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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,506 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.

2019 Toyota RAV4 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2019 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #46

Jan 052023

RAV4

  • 70,811 miles

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

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with unknown warning lights illuminated and blinking. The contact stated that the steering wheel became very firm. The contact pulled over on the side of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that water enter the cabin of the vehicle through the roof rails and caused electrical damages to an unknown wiring harness connector. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed; however, no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 70,811.

- Placentia, CA, USA

problem #45

Jan 032023

RAV4

  • miles
I have had my RAV 4 since it was brand new. Today while i was driving, the mud and sand screen popped up automatic with traction control light, later i was able to turn it to normal then the light would go off for a while and it comes back again. It all happened while i was driving in I 355 going down to Lemont, IL from Palatine IL. I had the same problem but not with the mud and sand but with snow back in 2019 when it was a brand new, took it to a dealership and they said they have never seen like this before and they just reset the computer and it went off. I am pretty sure when I first bought it, even i push each and every button of either snow, sports or mud, the traction light wouldn-??t come off. While driving on i 355 today, my car slide for a while which was the most scary part, first I assume it was raining but after when the rain stopped too, it was skidding while applying the brake. I have the regular maintenance, just did the brakes with rotors, changed tires, oil change every 3-4k miles. I tried to talk to Toyota 800 number but wasn-??t able to connect with them.

- Mount Prospect , IL, USA

problem #44

Dec 142022

RAV4

  • miles
We have a 2019 RAV4 the mud and sand mode kept randomly turning on in the highway. The car loses traction when it goes into the mode. Toyota claimed they are not responsible. This is a very danger issue.

- Cambridge, MA, USA

problem #43

Dec 072022

RAV4

  • miles

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

This vehicle has continued to have issues. The most recent and dangerous issue is the electrical problems due to water leakage. Water getting into the vehicle's interior can be hazardous with all the solenoids, modules, and wires. The roof rack leaking is a common issue for these vehicles. It does not become an issue until they have been exposed to rainy environments or washed. The water in our vehicle leaked down the driver-side A-pillar, behind the steering wheel, and into the floorboard. This caused a shortage in wiring for the mud/sand terrain modes and the safety systems for the vehicle. This would happen at random times, including down the freeway at 70mph. The adaptive cruise control would shut off and emergency braking would be defective if needed. The water does flow across the airbag in the A-pillar which could cause a more serious issue. Now, there is a possibility of the airbag not deploying in the case of a collision. The racks leaking is something Toyota should be recalling or publishing a TSB.

- New Bern, NC, USA

problem #42

Dec 162022

RAV4

  • miles
The vehicle enters mud/sand mode spontaneously, causing the ABS, traction control, and forward collision warning to turn off. I cannot enter mud/sand mode myself when pressing the button. Must turn on normal or eco mode to get out of mud/sand mode once it activates. It has happened over a dozen times in a week.

- Front Royal, VA, USA

problem #41

Oct 202022

RAV4

  • miles
Brake System A malfunction in the Brake System has been detected. Continuing to drive may be dangerous. Stop in a safe location and contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Pre-Collision System A malfunction in the Pre-Collision System has been detected. Do not rely on this system. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Electronically Controlled Brake System A malfunction in the Electric Control Braking System has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Anti-Lock Brake System A malfunction in the Anti-Lock Brake System or brake assist system has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Drive-Start Control System A malfunction in the Drive Start Control System has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Blind Spot Monitor A malfunction in the Blind Spot Monitor System has been detected. Do not rely on the system for lane changing. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Vehicle Stability Control System A malfunction in the VSC, TRAC, or hill-start assist control system has been detected. Do not rely on these systems. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Secondary Collision Brake System A malfunction in the Secondary Crash Mitigation Support Brake System has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022

- Howell Township, NJ, USA

problem #40

Sep 022022

RAV4

  • miles

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

This as well as many many other 2019, 2020, & 2021 Rav4s develop water leaks in the roof (due to inadequate gaskets in the rood rails) which result in water entering in vehicle very close to the side curtain airbags. Toyota updated the parts on the current model year but refuses to issue a recall. This is dangerous due to the strong possibility of water contacting the airbags and or the electrical connections.

- Hollis, ME, USA

problem #39

Sep 192022

RAV4

  • miles
Hybrid system malfunction. Repairs include replacement of motor cable #2 and frame wire. Advanced Corrosion was the explanation. Not covered under warranty (either 3yr/36K or platinum addt-??l plan). Problem occurred at 36,366 miles (300+ miles just over standard warranty?) In the midst of delayed communicating with Toyota with no response after 3 days. Was told to reference TSB T-TT-0630-20. After researching, this problem is frequently referenced as being an issue. Should just be a recall at this point.

