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.
In the fall of 2011, the vsc and 4WD lights came on in my 2007 Rav4. At the same time my cruise control and 4WD stopped working. I took my car to teton Toyota in Idaho falls, id and was told that the charcoal canister was cracked and needed to be replaced at a cost of $1775. I could not afford to fix the car and eventually I purchased a used charcoal canister and had it installed by an independent mechanic. Then in Feb. 2012, the lights came on again so I took my car to stones Toyota in rexburg, id. The mechanic there confirmed that the charcoal canister was cracked again. I told him that I had replaced it with a used part and he stated that Toyota had redesigned the part so that it wouldn't crack, so if I wanted to fix the problem for good, I'd have to purchase the new part. I have not yet replaced the unit at this time. If Toyota knew that the original part was defective and have now redesigned it, why are they charging their customers over $1500 to replace it? besides not having any 4WD in rural Idaho in the winter, the emissions system is no longer working due to this defective part.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle was secured in park and the emergency brake was applied however, the vehicle rolled away after the contact had exited. The contact's foot became trapped under the wheel and caused injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage and VIN was not available.
My wife noticed oil lite came on and went off in a split second. After that the car shut off car was checked no oil. Motor blew up. Called Toyota and refused to do anything. Had to put a jasper engine in. Cost out of pocket $4990 and $1000 to install new engine. I believe with all the other reveiws with the same problem and poor engine design Toyota needs to pay for the engine that customers had to pay out of pocket. I have my paper work for proof and mechanic also. If any info on this please email me asap [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
9/30/2013 I backed out my car out of a parking spot, after putting it in drive and started driving when suddenly the car leaped forward, too fast for the intended speed and then came to a grinding halt, I could not put it in reverse and I shut it off. I restarted the car because of its location I could not stay. I was able to drive it a block to one of my clients. After an hour I started the car and attempted to drive away, car did not want to shift gears when picking up speed and I felt the care was unsafe as well as unable to drive on a freeway. Aaa was called and towed to Toyota.10/1/2013 the cause for surge and no reverse was suspected to be caused by low fluid level in transmission. The beaverton Toyota service rep ([xxx]) told me that low levels of fluid would cause the car to eventually stop and unable to shift. One quart of transmission fluid was added, no leaks were detected and my car was taken on a road test and return car was recommended by tas, whatever that means. I felt that the car did drive different, the sound of the gear shifting and the way the car reacted was different, however if the professionals from beaverton Toyota did a test drive they would have noticed too, it?S their job. ON10/6/2013 late afternoon, my car came to a grinding halt right in the driving lane I was traveling at a speed of approximately 20 to 30 mph. It felt I hit a wall how the car stopped abruptly and sound of lots of grinding metal. I called aaa and had it towed back to Toyota again.10/9/2013 received notice that transmission is out, I was told that the transmission was totally shredded. If this last sudden stop had happened on the freeway or crossing a busy intersection, myself and others could have been seriously hurt. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Check engine light, vsc light and 4WD light came on and stayed on. Took vehicle to dealer and they diagnosed problem as defective charcoal canister. Was told Toyota would not cover the repair or part under their emissions warranty. Toyota is attempting to blame this problem on consumer error when filling the gas tank. How is the charcoal canister not part of the emissions system when it's purpose is to serve as a filter of gas/exhaust fumes. Toyota is once again not standing by their warranties or products.
- Frederick, MD, USA
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Neutral start switch hidden within the confines of the engine management system can fail to work and thus not send a signal to start the engine. According to the head mechanic, the defect is uncertain why it happens other than the standard response that it is normal aspect of wear. I don't agree, since the component is under no stress like for example a spark plug. Thank you for looking in the matter.
When driving for longs periods, and some short periods including coming home from the dealer when the vehicle was brand new, the check engine, stability control, and 4WD lights come on in the cluster. The cruise control, 4WD, and stability control do not function when this happens. The dealer claims they could not find any codes and cannot fix it. This has been going on since March of 2007, and the warranty has expired. I feel this is a huge safety concern, as I have heard of other Toyota vehicles doing the same thing, and stability control is a safety feature.
Transmission developed an annoying whine from 40 to 60 mph. Very distracting while driving because of the high pitch noise it makes inside the cabin. Big disappointment!
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.
I bought a Toyota Rav4 07 with 5000miles 3 years ago. Runs great, everything seems fine, but noticed that after taking a 700 mile round trip that we had gone through darn near a quart of oil. No visible smoke, no leaks....what gives? I was surfing the web this morning and did notice a couple of different questions regarding excess oil consumption in various Toyota. Toyota won't fix my car and said that was "normal"...I want the big guy in Japan know about this issue. Can you elaborate for me. Thanks in advance for any help.
Engine appears to stall under light throttle. RPM gauge shows the engine speed fluctuation. Transmission shifts in and out of gear rapidly when cruise control is on and you are going up an incline.
On Oct 2009 I had a total transmission failure of my 2007 Toyota rav 4 while driving on the highway the vehicle seized completely.the transmission has been replaced but I continue to having major problems with shifting gears and braking problems.
On several occasions while driving my wife's 2007 Toyota Rav4, the motor revved momentarily while I was braking. The last instance was in the summer of 09 while driving through a campground at approximately 5 mph. A person crossed the road in front of me and I applied the brake to let him pass. While driving through the campground, the motor revved (I am estimating it revved from idle to about 17-1800 RPM) and the vehicle lurched forward, startling the pedestrian crossing in front of me. Fortunately my foot was on the brake and I just applied the brake harder and no one was hurt. On several other occasions previous to these incidents, I experienced similar problems, and I had previously dismissed them thinking that perhaps I could have stepped on the brake and gas at the same time. I know this not to be the case in this latest instance because my wife and I were returning from the beach and I was barefoot, so I know did not step on both the gas and brake simultaneously. The gas pedal also did not stick. I was idling through the campground at the time without my foot on the gas at all.
Complaint:second complaint I purchased my Toyota rav 4 2007 in October of 2007. A few months after I had the car I started noticing that the car, for no reason would hesitate, leaving me at times in the middle of crossings an intersections with no power. After others began making comments that there was something wrong I brought it into leith Toyota. The first time was April 24th 2008. I explained to the service advisor I was having intermittent problems with the car. I told him I would start across an intersection (4 lanes) and all of a sudden the car hesitated, there was no power. I would press the gas pedal to the floor and approximately 10-15 seconds later the car would lunge forward. I told them it concerned and scared me. I was told that they could not find any problems. April 28th 2008 I returned again to the dealership advising them there was a problem, I was afraid to drive the car and wanted it fixed. I again was told there was not any problem with the car. This time I refused to leave until the problem was fixed. They finally brought the car back in and told me the models have a problem with the ECM system. I was told they reflashed the ECM system with an update sent by corporate and things should be fine. Yesterday I returned to the dealership. I told them the car was ok for a number of months but again this week I was almost in an accident because the car had started to hesitate again, and I am left in the intersection without power and on-coming traffic. They took the car out and of course the problem is intermittent so they were unable to find anything abnormal. They told me they would check to see if there were any additional computer updates for the problem. The car also looses power on highway at 60 mph, shuts down after a while. They advised me there were no additional updates. I told them the problem is putting me in danger of having an accident. They told me Toyota does not feel this is a problem. Updated IVOQ 07/15/10.
My Rav4 V6 2007 37,887 miles had a V V T oil line rupture and extensive loss of oil. The oil sprayed the upper engine and leaked on the ground. The car was creating a loud grinding sound and the oil light flickered then went out. The service station where I pulled in refilled the oil and then found the leak.the car had to have 5 quarts put into it, it holds 6. the car was towed to the dealer. A request to exam the valves and drop the oil pan to exam for metal filings or any damage has been denied. They would only replaced the hose according to the warranty. This defect was known by Toyota, tsb EG064-05, on the avalon 2005 (same engine). Research shows this part was still on the 2006-2008 Rav4 V6. This hose was redesigned on the 2009 Rav4. The oil warning light on the Rav4 V6 does stay lit until after all the oil is gone and catastrophic engine failure occurs. Toyota built it with this defect and have no mechanic device to warn and protect the consumers of the leak. I was told service replaced an engine on another Rav4 recently, but mine was not run until the engine stopped. I do not understand why the service department would not check the valves or bearings for further damage. They ran the car, but would not do a visual or physical inspection as we requested.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. While entering the vehicle, the contact's child inserted a key into the ignition. The child accidentally shifted the gear into reverse while sitting in the front passenger seat without the brake pedal being depressed. The vehicle rolled backwards and caused minor physical damages to the vehicle and property. The contact is in the process of notifying the dealer to determine why the brake safe gear shifter did not work. The failure and current mileages were 27,000.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. While driving at any speed, the vehicle suddenly stopped accelerating. The contact did not notice any difference beforehand. The current mileage was 9,000 and failure mileage was 4,000. Updated 11/12/08. Updated 11/18/08.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Driggs, ID, USA