2007 Toyota RAV4 complaints

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME, THE CHECK ENGINE, THE TRAC AND VSC LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. I ALSO HEARD A HISSING NOISE WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKES. I WENT TO A MECHANIC TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE, BUT IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY AND EVERYONE WAS CLOSING. HE TOLD ME IT SOUNDED LIKE A VACUUM LEAK IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND TO BRING IT BACK FIRST THING MONDAY (HE SEEMED TO THINK IT'D BE OKAY TO DRIVE OVER THE WEEKEND). ON THE DRIVE HOME THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WERE A FEW TIMES WHERE I WAS AFRAID I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AT ALL. IT WAS QUITE SCARY! I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD AND THEN IT FINALLY GRABBED, THE CAR JERKED, AND THE SEAT BELTS TIGHTENED UP AROUND ME. I WORKED TODAY (SATURDAY) AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO AND FROM WORK, ONLY NOW I AM USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SLOW THE CAR AND I PUT IT IN PARK AT STOP LIGHTS. MY NEXT TRIP WILL BE STRAIGHT TO A MECHANIC! IT SEEMS IT IS NOT COMMON FOR BRAKE BOOSTERS TO FAIL AND I AM LEARNING THAT OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, SEVERAL ENDING IN ACCIDENTS. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA, AS IT IS A HUGE SAFELY ISSUE, AND POSSIBLY BE CAUSE FOR A RECALL. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATED A PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY INDICATED THAT IT CODED B1801, A MESSAGE TO REPLACE A SPIRAL CABLE. SINCE THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE AIRBAGS TO BE INOPERABLE, I HAD THEM REPAIR THE PROBLEM CABLE. WHEN I LOOK ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS AND IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

ON JULY 25TH I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON SINCE LAST FRIDAY. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS A CODE ON THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS B1801. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST RAV4'S. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE IT IS SO COMMON AMONGST RAV4S. I KNOW IT WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $600 TO FIX THIS. PLEASE INFORM ME IF THERE LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE A RECALL ON THIS. MY EMAIL IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I HAVE OBSERVED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION BETWEEN OIL CHANGES THE OIL LAMP GLOWS SHOWING THERE IS MORE THAN NORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION. TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE RUN TESTS BUT HAVE FAILED TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM OR SUGGEST A SOLUTION. *TR

THE SRS AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. OVERSEAS TOYOTA DEALER TECHNICIAN TROUBLESHOOT AND IDENTIFIED A BAD SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY. SINCE I AM STATIONED OVERSEAS I HAVE TO ORDER PARTS ONLINE AND WAIT FOR ARRIVAL. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND RECEIVED E-MAIL STATING THE RECENT RECALL FOR AIRBAGS DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN. OF COURSE THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND SHIPPING U.S. MADE TOYOTAS TO OVERSEAS LOCATIONS BECAUSE TOYOTA DEALERS OVERSEAS CANNOT SUBMIT WARRANTY WORK FOR U.S. MADE TOYOTAS. I GUESS THEY ARE IN ESSENCE STATING THEY DO NOT SUPPORT THE MILITARY AND DOD CIVILIANS WHO GET TRANSFERRED OVERSEAS BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT HELP TO REPAIR THEIR CAR, EVEN IF IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. THOUGH MY CAR ONLY HAS 35K AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, I WANTED TO SEE IF THE RECALL AFFECTED MY VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHILE RESEARCHING ONLINE I SAW MANY RAV4S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. DID NOT GET AN ANSWER FROM TOYOTA WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS CONDITION. *TR

SPIRAL CABLE FAILURE IN STEERING COLUMN CAUSING AIRBAG MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT. (CODE B1801 - OPEN IN D SQUIB CIRCUIT) TOYOTA IS CHARGING TO REPAIR WHEN CLEARLY THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS IN MANY RAV4'S WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. $500+ FOR REPAIR. *TR

EXCESSIVE OIL USE USES 1 QT EVERY 1500 MILES TOYOTA IS AWARE THE PROBLEM - HAS RELEASED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN - BUT NO WARRANTY COVERAGE I EVEN RAN A OIL CONSUMTION TEST WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER TO PROVE IT - BUT DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS EXCEPTABLE. *TR

OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE OIL, AND IT WAS BONE DRY. IT WAS DOWN 3 QUARTS OF OIL. THE CAR BURNS APPROXIMATELY A QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MILES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE AIRBAG LAMP ILLUMINATED ON THE CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG LAMP WAS A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WOULD FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A COLLISION. TOYOTA QUOTED ~$600 TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN MATERIALS / WORKMANSHIP AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. INTERNET RESEARCH DISCOVERED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRA FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

THIS VEHICLE IS USING ALMOST 2 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 5000 MILES. I HAVE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET, AND THERE IS A RASH OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS TOYOTA RAV4 - 4 CYLINDER ENGINE. IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF THEM ARE USING OIL. TOYOTA SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I CAN ALSO FEEL SOMETHING MOVING IN SYNC WITH THE KNOCKING WHENEVER IT OCCURS. IT FEELS AS THOUGH SOME CAR PARTS ARE MAKING CONTACT AND THE KNOCKING NOISE IS THE RESULT OF THE IMPACT. *TR

THE CAR SPUTTERS AS THOUGH IT WILL STALL OR BREAK DOWN. THIS OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION. IT IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING UP A HILL, BUT IT OCCURS RANDOMLY. *TR

THE STEERING IS LOOSE AND THERE IS A PULLING AND/OR POPPING FEELING WHEN TURNING. *TR

MY 2007 RAV4 HAS 95,000 MILES. MY OIL LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF WHEN STOPPING. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC 1200 MILES BEFORE THE INDICATED OIL CHANGE AND IT WAS LOW ON OIL. HE REPLACED THE PCV VALVE. I AM NOT HOPEFUL AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMMENTS ON LINE. *TR

THE VEHICLE DROPS POWER UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE UNDER 60MPH. TACH SHOWS LOSS OF RPM'S AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL THE VEHICLE RESPONDING TO THAT LOSS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING DISPLAYED. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY WIFE AND SHE NOTICED INDICATOR LIGHTS SUDDENLY COMING ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE SPUTTERING AND STARTING TO STALL. PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING, SHE NOTICED THE POWER STEERING INOPERABLE AND SHE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STEERING TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER LANE AND TO A STOP. SHE CALLED ME AND I CALLED FOR EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. AT THIS TIME, AS THE ENGINE RAN, THE POWER STEERING WAS STILL INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE. IT WAS THEN TOWED HOME. MY MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THE BATTERY TO BE UNDERCHARGED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR NOT PROPERLY CHARGING THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE POWER STEERING AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS RESUMED BACK TO NORMAL. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT SHOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS LONG AS THE ENGINE WAS IN OPERATION. IF THE BRAKING SYSTEM CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AS THE ENGINE RAN, THE POWER STEERING UNIT SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO OPERATE SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN STAY IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IF MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED AND ON A BUSY INTERSTATE FREEWAY, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. PLEASE LOOK INTO GETTING TOYOTA TO RECALL AND CORRECTING THIS SAFETY ISSUE ON MINE AND OTHER 2007 RAV4S. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. A REPLY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

