Page 4 of 7 · complaints 151–200 of 307

2017 Toyota RAV4 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2017 record →

Steering
Filed Dec 27, 202130,000 milesWI

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument cluster failed, which caused the speedometer and RPM gauge to be inoperable. Additionally, the power steering assist failed, and the steering wheel was locked up. The failure occurred on four separate occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and Toyota of Brookfield (20655 W Capitol Dr, Brookfield, WI 53045) however, the dealers could not duplicate the failure. Toyota of Brookfield informed the contact that there was a Manufacturer's Campaign Number: 21TG01 (Electrical System) associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at Toyota of Brookfield. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 24, 2021VA

I purchased my 2017 Rav-4, brand new off the lot the end of 2017. On October 2018 my car battery was dead. NO prior indications of problems, No indicator lights. I had it towed to the dealership, they stated it was a bad cell in the battery and installed a new one. Then on Nov. 2020, once again had a dead battery, again no prior warning. I called and got a jump, took the car back to the dealership, they checked it and said I must have left a light on all night because it was completely drained. They put a 3.5 hour charge on it, check the charging system and said all was fine. Then again on 10-19-21 the battery was dead again. At that point I was pissed and just went to the parts store to get a new battery. Upon opening my hood to replace the battery I found so much corrosion on the top of the battery, cleaned it off the best I could, upon disconnecting the battery positive terminal I found the post had lifted out of the battery causing the corrosion all over the battery. I went to the dealership, they told me they were not responsible for corrosion, they did what they call a corrosion maintenance to clean the terminal, offered me a $55 credit because they said the battery was 3 years old and they would have to prorate it. Which they hadn't as of 10-23-2021. It was a 84 month battery. While there they also said my oil pan gasket was seeping and would need replaced and the front brakes will need replaced soon. I haven't even had the car 4 years, it has 15,300 miles approximatel

Electrical System
Filed Oct 18, 2021GA

The door does not lock/unlock when you press the button to unlock doors.The individual lock on inside needs to be manually pressed to lock and unlock. My Passenger side went about two years ago. And now the lever on my driver side is not working.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 9, 2021AR

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ALL FRONT HEADLAMPS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY LEAVING ME IN THE DARK. DEALER NEXT DAY FOUND BOTH FRONT HEADLAMP BULBS HAD BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAM FILAMENTS BURNED OUT! THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT BUT FOR MY FOG LIGHTS. HOW CAN ANYONE FEEL SAFE IN A VEHICLE IN WHICH ALL LIGHTS MIGHT FAIL WHILE DRIVING UNLIT CURVY ROADWAYS?

Electrical System
Filed Sep 8, 2021AR

Upon starting the car at night both headlights failed to go on. Only the fog lights would work. Headlights failed in both auto and manual mode.

Power Train
Filed Aug 9, 2021NY

While driving around 70-75 mph, I took my foot off gas pedal to coast, the "EV" light came on and off for about "1/2 - 1" second several times. I experienced a strong shaking, vibration, and a feeling that the car may be broken out by itself. It was very noticeable and troubling. If I waited the second for the light to go off while coasting, then no problems. It is not easy to recreate it constantly, so when I tried to show the problem to some mechanics. It could not appear. I have found many same complaints online from many years ago. But it seems no solutions yet. Dealers usually says if they cannot see/experience it, they cannot consider it is an issue. So it seems no one takes any actions to try to solve this issue.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jun 12, 2021AZ

I bought my Rav4 in September of 2017 brand new and within 6 months I had a dead battery needing replacement so I replaced it via AAA. Since then, I have had the battery replaced an additional 3 times! I always serviced my car at the dealer and took very good care of it. Then after 50k miles, I started having odd lighting issues…both headlight bulbs had to be replaced within 3 weeks of each other and one high beam bulb, and then my tail lights went out! Then I would occasionally have trouble starting the car and with a natural gas smell, rotten eggs. Which could be a catalytic converter or fuel pump issue but can also be the battery. Well, my Rav was in the driveway with a dead battery and with no tail lights and had been sitting there for a month since I mainly drive our Sienna.My Rav just caught on fire and was completely destroyed. No one was hurt but if the Sienna had been out there it would’ve caught on fire and it burned the garage door…Rav totaled! I also had a very expensive brake job last year and think those are faulty too. But this fire….was bad and I can’t get a car of equal value with what i received for the total loss. What is Toyota doing about this? Less than 4 yr old well taken cared of Rav 4 XLE that I paid cash for and now can’t even replace with a Corolla! There were no warning lights ever, not even for the dead battery’s. And less than 6 months prior to the fire, it was serviced at my Toyota dealer and they said all was good. The firemen that came also to

