2006 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT POPPING; TECHS SAY THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS WORN OUT. THERE IS ONLY 56,333 MILES ON THIS TOYOTA RAV4 2006. THERE HAS BEEN OTHERS SINCE AT LEAST 2010 THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A CAR OF THIS AGE AND LOW MILEAGE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING SHAFT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AS THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SENT TO YOU BEFORE AND EVEN PEOPLE HAVE CALLED YOU ABOUT IT. THANK YOU, *TR

WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING SHOWING ON THE DIP STICK. ALTHOUGH A LOW-OIL LIGHT NEVER APPEARED TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE OIL WAS LOW, THE OIL WAS VERY LOW. I STARTED CHECKING MY OIL LEVEL OFTEN AND NOTICED THAT I NEEDED TO ADD OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I CAN ALSO SMELL BURNING OIL WHEN I ACCELERATE EITHER TO GET ON A HIGHWAY RAMP OR TO GO UP A HILL. A DEALERSHIP SUBSEQUENTLY TOLD ME THAT THE RINGS ON THE ENGINE BLOCK WERE WORN AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE THAT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $8,500. NOW I DRIVE AROUND WITH A CASE OF OIL IN MY BACK SEAT. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE. *JB

ON 5/30/13 I PURCHASED THE ABOVE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 FROM PIONEER VALLEY SALES PO BOX 254 S DEERFIELD, MA 01373 AND PICKED IT UP ON 6/3/13. THE VEHICLE HAD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. ON 6/10/13 I BROUGHT IT TO CHERRY RUM AUTOMOTIVE 451 BERNARDSTON RD. GREENFIELD, MA. 01301 FOR MY MECHANIC TO INSPECT. HE REMOVED THE STEERING SHAFT COVERS AND ASCERTAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS A TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM (TSB3462). HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING IT. I TRIED TO GET PIONEER VALLEY SALES TO REPAIR IT FOR OVER A MONTH AND THEY REFUSED TO. I CONSIDERED THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAD CHERRY RUM AUTOMOTIVE REPLACE THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS. I PAID THEM $571.70 FOR THIS. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I LOOK FORWARD TO TOYOTA REIMBURSING ME FOR THIS EXPENSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HER VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS PROTRUDING OUT OF THE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V373000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,180. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMEDIATE AND ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE STEERING SHAFT. AS A RESULT, PART OF THE STEERING SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,635 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. ...UPDATED 11-12-13 *BF UPDATED 11/18/2013 *JS

THERE IS A VERY PRONOUNCED RATTLE, CLACKING, OR SUCH NOISE FROM THE ENGINE WHEN TRAVELING AT AROUND 25 MPH WHILE GENTLY ACCELERATING FROM BETWEEN 1500 AND 2000 RPM. IT IS QUITE REPEATABLE. IT OCCURS MORE READILY WHEN GOING UPHILL BUT I CAN INDUCE IT ON FLAT GROUND AS WELL. IT SOUNDS IT IS FROM THE TOP END BUT BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS AT-SPEED I CANNOT KNOW FOR SURE. THE SOUND RESEMBLES VALVETRAIN NOISE. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM A TOYOTA DEALER WITH APPROX. 46K MILES AND IT HAS MADE THIS NOISE SINCE I FIRST OWNED THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED TWICE AND BOTH TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL, "ALL RAV4S DO THAT". I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE WELL-KNOWN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE THAT THIS ENGINE HAS (2.4 LITER INLINE 4), AS I ALSO EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. *TR

ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN GOING AROUND TURN, BUT GOES OFF. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE DIPSTICK WAS COMPLETELY DRY. I HAD TO ADD 3 QUARTS OF OIL. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE ON 11/16/2013 AND I HAD TO ADD 3 QUARTS. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. *TR

