I noticed this problem after 15000m serviced. Then I checked myself to see if a/c cabin filter was replaced. Yes, it was replaced and I found it was upside down installed. Now it is installed correctly but it still smells.
Purchased a Brand new 2015 Toyota Rav4 4*2 model at out local Toyota Dealership in Trinidad and Tobago on the 15/02/2016 and collected the vehicle on the 24/02/2016. Around July 2016 I started getting a burning smell coming through the AC anytime I accelerate anywhere between 60km/H to 100km/H. The mileage on the vehicle at that time was approximately 12800km. I made a complaint and was asked to bring in the vehicle to have it checked which I did on the 12/07/2016.
The Service Manager at the Toyota dealership attempted on several occasions to rectify the problem which still exists to date. I made my intentions very clear on a letter dated the 20/07/2016 that if the problem is not rectified I am seeking a full refund or a brand new vehicle of the same model or I will seek legal counsel, go to the local regulatory consumer affairs authority and social media as my vehicle is under warranty and as far as I am concerned I was sold a defective vehicle. Everyone from the Service manage to the Technical staff claimed that they got no smell yet attempted to fix a problem according to them doesn't exist. They replaced my AC filter with a Carbon Type filter and also claimed that they changed the evaporator while they heavily de-odorized the vehicle each time they keep it when I complained.
Finally I had a test drive done with the Branch Manager on the 17/09/2016 who did acknowledge that he was getting a smell which he described as musty and not a burning smell. The kind gentleman like his colleague Mr. Service Manager promised to rectify the problem. His company sought the services of an independent car company who he claims did a test drive and found no fault but really did nothing of the sort except a valuation on the vehicle. As a matter of fact a test drive was never done by this company upon further investigation. He also claimed that a thorough check was done and no fault was found yet the burning smell still exists. Becoming fed up and very frustrated I went to Consumer Affairs and had a test drive done with a Representative of Consumer Affairs and a police officer who less than five minutes into the test drive confirmed the smell and indicated it was making them upset.
Consumer Affairs then setup a test drive with themselves, representatives from Toyota and my wife and my self. The test drive was done on the 22/11/2016 and the representative from Toyota, in a pathetic attempt to mask the smell, wore a high scented cologne similar to the sent of the de-odorizer. Off course the Toyota representatives got no burning smell but the Consumer Affairs representatives did just not as strong as due to the high scented cologne worn by the Toyota representative. Toyota in response stated that they are not going to do anything because as far as they are concerned there is no problem. Toyota cannot replace my family if something were to happen to them and besides going to my lawyer starting from the CEO of Toyota Japan Mr. Akio Toyoda everyone will know just how much Toyota cares!!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I noticed this problem after 15000m serviced. Then I checked myself to see if a/c cabin filter was replaced. Yes, it was replaced and I found it was upside down installed. Now it is installed correctly but it still smells.
- Jason Y.,