2007 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUNSHADE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS PROPERLY IN MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE SHADE DOES NOT STAY UP FLAT AGAINST THE ROOF OF THE CAR, NOR WILL IT REMAIN IN PLACE WHEN PUSHED FORWARD AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, INSTEAD, IT JUST HANGS SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, GETTING IN THE DRIVER'S FACE AND POSING A SERIOUS VISIBILITY PROBLEM. IT WON'T EVEN STAY IN PLACE TO BLOCK THE SUN PROPERLY - THE PURPOSE IT WAS DESIGNED FOR. ALSO, WHENEVER GETTING INTO OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL TO AVOID HAVING THE SUNSHADE HIT HIM IN THE FACE OR HEAD. I AM ESPECIALLY WORRIED ABOUT HAVING THE "KNIFE EDGE" OF THE SHADE HANGING AT EYE LEVEL IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY CAUSE INJURY TO THE DRIVER. THESE SUNSHADES WERE VERY POORLY DESIGNED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I AM FINDING THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON PROBLEM IN SEVERAL TOYOTA VEHICLES FROM THE EARLY TO MID 2000'S. IN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE EVER OWNED (A FEW OF WHICH UNFORTUNATELY TURNED OUT TO TRULY AWFUL AND UNRELIABLE CARS), AND IN ALL OF THE OTHER CARS I HAVE EVER DRIVEN, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THIS DANGEROUS AND ANNOYING PROBLEM. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT OIL LEVEL HAD DIMINISHED DRASTICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN ORDER TO HAVE AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

ON MARCH 29, 2012, I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY & HEARD A CLUNK. CHECKED REAR UNDERSIDE & SAW NOTHING AMISS. ARRIVED IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AND HEARD 3 MORE CLUNKS (WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS). THEN THE FINAL EXTRA LOUD CLUNK AS THE STEERING WENT OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ON MICHIGAN AVE. IN FRONT OF THE HILTON HOTEL DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC (5 PM) DOING 25 TO 30 MPH. CARS ALL AROUND ME. GENTLY APPLIED BRAKES & EMERGENCY FLASHERS TO WARN OTHERS, AS I KEPT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM WAY LEFT TO WAY RIGHT. EASED MY WAY FROM CENTER LANE OVER TO THE CURB. CAN'T BELIEVE I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING! RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS TILTED AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE--TOP OUTWARD, BOTTOM INWARD. IN ANOTHER 15 MIN. I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY DOING 50 --60 MPH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO INDIANA. TOYOTA SERVICE ADVISOR SAID: "BOLT RUSTED THROUGH. IF KEEPING CAR, SUGGEST GETTING LEFT REAR SUSPENSION REPLACED TOO BECAUSE IT IS GETTING READY TO GO. A COMPANY REP IS GOING TO COME OUT TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER EXACT FAILURE JUST RECENTLY." THE REP DECIDED HE DID NOT NEED TO SEE IT. (I'M SURE HE WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE BIGGER PROBLEM TOYOTA WOULD BE FACING.) VEHICLE FACTS: 2007 RAV-4, MILEAGE: 43,185, ONE OWNER, GARAGE KEPT (EXCEPT FOR VACATIONS). LAST 27-POINT INSPECTION: (1-21-2012) 2 MONTHS BEFORE FAILURE. NO ITEMS IN THE SECTION TITLED "UNDER VEHICLE" WERE EVEN CHECKED OFF AS COMPLETED (GOOD OR BAD). THIS INCLUDED "SUSPENSION & STEERING LINKAGE". I PAID $778. TO HAVE BOTH LEFT & RIGHT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES REPLACED & AN ALIGNMENT. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FROM TOYOTA, THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID "NO. THEY CONSIDER IT NORMAL "WEAR & TEAR". NOTE: CASES LIKE MINE ARE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP AS "TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS" BECAUSE I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING OR ANYONE. AND THOSE THAT ARE ACCIDENTS COULD POSSIBLY BE MISTAKEN AS: "OVER-CORRECTIVE STEERING!" *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD CARPET AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE CONTACT STATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, A LOUD NOISE AND A LEAK EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SAVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. UPDATED 5/11/12 *CN THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE MUFFLER OR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVERHEATED AND SET THE BACK RUNNER MAT ON FIRE, AS IT WAS DIRECTLY UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. UPDATED 05/31/12