Engine
Filed May 31, 2021MD

Recurring Problems with AWD Malfunction, Engine Light On. Contacted Toyota two month ago, No reply from Toyota; Description of Complaints: On March 19, 2021, I was driving my Rav4 (VIN[XXX] ) to go to Toledo Ohio. During the driving, the AWD System Malfunction/2WD Mode Engaged and the Engine Light came on (see attached). Interestingly, the warning lights came on and off three to four times and each time I felt a drag/hesitation as if the gear was changed from 4WD to 2WD (Exhibit 1) . It advised me to visit the Toyota Dealer. After arriving Toledo, OH I visited Jim White Toyota Dealer next morning and explained the situation. The dealership was very cordial and helpful. Unfortunately, they did not record any malfunctioning Code (Exhibit 2). While returning home on March 21, 2021, the AWD warning light did not come on. A few days later, these warning lights came on again, and that forced me to visit the local Toyota Dealer, Fitzgerald, for inspection again. They diagnosed the problem to Code P0456 (Exhibits 3-4). This code refers to “…that there is a small leak in the evaporative emission control system.” Today (05/31/2021), after two repairs at Fitzgerald Toyota, Gaithersburg, The "AWD malfunction came back on with the engine light on again. The code reads: P043Eand F;P2401,P2402 and P2419. Please ask Toyota to address this problem and make it as part of recall to fix this problem. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Electrical System
Filed May 23, 2021WA

We purchased this Toyota RAV4 car new in 2017, for our daughter. It has driven problem free, until the car was 3 years and 3 months old. At 3 years and 3 months from purchase, in October, 2020, my daughter took it into the Toyota dealership, in the morning, for a routine oil change. She hasn't had any problems with the car, and has only had it serviced at the Toyota dealership. She drove it in, and got a ride home, and was waiting for the call to come pick up her car. In the afternoon, the dealership called to say her 2017 RAV4 have severe engine damage from the batter exploding, while it had been sitting at the dealership. They told her it was 3 months past the warranty, and Toyota wouldn't pay for any repairs. It sat at Toyota for a week, until our auto insurance representative went and looked. He called us to say that: " he had never seen soo much engine damage." He told us that our auto insurance was -- "totaling the car, that the engine was unrepairable, and that they were going to take it to the auto dump." Our insurance company hauled it away, and determined its remaining value and paid us, in October, 2020. My daughter chose a new car, we purchased it for her, with the insurance money, covering part of the purchase. It cost us thousands more, to cover the cost of the new replacement car. I told my daughter that we had bought her a "dud of a gift", and would pay for the new car. Our auto insurance confirmed what the dealership said, that the battery had exploded.

Wheels
Filed May 11, 202113,900 milesFL

ON RAINY DAYS, WHEN I AM STANDING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AND STARTING TO GET OUT OF THE GREEN LIGHT, MY CAR BECOMES UNSTABLE, AS IF IT WERE GOING TO SKID. THIS HAPPENS WHENEVER THE STREET IS WET. REPORT THIS PROBLEM FROM THE FIRST INSPECTION OF THE CAR. AT THAT TIME THEY CHANGED AN AXIS, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS

Power Train
Filed Apr 22, 202139,000 milesVA

VEHICLE ONCE STATIONERY PUT BACK IN DRIVE AND TRY GOING AHEAD MAKES A NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT CV AXLE HAD TAKEN IT TO STEVEN TOYOTA VA, THEY CAME BACK SAYING IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE THROUGH TOYOTA

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 20, 20212,862,412 milesCA

THE VEHICLE IS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. WHEN I GO TO TURN IT MAKES A CRACKING NOISE.