ENGINE BURNS UP A QUART OF OIL ABOUT EVERY 1,000 MILES. THE ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON UNTIL CAR HAS ALMOST BURNED UP EVERY BIT OF OIL. TOYOTA WON'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE IS NO RECALL. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED BY ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE HAD RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE BUT WHEN OIL WAS CHECKED, THERE WAS NO OIL LEFT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND COMPLETED AN OIL CHANGE. 1500 MILES LATER, THE VEHICLE IS LOW ON OIL AGAIN. REPEATED A COUPLE OF TIMES. VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL, MECHANICS CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY 168 IN NORTH CAROLINA NORTH TOWARDS VIRGINIA COMING HOME FROM VACATION IN THE OUTER BANKS, NC. WE WERE DRIVING IN LEFT LANE PASSING A JEEP, PULLING A SMALL TRAILER, IN THE RIGHT LANE WHEN WE HEARD A POP AND THE CAR STARTED TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT. OUR CAR STRUCK THE JEEP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURNING THE JEEP SO IT ENDED UP IN FRONT OF US. BOTH VEHICLES FINALLY CAME TO A STOP AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES. AFTER CHECKING ON THE PASSENGERS (MY WIFE, TWO CHILDREN AND OUR DOG) IN OUR CAR AND JEEP PASSENGERS, I WENT TO MOVE THE CAR AT THE REQUEST OF THE POLICE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE COLLAPSED IN AT THE TOP AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS HURT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR PUT ONTO THE FLAT BED TOW TRUCK BY AAA, THE AAA EMPLOYEE AND I COULD SEE UNDER THE CAR AND NOTICED THE REAR TIE ROD WAS COMPLETELY SEPARATE IN TWO PIECES. RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY RECALL FROM TOYOTA BACK IN OCTOBER/NOVEMBER ABOUT THE TIE ROD. TOOK THE CAR TO OUR DEALERSHIP, IN NOVEMBER. THEY INSPECTED IT AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG SO IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE FIXED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND I HAVE FILED A INCIDENT REPORT WITH TOYOTA, WHO WILL BE LOOKING AT THE CAR. *TR

THE STEERING SHAFT HAS A CLUNK NOISE AND A CLUNK OR SHIFT CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN 2006 AND SUBSEQUENT RAV4 AUTOS. IT WAS ORIGINALLY FELT AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES AND INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS MAY EVEN OCCUR AT LESS MILEAGE. INTERNET RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING COMMON PROBLEM IN RAV4S THAT HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. IF THIS IS A PROBLEM, WHY HAS TOYOTA NOT BEEN REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR FREE AND WHY ARE THEY PERMITTED TO CONTINUE TO SELL CARS WITH THE PROBLEM?? MY DEALER ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR 50% OF THE CHARGE. TOTAL BILL FOR MY 50% WAS $173.72 I READ ON INTERNET THAT AS MUCH AS $800 WAS CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT SOMETHING HAD BECOME LOOSE INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN AND THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,400.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL REQUIRED TO BE CONTINUOUSLY DISPENSED INTO THE OIL RESERVOIR. THE FAILURE ALSO RECURRED AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE PISTON ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THREE RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND STATED THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR

THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL AND I AM BURNING AT A RATE OF ABOUT 1 QUART EVERY 2000 MILES. I HAVE HAD TO ADD OIL DUE TO LOW OIL 3 TIMES. NO LEAKS, ALL DUE TO ENGINE BURN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER., WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.*TR

AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT CAME ON. PASSENGER AIRBAG REMAINS OFF EVEN WITH A PASSENGER. PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT FLASHES EVEN WHEN PASSENGER IS FULLY BELTED. ISSUE CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE DAY EVEN THOUGH CAR HAS BEEN RARELY USED IN THE LAST YEAR. ISSUE APPARENTLY VERY COMMON ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS ONLINE. *TR

I TOOK MY RAV4 TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEED A NEW SPIRAL CABLE AND WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THAT PART THAT I MUST TO PAY AROUND 500 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIX. NOW MY QUESTION IS IF IT'S A MALFUNCTION WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

VEHICLE PARKED STARTED TURNED STEERING WHEEL EXIT FROM GARAGE LOUD NOISE AT FULL LOCK LEFT AND RIGHT. CONTACTED DEALER . INFORMED PROBLEM IN MIDDLE SECTION STEERING SHAFT INHERENT TO V6 REPAIR COST 325 DEALER SAID INABILITY STEER NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

I BROUGHT THE RAV 4 IN FOR A RECALL NOTICE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE BY TURNING THE WHEEL. WE HAD NOT NOTICED THE ISSUE PREVIOUS TO THIS. THEY STATED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THAT THE COST WAS > $500. I DECLINED THE SERVICE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF SINCE NEW. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED TO THOUSANDS OF RAV 4 DRIVERS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT TOYOTA IS NOT RECOGNIZING AND FIXING THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. THANKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WHEEL BEGAN TO SQUEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *TR

