2007 Toyota RAV4 complaints

TOOK MY 07 RAV 4 SPORT IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR AIRBAG SENSOR RECALL ON 10-26-12. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED. THE AIRBAG ICON HAD BEEN STAYING ON CONSTANTLY SINCE 10-21-12. STILL ON AFTER RECALL WORK WAS DONE. TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT. WHAT BY NOW IS A FAMILIAR STORY. THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE PURSUED WITHOUT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT $87.50 WHICH WOULD BE APPLIED TO THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR. HOW GENEROUS IS THAT? ALSO TOLD SPIRAL CABLE MOST LIKELY THE PROBLEM. SO UNLESS I AM MISSING SOMETHING IT WORKS OUT TO HAND DEALERSHIP A BLANK CHECK OR TAKE YOUR CHANCES AIRBAG MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. NOW IF THE RECALLED SENSOR WASN'T DESIGNED TO FAIL AND IT WILL BE COVERED EVEN IF WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED WHAT'S SO DIFFERENT ABOUT A FAULTY SPIRAL CABLE FAILING AFTER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED? I AM GOING TO TAKE A WILD GUESS HERE AND SUGGEST TOYOTA HAS SOMEONE TASKED TO READ THESE COMPLAINTS TO STAY INFORMED OF TOYOTA OWNER SENTIMENT. SO THIS IS FOR YOU! HOW MANY INCIDENTS WITH OR WITHOUT INJURIES OR WORSE HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE TOYOTA DOES THE RIGHT THING AND CORRECTS THE AIRBAG ISSUES AND QUITS HIDING BEHIND THE EXPIRED WARRANTY EXCUSE? TOYOTA DID NOT BECOME A KEY PLAYER IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY BY BEHAVING LIKE THIS.WHAT HAS CHANGED? NEXT STEP TAKE IT VIRAL USING ALL AVAILABLE MEDIA! *TR

THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SHAFT CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE IN STEERING. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS... HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A LINK TO THE STABILIZING BAR WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER STATED THIS HAD BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE. THE CONTACT ASKED ABOUT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V373000 (SUSPENSION: REAR) FOR THE REAR TIE ROD, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE LINK FOR THE STABILIZER BAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD BOTH LINKS REPLACED SINCE THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE ONE ON THE RIGHT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK AS WELL DUE TO IT NOT BEING BOLTED CORRECTLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 12/5/12 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS RUST FORMING AROUND THE BOLT. UPDATED 12/10/12

DEALER INFORMED ME YESTERDAY THAT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE MANUFACTURE.SHAFT WAS REPLACED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AT A COST OF $880, OF WHICH I HAD TO PAY $500 AS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER DOWNPLAYED WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT INSISTED THAT I SHOULD PAY $715 TO REPLACE THE SHAFT WHICH IS MAKING KNOCKING NOISES WHEN DRIVEN. THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I'VE HEARD THAT OTHER MODELS IN THE LINE HAVE ALSO SUFFERED SIMILAR STEERING ISSUES. CAN ONLY HOPE IT DOESN'T LEAD TO STEERING FAILURE. *TR

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED APPROX 6 WEEKS BACK. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID A VEHICLE RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR MY VEHICLE, DUE TO THE AIR BAG CURTAIN SENSOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP; RECALL WORK WAS DONE. LESS THAN 1 MILE DRIVING, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TOOK VEHICLE BACK AND AFTER 3-4 HOURS OF TROUBLESHOOTING I WAS TOLD THAT THE SPIRAL/COIL CABLE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS AT FAULT AND PARTS AND LABOR WOULD COME TO $530. DID AN INTERNET SEARCH ON '07-08 RAV4, AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPIRAL/COIL CABLE THAN WITH THE CURTAIN SENSOR. IN SEVERAL CASES, OWNERS HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL AND WERE TOLD THE SAME I WAS (NEEDED A NEW SPIRAL/COIL CABLE). AFTER READING ALL THE DEPLOYMENTS OF RAV4 AIRBAGS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING NOR IMPACTED; I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS RELIABLE. IS THERE A LARGER ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS? *TR

WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT A STRANGE NOISE HAPPENING AND YOU CAN FEEL SOME SORT OF BUMP OR CATCH IN THE STEERING. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. A NEW SHAFT IS GOING TO RUN $400.00 PLUS AT LEAST AN HOUR OF LABOR. THIS MEAN THAT IT IS GOING TO COST EACH OWNER OF THIS RAV4 MODEL AT LEAST $500.00. TOYOTA HAS PUT A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS VERY PROBLEM. THE BULLETIN # IS TSB-0318-08 REV1. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM AT THE BASIS OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW VISOR LOOSE AND DOES NOT STAY IN POSITION. FALLS DOWN INTO DRIVERS VIEW OBSTRUCTING VISION AND DISTRACTING DRIVER. *TR

I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT MY REAR LOWER SUSPENSION THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND WHEN I'M ON THE ROAD AND GETTING WORSE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. THEN I GET THIS RECALL NOTICE TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND STILL NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT I HAD TO PUT NEW TIRES ON MY VEHICLE AND HAS CAUSED THE INSIDE TO BE WEARING OUT, ON JUST THE INSIDE TIRE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE WHERE I BOUGHT MY TIRES AT AND THEY STATED THAT EVEN IF I ROTATE MY TIRES IT STILL WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR OUT BECAUSE SOMETHING IS CAUSING TO WEAR THEM OUT. I THINK IF SOMETHING IS CAUSING THIS BY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AT LEAST SOME ONE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. PLEASE IF I CAN GET SOMEONE TO CALL ME TO GET THIS RESOLVED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ANYMORE BECAUSE I FEEL I COULD LOSE OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT FAIL AND THERE WERE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE POLICE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS DESIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

AT ANY SPEED, AN AUDIBLE "CLUNK" IS PRESENT WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT. FURTHERMORE, ONE CAN FEEL A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT EXACTLY MATCHES THE "CLUNK" SOUND. DURING LOW SPEEDS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION IS PROMINENT ANY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE SOUND IS LESS PRONOUNCED, BUT A VIBRATION AND FEELING OF "LOOSENESS" IN THE STEERING IS PROMINENT. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS USED AS A FAMILY CAR WITH YOUNG CHILDREN (AND A PREGNANT WOMAN) PRESENT, THIS NOISE/VIBRATION COMBINATION IS DISTURBING AS WE FEAR STEERING FAILURE. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-08 WHICH MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION OF MY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT IS APPARENT THAT TOYOTA ISSUED THIS TSB AS A RESULT OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND DEVELOPED A PROCEDURE AND REPLACEMENT PARTS TO CURE SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS WAS AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE FLOOR MATS. THE ACCELERATION HAD ENOUGH "G" FORCE TO PIN THE OCCUPANTS BACK IN THEIR SEATS. DRIVER WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO TRAFFIC WAS AHEAD. RAPID ACCELERATION APPEARED TO STOP AFTER PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL. TOYOTA APPEARS TO ATTRIBUTE ALL THESE INCIDENTS TO THE FLOOR MATS. AN ACCELERATION THAT PINS YOU BACK IN THE SEAT --FLOOR MAT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH DENSITY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. MOST OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN MORE SUBTLE THAN THE ONE DESCRIBED HERE. *TR

HI GOOD DAY, I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAIN ABOUT MY VEHICLE PROBLEM TOYOTA RAV4 2007 "STEERING KNOCKING" WHICH AFFECTS MY DRIVING ABILITY CAUSE IT BOTHERS ME WHILE DRIVING DUE TO NOISE EVERYTIME I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. I ALREADY WRITE THE COMPANY ABOUT THIS MATTER BUT THERE IS NO PROPER ANSWER ABOUT THE DEFECT. I SEARCH THE VEHICLE DEFECT ONLINE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RAV4 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE IT'S NOT TO LATE TO NOTIFY THIS PROBLEM AND NOT WAITING FOR THE TIME THAT IT WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS TO THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I AM JUST ANTICIPATING THAT THERE WILL BE NO FUTURE ACCIDENTS ARISE RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. A HISSING SOUND COULD BE HEARD AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. I HAD TO APPLY AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AND IT ALSO TOOK AN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE TO GET IT STOPPED.. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH THE STABILITY CONTROL AND OTHER DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY TO GET HOME. THE LIGHTS THEN WENT AWAY. AND THE CAR PERFORMED SOMEWHAT NORMALLY. THEY CAME BACK ON, A DAY LATER. AND SO DID THE SYMPTOMS, BUT ONLY SPORADICALLY. THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAS A LEAK. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SPECIFICALLY, HERE: HTTP://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/99-4-3-MECHANICAL/91243-WHAT-CAUSES-BRAKE-BOOSTER-FAILURE.HTML I THINK GIVEN THE HISTORY OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE. THIS IS A $900+ REPAIR, AND FOR A CAR WITH A LITTLE OVER 50K MILES IS UNACCEPTABLE AND ABOVE ALL, DANGEROUS. *TR

