2007 Toyota RAV4 complaints

HEARING A CLUCKING NOISE FROM STEERING COLUMN FOR LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT WAS GETTING WORSE AND INCREASED FREQUENCY SO WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. SERVICE DEPT PERSONNEL SAID THEY HAD REPLACED OTHER STEERING SHAFTS BUT NO RECALL ON OUR RAV4'S YEAR. 2001 & 02'S AND OTHER YEARS HAVE RECALLS. SEARCHED ON-LINE AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER POSTS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ON 2006 & 07 RAV4S. WHY IS TOYOTA NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS PROBLEM. OTHERS HAVE STATED THE STEERING WILL EVIDENTLY GO OUT. DEFINITE MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. $800+ COST TO FIX. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 51 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I HAVE HAD MY RAV4 SINCE OCT. 2007, BOUGHT IT NEW AND 2 1/2 YEARS AFTER OWNING IT I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES IN JUNE 2010. I JUST PURCHASED NEW TIRES FOR MY RAV4 AND HAD THEM PUT ON IN NOV. 2011 AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED BRAKES AGAIN. NOW FROM JUNE 2010 TO NOV. 2011 I SHOULD STILL HAVE A LOT OF BRAKE LEFT INSTEAD OF HAVING TO REPLACE THEM. IF THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY RAV4 I WILL TRADE IT IN AND BUY A NISSAN SUV INSTEAD. I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO CHANGE MY BRAKES EVERY 1 1/2 YEARS ON MY VEHICLE. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM I WOULDN'T HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD'VE BOUGHT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE MY CAR BUT I FEEL THAT I SHOULD GET MORE WEAR AND TEAR FROM MY BRAKES THAN A 1 1/2 YEARS. MAYBE THE TOYOTA COMPANY SHOULD CHECK THE MATERIAL THE BRAKES WAS MADE FROM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT DEFECTIVE. *TR

EXPERIENCED KNOCKING AND POPPING NOISE WITH VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CONDITION WORSENED OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW WEEKS AND EVENTUALLY BECAME CONSTANT. THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING RACK AND NOT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY PER T-SB-0308-08 "STEERING RACK NOISE". I'M CONCERNED THIS MIGHT BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

MY RAV4 HAS BEGAN HAVING CLUNKING NOISES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHES ON THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THIS IS PREVALENT WITH RAV4'S AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL. IS THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN? WILL THIS EVENTUALLY BE A RECALL? *TR

AT 66,000 MILES HEARD & FELT CLUNKING IN THE STEERING, & THEN SPENT $2033 PLUS TAX AT THE TOYOTA DEALER TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS #1 & #2, & POWER STEERING RACK. TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THEIR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. *TR

2007 RAV 4 HAD 3 LIGHTS TURNED ON (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT), SHORTLY AFTER THE LIGHTS CAME ON, THE BRAKES FAILED. RAV4 WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DELEARSHIP FOR REPAIR AND AFTER THE TECHNICIANS BEING CONFUSED BY THE LIGHTS, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD FAILED. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THE RECENT HIGHLINDER RECALL AND I FEEL PEOPLE'S SAFETY IS AT STAKE WITH THE BRAKES FAILING. *TR

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS WAITING TO TURN LEFT WHEN IT WAS IMPACTED BY A 2004 FORD F-150 ON THE FRONT/LEFT SIDE LIFTING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE CLOCKWISE HITTING 1ST A 2000 FORD MUSTANG WITH THE FRONT/RIGHT SIDE AND THEN HITTING THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR AGAINST A 2008 NISSAN QUEST. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS ON THE TOYOTA RAV4 DEPLOYED. *KB

