2007 Toyota RAV4 complaints

CLUNKING-GRINDING SOUND IN STEERING COLUMN WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED RAV4 DOES NOT TRACK ON HIGHWAY AS IT DID BEFORE...LIKES TO WANDER, ALWAYS CORRECTING THE STEERING. DEALER STATES THERE IS A TSB TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

DRIVER OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO SKID AND INTERMITTENT WARNING BEEP CAME ON. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND UPON EXITING AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, DRIVER SAW THAT THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS SLANTED INWARD APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND DRIVER WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIE ROD HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKEN. ALL OTHER TIE RODS APPEARED NORMAL. TIE ROD WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 43,500 MILEAGE. *TR

CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING. TOYOTA WILL NOT ASSIST IN REPAIRING COSTS BEING CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

REPLACED LOWER AND MIDDLE STEERING SHAFT. REPLACED STABILIZER BAR CONTROL END LINKS, FRONT AND REAR AND STRUTS.

CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING MECHANISM. REPLACED LOWER AND MIDDLE STEERING SHAFT AND FRONT AND REAR END LINKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND WHENEVER ATTEMPTING A TURN. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A KNOCKING NOISE WAS EXHIBITED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHENEVER MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTING INSIDE MASTER WINDOW CONTROL SWITCH. I WAS CLEANING MY CAR WITH THE IGNITION ON BATTERY POWER (IN ORDER TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO). AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES I NOTICED A BURNT PLASTIC SMELL, CONSIDERABLE SMOKE POURING OUT OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SMALL TONGUE OF FLAME FROM THE SAME PLACE. THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS (LATER FOUND TO BE) THE WHITE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW MASTER CONTROL, WHERE THE PHYSICAL WINDOW SWITCH MEETS THE CIRCUIT BOARD. I WAS NOT TOUCHING ANY WINDOW OR OTHER CONTROLS AT THE TIME OR WITHIN 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE. THE FIRE STOPPED RAPIDLY AFTER I TOOK THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION, DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY CABLES, POPPED OFF THE MASTER SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH A SCREWDRIVER AND THEN SMOTHERED THE CONTROLS WITH A WET TOWEL. ALL THE VEHICLE'S WINDOWS WERE INOPERABLE AFTER THAT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY PERFORMED AN INSPECTION AND REPORTED THAT THEY WERE 'MYSTIFIED' AS TO THE CAUSE. THE SERVICE MANAGER'S WORDS WERE: 'I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MY 25 YEARS WORKING ON CARS.' THE PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS CONFINED TO THE MASTER SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND COST $422 TO REPLACE. TOYOTA REFUSED TO PAY FOR THIS. *TR

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 10322423 I FILED ON MARCH 26, 2010. AT 37,109 MILES MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD A BINDING AND THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED AND WAS INFORMED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. AT 46,781 MILES I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT MY LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR FACILITY (NOT A TOYOTA DEALER). THEY RECOMMENDED I HAVE TOYOTA LOOK AT THE VEHICLE SINCE THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS BAD. I TOOK THE RAV4 TO A DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALER IN THE AREA. THEY CONFIRMED THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WHILE THEY WERE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE'S STEERING SYSTEM. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE RACK AND PINION BEING REPLACED, THE CAR FELT LIKE IT HAD NO POWER STEERING AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED AT 48,555. THE SECOND TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT DID NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE BINDING AND THUMPING NOISE WAS BEING CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION. I DO NOT HAVE THE BINDING AND THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING SINCE THE POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION WAS REPLACED. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSBS) FOR THE BINDING AND THUMPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN ' REPLACEMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS. THE PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE BINDING A

2007 TOYOTA RAV4, SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, EVEN THOUGH FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING FORWARD AND THROUGH A STOP LIGHT. AS VEHICLE WAS PULLING FORWARD SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, ONLY THEN DID THE VEHICLE'S MOTION STOP. ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV TO VERY HIGH RPMS FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, THE RPMS THEN CAME BACK DOWN TO NORMAL. DROVE VEHICLE 10 MILES TO GET HOME TERRIFIED THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 SPORT RIMS OEM ARE RUSTING A AT FAST PACE. SOME BIG CHUNKS ARE FALLING OFF. I AM AFRAID THAT THE WHEEL WILL FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WROTE TO TOYOTA CORP THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. *TR