Engine
Filed Apr 20, 202137,000 milesNY

TOOK MY 2017 RAV4 LE TO TOYOTA FOR SHAKING/VIBRATING AT STOPLIGHT WHEN FULLY WARMED UP. IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME I STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THEY CANNOT FIND ANY FAULTS OR CODES RELATED TO THE ISSUE AND CLAIM EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL AT EVERY LIGHT. HOWEVER THEY DID TELL ME THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE ON ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE LOT WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE, BUT THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. SEEMS TO BE ON ALL 2017 RAV4 LE'S NOT JUST MINE.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 13, 202145,472 milesMD

THREE DAYS AGO, I PARKED MY 2017 RAV4 LIMITED IN MY DRIVEWAY, STOPPED THE ENGINE, GOT OUT, LOCKED THE DOOR AND WENT IN TO MY HOUSE. SEVERAL HOURS LATER I WENT OUTSIDE AND FOUND MY RAV4 RUNNING. FOR HOW LONG I DON'T KNOW. I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE DONE SOMETHING INCORRECT. NOW BEING VERY CAREFUL ABOUT SHUT DOWN PROCEDURE, YESTERDAY I PARKED THE RAV4 IN THE SAME DRIVEWAY. TWO HOURS LATER, I WENT OUSIDE TO CHECK AND AGAIN FOUND THE RAV4 RUNNING, WITH THE LIGHTS ON. I FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS ON-LINE ABOUT OTHERS HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH THEIR RAV4S. I CALLED SEVERAL TOYOTA DEALERS TO REPORT THE INCIDENT AND SEE IF THEY HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER CUSTOMERS. NONE DID. IT APPEARS THAT I CAN'T BE CONFIDENT THAT MY RAV4 WILL BE WHEREVER I PARKED IT WHEN I RETURN TO IT.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 31, 202180,000 milesIL

WHILE STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT, MY RAV4 COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AND THE DASHBOARD FLASHED THE WARNING "CHARGING MALFUNCTION; SEE OWNER'S MANUAL". I TOOK MY RAV4 TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY RAN A FULL INSPECTION AND FOUND ZERO ISSUES. IT HAS HAPPENED ONCE SINCE, AS WELL. I BELIEVE IT TO BE RELATED TO THE OVERARCHING TOYOTA RAV4 BATTERY/ELECTRICAL ISSUE AS LISTED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Mar 17, 202175,000 milesIL

ALL EXTERIOR LIGHTS: HEADLIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS TURN SIGNALS ETC. HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST TWICE IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS AND 75K MILES OF USE. I WAS TOLD THAT PERHAPS THE PROBMEM IS THAT THE AREA AROUND TBE BULBS IS TOO SMALL CAUSING THEM TO OVER HEAT, WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS

EngineFire
Filed Mar 10, 202150,000 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED IT TOTALED. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER JAY WOLFE TOYOTA OF WEST COUNTY ( 14700 MANCHESTER RD, BALLWIN, MO 63011) AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 5, 202130,798 milesRI

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND SUDDENLY THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I COULD NOT STEER OR MOVE. AFTER A MOMENT I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR AND PROCEED HOME. THAT WAS THE ONLY TIME IT HAS HAPPENED AND IT OCCURRED IN OCTOBER OF 2020. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC A FEW DAYS LATER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. INVOICE IS ATTACHED.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 5, 2021SC

WHILE I WAS AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY LET ME KNOW MY BATTERY KEPT COMING BACK WEAK . I HAVE ALSO NOTICED HOW MY CAR SEEMS TO ALMOST STALL OUT SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING . IT HASN'T BUT THIS MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS WHILE DRIVING

Electrical System
Filed Mar 2, 202190,000 milesTX

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SHEET FOR ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY 2 TIMES IN 3 YEARS AS WELL. I HAVE NEW BATTERY AND IT BECAME CORRODED FAST. MY CAR KEPT TELLING ME THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND ALL OF THE FAILS LED TO THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 2, 202175,000 milesTX

MY CAR WAS JUMPED STARTED BY AAA MY CAR SPARKED MY FUSR BOX WAS BLOWN OUT HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP MY FUSE BOX WAS BLOWN AND MY HEATER AND AIR BLOWER WAS NOT WORKING IT WAS AT MY RESIDENCE

