Toyota RAV4 Complaints (1998)

77 consumer complaints on file.

#10199796August 16, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4 AND THE RETRACTOR OF THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT IS NO LONGER OPERABLE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND HE OFFERED TO REPLACE AND INSTALL A NEW SEATBELT AND RETRACTOR FOR HALF OF THEIR NORMAL CHARGE OF APPROXIMATELY $400.00. I THINK THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT AT NO CHARGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198870August 8, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS LEADS TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IN TRAFFIC AS IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE MOMENTUM RAPIDLY AND COULD BE EASILY REAR-ENDED. THE LAST EVENT OCCURRED ON 6/7/2007, THE DAY BEFORE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A PRIVATE GARAGE. I HAVE ASKED TOYOTA FOR ASSISTANCE ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS DECLINED. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE PROBLEM, BUT THE COVERAGE IS NOT ADEQUATE. THIS PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME AFTER THEIR COVERAGE EXPIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165643August 16, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE HAD FAILED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129199July 18, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING UP A NARROW MOUNTAIN PASS THE CAR STARTED TO FEEL UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS HYDRO PLANNING EVEN THOUGH THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY. AFTER THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER SHE NOTICED THAT REAR PASSENGER TIRE LOOKED AS THOUGH THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR AAA STATED THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098588November 10, 2004
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I WAS DRIVING UPHILL ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED SPEED DROPPING, I HAD DROPPED TO 50 MPH, THEN STARTED TO HEAR METAL BANGING, I WAS STARTING TO HEAD TO BURM WHEN SOME VERY LOUD METALLIC BANGS HAPPENED, AND ONE OR MORE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND SENT ME INTO A SPIN TO THE RIGHT, AND I HIT GAURD RAILS. I WAS ON RT. 68 EASTBOUND IN MARYLAND, ON SIDELING HILL. AFTER HAVING IT IN THE GARAGE THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT A GASKET OR SEAL LEAKED ON THE DIFFERENTIAL, THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER HAD IT HAPPEN, NOR DO THEY NO WHY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097938October 28, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
(1) NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. OPERATING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. (2) ON 10-12-04, THE HOOD ON MY 1998 RAV4 CAME FLYING UP, HITTING THE VEHICLE'S ROOF. (3) CAR TO BE REPAIRED, HOWEVER, FAILURE WAS THE 2ND SAFETY LOCK DID NOT CONTROL THE HOOD FROM FLYING UP OR CATCH FOR EVEN A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO GIVE THE DRIVER WARNING. REPAIR SHOP STATES IT IS THE DESIGN OF THE SAFETY LOCK (2ND LOCK) THAT IS VIRTUALLY WORTHLESS. HE SAID "I'VE NEVER SEEN A LOCK LIKE. MOST OF THEM HAVE A COVER TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING." IT IS A CERTIFIED TOYOTA PART, AND WILL BE REPLACED WITH A CERTIFIED TOYOTA PART, HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT STOP THE SITUATION FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. CAN NOT FIND ANY WEB INFO. FOR CONTACTING TOYOTA. THIS IS AN INHERENT SAFETY DEFECT. NEXT TIME, I COULD BE DRIVING AT 65 MPH! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070884January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON JULY 20TH, 2002 MY WIFE TOOK HER 1998 TOYOTA RAV4 IN TO HAVE A RECOMMENDED FLUSHING OF HER OIL, TRANSMISSION, COOLING SYSTEM. A COMPLETE TUNE UP OF THE MOTOR. AT THIS TIME SHE TOLD THE SERVICE PERSON OF A SMOKE DISCHARGE AT START UP ALONG WITH A SLIGHT NOISE. THE SERVICE PERSON SAID IT WAS PROBALLY THE RUBBER VALVE SEATS AND MY WIFE DIDNT HAVE TO WORRY RIGHT AWAY. IN APRIL 2003, AFTER ALL THE SCHEDUALED SERVICE MAINTAINCE WAS PERFORMED, MY WIFE NOTICED THE SMOKE WAS GETTING WORSE AND THE NOISE A LITTLE WORSE SO SHE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE VALVE SEATS REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY THE SERVICE DEPT. CALLED HER AND SAID THE MOTOR WAS SHOT. THEY SAID IT WAS OIL PUMP FAILURE AND IT WOULD BE OVER $4,000.00 FOR A NEW MOTOR. WHEN WE ASKED TO IF THEY WOULD REBUILD THE OLD MOTOR, THE HEAD OF THE SERVICE DEPT. SAID THEY COULDNT BECAUSE THERE WAS TOO MUCH JELL IN THE MOTOR. HE SAID HE WOULD GET AHOLD OF OUR WARRENTY COMPANY TO SUBMIT A CLAIM FOR A NEW MOTOR DUE TO OIL PUMP FAILURE. THEY SENT OUT THEIR INSPECTOR, HE SAID IT WASNT THE OIL PUMP AND OUR CLAIM WAS DENIED WE HAD HIM COME OUT AGAIN ON A APPEAL THE SERVICE DEPT. IN HIS WORDS OFFERED HIM NO PROOF OF THE OIL PUMP FAILURE AND AGAIN WE WERE DENIED. AT THE URGEING OF THE HEAD OF THE SERVICE DEPT. AT BEV SMITH TOYOTA WE RETAINED A LAWYER WITH THE PROMISE OF ALL THE HELP WE NEEDED FROM THE SERVICE DEPT. NEEDLESS TO SAY WE WASTED OUR MONEY ON THE LAWYER. WERE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE PICTURES OF OUR MOTOR, WE CANT HAVE OUR MOTOR EVEN THAT WE HAD NO CORE TRADE FOR THE SECOND HAND MOTOR THEY PUT BACK IN THE RAV4 WHICH WE PAID ALMOST $3,000.00 FOR. OUR OLD MOTOR IS OFF LIMITS TO US, THE HEAD OF BEV SMITH'S SERVICE WONT RETURN OUR CALLS AND OUR LAWYER FEES ARE OUT THE WINDOW BECAUSE THE LAWYER CANT GET ANYWARE WITH THE WARRENTY COMPANY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002458January 9, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL WILL DEPRESS THROTTLE PEDAL, RESULTING IN VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD. CONSUMER FEELS PEDALS WERE DESIGNED INCORRECTLY BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER AND ARE OF SAME HEIGHT. *NLM....*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8024147December 10, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INTO WALL PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767830September 27, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897021September 28, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ENGINE LIGHT CAME 0N. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WENT FORWARD AND JUMPED CURB. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND LIGHT WENT OFF. NEXT DAY, DEALER CHECKED SYSTEM'S COMPUTER AND A SENSOR KICKED UP THE IDLER. SENSOR WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE, AND IF IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785497August 29, 2001
TIRES
THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW, DAMAGING THE PLASTIC LINER AND FENDER OF VEHICLE, (DUNLOP TIRES DOT2K2288, TIRE SIZE 215/70/16.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745239May 12, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED FIRST TIME 5/19/00 AT 35379 MILES. BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK AND COULD NOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION OUT OF PARK. DEALER REPLACED AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. REPLACEMENT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAS NOW FAILED AGAIN 12 MONTHS LATER. DEALER HAS SAID WILL REPLACE UNDER HIS 12-MONTH WARRANTY. DEALER SAYS IS NOT AWARE OF ANY TECH SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#882681March 12, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
ACCELERATION PEDAL STICKS, MOSTLY ON TAKE OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#560045March 2, 2001
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING 45 MPH, NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A COMPLETE LOSS. *SLC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#880767February 20, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#878473January 18, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE PARKING FORCED VEHICLE INTO A REAR END ACCIDENT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#877601January 8, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
REPLACED BRAKES 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE, PADS TWICE A YEAR, REPLACED ROTORS TWICE. BRAKES ARE ALWAYS SQEAKING. CURENTLY, STRUTS ARE LEAKING. *AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738839January 5, 2001
STRUCTURE:BODY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
FIREWALL IS CRACKED CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO MOVE SIDE TO SIDE AND LITERALLY PUSHING THROUGH THE FLOOR WITH NO SUPPORT STRUCTURE TO HOLD IT IN POSITION. A DEFINITE SAFTEY HAZARD!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#875297November 21, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS DID NOT PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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