Toyota RAV4 Complaints

921 consumer complaints on file.

#11671679July 7, 2025
SEATS
DRIVER SEAT LOCKED IN FULL FORWARD POSITION AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED FOR LARGER DRIVER. SEAT TRACK FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2400. THIS OCCURRED AFTER ONLY 76,000 MILES OF USE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11671474July 6, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The vehicle was a 2023 Toyota RAV4 hybrid. When the driver attempted to park the vehicle in a parking lot, it suddenly began moving forward without use of the accelerator. The driver applied the brakes but the pedal went to the floor without braking. The vehicle seemed to be moving faster than expected without use of the gas pedal and went through the parking lot. The driver stopped the vehicle by running up over a curb, through a traffic island with soft dirt and mulch and finally crashing into a metal storage unit. Two air bags deployed. Toyota was notified of the crash and a Toyota representative made the 911 call. A New York state trooper and two fire trucks arrived. The vehicle was towed and eventually collected by our insurance company. The tow truck driver said the brake pedal went to the floor when he tried it. The car was declared a total loss. 1. The notable failure was in the braking system. The car also seemed to be traveling faster than it should and didn't slow down. The insurance company has the vehicle now. 2. The safety issue was loss of speed and braking control of the vehicle. Steering was normal. Fortunately the parking lot had few cars or people in it. 3. No investigation of the problem aside from assessment of damage that I know of. 4. Liberty Mutual assessed the damage. The NY state trooper made a collision information form and gave us a copy. 5. No warning lights or related symptoms were noted prior to the car traveling on its own. After the crash, a local Toyota dealer called and said that they were notified that the check engine light was on and there was a problem with the hybrid system, along with other warnings.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11671292July 4, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The air conditioning condenser was damaged due to impact from a rock, resulting in a loss of cooling function. The damaged condenser is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. • How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The damage to the air condenser caused the air conditioning system to stop functioning, which posed a potential safety risk by reducing visibility due to fogging of windows and contributing to driver fatigue or discomfort during hot weather conditions. • Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the issue was confirmed by a certified service center. Upon inspection, they verified that a rock had punctured the air condenser, causing refrigerant loss and disabling the air conditioning system. • Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The damage has been inspected by an independent service center. It has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives, but it is available for review if needed. • Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps or messages appeared. The first symptom was a noticeable loss of cool air from the vents, which occurred immediately following the incident with the rock. Every mechanic I talk to says they see this all the time. Clearly this is a design flaw and should be a recall. This vehicle is supposed to be an off roading vehicle. How do rocks even get there and damage it? I have to use my insurance to cover this claim as my warranty won’t cover this damage.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670787July 2, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670609July 1, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670424July 1, 2025
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has had squeaky brakes for many months (from 4,000 miles onward and consistently continues to be an annoyance, nuisance, and safety hazard while intensifying in frequency), but despite taking the vehicle to the Toyota dealer more than 4 times, they have been unable to repair the issue. At least twice the air bag sensors have come on for the backseat when there was nobody seated in the backseat, distracting me from safely driving. Toyota has done nothing to right the wrong mechanically, refund me for the vehicle (a lease) or offer a replacement. I have a 14 page document filed with the Florida Attorney General Lemon Law Division thoroughly indicating why these ongoing mechanical failures, safety hazards, nuisances and distractions to me the driver substantially impair the use, value, and safety of the vehicle—fulfilling key criteria under Florida Statutes § 681.102 and § 681.104, which I am happy to provide all consumers and attorneys willing to launch a CLASS ACTION against Toyota. Florida law defines "impairment of value" not by market collapse, but by any reasonable reduction in consumer confidence. Consumer disclosure laws require honesty about defects. Florida Statute § 681.102(15) defines a “nonconformity” as a defect that “substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the motor vehicle.” My vehicle has been subject to repair more than 4 times for the same defect within 24 months and thus qualifies for relief. The manufacturer’s failure to permanently correct the squeaky brakes—even after attempted repairs—demonstrates a pattern of unresolved nonconformity. The squeaky brake issue is not a cosmetic inconvenience—it affects the vehicle's functionality, resale integrity, and safety assurance. Toyota acknowledges the problem exists (via TSB) but has failed to provide a lasting solution. If unresolved, this defect would materially concern any reasonable consumer and diminish confidence in the vehicle’s reliability and safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670308June 30, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
UKNOWN. The panoramic sunroof of my vehicle exploded unexpectedly while driving on the freeway and the glass shattered everywhere. There were no debris in sight that would cause the incident and the glass of the sunroof was facing outward when inspected seems to indicate that the breakage occurred from inside the vehicle. The shattered glass and shards caused minor injuries on myself and one other passenger. The 'explosion' caused the debris glass to have potentially hit surrounding cars on the freeway. The problem has been reported to the dealer but they denying any reoccurrences of this issue . The vehicle has not yet been inspected but has been reported to insurance. There were no other symptoms prior to the failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669891June 28, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Wipers turn on by them self, the radio shuts down on its own and then comes back on
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669416June 26, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
After driving for approximately 30-minutes in the rain I pulled over and the automatic engine shutoff feature activated while I was waiting to pick somebody up. When attempting to restart the car, the engine would not turn over and I got a low power steering warning message on my dash. The problem persisted for approximately 15-20 minutes. Eventually after about 15 attempts to restart the engine, the car started back up and drove fine the rest of the way home. The dealership was unable to find anything wrong with my car, but I have heard of this happening to many other RAV4s and it causes me concerning, especially when I need to drive my car in the rain.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11669218June 25, 2025
