Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2007)

1,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10278190July 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1. LEADING UP : A FAULTY AND POORLY DESIGNED RUBBER OIL LINE WEATHERED WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. 2. FAILURE: WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE WEATHERED HOSE SNAPPED. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SPILLED FOUR QUARTS OF OIL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER LIT. THE WATER TEMPERATURE STAYED WITHIN RANGE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. 3. REPAIR: TOYOTA REPLACED THE FAILED OIL LINE WITH THE SAME PART. NO ENGINE DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED DESPITE THE LIKELIHOOD OF SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE. THE OIL COMPARTMENT WAS LEFT DIRTY. THE ENGINE COVER WAS LEFT SOAKED IN OIL (IT'S A FOAM PART). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277355July 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TOYOTA V6 ENGINES 2GR-FE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VVTI OIL PIPE FAILING. THIS PIPE HAS A RUBBER SECTION IN IT, IT LEAKS WITH ALL THE OIL DRAINING & CAUSING ENGINE FAILURES. TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THIS PIPE ON LATER VEHICLE WITH ALL METAL THIS STARTED OUT WITH THE AVALON.CHECK OUT THE RAVWORLD ON LINE SITE. CLICK ON "4.3" & THEN "OIL LINE FAILURE RAV CAMRY, LEXUS" ETC. TOYOTA NEEDS TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES WITH 2GR-FE V6 THAT HAVE THE RUBBER HOSE IN THE VVTI OIL LINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10276135July 8, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, VISIBILITY
AN INTENSE SQUEAK INITIATED THE VISIT TO THE AUTO DEALER. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS RUBBING ON THE VEHICLE FRAME AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275433July 1, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BLOWN OIL LINE ON 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274014June 16, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE THROTTLE IN MY 2007 RAV4 V6 LIMITED HAS STUCK OPEN THREE TIMES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IT HAPPENS AFTER I "FLOOR" THE ACCELERATOR. THE FIRST TIME OCCURRED IN MY GARAGE AS I WAS TRYING TO START THE ENGINE. I HAD TO TURN IT OFF. THE SECOND TIME WAS A WEEK LATER AS I WAS PASSING A TRUCK GOING UP A HILL ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY. I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND TRIED TO GET THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AS I TRIED TO GET TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I WAS SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT, BUT IT WAS SCARY. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD A LEAK, SO THEY REPLACED THE SEAL. I DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AGAIN FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS UNTIL IT HAPPENED AGAIN TWO DAYS AGO. I WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC ON A FREEWAY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE THROTTLE STOPPED STICKING AND QUICKLY RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268781May 14, 2009
POWER TRAIN
MY RAV4 V6 2007 37,887 MILES HAD A V V T OIL LINE RUPTURE AND EXTENSIVE LOSS OF OIL. THE OIL SPRAYED THE UPPER ENGINE AND LEAKED ON THE GROUND. THE CAR WAS CREATING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERED THEN WENT OUT. THE SERVICE STATION WHERE I PULLED IN REFILLED THE OIL AND THEN FOUND THE LEAK.THE CAR HAD TO HAVE 5 QUARTS PUT INTO IT, IT HOLDS 6. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A REQUEST TO EXAM THE VALVES AND DROP THE OIL PAN TO EXAM FOR METAL FILINGS OR ANY DAMAGE HAS BEEN DENIED. THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACED THE HOSE ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT WAS KNOWN BY TOYOTA ,TSB EG064-05, ON THE AVALON 2005 (SAME ENGINE). RESEARCH SHOWS THIS PART WAS STILL ON THE 2006-2008 RAV4 V6. THIS HOSE WAS REDESIGNED ON THE 2009 RAV4. THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ON THE RAV4 V6 DOES STAY LIT UNTIL AFTER ALL THE OIL IS GONE AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OCCURS. TOYOTA BUILT IT WITH THIS DEFECT AND HAVE NO MECHANIC DEVICE TO WARN AND PROTECT THE CONSUMERS OF THE LEAK. I WAS TOLD SERVICE REPLACED AN ENGINE ON ANOTHER RAV4 RECENTLY, BUT MINE WAS NOT RUN UNTIL THE ENGINE STOPPED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT CHECK THE VALVES OR BEARINGS FOR FURTHER DAMAGE. THEY RAN THE CAR, BUT WOULD NOT DO A VISUAL OR PHYSICAL INSPECTION AS WE REQUESTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263960April 2, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER A DANGEROUS SURGE-AT-STOP PROBLEM, WE TOOK OUR 2007 RAV4 TO OUR DEALER YESTERDAY, BUT SO FAR THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE TOLD THE DEALER THAT WE DON'T WANT THE CAR BACK UNTIL THEY FIX THIS LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION. YESTERDAY WAS ACTUALLY THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED, AND EACH TIME THE PROBLEM WAS MORE INTENSE THAN THE PRIOR INCIDENT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, AROUND THREE WEEKS AGO, MY HUSBAND WASN'T SURE IF HE HAD ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR, SO HE IGNORED IT. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, FIVE DAYS AGO, HE WAS MORE AWARE, AND KNEW WHERE HIS FOOT WAS PLACED, AND KNEW FOR SURE THAT THIS WAS AN ENGINE SURGE ENTIRELY UNRELATED TO ANYTHING HE WAS DOING. IT WAS ONLY BECAUSE HE HAD HIS FOOT PLACED FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE RAV4 AND PREVENT IT SURGING PAST THE RED LIGHT. YESTERDAY WAS THE WORST INCIDENT, SINCE THE SURGE HAPPENED, AGAIN AT A RED LIGHT, WITH CARS PASSING IN FRONT OF OUR RAV4 (WE WERE FIRST IN LINE) AND WHEN MY HUSBAND JAMMED HIS FOOT HARDER ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE SURGED EVEN HARDER, AND LOUDER, AND HE HAD TO REALLY FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN. IF OUR DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DRIVING THE RAV4 THERE IS NO DOUBT IN OUR MINDS THAT SHE WOULD HAVE GONE RIGHT INTO THE INTERSECTION, AND EITHER BROADSIDED A VEHICLE, OR BEEN BROADSIDED HERSELF, WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS. THIS SEEMS LIKE THE KIND OF LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION THAT NHTSA SHOULD REALLY FOCUS ON, AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD WANT TO IMMEDIATELY FIX, BEFORE SEVERAL PEOPLE GET KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260954March 6, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF, BUT LEAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO KEEP THE RADIO ON FOR MY PASSENGER WHILE I AM OUT OF THE CAR, SOMETIMES I FORGET TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF DRIVE AND PUT IT INTO PARK. I DO NOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I HAVE DONE THIS, THE CAR HAS ROLLED BACKWARDS. USUALLY, I NOTICE IT BEFORE I STEP OUT OF THE CAR, AND I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. LAST WEEK, HOWEVER, I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. LUCKILY, THE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK BEFORE THE CAR ROLLED INTO SOMETHING. IF I HAD LEFT A CHILD IN THE CAR, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260389March 2, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY WIFE WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF AN INTERSTATE WHEN OUR TOYOTA 2007 RAV4 V6 HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF AN OIL HOSE WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ALMOST ALL THE OIL IN THE ENGINE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE 3.5L V6 ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE IS IDENTICAL TO THE V6 IN THE TOYOTA AVALON WHICH IS EXPERIENCING A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF FAILURES SUCH THAT A TSB WAS ISSUED. THE AVALON STARTED USING THIS ENGINE PRIOR TO THE RAV4. I WAS TOLD BY A PARTS MANAGER THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OF THESE FAILURES THAT OWNERS ARE WAITING 6 WEEKS FOR THE BACKORDERED REPLACEMENT PART AND THAT 2500 PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. TOYOTA KNOWS THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE V6 RAV4 SINCE THE ENGINE IS IDENTICAL BUT REFUSES TO PUT OUT AN ASSOCIATED TSB FOR THE RAV4. THIS FAILURE IS DANGEROUS IN THAT IT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP ON THE HIGHWAY POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TOYOTA IS "QUIETLY" REPLACING THE FAILING HOSE WITH A METAL HOSE ONLY AFTER A FAILURE HAS OCCURRED.