AT APPROX. 25000 MILES,I STARTED HEARING A THUMPING NOISE WHILE MAKING RIGHT TURNS, I DON'T DRIVE IT THAT OFTEN, SO I DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT, UNTIL IT STARTED HAPPENING MORE AND MORE, I THEN HAD 31,000, I LOOKED UP THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND SEEN IT WAS THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR OF THE RAV4, I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED THE STEERING GEAR AND LOWER INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACED , IT WOULD COST $2259.00 PLUS TAX FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I REFUSED THE REPAIR AT THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY .I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR ONLY THE PART, BECAUSE OF THE LOW MILEAGE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPAIRED THAT AND WHILE THERE THEY ALSO SAID MY WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, IT WAS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY THEY GAVE WHEN I BOUGHT THE RAV4, THIS IS ANOTHER PART THE 2007 RAV4 HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT. I PAID OVER $1,000.00 OUT OF POCKET FOR A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 31,367, FOR PARTS THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ARE FAULTY, I AM THE ONLY OWNER. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

GETTING THE CLUNK/THUNK WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. CANT BELIEVE TOYOTA HAS NOT STEPPED UP WITH A ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MFG DEFECT OF MATERIAL OR PG DESIGN AND ASSISTED CUSTOMERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED WITH MY SON DRIVING THIS CAR AND WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED EVEN WITHOUT TOYOTA'S HELP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAG) BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A FAILURE WITH THE AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION WAS NOT CAUSED BY RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,652.

THERE IS A POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEALER IDENTIFIED IT AS THE "INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 07-08 RAV." HE SAID THE COST TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE $650.72. I ASKED HIM IT WAS COVERED BY TOYOTA, AND HE SAID NO. I ASKED IF IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND HE SAID, "THE STEERING COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING." I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN AND DON'T WANT MY STEERING TO FAIL WHILE I'M DRIVING. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON 07-08 RAV'S, I AM REQUESTING THAT IT BE TURNED INTO A NATIONAL SAFETY RECALL FOR TOYOTA TO FIX. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

IN A PARKED POSITION OR WHILE TURNING ,SOMETIMES, THERE IS A VIBRATING/CLUNKING SOUND MADE BY THE STEERING/STEERING SHAFT...TOYOTA SUGGESTS REPLACING FOR $520.00 PLUS TAX.... FOR THE YEAR AND MILEAGE ON VEHICLE I THINK IT'S A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY TOYOTA. *TR

WATER PUMP FAILED AT 46000 MILES NEEDING TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY. *TR

UPON TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THIS PRE-OWNED VEHICLE I NOTICED A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY WHILE TURNING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND INFORMED ME THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS DUE TO ISSUES IN THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY INDICATED THE "SPLINES" WERE STARTING TO WEAR AND THAT DELAY IN REPAIR COULD SEE WORSENING OF SOUND AND POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH STEERING. YET THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO DANGER. WHILE PERHAPS THAT WAS THE CASE I FELT THAT A STEERING FAILURE WAS AN IMMEDIATE DANGER AND HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. PRICE WAS APPROX. $420 FOR LABOR AND PARTS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS A BIT I FIND THAT TOYOTA HAS RECALLED A SIMILAR PART ON SOME OF IT'S OTHER VEHICLES, SUCH AS THE PRIUS. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THIS PART IS NOT RECALLED ON THE RAV 4 OR ANY OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEELS WHENEVER THE CONTACT MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,684. UPDATED 10/24/13*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS, WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE ENGINE AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE OIL HAD BEEN CONSUMED PREMATURELY. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A LEAK IN THE ENGINE AREA. THE DEALER WAS ALSO GOING TO PERFORM AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,069.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:11V245000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE AIR BAGS STILL WOULD NOT WORK UNLESS THE SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REPLACED, AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE HAS FAILED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS YEARLY MANDATED NH STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION DUE TO THIS CONDITION AS ALL OF THE AIRBAGS ARE INOPERABLE. I HAVE SCHEDULED THIS TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE $440.00. UNTIL THIS CONDITION CAN BE REPAIRED I HAVE PARKED THIS VEHICLE AS I DO NOT WANT MY FAMILY EXPOSED TO THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS FAILURE AS I SEE FROM OTHER RESOURCES THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE FOR THE RAV-4. *TR