- Lake Clear, NY, USA

problem #38

Sep 202022

RAV4

  • 40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking and making abnormal sounds. Additionally, the vehicle was intermittently unable to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the roof rack sustained water damage, causing an electrical system failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Barre, VT, USA

problem #37

Aug 172022

RAV4

  • miles
Engine maintenance light came on after a routine oil change. I took it to a toyota dealer, they said that it has something to do with the coolant system. The problem is ongoing with several toyota models, including rav4, Tacoma, Tundra, Camry, Sienna models 2018-2022. The problem is that the car can suddenly overheat and shut down on a busy highway, which is very Dangerous. Someone, can get killed, if this is not addressed. I don't know why there is not a recall already. The government should definitely get involved.

- Inman, SC, USA

problem #36

Aug 012022

RAV4

  • miles

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

I have a 2019 all-wheel-drive limited and for the last two months it has been slipping into mud and sand mode. It happens when I shift from driving to park or drive to park, and if I-??m standing idle it will slip into mud and sand mode and switch off a few minutes later. Dealership says it-??s the sensors but I had my sensors checked and there is no issue there.

- Johns Island , SC, USA

problem #35

Jul 012022

RAV4

  • miles
There is a known issue with 2019+ Toyoya RAV4 where the Roof Rack Rails seaks leak water into the Driver and Passenger SRS A Pillar, i don't understand why there isn't a TSB for this, im concerned that the water intrusion will damage the Airbags or Electrical components and cause the airbag to deploy or cause improper SRS A pillar airbag operation. I'm also concerned about rust, A Quick google search and youtube will show the issue occuring but toyota is only fixing it under warranty, i don't think this should happen on a car under 3 years old with less than 50,000 miles. I do notice a foul odor in the car which led me to find this related TSB T-SB-0094-21 for a similar issue but none for Roof Rack Seals. Toyota has updated the Seals to thicker ones from the flimsy paper gasket to thicker plastic since 2019 so they know about the issue and have corrected it but only under warranty. i did see complaints on carcomplaints.com also but i'm out of factory warranty.

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

problem #34

Jul 052022

RAV4

  • miles
I received a notification of a malfunction in the intelligent clearance sonar system and a malfunction in the hybrid system. I made an appointment with the dealer but on the morning of the appointment the car was non-operational in the driveway and had to be towed. The diagnosis was corrosion of the wiring harness. This problem has been widely reported on Rav4 hybrid forums and appears to be an issue in regions of the country with snow/salt road treatments. I would appreciate an investigation.

- East Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #33

May 242022

RAV4

  • miles
Roof rail leak known to Toyota leading to potential compromise of SRS airbags and any other electrical wiring within anterior pillars. Long term water damage can lead to corrosion of components within that area. Toyota assessed and confirmed water intrusion due to roof rail leak. Leak became visible to owner due to water marks on headliner. Of note, Toyota refuses to accept blame for water intrusion and provide remedy.

- Avon, CT, USA

problem #32

May 192022

RAV4

  • miles
There is a leak coming from the top rails on the 2019 Toyota Rav4. Any time it rains the water runs down the side arm/airbag area which has gone into the electrical system and corroded the wires. In addition the corrosion, the water has caused organic growth to occur underneath the carpets. When it rains, the vehicle will not open without the physical key. Upon opening the door, the radio and all service lights are on. The speedometer goes awry, saying I'm at 9mph while I'm stopped at a red light. The acceleration of the vehicle tugs and takes awhile to get up to speed, which is dangerous. When I get out of the car, the car will not lock. It beeps as if I have left my key in the car. This is also dangerous at night time or in other areas that my car can easily be broken into. This issue occurs when it rains. I have taken it to a local toyota dealership and after numerous tests, figured out the problem is with the guide rails/racks on the tops of the car. They did this by running the car through the car wash. The estimated damage for a manufacturer defect is over 7K. The carpets need replaced due to organic growth and still water. The entire electrical system and board needs replaced.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #31

May 202022

RAV4

  • miles
The terrain selection feature automatically engages "mud & sand" mode while driving. This feature turns off many safety features including, but not limited to traction control and parking collision system. It is very intermittent, and the Toyota dealership was unable to find the problem. The terrain selection features stops working after being turned on to normal again, until the vehicle is turned off for quite some time.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #30

Apr 192022

RAV4

  • miles
As noted by many other 2019 thru 2021 Toyota Rav4 owners, there is significant water leakage intruding into the vehicle passenger compartment. I can confirm that the water intrusion that my vehicle has sustained is leaking through inadequately sealed holes for clips that are part of the Roof-rack side rails. And that this severe water intrusion is likely damaging the electrical system connectors associated with the vehicles Side Impact Air Bags and possibly the tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) connectors in the side body pillar areas. Our local Toyota Dealership Service Center is aware of this problem. They tell me that our standard and extended warranty will not cover the repairs, and that we should contact our auto insurance provider. I feel that should not be the case, and that this leak issue is going to cause severe injury or death due to the water leaks incapacitating the Side Impact Air Bag System and possibly other safety systems with electrical connection affected by the water intrusion.

- Bristow, VA, USA

problem #29

Apr 132022

RAV4

  • miles
On 12-April, I filed Report #11460592 regarding stuttering and uncontrollable acceleration of Toyota RAV4, 2019 model year, <22000 miles, incident occurred 11-April. Vehicle was taken to Toyota dealership service department on 12-April, returned that day as described in previous report. On 13-April, one day after repair, exact same issue occurred. Family (with 2 children) driving on road, 45MPH speed limit. Hybrid system malfunction alert occurred again. Speed limited drastically to approximately 15mph, with occasional reaccelerating uncontrollably. Vehicle exited as safely as possible and returned home. Vehicle then taken back to dealership for service. Full text of Report #114605 (11-April incident): Driving on 35MPH limit road. Vehicle began to stutter. Vehicle began to communicate warning lights - "PKSB Malfunction" and "Hybrid System Malfunction" and "Check Engine" and alerted to visit dealer. After stopping at red-light, received warning to pull over and stop driving. Vehicle could not exceed ~10mph no matter how much accelerator was depressed and received warning that vehicle had ~2.5 miles until it would cease being able to be driven. For rest of trip to home (approximately 2 miles), vehicle would alternate between 10mph limited state and returning to full acceleration which led to very unsafe driving conditions and abrupt changes in speed. Reached home and parked in drive way. After a few hours, returned to vehicle to take to dealer for service. All 3 error messages remained but no further limitation to 10mph or abrupt speed changes. Dropped off for service at dealership. Dealer notes: "Hybrid system malfunction, check engine light - SCAN FOR CODES, FOUND U010087 LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PCW AND ECM / CLEAR CODES, UPDATE SYSTEM, OPERATING AS DESIGNED." Upon receipt from dealer, no further issues and drove home safely. Vehicle is a 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, bought new in Jan. 2020. Approximately 23000 miles, no previous issues.

- Glenside, PA, USA

problem #28

Apr 112022

RAV4

  • miles
Driving on 35MPH limit road. Vehicle began to stutter. Vehicle began to communicate warning lights - "PKSB Malfunction" and "Hybrid System Malfunction" and "Check Engine" and alerted to visit dealer. After stopping at red-light, received warning to pull over and stop driving. Vehicle could not exceed ~10mph no matter how much accelerator was depressed and received warning that vehicle had ~2.5 miles until it would cease being able to be driven. For rest of trip to home (approximately 2 miles), vehicle would alternate between 10mph limited state and returning to full acceleration which led to very unsafe driving conditions and abrupt changes in speed. Reached home and parked in drive way. After a few hours, returned to vehicle to take to dealer for service. All 3 error messages remained but no further limitation to 10mph or abrupt speed changes. Dropped off for service at dealership. Dealer notes: "Hybrid system malfunction, check engine light - SCAN FOR CODES, FOUND U010087 LOSS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PCW AND ECM / CLEAR CODES, UPDATE SYSTEM, OPERATING AS DESIGNED." Upon receipt from dealer, no further issues and drove home safely. Vehicle is a 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited, bought new in Jan. 2020. Approximately 23000 miles, no previous issues. Has been maintained regularly (oil changes, etc. via Toyota Care).

- Glenside, PA, USA

problem #27

Dec 152021

RAV4

  • miles
I bought my vehicle new in August 2019, it currently has approximately 30,500 miles. A few months ago I noticed a water stain by the roof, right on the A pillar on the passenger side. I took it to Toyota and they determined it was from the sunroof, according to them one of the drains was clogged with leaves and dirt (prior to this I had NEVER opened/used the sunroof, not sure if leaves are able to get in there without ever opening the roof). They cleaned the water stain and sent me on my way, without checking for water damage. After doing some research online found out this was happening to quite a few frustrated people and seemed to happen in the 2019-2021 RAV4 vehicles, most people were told it was the sunroof but further research revealed the possibility that it was the roof rail that contained bad seals. The water is now pooling on both A pillars right where the airbags are housed. I feel there is a good possibility those airbags will not deploy properly in case of an accident. In addition, multiple customers have complaint of this issues causing electrical problems as well.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

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