2006 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

SEPT. 2009 MY WIFE COMPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE THAT SHE COULD FEEL THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN SHE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT GOT LOUDER AND MORE PRONOUNCED OVER THE LAST 30 DAYS. I RESEARCHED THIS ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE WERE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I THEN LOCATED TOYOTA'S TSB ST001-08 DATED 2/8/08 "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE" WHICH PERFECTLY DESCRIBES THE STEERING NOISE I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING. WHILE I HAVE ONLY 21K MILES ON THE RAV4, MY 36 MONTHS RAN OUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE NEARBY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE QUITE AWARE OF THE SITUATION BUT BASICALLY, YET POLITELY SAID, "TOO BAD, OUT OF WARRANTY." CONSIDERING THIS COMPLAINT SEEMS TO BE A QUITE WIDESPREAD ISSUE, AND ONE THAT INVOLVES THE STEERING AND CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I WOULD ARGUE THAT THIS RISES TO THE LEVEL OF A SERIOUS PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD MERIT A SAFETY RECALL. TOYOTA CAN NOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS STEERING NOISE WILL NOT DETERIORATE INTO A "LOSS OF CONTROL" ISSUE. *TR

MY 06 RAV EXPERIENCED A CRACKING/GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING TO THE FAR LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEED. I WAS TERRIFIED!!! I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND AT THE TIME MY CAR HAD JUST CAME OUT OF WARRANTY 15DAYS EARLIER BUT I DIDN'T LET THAT STOP ME. AFTER SOME BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEALER AND THE REGIONAL MANAGER MY STEERING WAS FIXED. THERE WAS A TSA REPORT PUT OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT NO ACTUAL RECALL WHICH I THINK THERE SHOULD BE BUT I SENT OUT BLAST EMAILS AND TEXT TO MY FRIENDS ETC TO LET PEOPLE KNOW. I'VE NOTICED THAT THEY'RE MORE WOMEN DRIVING RAVS THAN MEN AND THE THOUGHT OF A MOTHER AND CHILD IN AN ACCIDENT OVER SOMETHING THAT COST $600 PER VEHICLE TO FIX IS UPSETTING. PEOPLE TURN DOWN THE MUSIC AND LISTEN TO YOUR CARS!!! *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 WENT OUT SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING THIS MONTH. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. WHEN THE CAR STARTED AGAIN THE POWER STEERING WAS WORKING. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAD REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON THIS CAR FROM TOYOTA. THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT SUDDENLY. TOYOTA WOULD NOT REIMBURSE ME THE COST OF FIXING THIS SAFETY DEFECT. IT COSTS ABOUT $1000. HAD I BEEN ON A HIGHWAY, I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING MY 2006 RAV4 FROM RIGHT TO LEFT. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE INDICATES THAT THIS CAN BECOME A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD IT GET WORSE. HE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT I RETURN THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA AS THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TOYOTA TELLS ME THAT SINCE I PURCHASED THIS AS A "CERTIFIED USED" VEHICLE, DUE TO THE 50K MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT IS NOT COVERED. I CONSIDER THIS DEPLORABLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE. I SEE MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE FOR THIS VEHICLE ON THIS SITE AND SINCE I ONLY KNOW OF THIS COMPLAINT FORUM AS I AM IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE UNKNOWN BY THE ODI. DUE TO THE SAFETY NATURE OF THIS ISSUE, I REQUEST THAT AN INVESTIGATION BE CONDUCTED AND A RECALL MANDATED. *TR

