2006 Toyota RAV4 complaints

SUN VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE FAILS TO STAY UP BLOCKING VISIBILITY OF DRIVER . RESEARCHED ONLINE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS . TOYOTA HAS ONLY PROVIDED A RECALL WITH ONE MODEL. *TR

WHEN BACKING THE CAR OUT AND TURNING THE STEERING, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE THAT OCCURS. IT MOSTLY OCCURS FROM A COLD START. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS, BUT THE DEALER WON'T COVER IT. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A POPPING SOUND. IT WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THAT CAR AND MADE THE EXHAUST SOUND REALLY LOUD. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE CENTERPIPE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MATERIAL OF THE CENTERPIPE AND CATALYTIC WAS RUSTED AND THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED IT ON ME AND THAT I DROVE THE CAR OFF ROADING. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR HAS NEVER GONE OFF ROADING, GARAGED, AND WELL MAINTAINED. OTHER 2006 RAV4 OWNERS HAVE CITED THE SAME ISSUE STATING THAT THE MATERIAL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE CENTERPIPE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE OF POOR QUALITY. THE SEAMS OF THE CENTERPIPE JUST COMPLETELY CAME UNDONE. WHEN SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. WHEN TALKING TO THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AGENCY FOR EMISSIONS, THEY SAID THAT TOYOTA SHOULD COVER IT. THIS CENTERPIPE ISSUE BECAME A LARGER ISSUE WHEN THE VEHICLE MISFIRED AND THE VSC, CHECK ENGINE, AND 4WD LIGHTS ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DISCUSS WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE. OTHER OWNERS STATED THAT THE IGNITION COILS WERE OF POOR QUALITY AND TOYOTA HAS ISSUED REPLACEMENTS. TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE DRIVING VERY CLUNKY AND DOES NOT DRIVE AS WELL AS USUAL. THE CAR VIBRATES AND DRIVES VERY SLO

WHEN BACKING THE CAR OUT AND TURNING THE STEERING, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE THAT OCCURS. IT MOSTLY OCCURS FROM A COLD START. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A POPPING SOUND. IT WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THAT CAR AND MADE THE EXHAUST SOUND REALLY LOUD. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE DRIVING VERY CLUNKY AND DOES NOT DRIVE AS WELL AS USUAL. THE CAR VIBRATES AND DRIVES VERY SLOWLY. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT DROPPED A CYLINDER. THE ENGINE SOUNDS VERY CLUNKY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

HAVE TO KEEP ADDING A QUART OF OIL EVERY OTHER WEEK OR SO.IM CHECKING IT ALL THE TIME! BOUGHT IT NEW FROM DEALER! MY MECHANIC SAID EITHER VALVES OR PISTONS. COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I'M VERY UPSET. CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 3 THOUSAND MILES. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. WENT ON LINE AND OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. ITS COSTLY TO FIX AND TOYOTA SHOULD HONOR ANDFIX THIS DEFECT! MY FIRST TOYOTA AND PROBABLY MY LAST. I'LL KEPT ADDING OIL AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. *TR

FRONT LEFT CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, TOLD BY DEALER ISSUE IS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING. DEALER DID NOT SOUND CONFIDENT WHEN STATING IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. HAVE READ ABOUT MULTIPLE 2006 RAV4 OWNERS HAVING DEFECTIVE STEERING. *TR

I HAD ABS, VSC ALL THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON MY CAR AROUND 6 MONTHS AGO. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND GOT THE CAR FIXED THE CULPRIT WAS THE BAD ABS SENSOR. NOW ON NEW YEARS NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND I LOST MY TRACTION ABS SUDDENLY. AFTER PARKING THE CAR FOR FEW HRS OR SO SEEMS TO CURE IT, BUT IT KICKED IN WHILE DRIVING AGAIN AND LOST ABS, TRACTION ETC. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND I AM TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SECOND TIME, FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. NOW DO I HAVE TO DO THAT FOR ALL 4 SENSORS? WAIT TILL THEY DIE OUT ONE BY ONE AND GO ALL YEAR AROUND ? WHAT HAPPENS IF MY ABS AND TRACTION STOPS WORKING WHILE I AM ON HIGHWAY WHILE ITS HEAVY SNOWING? I AFTER QUICK RESEARCH ONLINE THERE SEEMS LIKE THE ABS SENSOR PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON AMONG ALL THE RAV4 IN SIMILAR BODY STYLE. IF TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT WHY ARE THEY NOT DOING SOMETHING ? IF I LOOSE ABS AND MY TRACTION WHILE DRIVING I AM JEOPARDIZING MY LIFE. I AM CERTAIN THAT TOYOTA HAVE SAID OH ITS BAD ABS SENSOR AND MADE THE CUSTOMER FIX IT BUT HOW ABOUT THE REST OF THE SENSORS WHICH IS ABOUT TO GO BAD? I WOULD KINDLY SEEK IF SOMEONE COULD GET BACK TO ME. I WOULD ALSO VOLUNTEER MY TIME AND ALLOW THE CAR TO BE TESTED AT YOUR FACILITY IF NEEDED TO DO SO. *TR