ON OR ABOUT 9/01/11, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A POPPING/CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING MY CAR LEFT OR RIGHT, WHEN PARKING AND WHEN TURNING INTO OR BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY (APPROX 5MPH). THIS CLUNKING SOUND WAS OCCURRING WITHOUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO EITHER SIDE AND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WITH THE CAR RUNNING AT A COMPLETE STOP. ON 10/27/11, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN WINSTON SALEM, NC AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CAR WOULD NEED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AS A RESULT OF THE REPLACEMENT. ON 11/01/11, I HAD THIS SERVICE DONE AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (REPLACED STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, ITEM #45260-42090, AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT.) I PAID A TOTAL OF $479.73 FOR THIS SERVICE. NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN #ST001-08, ITEM #10024291, WAS ISSUED 2/08/08 FOR THE 2007 RAV4 STEERING COMPONENT. IN SEARCHING MYCARSTATS.COM ALONG WITH OTHER SITES ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE AND COMPLAINT. A REPAIR COST OF $479.73 IS SUBSTANTIAL, AND SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED, I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS STEERING SHAFT COMPONENT FOR THE 2007 RAV4. *KB

STEERING MAKES POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING TO LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING SPACES. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS SHRUGGED OFF AS NOT A BIG DEAL, BUT THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $500 TO FIX. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE. IT WAS LUBED AND I WAS TOLD THAT MIGHT HELP AND THAT IT WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY; HOWEVER AFTER REVIEWING COMPLAINTS ON-LINE, IT APPEARS A LOT OF '07 RAV'S HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AT DIFFERENT MILEAGE POINTS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY TOYOTA. I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE ON THIS. *KB

I NOTICED A 'CLUNKING SOUND' WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL EITHER DIRECTION ON MY TOYOTA RAV 4 2007 VEHICLE. THIS IS TOYOTA VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. IF YOU WANT PROOF CHECK BELOW LINK THAT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND REPLY TO MY EMAIL. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2007/STEERING/MAKES_NOISE_WHEN_TURNING_THE_STEERING_WHEEL.SHTML HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/TOYOTA-RAV4/TS93FJA7TI04QEESV/P3 HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/DEALER-RECOMMENDS-I-REPLACE-THE-INTERMEDIATE-STEERING-SHAFT-IN-25-YEAR-OLD-RAV4-291 HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://WWW.DEVDAILY.COM/BLOG/POST/PAGE-1/RAV4-STEERING-NOISE-EPIDEMIC. *TR

RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED A 'CLUNKING SOUND' WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL EITHER DIRECTION ON MY TOYOTA RAV 4 2007 VEHICLE. I AM BRINGING IN THIS VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED OUT BY MY LOCAL DEALER. I WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALL NOTICES ON THIS STEERING NOISE ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4, 2007. I HEARD STEERING COLUMN NOISE RIGHT AFTER IT CROSSED 35000 MILE ONLY. I READ IN THE INTERNET MANY RAV4 USER MENTION THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA KNOWINGLY NOT RECALLING THE VEHICLES TO FIX IT. THE DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH $550 COST. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED BY MANY RAV4 BUYERS, TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THIS FREE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER INTRUSION THROUGH THE FRESH AIR INTAKE UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, CAUSING THE CARPET TO BECOME MOIST AND GROW MOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE GASKET WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND A PLASTIC SEALANT WOULD HAVE TO BE INSTALLED AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