WE BROUGHT OUR VEHICLE IN TO SERVICE RECALL NOTICE FOR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. WHEN RETURNING HOME AFTER SERVICE THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. THE TOYOTA DEALER TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS THE MAIN CLOCKSPRING. I SUBSEQUENTLY HAD THE CLOCKSPRING REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AND IT LASTED A NUMBER OF MONTHS BEFORE THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON FREQUENTLY. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TESTED BY THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS (TWO TOYOTA DEALERS) AND THEY ALL SAID THAT THE ONLY INDICATION THEY GET WHEN THEY TEST THE SYSTEM IS THE OLD, PREVIOUSLY FIXED CLOCKSPRING FAILURE INDICATOR AND ALL SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS COMING ON. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN AS WE DON'T KNOW IF OUR AIRBAG SYSTEM IS WORKING OR NOT AND WHETHER OR NOT IT COULD GO OFF ANYTIME. IT ALSO MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SELL THE CAR. *TR

FAILURE # 1 ONE OF THE STEEL RIMS ON MY RAV 4 DEVELOPED A CRACK CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE. I HAD THE RIM REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 ADDITIONAL RIMS WITH THE SAME (BROKEN WELD) SYMPTOMS, ONE WITH A BREAK OVER 21" LONG. TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. FAILURE # 2 THE AIR BAG SENSING LIGHT CAME ON IN MY RAV 4 SO I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AT MY LOCAL DEALER. I WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. I'M AN EMT AND I HAVE A TENDENCY TO WORRY ABOUT "LIFE SAFETY" ISSUES. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE MIGHT BE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE IT FIXED. IT TURNED OUT THE "SPIRAL CABLE" IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT AN AIR BAG WORKS WHEN IT SHOULD AND DOESN'T WORK WHEN IT SHOULD NOT. I WASN'T AWARE THAT THINGS AS CRITICAL AS THESE HAVE A SHELF LIFE.

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4 OUT OF A TOLLBOOTH AREA AND ACCELERATING NORMALLY, WHEN THE CAR STARTED RAPIDLY ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. HE STEPPED HARD ON THE BRAKES BUT COULD NOT GET THE CAR BELOW 40 MPH. HE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND GRADUALLY THE CAR SLOWED AND HE MOVED TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. HE REMOVED THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION, AND THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. THE ENTIRE INCIDENT FROM START TO FINISH HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT 3 MILES OF HIGHWAY. HE GAVE A FULL ACCOUNT OF THIS TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. THEY DID NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS NOT DUE TO FLOOR MATS. THE CAR'S BRAKES--BOTH PADS AND ROTORS--WERE DESTROYED DURING THE INCIDENT. WE WERE NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP BROUGHT BACK THE CAR BACK FROM US AT KELLY BLUE BOOK VALUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 5/9/13 *CN UPDATED 05/24/2013 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AND TURNING TO THE RIGHT, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,400. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SENSOR PROBLEMS, REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE AT THIS POINT. HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL BEARING AND WIRING DUE TO CORROSION, FREE OF CHARGE NOW OTHER SIDE HAS SAME WHEEL BEARING, CORROSION PROBLEM AND THEY WANT $1000.00. HAVE ALSO HAD A CLUNKING IN STEERING COLUMN (BAD KNUCKLE JOINT) THAT TECH'S HAVE NOT FOUND. HEAR THAT WOULD COST AT LEAST $800.00. THEY ALSO SAY WATER PUMP LEAKING AND NEED REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT ENGINE DAMAGE ANOTHER APPROX. $1000.00. I'VE BEEN ONLINE AND THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMS DISCUSSED BY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS. THE TECH TOLD ME THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS TO INCITE A RECALL. MEAN WHILE I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 60K. NOW THEY WANT 3K TO FIX CURRENT PROBLEMS. *TR