12/22/2010 @ 44,169 MILES THE STEERING KNOCKED WHEN TAKING TIGHT TURNS. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. 9/16/2011 @ 50,131 MILES THE ALTERNATOR BEARINGS GAVE WAY AND THE WATER PUMP WAS SEEPING FLUID. THE ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. 12/16/13 @ 63,336 MILES THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VEHICLE STABILITY LIGHT AND 4WD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED, THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND THE SUV NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *TR

JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 TOYOTA RAV4...BECAUSE I'VE OWNED TWO PREVIOUS TO THIS ONE AND SIMPLY APPRECIATE THEM... HOWEVER....I'VE ONLY OWNED THIS ONE SINCE MAY OF 2013 FROM A REPUTABLE DEALERSHIP AND TO MUCH SURPRISE I AM ALREADY EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. AT ABOUT 1.5K MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, MY OIL LIGHT COMES ON...CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS LOW TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL QUART ON THE 1ST OCCASION AND 2 QUARTS ON THE 2ND OCCASION...MAY I ADD THAT THERE IS NO LEAK. WHO IS GOING TO HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE? I NEED HELP AND ANSWERS. *TR

MY AIR BAGS LIGHT CAME ON A MONTH AGO. I FOUND OUT THAT THE CLOCK SPRING SENSOR WAS BAD. I THING THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN CAUSE INJURIES OR DEATH OF PEOPLE. *TR

I HAVE ALWAYS BROUGHT IN MY TOYOTA FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE TO THE DEALER EVERY 5,000 MILES. IN JULY OF THIS YEAR, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO LIGHT EVERY TIME I HIT THE BRAKES. MY DEALER PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION CHECK. BY NOVEMBER I WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE ENGINE RECONSTRUCTED AND REPAIR THE RINGS AND PISTONS, BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING EXCESSIVE OIL. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. THE REPAIRS COST OVER $3500 AND TOOK OVER A WEEK TO COMPLETE. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT THIS MODEL TOYOTA HAS A RECORD OF STUCK OIL RINGS CAUSING EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH LEADS TO ENGINE FAILURE. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LOSS OF OIL CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT TOYOTA IS FULLY AWARE OF. *TR

I OWN A 2006 RAV4. BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAVE HAD EVERY OIL CHANGE AND RECOMMENDED ENGINE SERVICE DONE SINCE THAT TIME DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP. A FEW MONTHS AGO, I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE MY FLUIDS CHECKED BEFORE A ROAD TRIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DIPSTICK SHOWED THAT I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO OIL! IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AS I HAD JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE ABOUT 3 WEEKS PRIOR. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADDED SOME OIL AND SAID THEY WOULD "MONITOR THE OIL CONSUMPTION." I THOUGHT MAYBE A CARELESS MECHANIC FAILED TO PROPERLY FILL THE RESERVOIR. HOWEVER, SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO GO BACK EVERY 1000 MILES SO THEY COULD CHECK THE DIPSTICK AND ADD OIL, BUT EACH TIME WAS TOLD THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE THE MONITORING. HOWEVER, ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THEY HAD SOME INFORMATION FOR ME. I WAS TOLD THAT TO FIX THE PROBLEM I REALLY NEED A NEW ENGINE, AS THE OIL IS BEING USED INTERNALLY BY THE ENGINE DUE TO A PISTON ASSEMBLY DESIGN PROBLEM PER THE TSB. I ASKED IF TOYOTA WAS GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR ME AT IT'S COST, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER AS THIS IS NOT A "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" ISSUE, IT'S A DESIGN DEFECT ISSUE. AS SUCH, TOYOTA SHOULD STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY BEING EXPERIENCED BY ( JUDGING FROM THE VARIOUS BLOGS I'VE BEEN VIEWING) LOTS OF TOYOTA OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ONLY OPTION THE DEALER GAVE ME WAS THAT I CAN HAVE THE PISTON REPAIR WORK DON

