is not supported" pop-up on my off-brand USB cable but I told them that made no sense because it did it when connected via Bluetooth as well. But a DCM replacement resolved the issue, I was able to sneak it in right before my pre-owned warranted expired.

Seems to be a common enough issue across multiple Toyota models I'm surprised there hasn't been a recall

 

[fiction]

I might be late to this thread, but has anyone tried fixing this issue outside of their warranty?
It started happening to my 2019 Rav4 nearly at the end of warranty, and at that time I did not bothered looking into it, since I thought it might be due my phone cable. if it costs too much, I may just keep it as it is and not bother with getting it fixed.

 

[macm369]

Hello another Rav4 drive and this same issue has started to show up on my car also. Does anyone have a fix?