EMAIL TO TOYOTA I HAVE BEEN GENERALLY VERY HAPPY WITH MY 2006 RAV4 (6 CYL, 62K MILES) BUT THIS PAST THURSDAY I HAD A REAL SCARE. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A MEETING ABOUT 15 MILES AWAY VIA INTERSTATE. WHEN I STARTED MY CAR LEAVING THE MEETING, MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT BLINKED ON THEN WENT OFF. ALTHOUGH IT WAS UNUSUAL, I DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THINKING I WOULD CHECK MY OIL WHEN I GOT HOME. MIDWAY HOME, I BEGAN TO HEAR SOME STRANGE NOISES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. SINCE IT WAS FAIRLY HOT, I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE FAN AND SHUT DOWN THE AC AND TURNED OFF THE RADIO TO LISTEN. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO MAKE STRANGE NOISES. AFTER STOPPING AT THE END OF THE EXIT RAMP NEAR HOME I ACCELERATED ONTO THE SIDE STREET AND THE NOISE BECAME VERY LOUD. I DROVE SLOWLY THE LAST 1/2 MILE HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, I OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NO OIL READING ON THE DIPSTICK. NOTE THAT THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. I ADDED THE ONLY QUART OF OIL THAT I HAD AT HOME AND DROVE SLOWLY TO MY MECHANIC ABOUT A MILE AWAY. WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING, THEY SAID THERE WAS LITTLE OR NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. A RUBBER HOSE THAT RAN FROM THE VALVE COVER TO THE OIL PUMP RESERVOIR HAD SPLIT AND PUMPED OUT ALL THE OIL. THEY SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE HOSE HAD SOME METAL SHIELDING, THE HEAT HAD DETERIORATED THE RUBBER CAUSING THE SPLIT. THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLACE THE PART AND CLEAN MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR $600. I JUST DROVE IT ABOUT 300 MILES TODAY AND AFTER A FEW MILES OF DRIVING, THE ENGINE RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL SOUND SO I AM HOPING THAT THERE WAS NO LONG TERM DAMAGE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A 2000 MILE TRIP TO CANADA AND IF THAT HAD HAPPENED DURING AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP, MY ENGINE WOULD BE TOAST. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH HE HAS THE SAME ENGINE IN HIS 2008 TOYOTA. THERE IS NOTHING I COULD FIND IN MY OWNER'S MANUAL TELLING ME THAT I HAD TO HAVE THIS HOSE CHECKED. *TR

TOYOTA RAV4 LE 2006 GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK DOWN 4 TIMES SINCE WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO. TOYOTA MOTOR CO IS SAYING I GOT OVER 30,000 MILES SO WARRANTY IS UP.. PL I NEED HELP IN THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 04/27/12*LJ

MY SUNVISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. WHILE I'M DRIVING IF I HIT A BUMP IT FALLS INTO MY VEIW.

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN SITTING STILL OR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS ITEM, BUT TOYOTA WILL ONLY REPLACE IT IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. TOYOTA HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REDESIGNING THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND IS AWARE THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT IS ATTEMPTING TO NOT PAY BY DELAYING UNTIL OWNERS ARE OUTSIDE OF THEIR WARRANTY AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE FOR THE PART. *TR

I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 SPORT. THERE IS A LOUD THUMP IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, OR TURNING THE WHEEL WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. THE PROBLEM STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO AND IS GETTING WORSE. THE CAR HAS 38K AND IS SEVERAL MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT LEAST 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE WAS A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,300.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT NOTICED A PATCH OF OIL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE CHECKED THE OIL AND DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY LOW. HE PLACED FIVE QUARTS OF OIL IN THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN 30 MINUTES, ALL FIVE QUARTS HAD LEAKED OUT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, BUT IT HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD JUST REPAIRED THIS ISSUE ON ANOTHER TOYOTA RAV4 AND THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A TSB FOR THE TOYOTA AVALON (SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 06405, NHTSA ITEM NUMBER 10018855, COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUMMARY: ENGINE OIL DRIP: BANK 1 VVTI OIL LINE). BOTH THE AVALON AND THE RAV4 HAVE THE SAME ENGINE. THE TSB STATED THAT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A SMALL/SLOW OIL DRIP FROM THE BANK 1 VVTI OIL SUPPLY LINE ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCE REPAIRING VEHICLES AND STATED THAT THE OIL SUPPLY LINE ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BURST, WHICH CAUSED OIL TO SPLATTER ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE OIL WAS LOW IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

2006 TOYOTA RAV4 V-6 ENGINE. SUDDEN AND MASSIVE LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL. DEALER IS AWARE THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE OIL HOSE. NO RECALL ISSUED YET. DEALER STATES "WE'RE JUST FIXING THEM AS THEY COME IN". I WAS FORTUNATE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. ENGINE WAS BONE DRY OF OIL IN LESS THAN 3 MILES. SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED FURTHER AWAY; 1. ENGINE WOULD HAVE SEIZED. 2. POTENTIAL FIRE - THE UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN OIL AND COULD HAVE EASILY IGNITED. TOYOTA NEEDED TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART. NOT "JUST REPAIR AS THEY COME IN." *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VAPOR CANNISTER, WHICH WAS A PART OF THE EMISSION SYSTEM, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,300. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

FAILURE OF OIL LINE ON 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 V6 CAUSES ENGNE TO LOOSE OIL AT RAPID RATE POTENTIALLY CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE OR FIRE. *TR

