2006 Toyota RAV4 complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE VAPOR CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VAPOR CANISTER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REMOVING HARMFUL FUMES FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE HARMFUL FUMES PRESENTING A FIRE HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

2006 TOYOTA RAV-4. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM *TGW THE CONSUMER DURING SUDDEN BRAKE STOPS, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE ENGAGED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PEDALS WERE DESIGNED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. *JB

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE ON A WELL MAINTAINED SUV. *TR

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE, VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AT 78,000 MILES AND THEY FOUND A ENGINE COOLANT LEAK AT THE REAR OF ENGINE AND THEY CLAIM ENGINE MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. HAVE HAD NO INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, NO OVERHEATING, NOTHING. ESTIMATED COST OF ENGINE THAT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED IS $8,000 THAT DEALER CLAIMS TOYOTA WILL PAY HALF. I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING THAT I COMPLAINED OF A SMELL OF COOLANT AT 4,000 MILES AND THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS UNDERCOATING BURNING OFF. SAYS THAT THE COMPLAINT AT 4,000 MILES IS NO WAY RELATED TO MY CURRENT PROBLEM AND WILL NOT HONOR MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AS ANYTHING RELATED TO NEW ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN THE AREA OF MY VEHICLE WHERE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING AND IT IS AT THE VERY SAME SPOT THAT OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES ARE HAVING ISSUE WITH THE BOLTS CORRODING DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND LEAKING COOLANT. TOOK TO ANOTHER MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION AND HE SAYS VEHICLE IS IN MINT CONDITION AND SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AT ALL. WHY IS TOYOTA WILLING TO PAY 50% IF THERE IS NOT A LEGITIMATE PROBLEM? *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 STEERING NOISE. *TR

STEERING COLUMN ON TOYOTA 2006 RAV 4 SHOWING SIGNS OF BAD U-JOINT/THRUST COLLAR BEARING. CAR HAS 43,000 MILES AND MAKES LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING. TOYOTA HAS A TSB BUT SAYS IT IS NOT YET A SAFETY ISSUE SO NO REFUND AND NO PRICE CUT ON $500 REPAIR. IF STEERING COLUMN U-JOINT FAILS WHAT HAPPENS TO STEERING??? *TR

WHEN STARTING UP FROM A STOP, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS PROPERLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEARS HOWEVER WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, IT APPEARS TO MOMENTARILY GO IN TO NEUTRAL WHERE THE ENGINE WINES OUT BEFORE QUICKLY BANGING INTO THIRD GEAR. VERY HARSH SHIFTING. THIS APPEARS TO OCCUR ONLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION HEATS UP AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR LONGER. AFTER THIS OCCURS, IT WILL DO THIS EVERY TIME WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO THE DEALER FOR SOME TIME HOWEVER WAS ONLY RECENTLY ABLE TO PROVE IT TO THEM. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT $4000.00. *TR

LIKE MANY OTHER 2006 RAV4 OWNERS, I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SO-CALLED "CLUNKING" NOISE WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS APPEAR TO BE A KNOW PROBLEM (DESIGN FLAW) WITH THIS MODEL, YET TOYOTA FAIL TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND INITIATIVE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DO WE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE SUCH CATASTROPHIC EVENTS AS THE "ACCELERATION ISSUE", BEFORE TOYOTA DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC AND SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AT 71000 MILES. CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, CAR BEGAN TO SPUTTER EVERY FEW MINUTES, FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL. DEALER SAID IT WAS OK TO DRIVE UNLESS LIGHTS WERE BLINKING, WHICH THEY WERE NOT. TOOK IT TO ADVANCED AUTOCARE WHO TOLD ME 4 PISTONS WERE REGISTERING AS MISFIRING. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO CHECKED IT OUT, STATING THAT THE ONLY THING WRONG WAS A COIL WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WHILE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING! TOYOTA IS SAYING IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NORMAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THIS IS THE LATEST OF ISSUES WITH THIS CAR! DOOR SEALS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK DOOR SEAL AFTER STANDING WATER WAS FOUND IN THE BACK AFTER IT RAINED. *TR

ENGINE COIL FAILURE. MY RESEARCH TELLS ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE 3.5L V6 ENGINES. ERROR CODE P0352. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT AND BEHAVED AS IF IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE REVED UPON APPLYING THE GAS. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND PUT ON HAZARD LIGHTS AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THEN PUT THE CAR BACK IN DRIVE AND THE CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY.

THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND THIS CREATES A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING TO THE EXTENT WHERE IT IS A VISIBILITY HAZARD. APPARENTLY TOYOTA HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE SUN VISOR ON THIS YEAR MODEL BUT REFUSED TO DO A RECALL ON THE MATTER. WHEN I TRIED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER SUN VISOR FOR THE VEHICLE I FOUND THAT YOU CAN ONLY PURCHASE IT THROUGH A TOYOTA DEALER AND THE PRICE IS $250.00. APPARENTLY TOYOTA IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SUN VISOR AND REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY ARE CHARGING A RIDICULOUS PRICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW MANY ARE BAD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. I GUESS WHEN PEOPLE START GETTING KILLED BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD, THEN MAYBE SOMEONE WILL THEN DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP. *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 MAKES POPPING AND CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. THIS IS DUE TO LOOSENESS IN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT SPLINES AND JOINTS (TOTAL COST:$468; PART NUMBERS 45221-42071 [STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT] AND 45260-42090 [STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY]). THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. IT IS A PRODUCT DEFECT IN STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AS EVIDENT BY THE TSB ISSUED BY TOYOTA. *TR

TOYOTA TSB-0308-08 FOR A STEERING CLUNK ON 2006 AND LATER TOYOTA RAV4'S SHOULD BE A RECALL, BEFORE STEERING GOES OUT IN THESE VEHICLES. THE TSB INDICATES THAT "BEEFED UP" STEERING SHAFTS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BUT MANY CARS ARE NOW "OUT OF WARRANTY" BECAUSE THE DEALERS CLAIMED NOT TO BE ABLE TO HEAR THE NOISE. NOW THAT MANY OF THESE CARS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY, THE COST TO FIX IS EXCESSIVE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND FIX THIS PROBLEM ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY FROM IT. ANY TOYOTA FORUM ON THE INTERNET HAS SCORES OF COMPLAINTS FROM RAV4 OWNERS, AND STORIES OF INDIFFERENCE ON THE PART OF THE TOYOTA DEALERS. PROBLEM: STEERING AUDIBLE CLUNK AND THE FELL OF THE CLUNK, WHILE TURNING LEFT OF RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED WHEN THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND SWERVED INTO TRAFFIC AS ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HANDS AND ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,132.

2006 TOYOTA RAV4 FWD V6 ENGINE W/65,000 MILES IS SHOWING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT. ECM GENERATING P0606 FAULT CODE. DEALER REPLACED ECM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT 10 MINUTES LATER SAME LIGHTS AND FAULT CODES RECURRED. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER STATES AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS NOT WORKED FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS.*TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A SPIRAL CABLE WAS NEEDED AT A COST OF $404.56 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL SENSOR FAILED ON MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 ON 1/19/11. THE PART WAS BACK ORDERED TO 2/24/11. I WAS ASSURED BY THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE, HOWEVER, WHEN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL SENSOR FAILED ON 2/2/11, CAUSING THE CAR TO BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. *TR

2006 RAV4 : SPEED CONTROL: SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN DECREASE IN ACCELERATION ON HIGHWAY. STARTING IN NOVEMBER 2010 OUR TOYOTA RAV4 WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATION ON HIGHWAY,LUNGE FORWARD WHILE PARKING FOR NO REASON. IN DECEMBER 2010 ALL SENOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD PANEL CAME ON AND THE CAR ACTUALLY DECELERATED WHILE I WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE LANES ON THE HIGHWAY. I QUICKLY TURNED ON MY FOUR WAYS AND MOVED TO THE FAR LEFT OF HIGHWAY FOR SAFETY . ALL THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WENT OFF AND CAR RESUMED NORMAL DRIVING FUNCTIONS. ON FEBRUARY 16, 2011 I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES AND THE CAR DECELERATED AND APPEARED TO BE STALLING-OUT ALSO ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHEN ON:CHECK ENGINE ,ABS,VSH,AND 4WD. I AGAIN PUT MY FOUR WAYS ON AND MOVED TO SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL DRIVING FUNCTIONS AND ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS WENT OFF. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY AND HE STATES IT APPEARS TO BE A MALFUCTION IN THE SENORY PANEL. HE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND IS AWAITING A RESPONSE. MY CAR IN UNDRIVABLE AT THE PRESENT TIME DUE TO THE FACT IT COULD STOP RUNNING AT ANY TIME FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *LN

