2006 Toyota RAV4 complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS, THE CONTACT HEARS A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT NEEDED TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 02-23-09 *BF UPDATED 02/24/09. *JB

WATER SEAMS TO GATHER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR MAT. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP CLOSEST TO ME AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE WINDSHIELD AREA AND TECHNICIAN NEEDS TO ASSES THE SITUATION BUT SINCE I HAD 37,000 MILES ON THE CAR IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE WATER GATHERS ONLY WHEN IT RAINS. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONDENSATION FROM THE AC BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THIS IS RAIN WATER ENTERING THE CABIN. 2006 RAV4. *TR

I AM JUST ANOTHER CONSUMER WORRIED THAT MY 2006 RAV4 WILL SOMEHOW GIVE OUT ON MY CLIMB UP A MOUNTAIN AS EACH WEEK THE STEERING COLUMN IS GETTING WORSE, ITS TO THE POINT NOW WHERE UPON START AND DRIVE IT IS CLANGING AND SOUNDS AS IF IT WERE READY TO GIVE OUT AT ANY MOMENT, I HAVE A 2006 AND HAVE 50K ON IT, I DRIVE QUITE A FEW MILES ON THE JOB AND WONDER WHAT THE THOUGHT PROCESS IS WITH TOYOTA, THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM BUT SEEM TO BE WAITING FOR A TERRIBLE DISASTER BEFORE THEY CHALK IT UP AS A RECALL HOPEFULLY IT WONT END IN A TRAGIC DEATH BEFORE THIS IS DECIDED UPON. *TR

SINCE DAY ONE THERE WAS A KNOCKING/POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT PARK AND LOW SPEEDS. I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES AND FINALLY, AND IRONICALLY, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE. PREVIOUS TRIPS YIELDED THE EVER PRESENT "COULD NOT DUPLICATE". HOWEVER STEERING ADJUSTMENTS VIA AN ALIGNMENT WAS ATTEMPTED. COULD NOT DUPLICATE BUT TRIED SOMETHING ANYWAY? THE IRONIC PART ABOUT WHEN THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE IS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS 4000 MILES PAST WARRANTY. FUNNY HOW SUCH AN OBVIOUS THING CAN GO UNNOTICED UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRES. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 4 CYLINDER 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN APRIL 2006. AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES I NOTICED A SUBTLE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS AT A SLOW SPEED. WHEN THE SOUND CONTINUED TO INCREASE AND ALSO OCCURRED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING, I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. I HAVE NOW DONE SO 2 TIMES . THE MECHANICS ASSIGNED TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION AGREED THAT THERE WAS THE CLUNKING NOISE AND GAVE ME THE TOYOTA T-SB-0318-08. SINCE THE SITUATION HAS CONTINUED TO GET WORSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WEAR ON PARTS. WE DRIVE ON MOUNTAIN ROADS WITH MANY CURVES. ARE WE SAFE? DOES TOYOTA HAVE PLANS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM? *TR

I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 V6 SPORT. AFTER A YEAR I GOT A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING SHAFT WHEN I WAS TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEED. I HAD AROUND 15,000 MILES. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME AFTER THE CHECK UP THAT IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. AFTER A YEAR MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR WAS SURPRISED BY THE NOISE. SHE HAD A NISSAN QUEST FOR 15 YEARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH A BAD RIDE AT LOW SPEED. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF ABOUT $1500 TO FIX IT. IS OUT OF WARRANTY. LOOK LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM GENERATED BY A BAD ENGINEERING DESIGN AND TOYOTA MFG. KNOWS ABOUT. WHY THEY DON'T STAY BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND RECALL IT FOR REPLACEMENT WITH A BETTER DESIGN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT? *TR

I HAVE 2006 RAV4 SPORT WITH 52K MILES ON IT THAT IS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURN AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE IS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THIS ISSUE: ST001-08 FOR STEERING. I CAN LIVE WITH THE NOISE BUT I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS WILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL IF I DO NOT HAVE THIS REPLACED SINCE THE WARRANTY FOR THE VEHICLE EXPIRED AT 36K OR 36 MONTHS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL OF HER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHILE MAKING TURNS. OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS, THE NOISE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,248 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

