2006 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

OUR 2006 RAV4 HAS A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN YOU TURN. WE TOOK IT IN FOR 90K SERVICE AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A STEERING ROD/SHAFT ISSUE THAT WOULD COST $2000 TO REPLACE. WE ASKED IF IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT REPAIR AND WANTED TO SHOP FOR OTHER PRICING, AND THEY SAID WE COULD BUT TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AT ANY TIME. I'VE READ ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS AND HOW THIS IS A TOYOTA DEFECT AND NOT A DRIVER FAULT, SO I'M CONCERNED WHY THIS HASN'T YET BEEN RECALLED. I SAW THERE WERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2005 AND EARLIER MODELS FOR THE SAME ISSUE, WHY IS IT NOW NOT BEING ADDRESSED SINCE IT COULD CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE AND SAFETY ISSUES? *TR

TOYOTA 2006 RAV4 4 CYL AUTOMATIC 4 WHEEL DRIVE HAS FREQUENT CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER SEARCHING FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS ONLINE I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OTHERS HAVE HAD REGARDING "STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE RAV4". IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS NOT COVERED ONCE OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT SEEMS THERE IS A REAL CONCERN THAT FAILURE OF THE PART COULD LEAD TO A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV4. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HER MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE HAS A WIDELY KNOWN DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE ECM COMPUTER IS ALSO DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS ALSO AN ASSOCIATED RATTLING SOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS REGARDING THE PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF CLOSE TO TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE REPAIRS. IN ADDITION, THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME. ALSO, THE TIRES WERE LEAKING AIR. *JB

WHEN TRYING ACCELERATE MY TOYOTA 2006 RAV 4, AT ANY SPEED CAR WILL HESITATE FOR SECOND AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATE TO MUCH FASTER SPEED THAT IS INTENDED. I HAVE CHECKED, IGNITION SYSTEM, FOUND NOTHING, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. IN HEAVY RAIN FALL HAVE WATER INSIDE THE CAR AT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COMING FROM AIR BLOWER AREA. DEALER SAYS THEY DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BOTH ISSUES. THESE ISSUES ARE NOT A ONETIME ISSUE AND HAPPENS ALL TIME. *TR

VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE 2006 RETURNED TO DEALER IN MARCH 2008; APPROX 32K MILES. COMPLAINED TO SERVICE REP. OF "CLUNK" SOUND IN THE STEERING MECHANISM DURING LOW SPEED OPERATION. TECH STANDING NEARBY STATED, IN EFFECT, "THEY DO THAT ALOT". (HE IS NOW PROBABLY UNEMPLOYED) DEALER REPLACED (AT THEIR COST) THE STEERING SHAFT, PART #45260-42090. IN AUGUST 2010, APPROX 70K MILES; VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER FOR STATE INSPECTION WITH, AGAIN, COMPLAINT OF "CLUNK" NOISE IN STEERING MECHANISM AT LOW SPEED. THE STATE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED; DEALER FOUND NO FAULT WITH THE STEERING MECHANISM. ON 09/28/10; 72K MILES, VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY DOOR LATCH AND COMPLAINT SAA. "CLUNK" DEALER REPLACED STEERING SHAFT, PART #45221-42070 *THE TWO PARTS ARE BOTH PART OF THE STEERING COLUMN; BUT ARE NOT THE SAME COMPONENT THE FIRST SHAFT REPLACED WAS A "LOWER SHAFT" THE PART REPLACED ON 09/28 IS THE "INTERMEDIATE SHAFT" ALTHOUGH TOYOTA HAS ISSUED "SERVICE BULLETINS"CONCERNING STEERING COLUMN SHAFT FAILURES; THE COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN EXISTING DESIGN FLAW AN INTERNET "GOOGLE" SEARCH FOR CLUNKING NOISES IN THE 2006 RAV4 RETRIEVES MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. (NOT EXACTLY EVIDENCE I WOULD WANT TO WALK INTO A COURTROOM WITH) I SUGGEST THAT THE ONLY REASON THERE HAVE NOT BEEN A RASH OF STEERING RELATED ACCIDENTS IS THAT THE CONSUMER CAN IDENTIFY THE NOISE AND CORRECT THE DEFECT PRIOR TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. I AM CERTAIN THAT A REVIEW OF VEHICLE REPAIR HISTORIES OF THIS VEHICLE WILL REVEAL AN ALARMINGLY HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAILURE FOR THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA '06 RAV 4 AND THE SUNVISOR ON DRIVER SIDE KEEPS FALLING; YOU HIT YOUR HEAD EACH TIME YOU ENTER THE VEHICLE; ALSO, IT IS DANGEROUSLY OBSTRUCTING YOUR VIEW WHEN YOU DRIVE BECAUSE IT KEEPS FALLING. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV-4 MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURN A CORNER. AT FIRST, IT WAS ONLY WHEN I TURNED TO THE LEFT. NOW THE NOISE IS WORSE AND IT MAKES THE NOISE NO MATTER WHICH WAY I AM TURNING. I HAVE REPORTED IT EVERY TIME I TAKE MY VEHICLE IN TO TOYOTA FOR SERVICING, BUT THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS 31,000+ MILES ON IT. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A CLUNK NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT SLOW OR NO SPEED. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE VERY HIGH I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT WOULD COST CLOSE TO $800 TO REPAIR. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS. I WORK FOR VW AND KNOW THAT WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS THIS MANY VEHICLES AND A STEERING CONCERN THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY TOYOTA HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE ALREADY. IS IT REALLY GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER " GAS PEDAL " INCIDENT TO MAKE THEM TAKE CARE OF IT? *TR