NOTICED A "CLUNKING" NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. HAD THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND ASKED THAT THEY LOOK INTO THIS NOISE. MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED. THERE IS ALSO THE DANGER THAT THE CAR WOULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO STEER IF THE PROBLEM WERE TO GET ANY WORSE, A SAFETY DANGER. SINCE THE SERVICE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE WARRANTY, I TOOK IT TO MY PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION. HE AGREED THAT THE TWO PARTS SHOULD BE CHANGED. THE REPAIR WAS MADE ON 7/24/09. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN GROUP. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 RUBBER OIL HOSE (PART NO. 15707-31010) RUPTURE SPEWED OIL ALL OVER ENGINE AND ROAD. VEHICLE HAS 61000 MILES. THE 2008 AND LATER MODEL RAV 4'S NOW USE A DIFFERENT METAL PART (PART NO. 15772-31030). LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN AFTER NOTICING ENGINE SMOKING FROM EXCESS OIL. THE DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY INSTALL ORIGINAL PART NUMBER FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 RAV 4 MODELS, EVEN THOUGH APPARENTLY THE 2008 METAL PART IS SUPERIOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HEARD VALVE CHATTER COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,000. UPDATED 8/24/09 *CN A RUBBER HOSE IN THE OIL DELIVERY SYSTEM FAILED WHICH CAUSED DESTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. UPDATED 08/26/09. *JB

TOOK MY VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR LOOSE FEELING IN STEERING WHEEL ON MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV. THE FRONT STEERING SHAFTS ARE BAD DUE TO POOR DESIGN. TOYOTA ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN. NO ONE CONTACTED ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I TOOK VEH TO SHOP. I HAVE TO PAY THE ENTIRE COST ($700) WHEN WILL THIS BECOME A RECALL, WHEN PEOPLE START DYING TO STEERING FAILURE. I THINK YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS A RECALL AND MAKE TOYOTA PAY FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN, NOT THE CONSUMER. *TR

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 AND NOW HAS ABOUT 65000 MILES. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE CLUNK NOISE (AND FEELING) WHILE STEERING WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING. THE NOISE SEEMS TO BE MORE EVIDENT IN WARMER DAYS (SUMMER TIME) AND DIMINISH DURING WINTER MONTHS. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB (TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN): ST001-08 SO THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED SIGNIFICANTLY, THIS TSB SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL. I DO NOT WISH TO PAY FOR A SERVICE FOR A PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA NEW ABOUT SINCE THE BEGINNING. WE SHOULD NOT CARRY THE BURDEN OF PAYING FOR TOYOTA'S INCOMPETENCE IN MANUFACTURING SAFE VEHICLES. *TR

MY WIFE'S 2006 RAV4 HAS A "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE STEERING THAT IS WORRISOME TO US. IT HAS BEEN PRESENT AND GETTING WORSE FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS, NOW. I NOTICED THE NOISE AS BEING FAINT BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL MY STEPSON ASKED ME ONE DAY WHAT THE NOISE WAS. IT OCCURS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE WE HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED THEY BASICALLY BLEW US OFF AND IMPLIED THAT IT WAS OUR FAULTY DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER RAV 4 OWNERS BUT TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE FIX WILL COST FROM 5 TO 7 HUNDRED DOLLARS. WE WERE ASKED IF WE WNTED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND WE SAID NO, THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY DOCUMENTED THAT WE HAD TURNED DOWN REPAIRS TO THE STEERING COLUMN. ANOTHER COSMETIC PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED WAS THE FINISH ON THE WHEELS CORRODING AND FLAKING OFF SO THAT NOW THE WHEELS LOOK TERRIBLE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. TOYOTA TOLD US THAT WE MUST HAVE USED A "SOLVENT" TO CLEAN THE WHEELS THEREFORE CREATING THE PROBLEM OURSELVES. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS ALSO ON THE INTERNET AMONG RAV 4 OWNERS. TOYOTA DOESN'T WANT TO FIX ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 70 MPH AND WOULD NOT STOP. AS HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT HE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BEFORE HE COULD BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

THE CAR WAS LIFTED UP TO REPLACE TIRES AND SOMEHOW THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS PUSHED UP AND GOT STUCK WITH THE EXIT INSIDE THE BUMPER LEADING TO A FIRE AND MELTING THE BUMPER. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE CAR DEALER AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE TIRES PLACE DIDN'T NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUSTED SYSTEM WAS STUCK UP.THE BUMPER WAS REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR

STARTED HAVING INTERMITTENT INCIDENTS APPROX 8 MTHS AGO. 3 X OCCURRED. 2 X WHEN PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY TO PARK, DRIVEWAY SLIGHTLY GRADED UP SLANT, BRAKED BUT MINOR INCREASE ACCELERATION OCCURRED. BRAKED HARDER & STOPPED. INCREASE ACCELERATION CONTINUED FOR APPROX 15-20 SEC LONGER THEN RETURNED IDLE. TOOK SERVICE & TUNE-UP. TOLD THEM, SERVICED AND SAID FINE. ALSO CHECKED ELECTRICAL AS LIGHTING SWITCHED FROM FRONT TO BACK SEAT FOR NO REASON. TOLD JUST REPROGRAM NEEDED & OK. AFTER THAT SERVICE HAD ONE MORE INCIDENT WHEN OVER MCDONALD'S MILL VALLEY - DRIVE THRU - VEHICLE AHEAD MOVED & I TRIED TO JUST MOVE SLOWLY TOO. ACCELERATED MUCH HIGHER THAN FOOT PRESSURE ON PEDAL. HIT BRAKES HARD & JUST MISSED CAR AHEAD OF ME. CAR WAS STOPPED, BUT ACCELERATION REMAINED HIGHER FOR 30-45 SEC. LINE HELD UP UNTIL ACCELERATION SEEMED OK. THEN MOVED AHEAD W NO ISSUES. NOW NO INCIDENTS X APPROX. 2 MONTHS. NOTE PEDAL ACTION HAS ALWAYS APPEARED OK. NOT HUMAN ERROR. FOUND NO KNOWN CAUSE. DO USE STANDARD RUBBER RAV4 FLOOR MATS - OK & CLEARANCE TO DEPRESSED PEDAL 3 1/2-4 INCHES. I WAS UNAWARE OF PROBLEMS TOYOTA WHEN THESE OCCURRED, THEN NEWS, & "RED LIGHT" & THOUGHT OF MY INCIDENTS. WILL THEY RETURN AGAIN? MY VIN# SAYS I AM OK? I DO KNOW INCIDENTS HAPPENED. HAD SPOKEN WITH MY SON WHO IS AUTO ENGINEER TOO. MINOR OR MAJOR INCIDENTS STILL DO CARRY RISK EXPOSURE FOR ME. AND COST EFFECT RISK EXPOSURE TOO. NOTE I DO NOT KNOW EXACT DATES OF 4 INCIDENTS. *TR

THERE WAS AN INCREASING LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATION THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE FAR RIGHT OR LEFT. I INVESTIGATED TOYOTA TSBS AND FOUND MY 2006 RAV4 HAS 2 DETAILED PROBLEMS, ONE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE CONNECTING SHAFTS AND THE OTHER THE ENTIRE STEERING RACK. ON INSPECTION BY THE DEALER IT WAS DETERMINED I HAD THE FIRST PROBLEM, BUT BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS IS A RECALL SAFETY PROBLEM, WHICH TOYOTA WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT. I ESCALATED AND PUSHED AND MANAGED TO GET THEM TO COVER THE LABOR, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR PARTS FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE INSTIGATED A RECALL. IF I HAD THE 2ND PROBLEM, IT WAS 3 TIMES AS EXPENSIVE. MANY CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED THESE ISSUES, BUT TOYOTA IGNORES THEM. JUST LOOK AT EDMUNDS AND OTHER TOYOTA FORUMS. YOU TRUST THE STEERING DESIGN OF CAR WITH YOUR LIFE. TOYOTA DID NOT SEEM TO CARE, ONLY ENOUGH TO LET THE DEALERS KNOW THERE WAS AN ISSUE, NOT THE CONSUMER DIRECTLY, NOR STEP UP REPAIR IT. *TR

SLUGGISH THROTTLE RESPONSE IN 2006 4 CYL RAV4. SINCE WE OWNED OUR NEW 2006 RAV4 WE HAVE NOTICE A VERY SLUGGISH THROTTLE RESPONSE WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE EITHER FROM A STOP OR WHEN WE TRY TO INCREASE SPEEDS. THE DELAY CAN BE UP TO A COUPLE SECONDS BEFORE THE ENGINE REVS UP AND ACCELERATES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DANGEROUS ISSUE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND MAY CAUSE US GETTING HIT BECAUSE THE CAR CANNOT GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY. I HAD THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A CARBURETOR THING OR CLOGGED FILTER ' BUT THERE ARE MANY MESSAGE BOARDS ONLINE WHERE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ARE BEING EXPRESSED. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE EITHER WITH THIS ENGINE AND/OR THIS MODEL. I HOPE YOUR AGENCY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. *TR