LAST NIGHT WHILE DRIVING WITH MY YOUNG DAUGHTER ON A LONELY HIGHWAY WITH NO CELL SERVICE, MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 V6 LIMITED STARTED MAKING A NOISE. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED MY DASH AND NO LIGHTS WERE ON, PRESSURES OKAY. THE NOISE STOPPED AND I KEPT DRIVING. ABOUT TWELVE MILES FROM HOME THE NOISE STARTED AGAIN AND MY DAUGHTER NOTICED. I LOOKED DOWN AND MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLASHED ON AND RIGHT BACK OFF. WE BARELY MADE IT TO OUR HOUSE. WHEN I GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR, OIL WAS EVERYWHERE. IT HAD RAN ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. WHEN I PULLED THE DIP STICK THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE STICK. MY HUSBAND CHECKED IT TODAY AND FOUND A HOLE IN A RUBBER HOSE. I WENT ON-LINE AND HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR STORIES. SUPPOSEDLY, TOYOTA WAS TO SEND OUT A LETTER IN OCTOBER 2009 TO ALL 2006 RAV OWNERS. WELL, I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER AND I'VE BEEN THE ONE AND ONLY OWNER AT THE SAME ADDRESS. SO, IT'S NOT LIKE I COULDN'T BE FOUND. NOW MY HUSBAND IS TRYING TO FIND THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE VVTI- OIL HOSE, THAT IS NOW CALLED A 'PIPE'. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS WASN'T CONSIDERED A RECALL ISSUE INSTEAD OF A LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN? THAT OIL HAD SPEWED ALL OVER AND UNDER THE HOT ENGINE ONTO THE MANIFOLD. THERE WAS NOTHING KEEPING IT FROM CATCHING FIRE WHICH COULD HAVE TAKEN BOTH OUR LIVES. IF I HAD RECEIVED THE LETTER (A YEAR AND A HALF AGO) THE HOSE COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NOW, I'M LOOKING AT REPAIR COSTS THAT COULD INCLUDE A NEW ENGINE. AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE BECAME STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THE FAILURE BUT NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH CONCLUDED THAT THE STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,106. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN UPDATED 01/05/2012 *LN *TR

CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END ANY TIME I DO A SLOW TURN. SOUNDS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IN THE STEERING MECHANICS IS SLIPPING OUT OF JOINT. *TR

2 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INSTANCES --- I HAVE HAD TWO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INSTANCES IN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. IN BOTH CASES I WAS WEARING BOOTS AND THE BOOT HITTING THE BRAKE OVERLAPPED AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. NEITHER CASE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HERE IS THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED POSITION IS WELL BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SO OVERLAP CAN APPLY THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I SENT THE BELOW LETTER DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA AND RECEIVED A NOTE BACK STATING MY ISSUE IS NOT CONSIDERED A RECALL. HOWEVER, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE COVERING THE REPAIRS. I HAVE A 2006 RAV4 THAT ENCOUNTERED AN ISSUE FEB 2010. I TOOK IT INTO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR AND HARNESS. SINCE THE ESTIMATE WAS A LITTLE OVER $1000.00, I WAS NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR, THE ABS, TRAC AND VSC LIGHTS WENT OFF AND STAYED OFF UNTIL DEC 2010. WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON, I STARTED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE AND CAME UP WITH A "TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB)" EXPLAINING EXACTLY THE SYMPTOM I AM EXPERIENCING. THE TSB STATES THAT SOME 2006 MODEL YEAR RAV4 VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ABS M.I.L. "ON"............ THE TSB GOES ON STATING THE REAR WHEEL SENSOR HAVE BEEN MODIFIED TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. MY VIN NUMBER ACCORDING TO THIS TSB SHOWS THAT MY RAV4 IS ONE OF THOSE VEHICLES THAT FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY OF A POSSIBLE FAILURE. THE WARRANTY INFORMATION STATED THE REPAIR IS COVERED UNDER THE TOYOTA COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY OF 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. THE WARRANTY APPLICATION DOES ALSO STATE THE REPAIR IS LIMITED TO CORRECTION BASED UPON A CUSTOMER'S SPECIFIC COMPLAINT. I DROVE TO A DEALER IN MY AREA AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE AND SHOWED THEM THE TSB. I ALSO CALLED YOUR CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER. UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COOPERATION CONCERNING MY ISSUE. MY RAV