I WAS HEADING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND STRUCK AN ONCOMING VEHICLE, WHICH FAILED TO YIELD TO ME. I STRUCK HIM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SECTION OF A FORD RANGER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET BUT IS WAITING FOR THE OTHER INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM REFERENCED RECENTLY. I HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE OF THE CAR JUST NOT STARTING. I DISCOVERED THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE STICK SHIFT. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS ENGAGED. IF YOU GIVE IT THE TINIEST JIGGLE IT ENGAGES AND THE CAR WILL START. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS, BUT PLANNED TO BRING IT UP WHEN I TAKE CAR TO BE SERVICED NEXT. *TR

FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND SOMETIMES AFTER WORK, CAR WILL NOT START. DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON, BATTERY CONDITION INDICATOR CHECKS GOOD. HAD BATTERY TESTED, BATTERY IS GOOD. OF COURSE, WHEN THE CAR DOES START AND I DRIVE IT IN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER. NO INDICATIONS OF STARTER SLUGGISH OR LOW BATTERY POWER. THESE SYMPTOMS HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND FORTUNATELY THE CAR WOULD START. *TR

THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE OF EVENTS DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. IN AUGUST 2006, I PURCHASED FOR MY WIFE A NEW TOYOTA RAV 4/L4 AT 4X2. IN AUGUST 2007 (VEHICLE MILEAGE: 9,540), I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE CAR DEALER BECAUSE OF A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WHICH HAD TO BE ORDERED (PART # 45260-42090) AND INSTALLED. IN NOVEMBER 2007 (VEHICLE MILEAGE: 11,989), I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE SAME NOISE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. IN DECEMBER 2007 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ONCE AGAIN (VEHICLE MILEAGE: 12,717) WITH STILL THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOISE. DEALER PERSONNEL DETERMINED A DAMAGED STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS ORDERED (PART # 45260-42090) AND INSTALLED FOR THE SECOND TIME. WE ARE NOW IN SEPTEMBER 2008 AND MY RAV 4 (VEHICLE MILEAGE: 20,855) IS BECOMING NOISY AGAIN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NO QUESTION IN MY MIND TAT THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR A THIRD TIME. I HAVE NEVER BEEN INFORMED BY TOYOTA THAT RAV 4 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT HAVE READ ONLINE THAT OTHER MODELS SUCH AS THE PRIUS HAVE BEEN RECALLED WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE / LOOSE WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE SHAFT HAS NOT "FAILED" YET, HOWEVER IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN MADE YET, PARTS ARE BACKORDERED. VEHICLE OUT OF WARRANTY BY 3650 MILES, SO FAR TOYOTA WILL ONLY PAY HALF. *TR

CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. WAS OCCASIONAL AT FIRST NOW IS CONSISTENT. BROUGHT IN WHEN UNDER WARRANTY WHEN NOISE WAS INCONSISTENT NOW THAT NOISE IS CONSISTENT AND WARRANTY IS UP THEY WON'T PAY FOR IT. *TR

I COMPLAINED ABOUT A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN DURING LOW SPEED TURNS. THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE IT AND APPLIED GREASE TO THE STEERING COLUMN STOPS, DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT PROBLEM ALMOST FROM DATE OF NEW PURCHASE. THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE STILL IS NO FIX FOR THESE CLUNKING NOISES. I BELIEVE IT IS A POORLY DESIGNED STEERING COLUMN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA 2006 RAV4 SPORT 6CYL. AWD 41,500 MI. *TR

PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 NEW IN 2006. REPLACED NEW BRAKE SHOES IN EARLY 2008 ON JULY 19TH BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, BUT WAS ABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENT AFTER TWO YEARS I AM TOLD THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS LEAKING. *TR