DRIVING CAR AND THE OIL LIGHT FAILED TO INDICATE OIL WAS VERY LOW. HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE SO I CHECKED THE OIL AND DISCOVERED THE OIL WAS LOW ALTHOUGH OIL HAD JUST BEEN ADDED A FEW DAYS EARLIER. I WAS NOT SURE IF THE VECHICLE WAS FIT TO DRIVE, SO FOR SAFETY REASONS I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND SAID THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE LACK OF OIL AND CONSTANT BURNING OF OIL DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TOYOTA RAV 4 ENGINE/OIL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE OIL TO COMBUSE AND BURN OFF PREVENTING THE OIL INDICATOR LIGHT TO ALERT THE DRIVER TO ADD OIL. THIS DEFECT CAUSES ENGINES TO SEIZE. AT THIS TIME I CALLED TOYOTA OF NORTH AMERICA (1800 331-4331) DIRECTLY TO REPORT THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THAT AS OF TODAY NO RECALL OR REIMBURSEMENT IS BEING ISSUED BUT IF EVERYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM CALL TOYOTA OF NORTH AMERICA DIRECTLY TO REPORT THEIR PROBLEM THEN AN INVESTIGATION WILL BE ISSUED. SO PLEASE CALL TODAY SO WE MAY ALL BE REIMBURSED FROM TOYOTA FOR THIS ISSUE THAT THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF AND ARE CHOOSING TO DO NOTHING FOR THE CONSUMERS. THEY WILL THEN GIVE YOU A CASE # THAT THEY TELL YOU TO KEEP JUST IN CASE A RECALL IS ACTIVATED. *TR

OIL CONSUMPTION, INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT THAT APPARENTLY IS A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA RAV 4 THIS AN ISSUE WITH 2006 RAVS AND THE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE ISSUE THAT IS RELATED TO THE VEHICLE MAKING AND NOT NEGLECT BY THE OWNER. *TR

MY POWER STEERING P/S WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I NOTICED MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WASN'T WORKING. I DROVE HOME AND THEN TOOK IT BACK OUT OF MY GARAGE, IN WHICH THE LIGHT THEN TURNED OFF AND I HAD MY POWER STEERING BACK. IS THIS A KNOWN DEFECT OF MY CAR? I DID RECEIVE ONE ABOUT THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM #1 AND A FLOOR MAT RECALL, BUT THAT'S ALL. *TR

DRIVE SHAFT BROKE. *TR

I NOTICE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN THE WHEELS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT GOING AT A LOW SPEED. I LOOKED ON GOOGLE SEARCH ABOUT CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING . THERE WAS A LOT OF TOYOTA RAV 4 OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALER HE SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH RAV 4'S . I CALLED TOYOTA COMPLAINT LINE AND THEY TOLD MEN A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS OUT ON THE PROBLEM BUT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. I KNOW FROM BEING AN AUTO MECHANIC THAT WHEN YOU HAVE LOOSE PLAY IN THE STEERING THAT IT WILL DEVELOP INTO A DANGER DRIVING MY CAR. PLEASE REQUIRE TOYOTA TO HAVE A SAFETY RECALL ON THE STEERING . THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN TOYOTA'S RELIABLE VEHICLES TILL I BOUGHT MY RAV4. LATELY I HAVE HAD THE UNFORTUNATE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING TO REPLACE ALL SIX COILS WITH NEW ONES, BECAUSE TOYOTA MAID A BAD DESIGN FOR THE 2006 RAV4. AND NOW I NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFTS BECAUSE THEY ARE BAD TOO. TOYOTA PLEASE HELP WITH COVERING THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

STARTED NOTICING "CLUNKING" SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. HAD MY MECHANIC CHECK AND HE WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY STEERING SHAFT ISSUE AND SAID IT COULD ALSO IINVOLVE RACK AND PINION BUT THAT COULD NOT BE VERIFIED WITHOUT FURTHER LABOR.

I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND IN MY STEERING EACH TIME I TURN. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS JUST TOLD I NEEDED TO GET IT REPAIRED. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAVE NO INFORMATION REGARDING SAFETY BUT FEEL THAT SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM TOYOTA NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL AND HAVE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED. WE SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL TRAGEDY HAPPENS BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS CONSUMING OIL AT AN ALARMINGLY HIGH RATE. THE OIL LEVEL INDICATOR DOES NOT COME ON. IT FLASHES ON HARD BRAKING. HOWEVER BY THIS POINT THE OIL LEVEL IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. IN MY VEHICLE IT HAS BEEN LESS THAN 1 QT. *TR