DRIVER SIDE STEEL WHEEL PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM HUB DUE TO SHEARING OF 4 OF 5 WHEEL LUGS. TESTED AN ADDITIONAL WHEEL LUG/NUT ON PASSENGER REAR WHEEL WITH TORQUE WRENCH SET AT 85 LB-FT AND IT SHEARED OFF. JUST PRIOR TO WHEEL SEPARATION, LOUD "POPS" WERE HEARD WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE DRIVER TO REDUCE SPEED AND SHOULDER THE VEHICLE. NO BODY DAMAGE, JUST SHAKEN DRIVER. ALL WHEEL NUTS WERE PROPERLY TORQUED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATION OF 85 LB-FT LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AGO. *TR *JS

KNOCK AND SUDDEN SHIFT OF STEERING WHEEL. NOISE APPEARED TO COME FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE AND ALONG THE STEERING COLUMN OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM. HAS GROWN WORSE WITH USE, BUT VEHICLE ONLY HAS 30,250 MILES. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF IT'S SAFE TO DRIVE; DANGER OF LOSS OF STEERING. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *JS

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 65-70 MPH ON JANUARY 25, 2014, WE STARTED TO NOTICE THE HOOD OF OUR TOYOTA 2007 RAV 4 STARTING TO VIBRATE UP AND DOWN. WE PULLED OVER, OPENED IT AND SLAMMED IT SHUT. IT CONTINUED TO VIBRATE UP AND DOWN, BUT NOT AS MUCH. YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014, DRIVING TO WORK, ON THE INTERSTATE, THE HOOD STARTING VIBRATING UP AND DOWN HARD AT 70 MPH. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE OFFICE AND LOOKED AT THE HOOD IT WAS OPEN 1". THE FRONT LATCH HAD EVIDENTLY FAILED COMPLETELY; THE BACK LATCH HAD EVIDENTLY HELD THE HOOD ON. IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING SINCE THE INTERSTATE WAS PACKED AND I COULDN'T GET OVER. MY RAV 4 IS PRESENTLY AT OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HOPEFULLY BEING FIXED. *TR

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAD A REAR RIGHT WHEEL TIE ROD BREAK WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE AND OUR ONE YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO SEE MY WIFE'S DOCTOR FOR HER MEDICAL CONDITION AT THE TIME. THANKFULLY WE HAD JUST MADE A TURN ON TO THE ON-RAMP OF THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY AND WERE MOVING AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED. I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF WE WERE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE, I MIGHT HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD A TERRIBLE CRASH WITH SERIOUS INJURY (OR WORSE) TO OUR FAMILY AND POSSIBLY OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT TOYOTA RAV4 TIE ROD INCIDENTS, IT SEEMS THAT IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER RAV4 DRIVERS MANY TIMES ON ALL DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS OF THE VEHICLE. JUST LIKE US THEY ALL SAY THEY DID NOT HIT ANY POT HOLES OR OTHER OBJECTS TO HAVE CAUSED THE TIE ROD TO BREAK. THIS FAILING OF TIE RODS ON RAV4S SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. SOME ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THIS TIE ROD FAILURES ON TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLES. *TR

STEERING HAS PLAY AND CLUNK AT TIMES CAUSING CAR TO SWERVE DO MECHANICAL DEFECT AND/OR OVER CORRECTION OF THE DRIVER DO TO SENSATION OF LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. AFTER READING USER FORMS ON THIS VEHICLE IT IS COMMON TO THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BY TOYOTA TO PREVENT FATAL ACCIDENTS. RECALL ITEMS SHOULD INCLUDE MIDDLE SHAFT AND RACK AND PINION. WEBSITES BELOW TELL PEOPLE TO COMPLAIN TO TOYOTA BUT THIS SHOULD BE MANDATED BY THE NHTSA HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING HTTP://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/99-4-3-MECHANICAL/82616-STEERING-INTERMEDIATE-SHAFT-CLUNK-SOLUTION.HTML. *TR