RAV4 2006 SE LE HAN REALIZADO SERVICIOS DE MANTENIMIENTO AL DA. PRESENTA SISTEMA DE FRENOS DAADO, DIAGNSTICO SEGN EL CENTRO DE SERVICIO EL BOOSTER DAADO. NO FRENA POR POCO OCASIONA ACCIDENTE AL CONDUCTOR. MILLAJE 43,549. *TR

WATER LEAKING IN ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE INTERIOR OF CAR IS BLACK DID NOT NOTICE LEAK UNTIL MOLD AND MILDEW STARTED TO FORM AND CAUSE ORDER IN THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE OCTOBER OF 2007. MOST RECENTLY DID NOT NOTICE LEAK UNTIL FOOT SLIPPED OFF OF BRAKE FROM SOLE OF SHOE BEING WET. MY CONCERN IS THE POSSIBLE MOLD AND MILDEW AND FOOT SLIPPING OFF OF BRAKE OR GAS PEDDLE FROM SOLE OF SHOE BEING WET. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUE APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES WITH NO PERMANENT SOLUTION BEING REACHED. TOYOTA 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT CONTACTED REGARDING PROBLEM AND WAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER (200806260919). I WAS CONTACTED BY CASE WORKER TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE BECAUSE LEAVES WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. BUT ON THE SERVICE RECORD STATES THAT NO CAUSE COULD BE DETERMINED AND THAT THEY CLEANED OFF CONDENSATION DISCHARGE TUBE AND ORDERED THE CAR DETAILED TO REMOVE ODOR, WHICH WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. ON MARCH 17, 2008, WHILE COASTING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD UNDERGONE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE BEFORE THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE WEATHER WAS DRY ON THE DAY OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED BACK TO THE CONTACT; HOWEVER, IT HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO THE SHOP DUE TO RIDING ROUGHLY WHEN PLACED INTO OVERDRIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS LOCKING EVERYTIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED INTO OVERDRIVE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT CITED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 17,690 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,687. UPDATED 5/13/08 *CN THE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE OVERDIRVE. UPDATED

THE FIRST PROBLEM I HAD WITH MY RAV-4 IS WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND ALL MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE ABS LIGHT THE TRACTION CONTROL, THE BRAKE LIKE. I TOOK IT IN AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE ABS MODULE. I AM BEGINNING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS PRIOR TO LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT HAVE TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE THE ABS LIGHT WILL COME ON THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I AM SITTING STILL AT A RED LIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATE THAT NOTHING IS GOING ON. *TR

AFTER A SESSION OF HEAVY RAIN WATER LEAKS ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. IT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER PROLONGED RAIN AND SEEMS TO BE LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE BENEATH THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I'VE READ ONLINE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 SPORT ONLY HAS ABOUT 20000 MILES BUT I ALREADY CHANGED 3 OF 4 TIRES. FIRST TIRE FLATTENED ON HIGHWAY, THEY WERE UNFIXABLE SO I BOUGHT NEW TIRES. THE TIRE SHOP FOUND AN INCH CUT BETWEEN THREAD. ABOUT ONE MONTH LATER ANOTHER TIRE FLATTENED, THEY FOUND THE SAME KIND OF CUT LIKE THE FIRST TIRE. ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH LATER THE THIRD TIRE FLATTENED, THIS TIME THEY FOUND A PINHOLE BUT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY NAIL. THREE MONTHS IN A ROW HAPPENED TO THREE DIFFERENT TIRES ? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS HARD ON THE BRAKES AND/OR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ENTERING INTO TRAFFIC. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MARCH 2, 2008. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,125 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,135. UPDATED 03/25/08. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE DRIVETRAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A WHINING SOUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. A REGIONAL ENGINEER RECENTLY STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS TYPICAL OF A 2006 RAV4 AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO REPAIR. THE NOISE BEGAN WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HOUR AND IS CURRENTLY ONGOING WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 TO 55 MPH. THE ENGINEER ALSO STATED THAT THE SOUND OF THE TRANSMISSION IS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,070 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,100. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF UPDATED 04/08/08 *TR

