The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed the vapor canister needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the vapor canister was responsible for removing harmful fumes from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact expressed concern over the harmful fumes presenting a fire hazard. The failure mileage was 67,000.

- Grayslake, IL, USA

On freeway, other motorist notified me my car was "on fire!" I saw excessive smoke in rearview mirror. I took the next exit which was dixon, ca off interstate 80 West in California. The side of the freeway there is grassy, did not think it was safe to stop...I stopped the car and smoke was everywhere, coming up through the hood & under the car. This was tues, 2/3/09. I has the car serviced the fri before, 1/30/09 at Toyota vallejo in vallejo, ca. I called the dealership after calling aaa for a tow. The service advisor, ryan said "it couldn't have been from anything they had done. But there is an 'oil hose' that had been coming off alot of the Rav4's." I was already upset & that made me livid!! if it were a known problem the dealership should have checked during the scheduled maint. My car was towed to lithia Toyota of vacaville #47 at 500 orange drive, vacaville, ca. Work order 394212. As of yesterday, 2/12/09, the assistant service manager, megan, told me there was no tsb she was aware of, yet the part that came off (vvti oil pipe) was not found at any other dealership or supplier in the United States, and was on order from Toyota in Japan. I am furious that it appears Toyota was well aware of this problem and has failed to initiate any steps to prevent risk to its consumers. I am asking for a full investigation which hopefully will lead to a recall of the 2006 Rav4's and any other year this affects. Megan, the assistant service manager at lithia Toyota confirmed with my insurance adjuster, jose lara (geico 707-688-3318) the cost is covered under the powertrain warranty....what about the cost of my life, and the lives of the other motorist surrounding me"?" the risk of fire is never to be taken lightly. Please investigate this matter to avoid any cost of life.

- Vallejo, CA, USA

2006 Toyota Rav4 4WD, black gas fume hose dislodged from underside of vehicle on driver's side and then fell out in driveway as result of driving through puddle on highway during heavy rains coming home from work. Took vehicle to dealer for service the following day, service tech said that fume canister breather assembly attached to fume hose was missing and probably fell off on the highway while driving through puddle. Service tech replaced parts a couple days later after ordering it. Service advisor stated that part would not be covered under the manufacturer's warranty because it was due to damage and not defect - cost to owner $132 parts $50 labor. Went out of town for 5 days & did not drive vehicle. On 8/9/06 after having driven about 30 miles, the check engine light comes on including the vsc and 4WD indicator lights, no performance degradation noticed. On 8/12/06 brought the vehicle into dealer again to diagnose the problem. Service tech states that charcoal canister pump needed to be replaced due to valve not functioning properly. He added that the vehicle is safe to drive, but would be polluting the environment. Part is on order and will arrive next week.

- Randolph, MA, USA

Another driver was doing about 60 Wednesday night in the pouring rain and hit a low spot on the freeway that had about 3" of water in it. He didn't see it soon enough to avoid it so he just hung on to the steering wheel and prayed. The car slowed down quite a bit but kept going straight spraying water everywhere. The noise from the water hitting the underside of the car was deafening. The next day the check engine light, vsc light and 4X4 light, came on. He stopped by the dealer on his way home to have it checked. He was in the waiting room a few minutes when the service mgr. Came and got him saying he wanted to show him something. They went out side and he pointed to the vehicle. There were two hoses hanging from the car below the drivers seat. It seems there was a plastic canister behind the charcoal filter that recircs tank fumes back to the engine. It got ripped off when he hit that puddle. He explained to him what had happened and he told him that warranty wouldn't cover the damage (~$150). He told him that he had never lost car parts by driving through a puddle in all his years of driving. He was unsympathetic to say the least. The worst part about this is the parts are on backorder from Toyota and they don't know when they'll have them. Until then, the lights were on on the dash.

- Somerset, NJ, USA