(A DEFECT ADMISSION OF A DESIGN FLAW). A RECALL IS COMPLETELY WARRANTED FOR THIS DEFECT. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED NO SUCH RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260394March 2, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL HOSE RUPTURED ON '07 TOYOTA RAV-4 DUMPING ALL ENGINE OIL. ENGINE THEN WAS STARVED FOR OIL AND RUINED INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS. TOYOTA IS AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS HOSE LEAKING AND A TSB EXISTS FOR THE FIX. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO RECALL OR EVEN A MANDATORY INSPECTION OF THIS HOSE AT REGULAR SERVICE INTERVALS. OUR ISSUE WAS A COMPLETE RUPTURE AND IT WOULD HAVE COST US THOUSANDS TO REPAIR ON OUR OWN IF THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. IT COULD HAVE EVEN LEAD TO A CRASH AS THE TIRES AND BRAKES GOT COVERED WITH OIL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259628February 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT'S CHILD INSERTED A KEY INTO THE IGNITION. THE CHILD ACCIDENTALLY SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE WHILE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CAUSED MINOR PHYSICAL DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE AND PROPERTY. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER TO DETERMINE WHY THE BRAKE SAFE GEAR SHIFTER DID NOT WORK. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257318February 3, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY 2007 RAV4 USED IN EARLY 2008. IT HAS THE FACTORY INSTALLED PREMIUM JBL 6-DISC STEREO. SINCE THE DAY THAT I HAVE OWNED IT, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH RADIO RECEPTION. THE RADIO'S DISPLAY WAS ALSO MALFUNCTIONING, SO THE DEALER REPLACED THAT, BUT I STILL HAVE POOR RECEPTION. THE RECEPTION IS FINE IF I AM WITHIN ABOUT 5 MILES OF A RADIO TOWER, BUT JUST OUTSIDE OF CITY LIMITS, I EITHER GET STATIC OR THE SIGNAL IS LOST COMPLETELY. WHEN I HAD THE DISPLAY REPLACED, I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP (BILL PENNEY TOYOTA, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA) ABOUT THE POOR RECEPTION, BUT THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256916January 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2007 RAV4 LTD V6 - ALARM SYSTEM THAT KILLS ENGINE -- MALFUNCTIONED. SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BETWEEN ALARM SYSTEM AND BATTERY. DEALER SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, BUT I HEAR A BUZZ NOISE LIKE A WIRE SHORTING OUT AND THE ONE BEEP THE ALARM SYSTEM IS TO MAKE WHEN LOCKING CAR DOESN'T BEEP. SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED 2 X AND LAST TIME WAS LEAVING AIRPORT AT MIDNIGHT. LUCKILY PULLED OFF INTERSTATE. CAR DIED. COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. CAR HORN CONTINUOUSLY BEEPED WHEN MALFUNCTIONING - WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO BE CAR JACKED BY SOMEONE WHO THOUGHT I WAS INTENTIONALLY DOING THE BEEPING OR IT COULD HAVE KILLED THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. DEALER SAID PROBLEM WAS BATTERY THEN SAID SHORT BETWEEN BATTERY AND ALARM SYSTEM. SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT BUT IT APPEARS THAT IT'S STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY 2 WEEKS LATER SO TAKING BACK TO DEALER TODAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250097November 28, 2008
VISIBILITY