THE STEERING COLUMN 'CLUNKS' WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL. MY VEHICLE HAS 85,000 MILES, AND I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WILL NEED TO GET IT REPAIRED, BUT SINCE THERE'S NO RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT, I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF! MEANWHILE, THE CLUNKING IS GETTING WORSE. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE! THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

CLUNKING IS HEARD AND FELT FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING CORNERS. THIS OCCURS ABOUT 80% OF THE TIME AND IS GETTING WORSE. TOYOTA HAS ADDRESSED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS IN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $530 CDN. *TR

MY RAV4 BEGAN MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED AS A STEERING COLUMN ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TSB ABOUT IT, BUT DOES NOT COVER THE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A DESIGN FLAW (AND SAFETY ISSUE) ON THEIR PART. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD RESULT IN A RECALL. SEE TOYOTA TSB ST001-08. *TR

HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL. ARRANGED SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER. DEALER SAID IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE COMPLETE STEERING RACK AND STEERING SHAFT WITH "AN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT". $2.563.64. I WAS NOT ADVISED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF NOT REPLACED. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD IT WAS TOO BAD THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I UNDERSTAND OTHERS WITH 2006 & 2007 RAV4S HAVE HAD SAME ISSUE. SAFETY ISSUE? NO RECALL! *KB

WHEN SLOWLY TURNING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A CLUNKING IN THE WHEEL AS YOU TURN. MANY OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS BEING THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. IF THIS MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING, I DON'T KNOW WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA TO QUESTION THIS; HOWEVER I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. *TR

THE STEERING COLUMN CLUNKS WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL. MY VEHICLE HAS 85,000 MILES. THE CLUNKING IS GETTING WORSE. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THIS VEHICLE! THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV4 CLUNKING/POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. DEALER SAYS I NEED INTERM. STEERING SHAFT, CLAMPS AND HOSE FOR A TOTAL OF $597.49. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, WHY NO RECALL? GEAR SHIFTER AND GEAR SHIFTER SLIDE BECAME PROBLEMATIC AT 49,000 MILES BUT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

