NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Toyota RAV4. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
COLD START METALLIC RATTLE DUE TO FAULTY VVTI ACTUATOR(TSB-004-13 -A). BETWEEN $900 AND $1700 TO FIX AND IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE OWNER. ISSUE IS OCCURRING WITH MANY TOYOTA MODELS AND CAN BE TRACED BACK TO POOR QUALITY OF ENGINE COMPONENTS.
SEE RECALL 15V689 I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE, IT WAS TRADED IN IN 2014 TO WEST HERR TOYOTA 4141 SOUTHWESTERN BLVD, ORCHARD PARK, NY 14127, PLEASE FORWARD ALL RECALL NOTICES TO THE NEW OWNER (WEST HERR TOYOTA) AND REMOVE MY NAME AS OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. MY ADDRESS HAS ALSO CHANGED I NO LONGER LIVE IN NY,, SO STOP SENDING NOTICE TO S4998 MT VERNON BLVD, HAMBURG NY 14075
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BEFORE AND DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION TOYOTA WINTER PARK (225 N SEMORAN BLVD, WINTER PARK, FL 32792) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL OR WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
I NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE, IT WAS TRADED IN IN 2014 TO WEST HERR TOYOTA 4141 SOUTHWESTERN BLVD, ORCHARD PARK, NY 14127, HOW DO I STOP RECALL NOTICES FOR THIS VEHICLE?
CAR HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL AREA WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING, TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE PURCHASED, PLANET TOYOTA IN MATTESON, ILL, WAS TOLD THE RIGHT STRUT WAS DAMAGED AND BINDED, ALSO CUP WAS DAMAGED ON BOTH STRUTS, I FIND THIS ODD SEEING AS HOW THE CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH BY THE WAY, DOES NOT COVER IT.
I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY LEFT REAR SUSPENSION IS NOT RIGHT IT IS OFF AND CAN CAUSE HARM. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALERS THAT THEY FIXED IT, I CANNOT GET MY CAR AN ALIGNMENT IN THE REAR DUE TO THIS.
BOTH REAR ROTORS CRACKED.65000 MILE
IN 2013, TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL ON THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AND HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE ON 7/19/14. ONE ARM WAS REPLACED, AND ONE WAS COATED WITH AN EPOXY COATING. THE CAR BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AND WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AT WHICH WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REAR TOE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER. THE RECALL WORK DONE IN JULY 2014 INVOLVED APPLYING AN EPOXY THAT MADE THIS PART NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE. ON 2/25/17, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE TOYOTA DEALER, WHICH FAILED AN ALIGNMENT CHECK AT THE REAR TOE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER PERFORM A REAR ALIGNMENT DUE TO THIS RECALL "FIX" THAT PERMANENTLY SEALED IT INTO ONE PLACE. WE WERE TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR BACK INTO ALIGNMENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR TOE BAR FOR A COST OF 600 DOLLARS. WE CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND WERE OFFERED A 10% DISCOUNT TO GET THE WORK DONE. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE REAR TIE ROD, AND TOYOTA'S SOLUTION TO AN ENGINEERING FLAW IS TO MAKE THE REAR TIE ROD NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE, THUS COSTING THE CONSUMER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT ISSUE. IT IS NOT FEASIBLE OR FAIR TO EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WHEN TOYOTA CREATED THE ISSUE WITH THEIR "FIX" INSTEAD OF CREATING A REPLACEMENT REAR TOE THAT IS ADJUSTABLE LIKE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME AND MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.
LOUD IDLE COMING FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE. OCCURS AT START UP AND AT OPERATING TEMPERATURES. BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILING WATER PUMP; WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SEEMS PREMATURE FOR WATER PUMP TO BE FAILING GIVEN THE MILEAGE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT SWERVED TO AVOID A VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. UPON DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAG BURST OPEN AND RELEASED A METAL BRACKET. THE CONTACT RECEIVED LEG, ABDOMINAL, ARM, NECK, BACK, HEAD, ANKLE, AND KIDNEY INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE TURNING, RIGHT, INTO A PARKING SPOT. I APPLIED THE BRAKES FULLY, BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH TO STOP THE CAR. THE CAR HIT ANOTHER PARKED CAR THEN I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT OFF.
