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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
109,162 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Toyota RAV4 steering problems

steering problem

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2005 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments

problem #8

Jan 112021

RAV4

  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving at or under the speed limit on some turns my cars slip indicator goes off without any apparent issues and it will start beeping and sometimes it even breaks on it's own and jerks the car. The slip indicator light has turned one while driving under 30 mph in a dry and paved road. The beeping and jerking has happened on the freeway

- Oxnard, CA, USA

problem #7

Jan 282019

RAV4

  • 195,000 miles
I am having an issue with my 2005 Rav4 that has become so frequent that I no longer feel safe operating the vehicle. When I am driving between 30-50 mph, and the road makes a slight curve, my vsc warning light comes on and I loose steering control until I remove foot from accelerator. Issue began: April 2018, and happened about 2-3 times a month. Since then, it has gradually increased to at least once each time I drive. Apr-Nov, mostly occurred on same slight right curve uphill section of road. It's still mostly that, but now it also happens when the curve is to the left, or downhill the speed limit is 50 mph with constant moderate to heavy traffic weekdays about 4 ' 6 P.M. I accelerate uphill as I make a slight right curve, and suddenly, the car does the following: I will loose control of the steering and the vsc warning light comes on. When I take my foot off the accelerator, the vsc light turns off and I regain control of the steering. When I apply the gas, the same thing happens again. The severity of the loss of steering control seems to depend upon what part of the curve I am in. As the road is still slightly curving to the right, the car's ability to accelerate greatly diminishes. Therefore, I am forced to drive 35-40 mph, which creates an accident prone scene for myself and the drivers behind me that are traveling 50-55 mph. My commute to work, I'm driving West & this recently started downhill, the problem occurs after the hill where there is a slight curve to the right. Also, when this occurs at night, my headlights will dim at the same moment and for the same length of time the vsc light comes on. Since November, this issue occurs if the road curves either right or left, uphill or down hill, but more often uphill. Occasionally, I will also hear a beep while the light is on, but this has only happened maybe five or six times.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #6

Dec 012008

RAV4

  • 49,960 miles
"takata recall" I was in a car accident on 12/01/18 and I suffered several severe injuries. I suspect the airbag went off and caused me to crash. Perfect storm on paperwork and my car sat windows up in heat for 2 weeks accident happened 1st day back in my car, please contact me for info [xxx] in motion I found vehicle its not where carfax says it is. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Fairless Hills, PA, USA

problem #5

May 312017

RAV4

  • 203,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When driving 25-30 mph and going around curves at low speed the car breaks hard and feels like it's going out of control. It is very scary because the vehicle is in motion doing 25-30 mph. This is happening more often at least three times this week. This has happened on freeway and on residential streets while going around curves and not going fast at all..

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #4

Dec 032015

RAV4

  • 185,232 miles
I've been having an intermittent issue with my 2005 rav 4. when exiting a highway on a sweeping right curve exit ramp, the vehicle stability control light will start to flash and an audible beep can be heard in the cabin. This usually indicates the car is in a skid but I assure you I am in full control of the vehicle, in its lane. After 2 to 3 seconds of constant beeping the engine cuts power and applies braking to an individual wheel, causing the vehicle to lurch slightly to one side. Just as quickly as this happens, the car resumes normal operation and the issue ceases to exist. I have had several instances of this very issue in the past 2 months. Most happen at slow speeds (under 35mph) and on dry pavement. The vehicle suspension and alignment are within operating specification. I have noticed however, that the steering rack bushings are worn. This causes the entire rack to move about slightly within the constraints of its mount. To my dismay, Toyota does not sell replacement bushings for the steering rack on 2004-2005 model rav-4's, forcing owners to pay for a completely new steering rack. This is unacceptable from a brand that prides itself on reliability and reasonably priced maintenance. The safety of the vehicle is compromised by an substandard engineered components. Ie: steering bushings; causing too much play and allowing the vehicle traction control system to inadvertently activate, causing a dangerous unsettling of the vehicle.

- Old Bethpage, NY, USA

problem #3

Feb 142014

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 96,100 miles
Over the past few days, the last incident occurring on 2/14/2014, my car will suddenly lose power as I am driving, for about one to three seconds, then just as sudden kick back on again. When it loses power for that second or two, I lose my power steering capabilities and the battery light come on. Once the power comes back on, it continues to ride fine as if nothing happened. The problem is intermittent. I took the car to a local pep boys facility. They tested the battery and it was fine. They could not determine where the issue was originating.

- Maywood, NJ, USA

problem #2

Apr 132010

RAV4

  • 24,000 miles
Steering appears defective- difficult to turn-makes clicking sound. Told by dealer that 'both steering intermediate shafts need replacement'. dealer claims they told us this before. They have never told us this before. Car was purchased from- and has received regular maintenance- at this dealer. Someone from dealer called us out of the blue prior to bringing car in for repair; offering to buy this car. We thought this was odd as we had never expressed interest in selling.

- Apache Junction, AZ, USA

problem #1

Feb 012007

RAV4

  • miles
Intermittent "loose" steering feeling in 2005 Toyota rav-4. I complained to the dealership 3 different occasions and was told there was no problem or recall. My concerns were dismissed and now I see that it has happened in other models recently. My boyfriend felt it happen 2X.when he was driving. It has happened probably 15-20 times total. When driving in a 45 or 55 mph zone it is too uncomfortable to drive at those speeds. Slowing down to around 20 or 30 mph was necessary to feel safe. Most of the time the weather was extremely cold but it did happened on 2-3 occasions in summer weather.

- Hailey, ID, USA

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