I HAD HEARD A SLIGHT CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE REAR. I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNK, STARTED DOWN A HILL AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I WENT FROM ONE SIDE OF THE STREET TO THE OTHER. LUCKILY NO CARS WERE COMING. FINALLY A GOT THE CAR STOPPED AND RETURNED TO MY GARAGE. LOOKING AT THE REAR RIGHT TIRE IT WAS BENT IN AT THE TOP. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS WAS "LEFT REAR TIE-ROD PULLED APART". I HAD IT REPLACED. WE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM PHILADELPHIA THE DAY BEFORE AND HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD IT OCCURRED ON PENNSYLVANIA'S NORTHEAST EXTENSION, TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT TO REPORT IT BACK THEN AND I AM SURE THIS IS A RESULT OF THIS RECALL 12V373000. *TR

FOR 2 YEARS PRIOR TO TAKING THE CAR TO TOYOTA FOR REPAIR, I WAS HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, NORMALLY WHEN I BEGAN USING THE CAR EARLY IN THE MORNING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM, EXPECTING IT TO BE A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS BROKEN ALONG WITH A YOKE ASSEMBLY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALARMED THAT I HAD BEEN DRIVING A CAR WITH A BROKEN STEERING SHAFT FOR SO LONG. TOYOTA REPLACED THE BROKEN PARTS AND CHARGED ME $600. I THOUGHT TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THE COST AS A WARRANTY ITEM BUT THEY REFUSED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A STEERING DEFECT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF VIA A SAFETY RECALL. HAD THE SHAFT BROKEN OR BECOME MORE DAMAGED THEN A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN FOREST AVE IN BROCKTON, MA, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STATED SMOKING, I QUICKLY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, GOT ME AND MY SON OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND SUGGESTED THAT I GOT IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. SO I DID, TO COPLAND TOYOYTA WHERE IT WAS TROUBLESHOOT TO A MASTER SWITCH ASS. IT WAS REPAIRED AND I HAD TO PAY $580.70 BECAUSE THEY SAID ITS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING. CAR FEEL VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY ON VET SURFACE AND DURING BRAKING. *TR

TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES PRIOR TO APPROACHING TURN LANE AND COULD NOT STOP. BRAKES WERE THERE (PEDAL WAS FIRM AND DID NOT GO TO FLOOR) BUT ACCELERATOR SEEM TO OVERRIDE THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PROCEEDED TO STAND ON BRAKES TO ATTEMPT TO STOP AS THERE WERE THREE LANES OF STOPPED TRAFFIC AND NO WHERE ELSE TO GO. SHIFTED CAR INTO PARK TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP TO AVOID HITTING 8+ CARS AND PUSHING THEM INTO A VERY LARGE INTERSECTION. CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 46000 MILES ON IT AND HAD NEW BRAKES INSTALLED 8 MONTHS PRIOR. CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED 1 MONTH PRIOR FOR GENERAL SERVICE POINT CHECKS. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP SAME DAY OF THIS INCIDENT - THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. OFFERED TO SERVICE BASED ON A PREVIOUS RECALL TO REMOVE THE CURRENT FLOORMAT AND ADJUST ACCELERATOR. ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY SOMETIMES DISPLAYING GARBLED TEXT ON THE RADIO DISPLAY. *TR

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER - THEY SAID IT WAS THE SPIRAL CABLE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AIR BAG WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $500. THIS WAS AFTER THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF ANOTHER AIRBAG-RELATED RECALL. *TR

I WAS WAITING AT A STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. SUDDENLY, WITH NO INPUT FROM ME, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. ADDING MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP IT FROM MOVING FORWARD. WITH FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SLOWLY MOVED INTO THE REAR PANEL OF A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, DOING FENDER DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, THAT IT HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I'VE HAD IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE, AND BOTH TIMES THEY INFERRED THAT IT WAS MY ERROR. I KNOW THAT EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, I WAS NOT MOVING, AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR'S ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP WITH NO ACTION TAKEN MY ME. SOMETHING IS DANGEROUSLY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