I GOT A FLAT AND I WENT TO REMOVE MY TIRE AND THE BOLT BROKE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME. I HAD IT FIXED. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE MY BRAKES DONE AND WAS TOLD THAT A BOLT WAS GOING TO BRAKE IF THEY CONTINUED TO REMOVE THE TIRE. I WAS GIVEN THE OPTION TO HAVE IT FIXED FOR $178. THEN I WAS HAVING MY TIRES ROTATED AT THE SHOP AND ANOTHER BOLT BROKE. THAT MADE 3 BOLTS BROKEN ON THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE. I'VE OWNED 5 BRAND NEW CARS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I'VE CHECKED THE TOYOTA WEBSITE TO SEE IF ANY 2006 RAV4 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NO RECALLS REPORTED. *LN

TL* THE DRIVER OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE DRIVER CAME TO A STOP. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV VERY LOUDLY AND THE DRIVER HAD TO APPLY HEAVY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STOPPED. NUMEROUS LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE DRIVER, SO THE SPECIFIC LIGHT NAMES WERE UNAVAILABLE. ONCE THE ENGINE STOPPED REVVING THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MULTIPLE CYLINDER MISFIRE CAUSING HESITATION AND LACK OF POWER. THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO SAFETY ISSUES SINCE THE CAR LOOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY. MECHANIC SAYS ERROR CODE INDICATES ALL SIX IGNITION COILS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE PLUGS ARE TO BE CHANGED AT 120K MILES. THE COILS ONLY LASTED 66K ? COMMON ISSUE SEE HTTP://RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=24070 WENT TO AUTO PART STORE AND CONFIRMED DIAGNOSTICS: 6 PLUGS MISFIRING DUE TO BAD COILS. BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS A PROBLEM THAT NEED TO BE EXPLORED FOR SAFETY OF ALL DRIVERS

2006 TOYOTA RAV4 'FULL THROTTLE STICK', WITHOUT RECALL - (SECOND OCCURRENCE). TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR/REPLACE THROTTLE UNLESS THEY CAN REPLICATE CONDITION, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON RECALL LIST. *TR

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO NORMAL WEAR. WE UNDERSTAND THAT MANY RAV 4 AND OTHER TOYOTA MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OR FAILURES AND MUST BE REPLACED. IS THIS A POSSIBLE RECALL ISSUE. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF UPDATED 07/26/11 STATUS UPDATE 08/30/11. *JB STAUS UPDATE 10/06/11. *JB

2006 TOYOTA RAV 4. PROBLEM BEGAN ON JAN. 2 2011. WHILE SLOWLY TURNING LEFT I DETECTED "CLUNKING" SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. EVERY TIME I TURN LEFT I HEAR THIS NOISE, AND KNOWING TOYOTA HAS HAD SOME STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS IN THE PAST I BECAME EXTRA NERVOUS. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND QUITE QUICKLY THAT THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH RAV 4S BUT NO RECALL CAN BE ISSUED UNTIL THERE ARE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS, AND OWNERS ARE PAYING UP TO $1000 TO GET THIS FIXED. *TR