STEERING WHEEL "CLUNKS" AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS - CLUNKING INCREASES OVER TIME. CONCERN IS IF STEERING FAILS AS A RESULT. TOYOTA'S FIX IS TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE DRIVESHAFT AND AN ALIGNMENT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PERVASIVE PROBLEM ON A NUMBER OF RAV4 MODEL YEARS (BASED ON HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS ON INTERNET DISCUSSION SITES, AT LEAST ONE OF WHICH CLAIMS FAILED STEERING RESULTING IN MULTICAR CRASH). PER THESE ONLINE DISCUSSIONS, SOME TOYOTA DEALERS HAVE STATED IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, SOME HAVE NOT. GIVEN THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS (TOYOTA HAS TWO SERVICE MEMOS ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM AND EVEN DEVELOPED NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS), IF THE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE AND DETERMINED THERE IS NO CONSUMER SAFETY ISSUES, IS THAT CONCLUSION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? WOULD APPEAR THIS WOULD BE PROPER TO DISCLOSE, AS CONSUMERS GET VERY CONCERNED WITH A POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING AND ITS POTENTIAL CRASH RAMIFICATIONS. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS DEVELOPED A VERY DISTINCT CLUNKING SOUND AND FEEL WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I NEVER DRIVE THE CAR, AND NOTICED IT IMMEDIATELY WHEN I HAD TO DRIVE IT A WEEK AGO. I QUESTIONED MY HUSBAND, WHO SAID IT HAD FELT LIKE THAT "FOREVER"!! WHEN I SEARCHED ONLINE I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT IT ACTUALLY IS QUITE A PROBLEM! CAR NOW HAS 90-K MILES. LAST SUMMER (AT A HAIR OVER 60-K) THE WATER PUMP WENT - OUT OF WARRANTY. VERY POOR DESIGN, AS THE ENGINE MUST BE PULLED TO REPLACE THE PUMP TO THE TUNE OF $1,600!!!! MY HUSBAND IS NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO QUESTIONING THE DEALER ABOUT THE STEERING. *TR

ON JULY 20TH OF 2010 I TOOK MY 2006 RAV 4 TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ST. AUGUSTINE FL CONCERNING A NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEN I MADE A TURN. CONCERNS I HAVE THIS WITH EXPERIENCE INCLUDE TOYOTA STATES THEY HAVE A SMART TEAM TO QUICKLY REACT TO CUSTOMERS. I TOOK MY RAV INTO THE DEALERSHIP AT 1PM ON THE 20TH AND AT 5 PM THEY LET ME KNOW THEY WOULD NEED TO KEEP MY RAV OVERNIGHT BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT INTERNAL FAILURE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HOWEVER THESE 2 DAYS OF FAULTY PRODUCT COST ME $262.52 WHEN I HAD ONLY A$50.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD SPLIT THE COST OF THE RENTAL CAR AS THE COVERAGE ONLY COVERED A RENTAL IF THE REPAIR TOOK OVER 6 HOURS. IT TOOK OVER 6 HOURS TO EVEN FIND THE PROBLEM EVEN WITH THE SMART TEAM. I ALSO HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AS I WAS TOLD IT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE STEERING REPAIR. IN MY EXPERIENCE IF SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS PART OF THE REPAIR IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE COST. A DOCTOR IS NOT ALLOWED TO CHARGE EXTRA TO STITCH YOU BACK UP AFTER OPENING YOU FOR A SURGERY. IS THIS STEERING SHAFT INTERNAL FAILURE THE SAME ISSUE I CAME HOME TO WY AND SAW ON THE NEWS? IF SO SHOULD THIS NOT BE COVERED AS PART OF THE RECALL ~ ~ (TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2010--A FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN NEW YORK ASKED TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTS RELATED TO PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING RELAY RODS IN TOYOTA 4RUNNERS (1990-1995), PICKUPS (1989-1995) AND T100 TRUCKS (1993-1998). THE SUBPOENAS, MAILED TO TOYOTA'S U.S. SUBSIDIARIES ON JUNE 29, COME SHORTLY AFTER A NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) INVESTIGATION INTO WHETHER TOYOTA NOTIFIED THE AGENCY OF A STEERING ROD DEFECT IN A TIMELY FASHION, AS REQUIRED BY LAW.) *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, HE WOULD HEAR AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND. THE FAILURE WOULD ONLY OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT BUSHING HAD DRIED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