MY WIFE LEFT HOME TO DRIVE TO THE STORE - A 3-MILE TRIP, ALL IN-TOWN DRIVING. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 1/2 MILE, SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CAR FROM BEHIND THE PANEL ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. SHE STOPPED THE CAR. THE VOLUME OF SMOKE ACCUMULATING IN THE CAR INCREASED. A PASSER-BY STOPPED, CALLED 911, REPORTED THE FIRE, AND ASSISTED MY WIFE, WHO CLIMBED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND EXITED THE CAR OUT THE FRONT, RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR. BY THE TIME THE FIREMEN AND POLICE ARRIVED, APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MINUTES LATER, SMOKE WAS DENSE AND FLAMES WERE SURROUNDING THE EDGES OF THE DOOR PANEL. FIREMEN SPRAYED WATER ON THE PANEL, PULLED THE PANEL OFF THE DOOR, AND CONTINUED TO APPLY WATER UNTIL THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THANKFULLY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO STOP AND EXIT THE CAR QUICKLY. HAD SHE BEEN IN HEAVY, FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. ALSO, THE NON-AVAILABILITY OF FIREMEN WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN MUCH MORE FIRE- DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND POSSIBLY AN EXPLOSION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL NOISE FOR AND THE POWER SWITCH AILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WHENEVER CONTACT USED THE POWER SWITCH FOR THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR FOR THE POWER SWITCH PASSENGER WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTOR WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

I WAS DRIVING THE RAV4 IN APRIL 2011 AND AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 WHEN THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED.THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE BATTERY LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, FIRST THE RADIO QUIT PLAYING AND THEN THE CAR WENT DEAD AS I WAS MOVING IN TRAFFIC. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL BEING STRUCK IN TRAFFIC. THANKS TO SOME KIND LADIES, THE CAR WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY. WE SUSPECTED IT WAS A BATTERY MALFUNCTION, ALTHOUGH THE BATTERY WAS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD. WE TOOK THE BATTERY TO PLACE OF PURCHASE AND THEY TRIED TO CHARGE IT, IT WOULD NOT CHARGE SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THIS TIME THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN THE RADIO WENT OUT AND THE CAR DIED. THIS WAS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL AS TRAFFIC WAS SPEEDING BEHIND ME AND I WAS AFRAID I WOULD GET REAR ENDED. ONCE AGAIN THERE WERE TWO FEMALES THAT HELPED ME PUSH THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. ONCE AGAIN THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER THIS TIME THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL NOT GO OUT. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATING, I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE RAV 4 'S ELECTRICAL STEERING AND THE FACT THAT IT PULLS TO MUCH POWER. THERE IS NOT REASON WHY THE CAR SHOULD JUST QUIT WHILE YOUR DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. IT IS HARD TO TRUST THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOPS IN TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT START AGAIN. *TR

THE CAR FILLED WITH THE SMELL ,AND SMOKE OF BURNING WIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE DOOR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT RIGHT BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IT ENGULF INTO FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

WAS DRIVING NORMAL - ONLY A FEW MINUTES AFTER IGNITION - STRANGE SCENT OF PLASTIC BURNING. LOOKED DOWN TO FIND A THICK WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM WINDOW SWITCHES, FLAME SEEN THROUGH CRACKS. HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY @ GAS/SERVICE STATION TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAME - I HAD NO LIQUID TO EXTINGUISH AT TIME OF INCIDENT. WENT DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND DROPPED OFF VEHICLE. THEY ARE SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL - SO THEY WOULD NOT PURCHASE ME A RENTAL HAD TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. I FOUND THESE LINKS RIGHT AWAY ONCE I GOT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER: HTTP://WWW.KTVU.COM/NEWS/NEWS/TOYOTA-RECALLING-778000-RAV4-SUVS/NP8CR/ THIS IS THE LATEST ISSUE FOR THE POPULAR RAV4, WHICH IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION OF DOOR FIRES THAT HAVE BEEN LINKED TO POWER WINDOW SWITCHES. HTTP://WOT.MOTORTREND.COM/BURNING-TOYOTA-CAMRYRAV4-WINDOW-SWITCHES-PROMPT-NHTSA-INVESTIGATION-168895.HTML END OF REPORT. *TR