MY DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, AND DROPS DOWN IN FRONT OF MY FACE, BLOCKING MY FIELD OF VISION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I LIVE IN PORTLAND, OREGON AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE GRAY INSTEAD OF SUN, SO MY VISOR DOESN'T GET USED THAT MUCH THROUGH THE YEAR. I SEARCHED ON WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM FORUMS, AND SEE THAT IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH OTHER RAV4 OWNERS, SOME STARTING AT 15,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THAT TOYOTA HAS REDESIGNED THE PART AS A REPLACEMENT, BUT TOYOTA WANTS TO CHARGE $70 FOR THE REPLACEMENT VISOR + INSTALLATION. IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT, AND A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD EASILY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE (2006 TOYOTA RAV4) WAS STARTED ON 3/1/13, BEFORE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 77690 MILES. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT FIRST AVAILABLE APPOINTMENT (3/4/13). TOLD THAT AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. (NO EXPLANATION GIVEN ON WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CURRENT.) PART NEEDS TO BE SPECIAL ORDERED AT A $280.22 COST WITH $99 SERVICE CHARGE PLUS TAX. ADVISED AGAINST TAKING TO INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP AS IT MAY NOT STOP THE WARNING LIGHT FROM GOING ON. VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY CRASHES OR DRIVEN IN A TURBULENT WAY. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP. IT OSBTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VISION AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE HEARD A QUIET POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK RIGHT TIRE AREA WHEN I MAKE TURNS. I ACTUALLY VISITED A TOYOTA DEALER 1/8/2013 BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOWER SUSPENSION ARM RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THEY "INSPECTED" AND PUT A STICKER ON, AND A WORTHLESS CLAMP (MIGHT AS WELL BEEN A PAPERCLIP) ON THE THE TIE ROD. ON 2/27/13, I TOOK A FEW CO-WORKERS TO LUNCH AND THEY NOTICED A LOUD POP EVERY TIME I TURNED A CORNER OR HIT ANY UNEVEN SPOT IN THE ROAD. WHEN I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT AT WORK I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT THE REAR RIGHT TIRE AND IT WAS SLANTED ONLY SLIGHTLY. LATER IN THE DAY, I BACKED OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AND HEARD A VERY SEVERE POP AND THE TIRE MADE A WHOOSHING NOISE AS IT WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE TIRE WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF SERVICE AT THIS POINT. I GOT MY VEHICLE TOED TO A NEARBY SHOP, AND THEY FOUND THAT THE TIE ROD ON THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WAS BENT SEVERELY. THE MECHANIC THAT WAS INSPECTING MY VEHICLE WAS NOT A DEALER, AND AGREED THAT THE "FIX" TOYOTA DEVELOPED FOR THIS RECALL ISSUE WAS WORTHLESS, AND AGREED THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THIS HAD FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE BENT TIE ROD, AND VISITED THE SHOP TO SEE FOR MYSELF THIS AFTERNOON. I TRULY THINK THAT TOYOTA'S FIX SHOULD HAVE BEEN TO REPLACE EVERYONE'S TIE RODS. PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE STILL AT RISK! I PLAN TO SUBMIT MY CHARGES TO TOYOTA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. *TR

CAR AT ABOUT 37,000 MILES. ONLY DRIVE TO STORE AND DROP KIDS OFF TO SCHOOL. CAR PARKED FOR 10 MINUTES WHILE AT STORE SHOPPING. CAME BACK, STARTED THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE LIGHT, VSC AND 4WD LIGHTS ALL LIGHTED UP. WHEN TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, DEALER SAID CAN'T SERVICE IT AT THIS TIME NEED TO MAKE APPOINTMENT. DEALER STATED BASED ON THE LIGHTS, THIS MIGHT BE THE IGNITION COIL.. IT'S KNOWN TO HAVE PROBLEM. ESTIMATED COST TO FIX ABOUT $1500. BUT WE NEED TO COMPUTERIZED THE CODES.. *TR

THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT WOULD BLINK INTERMITTENTLY ESPECIALLY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. UPON INSPECTION OF OIL DIPSTICK, THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC AND HAD THE OIL CHANGED (WITH SYNTHETIC MOBIL 1 AS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA). MECHANIC NOTICED VERY LITTLE OIL DRAINED. AFTER REFILLING WITH NEW OIL, TEST DROVE THE CAR AND CONFIRMED THE DIPSTICK SHOWING OIL AT MAXIMUM LEVEL. AROUND 2000 MILES LATER, INSPECTION OF OIL DIPSTICK REVEALED ALMOST NO OIL AGAIN. THERE WERE NO LEAKS WHICH MECHANIC CONFIRMED AS THE UNDERSIDE WAS CLEAN AS A WHISTLE. MECHANIC BELIEVES PISTON PROBLEMS WHICH WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. *TR

I'M PRETTY SURE THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT OF MY 2006 RAV4 IS NOT A MATTER OF WEAR AN TEAR. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON 2006-2008 RAVS4 WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEM. YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR THIS, BUT IS HARDLY DIFFICULT TO FIND A WAY TO GET IN CONTACT WITH TOYOTA MOTORS, IT SEEMED THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR FROM THE TOYOTA OWNER?S PROBLEMS. MOREOVER, I EXPLAINED THEM THE AIRBAGS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES SPORADICALLY AT APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES AT 45 MILES/HOUR AND NOW REMAINS ON WITH NO APPARENT REASON, I DROVE MY CAR TO THE DEALER TRYING TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED BY TOYOTA, BUT THEY DOESN'T ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY DUE THAT THE MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AFTER 3 YEAR OR 60,000 MILES OF WARRANTY. I HAVE NOTICED THEY HAVE AN AIR BAGS RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 2007 AND NEWER RAVS4, SO IT DOES SEEM SUSPICIOUS AT FIRST GLANCE BECAUSE 2006 IS NOT INCLUDED EVEN THOUGH MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED AND FILED COMPLAINTS AGAINST TOYOTA DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. REALISTICALLY THIS IS A SAFETY MATTER, SO 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30TH, AROUND 6 P.M. EST, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, GOING APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH, WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE (2006 RAV4, STANDARD NOT SPORT). FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF TO THE SHOULDER AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS OF SWERVING AND INABILITY TO CONTROL THE CAR. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO MY PERSON, CAR OR ANYONE ELSE, BUT AS YOU CAN PROBABLY IMAGINE, I WAS ? AND CONTINUE TO BE- VERY SHAKEN UP OVER WHAT HAPPENED, AND HOW MUCH WORSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN HAD I BEEN ON A MORE CONGESTED HIGHWAY, GOING AT A FASTER SPEED. A WOMAN, WHO WAS DRIVING BEHIND ME, STOPPED AND HELPED ME OUT AND WITNESSED HOW OUT OF CONTROL MY CAR WAS. SHE THOUGHT I HAD HIT A DEER (IT WAS VERY DARK, FOGGY AND RAINY, AS WELL). IRONICALLY, I HAD JUST RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA NOT EVEN A FEW DAYS EARLIER. I WAS AWAY THE PREVIOUS WEEK AND IT ARRIVED WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN. I HAD THE RECALL IN MY PHYSICAL POSSESSION FOR A TOTAL OF 4 DAYS, ONE OF WHICH WAS NOT A BUSINESS DAY. I HAD MY TIRES CHANGED AND ALIGNED OVER A YEAR AGO (I?D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THE EXACT DATE, BUT I?M FAIRLY CERTAIN IT WAS DEC. 2011 OR JANUARY 2012). AT THIS TIME, ACCORDING TO THE TOYOTA RECALL NOTICE, AN ADDITIONAL STEP NEEDED TO BE TAKEN IN ORDER TO PREVENT BACKLASH AT THE THREADED PORTION OF THE ARM, FOLLOWED BY RUST. IF THIS OCCURRED, THREAD WOULD WEAR, CAUSING THE ARM TO SEPARATE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SAME NIGHT OF THE INCIDENT, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THE NEXT MORNING, JANUARY 31ST, THEY CONFIRMED THAT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO MY CAR WAS INDEED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. THIS