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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,459 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.

2014 Toyota RAV4 engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #27

Apr 112024

RAV4

  • miles

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

This car was purchased in March 2024 at Peak Motors in Hickory, NC and on [XXX] 2024, while driving the Check engine light, power steering, oil lamp, A&T temp oil, battery, tire and seatbelt light came on, the RPM went to 0 and we could no accelerate so we coasted down a hill and pull off to restart the car. After restarting it, all the lights disappeared and proceeded home and it happened 2 more times on the way home. The next day our mechanic and tested the battery and alternator, the alternator was good, but battery was weak so we got a new battery. A couple weeks later, the same thing happened and took it back in the mechanic but they could not get any codes nor could get it to reproduce what was happening so nothing could be done. They cleaned the mass air filter, but the same thing happened a few weeks later. The car has been in the shop for a total of 5 times and kept at the shop for 3 weeks. On [XXX] 2024, the car engine died again while in a drive thru and immediately took it to the mechanic 10 minutes away and they were able to get the code P1604 Startability Malfunction but the code is too generic they couldn't pinpoint specifically exactly what is the problem. Because of this being a HUGH safety issue, I contacted the dealer and they said they inspected it but could not provide proof when I asked for paperwork. I contacted Toyota in Asheville, NC where it serviced and they haven' returned my call. I contacted Mike Johnson Toyota in Hickory, NC where it was bought and they had no service records regarding this vehicle. It has passed inspection in Buncombe, NC but nobody can figure out what's going on. I am scared to drive the car because it happens at random times and it puts us at risk of being hit since we suddenly loss power but also puts others at risk as could hit us harming themselves and damaging their car. We drove the car for only a month before all of this began to happen and we just want to feel safe driving and riding in this car again. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

- Morganton, NC, USA

problem #26

Dec 012023

RAV4

  • miles
2014 Toyota Rav 4 EV with 30,898 miles, the vehicle has full power but no start. towed vehicle to Toyota Dealership for dianostic it was checked with a scan tool and found code U0293, this set the code for lost communication with the EV control system. A special cable was bought to communicate with the vehicle root cause of problem is Traction Motor bad need replaced and service plug at top of battery has blown fuse need replaced. Solution is engine replacement.

- Brice, OH, USA

problem #25

May 112023

RAV4

  • 0 miles
The contact owned a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving up a slight grade, the vehicle stalled on the roadway. The contact stated that he saw smoke issuing from under the hood. The contact stated that he exited the vehicle and observed that flames were issuing from under the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the fire department was called, however by the time the fire truck arrived the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The contact stated that the fire department extinguished the flames with water. The police department was also on scene and wrote a report. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown and the VIN was not available.

- Glen Cove, NY, USA

problem #24

Oct 022023

RAV4

  • miles

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

At least three time this happened while driving upon stopping at a stop sign or traffic light I was proceeding while making a turn after getting the clearance to do so. However the engine shut down and I was perplexed as to what was happening. I discovered the car had shut down and I had to restart the car. Additionally this occurred at a stop sign, while trying to make a sharp turn the car once again shut off and I was in the middle of intresection and other cars were behind me, and other coming towards me and I realized this SUV had stopped running again, putting me in direct harms way.

- Riverdale, IL, USA

problem #23

Jul 262023

RAV4

  • miles
Parked my vehicle 2014 Rav4 at work, went to my office and security called that my Toyota rav4 burst into flames. All caught on video. Sprinklers went off and fire department called. Fire started under the hood. Entire Engine compartment burned. Vehicle totaled.

- Mount Prospect, IL, USA

problem #22

May 032022

RAV4

  • miles
The engine make noise and it leaks under the car inside the car by your passenger side

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #21

Aug 292021

RAV4

  • miles

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

On Sunday, Aug 29th, our RAV4 caught fire in our driveway. The vehicle was off/parked at the time and required the fire department to extinguish. The fire spread to our truck which was parked next to the RAV4. Both are a complete loss.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #20

Jul 162021

RAV4

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while driving 15 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. After multiple attempts, the contact was able to restart the vehicle. Soon after the vehicle was restarted there was smoke coming from the vehicle and the vehicle stalled again. The contact stated that the battery had caught on fire. The battery was destroyed. The fire department was not notified of the fire. There was no injury sustained. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic for repair. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the mechanic. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000. The VIN was not available.

- Camarillo, CA, USA

problem #19

Jul 012021

RAV4

  • 102,000 miles
The contact owned a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while making a right turn at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. During the failure, the instrument panel flashed approximately 4-5 times before going black. The contact stepped out to look under the hood and noticed a small fire. The police department was contacted and arrived and put out the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed away and deemed a total loss. The contact was not injured. Medical attention was not needed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 102,000.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #18

Jun 042021

RAV4

  • miles
After a minor front end collision, the RAV4 immediately began smoking and caught fire. With a minor accident where the other car only had their front bumper minorly damaged, the RAV4 should not have caught fire. Their must be a defect in either the battery or oil line for the car to have caught fire. The car is a total loss and I am asking for a full investigation as my 2 children were in the car when the fire started.