AT AROUND 20,000 MILES, MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN I MADE RIGHT HAND TURNS. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SOUND. OVER TIME, THE CLUNKING GREW LOUDER AND COULD BE FELT TRAVELING UP THE STEERING SHAFT. I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN JUST SHY OF THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY LIMIT AND WAS TOLD THAT ONCE AGAIN THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT DETECT ANY SOUND/DEFECT. HOWEVER, WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN FOR A SAFETY RECALL ON AN OIL HOSE, I MENTIONED THE STEERING PROBLEM YET AGAIN AND LO AND BEHOLD, THEY COULD NOW DETECT IT! HOWEVER, MY CAR WAS NOW PAST THE 36 MONTH COMPREHENSIVE WARRANTY COVERAGE, SO THE REPAIR WOULD BE OUT OF POCKET. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN PULLED UP THE SERVICE BULLETIN T-SB-0318-08, DATED 10-20-2008. IT CLEARLY DESCRIBES THE PROBLEM JUST AS I HAD DESCRIBED IT TO THE TECHNICIAN, AND WAS POSTED ALMOST A YEAR BEFORE MY SECOND TRIP TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED YET, AND NOW THE CLUNK IS HEARD AND FELT WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME WILL BE IF I IGNORE THE PROBLEM INDEFINITELY. I DO KNOW THAT I AM ONE OF MANY 2006-2008 RAV OWNERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED OF THIS DEFECT ON THE INTERNET. BASED ON THIS NUMBER, TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL THE DEFECT. *TR

BRAKE BOOSTER BROKE DOWN AND REPAIR WILL COST ABOUT $1,120 DOLLARS. MY CAR IS 2007. I NEED TO DO THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR THE CAR, AND I CAN NOT PAY, AT THE SAME TIME, I CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT CAR, I WILL LOST MY JOB. I NEED HELP. RIGHT NOW THE CAR IS BEEN REPAIR AT WONDERS TOYOTA DEALER ALHAMBRA CA. *TR

UNEXPLAINED/UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION: WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED. IF MY FOOT HAD NOT ALREADY BEEN ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR WOULD HAVE SURGED FORWARD. I KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATION HAD STOPPED. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HE APPLIED THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT BUT INSTEAD THE SPEED INCREASED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,900. UPDATED 3/21/11 *CN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. UPDATED 08/22/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED AS THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND TO ANY VOICE MAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,110 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,400.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHEN SUDDENLY AN OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM A CONCUSSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,100.

ON 2007 AND 2008 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES, THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY FAIL. TOYOTA HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT DESCRIBES THE FIX: TSB 0318-08 REV1. DRIVERS WILL BEGIN TO FEEL A "THUNK" IN THE STEERING COLUMN, AND MY MECHANIC (AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP) INFORMED ME THIS WOULD BECOME A SAFETY PROBLEM IF LEFT UNFIXED. THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CAUSED BY ANY KIND OF DRIVER ERROR. RATHER, IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE STEERING COMPONENTS. ON MY 2007 RAV4, THIS PROBLEM BEGAN AT AROUND 55,000 MILES, AND WAS FIXED PER THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REFERENCED ABOVE. *TR

CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE DRIVING, TOYOTA DEALER CHECK TSB AND FOUND T-SB-0318-08. ADVISE TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WHICH COST ME TOTAL OF $834.86 INCLUDING FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM WITH 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 IN THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS LIKE ALL THE PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR IS ALL THE SAME. A RECALL SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPEND.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP DRIVING 2 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS OF 7000. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE AND PLACED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE OR DIAGNOSIS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 33,000 UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 04/25/11