Exterior Lighting
Filed Feb 14, 202115,300 milesWY

VEHICLE HAS BOTH EXTREMELY POOR DOWNROAD AND SIDEROAD ILLUMINATION. VERY HARD TO SEE ANIMALS STANDING BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT NIGHT, RESULTING IN SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH LARGE DEER. UPGRADING THE FACTORY BULBS MADE LITTLE TO NO DIFFERENCE.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 12, 202143,000 milesCA

THE 2017 RAV4 THAT I OWN BEGAN HAVING FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEMS IN JULY OF 2017. THE CAR WOULD STALL WHEN IT CAME TO A STOP OR IT WOULD STALL SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING AND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WOULD THEN SMELL OF GASOLINE. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER 3 TIMES TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE. FIRST THE DEALER CLEANED THE FUEL INJECTORS AND THROTTLE BODY AND A FEW WEEKS LATER THE PROBLEM RETURNED. ON THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS FUEL IN THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. THE CANISTER WAS REPLACE AND LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE PROBLEM RETURNED. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER IN OCTOBER OF 2020 AGAIN AND THEY SAID THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AGAIN HAS GASOLINE IN IT. THIS TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK AND CHARCOAL CANISTER. SINCE OCTOBER OF 2020 THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 1600 MILES AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2021. AGAIN THE DEALER FOUND GASOLINE IN THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. ON FEBRUARY 9, 2021 TOYOTA CORPORATE INSTRUCTED THEM TO AGAIN REPLACE THE FUEL TANK, CHARCOAL CANISTER ALONG WITH THE FUEL GAGE AND OTHER RELATED PARTS. I WAS ASKED BY THE DEALER IF WE WERE OVERFILLING THE FUEL TANK, I ASSURED THEM THAT WE WERE NOT AS WE DISCONTINUE ADDING FUEL WHEN THE PUMP SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY. I WAS ALSO ASKED IF WE PARK THE CAR ON A SLOPE TO THIS I SAID YES BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A HILLY AREA. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY 2017 AND PARKING THE CAR ON A HILLY STREET WAS NEVER A PROBLEM. AT PRESENT WE ARE WAITING ON PARTS FROM TOYOTA.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 9, 20219,978 milesNJ

MY CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW ON JUNE 24, 2017. IT HAD TWO TIMES SERIOUS GAS LEAKAGES. 4/29/2019, 1ST. TIME, MILEAGE WAS 9,967, I PAID $837.72, FOR REPLACING THE 'CHARCOAL CANISTER' AND I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT UNDER TOYOTA FACTORY WARRANTY BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP & HEADQUARTERS CENTER IN DALLAS, TX. 7/01/2019, 2ND. TIME GAS LEAKAGE, MILEAGE WAS 10,691, MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SAME TOYOTA SERVICE FOR THE SAME GAS LEAKAGE ISSUE AGAIN... FINALLY, TOYOTA REPLACED 'CHARCOAL CANISTER' FOR THE 2ND. TIME, AND OTHER SYSTEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE GAS LEAKAGE WITH NO CHARGE. BOTH GAS LEAKAGE ARE ALL THE SAME, 60 DAYS APART, WERE ALL FROM THE REAR, BOTTOM, DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR, THERE WAS A GAS PUDDLE ON MY INCLINED DRIVEWAY. AFTER I CHECKED TOYOTA OWNER'S WARRANTY RIGHTS NOTIFICATION BOOKLETS - FEDERAL EMISSION CONTROL WARRANTY ' 'CHARCOAL CANISTER' IS CLEARLY UNDER TOYOTA WARRANTY PARTS LIST ' WITHIN 3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES. APPARENTLY, TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID MODEL -'GAS LEAKAGE' CAUSED BY DEFECTED EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM, CAN'T PARKING ON INCLINED OR UPHILL DRIVEWAY WITH MORE THAN HALF TANK OF GAS. I CALLED AND SENT TWO CLAIM LETTERS DATED ON 6/25/2019 AND 8/26/2019, REQUEST TOYOTA REFUND MY $837.72 ' FOR 1ST. TIME REPAIRED COST THAT PAID ON 5/7/2019. TOYOTA HAS DECLINED MY CLAIMS, REFUSED REFUNDING MY PAYMENT OF $837.72, WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA'S UNETHICAL, FRAUD NOTES ON THE INVOICE ' SO CALLED 'GAS IS OVERFILLED'. TOYOTA SHIRKS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CUSTOMER IN ORDER NOT COVER THE VEHICLE D

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 5, 202160,251 milesNJ

LAST SPRING HAD $700.00 BRAKE JOB ON MY DAUGHTERS CAR AT TOYOTA DEALER WE HAVE DELT WITH FOR YEARS.I HAPPEN TO DRIVE IT ONE DAY AND FOUND BRAKES SPONGY AND WENT WITHIN ONE INCH OF FLOOR TO STOP. JUST DROVE AGAIN AND SAME PROBLEM !. IS THIS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH MASTER CYLINDER !