MY VEHICLE IS LISTED AS 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHEN DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL KICK OUT OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE IF I REACH 25 MILES AN HOUR. WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW AND THE CAR WAS CONSTANTLY KICKING OUT AS MY TIRES WERE SLIPPING WHICH WERE NEW TIRES. I WAS THEN DRIVING IN LIGHT SNOW AND HAD TURNED ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE AS SOON AS GOT CLOSE TO 25 MPH IT KICKED OUT AGAIN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD OR MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING FLUID AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,192.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND THERE WAS NO ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR THEIR AVAILABILITY. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR RIMS ON THE VEHICLE WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RIMS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. ..UPDATED 06/08/17 *BF *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V096000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 4/27/2017 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (RODLAND TOYOTA EVERETT, 6816 EVERGREEN WAY, EVERETT, WA, 98203) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,040.
STUDS THAT THE LUG NUTS ARE SCREWED ON TO HAVE DETERIORATED. I JUST HAD MY TIRES ROTATED AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE NEXT TIME I ROTATE THE TIRES, THE STUDS WILL BREAK OFF. I ROTATE MY TIRES EVERY 6000 MILES
WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE TIE RODS TWICE AND IT WON'T STAY IN ALIGNMENT. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES TO SCHEDULE IT TO BE FIXED AND CALLED CORPORATE AND THEY WON'T DO MUCH AND IT WON'T STAY IN ALIGNMENT AND THEY WON'T FIX IT RIGHT. THE CAR IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE WITH IT BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND NO OTHER MECHANIC WILL TOUCH IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A STICKER SAYING IT CAN ONLY BE ADJUSTED BY TOYOTA BECAUSE THEY GLUE THE TIE RODS IN PLACE. TOYOTA SAID IF WE HAVE REPLACED BY AN OUTSIDE SOURCE BECAUSE THE DEALER WON'T CALL US BACK THEY WILL NOT HELP COVER IT. THEY WON'T ALLOW US TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALER AS WELL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
I PUT MY RAV 4 2009 IN PARK WHILE RUNNING AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND TALKED TO MY MAIL CARRIER, WENT AROUND MY CAR TO MY MAILBOX AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR TOOK OFF ACCELERATING AND BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, I TRIED TO GET THE CAR BUT IT WAS MOVING TOO FAST IT HIT A TREE. NOW I KEEP IT IN ER BRAKE WHEN I GET OUT. TOYOTA DEALERS CLAIM THEY CANNOT CHECK TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. I AM SORRY AS TO WHAT TO DO, I HAD A WITNESS TO THIS INCIDENT I AM AFRAID OF MY OWN CAR, I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL DO IT AGAIN. WAS TOLD I SHOULD BE GLAD I DID NOT GET RUN OVER WHEN I WALKED BEHIND IT.
2 RECALLS SINCE LAST YEAR. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER UNWILLING/UNABLE TO PERFORM REMEDY DESPITE NUMEROUS REQUESTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000(SUSPENSION) WAS RECEIVED IN AUGUST OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (ED MORSE TOYOTA, LOCATED IN DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA) ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED THREE OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V096000 (SEAT BELTS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.
THE SHOULDER SEATBELTS IN ONE OF THE SECOND-ROW OUTBOARD SEATS WAS TOTALLY BROKEN BY THE FRICTION OF A METAL ON THE SHOULDER RETRACTOR END. I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR REPAIR THE LAP SEATBELTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT INCLUDE THE SHOULDER END. HE BROKE WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND THE PASSENGER TRIED TO BELT .
AT 47,500 MILES, STEERING STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN WHEEL TURNED ALL THE WAY TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. USUALLY IT OCCURRED WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL BACK TO CENTER BUT NOT ALWAYS. TENDED T HAPPEN IN A PARKING LOT OR WHEN A SHARP TURN WAS REQUIRED. DEALER REPAIRED AT A COST OF ALMOST $700. CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT REPAIR. (COST OF REPAIR COVERED UNDER EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN WHICH WAS PURCHASED WHEN CAR WAS PURCHASED.) THIS TYPE OF SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT UNDER 50,000 MILES OR EVEN EVER.
