2009 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the engine at startup. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil caused by a gasket failure inside a piston in the engine. Due to the failure, the contact was frequently adding oil to the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and an estimate was provided for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

Engine rattle on cold start ups.

Engine timeing system rattle on startup. Even basic web research shows this is a common problem for select model years and acorss mulitple models. This issue has a high probility of causing catastrophic engine damage, where the timeing chain & VVT system fails to keep timing causing the valves to colide with the pistons. There is a TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE risk with each and every engine start. The fix on the 3.5L requires the engine to be removed, VVT and timing chain tensioner to be replaced. This is a $4000 to $5000 dollar repair. This is a clear manufacuting wide spread defect and should be repaired by toyota via recall!

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON OCTOBER 12, 2020 BECAUSE THE OIL LIGHT WAS FLICKERING THOUGH I AM NOT DUE FOR ANOTHER OIL CHANGE UNTIL JANUARY. I WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. UPON RESEARCHING ONLINE LEARNED THAT THIS IS DUE TO DEFECTIVE PISTON RINGS AND IN 2011, TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. AT THIS POINT, THEY ARE REFUSING TO CORRECT THE ERROR WITH THE DESIGN OF THE PISTONS.

ALL LIGHTS COME ON CHECK ENGINE,4WD,TRAC , COME AND GOES, GOING 6 TIMES ALREADY TO DEALER LAST 2 WEEKS.. RAV4 WITH LOW MILES .. TOYOTA VERY DISSATISFIED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP LEAKED FLUID WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF ORANGE (1400 N TUSTIN ST, ORANGE, CA 92867, 714-639-6750) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.

ENGINE HAS 164,000 MILES AND IS BURNING 1 QT. OF OIL PER 1000 MILES.

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.

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. 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.

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.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT ON OUR FRONT DRIVEWAY FACING THE GARAGE. WHERE IT ALWAYS PARKED EVERYDAY. THE WEATHER WAS WARM AND CLEAR MY WIFE WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS PREPARING TO BUCKLE UP AND DRIVE TO CHURCH, I ENTERED THE VEHICLE INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT AND BUCKLED UP. SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED THROUGH THE ROOF. I YELLED AT HER TO GET HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND SHE YELLED AT ME THAT SHE WAS NO WHERE NEAR IT. I THEN TOLD HER TO PULL THE FLOOR MAT / CARPET BACK AND IT WAS ALREADY BACK AND LOCKED DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I TOLD HER TO TURN IT OFF. THE CAR IDLED DOWN TO STOP ONCE KEY WAS TURNED OFF. WE SAT THERE FOR A FEW MOMENTS, I TOLD HER TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ONCE AND TRY TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY WE LET IT WARM UP FOR A MOMENT AND DROVE AWAY. SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS GLAD I WAS IN THE CAR TO SEE THE EVENT BECAUSE IT HAD HAPPENED 3 OTHER TIMES IN THE LAST 45 DAYS. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS NOT TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED WHEN IT OCCURRED OR ON A BUSY ROADWAY OR SCHOOL ZONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL AND OIL CHANGE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WATER PUMP HAS FAILED AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $700. UPON RESEARCH, THIS EARLY WATER PUMP FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH RAV4'S, ALTHOUGH NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. *TR

I NOTICED A STRANGE RATTLING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE WHEN STARTING MY CAR 1ST THING IN THE MORNING AND WHEN STARTING IT AFTER IT HAS SAT FOR A FEW HOURS; I RESEARCHED ONLINE FOR OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS DISCOVERED AN ISSUE WITH THE CAM SHAFT ON SOME VEHICLES. I HAVE JUST LEARNED OF A 2ND RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, THIS ONE FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION AFTER VISITING THE TOYOTA WEBSITE, BUT I FOUND NOTHING ABOUT A RECALL REGARDING THE CAM SHAFT. I HAD PLANNED ON BRINGING THE CAM SHAFT ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVICE TECH WHEN I TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION RECALL BUT AM UNSURE IF ANYTHING WILL BE DONE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE NOISE VOLUME IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, I STARTED TO BRAKE FOR A LIGHT. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND IT TOOK BOTH FEET APPLIED TO THE BRAKES TO STOP AND AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TEN MINUTES LATER, ANOTHER SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED, FOLLOWED IN RAPID SUCCESSION BY A THIRD ACCELERATION. *TR

HAD JUST PULLED SLOWLY INTO A PARKING SPACE, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND APPLIED THE BRAKE. AS I WAS APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SPED UP TO MORE THAN 7,000 RPM. (MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS ON THE BRAKE ONLY.) I CONTINUED TO PRESS THE BRAKE WHICH STARTED TO SLIP, AND THEN I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. AS THE ENGINE REACHED MAXIMUM RPM'S, IT DIED BACK TO AN IDLE. THIS IDENTICAL INCIDENT HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN 10 MINUTES. MY PARENTS AND WIFE WERE IN THE CAR AND CAN VOUCH FOR ME. NOTE: TWO MONTHS PRIOR, THIS IDENTICAL INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS STOPPING AT A BUSY INTERSECTION WHILE PREPARING TO TURN LEFT. THERE WAS A STOPPED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHICH I NEARLY HIT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR AND CAN VOUCH FOR ME.

10 MONTH OLD TOYOTA RAV-4 CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE SITTING IN PARKING GARAGE AND BURNED. *TR

AS I DROVE INTO OUR PARKING LOT AT WORK AFTER LUNCH, I WAS IDLING ENGINE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT. I WAS ALREADY MAKING MY TURN INTO THE PARKING SPOT WITH FOOT ON BRAKE AND ENGINE IDLING WHEN MY CAR BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE. I RESPONDED BY APPLYING FOOT BRAKE AND GRABBING AND PULLING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT ONLY HAD ABOUT 15 - 20 FEET BEFORE HITTING A CONCRETE WALL AT THE BAKE OF THE PARKING SPOT. I MANAGED TO NOT HIT HARD ENOUGH FOR THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY BUT THERE IS DAMAGE TO MY FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD. THIS IS THE ONLY TIME MY CAR HAS DONE THIS. I BOUGHT IT NEW LAST AUG. 09 AND IT HAS APPROX 12,432 MILES. TOYOTA TOOK IT TO QUALITY IMPORTS TOYOTA AND "INVESTIGATED" IT AND HAS FOUND NO DEFECT. I TALKED TO THE INSPECTOR OVER THE PHONE AND HE EXPLAINED THAT HE SPENT A FEW HOURS GOING THROUGH A SERIES OF TESTS ATTEMPTING TO FIND OR REPRODUCE A MALFUNCTION WITH NO SUCCESS. HE TOLD ME THAT WHILE MY REPORT IS QUITE COMMON HE HAS NEVER FOUND A DEFECT TO EXPLAIN SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND THAT HE THINKS MY CAR IS SAFE AND "HE WOULD LET HIS DAUGHTER DRIVE MY CAR." I ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT A STICKING ACCELERATOR AND/OR A SLOWLY RETURNING ACCELERATOR CANNOT EXPLAIN THIS EXPERIENCE AND IS NO "FIX" FOR MY ACCIDENT. MY EDUCATION IS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND I HAVE BEEN AN EQUIPMENT MECHANIC ON MACHINERY FOR 15 YEARS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU CANNOT REPRODUCE AN ELECTRONIC PROBLEM IN A MATTER OF HOURS THAT THE CONCLUSION SHOULD BE THAT THERE IS NO DEFECT. IT DOES NOT EXCUSE THE FACT THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND NOTHING SERIOUS IS BEING "INVESTIGATED." *TR