TWO SEPARATE PROBLEMS: 1) LEFT REAR SUSPENSION, REPORTED TO TWO DEALERS STARTING 8/11/07 FOLLOWED BY THREE OTHER COMPLAINTS, DIAGNOSED AS WORN BUSHING. PARTS ON ORDER; PROBLEM GETTING WORSE. NOTIFIED DEALER THROUGH FACTORY REP; DEALER HAS NOT INDICATED THAT DRIVING VEHICLE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. 2) HESITATION DOWNSHIFTING WHEN DEPRESSING GAS PEDAL. FIRST REPORTED TO TWO DEALERS ON 9/8/07 FOLLOWED BY TWO OTHER COMPLAINTS. INFORMED IT WAS/IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM CORRECTED AT THE FACTORY, YET PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVER STRUCK A CONCRETE POST AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE WEATHER WAS RAINY, WINDY, AND VERY COLD. THE DRIVER SUFFERED CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE AND DIED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS MAJOR FAILURES AND SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000.

FRONT CUP HOLDERS FOR THE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 ARE INADEQUATE FOR HOLDING MOST CUP SIZES WITHOUT FEAR OF THE CUP TIPPING OVER. THE LOCKING MECHANISM TO SECURE A CUP DOES NOT ACCOMMODATE LARGE OR MEDIUM DIAMETER SIZED CUPS (ONLY SMALL DIAMETER CUPS CAN BE SECURED IN THE HOLDER). I ALMOST SCALDED MYSELF ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS DUE TO THE CUP TIPPING OVER UPON MAKING A TURN. TOYOTA IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE IT ISSUED A RETROFIT FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 VEHICLES. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 RAV4 6 CYLINDER. WITHIN THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEGUN TO NOTICE THE KNOCKING/CREAKING NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER TO LOOK AT IT WHEN IT WAS IN FOR SERVICE BUT OF COURSE THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE PROBLEM. HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS DREADED "KNOCKING" NOISE WHEN TURNING AND ACCORDING TO THOSE PEOPLE, THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS REPLACED. *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 2006 LEAKS INTO PASSENGER SIDE COMPARTMENT LEAVING FLOOR AND FRONT INSULATION SOAKED WITH RAIN WATER. THIS RESULTS IN SEVERE MILDEW AND MOLD WITH HORRIBLE SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. REPAIRS SUPPOSEDLY MADE AND INSULATION REPLACED BUT CAR STILL SMELLS BADLY. *TR

TOYOTA RAV4, 2006 FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THAT POSITION. SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 85 POUNDS. IN TESTING OTHER VEHICLE MAKES, WE FOUND IN ABOUT TEN OF 12 OTHER MAKES, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM TURNS ON. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DEALER HAS BEEN VARIED AND WITHOUT DETAIL. NO DISCLAIMER IS PROVIDED TO THE BUYER ABOUT THIS SITUATION,SIMILAR TO THAT ABOUT CHILD SEATS. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CONSUMER IS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE SITUATION SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE PASSENGER WOULD ENJOY THE ADDED PROTECTION OF ALL THE INCLUDED AIR BAGS. IS IT UP TO THE CONSUMER TO GO TO THE TROUBLE OF SEARCHING OUT (AS WE DID) THE VEHICLE WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE PROTECTION ADVERTISED? WHAT ARE THE REGULATIONS WITH THIS SYSTEM? *TR

AFTER MARKET METAL TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR VALVE CAP (UNKNOWN MFG) FROZE ON ALL FOUR TOYOTA 2006 RAV4 TPMS VALVE STEMS DUE TO DISSIMILAR METAL CORROSION. UNABLE TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE OR REMOVE WITHOUT DAMAGING TOYOTA TPMS RESULTING IN $125 PER TIRE PLUS LABOR TO REPAIR FOR A TOTAL OF $680. *TR