PURCHASED THE ABOVE VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE ON OCTOBER 25 2011 FROM AN AUTO BROKER IN ORANGE, CA WHO HAD ADVERTISED THE CAR IN AUTOTRADER.COM AS A CLEAN AND LOW MILEAGE(UNDER 26,000 MILES) AND IN HIS EMAIL TO ME STATED THAT THE UNIT WAS COMPLETELY INSPECTED AND WARRANTY. SINCE BUYING IT 2 1/2 DAYS AGO WE HAVE ONLY TAKEN IT OUT ON 3 OCCASIONS LOCALLY AS I HAVE A RENTED CAR AND WANTED TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE RENTED CAR WHILST WE HAVE IT. I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT JUST FELT WEIRD AND UNSAFE. HAVING GOOGLED THE PROBLEM I REALIZE THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING OF RAV 4 AND SO MANY THEIR PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE BROKER AND WAITING TO HEAR FROM HIM. I AM AMAZED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT TREAT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SERIOUSLY TO DO A FREE REPAIR AND RECALL. I CALLED THEM THIS MORNING AND THEY STATED AS THE CAR IS OVER 3 YEARS THEN THERE IS NO WARRANTY!!! TOYOTA PLEASE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND DO NOT RISK PEOPLES LIFE!! AS FAR AS THE BROKER IS CONCERNED I HAVE TO RESERVE JUDGMENT UNTIL I SEE HIM AND FIND OUT WHAT HE IS WILLING TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THE BROKER IS SOLUTIONS AUTO SALES, MISSION VIEJO, CA BUT I MET HIM AND BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HIS OFFICE IN ORANGE, CA. *TR

LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A "CLUNKING" NOISE AND LOOSE FEEL TO THE STEERING SYSTEM OF MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO REPAIR THIS ITEM AT THEIR EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A DEFECT ACCORDING TO THIER OWN BULLETINS. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0319-08" TO TELL THE TOYOTA MECHANICS HOW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFTS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE A MANDATED RECALL BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING INJURED DUE TO STEERING FAILURE! WHEN CONTACTING TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES, THEY ALSO REFUSE TO TELL CONSUMERS WHAT GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY TO CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THEY ARE CLEARLY TRYING TO AVOID PAYING FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT!!! *TT

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 IS MAKING AN UNSETTLING CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT HANDS TURNS. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY COUNTLESS TOYOTA RAV4 AND CAMRY OWNERS, AND TOYOTA HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ACKNOWLEDGING DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD WEAR OUT IN A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 40K MILES, AND IS A TOYOTA DESIGN FLAW. QUOTED REPAIR COST IS ~$800, BUT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS IT IS IMPACTING. ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEERING COMPONENTS. *TR

AT AROUND 60,000 MILES, MY 2007 RAV4 BEGAN MAKING A VERY LOUD THUMPING, KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND SHAFTS EVERY TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THE ISSUE WAS NOTICEABLY WORSE AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE IMPACT COULD BE FELT AS A TREMOR THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. BY 70,000 MILES, I FEARED FOR MY SAFETY DRIVING AT SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 35MPH. THE PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED BY TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ALL THREE ADVISED THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD BE REPAIRED URGENTLY AS IT IS AN IMMEDIATE DRIVER SAFETY CONCERN. FURTHER RESEARCH CONFIRMS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH 2006-2008 YEAR RAV4S. TOYOTA RECOGNIZES THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT FAILURES ARE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO WARRANT THE ISSUE OF TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. THIS FLAW IS COVERED BY WARRANTY FOR VEHICLES UNDER 3 YEARS OF 36,000 MILES, BUT COSTS OVER $1,000 TO REPAIR (AT THE OWNER''S COST) OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS ISSUE OBVIOUSLY RELATES TO A DESIGN/MATERIAL OF CONSTRUCTION DEFICIENCY WITH THIS MODEL. OVER 100 COMPLAINTS ALREADY LISTED ON NHTSA SITE. ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM CLEARLY AFFECT THE ABILITY TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND THUS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. TOYOTA IS KNOWINGLY IMPOSING RISK ON ITS DRIVERS UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS DEALT WITH, BY A MANDATORY RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR

QUOTED FROM TOYOTA SERVICE INVOICE " AIR BAG LIGHT ON: 140603 B1801 STORED AIR BAG LIGHT ON. FOUND OPEN CIRCUIT IN SPIRAL CABLE REC REPLACING " ( $530). *TR

WHENEVER I TURN THE WHEEL (DOES NOT MATTER WHAT DIRECTION) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN IT MAKES A CLUNK NOISE, AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR HANDS. *TR