LATE NOVEMBER 2013 AT 75,000 MILES AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO COME IN INTERMITTENTLY, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AT 75,300. DEALER NOTIFIED, NO EXISTING RECALL ON 2006. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HYDRAULIC POWER BOOSTER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN GOING AROUND TURN, BUT GOES OFF. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE DIPSTICK WAS COMPLETELY DRY. I HAD TO ADD 3 QUARTS OF OIL. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE ON 11/16/2013 AND I HAD TO ADD 3 QUARTS. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. *TR

THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT CAME ON LAST MONTH. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HE DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE CABLE TO THE AIRBAG, WITH A PRICE TAG OF ALMOST $600 TO REPAIR. THE DANGER WAS THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD LIKELY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. (MY OWN LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEFINITELY NOT DEPLOY). THERE ARE MANY OTHER REPORTS/COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM IN RAV4S IN THE YEARS OF 2006-08. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES BY TOYOTA IN ORDER TO INSURE THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS. TOYOTA SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THIS SERVICE AS IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND PUTS LIVES AT STAKE. TOYOTA HAS AGREED TO ASSIST ME BY PAYING HALF THE REPAIR FEE, FOR WHICH I'M GRATEFUL. HOWEVER, I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AS A RECALL. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS CONSUMING OIL AT AN ALARMINGLY HIGH RATE. THE OIL LEVEL INDICATOR DOES NOT COME ON. IT FLASHES ON HARD BRAKING. HOWEVER BY THIS POINT THE OIL LEVEL IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. IN MY VEHICLE IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN 1 QT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 RAV4, BUILT IN NOVEMBER, 2005. MY CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND 4WD LIGHTS LIT UP ON AUGUST 16, 2013. AFTER REFERRING TO THE MANUAL AND FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS YIELDED NO RESULT, I KEPT DRIVING AND WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT DAY. I WAS ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR HAD FAILED AND I NEEDED A NEW ONE. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN FLUSHED ON 9/18/12 WITH 59,767 MILES ON MY CAR, THE DEALER MARKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID "GOOD" ON 6/17/13 WITH 65,143 MILES AND THERE WERE ONLY 66,319 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN AUGUST, 2013. BEING STRANDED OUT OF TOWN FOR THREE DAYS ALLOWED ME TO FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILING IN RAV4'S WITH LOW MILEAGE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT A HUGE PROBLEM AND EXPENSE WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR (WHICH IS STRANGE WHEN AN ALARM BLEATS, REQUESTING FASTENING OF THE SEATBELT, WHEN A GALLON OF MILK IS PUT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT.) AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THE MANUAL TO EVEN SUGGEST THE LIGHTS THAT LIT INDICATE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE FILED CASE #1310310749 WITH TOYOTA AND AWAIT THEIR FOLLOW UP ON PROMISES MADE. I WILL HAPPILY PROVIDE COPIES OF ANY PAPERWORK, SHOULD IT BE REQUESTED. I WOULD ASK FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES TO BE LOOKED INTO AS WELL AS THE TOTAL LACK OF CLARITY AND/OR DIRECTION IN THE MANUAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON LAST WEEK. TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING THEY GUESSED THAT IT WAS THE CLOCKSPRING. AFTER BRINGING IT IN AND READING THE COMPTUER CODES, THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SHOP SAID THEY CANNOT BUY AN AFTERMAKERT PART ANYMORE AND NEED TO GET AN OEM PART FROM TOYOTA, WHICH IS EXPENSIVE. CALLED TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE CENTER TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK IF THERE IS ANY OFFICIAL RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THERE IS A SIMILAR RECAL ON THE TUNDRA BUT NOT THE RAV4. *TR

DRIVER SIDE READ TIE ROD END RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED CAUSING LOUD NOISES AND HANDING ISSUES. *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN MY 2006 RAV 4 HAS ACTIVATED. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. THE REPAIR IS $500-$600 AND CAN ONLY BE PERFORMED BY A TOYOTA DEALER--A MONOPOLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OF THE TOYOTA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL I CAN AFFORD THE FIX. ON A TEACHER'S SALARY, THIS HAS IMPEDED MY ABILITY TO GET TO MY JOB SAFELY. THE CAR HAS LOW MILEAGE AND SHOULD NOT BE DEFECTIVE OR PUTTING LIVES AT RISK. I BEG YOU TO REVIEW THIS ISSUE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V383000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION AND WHEN MAKING TURNS, THE CONTACT WOULD HEAR AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