PURCHASED RAV IN 1/2006 AND HAVE HAD MANY ACCELERATION ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. FROM A SLOW/START OR STOP/START, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CAR HESITATE ON ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURRENCE IS ALL THE TIME, CREATING A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A SAFETY MECHANISM TO PREVENT "HARD" SHIFTING IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SITUATION STILL OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES DAILY. *TR INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

DETAILS: THE VEHICLE HAS FREQUENT PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION WHEN COLD. CAR HAS NO POWER WHEN TRYING TO ENTER TRAFFIC. I WILL STEP ON THE GAS, BEGIN MOVING, THEN THE ENGINE WILL BOG DOWN AND I WILL HAVE NO ACCELERATION AT ALL. I HAVE TAKEN THIS UP TO MY DEALER, AND THEIR EXPLANATION IS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM CAN OCCUR WHEN EVER IT IS COLD. *JB

MY RAV4 STARTED GIVING ME BRAKE PROBLEMS WITHIN 5 MONTHS, ABOUT 5,500 MILES. I TOOK IT OVER TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE RAV4. THEY SAID THE ROTORS HAD TO BE CUT, SO THEY CUT THEM AND PUT NEW BRAKES ON THEM. THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN IN LESS THAN A MONTH. I DRIVE A LOT IN THE HIGHWAY, SO I PUT SOME MILES IN THE RAV4. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AGAIN, AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE THEY KEPT ON MAKING NOISE AND I WAS AFRAID THE RAV4 WOULDN'T STOP WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES. AFTER THE 3RD TRY BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE STILL MAKING NOISE AND THEY WEREN'T STOPPING CORRECTLY AND THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY. THEY SAID THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. I CHANGED TO ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. AT THIS DEALERSHIP, FIRST THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, BUT THEY TOOK A RIDE WITH ME IN THE RAV4 AND REALIZED WHAT I SAID. THEY PUT NEW FRONT ROTORS AND NEW FRONT BRAKES. WHEN I WENT TO GET THE RAV4, I TOLD THEM THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. THEY SAID TO TRY IT OUT FOR AT LEAST 500 MILES BEFORE THEY PUT THE REAR ROTORS. THAT WAS AT 18,000 MILES. AT 19,000 MILES I TOOK IT BACK BECAUSE THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. THEY PUT THE REAR ROTORS AND BRAKES. NOW, AFTER FIVE MONTHS AND 8,000 MILES IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS TIME, THE LIGHTS ARE TURNING ON FOR BRAKES, 4WD, ABS, VSC ARE TURNING ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE FRONT BRAKES ARE COMPLETED GONE AND THE ROTORS NEED TO BE CUT. I COMPLAINT BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY 8,000 MORE AND THEY WERE USE

I HAVE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY RAV4 WHEN I MAKE LOW-TURN SPEEDS. I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AMONG RAV4 CAR OWNERS THIS PROBLEM IS VERY WELL IDENTIFIED, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS URL: HTTP://RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=5820&POSTDAYS=0&POSTORDER=ASC&START=0 THAT DISCUSSION THREAD ALONE HAS ALMOST 150 MESSAGES ON THIS TOPIC, BUT MOST TOYOTA DEALERS CAN'T FIND OR FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS LIKE A REAL PROBLEM, AND TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE A TSB OUT ON THIS, BUT IF THEY DO, I CAN'T FIND ONE. BECAUSE IT MAKES A LOT OF NOISE IT SEEMS DANGEROUS, BUT THE DEALER I'VE TAKEN IT TO HAS SAID "DON'T WORRY, IT WON'T GET YOU IN AN ACCIDENT OR LEAVE YOU STRANDED." IF THEY CAN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN MAKE THAT STATEMENT. THANK YOU. *JB

OUR 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS HAD ISSUES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS OF EITHER HESITATING WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED OR LUNGING FORWARD WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC OR A STOP LIGHT. WE HAVE MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO OUR DEALER, BUT THEY KEEP SAYING NOTHING IS WRONG. WE FEEL THIS CAR IS UNSAFE/ RELIABLE AT THIS POINT. *JB