MASTER WINDOW POWER SWITCH CAUGHT A FIRE IN AUGUST 2011. IT HAD BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE JULY 2009. TOYOTA WOULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE TO MANY MILES. HOW DOES A POWER WINDOW STOP WORKING ON A 2007 RAV4 WHEN IT ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. FAULTY MASTER POWER SWITCH. IT HAD A BURN HOLE THE SIZE OF A DIME. I'M GLAD I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT. THE FIRST TIME I SAW SMOKE WAS JUNE 2011. I WAS SO AFRAID TO DRIVE THE FIRE TRAP I TRADED IT IN FOR A NEW CAR. THE RAV4 WAS PAID OFF NOW I HAVE A CAR LOAN AT 19.9%. *KB

THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. LOOKING AT SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IT WOULD APPEAR THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE RAV4'S MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN. THERE IS ALSO A LOUD INTERMITTENT MOANING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, WAS TOLD IT COULD BE THE FUEL PUMP. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO TOYOTA SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE CAUSE COULD NOT BE FOUND. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE WAS RELEASED FROM THE TAIL PIPE WHEN FIRST STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING 1.1 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 2,300 MILES. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS RECOMMENDED TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED EVERY 5,000 MILES AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD DESTROY THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NORMAL AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO BURN 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,200 MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR ON 2007 RAV4 WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. IT STAYS IN A SEMI-DOWN POSITION WHERE IT BLOCKS FORWARD VISION AND ALSO REPRESENTS A HAZARD TO THE HEAD AND EYES WHEN GETTING INTO/OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSTERIOR OXYGEN SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 11/03/11 *BF UPDATED 05/12/2012 *JS

PASSENGER SIDE VISOR FLAP NOT STAYING IN UPWARD POSITION (FOR MONTHS NOW). IT IS HANGING DOWN HALFWAY AND FACES FORWARD. YESTERDAY, WHEN BREAKING, IT STRUCK MY FOREHEAD CLOSE TO THE EYES STRAIGHT ON WITH ITS SMALL SIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB

I BEGAN HEARING A CLUNK IN MY STEERING COLUMN APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO. I PURCHASED MY 2007 RAV 4 AT THE END OF JANUARY 2008. IT HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (2/8/08) ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN: HTTP://WW2.JUSTANSWER.COM/UPLOADS/SND27613/2008-10-14_215655_RAV_4_STEERING_2.PDF. NOW I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS NEEDED TO REPLACE AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (5,000 MILES OR 9 MONTHS TOO LATE). TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. MY MECHANIC URGED ME NOT TO DO ANY LONG DISTANCE DRIVING OR WAIT VERY LONG TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR 5 DAYS (APPARENTLY MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!!!!). PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, VEHICLE MAKES A THUMPING NOISE. THE THUMPING NOISE SEEMS TO COME FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. I FEAR LOSING CONTROL OF THE STEERING. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL OF THE VEHICLE, AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. I FEAR THIS DEFECT IN THE STEERING WILL IMPACT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. I FEAR COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING. *TR

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4 DEVELOPED CLUNKING THAT IS HEARD AND FELT IN STEERING AT SLOW SPEEDS (EXAMPLE: PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE.) WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED ROUTINELY AND FOR ANOTHER RECALL (CARPET/GAS PEDAL), THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER'S ATTENTION. THE PROBLEM WAS THE "STEERING ROD" AND REPAIR WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. THE CAR IS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD IT "WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE" AND THAT "IT WOULD GET WORSE." GIVEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS ALREADY DOCUMENTED BY OTHER OWNERS, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. IS WAITING FOR A COMPLETE FAILURE OF STEERING RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT REQUIRED TO HAVE THIS RECALLED? SINCE TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, CAN NHTSA TAKE A PROACTIVE RESPONSE, RATHER THAN WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT WITH FATALITY TO PUSH THE ISSUE? *TT