MY CAR WAS DISPLAYING ERROR WARNINGS AND REQUIRED ME TO GO TO TOYOTA TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC OF THE CAR, THEY STATED I NEED A NEW CHARCOAL CANNISTER. THIS OCCURRED JUST OUTSIDE MY 3 YEAR/36000 MILES WARRANTY. THE TECH EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND I WASN'T THE FIRST HE SEEN OF THIS. HE STATED THAT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IF IT OCCURRED IN THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE ORIGINAL PIECE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PROTECTED BY A SHIELD WHICH 2007 AND LATER ARE. IT WAS ONLY A MATTER TIME BEFORE OTHER 2006 MODELS WOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. COST OF REPAIR WAS $2,000. I FIND THIS OUTRAGES THAT TOYOTA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT BE PROACTIVE ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

THERE IS A LOUD "CLUNK" IN STEERING AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY "FEEL" IT IN THE TURNS. MECHANIC FEELS IT SHOULD BE FIXED (ABOUT $800) AND CHECKED WITH TOYOTA TO SEE FIX. THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION, BUT NO RECALL. WHAT THE HECK?! SOUNDS LIKE DEFECTIVE WORK TO ME - AND THIS WASN'T A CHEAP CAR. DOES SOMEBODY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY TAKE CARE OF THIS? I HOPE THIS ISN'T BECOMING TOYOTA'S POLICY. WAITING FOR TOYOTA TO TAKE ACTION. *TR

STEERING WHEEL POPS WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT SLOW SPEEDS. ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN DURING WARM WEATHER. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE, BUT NO RECALLS BY TOYOTA. NO DEATHS OR INJURIES YET! *TR

MY 2006 RAV4 SPORT THAT OCCASIONALLY HAS PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION, THIS USUALLY OCCURS RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND CAN LAST UP TO 15 MIN INTO THE DRIVE. OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AND RECEIVE A VERY SLOW RESPONSE FROM THE VEHICLE; ALMOST AS IF TRYING TO DRIVE WITH THE E BRAKE ON. ONCE YOU HAVE REACHED 5-10MPH IT ENGAGES AND GOES, BUT UNTIL THEN IT IS VERY UNSAFE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, ALTHOUGH YOU WOULD NORMALLY HAVE ENOUGH ROOM AND TIME TO TURN AND BE OUT OF THE WAY FOR INCOMING TRAFFIC, IF YOU DON'T COMPENSATE FOR THAT ADDITIONAL LAG , YOU COULD GET T-BONED. *TR

I OWN A 2006 RAV4. THE STEERING COLUMN SEEMS TO HAVE A PROBLEM, THERE IS A REGULAR CLUNKING NOISE. *TR

HUGE OIL LEAK! STARTED SMALL, NOTICED A LITTLE ON THE TURN AROUND IN MY DRIVEWAY - DIDN'T EVEN THINK IT WAS MY CAR SINCE THERE WAS NO OIL WHEN I PARKED. ABOUT ONE WEEK LATER CAME HOME AFTER A SHORT TRIP AND NOTICED THE CAR SMELLED HOT. I CHECKED UNDER THE CAR AND THE OIL WAS JUST RUNNING OUT - THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WAS COVERED WITH SPLATTERED OIL AND IN ABOUT 15MINUTES - NO OIL LEFT! I HAVEN'T TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER YET - I'M AFRAID OF THE $$ AND WITH ALL OF THE DEALERSHIPS CLOSING, THE TOWING FEE ALONE WILL PROBABLY BE ONE I CAN'T AFFORD. I HAVE CHECK THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMMENTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHERE IS THE RECALL???

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, AND MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. AFTER ARRIVING HOME, I STARTED THE ENGINE AND HEARD THE SAME LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL, AND SAW THAT IT WAS NON-EXISTENT. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT THE OIL LINE IS CONTINUING TO FAIL ON THE NEWER V-6 ENGINES. I WILL BE CALLING TOYOTA TOMORROW. THE CAR IS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 SPORT 4WD V-6. IT HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT. TOYOTA PERFORMS REGULAR OIL CHANGES. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN FOR $300.00 IF I WANTED TO ELIMINATE THE NOISE. I DECLINED. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV-4 CLICKING IN STEERING COLUMN SINCE EARLY 2009...AFTER RESEARCH FOUND THAT IT'S ACTUALLY A DEFECT THAT TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT AND PUT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10024291 SERVICE BULLETIN #: ST001-08 ) , BUT REFUSED TO FIX IF PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED (PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED)....NEXT PROBLEM: WATER LEAK WHEN RAINING ON FLOOR FRONT PASSENGER, LEAKED TO BACK OF VEHICLE CAUSING MOLD DAMAGE (AGAIN TOYOTA REFUSED TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF ISSUE...MY HUSBAND RESEARCHED AND FIXED IT HIMSELF). THIRD PROBLEM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT, AND 4WD LIGHT RANDOMLY COME ONE (QUITE OFTEN)...HAVE BROUGHT TO MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSTIC TEST COMES BACK WITH AN ERROR CODE. MECHANICS HAVE SAID IT'S MOST LIKELY A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION (WHICH I HAVEN'T INVESTIGATED MYSELF, BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX OR WORSE REPLACE). *TR