TSB ST001-08 STEERING GEAR BOX SHAFT . I HAVE A SEVERE CLUNKING NOISE ON MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE NOISE APPEARS WHENEVER I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN A LITTLE BIT AND CONTINUES INDEFINITELY. I HAVE HAD THIS NOISE FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. ACCORDING TO OTHER RAV4 OWNERS, TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT WITHOUT CHARGING THE OWNERS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE NOISE STARTED AND NOW IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NO LONGER COVERED (THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 3 YEARS AGO AND HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON IT). WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON JUNE 1, 2010 FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION, THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND THE MILEAGE WAS ONLY 26496 (I PURCHASED IT ON JUNE 16, 2007). I MENTIONED TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF ANY PROBLEMS. I AM UNABLE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND DO NOT FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE TO BECAUSE IT WAS FAULTY WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, AND TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT REFUSES TO REPAIR IT (IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM, ONE THAT AFFECTS 2006 AND 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES). *TR

I OWN A 2007 RAV4 THAT HAVE KNOCKING SOUNDS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AT A COST OF $355.00. THE CAR HAS 31000 MILES AND JUST PASSED THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIR. MANY OTHER 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. 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. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 LTD 4X4 HAS AN AUDIBLE AND PHYSICAL CLUNKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING AT ANY SPEED IN EITHER DIRECTION. I BEGAN NOTICING THE SOUND AROUND 80,000 MILES AND THEN BEGAN FEELING IT AROUND 90,000. I HAD IT LOOKED AT MY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN AND WAS TOLD MY ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS DEFECTIVE BUSHINGS THAT ARE A DESIGN FLAW AND THE ENTIRE DUAL STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED FOR $820.00. I WAS ALSO TOLD IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE STEERING WILL NO LONGER BE FUNCTIONAL WHEN THE BUSHING ACTUALLY GIVE OUT. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THE HELL WOULD HAPPEN GOING 60 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY ON MY DAILY COMMUTE WHEN MY STEERING FAILS. THIS IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW BY TOYOTA, HOW ON EARTH DOES THIS NOT QUALIFY AS A SAFETY RECALL!!!?!?!?!?! *TR

ON DECEMBER 20, 2010, I WAS PULLING MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4 INTO A PARKING SPACE AT STRIP MALL. I HAD PULLED IN AND THEN BACKED UP TO PULL IN STRAIGHTER. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AS I WAS CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AND I GAVE THE CAR SOME GAS TO GET ME INTO THE SPACE. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BASE OF A LIGHT POLE. ALL THIS HAPPENED IN THE SPACE OF A FEW SECONDS AND MAYBE 10 TO 15 FEET. AFTER THE CAR WAS STOPPED, I LOOKED DOWN TO SEE IF SOMEHOW I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE GAS BUT MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE. FRIENDS AND ONLOOKERS HELPED ME UNTIL MY HUSBAND ARRIVED.LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED BUT VERY SHAKEN UP. MY HUSBAND TOOK PICTURES FROM EVERY ANGLE PLUS A VIEW OF THE FLOOR AREA AROUND THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL. THE GAS PEDAL DID NOT GET CAUGHT ON THE FLOOR MAT. I KNOW THIS WAS A CASE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. AFTER MY HUSBAND FINISHED TALKING TO OUR INSURANCE AGENT, WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHICH HAPPENED TO BE ONLY SEVERAL MILES AWAY. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR EXACTLY AS IT HAPPENED. SHE INDICATED THAT THEY ( THE DEALER ) HAD NO REPORTS OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WE ASKED THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE AS IT WAS OUR CONTENTION THAT THIS WAS NOT DRIVER ERROR. ON DECEMBER 21, THE DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED US BACK TO LET US KNOW THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE TO THE VEHICLE AS TOYOTA EXPERIENCE WOULD BE CONDUCTING

I OWN TWO 2007 RAV4S. BOTH HAVE KNOCKING SOUNDS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IN ONE OF THE CARS LAST WEEK AT A COST OF $440.00. I WILL HAVE TO DO THE SAME REPAIR ON THE SECOND RAV4 THIS WEEK. THERE ARE LESS THAN 33,000 ON EACH CAR. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPAIR. MANY OTHER 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE. 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.