MY 2006 RAV 4 HAS HAD A SERIES OF FRONT END PROBLEMS DATING FROM JAN 2007 TO APRIL 2009. IT HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP 9 TIMES (WARRANTY WORK) WITH NUMEROUS PARTS BEING REPLACED BEFORE TOYOTA HAD THEIR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REP COME AND LOOK AT IT. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE FRONT END COMPONENT PARTS EXCEPT THE STEERING. THAT WAS THE 10TH TIME THE CAR WAS IN. NOW AFTER 21 MONTHS THE SOUND IS BACK AND I CAN EVEN FEEL VIBRATION KNOCK IN THE STEERING. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2006. MILEAGE AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE WAS 4847. MILEAGE IN APRIL 2009 WAS 26737. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41800. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH THE FEELING THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK WHILE I'M MAKING A SHARP TURN. *TR

WE HAD THE TOYOTA DEALER CHECK A NOISE IN THE STEERING ON A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THEY DIAGNOSED THE NOISE AS NOISE FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF TOYOTA WARRANTY, TSB ST001-08, THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. WE CONTACTED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE AND THEY ALSO REFUSED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SERVICE INDICATED THAT THE PART WOULD HAVE TO PHYSICALLY BREAK BEFORE IT COULD BE FIXED. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE INDICATES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES YET DUE TO THE DEFECT. WHEN AN ISSUE INDICATES A POSSIBLE FAILURE WE LIKE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED BEFORE DAMAGE OCCURS.*LN

ON MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4, I CAN HEAR AND FEEL A CLUNKING OR POPPING NOISE AND SENSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. THE FEEL IS AS IF THE LINKAGE(S) IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAVE SOME INTERFERENCE OR HAVE BECOME PREMATURELY WORN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE RUBBING ON EACH OTHER AND PRODUCE A POPPING SENSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING. THE POPPING NOISE/SENSATION OCCURS EVERY TIME I TURN THE CAR THROUGH TURNS GREATER THAN ABOUT 45 DEGREES, LEFT OR RIGHT. THE SENSATION STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THE CAR HAD ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 67,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BEGAN SAGGING. AT FIRST, I WAS ABLE TO POUND IT IN THE "UP" POSITION WITH MY FIST. BUT OVER TIME, THAT STOPPED WORKING. IT IS A GREAT OBSTRUCTION TO VISIBILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, HE WOULD HEAR AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT BUSHING HAD DRIED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND BOLTED DOWN THE FLOOR MATS. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK WHILE IN THE IDLE POSITION TO GET THE RPMS TO DECREASE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,785 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. UPDATED 1/19/2010 *CN UPDATED 03/31/11

HEARD A NOISE IN MY STEERING COLUMN . TOOK CAR FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE NOISE. THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE UNIVERSAL STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS AN ITEM THAT TOYOTA RECALLED IN OCTOBER 20, 2008 FOR THIS PROBLEM 2006 - 2008 RAV 4'S. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA THEY TOLD ME MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THE RECALL AND I WAS OVER THE 36 MONTHS TIME FRAME. HOWEVER I ONLY HAD 30,000 MILES ON MY CAR AT THE TIME AND JUST STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AS THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE OCCURRED IN ANY OF THE VIN #'S OF THOSE YEARS. I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THEY RECALLED THE OTHER VIN #'S FOR. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF

I HAVE A TOYOTA '06 RAV 4 AND THE SUNVISOR ON DRIVER SIDE KEEPS FALLING; YOU HIT YOUR HEAD EACH TIME YOU ENTER THE VEHICLE; ALSO, IT IS DANGEROUSLY OBSTRUCTING YOUR VIEW WHEN YOU DRIVE BECAUSE IT KEEPS FALLING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.

MY STEERING HAS DEVELOPED A SERIOUS KNOCKING. INITIALLY IT WAS LIGHT BUT IS NOW RAPIDLY INCREASING SPECIFICALLY WHEN MAKING SHORT TURNS LIKE EXITING MY GARAGE AND/OR BACKING UP. THE CAR HAS 47000 MILES AND I DON'T THINK A DEFECT LIKE THIS SHOULD HAPPEN. IT CERTAINLY IS NOT PART OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. CHECKING THE WEB I NOTICE THAT MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I WONDER WHY TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THE MODEL TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS- AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS - DEFECT.