- Berkeley Lake, GA, USA

problem #17

May 312021

RAV4

  • miles

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

Making a turn onto a local toll road and entire car went dead without warning of any kind. I had to struggle with loss of power steering to complete turn without going off road. Car came to a stop. I tried to call my wife to advise her I was having car problems which is surprising as I haven't had issues previously and had an earlier version of the RAV4 that I drove for 210,000 miles. Anyway, another vehicle stopped alongside and inquired if I needed assistance. As I talked, I noticed a smokey smell from what I had initially assumed was steam. I stepped outside the vehicle and observed through the drivers side front wheel well to see fire at the bottom of the engine compartment. Since I was driving to trails to ride my mountain bike, I had a water bottle and squeezed it onto the flames which partially extinguished and then relit. I hit the hood release but decided it was better to leave the hood down. I went to the rear lift gate to open it to retrieve my expensive carbon fiber mountain bike but it was locked. I tried to open the back driver side door also without success and tried hitting the unlock button on the drivers door but there was no power. About this time the smoke coming from the hood increased and I decided to heed the advise being given to step away from the car. Had I remembered sooner, I probably could have reached around the driver's seat to recover my wallet from the back pocket of the seat. As the fire increased, I stepped increasingly further back from the vehicle. About 5 minutes into the fire a state trooper arrived and expended his only extinguisher in an unsuccessful attempt to put out the fire. It was probably another 12-15 minutes before the fire department arrived to extinguish the fire but by that time, the car and its contents were a total loss.

- Tyler, TX, USA

problem #16

May 222021

RAV4

  • miles
I was driving down the road. I slowed up for a light and it turned green and started to go and my car turned off. Electrical still worked but engine was off.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #15

Mar 202021

RAV4

  • 110,000 miles
On March 20, my 2014 Toyota Rav4 caught fire. It was parked in my garage and had not been moved for at least 24 hours. The car fire caught the rafters in my attached garage and then caught the rest of my home on fire.

- Gnadenhutten, OH, USA

problem #14

Mar 242021

RAV4

  • 88,000 miles
While I was driving in capitol reef national park on a well graded and fully maintained dirt road, all the lights in my dash started flickering, and then my cars engine shut down. It felt like I was driving / coasting in neutral. I pulled over and put the car in park, then smoke started coming from beneath the hood. I got out of the car. It was a little smoke, then more, and then subsided to being barley noticeable after a couple of minutes. After it subsided, I got back in the car to try to start it, hoping it was an overheated engine and I might get the car to turn over. It would not start. I called a tow truck. Shortly after that, I noticed a hissing noise coming from beneath the hood, saw a liquid dripping beneath the the front left (drivers side) part of the car. I also saw a small flame. I called 911 to report that my car was on fire. Within 10-15 minutes, the car was completely engulfed in flames. The park Ranger, sheriff, and fire department showed up shortly after that. A charred car frame is essentially what's left.

- Park City, UT, USA

problem #13

Jan 222021

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE COMING IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V011000 (TRAILER HITCHES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000. THE CONTACT CASE HAS BEEN CLOSED OUT WITH CASE MGMT AND WILL BE NOTIFIED BY THE TOYOTA CLAIMS DEPT IN REGARDS TO THE STATUS case and as of today my case 4/29/21.

- Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA

problem #12

Dec 152020

RAV4

  • 188,000 miles
The mileage on the vehicle is high, over 188,000 miles but I think this issue is important enough to make note of it. The plastic coupler at the upper end of the radiator hose started leaking cooling fluid and I found that it had deteriorated to the point that the end of the plastic coupler inside of the rubber hose was broken and when removed I found that it was brittle to the touch. I have attached photos of the part in question. I think if Toyota could make this particular part out of metal it would not cost much and could save the consumer from a serious issue.

- Kensington, MD, USA

problem #11

Oct 152017

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 48,000 miles
I bought this Rav4 in February 2017, after driving few I realized my car is burning too much oil. I had purchased extended warranty but by the time I went for my issue my warranty had expired. I called Toyota company and explained my oil burning issue, they gave me a case number and told me they would call me later. I received a call few days later and they offered me $1000 towards payment for repairs, which wasn't enough. Because Toyota dealers told me they would have to repair the whole engine in order to stop oil burning problem, which would cost almost $5000. So I didn't accept $1000 offer from Toyota motors, ever since I am putting one quarter oil every 500 miles. So I don't know what to do with this issue. Please help me out. Thanks

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #10

Jul 202019

RAV4

  • 10,459 miles
After stop upon turning right to blend with traffic engine looses all power, RPM drops from 1500 to 400, then will catch in about 4 to 5 second and accelerate, has happens 12 times in the last 2 months car has 11000 miles on

- Kalispell, MT, USA

problem #9

Jul 282018

RAV4

  • 29,000 miles
While traveling westbound on interstate 295 in jacksonville Florida, we had just got on to the buckman bridge when the car slowed, uncommanded to 20mph. I looked at the instrument cluster and the alternator and the auto lsd or track lights were illuminated. The engine operating temperature was normal. Since the engine temperature was normal I told my daughter to keep driving to get off the bridge, I felt as though the bridge was a bad place to pull over. After about a minute we started to smell something burning and at this point we decided to pull over. When we came to a complete stop we saw smoke coming from the drivers side of the engine compartment. Three of us then evacuated the vehicle and started walking against traffic on the bridge. As we were walking away the smoke intensified and then erupted into flames that emanated from the drivers side just below the windshield. I called 911 and the fire department came and extinguished the fire. I have attached pictures of the damage. I believe it was an electrical fire.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #8

Feb 282014

RAV4

  • 98,500 miles
Vehicle excessive oil consumption. 1 quart per 500 miles consumed while driving anywhere, in town and highway driving.

- Buffalo, MO, USA

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