STEERING COLUMN IS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA HAS ISSUED T-SB-0318-08 BULLETIN WITH A PROCEDURE TO REPAIR AN INADEQUATELY DESIGNED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT LONG-TERM SAFETY AND LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IF THIS REPAIR IS NOT DONE. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL AND OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEED IN 2007 TOYOTA RAV4, WHICH STARTED AT 39,000 MILES AND REMAINS AT 51,000 MILES. *TR

2007 TOYOTA RAV4. STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS ITEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *KB

TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SB0318-08 DESCRIBES A STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FAILURE THAT IS WIDESPREAD (BASED ON INTERNET SEARCH) FOR THE 2007 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE TSB ALSO INDICATES THAT A NEWLY DESIGNED PART IS REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA HAS WAITED THE 3 YEAR - 36 MONTHS WARRANTY TO EXPIRE IN ORDER TO CHARGE ITS CUSTOMERS TO FIX THE MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT - AT A COST OF OVER $1,000. GIVEN THE EXTENT OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE RECOGNITION BY TOYOTA THAT FAILURES OCCUR FREQUENTLY AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT VIA A NEWLY DESIGNED PART - A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SO OWNER'S CAN HAVE THIS PART REPLACED. *TR

ALLOY RIMS ARE RUSTED ON 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. *TR

STEERING SYSTEM MAKES KNOCKING NOISES WHEN CAR IS TURNING EITHER RIGHT OF LEFT. USUALLY AT SLOW SPEED. *TR

WHEN MOVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED, CLUNKING SOUNDS ARE HEARD. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA, IT WAS DISMISSED AS BEING A RESULT OF THE COLD WEATHER. WARMER WEATHER AND SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN; A PROBLEM TOYOTA IS AWARE OF, BUT HAS NOT RESPONDED TO PROACTIVELY. *TT

STEERING IS BEGINNING TO FEEL LOOSE. WHEN MAKING TURNS TO RIGHT OR LEFT THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND AT LOW SPEEDS. GETTING WORSE WITH TIME. THIS APPEARS TO BE EXACTLY THE SAME SITUATION DESCRIBED BY MANY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS WHO ARE REPORTING THAT LED TO THEIR REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS ON WHICH TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN BUT NO RECALL. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN. FIRST NOTICED THE CLUNKING SOUND AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. *TT

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND TOYOTA HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN DEALING WITH IT; STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND IS COVERED UNDER TWO NUMBERS; ST001-08 AND LATER T-SB-0318-08. THE SHAFT IS COMING APART AND MAKES NOISE PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEED. ACCORDING TO REPORTS IT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES. I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF MY PROBLEM WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD THE NOISE WAS NOTHING; THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED IN THEIR SYSTEM. LATER I FOUND OUT WHAT THIS ISSUE WAS AND THAT THEY KNEW. SINCE THEN I HAVE MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO GET IT FIXED BUT THEY WANT $800 TO FIX WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING/DESIGN DEFECT. THEY RECENTLY OFFERED TO FIX IT FOR $600; NOT MUCH OF AN OFFER SINCE MY LOCAL MECHANIC WILL DO IT FOR THE SAME PRICE. SINCE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE WITH ISSUES AND I WOULD ASSUME POSES A SAFETY ISSUE I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO DO A GENERAL RECALL. I HOPE YOU CAN FORCE THEM TO DO SUCH. *KB