MY RAV4 MAKES AN ANNOYING KNOCKING/POPPING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. *JS

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV-4 WITH 27,000 MILES DEVELOPED A CLUNKING, GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS SO SEVERE THAT I EVEN CHECKED THE WHEELS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE NOT LOOSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER, TANSKY TOYOTA, 6300 SAWMILL RD., DUBLIN, OH 43017, ON JULY 13, 2010 FOR SERVICING. THEY DISCOVERED A BROKEN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT [PART #45221-42071] ON THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH THEY REPLACED AT A COST OF $439.50. WHILE MY CAR HAD ONLY 27,334 MILES, I TOOK DELIVERY ON 8/25/06 SO IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. TOGETHER WITH WHEEL ALIGNMENT, THE TOTAL COST TO ME WAS $523.00. THE SERVICE STAFF ACTED AS IF THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF SUCH A FAILURE, BUT AFTER CHECKING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I FOUND A NUMBER OF REPORTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS FOR 2006 RAV-4'S. I ALSO DISCOVERED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS IN 2008 TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO REPAIR IT. TO DATE, TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS SAFETY PROBLEM. SINCE THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO EITHER A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR POOR ENGINEERING, I ASKED FOR MY DEALER TO COVER MY EXPENSES FOR THE REPAIR, BUT AFTER A MONTH WITH MULTIPLE MEETINGS WITH THEIR SERVICE MANAGER, THE DEALER HAS NOT REIMBURSED ME. WHILE I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, I CONSIDERED STEERING COLUMN FAILURE TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE; ONE REQUIRING A RECALL TO PROTECT OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN UP POSITION LEADING TO A SAFETY HAZARD OBSCURING DRIVERS SIGHT AND A COLLISION HAZARD. *TR

WHEN STARTING UP FROM A STOP, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS PROPERLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEARS HOWEVER WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, IT APPEARS TO MOMENTARILY GO IN TO NEUTRAL WHERE THE ENGINE WINES OUT BEFORE QUICKLY BANGING INTO THIRD GEAR. VERY HARSH SHIFTING. THIS APPEARS TO OCCUR ONLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION HEATS UP AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR LONGER. AFTER THIS OCCURS, IT WILL DO THIS EVERY TIME WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS TO THE DEALER FOR SOME TIME HOWEVER WAS ONLY RECENTLY ABLE TO PROVE IT TO THEM. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT $4000.00. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 DEVELOPED A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT WAS GETTING WORSE. AT 59,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND GOT THE NEWS THAT IT NEEDED TO HAVE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED. THIS WAS A KNOWN DEFECT BY TOYOTA AND THEY NEVER NOTIFIED ME, WHILE I HAD THE CAR UNDER WARRANTY. THE TSB WENT OUT A YEAR BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN AT THE SAME DEALERS FOR REPAIR BEFORE. I'M TOLD IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE (WHICH I DON'T BELIEVE) AND THAT IT WILL COST ME $650 TO REPLACE. TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS FOR OWNERS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH 33,167 MILES. THE IGNITION KEY IS ABOUT TO FALL APART. ALL THE COVERS FOR THE PUSH BUTTONS ON THE KEY ARE FALLING APART. THIS JUST STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THE KEY WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST $250.00 TO REPLACE. *TR