ON MARCH 29, 2012, I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY & HEARD A CLUNK. CHECKED REAR UNDERSIDE & SAW NOTHING AMISS. ARRIVED IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AND HEARD 3 MORE CLUNKS (WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS). THEN THE FINAL EXTRA LOUD CLUNK AS THE STEERING WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ON MICHIGAN AVE. IN FRONT OF THE HILTON HOTEL DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC (5 PM) DOING 25 TO 30 MPH. CARS ALL AROUND ME. GENTLY APPLIED BRAKES & EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO WARN OTHERS, AS I KEPT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM WAY LEFT TO WAY RIGHT. EASED MY WAY FROM CENTER LANE OVER TO THE CURB. CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING! RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS TILTED AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE--TOP OUTWARD, BOTTOM INWARD. IN ANOTHER 15 MIN. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING 50 --60 MPH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO INDIANA. TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISOR SAID: "BOLT RUSTED THROUGH. IF KEEPING CAR, SUGGEST GETTING LEFT REAR SUSPENSION REPLACED TOO BECAUSE IT IS GETTING READY TO GO. A COMPANY REP IS GOING TO COME OUT TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER EXACT FAILURE JUST RECENTLY." THE REP DECIDED HE DID NOT NEED TO SEE IT. (I'M SURE HE WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE BIGGER PROBLEM TOYOTA WOULD BE FACING.) VEHICLE FACTS: 2007 RAV-4, MILEAGE: 43,185, ONE OWNER, GARAGE KEPT (EXCEPT FOR VACATIONS). LAST 27-POINT INSPECTION: (1-21-2012) 2 MONTHS BEFORE FAILURE. NO ITEMS IN THE SECTION TITLED "UNDER VEHICLE" WERE EVEN CHECKED OFF AS COMPLETED (GOOD OR BAD). THIS INCLUDED "SUSPENSION & STEERING LINKAGE". I PAID $778. TO HAVE BOTH LEFT & R

MY RAV4 WAS MAKING POPPING NOISES IN THE STEERING, I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE STEERING SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THAT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CAR HAVING A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH STEERING, ESPECIALLY ONE WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. ANYWAY, I HAD TO PAY $380 TO HAVE THAT FIXED AND THEY ALSO DID AN ALIGNMENT. THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED THE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE OF THE REPAIR. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND ON THE WAY HOME, IT STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE POPPING AND CLUNKING SOUND IN THE REAR-END. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK TO TELL THEM TO COME GET IT BECAUSE I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT BACK TO THEM. AFTER THE TOW TRUCK CAME, MY HUSBAND FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CAR BECAUSE OF REAR SUSPENSION AFTER AN ALIGNMENT. I AM WRITING THIS TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT MY PROBLEMS WITH 1) THE STEERING PROBLEM AND 2) THE REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEM. AGAIN, THIS ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL LEVEL HAD DIMINISHED DRASTICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN ORDER TO HAVE AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE WINDOW COULD NOT BE OPENED AND CAUSED SMOKE TO RELEASE FROM THE DRIVER AIR VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVERS DOOR MASTER SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 307,643.

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO EXPECTED RECALL CONCERNING REAR TIE RODS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SOMETIME AROUND JUNE 2011, SHE BEGAN TO HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE; SOMETIMES FROM THE LEFT AND SOMETIMES FROM THE RIGHT. FINALLY, IN DECEMBER 2011, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS CONFIRMED THERE WAS A NOISE, BUT THE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. IN MAY 2012, THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE, ONLY PERIODICALLY. ON MAY 3, 2012, AS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE NOISE BECAME EVEN LOUDER. HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, GOING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE ROAD AND DOING A COMPLETE 360 DEGREE TURN. SHE FINALLY MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND WAS ABLE TO STOP IN A SAFETY ZONE. THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS BENT IN AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE AND ALMOST OFF THE VEHICLE. ON MONDAY MAY 7, 2012, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE LEFT REAR TIE ROD SNAPPED AND THE RIGHT ONE WAS IN A WEAKENED CONDITION AND BOTH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE ELECTRICAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO A TIRE SHOP AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE CONTROL PANEL BECAUSE ALL OF THE WIRES WERE MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO SENT OUT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE FAILURE, ADVISING THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD RESPOND WITHIN THIRTY DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,120.   ..UPDATED 09/12/12 *BF UPDATED 09/12/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE MOTOR BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS THAT THE MOTOR OIL WAS ABNORMALLY LOW AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000. ....UPDATED 10/11/12 *BF UPDATED 10/16/2012*JS