MEANS THAT I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY CAR AROUND TO MY OWN DETRIMENT FOR OVER A YEAR, WITHOUT ANY IDEA THAT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD TO MYSELF OR MY SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 AIRBAG DASH LIGHT BEGAN REMAINING ON CONSTANTLY AND WAS DIAGNOSED BY FINDLAY TOYOTA IN FLAGSTAFF, AZ ON 3/20/13 WITH: "RECOMMEND REPLACING SPIRAL CABLE DUE TO OPEN CIRCUIT IN SPIRAL CABLE... $583 TO REPLACE SENSOR." I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AT 1-800-331-4331 ON 6/19/13 AND SPOKE WITH [XXX], WHO CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE RAV4S, DESPITE THIS ISSUE BEING THE EXACT SAME AS FOUND IN TOYOTA TACOMAS: MARCH 08, 2012 CUSTOMER FAQS FOR TOYOTA TACOMA STEERING WHEEL SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY RECALL 1. WHICH MODELS ARE INVOLVED IN THE RECALL? TOYOTA IS RECALLING 495,000 CERTAIN 2005 TO EARLY 2009 MODEL YEAR TOYOTA TACOMA VEHICLES SOLD IN THE U.S. NO OTHER VEHICLES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL. 2. WHAT IS THE CONDITION? DUE TO THE COMBINATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL SPIRAL CABLE DESIGN AND CHARACTERISTICS UNIQUE TO THE TACOMA CHASSIS, FRICTION BETWEEN THE SPIRAL CABLE AND THE RETAINER IN THE STEERING WHEEL SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY MAY OCCUR IN SOME VEHICLES. FRICTION OVER TIME MAY RESULT IN DAMAGE TO CERTAIN CIRCUITS THAT PROVIDE CONNECTIVITY TO THE DRIVER?S AIR BAG MODULE. IF CONNECTIVITY IS LOST, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL REMAIN ILLUMINATED, AND THE DRIVER?S AIR BAG MAY BECOME DEACTIVATED, PREVENTING DEPLOYMENT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. 3. ARE THERE ANY WARNINGS THAT THIS CONDITION HAS OCCURRED? YES. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS DESIGNED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. IT GOES OFF AFTER ABOUT 6 SECONDS, INDICATING THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. IF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED AFTER THIS PERIOD, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND APPROPRIATE REPAIR. THIS EXACT CONDITION EXISTS IN MY 2006 RAV4, HOWEVER, I CANNOT AFFORD THE $583 REQUIRED FOR AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO REPAIR IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 12V373000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THERE WAS A SECOND RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V383000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY YET AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRES. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V383000 (SUSPENSION). PRIOR TO THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE FELL OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE TIRES COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED DUE TO THE EPOXY. THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUDDENLY FELL IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND HIT MY NOSE. I COULD NOT SEE AND ALMOST VEERED INTO A DITCH. MY NOSE WAS BRUISED AND SWOLLEN FOR 3 WEEKS. THE VISOR HAS CONTINUED TO BE A TROUBLESOME ISSUE AS IT CONTINUES TO FALL RANDOMLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE BLINDED BY IT OR STRUCK BY IT. I HAVE TRIED USING VELCRO TO HOLD THE VISOR IN IT'S PLACE BUT TO NO AVAIL AND HAVE TRIED CORRECTING THE MISTAKE BUT HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO "FIX" IT. THE VISOR HAS FALLEN WHILE DRIVING MANY TIMES CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SWERVE. TOYOTA WILL NOT RECALL BUT OFFERED TO CORRECT IF I WOULD PAY THEM $175.00! THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS SEEN AT THIS SITE: HTTP://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/98-4-3-INTERIOR/104489-DRIVER-SIDE-SUN-VISOR-INSTALLATION.HTML. PLEASE HELP AS THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND I DO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO PAY TOYOTA TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. - TOYOTA WON'T FIX

LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4; HE HOPING THAT TOYOTA CAN BE FORCED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION AND REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPAIRING STEERING SHAFT (FULL DOCUMENT NOT IMAGED). *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED PER TOYOTA TSB-0130-12, BECAUSE OF WHINING NOISE BUT HE WAS INFORMED THE TSB WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. IT WAS CONFIRMED, THAT AN INTERNAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

THE CHECK ENGINE OIL LIGHT BEGAN FLICKERING UNDER HARD BRAKING. LIGHT NEVER WAS ON UNDER NORMAL IDLE OR TRAVEL. UPON CHECKING OIL ON DIPSTICK - NO OIL REGISTERED ON DIPSTICK. I IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDED TO THE CHANGE OIL AND THE OIL PAN ONLY CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 1.2 QUARTS OR 75% LESS THAN THE 4.5 QUARTS SPECIFIED. UPON WEB RESEARCH IT APPEARS RAV4 HAS PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA USA AS I KNOW HAVE CONCERNS DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ENGINE AS WARNING LIGHT SHOULD HAVE COME ON SOONER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AROUND A BEND, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE TIE ROD END WAS FRACTURED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY WELDING THE TIE ROD INTO PLACE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 107,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I RECENTLY NOTICE THE OIL LIGHT COMING ON WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND THE CAR WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE CAR SOONER FOR OIL CHANGES. THE MANUAL STATES AND EVEN THE CAR SERVICE LIGHT FOR MAINTENANCE COMES OUT AT 5,000 MILES. HERE'S THE INFO I HAVE AFTER TAKING THE CAR FOR OIL SERVICES. DEC.2012, HAD TO BRING IT IN AT 68091 MILEAGE, MARCH 2013 AT 70392 AND NOW IN JUNE AT 72076 MILEAGE. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN REACH 3,000 MILES AND I HAVE TO FILL IT UP AGAIN! I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO DO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WHICH WOULD MEAN TAKE THE CAR BACK EVERY 1,000 MILES SO SEND A REPORT TO TOYOTA. WHAT FOR? THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING IS BEEN DONE! ITS OBVIOUS TOYOTA KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY CORRECTED IT ON CARS 2010 AND UP. I'M FRUSTRATED THAT TOYOTA IS IGNORING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS. MAYBE WE NEED TO GET MEDIA INVOLVE TO HAVE TOYOTA FIX OUR PROBLEM!

THIS IS AN INQUIRY NOT A COMPLAINT I HAD MY CAR CHECKED FOR THE SUSPENSION ARM RECALL NOTHING WAS DONE TO MY CAR I GIVEN A REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR TIRES AND A ALIGNMENT MY CONCERN IS IF THERE WAS NOTHING DONE NOW WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS SUSPENSION ARM CAUSES A PROBLEM NEXT WEEK OR NEXT YEAR CAN I BE CERTAIN THAT A QUICK CHECK IS ALL THAT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE SAFETY NO CLIPS OR CAUTION LABELS WERE MENTIONED AM I DRIVING A SAFE VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE THE RAV4 2006 4 CYLINDER MOTOR. VALVE LOUD ALL THE TIME, AND YARIS. ALL TIME. TOYOTA IN ME SAID THE ONLY THING THAT WAS RESET TACOMA THAT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

LATE NOVEMBER 2013 AT 75,000 MILES AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO COME IN INTERMITTENTLY, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AT 75,300. DEALER NOTIFIED, NO EXISTING RECALL ON 2006. *TR

OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIT UP AT APPROXIMATELY 73,050 MILES. DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION IS FASTER THAN NORMAL. SERVICER TOPPED OFF OIL AND RETURNED TO SERVICER AFTER DRIVING $1200 MILES. I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS FINE. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 81,950 MILES. SERVICER AGAIN TOPS OFF WITH OIL AND RETURNED AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER $1200 MILES. THIS TIME THE SERVICER STATED THAT THEY NEED TO TEAR THE CAR APART THE BEFORE PINPOINTING THE EXACT PROBLEM. APPROXIMATE COST TO DO THIS IS MAYBE $3,000. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED AT $75,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,647.