HOW DO I GET MY NAME REMOVED FROM ANY COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THE ABOVE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOTALED IN JUNE, 2010. I HAVE TRIED COMMUNICATING THIS TO TOYOTA AND STILL RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES. I AM NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAR...NOTIFICATION OF IT BEING TOTALED WAS FILED WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING IN JUNE, 2010. THIS VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND TOTALED REGARDS, [XXX] [XXX]@HOTMAIL.COM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AT LOWER SPEEDS, AND IN PARK WHEN JUST TURNING THE WHEEL. ALSO CAN FEEL THE CLICKS BY TOUCHING THE STEERING SHAFT. IF POSSIBILITY OF STEERING WHEEL SEPARATING IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT. TOYOTA KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM (TSBST001-08). TOYOTA REFUSING TO ADMIT DEFECT. *TR

TURNED ON THE CAR, POWER STEERING LIGHT TURNED ON WITH COMPLETE FAILURE OF POWER STEERING FUNCTION. CAR WAS PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, RESTARTED, AND COMPLETE RETURN OF POWER STEERING FUNCTION. *TR

2 UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INSTANCES --- I HAVE HAD TWO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INSTANCES IN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. IN BOTH CASES I WAS WEARING BOOTS AND THE BOOT HITTING THE BRAKE OVERLAPPED AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. NEITHER CASE RESULTED IN A COLLISION. ONE OF THE PROBLEMS HERE IS THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY DEPRESSED POSITION IS WELL BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SO OVERLAP CAN APPLY THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, I HEAR A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. A MECHANIC I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO RECENTLY FOUND THAT THE STEERING SHAFT IS FAILING. THIS IS THE SECOND STEERING SHAFT THAT HAS GONE BAD; I HAD THE FIRST ONE REPLACED 4 YEARS AGO WITH A SUPPOSEDLY IMPROVED VERSION. EVIDENTLY, WHATEVER CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE DESIGN DID NOT PREVENT THE SAME PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING. I STARTED TO HEAR THE SAME NOISE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AFTER HAVING THE REPLACEMENT INSTALLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER ADVISED A DIAGNOSTIC AT HER EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 119,000.

THERE IS A CLUNKING-TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT ON MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 STEERING CLUNKING NOISE. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND CURRENTLY HAS 24,557 MILES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS GOING OUT. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH 87000 MILES ON IT. THE STEERING STARTED MAKING CLUNKING NOISE ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. BASED ON MY RESEARCH MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. HERE'S ONE OF MANY LINKS REGARDING PEOPLE'S COMPLAIN ON THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE START INVESTIGATE ON THIS ISSUE AND THANKS! *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BEGAN SAGGING. AT FIRST, I WAS ABLE TO POUND IT IN THE "UP" POSITION WITH MY FIST. BUT OVER TIME, THAT STOPPED WORKING. IT IS A GREAT OBSTRUCTION TO VISIBILITY. *TR

"CLUNKING " NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING THE WHEN LEFT AND RIGHT UNDER LOW SPEEDS. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH IS BECOMING MORE PRONOUNCED, A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT A RECALL SHOULD BE IN PLACE DUE TO THE NUMBER OF OWNERS OF RAV 4'S (2006) BLOGGING AND REPORTING THIS SAME ISSUE . *TR

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NOISE (STEERING GEAR/LINKAGE) ON 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, YOU WILL HEAR A CLUNK OR KNOCKING-TYPE NOISE. *TR

MY 2006 RAV4 4WD (40,000 MILES) BEGAN LEAKING OIL AT A VERY FAST RATE, LEAVING A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL ON THE GARAGE FLOOR, WHICH WASN'T IMMEDIATELY NOTICED BY ME. THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED, THEREFORE I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THERE WAS ALMOST NO OIL IN THE CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN THERE WAS A PROBLEM IF MY BOYFRIEND HAD NOT CALLED ME FROM THE HOUSE TO WARN ME THAT MOST OF THE OIL THAT SHOULD BE IN MY CAR WAS ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. TOYOTA REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE OIL LINE AND SAYS THAT THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR SYSTEM IS WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THE NEXT TIME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY OIL DELIVERY SYSTEM, I WON'T HAVE ANY WARNINGS TO PREVENT ME FROM BURNING UP THE ENGINE. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH 23,500 MILES. STEERING KNOCKING NOISE AND CLUNKING. STARTED AT 20,000 MILES APPROX. I WENT ON LINE AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH RAV OWNERS YET THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. WHY? I CAN'T GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER AS TO WHETHER THIS IS A NOISE PROBLEM OR WILL BE A STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED IT TO DEPLOY; HOWEVER, HE CONFIRMED THAT IT COULD BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