WE HEAR A CONTINUOUS POPPING/CLUNKING NOISE FROM OUR 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, A SLIGHT INCREASE OF THE FORCE IS REQUIRED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN TOYOTA T-SB-0318-08: "SOME CUSTOMERS MAY HEAR A CLUNK, POP, OR KNOCK-TYPE NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. A NEW INTERMEDIATE SHAFT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION." IT SHOWS THAT TOYOTA ORIGINALLY USED DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. "WARRANTY APPLICATION IS LIMITED TO CORRECTION OF A PROBLEM BASED UPON A CUSTOMER'S SPECIFIC COMPLAINT." TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IF CUSTOMER DOESN'T COMPLAIN. THE NOISE IS CAUSED BY "SHAFT EXCESSIVE PLAY" ACCORDING TO TOYOTA. IT MAY NOT CAUSE AUDIBLE NOISE IN EARLY STAGES SO A CUSTOMER CAN'T HEAR IT. TOYOTA CAN CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE DEFECT UNTIL THIS CONDITION AGGRAVATES TO A CERTAIN POINT. IS IT A SAFETY CONCERN THAT EXCESSIVE SHAFT PLAY MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO FULL OR PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING? WE HAVE FILED COMPLAIN THROUGH BBB TO TOYOTA BUT THEY DECIDED TO DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

MY 2006 RAV4 WITH 21K MILES DEVELOPED STEERING CLUNKING SENSATION AT SLOW SPEEDS IN AUGUST 2008. BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. NOW IN MARCH 2009 WITH 25K MILES IT'S SLOWLY STARTING TO DEVELOPED SAME CONDITION. IT'S SCHEDULED FOR DEALER SERVICE SHORTLY BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND A MORE PERMANENT SOLUTION MUST BE APPLIED BY TOYOTA, HOPEFULLY THE DEALER WILL DO THAT. *TR

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE. TOYOTA TSB REPORT NUMBER T-SB-0318-08. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL YOU FEEL LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE AND YOU HEAR AND FEEL A BANGING NOISE. FROM WHAT I READ MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE ON THERE RAV4 MODEL YEARS 2006-7. COULD THIS BE A SAFETY PROBLEM IF LEFT UNFIXED? *TR

THIS IS THE THIRD COMPLAINT I HAVE HAD ON MY 2006 RAV4 V6 2WD EMISSION SYSTEM CAUSING MY VEHICLE STABILITY, TRACTION CONTROL, AND SPEED CONTROL SYSTEMS TO FAIL. THE FIRST EVENT IS ODI NUMBER 10268422. THE SECOND EVENT WAS SUBMITTED ALSO, BUT I DID NOT GET AN EMAIL- HOPEFULLY IS SUBMITTED. THIS THIRD EVENT WAS DUE TO A MILE OF DRIVING SLOWLY IN LIGHT SNOW CAUSING A FUEL EVAPORATION FILTER TO BREAK A TUBE FITTING OFF (SECOND EVENT). WATER ENTERED THE BROKEN TUBE AND FAILED THE FUEL EVAP CHARCOAL CANISTER WHICH IN TURN FAILED THE OTHER SYSTEMS LISTED IN THIS THIRD EVENT. AFTER SOME WRANGLING, THE DEALER AGREED TO SUBMIT IT TO MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WAS COVERED IN FULL. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAINT I HAVE HAD ON MY 2006 RAV4 V6 2WD EMISSION SYSTEM CAUSING MY VEHICLE STABILITY, TRACTION CONTROL, AND SPEED CONTROL SYSTEMS TO FAIL. THE FIRST EVENT IS ODI NUMBER 10268422. THE SECOND EVENT WAS DUE TO A MILE OF DRIVING SLOWLY IN LIGHT SNOW CAUSING A FUEL EVAPORATION FILTER TO BREAK A TUBE FITTING OFF. WATER ENTERED THE BROKEN TUBE AND FAILED THE FUEL EVAP CHARCOAL CANISTER WHICH IN TURN FAILED THE VEHICLE STABILITY, TRACTION CONTROL, AND SPEED CONTROL SYSTEMS (ODI NUMBER 10268424). I SEE NO REASON TO TIE EMISSIONS INTO SAFETY SYSTEMS SUCH AS THESE UNLESS IT IS TO "ENCOURAGE" OWNERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR EMISSIONS SERVICE. AFTER SOME WRANGLING, THE DEALER AGREED TO SUBMIT IT TO MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WAS COVERED IN FULL. I WAS TOLD THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER WOULD HAVE COST ME $700. *TR