Air BagsCrash
Filed Feb 3, 202168,240 milesWV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ON A GREEN LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE WAS CONTACTED FOR THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT FROM UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SOUGHT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION SHOP BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. T MOSES TOYOTA (1433 MACCORKLE AVE, SAINT ALBANS, WV 25177, (304) 727-7777) WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE HOWEVER, INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE NHTSA AND THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,240.

Engine
Filed Jan 23, 202160,000 milesOH

FROM A STOP OR SLOW MOVE, SOMETIMES WHEN I HAVE TO PULL AHEAD QUICKLY, AS TO GO BEFORE AN ONCOMING CAR, THE ENGINE WILL LOSE POWER AND NOT ACCELERATE AS INTENDED.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 202144,000 milesPA

BACK HATCH IS FROZEN AND WILL NOT OPEN. AT FIRST IT OPENED A FEW INCHES, NOW IT DOESN'T OPEN AT ALL. JUST PURCHASED THIS USED VEHICLE IN JUNE! VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR.*JB

Service Brakes
Filed Jan 3, 202143,000 milesCO

I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER SINCE BUYING THE VEHICLE AND WHILE UNDER WARRANTY ABOUT THE BRAKES. I ALMOST GOT MYSELF KILL ON HIGHWAY I25 BECAUSE THE BRAKES FAILED TOTALLY HAVING TO RESORT TO PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR THE REPAIR WHEN I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING FOR MONTHS. IF I DIE, TOYOTA WILL BE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY, I LEFT MY CART AT LARRY MILLER TOYOTA AND WILL ACQUIRE A LAWYER. I AM THE WIDOW OF A DECORATED MILITARY MEMBER. IF HE WAS HERE, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING. I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Nov 23, 202024,000 milesNC

2017 TOYOTA RAV4 LE ISSUES. THERE IS QUITE A LOT OF ROAD NOISE ESPECIALLY DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE COULD BE INSULATED BETTER. THE PRIMARY ISSUE IS WITH THE WIPERS. THE SPEED SETTINGS ARE NOT REFINED ENOUGH. THE SETTING CAUSE THE WIPERS TO EITHER BE TOO FAST OR SLOW DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF RAIN EXPERIENCE. ALSO, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WIPERS THAT DO NOT CAUSE THE ANNOYING LOUD STUTTER/RUBBNG NOISE. I HAVE TRIED ALL THE DIFFERENT TOP OF THE LINE BRANDS WITH NO SUCCESS. RAINX, MICHELIN, BOSCH, AND TRICO.

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 13, 202067,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, HE HAD REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH ALL SEASON TIRES. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON A RAINY DAY, A TRUCK BEGAN TO MERGE INTO HIS LANE. AS THE CONTACT BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WHICH CAUSED HIS VEHICLE TO VEER INTO THE LEFT LANE AND HIT THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NEITHER HIMSELF OR THE OTHER DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD RECENTLY STARTED TO EXPERIENCE PAIN IN HIS RIGHT CHEST. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAULTY ABS SYSTEM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 10, 20205,000 milesUT

WITH RAIN AND SNOW THE SENSOR START BEEPING AND WARNING OF OBJECTS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THERE ARE NOTHING. DRIVING IN SNOW GETS THE SENSORS BLOCKED AND YOU CANT USE THE CRUISE CONTROL.

Engine
Filed Oct 31, 202021,950 milesCO

AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN COLD WEATHER, WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS AT RED LIGHT/STOP SIGNS RPM DROPS TO 400-500 RESULTING IN NOTICEABLE SHAKING LIKE THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO STALL. I'M AFRAID THE VEHICLE MY STALL IN THE FUTURE.