A CAR PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND I TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY ENGINE INCREASED ACCELERATION WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE SLOWED ACCELERATION AND I PUSHED MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND I PULLED CRUISE CONTROL LEVER TOWARDS ME AND THE ENGINE SLOWED DOWN-MY CAR HAD BEEN SET TO CRUISE AT 52 MPH. AFTER THE INCIDENT I SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF AS I WAS HEADING INTO TOWN. I THEN PULLED INTO BIG SCOOP(CANTON,IL BUSINESS) PARKING LOT GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH-A LADY WALKED IN FRONT OF MY CAR AND I TOUCHED THE BRAKE AND AGAIN I EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND AGAIN I WAS QUICK IN SHOVING CAR INTO NEUTRAL PREVENTING A SERIOUS INJURY. I WENT HOME AND CALLED FORT TOYOTA IN PEKIN, IL AND I TOOK CAR IN FEB, 17, 2012 AT NOON. THEY HAD THEIR TOP MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT-HE SAID HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THEY CALLED TOYOTA'S HEADQUARTERS AND THEY TOLD THEM IT WAS A FLOORMAT ISSUE. THEY TOLD ME THAT AND I TOLD THEM IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FLOORMATS BUT RATHER AFTER TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL IS WHEN I RECEIVED UNWANTED ACCELERATION IN BOTH INCIDENTS. THEY ASKED ME SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT AND THEY GAVE ME TOYOTA'S HEADQUARTERS NUMBER AND GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR TO USE. WHEN I CALLED THEIR HEADQUARTERS THEY SAID IT WAS A FLOORMAT ISSUE AND THAT WAS THEIR FINAL STATEMENT ON THE MATTER. I TOLD THEM IT WAS A BRAKE ISSUE BUT THEY STUCK TO FLOORMATS AS THE CAUSE AND THAT IS WHY I'M REPORTING THIS MATTER TO YOU AS I FEEL FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL DRIVERS; THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY ANY AUTOMAKER WITH UNWANTED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. A FIRST STEP IS TO ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM THEN GOOD(SAFE) THINGS WILL RESULT. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT. IT IS APPRECIATED VERY MUCH,[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS JUST IN A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT WHERE I LOST STEERING AND CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. AFTER READING ONLINE ABOUT THE KNOCKING IN THE STEERING FROM OTHER OWNERS, I BELIEVE I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH NOONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED I AM WORRIED ABOUT OTHER DRIVERS SAFETY. MY CAR AND TWO OTHERS WERE TOTALED. I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER AND I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE NOTICED SOMETHING WITH THE STEERING AND CHECKED IT . I JUST HAD A 50000 MILE CHECKUP. I REALLY FEEL SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT CAN BE FATAL. I AM LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR DID GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC THOUGH. I HOPE SOMEONE KNOWS HOW TO GET AHOLD OF ME AND HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. BUT JUST TO SAY EVERYONE ELSE, PLEASE BE CAREFUL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES CONSTANTLY LOST AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TIRE PRESSURE VALVE STEMS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. ...UPDATED 04/25/13 *BF UPDATED 05/16/2013 *JS

STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT STARTED FAILING CAUSING KNOCKING NOISES WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. TOYOTA WILL ONLY REPLACE WITHIN STANDARD WARRANTY PERIOD AS THEY DON'T THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD METALLIC NOISE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED FURTHER. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WAS ON A 60 DEGREE ANGLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS FRACTURED AND THE TREAD WAS STRIPPED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND OFFERED A NEW REAR ASSEMBLY IF THE CONTACT TRADED IN THE OLD PART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND PERFORMING A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,883. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. ..UPDATED 09/04/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS FISHTAILING SHE JAMMED ON THE BREAKS SLOWLY STOPPING WITH IN INCHES FROM PARKED CARS. UPDATED 09/12/2012 *JS

EXPERIENCED KNOCKING NOISES WITH VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. CONDITION HAS WORSENED OVER THE LAST YEAR. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD RESULT IN STEERING FAILURE AND AN EXPECTED INABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

WITHIN 4000 MILES OF OIL & FILTER CHANGE THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. THERE HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE (DROPS ON GROUND OR BUILD UP ON ENGINE COMPONENTS) AND NO EVIDENCE OF BURNING UP OIL (SMOKE OR SMELL). ONLINE RESEARCH REVEALS A TOYOTA TECHNICAL BULLETIN SB0094-11 ENTITLED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHICH DETAILS AN ACCEPTABLE OIL USAGE LEVEL OF 1 QUART EVERY 1200 MILES. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN ACCEPTABLE IN A CAR BUILT IN 1940, BUT IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN A CAR DESIGNED TO GO 5000 MILES BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION CAN LEAD TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE HEAT AND WEAR CAUSING FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. AS TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE YET NOT DOING ENOUGH TO REMEDY IT, I AM REPORTING IT HERE TO HOPEFULLY BE INVESTIGATED. *JS

WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON A SMELL EMANATED AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE WINDOW SWITCH AREA OF THE FRONT DRIVER DOOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NO LONGER WORK. THE SMELL LINGERED BUT THE SMOKE STOPPED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST JANUARY 19 AT 5PM I SAW MY WINDOW THAT IT LOOKS LIKE SO HOT OUTSIDE AND WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN IT,I SAW A FLAME COMING OUT FROM THE LEFT POWER SWITCH. I WAS SO SCARED BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS GETTING BIG SO I STOP MY CAR ,TURN OFF MY ENGINE,GET OUT OF THE CAR AND CALL 911. WHEN POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE FIRE OR FLAMES GONE. IT WAS SO STRANGE AND SCARY. GOOD THING I NEVER GOT HURT AND I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE RIGHT AWAY. I FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I JUST WANT YOU TO BE AWARE SO THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO ANY SOLUTION FOR THIS MATTER AND I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO EXPERIENCE WHAT HAPPEN TO ME. POLICE REPORT # 12-024482. *KB

VEHICLE EXHIBITED A CLUNK AND RATCHET SOUND FROM REAR OF CAR WHEN DRIVING OVER SMALL BUMPS. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DEALER IN JANUARY 2010. WHILE THE NOISE WAS REPLICATED, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS ASSURED THAT THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. A LOCAL MECHANIC WAS ALSO CONSULTED WHO COULD NOT PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE SUSPENSION NOISE. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL KICKED OUT AND WAS NO LONGER PARALLEL WITH THE VEHICLE. CAR WAS PRACTICALLY IMMOBILE. THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE A LINKAGE THAT STRIPPED ITSELF OUT. THE LINKAGE (TIE ROD?) HOLDS THE WHEEL IN PLACE. I HAD BOTH SIDES (RIGHT AND LEFT) REPAIRED JUST IN CASE THE LEFT SIDE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR WEAR. CAR REMAINS SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT (JUST BEYOND TOLERANCE) AS LINKAGE FAILURE CAUSED SUSPENSION COMPONENTS TO WARP OR BEND. *TR

MY WIFE AND I HAVE A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR KEEPS FALLING DOWN ON ITS OWN WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. IT WILL NO LONGER STAY UP AT ALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE DRIVING AS IT BLOCKS VISIBILITY TO THE ROAD, AND ALSO PROVIDES A POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY FOR GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. NOT ONLY WILL TOYOTA NOT RECOGNIZE THIS VERY COMMON (RECALL WORTHY) PROBLEM, BUT OUR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY THAT WE PAID ALMOST $2000 EXTRA DOLLARS FOR DOESN'T SEEM TO COVER THIS EITHER. TOYOTA QUOTED US JUST UNDER $200 TO FIX THE VISOR. THE WARRANTY ISSUE IS ONE PROBLEM BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANUFACTURING A PART THAT CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD. IS IT GOING TO TAKE CAR ACCIDENTS AND THE LOSS OF LIVES FOR THIS TO BE RECOGNIZED? *TR