A POPPING,KNOCKING, CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, IT CAN BE HEARD AND ALSO FELT WHEN TURNING. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT THE DEALERS REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE IS ONLY 22,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I ALSO HAVE A 2007 RAV 4 WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON IT. SO FAR THE POPPING NOISE HAS NOT STARTED YET BUT I THINK IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME COMPONENTS AS THE 2006 HAS. *TR

PURCHASED SPECTOR ADVANTA SUV TIRES ON 06/05/08. 235/65/17. COMPLAINED TO DEALER, ASHLAND TIRE AND AUTO CARE, ASHLAND, KY. DEALER RE-BALANCED TIRES WITHOUT POSITIVE RESULTS. IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS TIRES VIBRATED ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE WITH TRACTION CONTROL AND VSC AS WELL. DEALER SAID BUY NEW TIRES. TIRES CURRENTLY HAVE 25,000 MILES. I REPLACED THE TIRES TODAY AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS RESOLVED. I SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE ENGINE TRIES TO DECELERATE WITH THIS COMBINATION OF DASHBOARD LIGHTS. I AM STORING THE TIRES PENDING RESULTS FROM THIS WEBSITE. *TR

ON FREEWAY, OTHER MOTORIST NOTIFIED ME MY CAR WAS "ON FIRE!" I SAW EXCESSIVE SMOKE IN REARVIEW MIRROR. I TOOK THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS DIXON, CA OFF INTERSTATE 80 WEST IN CALIFORNIA. THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY THERE IS GRASSY, DID NOT THINK IT WAS SAFE TO STOP...I STOPPED THE CAR AND SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE, COMING UP THROUGH THE HOOD & UNDER THE CAR. THIS WAS TUES, 2/3/09. I HAS THE CAR SERVICED THE FRI BEFORE, 1/30/09 AT TOYOTA VALLEJO IN VALLEJO, CA. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AFTER CALLING AAA FOR A TOW. THE SERVICE ADVISOR, RYAN SAID "IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN FROM ANYTHING THEY HAD DONE. BUT THERE IS AN 'OIL HOSE' THAT HAD BEEN COMING OFF ALOT OF THE RAV4'S." I WAS ALREADY UPSET & THAT MADE ME LIVID!! IF IT WERE A KNOWN PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE CHECKED DURING THE SCHEDULED MAINT. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO LITHIA TOYOTA OF VACAVILLE #47 AT 500 ORANGE DRIVE, VACAVILLE, CA. WORK ORDER 394212. AS OF YESTERDAY, 2/12/09, THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, MEGAN, TOLD ME THERE WAS NO TSB SHE WAS AWARE OF, YET THE PART THAT CAME OFF (VVTI OIL PIPE) WAS NOT FOUND AT ANY OTHER DEALERSHIP OR SUPPLIER IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WAS ON ORDER FROM TOYOTA IN JAPAN. I AM FURIOUS THAT IT APPEARS TOYOTA WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FAILED TO INITIATE ANY STEPS TO PREVENT RISK TO ITS CONSUMERS. I AM ASKING FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL LEAD TO A RECALL OF THE 2006 RAV4'S AND ANY OTHER YEAR THIS AFFECTS. MEGAN, THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER AT LITHIA TOYOTA CONFIRMED WITH MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER, JOSE LARA (GEICO 707-688-3318) THE COST IS COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY....WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF MY LIFE, AND THE LIVES OF THE OTHER MOTORIST SURROUNDING ME??? THE RISK OF FIRE IS NEVER TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER TO AVOID ANY COST OF LIFE. *TR

AT AROUND THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED KNOCKING WHEN TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. I BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SEEMED TO BE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY TIGHTENING SOMETHING DOWN IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY, BUT LATER THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND THE ISSUE IS ADDRESSED IN TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN# ST001-08. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO ANOTHER DEALER TO BE LOOKED AT TODAY (5/22/09), AND THEY INFORMED ME OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS A DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS STANDARD WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGE, WHICH THEY SAID WAS AROUND $800 PARTS & LABOR. WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS POSSIBLE IF THE SHAFT COULD FAIL COMPLETELY AT A LATER TIME, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW. AS THE NOISES SEEM TO BE GETTING LOUDER AS TIME GOES ON, IT INDICATES TO ME THAT THE SHAFT INTERLOCKS ARE WEARING OUT AND THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY OF FAILURE DOWN THE LINE. WITH THAT SAID, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. *TR

I HAVE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. JUST READ MY JAN. 2009 NOTE. IT HAPPEN TWICE ON MY CAR. MY CAR ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLE EVEN THOUGH I TRY TO PUMP GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES CAR JUST WON'T SLOW DOWN. I THOUGHT PEDAL STUCK. CAR SLOW DOWN WHEN I PRESS BRAKE PEDAL. JUST LET YOU KNOW. IT NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

CLANKING WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS. BEGAN TO OCCUR AT APPROX 45,000 MILES. STEERING COLUMN FEELS LOOSE WHEN SOUNDS APPEAR. IS THIS DANGEROUS?!?!? DEALER LOOKING FOR SERVICE BULLETIN. NEED RECALL. *TR

I HAVE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE STEERING HAS CLUNK ISSUE WHEN MAKE TURN. THIS CAUSED SOMETIME OUT OF CONTROL WHEN MAKE TURNS. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE. *TR

'MODEL YEAR: 2006 'MAKE: TOYOTA RAV4 'MODEL: 4 DRIVE, 2 WD, V6 SPORT 'COMPONENT: POWER STEERING SYSTEM DESCRIPTION: I BOUGHT THE ABOVE CAR ON 12/16/2006. AFTER TWO YEARS OF DRIVING, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT THERE IS A TWEAKING SOUND ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER I MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN OF THE VEHICLE AT A SLOW SPEED. I HAVE MADE A COMPLAIN TO CAPITOL TOYOTA AT THE BEGINNING OF 2009 AND DEMAND A FIX WITHOUT CHARGE, BUT THEIR MANAGEMENT INSISTED THAT THEY CHARGE ME A FEE OF $132.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND ADDITIONAL REPAIR COST IF THEY FIND OUT THAT PROBLEM IS NOT WITHIN THEIR WARRANTY LIMITS; PLEASE NOTE THAT MY CAR WAS WITHIN WARRANTY AT 42K MILES. FRUSTRATED AND ANGRY, I BROUGHT MY CAR HOME WITHOUT ANY SERVICE. A YEAR LATER WITH 44.3K MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. THIS TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE, VISCOUS, AND TRACK LIGHTS GET TURNED ON. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO CAPITOL TOYOTA AGAIN WITH MY ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT. THIS TIME, THEY AGREED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE WITHOUT A FEE OF $132.00, BUT THEY CHARGE ME FOR $1083.00 TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING ECU COMPUTER WHICH IS OUT OF RANGE AND CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BE TURNED ON, AND $483.00 FOR FIXING THE FIRST, ORIGINAL POWER STEERING NOISE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE ONLY THING THEY CAN HELP COVER FOR FREE OF CHARGE AND WITHIN WARRANTY AT THIS TIME IS TO FIX THE CAM TIMING OIL VALVE WHICH IS STICKING OUT TO CAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM. I BELIEVE MY TOYOTA HAS THEIR DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS, AND I HAVE NOT ORDERED THE ECU COMPUTER AND STEERING WHEEL NOISE FIXES THAT THEY RECOMMENDED BECAUSE I DO NOT AGREE WITH THE PROVIDED COST. I AM EXPECTING THAT THEY SHOULD FIX THESE PROBLEMS FOR ME FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

SINCE DAY ONE THERE WAS A KNOCKING/POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT PARK AND LOW SPEEDS. I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES AND FINALLY, AND IRONICALLY, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE. PREVIOUS TRIPS YIELDED THE EVER PRESENT "COULD NOT DUPLICATE". HOWEVER STEERING ADJUSTMENTS VIA AN ALIGNMENT WAS ATTEMPTED. COULD NOT DUPLICATE BUT TRIED SOMETHING ANYWAY? THE IRONIC PART ABOUT WHEN THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE IS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS 4000 MILES PAST WARRANTY. FUNNY HOW SUCH AN OBVIOUS THING CAN GO UNNOTICED UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRES. *TR

A NOISE CAME FROM STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR SOMETIME. TOYOTA REPLACED R&R STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. EVENTUALLY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERANCE OF THE SPIRAL CABLE. NO DOUBT THESE WERE RELATED. UNKNOWN TO ME AT THE TIME OF THE REPAIR TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON 2-8-08 COVERING THIS ISSUE. THEY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR. THE DEFECTIVE PART STARTED TO FAIL FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. BOTH OF THE ISSUES ARE SAFETY RELATED ITEMS. WAITING FOR THE STEERING TO FAIL WOULD BE ABSURD. A LOOK AT THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS WAS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR OF THE RAV4. PLEASE ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE STEERING WHEEL PROBLEMS FOR THE 2006 RAV4. *TR