I'M A OWNER OF 06 TOYOTA RAV4 IT HAS 152,488 MILES I HAVE BEEN NOTICING OIL CONSUMPTION DRAMATICALLY, THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT IS LOW BUT THERE ARE NO LEAKS, TOYOTA SAYS CHANGE YOUR OIL EVERY 5,000 MILES BUT MY ENGINE LIGHT STARTS TO FLICKER AT 3,000 I HAVE STOP TO CHECK MY OIL STICK AN IT SHOWS LESS THAN A QUART OF OIL, I HAVE SWITCHED TO SYNTHETIC OIL AND THE SAME THINGS IS HAPPENING. I'VE BEEN SPEAKING TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF RAV4 AND IT SEEMS THAT I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A BIG ISSUE WITH THESE RAV4. *TR

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013 WHEN MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS (AGES 2 & 4) WERE COMING HOME FROM SHOPPING. OUR VEHICLE EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, ENDANGERING THE LIVES MY WIFE AND MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE LOST CONTROL. LUCKILY, SHE WAS NOT MOVING VERY FAST AND WAS ABLE TO STOP QUICKLY AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE ON-RAMP TO AN INTERSTATE 71 WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH AND THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. HAD THE FAILURE OCCURRED 20 SECONDS LATER, MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED IN A RAV 4 WITH ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL. WE CANNOT EVEN FATHOM THE POTENTIAL OUTCOME IF THAT FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH TRUCKS ETC. WE TOOK THE RAV INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY DEEMED THE ACCIDENT TO BE CAUSED BY THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM. THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM WAS RECALLED IN THE FALL/WINTER OF 2012, WHERE WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED IN NOV. 2012 WITH THE SO CALLED "CLIP". *TR

WHILE DRIVING FROM MARYLAND TO MAINE FOR A VACATION, I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND GRINDING GEARS FREQUENTLY IN THE RANGE OF 20-35 MPH. I NOTICED IT HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY DURING SLOWDOWN FOR MAKING A TURN AND THEN ACCELERATION TO RESUME DRIVING. I DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE PROBLEM, WHEN IT HAPPENED LESS FREQUENTLY, TO MY DEALERSHIP (DARCARS OF FREDERICK) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT 1)THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SOUND DURING THEIR TEST RUN AND 2) IF SUCH A THING HAD HAPPENED, MY ECU WOULD HAVE MADE A NOTE OF IT AND RECORDED IT. SINCE THERE WAS NO RECORD OF IT HAPPENING, IT WAS NOTHING. HOWEVER, UPON READING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RAV4 02-03 MODELS, REGARDING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I FIND THAT THEIR ISSUES OF HANGING BEFORE SLIPPING INTO GEAR, GRINDING GEAR AND NOT FINDING THE GEAR AT ALL ARE THE SAME ONES I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN MY '06 RAV4. COULD IT BE THAT MY ECU IS BAD? YES, BUT MY DEALER WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT POSSIBILITY. THEY CHECK MY FLOOR MATS, BUT NOT THE ECU FOR FAULTY ISSUES. THIS IS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE AND I TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTER IN IT ALL OF THE TIME. I AM WORRIED ONE DAY I AM GOING TO BE DRIVING AND GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILLED COMPLETELY. I USED OEM FLUID AND AM ON SCHEDULE WITH ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMEDIATE AND ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE STEERING SHAFT. AS A RESULT, PART OF THE STEERING SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,635 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. ...UPDATED 11-12-13 *BF UPDATED 11/18/2013 *JS

ON 5/30/13 I PURCHASED THE ABOVE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM PIONEER VALLEY SALES PO BOX 254 S DEERFIELD, MA 01373 AND PICKED IT UP ON 6/3/13. THE VEHICLE HAD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. ON 6/10/13 I BROUGHT IT TO CHERRY RUM AUTOMOTIVE 451 BERNARDSTON RD. GREENFIELD, MA. 01301 FOR MY MECHANIC TO INSPECT. HE REMOVED THE STEERING SHAFT COVERS AND ASCERTAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS A TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM (TSB3462). HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING IT. I TRIED TO GET PIONEER VALLEY SALES TO REPAIR IT FOR OVER A MONTH AND THEY REFUSED TO. I CONSIDERED THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAD CHERRY RUM AUTOMOTIVE REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. I PAID THEM $571.70 FOR THIS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO TOYOTA REIMBURSING ME FOR THIS EXPENSE. *TR

