1997 Toyota RAV4

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

VEHICLE ALARM ADD ON MODULE AND HARNESS WERE FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND HAS SHORTED OUT UPON INSPECTION OF MODULE I HAVE FOUND BURNT CIRCUITS . VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO START ALSO LEADING TO BELIEVE THE ECM HAS BEEN EFFECTED .

1997 RAV4 AWD 109000 DEALER SERVICED TOOK IN FOR A OIL CHANGE 2/18/16 DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CRADLE ASSY HAS A TENNIS BALL SIZE HOLE IN IT NEAR NEXT TO LEFT CONTROL ARM , $2361.30 TO REPLACE OR JUNK THE VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, VEHICLE SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES AND ITS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION NOW, MY 22 YR OLD DAUGHTER HAS BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THE LAST 6 1/2 YRS A VERY POOR DESIGN BY TOYOTA

RECEIVED WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE-ZE7, AS INSTRUCTED, DEALER TEST WAS PERFORMED. OIL LOSS TOTALS UNDER 1QT. FOR EA. 1200 MILES DRIVEN. WAS TOLD THIS DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THIS: TOYOTA SERVICE REQUIRED FOR OIL CHANGE IS EVERY 5,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION OF JUST UNDER 1QT PER 1,200 MILES, SO DRIVING 5,000 MILES WOULD EFFECTIVELY BURN 4QTS., OR MORE, THEREBY STARVING ENGINE FOR OIL AND RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME TO KEEP CHECKING OIL LEVEL, AND ADD OIL AS REQUIRED. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISED THEM OF MY OPINION. I AM ABLE TO ADD OIL AS REQUIRED, BUT QUESTIONED CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT OTHER SENIOR CITIZEN'S ABILITY TO SELF MAINTAIN THE OIL LEVEL, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANY CONSUMER THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS ASSIGNED ME A CASE NUMBER FROM REGIONAL CA. OFFICE. I WAS TOLD THAT PERHAPS TOYOTA WILL CHANGE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS SO THAT AT 5,000 MILES, OIL CONSUMPTION WOULD NOT RESULT IN ENGINE STARVATION AND FAILURE. ALSO, IN MY CASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR OIL LOSS, AND IF IT INCREASES IN VOLUME, COME BACK TO DEALER AND TEST AGAIN. I THINK THAT DESIGN FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTIFICATION THAT WAS MAILED TO ME. *TR

RAV 4 TOYOTA 1997-WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES WITHOUT THE RPR INCREASED WITHOUT CONTROL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BECOME EXTREMELY HOT, FLUIDS WERE DRAINED . CAR SENT TO DARCARS TOYOTA THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND NOW FACING SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, BECAUSE LACK OF RECALL RPR 'S ISSUE VERY DETRIMENTAL AND RISKY . *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING, HIT A POTHOLE, AND THE SUB FRAME COMPLETELY BROKE IN HALF. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT IT HAD BEEN ROTTING OUT FROM THE TOP. *TR

WE TOOK OUR 1997 RAV4 TO THE MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION AND OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH ALL RAV4'S AND THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THESE VEHICLES. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING IN OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED. MY MECHANIC WHOM I TRUST IMPLICITLY SAID THEY'VE REPLACED MANY SUB FRAMES ON THESE VEHICLES EXCLUSIVELY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHERE THEY DETECTED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BODY FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 05/11/12 *BF UPDATED 05/21/12

THE SUB-FRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *JS

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SOME ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TO BE DONE AND WAS CALLED TO COME IN BY THE MECHANIC. HE SHOWED ME UNDER MY CAR, MORE SPECIFICALLY THE FRAME ON MY CAR. IT HAD EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE. THE RUST WAS NOT JUST ON THE SURFACE, BUT HAD LARGE HOLES EATEN AWAY WITHIN THE ENTIRE FRAME. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, BECAUSE OF THE HOLES/DAMAGE ON THE FRAME. HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. UPDATED 10/20/11 *BF

GAS PEDAL STICKS. *TR

MY 1997 TOYOTA RAV 4 GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING I TOOK IT TO TWO PLACE THEY SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP THEY FIXED IT. WAS MY VEHICLE A RECALL. *TR

DRIVING ON I -10 IN BUCKEYE AZ @ SPEED OF 65-70 WHEN SAW SPARKS COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY RAV4 THEN A LOAD THUMPING SOUND AND THEN THE CAR WEAVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE RAV TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND WHEN EXITING THE CAR SAW THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BUT THE TIRE WAS FULLY INFLATED THIS CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE WHEEL WELL , BUMPER AND FENDER RESULTING IN AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND ALOT OF JITTERY NERVES AS THERE WERE 2 SMALL GRANDCHILDREN AND A PREGNANT DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. TIRE IS A UNIROYAL P215/70R 99S BW TIGER PAW TOURING SR. BOUGHT AT 61,194 AND I NOW HAVE 83,000 SO I HAVE PUT 22,000 MILES ON THESE TIRES IN 3 YEARS. *TR

TL*- THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAS FAILED SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE ON MARCH 1, 2001.. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 59,000 MILES ON JUNE 30, 2001. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 98000 MILES ON JANUARY 28, 2003. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND FIXED IT, THE CONTACT PAID $300.00 FOR THE REPAIR. THE THIRD INCIDENT WAS AT 98,050 MILES ON FEBRUARY 28, 2003. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY FOUND THE BEARINGS FAILED, NOTED CODE F ON THEIR REPORT. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BEARINGS WERE BENT. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT NO CHARGE, BUT THE CONTACT HAD TO GO TO THE SENIOR MECHANIC OF THE DEALER FOR APPROVAL. THE FORTH INCIDENT WAS AT 160,000 MILES ON JUNE 14, 2006. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AFTER HEARING THE SAME NOISE AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS AFTER TEST DRIVING AND LOOKING UNDER THE VEHICLE UNDER A RACK. ON JUNE 20, 2006 THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PERFORMANCE SERVICE CENTER, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A RACK AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BAD FRONT WHEEL BEARING, AND REPLACED. THE CONTACT PAID $348.45. *AK

POPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR! HAD FIXED, AND 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SHIFTED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE). *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A STEEP HILL AT 35 MPH, AND UPON GOING DOWN A HILL, VEHICLE FISH TAILED OUT OF CONTROL. HITTING A MEDIAN STRIP. CONSUMER HAD TO SWERVE RIGHT, AND WENT INTO A TAIL SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE SEAT BELT EITHER RELEASED OR BROKE. THE ROOF CAVED IN. ALL THE WINDOWS BROKE. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK

FIFTH GEAR FAILED, NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE MANUAL TRANSMISSION.*AK

MANUFACTURER RECENTLY ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENTION TO CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF THE EMISSION SYSTEM AND SELECTIVELY EXCLUDED MY COMPONENT (EGR VALVE) EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATOR. I BELEIVE THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE INLCUDED IN THE LIST OF EXHAUST SYSTEMS WHICH SHOULD RECEIVE EXTENDED CARE DUE TO POOR WORKMANSHIP.

PRIOR TO A TURN, WHEN THE LEFT OR RIGHT BLINKER IS PUT ON, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. AFTER ABOUT 4 SECONDS THEY COME BACK ON. THEN, AFTER THE TURN, AS THE BLINKER AUTOMATICALLY CANCELS, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. *AK

MY RAV 4 HAS HAD A VERY COSTLY AND DIFFICULT-TO-FIX ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THE LAST 3 MONTHS. SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT UP, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAD STALLING PROBLEMS AND ONCE DIED COMPLETELY. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAVE WORKED ON IT AND NOBODY HAS YET BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY. IT HAS ALWAYS COME BACK. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN SAID THAT IT HAS TO FAIL COMPLETELY AGAIN BEFORE THEY CAN ATTEMPT TO KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. THAT MEANS I WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO BE STRANDED UNTIL SOMEONE CAN MAYBE FIX THE VEHICLE. I MAY BE FORCED TO SELL THE VEHICLE FOR PARTS WAY BEFORE I SHOULD FOR A CAR OF THAT AGE AND MILEAGE. *LA