STEERING MAKES A "BUMPING" SOUND WHEN IT IS TURNED IN ANY DIRECTION. MY SON COMMENTED THAT HE NOTICED IT IN 2010. LAST WEEK MY MECHANIC MENTIONED IT AND SAID THAT IT SHOULD BE FIXED. ANOTHER MECHANIC AT THE SAME SHOP ALSO MENTIONED IT TO ME AFTER HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS LOCKED OUT OF MY VEHICLE BY THE AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM WITH MY DOG IN THE FRONT SEAT ON A HOT SOUTH CAROLINA DAY WITH ALL WINDOWS UP. THE LOCKS ON ALL 4 DOORS AND THE BACK DOOR LOCKED EVEN THOUGH I HAD THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LOCKING SYSTEM THE FIRST TIME I UNEXPECTEDLY GOT LOCKED OUT IN 2007. I SPENT MOST OF THE DAY DRIVING HOME TO GET A SPARE KEY AND BACK AGAIN TO THE CAR'S LOCATION. AT THAT TIME, TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS RESPONDED WITH THE SAME ARROGANCE THE COMPANY HAS DEMONSTRATED REGARDING THE ACCELERATION ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME "THAT'S HOW THE LOCKS ARE DESIGNED" (EVEN THOUGH NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN THE BENEFIT) AND THEY TOLD ME THE LOCKS WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK IF THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE PETS AND SMALL CHILDREN CAN BE INADVERTENTLY LOCKED INSIDE OF A SUFFOCATING HOT VEHICLE. THIS WOULD RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE IF THE OWNER HAS TO BREAK A WINDOW. FORTUNATELY, IN THIS INSTANCE, I WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A SPARE KEY BEFORE MY DOG DIED. IF I WERE A MANUFACTURER, I WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT ANY DESIGN FLAW TO BE ABLE TO FIX IT. TOYOTA, HOWEVER, RESPONDED IN AN OVERCONFIDENT WAY, ACCEPTING NO RESPONSIBILITY. EVENTS LEADING UP TO MOST RECENT INCIDENT: A FRIEND AND I DROVE TO A DUMP LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY HOME. WE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, OPENED THE BACK DOOR AND BEGAN TO UNLOAD THE TRASH. MY SMALL DOG WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT, AND THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION. WHEN FINISHED UNLOADING, I SHUT THE BACK DOOR AND WENT TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. IT WAS LOCKED. MY FRIEND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND IT WAS LOCKED. ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED, THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, AND MY DOG STARTED PANTING. WHEN I CALLED TO REPORT THIS MOST RECENT INCIDENT, CUSTOMER RELATIONS SUGGESTED I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT A LOCAL DEALER AT MY OWN EXPENSE. UNACCEPTABLE. NHTSA: PLEASE DO YOUR JOB ON THIS. THANKS. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO WITHDRAW HIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED IVOQ 06/02/10