STEERING HAS HAD A "CLUNKING" NOISE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. I READ ONLINE FROM NUMEROUS OTHER 2007 RAV4 OWNERS THAT TOYOTA HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0318-08 TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. MY TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED ONE OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS HAS INSTRUCTED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. REPAIRS COST ME $414.00. NOISE HAS BEEN ELIMINATED. I OWN TWO RAV4S YEAR 2007. BOTH HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WHICH SOME OF THE RAV4 OWNERS WERE EXPERIENCING AS I BROWSE THROUGH THE INTERNET I FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. I'M NOT SURE IF EVERYBODY FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS. MY CAR IS ONLY 38 MONTHS OLD AND BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. I HAVE 37000 MI ON IT. WHAT I NOTICED IS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I'M TURNING SLOWLY TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, MOSTLY WHEN I'M PARKING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT IS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL MIGHT GET STUCKED. *LN

STEERING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT - GRINDING AND BUMPING THROUGH STEERING COLUMN. *LN

POPPING AND CLUNKING SOUND AND FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL NOTICEABLE MORE AT LOW SPEEDS. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND ONE THAT TOYOTA IS FULLY AWARE OF TO THE POINT OF ISSUING SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2008 ADDRESSING THE CONCERN. THE SOLUTION IS A RE-DESIGN OF THE COLUMN COMPONENTS. THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT PASSED ON TO VEHICLE OWNERS AS APPARENTLY TOYOTA REALIZED MANY FAILURES WOULD OCCUR OR BE NOTICED BEYOND THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY PERIOD. THIS DESERVES A RECALL. A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW IN A SAFETY COMPONENT SHOULD NOT COST THE CONSUMER $700 TO $1000 TO REPAIR. NOR SHOULD IT TAKE A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS OR LOSS OF ONE LIFE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. *TR

I NOTICED A "POPPING" SOUND AND STARTED FEELING A "THUNK" IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ~ 40,000 MILES IN OUR 2007 RAV4. THE DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS TYPICAL AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. UPON CHECKING INCIDENT REPORTS I DISCOVERED IT IS CERTAINLY TYPICAL, BUT WHETHER I SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT IT IS UNDETERMINED. TOYOTA KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2008, NEITHER THEY NOR THEIR DEALERS INFORMED THE OWNERS. THE PROBLEM WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH THAT IT WARRANTED A REDESIGN OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT COMPONENTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECTIFIED THROUGH A RECALL.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SLOW DOWN IT ACCELERATED INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATE THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS A PART OF ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41000.

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 (46K MILES) STEERING MAKES POPPING AND CRACKING SOUND DURING STOPPED AND LOW SPEED TURNS. TOYOTA ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN IN OCTOBER 2008 ALLOWING FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ONLY IF CUSTOMER COMPLAINED. IT APPEARS TOYOTA WAS BETTING THE PART FAILURE WOULD OCCUR AFTER THE 3 YEAR 36K MILE WARRANTY. TOYOTA REDESIGNED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. A STEERING COMPONENT DEFECT APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WOULD WARRANT A RECALL. TOYOTA QUOTED A $480 REPAIR COST. *TR

I RECENTLY REPLACE BOTH INTERMEDIATE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT IN MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 DUE TO EXCESSIVE CLICKING NOISE AND DISTURBING FEEDBACK ON STEERING WHEEL. CAR HAS 49K MILES ON IT, NOTICE THE ISSUE AROUND 45K MILES BUT UNFORTUNATELY A LOCAL MECHANIC MISDIAGNOISED THE PROBLEM AS A TIE ROD ISSUE. AS THE NOISE AND STEERING WHEEL FEEDBACK BECAME MORE SERIOUS, I WENT TO DEALER FOR EVALUATION. GIVEN THE DANGERS AROUND LOSS OF STEERING WHEEL AND POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS CRASH, I BELIEVE THIS WEAR AND TEAM ON THE STEERING SHAFT IS WAY TO PREMATURE AT THIS AGE. I HAVE NEVER HAD STEERING WHEEL DEFECT IN OVER 8 CARS I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST 30 YEARS ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THE CAR IS NOT EVEN 4 YEARS OLD. PART REPLACED INCLUDED BOTH STEERING WHEEL SHAFT AND ASSEMBLY AT TOYOTA DEALER WITH NEW PART. *TR

THERE IS A CHRONIC CLICKING/CLUNKING SOUND ON THE STEERING COLUMN AS IT IS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT AS THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. MIGHT BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE OVER THE SHORT OR LONG TERM. DO WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH HAPPENS BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS LOOKED AT? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. HOURS LATER, HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT THE BATTERY WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. WHENEVER HE WOULD MAKE A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO MADE A "CLANKING" NOISE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,500.