SINCE THIS DATE THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. BURNING ABOUT A QUART EVERY 800 MILES. I SEEN NUMEROUS POSTINGS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE. *JS

HEARD A CLUNK-TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. WAS TOLD THIS WAS A STEERING SHAFT NOISE (STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE T-SB-0318-08). CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF THIS WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND FOUND OUT IT WAS NOT. ASKED IF PROBLEM UNDER A RECALL AND ALSO FOUND OUT IT WASN'T. ASKED DEALER IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE CAR AS IS SINCE NOT UNDER A RECALL AND DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT MAKE A COMMENT ON SAFETY CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. ------I FEEL ANYTHING LINKED TO STEERING IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL OVER THIS PROBLEM.

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN STAYING ON AFTER ENGINE START. AFTER TOYOTA INSPECTION THIS WAS DUE TO A FAILED CLOCK SPRING/SPIRAL WIRE IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT CONTROLS THE AIRBAG AND OTHER STEERING WHEEL ELECTRICAL CONTROLS. FURTHER ONLINE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THIS TO BE A COMMON FAULT WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES ESPECIALLY RAV4'S OF 2006/7/8 VINTAGE WITH IN EXCESS OF 70,000 MILES - THIS WAS ALSO CONFIRMED BY MY TOYOTA DEALER. THERE IS A STRONG PROBABILITY THE DRIVER AIRBAG WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE WIRE SHORTING OUT. THE DIAGNOSIS AND FIX AT A TOYOTA DEALER WAS QUOTED AS $509 WHICH WILL I AM SURE PREVENT MANY PEOPLE FROM FIXING THIS. NO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS I ASKED WOULD WORK ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM - THEY ALL SAID IT HAD TO BE FIXED BY TOYOTA WHO THEN CAN CHARGE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT FOR THE WORK. *TR

I HAVE HAD A CLUNKING NOISE IN MY FRONT END SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WHEN MAKING TURNS. THEY COULD NEVER HEAR IT TILL NOW AND NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT IS A PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL COST $748.74 TO FIX!!! NOISE IN THE STEERING SHAFT. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL AND NO-CHARGE. *TR

MY DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, AND DROPS DOWN IN FRONT OF MY FACE, BLOCKING MY FIELD OF VISION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I LIVE IN PORTLAND, OREGON AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE GRAY INSTEAD OF SUN, SO MY VISOR DOESN'T GET USED THAT MUCH THROUGH THE YEAR. I SEARCHED ON WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM FORUMS, AND SEE THAT IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH OTHER RAV4 OWNERS, SOME STARTING AT 15,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THAT TOYOTA HAS REDESIGNED THE PART AS A REPLACEMENT, BUT TOYOTA WANTS TO CHARGE $70 FOR THE REPLACEMENT VISOR + INSTALLATION. IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT, AND A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD EASILY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS. *TR

MY SUNVISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. WHILE I'M DRIVING IF I HIT A BUMP IT FALLS INTO MY VEIW.

AFTER BUYING THE CAR IN 2006, A COUPLE YEARS LATER I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH A CLUCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. TOYOTA SAID IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PROBLEM. THEY REPLACES THE PART 3 TIMES AND THE NOISE CAME AGAIN AFTER SOME MONTHS. I CALLED TOYOTA THEY DID NOT HELP, THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND IN BETWEEN ONE THING AND THE OTHER ONE ALMOST A YEARS PASSED AND THEY DID NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND THE ARE THOUSAND OF PEOPLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVED THAT THIS MAY BE A HAZARDOUS DEFECT THAT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *JB

WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING SHOWING ON THE DIP STICK. ALTHOUGH A LOW-OIL LIGHT NEVER APPEARED TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE OIL WAS LOW, THE OIL WAS VERY LOW. I STARTED CHECKING MY OIL LEVEL OFTEN AND NOTICED THAT I NEEDED TO ADD OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I CAN ALSO SMELL BURNING OIL WHEN I ACCELERATE EITHER TO GET ON A HIGHWAY RAMP OR TO GO UP A HILL. A DEALERSHIP SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD ME THAT THE RINGS ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE WORN AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE THAT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $8,500. NOW I DRIVE AROUND WITH A CASE OF OIL IN MY BACK SEAT. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. *JB

FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR (I ALSO DOCUMENTED THE SAME PROBLEM 2/24/13), WE EXPERIENCED UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND THE CAR BUCKING. WE WERE BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. MY HUSBAND BACKED UP AND REALIZED HE NEEDED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT ON THE CURVED DRIVEWAY SO PUT IT IN DRIVE FOR A FEW FEET AND THEN WHEN HE PUT IT IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP TO A MAXIMUM RPM'S. HE IS 200 POUNDS AND HAD TO HOLD HIS FOOT ON THE BREAK TO KEEP IT FROM MOVING. HE PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. MY 20 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH US AND GOT OUT AND COULD SMELL THE ENGINE FROM REVVING UP SO HIGH. MY BROTHER AND SISTER IN LAW CAME RUNNING OUT OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE THEY COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REVVING UP AND KNEW SOMETHING WAS VERY WRONG. LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. I AM NOT SAFE IN MY OWN CAR. TOYOTA HAS GOT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND FIX THE ISSUE! IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. HAD I BEEN DRIVING, NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT TOTALLY OFF GUARD AND I'M NOT SURE I WOULD HAVE HAD RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY UNDER PRESSURE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR!!! *JS

AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION, FAILED CLOCK SPRING (EXTREMELY TYPICAL WITH TOYOTA) - OUT OF WARRANTY OF COURSE! *TR

THIS IS MY STORY: MY WIFE, YORKIE, AND I WENT TO PICK UP MY SON AT PRESCHOOL EARLY THIS AFTERNOON IN WESTON, FL WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE HEAR A BRIEF WHINE NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS ON THE PANEL; THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. I CRANKED THE ENGINE ON AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR ANOTHER 100 YARDS. THE SAME WHINE NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE SAME LIGHTS AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE WOULD TURN ON AND IT IMMEDIATELY WOULD SHUT OFF; NOT A CHANCE TO ENGAGE TO DRIVE AND MOVE AN INCH. I LOOKED AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL; THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE (THE CAR HAS NEVER HAD A LEAK AND HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED), NO FUNNY SMELLS, ETC. BY THIS TIME WE WERE SWEATING AND GETTING CONCERNED. I THOUGHT IT COULD BE THAT THE A/C COULD BE PART OF THE PROBLEM SINCE IT ADDS LOAD TO THE ENGINE SERPENTINE BELT; I TURNED OFF THE A/C BY DEPRESSING THE A/C BUTTON ON CAR'S DASH AND THE ENGINE STAYED ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND PICK UP MY SON THANKFULLY. I WAS READY TO SEND MY WIFE ON A CAB TO GET HIM. MY QUESTIONS TO YOU GUYS ARE THE FOLLOWING: WHY WOULD TOYOTA DESIGN THE ENGINE TO SHUT ITSELF OFF IN A SITUATION WHEN SOMETHING IN THE A/C FAILS? IF MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY SON AND HAD THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, SHE WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT AND GOD FORBID IN AN ACCIDENT. ALL I CAN THINK OF IS THAT TOYOTA IMPLEMENTED A MECHANISM TO KILL

WHILE DRIVING ON A SUBURBAN NJ ROAD AT AROUND 30-40MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL OUT OF THE BLUE. THE CAR VEERED INTO THE LEFT LANE, I ATTEMPTED TO RIGHT THE CAR AND SIMULTANEOUSLY HIT THE BREAKS. THE ABS RESPONSE KICKED IN, AND THE CAR VEERED DRASTICALLY TO THE RIGHT, GOING OFF THE ROAD, ACROSS THE SIDEWALK, AND FINALLY COMING TO A STOP IN THE WOODS. THE REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT WAS A BROKEN TIE ROD OF THE BACK RIGHT WHEEL, THAT HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR A WHILE BECAUSE THE SLEEVE ENCASING HAD RUSTED OVER. THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR TOTALLED $10,000, AND THE SHOP WOULD HAVE TOTALED THE CAR IF THE MILAGE HADNT BEEN SO LOW. *TR

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT POPPING; TECHS SAY THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS WORN OUT. THERE IS ONLY 56,333 MILES ON THIS TOYOTA RAV4 2006. THERE HAS BEEN OTHERS SINCE AT LEAST 2010 THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A CAR OF THIS AGE AND LOW MILEAGE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SHAFT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AS THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU BEFORE AND EVEN PEOPLE HAVE CALLED YOU ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, *TR