ON MAY 26, 2016, MY MOTHER WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON I-69 NEAR EDDYVILLE, KENTUCKY IN HER 2009 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH MY SON IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. A DRIVER TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-69 CROSSED THE MEDIAN INTO THE NORTHBOUND LANE, AND COLLIDED WITH MY MOTHER'S VEHICLE HEAD-ON. AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION, BOTH MY MOTHER AND SON WERE WEARING THEIR SEAT BELTS, HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND CONTRIBUTED TO MY MOTHER AND SON'S SERIOUS INJURIES. DURING THE COLLISION, THE LAP BELT ON BOTH SEAT BELTS TIGHTENED SUBSTANTIALLY, WHILE THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT NEVER TIGHTENED OR LOCKED. AS A RESULT OF THE SEAT BELT ISSUE, MY SON AND MOTHER SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT ABDOMINAL INJURIES DUE TO THE EXTREME TIGHTENING OF THE LAP BELT, AND HEAD INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT TO PROPERLY LOCK. SPECIFICALLY, MY SON SUSTAINED A LIVER LACERATION, PULMONARY CONTUSION, AND SUPERIOR MESENTERIC ARTERY THROMBOSIS AS A RESULT OF THE EXTREME TIGHTENING OF THE LAP BELT WITHOUT TIGHTENING OF THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, IT DID NOT STOP HIS FORWARD MOMENTUM, CAUSING HIM TO STRIKE HIS HEAD ON THE DASHBOARD OR WINDSHIELD AND SUSTAIN A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. MY MOTHER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE RIB FRACTURES, A LEFT PNEUMOTHORAX, SMALL BOWEL ENTEROTOMY, MESENTERIC TEAR, AVULSION OF THE SIGMOID COLON, AND TEARING OF HER ABDOMINAL MUSCULATURE AS A RESULT OF THE SEAT BELT. *DT*JB
MY RAV4 HAS RUST ALL OVER WHERE THE DRIVERS SEAT AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER SEATS ARE ATTACHED TO THE CAR AND SEEMS TO BE SO FRAGILE THAT WITH ANY SMALL IMPACT THE SEAT WILL DETACHED FROM CAR AND CAUSE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. THE RUST APPEARED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED AND WAS ADVISED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT . IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT FIXED IN THE FUTURE IT CAN CAUSE INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SWITCHING INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
WHEN CAR IS AT 1500 RPM AT 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION VIBRATES AND THRUSTS. NOISE GOES AWAY IF ABOVE 2000 RPM OR ABOVE 40 MPH. IT'S TOYOTA OF MANCHESTER NH HAS BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE. WAITING TO SEE IF TOYOTA WILL DO ANYTHING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE COMING TO A STOP AND PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON FEBRUARY 17, 2016 FOR THE REAR, OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS. AS OF AUGUST 8, 2016 THE MANUFACTURE HAS YET TO ADDRESS THIS DEFECT.
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUE WITH THE RV4, ALL RELATED TO THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE RECAL FOR TOYOA WITH PART OF THE SUSPENSION LEAKSUNBOLTED FROM THE CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT UP IN TO THE WHEEL WELL. ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SLOW SPEED DID I NOT GET IN TO AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. AT 65K MILES, I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN TO THE SHOP. BOTH REAR LINKAGES TO THE ANTI-SWAY BAR WERE BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AGAIN ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION.
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER DIRECTION AT LOW SPEEDS A CLUNKING NOISE WAS AUDIBLE. CAR HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES. LOOKED ON INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THE PROBLEM IN MULTIPLE MODELS AND OVER MANY YEARS. THE CAUSE IS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THAT WAS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM! $600 TO REPAIR ! FURTHER RESEARCH INDICATES THAT JAPAN HAS RECALLED THESE CARS FOR THIS REASON ALREADY. RECALL THESE CARS NOW!! STEERING FAILURE CAN EVENTUALLY HAPPEN!!
PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAME INOPERATIVE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH BRAKE CABLES HAD CORRODED SUCH THAT THEY NO LONGER HAD FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT AT THE CABLE END WHERE THEY ENTERED THE BACKING PLATES. WHEN I PURCHASED REPLACEMENT CABLES TOYOTA SERVICE TECHNICIAN COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON RAV 4, TACOMA, AND OTHER (DON'T REMEMBER) TOYOTA VEHICLES. WHEN I PURCHASED & EXAMINED REPLACEMENT CABLES DURING REPAIR IT WAS APPARENT THAT NEW CABLE DESIGN WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT IN EXACTLY THE PLACE WHERE OLD CABLES HAD FAILED. THIS WAS A SAFETY PROBLEM DURING TIME PERIOD WHEN BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE AND CLEARLY A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW. IT WAS ~ $400 IN PARTS + MY LABOR TP REPLACE THE CABLES AS PART OF REPAIRING THE EMERGENCY/PARKING.
WAS DRIVING,SUDDEN LOST P/S, ALL LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON, DETERMINED FUSE ECU-IG1, BLOWN, DETERMINED, WHEN REAR VIEW MIRROR DISCONN. THE FUSE DOESN'T BLOW.TSB:IG1 RELAY NEEDS 2B UPDATED $1,000+ VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A COUNTY STREET.....UPDATED 12/03/15*BF *CN
WHENEVER WE ARE TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MPH AND 1500 RPM, THERE IS A RATTLE NOISE. THE VIBRATION HOLDS FOR AS LONG AS 1-2 SECONDS. AS SOON AS THE VIBRATION STARTS, YOU CAN LET OFF THE GAS OR STEP ON THE GAS TO CHANGE THE RPMS AND IT INSTANTLY STOPS. THE CAR HAS BEEN MAKING THIS SOUND SINCE SHORTLY AFTER WE BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT IT'S A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS THE ROUTE IF THE PROBLEM. AT 1500 RPM AND 38-40 MPH THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSFER CASE IS VIBRATING, CAUSING THE HEAT SHIELD TO RATTLE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSFER OF VIBRATIONS. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'VE HAD A FAULTY TRANSMISSION ALL ALONG.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V577000 (VISIBILITY/WIPER) AND 16V096000 (SEAT BELTS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
IT APPEARS THAT A SOUND, SUSPENSION OF THE RAV 4 NEED SOME REPAIR.
I HAVE PEELING OF PAINT ON EXTERIOR SURFACE DOWN TO THE METAL. IT IS LOCATED ON TOP BETWEEN SUNROOF AND WINDSHIELD.
ININTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURED WHILE BRAKING. ENGINE REVED WHILE BRAKING -I PUT THE CAR IN PARK - ENGINE REDLINED - SWITCHED OFF IGNITION - CAR RAN NORMALLY AFTER THE IGNITION WAS SWITCHED ON. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRANCE IN ONE YEAR. THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD FIND NO FAULT.
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH THE ENGINE LOST POWER. MOVING TO THE RIGHT LANE TO PULL OVER, FLAMES BEGAN COMING OUT OF THE TOP OF THE HOOD, HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. SHE TRIED STOPPING BUT BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, REQUIRING HER TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SLIDE ON GRASS. SHE JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND WITHIN 8 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE EXITING A FUEL STATION AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT'S FOOT BECAME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE RUG AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V113000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
ON MAY 20, 2015 MY 2009 RAV 4 DEVELOPED A WHINING NOISE IN REAR AREA THAT GOT LOUDER THE FASTER I WENT. VEHICLE HAS 78,385 MILES ON IT AND IS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE VISCOUS COUPLER ASSEMBLY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,806.75. I MENTIONED THE SERVICE BULLETIN PUT OUT IN 2013 AND THE MULTIPLE POSTS ON THE RAV 4 FORUM ONLINE BUT THEY STILL REFUSE TO COVER THE REPAIR.
(NO ACCIDENT) A WHINE STARTED IN THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT GOT PROGRESSIVELY MORE PROMINENT OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK. MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING HUB ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA PARTS MANAGER -- AND MUCH INTERNET 'CHATTER' I LATER DISCOVERED -- THIS IS A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM (THEY CAN'T KEEP THE PART IN STOCK) AND THERE HAS BEEN A TSB (0080-13/ SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT WAB 2190) ISSUED, YET TOYOTA WILL NOT COVER, OR EVEN PARTIALLY COVER, THIS KNOWN DEFECT. IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR, AND WHILE A 2009 ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE, IT'S FAR TOO NEW TO HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. UPDATED 7/1/15*CN UPDATED 9/15/2015*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS WIRING WAS BEING DAMAGED BY ANIMALS BITING THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026