I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S-SIDE DOOR. WHEN I STOP TO CHECK I SAW FIRE INSIDE THE DOOR. I IMMEDIATE ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. WHEN HE UNCOVER THE SWITCH IT HAS A NICKEL SIDE HOLE. THERE IS NO MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE SWITCH NOT WORKING OR MY WINDOWS. I REALLY THINK I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NEAR MY BROTHERS HOME WHEN THIS HAPPEN. IF I WAS SOMEWHERE (LIKE THE FREEWAY) I REALLY TAUGHT MY WHOLE CAR WOULD OF CAUGHT ON FIRE AND LUCKY MY CHILD WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. *TR

VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BY TOYOTA TO HAVE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MODIFIED AND FLOOR MATS CHANGED IN ORDER TO AVOID INADVERTENT ACCELERATION. FLOOR MAT CHANGE APPLIED ONLY TO ORIGINAL TOYOTA SUPPLIED FLOOR MATS, WHICH ABOVE VEHICLE HAS, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO ACCESSORY WINDOW STICKER SUPPLIED AT PURCHASE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OURISMAN TOYOTA FOR COMPLIANCE, DEALER MARKED ON CUSTOMER YELLOW FORM THAT MATS WERE NOT ORIGINAL TOYOTA AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE CHANGED. HOWEVER DEALER STATED VERBALLY THAT MATS ACTUALLY WERE ORIGINAL TOYOTA, BUT THAT CUSTOMERS WERE NOT HAPPY WITH NEW MATS SINCE THEY WERE TOO THIN. THEREFORE DEALER DECIDED TO COMPLY WITH SAFETY DIRECTIVE BY MARKING ALL ORIGINAL MATS AS NON-ORIGINAL MATS, WHICH DID NOT HAVE TO BE CHANGED. NICE TO KNOW THAT THE DEALER IS CUSTOMER ORIENTED, BUT I AM LEFT WONDERING IF THAT JEOPARDIZES SAFETY. INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA ON THE SAFETY EMAIL ADDRESS LISTED ON THEIR WEB SITE, BUT NO REPLY RECEIVED. *TR

MY 2007 RAV4 DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW WONT GO UP AND DOWN. THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT MOVE. THE SWITCH FOR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW ON THE BACK DOOR DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. WHEN IT DOES WORK JUST ONE TAP AND THE REAR WINDOW (DRIVER SIDE) GOES DOWN ALL THE WAY BY ITS SELF. THE OTHER THREE SWITCHES FOR THE WINDOWS AND THE OTHER THREE WINDOWS SEEM TO WORK AND RESPOND HOW THEY SHOULD. ONLY PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR WINDOW AND THE SWITCH ON BOTH THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE REAR WINDOW DOOR (DRIVER SIDE). ALSO WHILE DRIVING TO WORK DRIVING APROX 10 MPH MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BENT IN TOWARD THE WHEEL WELL. THE TIE ROD WAS BROKE AND THE TIE ROD WAS VERY RUSTED . THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A FREAK OCCURRENCE AND FIXED IT WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM IS THAT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE REAR SUSPENSION (DRIVER SIDE) IS ALSO RUSTED BUT THEY DID NOT FIX IT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAPPENED JUNE 14TH AT ABOUT 6:10 AM I WAS NOT TOLD OF THE RECALL OF THIS TIE ROD ISSUE AT THE TIME OF IT GETTING FIXED . THEY PLAYED IT OFF AS IT WERE A FREAK OCCURRENCE.. TOYOTA/SCION DEALER OF BERLIN CITY TOYOTA. *TR

BOTH REAR SWAY BAR LINKS BROKE ON A WELL MAINTAINED RAV4 THAT IS GARAGED NIGHTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REQUESTED A TOYOTA ENGINEER COME TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 08/29/12*LJ