CLUNKING STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING. STARTED AT ABOUT 15K MILES. NOW 45K AND NOISE MUCH MORE PRONOUNCED. READ THIS IS ROD/SHAFT PROBLEM WITH 2006S, SEE THAT MAJORITY OF COMPLAINS FILED W/ NHTSA RELATE TO THIS ISSUE. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT RECALLING? THEY CLAIM NOT SAFETY ISSUE. CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING CAN'T BE GOOD FOR FUTURE INTEGRITY OF VEHICLE'S STEERING. IT'S NOT A PROBLEM UNTIL THERE IS A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. READ TOYOTA RECALLED 2005S FOR SAME ISSUE, AND READ NO POST-2006 MODELS SUFFER SAME PROBLEM. COME ON TOYOTA, FIX THIS PROBLEM ON 2006S. *TR

2006 RAV4 STEERING CLUNK. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV4. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE HAS A WIDELY KNOWN DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE ECM COMPUTER IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS ALSO AN ASSOCIATED RATTLING SOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS REGARDING THE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF CLOSE TO TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. ALSO, THE TIRES WERE LEAKING AIR. *JB

STEERING COLUMN MAKING A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT A SLOW SPEED GOING BOTH FORWARD AND IN REVERSE. CLICKING HAS GOTTEN MORE FREQUENT AND STRONGER OVER THE PAST MONTHS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. THE PEDAL WOULD NOT RELEASE AND THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH EXTREME FORCE AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 01/13/11*LJ UPDATED 01/27/11. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE CONTACT STATED THAT A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A SPIRAL CABLE AND A STEERING SHAFT IN ORDER TO FIX THE AIR BAG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,828 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,900.

TOYOTA 2006 RAV4 4 CYL AUTOMATIC 4 WHEEL DRIVE HAS FREQUENT CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER SEARCHING FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS ONLINE I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OTHERS HAVE HAD REGARDING "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE RAV4". IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS NOT COVERED ONCE OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT SEEMS THERE IS A REAL CONCERN THAT FAILURE OF THE PART COULD LEAD TO A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR $300.00 IF I WANTED TO ELIMINATE THE NOISE. I DECLINED. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON. *TR

OUR 2006 RAV4 HAS A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN YOU TURN. WE TOOK IT IN FOR 90K SERVICE AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A STEERING ROD/SHAFT ISSUE THAT WOULD COST $2000 TO REPLACE. WE ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT REPAIR AND WANTED TO SHOP FOR OTHER PRICING, AND THEY SAID WE COULD BUT TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AT ANY TIME. I'VE READ ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS AND HOW THIS IS A TOYOTA DEFECT AND NOT A DRIVER FAULT, SO I'M CONCERNED WHY THIS HASN'T YET BEEN RECALLED. I SAW THERE WERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2005 AND EARLIER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, WHY IS IT NOW NOT BEING ADDRESSED SINCE IT COULD CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE AND SAFETY ISSUES? *TR

THIS DEFECT IS WITH REGARD TO MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED CAUSES MULTIPLE LOUD CLUNKING SOUNDS, AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES ALONG WITH CLUNK. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A RATCHETING BEHAVIOR ON THE SHAFT CONNECTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE STEERING MECHANISM. THIS DEFECT BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS 83,000 MILES AND THE CLUNKING IS BECOMING MORE PRONOUNCED. THERE IS AT LEAST ONE TOYOTA TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THE DEFECT: #ST001-08. IT DESCRIBES A NEW SERIES OF PARTS REDESIGNED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. WHEN I BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIR, THEY SAID PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER AND TOYOTA ISN'T OFFERING A RECALL OR ASSISTANCE IN COVERING THE COST OF THE REPAIR. AS IT REQUIRES REDESIGNED PARTS, IS A PREVALENT DEFECT, AND DIRECTLY INVOLVES THE STEERING INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE, I WOULD CONTEND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THE AFFECTED CARS AND REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS WITHOUT CHARGE AND WITHOUT DELAY. *TR