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 30, 202030,000 milesMA

MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA SITE (123+) OF RAV4 BRAKE PROBLEMS (EARLY REPLACEMENT AT LOW MILEAGE AND BRAKE FAILURES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS). TOYOTA HAS BEEN IGNORING THE ISSUE. WHY HAVE THERE BEEN NO RECALLS? OUR BRAKES ARE GOING SOFT AT 30,00 MILES (4 YEARS) AND THE DEALER SAYS WE NEED FRONT AND BACK REPLACEMENTS. OTHER COMPLAINERS NOTED THE NEED FOR FREQUENT AND REPEATED REPLACEMENTS.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 24, 202050,109 milesOR

MY HUSBAND HAD DRIVEN THE CAR AND HAD THOUGHT HE HAD PUSHED THE IGNITION BUTTON TO "OFF". HE THEN CLOSED THE GARAGE DOOR AND LEFT OUR HOME FOR A WALK. WHEN I CAME HOME A FEW HOURS LATER AND OPENED GARAGE DOOR THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND FILLING OUR GARAGE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE. THIS POINTS TO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH OUR HYBRID TOYOTA , UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING AMISS WITH OUR CAR, WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE IS THE CASE. SPECIFICALLY, THE ENGINE CAN BE LEFT ON AND THE CAR MAKES NO SOUND MUCH OF THE TIME WHEN IT IS PARKED. I CAN JUST IMAGINE A PARENT LIKE ME LEAVING AN INFANT SLEEPING AND UNATTENDED IN A CLOSED GARAGE WHILE THEY GO INSIDE. IF THE CAR WINDOWS ARE LEFT OPEN HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR A TRAGIC ENDING TO THIS SCENARIO.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 16, 202015,087 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT'S PARENTS OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL, WHEN HE NOTICED YELLOW FLUID UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER TOYOTA OF HOLLYWOOD FL LOCATED AT 1841 FL-7, HOLLYWOOD, FL 33021, (866) 332-6839, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE BATTERY TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY ACID LEAKED AND DAMAGE SEVERAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,087.

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 6, 2020100,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TRUNK, THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE PART. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 21, 2020WA

FAN BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE A/C BROKE DOWN AROUND 50,000 KMS, THIS IS A PREMATURE BREAK DOWN. I DID'NT GET A CHANCE TO BRING IT FOR REPAIR UNTIL MY ODIMETER REACHED 70,000KMS SO THE DEALERSHIP DECLINED THE WARRANTY REPAIR.

Exterior Lighting
Filed Sep 5, 202025,690 milesSC

AUTO-HIGH BEAM DOESN'T FUNCTION NORMALLY AT TIMES. AUTO-HIGH BEAM ICON GOES OFF AT RANDOM, EVEN THOUGH THE LEVER IS PUSHED FORWARD AND THE HEADLIGHT STALK IS IN THE 'AUTO' POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE HIGH BEAMS TO BE INOPERABLE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SET TO 'AUTO.'

EngineFire
Filed Aug 11, 202066,500 milesCO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED, WARNING MESSAGES BEGAN TO DISPLAY ON THE DASH SCREEN; BEFORE WHITE SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER LARRY MILLER TOYOTA (2465 48TH CT. BOULDER, CO 80301) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,500.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 2, 202029,000 milesNJ

WHEN STARTING AND PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT AND TURNING, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED IN A SUBURBAN SETTING. NO HYBRID BATTERY POWER OR GAS POWER WAS AVAILABLE. ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS WAS SUDDEN AND THERE WAS NO HESITATION ON ACCELERATION OR INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS PRIOR. IN TRAFFIC, HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT. WORKED OK AFTER THAT. THE CAR HAS 29,000 MILES AND IS SERVICED REGULARLY.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 28, 202036,000 milesTX

IT WAS ABOUT 6:05 AM. I WAS DRIVING ON 288 HIGHWAY IN PEARLAND, TEXAS. THERE WAS LIGHT RAIN. I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG ON THE ROOF AND SOUNDED OF GLASS SUBSTANCE RUNNING THE THE BACK OF THE ROOF. THAT NOISE FREAKED ME OUT, BUT I COULD STILL KEEP DRIVING TO MY WORK.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jul 27, 202060,000 milesSC