FELT A LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING, A POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING TURNS. UNDER WARRENTY, AT APPROXIMATELY 33,000 MILES, THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. AT APPROXIMATELY 56,000 MILES, THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED. WAS ADVISED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT HAD FAILED ONCE AGAIN. COST OF REPLACEMENT ESTIMATED AT $628.00. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND RECEIVED A CASE MANAGER. CASE MANAGER INFORMED ME THE FINAL OFFER TOYOTA WOULD MAKE IS TO PAY THE COST OF THE PART, I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE APPROXIMATE $300.00 LABOR COSTS. THEY WOULD NOT GUARANTEE FUTURE REPLACEMENTS SHOULD THE PART FAIL AGAIN. CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO PROPERLY ADDRESS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAG: SIDE WINDOW) TO HAVE THE SIDE AIR BAGS SENSOR REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE FAILED AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE SPIRAL CABLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED, SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE HER, THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER A RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG ECM AND THEY WOULD RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TO SEE WHAT ERROR CODE WAS CAUSING THE ACTIVATION OF THE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPT, AND THEY STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPORTING TWO SEPARATE ERROR CODES; THE FIRST FOR THE RECALLED ECM, WHICH WAS REPLACED, AND A SECOND FOR A DEFECTIVE SPIRAL CABLE, WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG SYSTEM, BUT NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. UPDATED EVOQ 10/10/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN A GRAY SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL EMITTED FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE MASTER CYLINDER SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER A FIRE BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,329.

ABOUT 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE DATES ABOVE, I NOTICED A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I TURNED IT. I DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL IT STARTED GETTING WORSE AND I MENTIONED IT TO A FRIEND AT WORK. HE MENTIONED RESEARCHING IT ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTED HAVING SOMEONE LOOK AT IT. I TOOK HIS ADVICE AND SAW THAT RAV4S DID HAVE SOME STEERING ISSUES. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED AT THE CHARGE OF $45.00 FOR DIAGNOSIS AND $428.77 PARTS AND LABOR FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

WATER APPEARS IN THE FRONT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A RAINSTORM, SEEMS WORSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WATER APPEARS TO PERSIST AND DRIP FOR DAYS AFTER THE RAINSTORM FROM BELOW THE DASHBOARD. CONCERN IS THAT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY MAY BE COMPROMISED, ESPECIALLY AFTER REPEATED OCCURRENCES. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 2007 RVA 4 LIMITED WHEN THE CAR AHEAD OF HER SUDDENLY STOPPED. SPEED WAS 25 TO 30 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. SHE BRAKED AND COLLIDED WITH THE CAR AHEAD OF HER. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO CATCH HERSELF AND WAS SITTING UP RIGHT WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE AIRBAGS BY SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE FRONT COLLISION. SOON AFTER THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THICK BLACK SMOKE CAME UP THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN. MY WIFE EVACUATED THE CAR AND WITHIN FIVE MINUTES THE CAR WAS TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I AM CONCERNED ON THE DELAY IN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE FIRE AND SPEED AT WHICH IT SPREAD. WE LOVED OUR RAV BUT HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT BUYING ANY TOYOTA PRODUCT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE REAR TIE ROD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AS THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED AS A RESULT OF RUST. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIE RODS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

THIS JUST HAPPEND TO ME ON THE MORNING OF 07/26/2012. I WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP AND LEAVING THE AIRPORT. AS I WAS ABOUT TO PAY MY PARKING FEE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTED SMOKING AND I SAW A SMALL FIRE STARTING TO FLARE UP ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOOR BY THE WINDOW SWITCH. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES THE WHOLE DOOR WAS UP IN FLAMES. *JS

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY ACCELERATOR OPENED TO FULL THROTTLE. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE STRONGLY FOR BETWEEN 10 AND 15 SECONDS UNTIL THE ACCELERATOR CLICKED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON, BUT IT WAS NOT SET. THE PEDAL WAS WELL CLEAR OF THE FLOOR MAT, AND LOOKING DOWN DURING THE INCIDENT I COULD SEE THAT IT WAS CLEAR OF ANY OBJECTS. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EVENT. UPON NOTIFYING A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY TESTED THE VEHICLE AND CLAIMED THEY DID NOT DISCOVER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *TR

MY WIFE AND I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. IT WILL NO LONGER STAY UP AT ALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AS IT BLOCKS VISIBILITY TO THE ROAD, AND ALSO PROVIDES A POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY FOR GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. NOT ONLY WILL TOYOTA NOT RECOGNIZE THIS VERY COMMON (RECALL WORTHY) PROBLEM, BUT OUR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY THAT WE PAID ALMOST $2000 EXTRA DOLLARS FOR DOESN'T SEEM TO COVER THIS EITHER. TOYOTA QUOTED US JUST UNDER $200 TO FIX THE VISOR. THE WARRANTY ISSUE IS ONE PROBLEM BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANUFACTURING A PART THAT CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. IS IT GOING TO TAKE CAR ACCIDENTS AND THE LOSS OF LIVES FOR THIS TO BE RECOGNIZED? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE INSIDE OF THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,802.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.