KNOCKING AND BANGING NOISES WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. SOMETIMES WHEN GOING OVER MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD. MOST NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES WE NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AT 69,457 MILES WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. HE INFORMED US THE STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT $456.00 WITH A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER ASKING ABOUT A POSSIBLE STEERING DEFECT I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL MAINTENANCE. WITHOUT A REPAIR I AM AFRAID I MIGHT LOOSE MY STEERING.

LAST NIGHT, MY RAV4 BATTERY DIED DUE PRESUMABLY TO THE REAR DOOR LIGHT GETTING ACCIDENTALLY TURNED ON. UPON JUMP STARTING THE CAR, EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I DROVE IT HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THEN, THIS MORNING, THE BATTERY WAS NOT QUITE UP HIGH ENOUGH TO START THE CAR, SO I JUMP STARTED IT AGAIN. IT STARTED, BUT A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY, I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE ASSIST. IT REQUIRED EVERY OUNCE OF FORCE I COULD MUSTER TO TURN THE VEHICLE AROUND AND GET IT BACK TO MY HOUSE. THANKFULLY, THIS HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS NEAR MY HOUSE AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY LAST NIGHT OR THE CHP WOULD HAVE BEEN SCRAPING ME OFF A BRIDGE POST. THE RAV4 CANNOT REALISTICALLY BE STEERED BY AN AVERAGE PERSON WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST BECAUSE OF THE GEARING RATIO, MAKING THIS A VERY SERIOUS DESIGN DEFECT. IF A VEHICLE CANNOT SAFELY OPERATE, THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT OPERATE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT, BECAUSE THE BATTERY PLAYS AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN POWER SMOOTHING, AND BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE PUMPS ARE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED, A LOW BATTERY CAN RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKE PUMPS WHILE THE ENGINE IS STILL FUNCTIONAL. THIS CAN EASILY RESULT IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE BARRELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 80 MPH. I BELIEVE THAT FIXING THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES A FUNDAMENTAL REDESIGN OF THE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PUMPS TO ADD ADDITIONAL CAPACITORS SO THAT THE BATTERY IS NOT PLAYING SUCH A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SMOOTHING OUT THE PULSATING DC FROM THE ALTERNATOR ALONG WITH THE ADDITION

2007 TOYOTA RAV4. HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE WHILE TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT MORE AT SLOW SPEED. TOOK TO THE DEALER LAST OCT 15 AND REPLACED STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY CHARGE $520.00 FOR LABOR AND PARTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000. *TR

2007 TOYOTA RAV4. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD AFTER HITTING THE BRAKE. HE STATED WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE IT WOULD REV UP TO 2,000 RPM. HE TRIED TO GET IT DOWN BELOW 2,000 RPM BY HITTING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE AND THEN AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE STILL IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE CRASH. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, HE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND; THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER AT LOWER SPEEDS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000. UPDATED 01/11/2011*LJ UPDATED 03/02/11

AN OBVIOUS "CLUNKING" SOUND BECAME EVIDENT RIGHT AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY. IN ADDITION TO THE SOUND A "LOOSENESS" WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN IS ALSO EVIDENT. RESEARCH SHOWS THOUSANDS OF THESE REPORTED. DEALERS HAVE BEEN REPLACING PARTS TO NO AVAIL AND TO MUCH COST. THE PROBLEM CAN BE EASILY HEARD AT LOW SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING IN OR OUT OF DRIVEWAYS, INTERSECTIONS, ETC. *TR