BEGAN EXPERIENCING A DISTINCTIVE CLUNKING NOISE, AT LOW SPEEDS, WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CLUNK COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FELT AS THOUGH A BUSHING WAS DEFECTIVE, OR THEIR IS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. NO NOISE FROM THE FRONT END, OR UNDERCARRIAGE, JUST AT THE STEERING WHEEL, WHEN TURNING, AT LOW SPEEDS. TOYOTA STATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A PART REPLACEMENT, HOWEVER, I FEEL THAT IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, WHICH COULD BECOME FATAL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SHOULD BE ELEVATED TO A RECALL STATUS, AS IT INVOLVES THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY VEERED OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE THREADS ON THE TIE ROD HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, THE REAR TIE ROD (SUSPENSION ARM) ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF OUR RAV4 SUDDENLY FAILED, CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. AFTER THE CAR CAME TO A STOP, THE AFFECTED WHEEL WAS FOUND TO BE TILTED ON AN ANGLE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A MECHANICAL PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE RAV4 HAD 62,422 MILES AT THE TIME. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 24, 2011 - PRIOR TO THE RELATED RECALLS 12V373000 (C0J) AND 13V383000 (CSJ). I WROTE TO TOYOTA EXECUTIVES IN JANUARY 2012. MY LETTER DESCRIBED OUR INCIDENT, AND I INCLUDED THREE SIMILAR REPORTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS FROM THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND AN INTERNET SEARCH. I WAS PUT IN CONTACT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TOYOTA EXECUTIVE OFFICES. I MAILED THE FAILED PART TO TOYOTA U.S.A. HEADQUARTERS IN FEBRUARY 2012 AFTER TAKING PHOTOS TO DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM. CORROSION WAS HIDDEN WITHIN THE TUBE OF THE SUSPENSION ARM. THE THREADS ON THE TIE ROD END HAD CORRODED, SO ONE PIECE COULD BE PULLED STRAIGHT OUT FROM THE OTHER PART WITHOUT HAVING TO UNSCREW IT. THE LOWER PART OF THE BOLT OR TIE ROD END WAS ALSO FRACTURED DUE TO THE CORROSION. AFTER FOLLOWING UP WITH TOYOTA EXECUTIVE OFFICES, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS ISSUE WAS ALREADY KNOWN TO THEM, AND RESULTED FROM IMPROPER TORQUE APPLIED DURING A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. MY CAR PREVIOUSLY HAD A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT AN AUTHORIZED TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. TOYOTA OFFICIALLY STARTED THE RECALL PROCESS WITH THE NHTSA ABOUT A HALF YEAR LATER. TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TAKEN STEPS MUCH EARLIER TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE! A DOCUMENT ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE INDICATES TOYOTA STARTED AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION IN 2008. BASED ON OTHER RECALL-RELATED DOCUMENTS, IT IS SCARY THAT THERE APPEAR TO BE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF INVOLVED VEHICLES THAT HAVE YET TO BE INSPECTED. UPDATED 12/03/14. *JB UPDATED 01/26/15.*JB UPDATED 01/27/15*JB THE CONSUMERS CLAIM WAS DENIED, BECAUSE TOYOTA DID NOT GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS HIS CONCERN OR CONFIRM IF THE INCIDENT WAS A RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. UPDATED 02/24/15 UPDATED 05/11/15. UPDATED 06/03/15. *JB UPDATED 08/06/15*JB

UPON STARTING THE CAR THE RED POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT (P/S) STAYED ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 2 WEEKS. WE ARE TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. OTHERS ON THE INTERNET WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM SAY IT COST $2500 TO FIX!! TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON RELIEVED THE PROBLEM BUT IT CAME BACK AGAIN A WEEK LATER. GM ISSUED A RECALL QUICKLY FOR ITS CARS WHEN THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW ELECTRIC INSTEAD OF HYDRAULIC STEERING. THIS IS ANOTHER MAJOR DEFECT FOR TOYOTA WHICH COULD BE VERY SERIOUS IF THE STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING! LOSS OF STEERING CAN RESULT IN MAJOR ACCIDENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS MATTER. LIVES WILL BE SAVED IF YOU MAKE TOYOTA MEET ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY RAV4 SINCE OCT. 2007, BOUGHT IT NEW AND 2 1/2 YEARS AFTER OWNING IT I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES IN JUNE 2010. I JUST PURCHASED NEW TIRES FOR MY RAV4 AND HAD THEM PUT ON IN NOV. 2011 AND I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED BRAKES AGAIN. NOW FROM JUNE 2010 TO NOV. 2011 I SHOULD STILL HAVE A LOT OF BRAKE LEFT INSTEAD OF HAVING TO REPLACE THEM. IF THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY RAV4 I WILL TRADE IT IN AND BUY A NISSAN SUV INSTEAD. I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO CHANGE MY BRAKES EVERY 1 1/2 YEARS ON MY VEHICLE. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS WAS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM I WOULDN'T HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. I WOULD'VE BOUGHT SOMETHING DIFFERENT. DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE MY CAR BUT I FEEL THAT I SHOULD GET MORE WEAR AND TEAR FROM MY BRAKES THAN A 1 1/2 YEARS. MAYBE THE TOYOTA COMPANY SHOULD CHECK THE MATERIAL THE BRAKES WAS MADE FROM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT DEFECTIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 51 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A METAL TO METAL GRINDING NOISE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MIDDLE SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW AND HAD 148MILES ON IT WHEN DELIVERED AS IT WAS DELIVERED TO ME FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. FOR THE PAST 20,000 MILES IT HAS BEEN USING 3-4 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. TOYOTA KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES AND HAS A TSB 0094-11 TO FIX THE DESIGN FLAW. THIS "FIX" BASICALLY REBUILDS THE ENGINE WITH NEW PISTONS, RINGS AND CRANKS. CALLED THE DEALER WHEN I SAW THIS TSB AND TOLD THEM I HAD 59923 MILES ON VEHICLE SO I'LL BE OVER THE WARRANTY BY THE TIME I BRING IT IN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NO PROBLEM. DROPPED OFF VEHICLE WITH 60114 MILES ON IT AND THEY STARTED AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST BY FIRST FILLING THE OIL. IT TOOK 3 1/2 QUARTS JUST TO TOP IT OFF. NEED TO GO BACK IN 1200 MILES TO CONFIRM THAT IT IS USING OIL BUT THEY TOLD ME THE WARRANTY WILL NOT BE VALID AND I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. TOYOTA USES THIS ENGINE IN MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES AND A SEARCH ONLINE FINDS THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *KB