AIR BAGS
THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD AND INTO TREES TOTALING THE VEHICLE - AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11668368June 21, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
At the beginning of April, 2025, Toyota began sending unrequested solicitations to subscribe to its “connected services” to the multimedia display in the center of the dashboard of the RAV4. Those solicitations take over the entire screen and prevent any other use of the display until the driver takes affirmative steps to dismiss the solicitation. They also interrupt the connection between an iPhone and the display, which requires the driver to completely reset the connection between the iPhone and the display. It can take up to five or six separate steps to click through additional screens, in different locations on each screen, before the display returns to its original state. This is particularly dangerous when the prior use of the display was for navigation, as the map cannot be returned to without going through those screens and presses. The steps required to remove these unwanted solicitations create a materially dangerous likelihood of distracted driving. I have never at any time given Toyota permission to send me these unwanted and intrusive electronic message solicitations, and I have explicitly revoked any and all such permissions which Toyota might claim were created by my purchase and.or operation of the vehicle. I request that an inquiry be opened and that the inquiry determine that Toyota's forced interruption of the operation of a vehicle such as my RAV4 is a safety defect and that Toyota be ordered to discontinue its dangerous practice.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668172June 20, 2025
AIR BAGS
On April 4, 2025, my wife was driving at about 40 miles per hour when her vehicle struck an obstruction in the road. The impact caused relatively minor collision damage to the vehicle (a bent wheel strut). However the side curtain airbags deployed, startling my wife and limiting her vision on either side of the vehicle. Fortunately She was able maintain control of the vehicle, steer to a safe location and stop off the roadway. When inspected by the auto body repair shop where the vehicle is currently being repaired, the technicians were puzzled that the side airbags went off for such relatively minor accident, particularly since the impact to the vehicle had been to the front and not the sides. Under the circumstances, the premature deployment of the airbags could have actually made the accident worse if my wife had lost control of the vehicle. Under the circumstances, we felt compelled to report the incident to you for investigation in the event other RAV4 owners are experiencing the same problem.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667421June 17, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666506June 12, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving down the highway alone at speed limit, with no traffic in front of me. My sunroof, which was closed, exploded without warning. It was literally like a gun going off when this occurred. I curled up in a ball in my seat but did not jerk the steering wheel. The interior of the car was covered in small and larger glass shards. I stopped to examine the damage and found that the sunroof had exploded up like it had been under some kind of pressure. Later, when I arrived at my destination, I found many accounts online of the same "explosion" occurring in the 2021 rav 4 hybrid model like mine. In addition to the reported incidents, I found this; "Is There a Problem with the Sunroof in the 2021 Toyota RAV4? There certainly is a problem with the 2021 Toyota RAV4 sunroof. Multiple owners of 2021 Toyota RAV4s, including the Hybrid and Prime, have complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They say their sunroofs (or moonroofs) explode spontaneously without any impact. When this happens, the glass shatters, which is a safety issue. However, Toyota appears to be disregarding the issue. There are several reports by owners stating that dealers refuse to help. Instead, they tell them to contact their insurance companies." It seems there was a class action lawsuit filed or being put together in 2023 but I do not know the status or result. I have exhausted talks with Toyota after paying $600 for their defective glass to be replaced. They refuse to accept responsibility. This is incredibly dangerous because of the explosion that occurs and because of the tiny slivers of glass that could blind the occupants. I question how many accidents may have actually occurred because of the blast and/or the flying glass shards. A normal reaction would be to jerk the wheel and its a surprise that I didn't. Now I am $600 out of pocket for replacing defective glass and have zero assurance that this won't occur again in the future. Thanks for your help
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666206June 10, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
While parked in a commercial lot on [XXX] around [XXX], I noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle while sitting inside. There was a strong burning rubber smell. I exited and saw flames coming from beneath the front left bumper, directly under the fog light area. I had arrived at the location about 30 minutes earlier. I opened the hood from inside the vehicle, stepped back, and called 911. The fire rapidly engulfed the front of the vehicle. Firefighters arrived within 10 minutes and extinguished the fire. Police responded and created a report. Three nearby vehicles also sustained fire damage. The vehicle had previous front-end repairs (driver side bumper and fog light) and was well maintained. The vehicle had not shown any warning lights or messages prior to the fire. I believe the fire originated from an electrical or engine component and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. GEICO insurance has been contacted and a claim has been opened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11665688June 9, 2025
AIR BAGS
Toyota has failed to provide a solution to a small sensor recall for my vehicle for nearly two years. That is an unacceptable delay for something so simple as a sensor.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11665643June 8, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
It is good
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11665547June 7, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
Engine shuts off with exposure to rain.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11665093June 5, 2025
STEERING, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Driving down the highway in the pouring rain. Pulled over because the engine felt like it was about to stall. Whole engine cut off and check engine light came on with “engine stopped - power steering low”. Would act like it wanted to start again but shut back off every time. After about 30 minutes it started back up without any check engine lights or messages. This is the 3rd time its happened. Always in the rain.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11664853June 4, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had 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 parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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