THE ENGINE FOR MY 2006 TOYOTA IS BURNING OIL RAPIDLY. I HAVE ABOUT 115,000 MILES AND WAS HOPING THAT THIS CAR WOULD AT LEAST LAST ME ANOTHER 5 YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT MY ENGINE NEEDS AN ENGINE OVERHAUL WHICH WILL COST ABOUT $3,000. I MAKE SURE TO TAKE CARE OF MY CAR AND BRING IT FOR AN OIL CHANGE WHEN IT'S DUE. *TR

THE VEHICLE LOSES 1-2 QUARTS OF OIL OVER 30-60 DAY PERIOD OR 1500-2000 MILES. NO SIGNS OF LEAKS, DRIPPING OR OTHER SOURCES OF LOSS ARE VISIBLE. IN CHECKING TOYOTA RAV4 OWNER FORUMS, IT SEEMS THIS CONDITION IS PREVALENT AMONG MANY AND SPANS SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. THE CONDITION HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST US AND SEEMED TO BE A SLOWER LOSS. NOW THE LOSS IS MUCH FASTER. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF PEOPLE WAIT TO CHECK OIL UNTIL NEXT OIL CHANGE, THEY MAY DAMAGE THEIR ENGINES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUDDENLY FELL IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND HIT MY NOSE. I COULD NOT SEE AND ALMOST VEERED INTO A DITCH. MY NOSE WAS BRUISED AND SWOLLEN FOR 3 WEEKS. THE VISOR HAS CONTINUED TO BE A TROUBLESOME ISSUE AS IT CONTINUES TO FALL RANDOMLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE BLINDED BY IT OR STRUCK BY IT. I HAVE TRIED USING VELCRO TO HOLD THE VISOR IN IT'S PLACE BUT TO NO AVAIL AND HAVE TRIED CORRECTING THE MISTAKE BUT HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO "FIX" IT. THE VISOR HAS FALLEN WHILE DRIVING MANY TIMES CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SWERVE. TOYOTA WILL NOT RECALL BUT OFFERED TO CORRECT IF I WOULD PAY THEM $175.00! THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS SEEN AT THIS SITE: HTTP://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/98-4-3-INTERIOR/104489-DRIVER-SIDE-SUN-VISOR-INSTALLATION.HTML. PLEASE HELP AS THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND I DO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO PAY TOYOTA TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 IS ON DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT. TOYOTA RECALLED THE 2007 AND 2008 MODELS FOR THE SAME REASON. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. I CONTACTED PREMIER TOYOTA IN AMHERST OHIO ABOUT THIS MATTER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER[XXX] TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $300 TO TEST IT AND $500 TO FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER CHECKING THE OWNERS MANUAL WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER. THEY EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE CLOCK IN THE AIR BAG MECHANISM AND NEEDED REPLACED OR THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND WELL MAINTAINED. I THINK A TOYOTA RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND INVOLVES MANY TOYOTA RAV-4 VEHICLES. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS 600 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD IT BUT MY WIFE DEPENDS ON THE VEHICLE, AND TO INSURE HER SAFETY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIND THE MONEY TO GET THE WORK DONE. HELP !! HOW ABOUT A RECALL ??? *TR

CAR MAKING HISSING NOISE, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, LITTLE BRAKING, HAD TO USE UNUSUAL FORCE TO STOP. DIAGNOSIS: BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. *TR

OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIT UP AT APPROXIMATELY 73,050 MILES. DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION IS FASTER THAN NORMAL. SERVICER TOPPED OFF OIL AND RETURNED TO SERVICER AFTER DRIVING $1200 MILES. I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS FINE. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 81,950 MILES. SERVICER AGAIN TOPS OFF WITH OIL AND RETURNED AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER $1200 MILES. THIS TIME THE SERVICER STATED THAT THEY NEED TO TEAR THE CAR APART THE BEFORE PINPOINTING THE EXACT PROBLEM. APPROXIMATE COST TO DO THIS IS MAYBE $3,000. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED AT $75,000 MILES. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 AIRBAG DASH LIGHT BEGAN REMAINING ON CONSTANTLY AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY FINDLAY TOYOTA IN FLAGSTAFF, AZ ON 3/20/13 WITH: "RECOMMEND REPLACING SPIRAL CABLE DUE TO OPEN CIRCUIT IN SPIRAL CABLE... $583 TO REPLACE SENSOR." I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AT 1-800-331-4331 ON 6/19/13 AND SPOKE WITH [XXX], WHO CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE RAV4S, DESPITE THIS ISSUE BEING THE EXACT SAME AS FOUND IN TOYOTA TACOMAS: MARCH 08, 2012 CUSTOMER FAQS FOR TOYOTA TACOMA STEERING WHEEL SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY RECALL 1. WHICH MODELS ARE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL? TOYOTA IS RECALLING 495,000 CERTAIN 2005 TO EARLY 2009 MODEL YEAR TOYOTA TACOMA VEHICLES SOLD IN THE U.S. NO OTHER VEHICLES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL. 2. WHAT IS THE CONDITION? DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL SPIRAL CABLE DESIGN AND CHARACTERISTICS UNIQUE TO THE TACOMA CHASSIS, FRICTION BETWEEN THE SPIRAL CABLE AND THE RETAINER IN THE STEERING WHEEL SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY MAY OCCUR IN SOME VEHICLES. FRICTION OVER TIME MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO CERTAIN CIRCUITS THAT PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY TO THE DRIVER?S AIR BAG MODULE. IF CONNECTIVITY IS LOST, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE DRIVER?S AIR BAG MAY BECOME DEACTIVATED, PREVENTING DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. 3. ARE THERE ANY WARNINGS THAT THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED? YES. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. IT GOES OFF AFTER ABOUT 6 SECONDS, INDICA

I WAS DRIVING BY 88 ST AND 94 AVE IN MIAMI, FLORIDA WENT THROUGH THE TRAIN TRACKS, AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE, LIKE AN EXPLOSION, AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND MOVE TO THE LEFT LANE, THANK GOD THERE WAS NO CARS COMING, SO I FINALLY CONTROL THE VEHICLE, I LOOK FOR A REASON OF THE EXPLOSION, AND THEN DRAG...LITERALLY TO A SHOPPING PLAZA, WHERE I NOTICED THE TIRE BEHIND ON THE DRIVER SIDE WAS ALMOST SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. I CALLED MY SON, AND HE SEND A TOW TRUCK, LATER A MECHANIC WOULD TELL ME THAT THE INNER TIE ROD BROKE. I NOTICED MONTHS BEFORE THAT THE CAR MADE FUNNY NOISES FROM THE SUSPENSION. I CALLED THE DEALER SENT AN E-MAIL TO TOYOTA USA WARNING THEM, THEY TOLD ME TO GO TO THE DEALER. THEY DIDN'T CARE WHAT I SAID TO THEM, I WENT THREE TIMES TO THEM, TOYOTA USA INSISTED TO GO TO THE DEALER. THREE YEARS LATER TOYOTA USA SENT ME A WARNING BROCHURE ABOUT THE INNER-TIE ROD PROBLEM AND HOW TO DO THE ALIGNMENT ON THE RAV 4 BUT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT DOING THIS PROCEDURE. I DID THE ALIGNMENT FOR THE RAV 4 IN A PLACE THAT HAS ALL THE CERTIFICATIONS, IN MY OPINION THE RAV-4 HAS A DEFECT INVOLVING THE SUSPENSION ( AFTER SHOCKS) AND THE INNER-TIE RODS, I HOPE THIS HELPS FIND THE REASON OF THIS PROBLEM. AND HOW TO GET REIMBURSED FOR ALL THE EXPENSES THAT I WENT THROUGH THIS.. *TR

I RECENTLY NOTICE THE OIL LIGHT COMING ON WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THE CAR WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE CAR SOONER FOR OIL CHANGES. THE MANUAL STATES AND EVEN THE CAR SERVICE LIGHT FOR MAINTENANCE COMES OUT AT 5,000 MILES. HERE'S THE INFO I HAVE AFTER TAKING THE CAR FOR OIL SERVICES. DEC.2012, HAD TO BRING IT IN AT 68091 MILEAGE, MARCH 2013 AT 70392 AND NOW IN JUNE AT 72076 MILEAGE. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN REACH 3,000 MILES AND I HAVE TO FILL IT UP AGAIN! I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO DO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WHICH WOULD MEAN TAKE THE CAR BACK EVERY 1,000 MILES SO SEND A REPORT TO TOYOTA. WHAT FOR? THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING IS BEEN DONE! ITS OBVIOUS TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY CORRECTED IT ON CARS 2010 AND UP. I'M FRUSTRATED THAT TOYOTA IS IGNORING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS. MAYBE WE NEED TO GET MEDIA INVOLVE TO HAVE TOYOTA FIX OUR PROBLEM!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HER VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS PROTRUDING OUT OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V373000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,180. *TR