I CALLED UP TO MY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY AIR CONDITIONING HAS BEEN ACTING UP. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY AFTER I'VE DRIVEN MY CAR FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES. THE AIR SLOWLY STOPS BLOWING OUT. WHEN TURNING THE AIR COMPLETELY OFF SOMETIMES IT WILL BLOW OUT FULLY AND OTHER TIMES IT WON'T BLOW OUT AT ALL. UPON SPEAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY SEE THIS OFTEN AND KNEW WITHOUT A DOUBT IT WAS MY BLOWER MOTOR AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME MORE THAN $300.00

Power Train
Filed Jul 22, 20204,200 milesNY

WHEN DRIVING AT 25 MPH TO 40 MPH MY VEHICLE STARTS TO SHUDDER. I CAN HEAR IT AS IF IT IS COMING UP FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE. IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME BUT IT OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK. THE SHUDDER OCCURS WHEN DRIVING ON A SUBURBAN STREET GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD.

EngineFire
Filed Jun 3, 202024,500 milesTX

I HAD OWN 2017 TOYOTA RAV4LE FOR LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND LESS THEN 25000 MILE, WE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO HAVE A SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEM AT ALL, OVERALL IT WAS GOOD DRIVING CAR. HOWEVER, ON 5/4/2020, I PARKED MY CAR AT PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF ENGINE. I HEARD GENTLE CLICK CLICK TWO SOUND, DO NOT REALIZED IT WAS FROM MY CAR (OTHER PEOPLE WAS UNLOAD STUFF). I OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR GET READY TO OFF MY CAR AND GO. I SMELLED RUBBER BURNING. I LOOK AROUND AND SEE MY ENGINE HAD LIGHT SMOKE CAME OUT FROM ENGINE, THEN BECAME DARKER SMOKE, AND FOLLOW BY FIRE. I CALLED 911, THEY SEND A FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OFF THE FIRE FOR ME. MY TOYOTA RAV4 LE WAS ALL BURNED BY UNKNOWN REASON. I DO NOT SMOKE, I PAID OFF MY CAR AND I HAVE NO FINANCIAL GAIN TO HAVE CAR BURN. I JUST WANT TO WARNING OTHER OWNER, IT COULD HAPPENED TO YOU, I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO WORK OUT FROM MY BURNING VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT TOYOTA DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ABLE TO HONOR SUCH WARRANTY, ASKED ME CALL HEADQUARTER, I TRIED TO EMAIL BUT AFTER I UPLOAD PICTURES AND IT WAS SUDDENLY INTERCEPTED IN THE CLOUD-DISAPPEAR. I AM REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO WARNING OTHERS. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed May 22, 202015,000 milesCT

WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD FORCING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES FORTUNATELY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ONLY TWICE, 9/4/2018 AND 11/2 2019. IN BOTH CASES THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THIS IS BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER . IF I DON'T APPLY THE BRAKES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, I WILL HIT THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE A NORMAL SIZE FOOT - SIZE 10 SHOE. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CAR I DO NOT ALLOW MY WIFE OR GROWN CHILDREN TO DRIVE IT. THE CAR IS LEASED AND EXPIRES SEPT 1ST OF THIS YEAR. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF IT *TR