2007 RAV 4 HAD 3 LIGHTS TURNED ON (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT), SHORTLY AFTER THE LIGHTS CAME ON, THE BRAKES FAILED. RAV4 WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA DELEARSHIP FOR REPAIR AND AFTER THE TECHNICIANS BEING CONFUSED BY THE LIGHTS, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD FAILED. THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THE RECENT HIGHLINDER RECALL AND I FEEL PEOPLE'S SAFETY IS AT STAKE WITH THE BRAKES FAILING. *TR

EXPERIENCE KNOCKING AND POPPING NOISES IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. MY VEHICLE HAD 31,247 MILES ON IT WHEN I BROUGHT IN FOR AIRBAG RECALL. THEY ASKED ME ABOUT THE KNOCKING AND I SAID YES IT'S KNOCKING. ASKED IF IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME IF IT WAS....I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT $500 TO REPAIR. I DID RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND 117 COMPLAINTS. WHY HASN'T TOYOTA RECALLED THIS? I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS. TOYOTA KNEW THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS WAITING TO TURN LEFT WHEN IT WAS IMPACTED BY A 2004 FORD F-150 ON THE FRONT/LEFT SIDE LIFTING AND TURNING THE VEHICLE CLOCKWISE HITTING 1ST A 2000 FORD MUSTANG WITH THE FRONT/RIGHT SIDE AND THEN HITTING THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR AGAINST A 2008 NISSAN QUEST. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS ON THE TOYOTA RAV4 DEPLOYED. *KB

AT 66,000 MILES HEARD & FELT CLUNKING IN THE STEERING, & THEN SPENT $2033 PLUS TAX AT THE TOYOTA DEALER TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS #1 & #2, & POWER STEERING RACK. TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THEIR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. *TR

SPIRAL CABLE FAILURE IN STEERING COLUMN CAUSING AIRBAG MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT. TOYOTA CHARGING TO REPAIR WHEN CLEARLY THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS IN MANY RAV4'S WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. $500+ FOR REPAIR. *TR

ON 11/15/2011 I WAS DRIVING MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4 AND I RAN OVER A WOOD ON THE ROADWAY. MY PASSENGER CURTAIN SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY AUTO. I BROUGHT MY AUTO TO MY INSURANCE CLAIM DEPARTMENT ( TRAVERS) AND I GOT A INSPECTION AND QUOTED A PRICE OF 2959.98. MY AUTO HAS NO DAMAGE TO IT OTHER THEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I GOT IT FIXED AND A FEW DAYS LATER I RECEIVE A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THEY HAVE A RECALL ON THE CURTAIN SIDE AIRBAG AND THAT THEY WERE DEPLOYING BECAUSE OF THE SENSORS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN TRYING TO HAVE TOYOTA ACCEPT RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BUT TOYOTA SAYS BECAUSE I GOT IT FIXED BEFORE THEY COULD LOOK IT ,THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBLE AND I AM OUT OF LUCK.I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO CLAIM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BECAUSE THEY SENT ME THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SAME AIRBAG THAT I HAD THE PROBLEM WITH. *TR

THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SHAFT CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE IN STEERING. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS... HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT REMOVED ALL OF THE SWITCHS AND FUSES FROM THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