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH APPROX 65,000MILES REQUIRING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT REPLACEMENT IN STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART IN TOYOTA CARS AS IT IS DOCUMENTED FREQUENTLY ONLINE BY TOYOTA OWNERS. A SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN SENT TO DEALERS RE THIS SITUATION. HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT ALL TOYOTA OWNERS ARE AT RISK. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 RAV 4. IN AUG 2008 IT STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE NOISE WENT AWAY. NOW IT IS OCT. 2010 AND THE NOISE IS BACK BUT VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. SEARCHING 07 RAV 4 CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN I REALIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. 1ST INCIDENT: MINOR INCIDENT ON A WED/THURS THAT I INITIALLY THOUGHT WAS JUST THE BRAKES GOING SOFT AND MENTALLY THOUGHT TO WATCH THEM TO SEE IF THEY MIGHT NEED REPLACED. 2ND MORE SERIOUS INCIDENT SUNDAY, 19SEP10: CRUISE CONTROL ON IN A 55MPH ZONE, TAPPED BRAKE GOING INTO 45MPH ZONE, USED PEDAL UNTIL NEEDING TO BRAKE FOR FULL STOP AT INTERSECTION. STARTED BRAKING AND ENGINE STARTED REVVING - HUBBY SAYS TAC REACHED 2500/3500 RPM. I WAS BUSY TRYING TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. GOT VEHICLE STOPPED AND MANAGED TO AVOID ACCIDENT. ENGINE RECOVERED AND RETURNED TO NORMAL. DROVE HOME, PARKED AND TOOK TO TOYOTA NEXT DAY. DEALER LOOKED CAR OVER AND RAN DIAGNOSTICS FOR 1.5 WKS - CALLED IN FIELD REP WHO LOOKED SOME MORE. I DROVE AROUND FOR AN HOUR WITH THE MASTER MECHANIC - COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO REPLICATE. SAME CIRCUMSTANCES FOR BOTH INCIDENTS. DEALER NOR I COULD REPLICATE IN DEALER'S PRESENCE. *TR

AFTER GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE A PLASTIC HOSE BELOW DRIVER SEAT BROKE. I REPLACED IT FROM A DEALER FOR $178. AFTER A MONTH OR SO CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND 4WD LIGHTS CAME ON. CHECKED WITH DEALER AND SEEMS SOME PROBLEM WITH THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER. AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS AROUND $1200. I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS MUCH DAMAGE JUST BY DRIVING THE CAR IN A PUDDLE? VERY BAD QUALITY FROM TOYOTA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THERE WAS A PRONOUNCED CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDANT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDING REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE TWO INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS IN THE VEHICLE IN WHICH BOTH WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 12/16/11*LJ UPDATED 01/20/12

KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN OF 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. HAPPENS WHEN TRUCK IS MOVING AND TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. *TR

I BOUGHT A NEW 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 AT THE END OF THE MODEL YEAR. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND THE CAR SHOOK AND MADE NOISES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES AND SAID IT SCORED THE DRUM AND THEY HAD TO BE TURNED AT 33,000 APPROX MILES, UNDER WARRANTY AS IT WAS DEFECTIVE PARTS. BUT THE REAR BRAKES WERE SUPPOSE TO BE FINE. THIS IS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR LATER AND AT 47,000 MILES AND I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH EVERY 5000 MILE OIL CHANGE AND TOLD THEY WERE GOOD. LAST WEEK I WAS GOING DOWN A STEEP GRADE AND THE BRAKES WERE A MAJOR PROBLEM AND I COULD HARDLY STOP MY CAR, THE BRAKES GRABBED, THE CAR SHOOK AND WAS HARD TO STEER AND I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES, ETC.. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT ONLY BAD BUT SCORED THE DRUMS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM HAVING TO PAY OVER $200.00 FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, PLUS I HAD A PASSENGER AND IT WAS SCARY. I HAVE HAD SPECIAL DRIVER TRAINING SO I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND, THANK GOD, BUT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND THE DEALER HAS SO FAR TAKEN NO RESPONSIBILITY. TOYOTA IS WAITING FOR A REPLY???FROM THE DEALER. I FEEL THIS SHOULD ALL BE REPORTED FOR SAFETY AND CONSUMER AWARENESS REASONS. *TR