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ILLUMINATED SPORADICALLY AT FIRST, NOW STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. NOTICED IT WOULD COME ON AT FIRST WHILE CORNERING, BELIEVE IT TO BE RELATED TO THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN FOR THE AIR BAGS. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THIS MODEL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING FROM MARYLAND TO MAINE FOR A VACATION, I NOTICED MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND GRINDING GEARS FREQUENTLY IN THE RANGE OF 20-35 MPH. I NOTICED IT HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY DURING SLOWDOWN FOR MAKING A TURN AND THEN ACCELERATION TO RESUME DRIVING. I DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS, BUT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED THE PROBLEM, WHEN IT HAPPENED LESS FREQUENTLY, TO MY DEALERSHIP (DARCARS OF FREDERICK) AND THEY TOLD ME THAT 1)THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SOUND DURING THEIR TEST RUN AND 2) IF SUCH A THING HAD HAPPENED, MY ECU WOULD HAVE MADE A NOTE OF IT AND RECORDED IT. SINCE THERE WAS NO RECORD OF IT HAPPENING, IT WAS NOTHING. HOWEVER, UPON READING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE RAV4 02-03 MODELS, REGARDING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I FIND THAT THEIR ISSUES OF HANGING BEFORE SLIPPING INTO GEAR, GRINDING GEAR AND NOT FINDING THE GEAR AT ALL ARE THE SAME ONES I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IN MY '06 RAV4. COULD IT BE THAT MY ECU IS BAD? YES, BUT MY DEALER WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT POSSIBILITY. THEY CHECK MY FLOOR MATS, BUT NOT THE ECU FOR FAULTY ISSUES. THIS IS MY PRIMARY VEHICLE AND I TRANSPORT MY DAUGHTER IN IT ALL OF THE TIME. I AM WORRIED ONE DAY I AM GOING TO BE DRIVING AND GET INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FILLED COMPLETELY. I USED OEM FLUID AND AM ON SCHEDULE WITH ALL OF MY MAINTENANCE. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO DEALER SAYS CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BEFORE THEY CAN DETERMINE IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM. *TR

THERE IS A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE THEY SAID IT WAS A SHAFT IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT TOYOTA HAD A BULLENTIN OUT ABOUT IT. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BUT ACCORDING TO MYSELF DOING RESEARCH THERE IS A PROBLEM AND I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

MY TRUCK HAS HAD 4 INCIDENTS OF DANGEROUSLY LOW OIL LEVELS. TOYOTA HAS SERVICE BULLETINS OUT REGARDING OIL CONSUMPTION AND MY MODEL OF THE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 REGARDING FAULTY PISTONS AND RINGS. I HAVE BROUGHT MY TRUCK TO TOYOTA 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER MY WARRANTY STATING THAT I AM OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH MY FIRST COMPLAINT WAS 10/13/13 AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED JAN 2013 T-SB-0094-11 IS THE TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, SHARPLY HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STRING SHAFT ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY OR THE STEERING WOULD FAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. ...UPDATED11/21/12 *BF UPDATED 11/30/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO REPAIR HIS TRANSMISSION WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK MY CAR INTO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SPIRAL CABLE AND IT WOULD COST $486 TO FIX. THEY ALSO SAID THAT MY AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED BECAUSE OF THIS SO WOULD NOT GO OFF IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN 2006 RAV4 MODELS. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST TOYOTA, I BELIEVE THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO FIX AS IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW AND AFFECTS OUR SAFETY EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR. I PERSONALLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THIS, I CAN'T AFFORD IT, AND I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD EVEN BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAYING FOR THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE. AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE A LIFETIME WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING AND THUMPING NOISE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,956.

THE ENGINE COIL MALFUNCTIONED, SETTING OF 3 WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH (CHECK ENGINE, VSC, AND 4X4). THE ENGINE NOW MISFIRES. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME IN THREE YEARS. *TR

MY RAV 4 IS MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE REAR SUSPENSION. MY LOCAL SHOP REPLACED THE REAR SHOCKS AND THE REAR SWAY BAR END LINKS, WHICH DID NOT SOLVE THE CLUNKING NOISE. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA OF WESTPORT IN WESTPORT,CT ON OCTOBER 1, 2012 WHERE THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND SAID THEY ARE UNSURE HOW TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM UNTIL TOYOTA PRODUCES A FORMAL RECALL AND FIX, BUT THEY DO KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. IF THE PROBLEMS ARE STATED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM...HOW CAN IT NOT BE FIXED? I AM WORRIED AS MY WIFE TRAVELS DISTANCES BY HIGHWAY AND I DO NOT WANT THIS TO CAUSE A CRASH IF IT CAN BE SOLVED. WHAT IS ONE TO DO WHEN THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THEIR PRODUCT? I AM AT A LOSS, BUT WILL KEEP MY FINGERS CROSSED AND HOPE THAT MY CAR HOLDS UP UNTIL TOYOTA FIGURES THIS OUT. *TR