PURCHASED THE ABOVE VEHICLE FOR MY WIFE ON OCTOBER 25 2011 FROM AN AUTO BROKER IN ORANGE, CA WHO HAD ADVERTISED THE CAR IN AUTOTRADER.COM AS A CLEAN AND LOW MILEAGE(UNDER 26,000 MILES) AND IN HIS EMAIL TO ME STATED THAT THE UNIT WAS COMPLETELY INSPECTED AND WARRANTY. SINCE BUYING IT 2 1/2 DAYS AGO WE HAVE ONLY TAKEN IT OUT ON 3 OCCASIONS LOCALLY AS I HAVE A RENTED CAR AND WANTED TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE RENTED CAR WHILST WE HAVE IT. I NOTICED A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT JUST FELT WEIRD AND UNSAFE. HAVING GOOGLED THE PROBLEM I REALIZE THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING OF RAV 4 AND SO MANY THEIR PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTIFIED THE BROKER AND WAITING TO HEAR FROM HIM. I AM AMAZED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT TREAT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SERIOUSLY TO DO A FREE REPAIR AND RECALL. I CALLED THEM THIS MORNING AND THEY STATED AS THE CAR IS OVER 3 YEARS THEN THERE IS NO WARRANTY!!! TOYOTA PLEASE GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND DO NOT RISK PEOPLES LIFE!! AS FAR AS THE BROKER IS CONCERNED I HAVE TO RESERVE JUDGMENT UNTIL I SEE HIM AND FIND OUT WHAT HE IS WILLING TO DO TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THE BROKER IS SOLUTIONS AUTO SALES, MISSION VIEJO, CA BUT I MET HIM AND BOUGHT THE CAR FROM HIS OFFICE IN ORANGE, CA. *TR

TOOK MY RAV4 IN FOR SERVICE OF FIVE THOUSAND MILES OIL CHANGE. AT THAT TIME WHEN I PICKED UP CAR WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO GET MY STEERING LOWER SHAFT REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN HAVING STRANGE NOISES SINCE ABOUT 30000 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT THE STEERING. ALL OF A SUDDEN IT IS THE STEERING AND I NEED TO GET IT FIX RIGHT AWAY. I FEEL THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM THAN TOYOTA WANTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. IS THIS BEING LOOKED INTO? READING ONLINE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY 2007. *TR

LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A "CLUNKING" NOISE AND LOOSE FEEL TO THE STEERING SYSTEM OF MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO REPAIR THIS ITEM AT THEIR EXPENSE EVEN THOUGH THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A DEFECT ACCORDING TO THIER OWN BULLETINS. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN #T-SB-0319-08" TO TELL THE TOYOTA MECHANICS HOW TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFTS. TOYOTA SHOULD BE MADE TO ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE A MANDATED RECALL BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING INJURED DUE TO STEERING FAILURE! WHEN CONTACTING TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES, THEY ALSO REFUSE TO TELL CONSUMERS WHAT GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY TO CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THEY ARE CLEARLY TRYING TO AVOID PAYING FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT!!! *TT

STEERING MAKES POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING TO LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAYS OR PARKING SPACES. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AND IT WAS SHRUGGED OFF AS NOT A BIG DEAL, BUT THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $500 TO FIX. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE. IT WAS LUBED AND I WAS TOLD THAT MIGHT HELP AND THAT IT WASN'T A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO GET IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY; HOWEVER AFTER REVIEWING COMPLAINTS ON-LINE, IT APPEARS A LOT OF '07 RAV'S HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AT DIFFERENT MILEAGE POINTS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY TOYOTA. I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE ON THIS. *KB

MY RAV4 HAS BEGAN HAVING CLUNKING NOISES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE DONE SOME SEARCHES ON THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THIS IS PREVALENT WITH RAV4'S AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO ISSUE A RECALL. IS THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN? WILL THIS EVENTUALLY BE A RECALL? *TR

RECENTLY I HAVE NOTICED A 'CLUNKING SOUND' WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL EITHER DIRECTION ON MY TOYOTA RAV 4 2007 VEHICLE. I AM BRINGING IN THIS VEHICLE TO BE CHECKED OUT BY MY LOCAL DEALER. I WAS LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY RECALL NOTICES ON THIS STEERING NOISE ISSUE. *TR