I WAS DRIVING ON A RURAL INTERSTATE (I-16) IN GEORGIA WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. I INITIALLY THOUGHT I HAD A BLOWN TIRE. I PULLED OVER TO FIND MY MOON ROOF HAD A HOLE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GLASS. THE REST OF THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED IN TINY PIECES, BUT STILL HOLDING TOGETHER. I WAS THE ONLY ONE ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS NOWHERE NEAR AN OVERPASS. WHEN I REACHED ATLANTA, I WENT TO MARIETTA TOYOTA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE INSPECTOR SAID THAT THE HOLE WAS CAUSED BY A ROCK BOUNCING UP OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING AT A RATE OF 65 MPH. I HAVE A WIND DEFLECTOR AT THE FRONT OF THE MOONROOF. THE GLASS AROUND THE HOLE WAS PUSHED UP AS IF PRESSURE HAD CAUSED THE EXPLOSION. THE SCENERIO HE DESCRIBED WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE. THE COVER WAS CLOSED ON THE INTERIOR, SO THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS HURT. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE MOON ROOF. THE COST IS $585.00 PLUS LABOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249989November 27, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED 4WD V6 AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY AT LOW SPEEDS. A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEM IS SEEN AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN ONTO ANOTHER STREET. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF OVERDRIVE, SO WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASES AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. THE COMPUTER THEN REALIZES THAT THE CAR IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND "SLAMS" INTO GEAR. THIS CONDITION ALSO OCCURS IN TRAFFIC AND MAKING LANE CHANGES IS VERY DANGEROUS AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL SERVICE HOTLINE AND HAD THE LEAD SERVICE TECHNICIAN AT MY LOCAL DEALER RIDE WITH ME TO SEE THE PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE CAR IS "WITHIN NORMAL OPERATING PARAMETERS", BUT AFTER LOOKING AT SEVERAL WEB SITES, I HAVE SEEN THAT THIS A WORLDWIDE ISSUE WITH EVERY CAMRY, SIENNA, AVALON, RAV4 AND TUNDRA BUILT IN THE PAST SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. THE LOCAL SERVICE TECH TOLD ME THAT IN HIS 28 YEARS OF REPAIRING TOYOTA VEHICLES, HE HAS NEVER SEEN PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND THE CARS ARE BEING DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT A MECHANIC CANNOT FIX THE CAR. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITHIN THE FIRST 5000 MILES OF OWNERSHIP, AND AFTER 18 MONTHS, THERE STILL ISN'T A FIX OR ADMISSION FROM TOYOTA THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH THE RAV4, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE RELEASED TCM UPDATES FOR SOME CAMRY AND AVALON VEHICLES TO CORRECT THIS VERY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245791October 17, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. UPDATED 11/12/08. *CN UPDATED 11/18/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244157October 1, 2008
SEATS
1- CONSTANT HEADACHE AN STOMACH ACHE LOSS OF EYE SIGHT 2-BECAUSE OF THE LEAD IN FRONT SEATS WHICH ARE 99% OR 24198 PPM AND BROMINE WHICH IS 99% OR 131 PPM AND CHLORINE IN ARM REST WHICH IS 88% OR 191455PPM AND WIRING IS 99% LEAD AND 535011 PPM THIS CAR IS HIGHLY UNHEALTHY. 3-TOYOTA DID NOT DO ANYTHING CASE#200810010833. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#10243553September 26, 2008
AIR BAGS
OTHER VEHICLE MAKING A LEFT TURN HIT MY CAR AT FRONT RIGHT BUMPER AND MY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED EITHER. I THINK THERE IS SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN MY CAR IT SHOULD NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN SUCH A SMALL ACCIDENT AT LOW SPEED OF 25 MPH. PLEASE CONTACT GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR REPORTS. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 08092403046. PLEASE HELP ME. LUCKILY OTHER CAR PASSING BY SHOW MY CAR ON FIRE AND SHOUTED TO MY DAUGHTER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND SHE IS BEING SAVED. PLEASE HELP ME IN THIS MATTER. THANK GOD MY DAUGHTER SURVIVED THE CRASH WITH VERY LITTLE INJURY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10242965September 19, 2008
STEERING
PART WORN OUT IN STEERING COLUMN THEY CALL IT THE SHAFT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242856September 18, 2008
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE SPARE TIRE WAS STOLEN FROM THE REAR DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. HE WAS CONCERNED OF THE TIRE NOT BEING SECURED BY A SAFETY LOCK. A REPLACEMENT SPARE TIRE WAS ORDERED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $500. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 13,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota RAV4