WATER LEAKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR...CARPET IS SOAKED. APPEARS TO HAPPEN AFTER HEAVY RAIN. WE ARE BRINGING IT IN TO DEALER AGAIN TOMORROW - THIS IS THE THIRD TIME. THEY SAID THEY WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THE A/C IS LEAKING. THE WATER GUY WON'T BE IN UNTIL LATE NEXT WEEK AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE AND MAY INCUR MORE IF IT CONTINUES TO RAIN BEFORE THIS IS FIXED. *TR

CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS MOSTLY. SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING LEFT. CLUNKS 2 OR 3 TIMES ON THE TURN ,WHILE MAKING THE RIGHT TURN MOSTLY..IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME NOW .I TOOK MY CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND HAD A MECHANIC RIDE WITH ME .. I COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM MORE THEN A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT THE MECHANIC COULDN'T HEAR IT. HE SAID TO BRING IT BACK IF IT CONTINUES. TOYOTA HAS NO BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM FOR THE RAV4, HOWEVER THEY HAVE SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE PRIUS AND THE HIGHLANDER MODELS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM.. I MENTIONED THIS TO THE DEALER, HE SAID THEY WEREN'T RELATED?? THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. *JB

THROTTLE LAG WHEN REQUESTING IMMEDIATE ACCELERATION FROM EITHER A STOP OR A T LOW SPEEDS.

WHEN IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND THE LEVER TO ADJUST THE ANGLE OF THE SEAT BACK IS LIFTED, THE SEAT BACK MOVES AWAY FROM THE DRIVER'S BACK AND DOES NOT RETURN. IF NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT SOMETIMES THE SEAT BACK WHEN PUSHED BACK WILL RETURN FORWARD BUT SLOWLY AND WEAKLY. DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE SEAT REQUIRES THE VEHICLE BE STEERED, THE SEAT LEVER KEPT LIFTED AND REACHING BACK TO PULL THE SEAT FORWARD. THIS UNNERVING AND UNSAFE. *JB

WHEN I USE THE AUTOMATIC LOCK OPENER AND UNLOCK THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OR CLICK TWICE TO UNLOCK ALL DOORS IN THE VEHICLE, WITHIN A MINUTE, AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS ALL DOORS AGAIN. KNOWING THAT I COULD EASILY GET LOCKED OUT, I CALLED A TOYOTA SALESPERSON TO ASK WHY IT WAS HAPPENING OR WHAT I COULD DO TO FIX IT. HE DIDN'T KNOW AND SUGGESTED BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. OUT OF TOWN THIS PAST SATURDAY EVENING, I WAS LOADING THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE AND SET MY KEYS DOWN INSIDE. WHEN I HEARD THE CLICKING NOISE OF ALL THE LOCKS LOCKING, I REMINDED MYSELF TO GET THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. A MOMENT LATER, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL, AND DISTRACTED, SHUT THE BACK DOOR. EVEN THOUGH I HAD UNLOCKED ALL DOORS MOMENTS AGO, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY RE-LOCKED ALL DOORS EVEN WITH THE BACK DOOR OPEN. I CALLED TOYOTA'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TO MY SURPRISE, I WAS TOLD THAT LOCKOUTS ARE NOT A COVERED SERVICE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AUGUST 7TH. AT FIRST, THE SERVICE ADVISOR AGREED THAT THE LOCKS SHOULD NOT BE WORKING THE WAY THEY ARE AND SAID THAT HE WOULD GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. AFTER WAITING TWO HOURS, HE SAID THAT THE LOCKS ARE WORKING CORRECTLY, AND THE WAY THEY WERE DESIGNED TO WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I WAS LOCKED OUT, I WAS CLOSE TO HAVING PUT A TWO YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE TEMPERATURE NEAR 100 DEGREES. THE ONLY TIME I WANT THE LOCKS TO LOCK AUTOMATICALLY IS AFTER I'VE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND AM DRIVING. THIS IS NOT A SAFETY FEATURE INCLUDED WITH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 11,500 MILES BECAUSE THE ROTORS WERE FAILING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SQUEALING AND GRINDING VERY BADLY 4,400 MILES LATER. WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT THE NOISE ORIGINATED FROM THE REAR BRAKES, IN BETWEEN THE VACUUM AND THE ROTORS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE SYSTEM WAS POORLY DESIGNED. THE POSSIBLE MILEAGE IS 16,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,500. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED REPAIR INVOICES. UPDATED 08/27/07 *TR

THE ENGINE ON TOYOTA RAV 4 STARTED TO RACE AT MAXIMUM RPMS WHILE I WAS PARKING THE CAR. FORTUNATELY IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR BUT THAT DID NO GOOD. I TURNED THE KEY OFF AND THEN RESTARTED THE CAR. THE PROBLEM REPEATED. I DID THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE ENGINE STARTED TO IDLE NORMALLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER,BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I' WAS CONCERNE DTHE PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING.*AK

HESITATES TO ACCELERATE. IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 20 MPH FOR OVER 2 MILES. I LIVE RIGHT OFF A MAJOR HIGHWAY, AND WHEN I TRY TO PULL ON HIGHWAY, CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GO. I HAD IT TO THE DEALER ABOUT 4 TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO GO. ONCE THEY CLAIMED IT WAS THE FLOOR MAT JAMMING UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. THEY KEPT IT FOR A WEEK AND FOUND NOTHING. ALSO, THEY LOOKED ON A WEBSITE AND FOUND NO OTHER COMPLAINTS. I AM VERY UNHAPPY. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.*AK

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 4CYL, 4WD. I CURRENTLY HAVE JUST UNDER 15K MILES AND I'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR HESITATING (OR THE THROTTLE LAGGING). AT TIMES, USUALLY ONE A WEEK OR SO, IF I PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN I NEED TO SPEED UP, IT'S AS IF NOTHING HAPPENS. I HAVE TO LET THE PEDAL GO AND PUSH IT AGAIN TO SPEED UP. IT USUALLY HAPPENS IF I'M TRYING TO MERGE INTO FASTER TRAFFIC, OR AT TIMES WHEN I'M TAKING A SLOW TURN AND THEN GO TO SPEED UP AFTERWARDS. *TR

WATER LEAKING IN THROUGH THE DASHBOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE WHEN IT RAINS. TAKING IT IN TO TOYOTA TODAY. 4-18-07.*AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE CVS, ABS, 4 WHEEL DRIVE, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE AND FOR AS LONG AS 1 WEEK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE, BUT THAT THEY WOULD RESEARCH IT. AS OF THIS DATE THE DEALER HAD NOT INFORMED THE CONTACT OF THEIR FINDINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000. *AK

FIRST DAY I HAD CAR, I GOT GAS, WENT TO THE MALL, CAME OUT AND 3 LIGHTS WERE ON, MY VCD, 4WD, AND CHECK ENGINE. BROUGHT CAR IN WAS TOLD FAULTY GAS CAP. ORDERED ME A NEW GAS CAP, A DAY LATER SAME THING, BROUGHT IT BACK TOLD THEY NEEDED CAR FOR DAY TO ANALYZE, TOLD I NEEDED CHARCOAL CYLINDER, HAD REPLACED A DAY LATER SAME THING AGAIN. BROUGHT BACK TOLD NEEDED FOR A DAY AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE GAS TANK, DAY LATER LIGHTS ON AGAIN, THIS TIME TIGHTENED UP GASKETS, DAY LATER, LIGHTS ON AGAIN. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. *JB

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED. THE DIGITAL RADIO CONTROLS OCCAISIONALLY BECOME INACTIVE AND THE DISPLAY GOES BLANK OR BECOMES ILLEGIBLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ONLY CONTOL THAT WORKS IS THE MODE AND VOLUME BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PROBLEM CORRECTS ITSELF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. *JB