IN THE FALL OF 2011, THE VSC AND 4WD LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY 2007 RAV4. AT THE SAME TIME MY CRUISE CONTROL AND 4WD STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK MY CAR TO TETON TOYOTA IN IDAHO FALLS, ID AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1775.00. I COULD NOT AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR AND EVENTUALLY I PURCHASED A USED CHARCOAL CANISTER AND HAD IT INSTALLED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THEN IN FEB. 2012, THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN SO I TOOK MY CAR TO STONES TOYOTA IN REXBURG, ID. THE MECHANIC THERE CONFIRMED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER WAS CRACKED AGAIN. I TOLD HIM THAT I HAD REPLACED IT WITH A USED PART AND HE STATED THAT TOYOTA HAD REDESIGNED THE PART SO THAT IT WOULDN'T CRACK, SO IF I WANTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR GOOD, I'D HAVE TO PURCHASE THE NEW PART. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE UNIT AT THIS TIME. IF TOYOTA KNEW THAT THE ORIGINAL PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAVE NOW REDESIGNED IT, WHY ARE THEY CHARGING THEIR CUSTOMERS OVER $1500 TO REPLACE IT? BESIDES NOT HAVING ANY 4WD IN RURAL IDAHO IN THE WINTER, THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM IS NO LONGER WORKING DUE TO THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4, 2007. I HEARD STEERING COLUMN NOISE RIGHT AFTER IT CROSSED 35000 MILE ONLY. I READ IN THE INTERNET MANY RAV4 USER MENTION THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA KNOWINGLY NOT RECALLING THE VEHICLES TO FIX IT. THE DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WITH $550 COST. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED BY MANY RAV4 BUYERS, TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THIS FREE. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE VISOR FLAP NOT STAYING IN UPWARD POSITION (FOR MONTHS NOW). IT IS HANGING DOWN HALFWAY AND FACES FORWARD. YESTERDAY, WHEN BREAKING, IT STRUCK MY FOREHEAD CLOSE TO THE EYES STRAIGHT ON WITH ITS SMALL SIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *KB

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 IS MAKING AN UNSETTLING CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT HANDS TURNS. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY COUNTLESS TOYOTA RAV4 AND CAMRY OWNERS, AND TOYOTA HAS EVEN ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ACKNOWLEDGING DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD WEAR OUT IN A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 40K MILES, AND IS A TOYOTA DESIGN FLAW. QUOTED REPAIR COST IS ~$800, BUT THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS IT IS IMPACTING. ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEERING COMPONENTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POSTERIOR OXYGEN SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 11/03/11 *BF UPDATED 05/12/2012 *JS

ON OR ABOUT 9/01/11, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A POPPING/CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING MY CAR LEFT OR RIGHT, WHEN PARKING AND WHEN TURNING INTO OR BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY (APPROX 5MPH). THIS CLUNKING SOUND WAS OCCURRING WITHOUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO EITHER SIDE AND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT WITH THE CAR RUNNING AT A COMPLETE STOP. ON 10/27/11, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN WINSTON SALEM, NC AND WAS TOLD THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE CAR WOULD NEED A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT AS A RESULT OF THE REPLACEMENT. ON 11/01/11, I HAD THIS SERVICE DONE AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (REPLACED STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, ITEM #45260-42090, AND 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT.) I PAID A TOTAL OF $479.73 FOR THIS SERVICE. NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN #ST001-08, ITEM #10024291, WAS ISSUED 2/08/08 FOR THE 2007 RAV4 STEERING COMPONENT. IN SEARCHING MYCARSTATS.COM ALONG WITH OTHER SITES ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE AND COMPLAINT. A REPAIR COST OF $479.73 IS SUBSTANTIAL, AND SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN CONSUMER COMPLAINT AND A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED, I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS STEERING SHAFT COMPONENT FOR THE 2007 RAV4. *KB

MY STEERING MECHANISM HAS BEEN MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, AND GRADUALLY, OVER A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS, IT HAS GOTTEN LOUDER. AT LAST SERVICE, I INQUIRED ABOUT THE NOISE AND WAS TOLD, IT WAS NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT... NORMAL WEAR-N-TEAR. COULD IT BE INVESTIGATED TO SEE IF IT SHOULD BE AN ISSUE TO BE DEALT WITH THRU A RECALL. I HAVE READ A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. *TR

I BEGAN HEARING A CLUNK IN MY STEERING COLUMN APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO. I PURCHASED MY 2007 RAV 4 AT THE END OF JANUARY 2008. IT HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES ON IT. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (2/8/08) ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN: HTTP://WW2.JUSTANSWER.COM/UPLOADS/SND27613/2008-10-14_215655_RAV_4_STEERING_2.PDF. NOW I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS NEEDED TO REPLACE AN INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY (5,000 MILES OR 9 MONTHS TOO LATE). TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEM. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. MY MECHANIC URGED ME NOT TO DO ANY LONG DISTANCE DRIVING OR WAIT VERY LONG TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR 5 DAYS (APPARENTLY MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!!!!). PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR