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.
While in transit I observed my rav4 engine light 4wd light and traction control light all come on and truck kinda felt like gear slip weather was clear. I continued and went across a railroad track and all of sudden truck completely shuts down and started smoking. I i coasted to side of road had it towed to my designated location Thought was on fire. After inspection following day it showed top radiator hose coupling broke causing antifreeze to spew from radiator... I replaced the hose thinking all would be repaired. Antifreeze and water was replaced And tried to crank it sputtered and wouldn't start. Now it still won't start. It has only 135k miles on it and I know it should be more
On Friday, 1/20, I got in my vehicle, turned it on and the engine maintenance light came on. First and only time in the few months I have owned it. While driving home in heavy traffic from work in Lutz, my RAV4 uncontrollably accelerated at a full stop lurching forward towards the vehicle in front of me. It did this 4 times on my drive home to Spring Hill nearly causing multiple potentially catastrophic accidents. I stayed in the far-right lane for the duration of my drive home with the exception of two left hand turns I had to make. Each time I came to a stop I kept further distance from the vehicle in front of me. I put it in neutral, pressed firmly on the brake, once at a full stop the engine was still revving up to 4-5,000 rpms. I steered the wheels to the right to avoid the vehicle in front of me in preparation that it would not stop accelerating. It was/is not a floor mat issue, those clip into place, it was not me accidentally pressing on the gas pedal. I have 30+ years of a good driving record and experience in all types of conditions. This is something seriously mechanically and electrically wrong. This put myself and any other vehicle or pedestrian around me at great risk of major collision or bodily injury. Since this is an intermittent problem, like the abundance of other complaints, neither my mechanic nor the Toyota dealership can reproduce it.
The mechanism that controls the up/down position of the sun visors breaks after a few years of use. As a result, the sun visors will not stay in a 'closed' position (against vehicle roof) and constantly fall halfway down obstructing proper view of the road. The drivers side sun visor broke several years ago. When I took it to the Toyota dealer they stated the only way to fix this was to replace the visor (at my expense). The cost to replace one visor was >$200. The passenger side visor has now failed to hold in place as well. Toyota assumes no responsibility for this design defect (plastic part in the visor mechanism wears or breaks). This is a safety issue due to poor design on Toyota's part. Consumers should not have to pay $200 to have these replaced.
Driver's side sun visor had to be replaced a couple years ago because it would not stay in an upright position and hung in a loose dropped position.the passenger side sun visor is now doing the same thing. This is a safety hazard as it can drop unexpectedly and block the drivers visual field.
My 2012 Toyota Rav4 driver side visor started falling down about 6 months ago, later would fall down and wouldn't go back up and stay. Then is was very loose. I would move it to the side because I couldn't see to drive. This last time I tried to move it to the side it completely fell off. My passenger side is doing it as well and making it hard for the passengers to see and even myself because it's constantly blocking my view of that side. I'm very aggravated because I called customer care and they will not do anything about it. This is a very dangerous safety hazard. I'm very disappointed in Toyota! my vehicle wasn't cheap but apparently the parts they put in them are. I am including the first picture of me at a 4way red light to show my view driving and at a red light, I can't see and have to bend down to do so. Also the light no longer works on the driver side mirror because of this defect. I also included pictures of the fabric bubbling off. My vehicle was garbage kept for 6 years and for the last year or so it's been outside. Also, my wipers pop and get stuck when trying to use them. Even if it's raining or just cleaning my windshield off. They will go and then it's like it can't and gets stuck but it literally will make a pop sound and bounce when trying to use them. It sounds ridiculous and everyone complains about them when riding with me. I'm so frustrated with it. They have done it the whole time I've owned it and I'm the only owner of it.
Four-wheel drive, traction stability, check engine light all went on and will not shut off. Driving in 4-wheel drive put strain on engine. Plus there are many complaints about this situation. $545 for service is cost for common to this car issue. See forum link: Https://www.google.com/amp/S/http://www.rav4world.com/forums/96-4-3-general/196945-4WD-stuck.html%3famp=1
Vehicle experienced sudden unintended acceleration when exiting the highway and making a turn. RPM went up to 7,000 until the vehicle was turned off. The accelerator pedal was depressed fully several times while the car was suspended and turned off and started back on with the brake pedal fully depressed to ensure proper safety measures in case the vehicle jolts forward. No accident or injuries occurred during the incident as the vehicle was put to a stop safely before other parties would be involved. Local dealership doesn't want to take it in for proper inspection without a diagnostic payment.
9/21/15 tn accident reported case #WC1523557 vechile towed, 04/05/216, auto auction auction announced as true mileage unknown 901-480-4250 June 7, 2018, purchased from carlock Toyota tupelo, Ms. Auto check reported multiple owners, , score 68. Dealeship did not reveal any of this when purchased--only found out when direct general canceled policy because of auto condition---dealership only uses carfax--front bumper loose and crinkled, hood crinkled, brakes were not new as was told-a cover under hood missing which could cause a fire.
Driver side sun visor would not stay up all the way, obstructing view. Car is not old enough or driven hard enough for such a common component to fail so quickly. It's not a cheap fix - dealer quoted me $174 though there are some youtube videos that show how to buy the part and fix it yourself. Having read about other Rav4 owners with the same issue, it seems like a Toyota quality control issue.
Sunroof glass cracked with a loud bang while driving on highway, at about 55 mph. Weather was clear and warm (not very hot). No other vehicles close by. No flying debris observed prior to loud bang. Entire pane was riddled with cracks. During subsequent trip into town, some of the glass pieces came loose and flew off, leaving a large hole surrounded by unstable glass.
Power door lock actuators in all doors have failed. The drivers door actuator failed first. The actuators in each remaining door including the tailgate door have subsequently failed as well. (the date used in this report to indicate when the problem happened is approximate and refers to the initial problem with the driver's door.) two different Toyota service centers have determined the actuators need to be replaced. One dealer noted that they had seen this issue in many other Toyota vehicles. A quick internet search turns up several pages discussing this issue. A search of this site also revealed similar complaints with other model year Rav4's. each Toyota service center estimated a cost of approximately $400 for each actuator plus labor costs to replace the part. It is important to note that while the front and rear drivers-side and passenger-side doors have manual latches inside the vehicle, the tailgate door does not. The lack of a manual latch and keyed lock in the tailgate door means that the tailgate door cannot be opened at all. This is very problematic for both convenience and safety, particularly in those Rav4's with the third row seat. In the event of an accident or vehicle fire, passengers in the third-row seat would be forced to either exit through one of the other doors or break a window to exit the vehicle. When I contacted Toyota regarding this issue, I was told initially to have my local Toyota service center evaluate the problem and call back to Toyota to discuss and see if Toyota would be able to help at all. When I called back to Toyota, I was put on hold for an inconvenient amount of time, then simply told that Toyota would not help, presumably because my vehicle's warranty has expired. I hope that Toyota will work with the NHTSA to take a proactive approach to rectify this problem for all affected Toyota vehicles and owners.
2013 Toyota Rav4 w/ 40K miles had third actuator power door latch fail on a third door in 5 months. Looking at other recent complaints, of a similar nature, this may indeed be the result of a manufacturing defect. Please consider issuing a recall. Most recent failure is the door my 2 year old uses, I would hate to think of an emergency where I couldn't get her out of the car because it was locked. When the first door, driver, went out (Dec 2016), I had it fixed at my mechanic thinking it was a fluke. When the second door, passenger, went out Mar 2017, I contacted Toyota & was told to get the problem confirmed by the dealership, which I did. They offered me a goodwill pymt for the second door only, not the first, despite how recently the first door failed. In May 2017 the third door, back driver, is now failing & the Toyota customer service rep said they "are declining to offer me any assistance in fixing this actuator or any future actuator locks because they go out like lightbulbs every 4 years." I cannot believe Toyota knowingly manufactures vehicles w/ a part that it 'expects' to fail every 4 years, leaving their customers with a $2500 bill that frequently. We escalated this from the initial "cust service" rep, alex S., to his supervisor, ashley, and they both said they are choosing not to help us any further with this problem on door number 3 (or 1) or doors 4 and 5 when they inevitably go out as well. My husband also owns a 2013 Rav4, so we are being told to expect to pay $5000 every 4 years if we want our doors to lock. We have purchased Toyota based on their reputation of quality and I am baffled Toyota is knowingly sticking their customers with expensive parts that fail with this frequency. It is also worth noting, my car isn't even 4 years old yet and was just over 3 years old when the I experienced the first failure Dec 2016.
Tire pressure monitor system warning light icon have been showing after I got new set of tires, all tires got the proper air, 2 months after of the new tires installed, this icon showed again so, I brought my car for oil chance abed asked to check the air on the tires, the mechanic put the mandatory air on each tire, the icon still showing it, it did not go away so, I do not know what it is. I am very concern... thanks [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The door locks wont lock when you put the car in drive..they use to work but now I have to lock them with the button and I have a 21/2 year old granddaugter who sits in the back and am afraid when the car is going can open the car when it is going down the road if the doors are not locked. This is a hazard and defect.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Crawford, MS, USA