I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. I NOTICED A CLANKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER. I WAS TOLD "INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS REPLACEMENT." MY CAR WAS JUST 1000 MILES OVER OF THE 36000 MILES WARRANTY. DEALER SAID IT WILL COST ME 600 PLUS TAX TO FIX IT. BUT THEY ALSO MENTIONED THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE TO FIX RIGHT AWAY. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT MANY TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS A BULLETIN STATING THIS IS CAUSED BY A LACK OF GREASE AT ONE OF THE JOINTS. IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT TOYOTA SHOULD FIX AT THEIR COST. I THINK IT IS TIME FOR THE DEALER TO TAKE SOME ACTION REGARDING THIS. *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 STEERING, CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS DISTINCTIVE CLUNKING, CLACKING AND BANGING SOUNDS WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. NOTICED IT AT 37,204 MILES, RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. HAS TSB ON THIS PROBLEM WHICH REVEALS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT DEFECT AND NEW VERSION AVAILABLE FOR FIX. WEB CHECK ALSO REVEALS EPIDEMIC EXISTS FOR THIS PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CONFIRM PROBLEMS WHICH THEY DID. CALLED TOYOTA BUT THEY WILL DO OR PAY NOTHING SINCE VEHICLE IS PAST WARRANTY. WHAT DOES WARRANTY HAVE TO DO WITH THIS? THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPLACED. I AM VERY ANGRY AT TOYOTA AND IT'S STANCE CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. A MANDATORY RECALL NEEDS TO BE ENACTED. *TR

AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, I SAW A SMALL AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS DOOR PANEL AND IT SMELLED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. AFTERWARDS, THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH AND THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH WAS NOT FUNCTIONAL. THE PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD ONLY LET DOWN (VERY SLOWLY) BUT WOULDN'T GO BACK UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SHOWED ME THAT THE MAIN POWER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE HAD A HOLE BURNED INTO IT THE SIZE OF A DIME. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. PRIOR TO THIS THE PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH WAS REPLACED TWICE BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2010 AND NOVEMBER 2010. HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENTS STILL NEVER TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM OF THE PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. IN FACT, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO I WAS JUST AT THE DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING THAT I WAS STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW SWITCH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INTERMITTENTLY WORKING. I NEVER GUESSED THAT MY CAR COULD CATCH ON FIRE! NOW I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING MY VEHICLE! UPDATED 11/17/11 *BF UPDATED 06/06/12 *JS

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE WAS EXHIBITED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF THE STEERING SHAFT WAS NOT REPLACED, THE VEHICLE COULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 . THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIRS DONE ON THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V245000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) THE SRS WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE FUSES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

CAR STARTED RUMBLING AND MIS-FIRING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES IN AUGUST 2010. REPAIR CONSISTED OF REPLACING THE #5 IGNITION COIL FOR $225. HAPPENED AGAIN 06/13/11 AND #6 IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE COST OF $308. PART NUMBER FP#90919-A2007.

STEERING BEGAN EXPERIENCING A SLIGHT 'CLUNKING' FEEL AND NOISE. IT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA GARAGE FOR REPAIR, AS I WAS CONCERNED THE STEERING WOULD FAIL, AND WAS DISTURBINGLY SURPRISED TO FIND THEY HAD THE PART IN STOCK. I USE TO WORK IN AUTOMOTIVE DEALERSHIPS PARTS DEPARTMENTS AND WE NEVER STOCKED A PART OF THIS NATURE AS IT WAS AN ITEM THAT DIDN'T NORMALLY WEAR OUT. COST TO REPLACE IT WAS AROUND $500. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS ITEM HAS A POOR HISTORY THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF BUT DIDN'T NOTIFY THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

AT ANY TIME DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN CAN MAKE AN AUDIBLE CLUNK WHEN TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. IT GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE WORRY IS THAT THE STEERING JOINT COULD COMPLETELY DISLOCATE DISABLING CONTROL OF THE CAR. IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM DOCUMENTED IN A TSB BY THE MANUFACTURER. TYPICAL REPAIR COSTS CAN EXCEED $800. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:11V113000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO REACH THE PEDAL BECAUSE THE PEDAL WAS MODIFIED TOO SHORT, RESULTING IN THE CONTACT'S FOOT SLIPPING FROM THE PEDAL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD ORDER A NEW PEDAL, BUT THE PEDAL WOULD BE THE SAME SIZE AS THE PEDAL THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,127 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,277.

STEERING COLUMN HAS A CATCH IN IT WHEN TURNING...TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ..BUT THEIR HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON IT...