Service Brakes
Filed May 21, 2020AZ

WATER PUMP LEAK I BELIEVE STARTED AROUND 21,000 MILES.ALONG WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF FRONT BRAKE PADS I COMPLAINED OF RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF CAR WITH SQUEALING NOISE POSSIBLE DRIVE BELT OR DIRTY ROTOR. AT ONE POINT BOTH FRONT ROTORS SLIGHTLY WARM TO TOUCH AFTER 45 MIN CITY DRIVE HOME, ANOTHER TIME RIGHT ROTOR HOT AND LEFT SLIGHTLY WARM. THEY REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS NOT CHECKING CALIPERS OR HOSE AND JUST PUT ON BRAKE PADS AND SAID RIGHT TIRE WORN AND REPLACED BOTH AND SAID IT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER A FEW DAYS TOYOTA REP AND TOLD HIM THE SAID INTERMITTENT SQUEALING SOMEWHAT GRIND NOISE WAS BACK. NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY I REPORTED TO CORPORATE AND WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER TO DO DIAGNOSTIC CHECKING CALIPERS AND FOUND NOTHING. AROUND 50,000 MILES I FOUND POWDER NEXT TO DRIVE BELT. THEY DISCOVERED IT WAS A LEAKING WATER PUMP AND REPLACED MY PUMP AND DRIVE BELT. 41/2 MONTHS LATER THE CAR HAD SAME SQUEALING NOW RUBBER SOUND ADDED, STEERING STIFFER AND HISSING SOUND CAME FROM FRONT OF ENGINE AT LIGHT. TOOK IN AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG IN ENTIRE DAY 8 HRS. I DROVE AWAY AND BY THIRD LIGHT SQUEALING FOR 25 MINS AND NEIGHBORS HEARD ME COMING,ONE COUPLE REPORTED LOUD AT FRONT RIGHT TIRE. I REPORTED THAT IMMEDIATELY TO [XXX] AT PRECISION THAT MY CAR WAS WORSE AND TURNING STEERING WHEEL RIGHT AND LEFT IS NOW HAPPENING AS NEIGHBOR REPORTED BUT NO RETURN CALL. THIS CAR SOUND TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT BRAKING AT LIGHT AND HITTING GAS AT LIGHT ON CITY STREETS DRIVE AT 40-50 MILES PER HR.BUT USU

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 17, 202018,500 milesVA

2017 RAV 4 STRUCK A CONCRETE LIGHT POST IN PARKING LOT. CAR WAS MOVING FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, IMPACTED DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND FENDER. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO COLLISION ALARM SOUNDED. ENTIRE FRONT PANEL DESTROYED, MAJOR ELECTRICAL SENSOR DAMAGE, DRIVER'S DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN. HOOD DAMAGED. SUSPENSION BENT. DRIVER SUFFERED MAJOR BRUISING AND CHEST PAIN. BOTH ELBOWS IMPACTED SOMETHING IN COLLISION. *TR

Seats
Filed Mar 19, 202035,400 milesAZ

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST RISES APPROX. 2-1/2 TO 3 INCHES FROM LOWEST POSITION DURING THE NORMAL COURSE OF DRIVING. I DO NOT ADJUST THE HEIGHT OF THE HEADREST, EVER, OTHER THAN TO CORRECT THIS UNUSUAL PHENOMENON. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY AND REPEATEDLY IN AS LITTLE AS 10-15 MILES DRIVING OVER PAVED, SMOOTH ROADS WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS RANGING FROM 45-75MPH. HAS HAPPENED SPORADICALLY SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW, BUT HAPPENS REGULARLY AND CONSISTENTLY NOW. INTERESTINGLY, THIS SAME PHENOMENON HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER TOYOTAS I PURCHASED NEW, NAMELY MY 2006 COROLLA AND 2008 COROLLA LE. NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT BEING A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE UNTIL I SAW IT RECURRING ON MY 2017 RAV4. DEALER IS EXPERIMENTING ON FIX BY REPLACING ADJUSTMENT BUTTONS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS, AT MY EXPENSE (JUST RETURNED FROM LONG ROAD TRIP AND TOOK VEHICLE TO TOYOTA AT 264 MILES PAST END OF 36K WARRANTY) BUT COULD NOT HAVE SERVICED ON THE ROAD. UNFORTUNATELY, DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND MAY INVOLVE MORE EXTENSIVE WORK (ALSO AT MY EXPENSE) IF BUTTON REPLACEMENT DOES NOT WORK.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Mar 11, 202016,000 milesWA

WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2020, I SMELLED SMOKE. I LOOKED AT THE TEMPERATURE ON THE DASHBOARD AND IT SHOWED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WAS A LITTLE BELOW THE MIDDLE LINE INDICATING THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HOT. I CONTINUED DRIVING FOR A COUPLE MORE BLOCKS AND CONTINUED TO SMELL SMOKE SO ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER INTO A PARKING LOT. WHEN I TRIED TO PULL OVER, THE VEHICLE STOPPED ON ITS OWN SO I WAS HALF WAY BETWEEN THE STREET AND PARKING LOT. I SAW SMOKE COME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. ABOUT TWO MINUTES LATER, FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2017 Toyota RAV4 → · Every RAV4 year → · How the figures are calculated →