2006 RAV4 STEERING CLUNK. *TR

2006 TOYOTA RAV4 SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY IN A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT; DRIVER APPLIED STANDARD BRAKE WHICH DID NOTHING TO SLOW ACCELERATION, SO THE DRIVER TRIED TO BREAK THE VEHICLE'S MOMENTUM BY SCALING A LARGE CHAIN-LINKED FENCE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CAR WAS AIRBORN A FEW SECONDS, DRIVER PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, HIT A STOP SIGN, LANDED, THE VEHICLE STOPPED, AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRONT HOOD. THE IMPACT OF LANDING BROKE THE DRIVER'S BACK, CAUSED SEVERAL BULGING LUMBAR DISCS, AND BROKE THE LEFT FOOT. TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAS CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO IS SENDING OUT THEIR "SMART TEAM" TO DOWNLOAD INFORMATION FROM THE CAR'S BLACK BOX OR EVENT DATA RECORDER WHICH CONTAINS A HISTORY OF THE DRIVER'S ACTIONS AND THE HISTORY OF THE CAR'S ACTIONS. THEY SHOULD BE DOING THIS THE WEEK OF APRIL 26. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND BOLTED DOWN THE FLOOR MATS. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK WHILE IN THE IDLE POSITION TO GET THE RPMS TO DECREASE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,785 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000. UPDATED 1/19/2010 *CN UPDATED 03/31/11

TOYOTA: LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR VVT-I OIL LINE THIS IS HOW TOYOTA HANDLES THIS ISSUE I OWN A 2006 RAV4 SPORT WITH THE 2GR-FE V6 ENGINE. THE CAR WAS SERVICED ON 3/17/2010 FOR THE LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN RELATED WITH THE VVT-I ACTUATOR OIL SUPPLY HOSE - OR IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE METAL-RUBBER-METAL OIL LINE PART #15707-31030 HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH THE METAL-RUBBER-METAL PART #15757-31030 (A PALLIATIVE FIX), INSTEAD OF PART #15772-31030 'OIL PIPE METAL' THAT IS MADE ENTIRELY FROM METAL AND FITS THE 2GR-FE V6 ENGINES MANUFACTURED AFTER APRIL 2008. ALSO ON THE INVOICE THAT WAS RELEASED, THE LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE VVT-I ACTUATOR OIL SUPPLY HOSE SHOWS UP AS '90K OIL COOLER HOSE (RAV4)' THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING WITH ACTUATOR SUPPLY HOSE. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE AGREED THAT THE METAL OIL SUPPLY LINE HAS A BETTER DESIGN, BUT HE REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPLACEMENT WITH THE METAL COMPONENT BECAUSE ACCORDINGLY WITH THE VIN, THIS IS WHAT SHOULD BE USED. AS AN ENGINEER WITH MORE THAN 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE I BELIEVE THAT THIS RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED IN A TECHNICALLY SOUND MANNER AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED WITH THE CORRECT ALL METAL OIL PIPE PART #15772-31030. I BELIEVE THAT THIS FIX DO NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT DELAYS THE FAILURE OF THE OIL LINE THAT CAN CAUSE THE SEIZURE OF THE ENGINE IN MATTER OF MINUTES. THIS DEFINITELY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. *TR

NOTICEABLE CLUNK HEARD AND FELT IN STEERING 2006 RAV4 DURING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS. NUMEROUS SIMILAR REPORTS--NO RECALL--DESPITE SAFETY ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE REPORT. IN AN EARLIER RECALL, 2006 PRIUS STEERING ASSEMBLY MAY BECOME LOOSE CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE SITTING IDLE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. WITHIN MOMENTS, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,650 AND THE CURRENT WAS 84,750. UPDATED 08/03/10*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES, SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT FEARS FOR HIS SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT WHENEVER HE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IT TEMPORARILY BECAME STUCK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 36,000.

MASSIVE ENGINE OIL LEAK. THIS IS THE HOSE REFERRED TO IN LSC 90K - VARIABLE VALVE TIMING WITH INTELLIGENCE (VVT-I) OIL HOSE REPLACEMENT LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN. WHILE DRIVING IN THE LOCAL WALMART PARKING LOT VIRTUALLY ALL OF OUR ENGINE OIL DRAINED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING AT LESS THAN 10 MPH. WE HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. OUR ONLY WARNING OF A PROBLEM WAS A HOT OIL SMELL. WE STOPPED AND I CHECKED THE DIP STICK WHICH WAS COMPLETELY DRY WITH OIL SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE WHICH EXPLAINS THE HOT OIL SMELL. *TR