Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2007)

1,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10482424October 27, 2012
AIR BAGS
TOOK MY 07 RAV 4 SPORT IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR AIRBAG SENSOR RECALL ON 10-26-12. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED. THE AIRBAG ICON HAD BEEN STAYING ON CONSTANTLY SINCE 10-21-12. STILL ON AFTER RECALL WORK WAS DONE. TOLD BY SERVICE DEPT. WHAT BY NOW IS A FAMILIAR STORY. THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE PURSUED WITHOUT A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT $87.50 WHICH WOULD BE APPLIED TO THE COST OF PARTS AND LABOR. HOW GENEROUS IS THAT? ALSO TOLD SPIRAL CABLE MOST LIKELY THE PROBLEM. SO UNLESS I AM MISSING SOMETHING IT WORKS OUT TO HAND DEALERSHIP A BLANK CHECK OR TAKE YOUR CHANCES AIRBAG MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. NOW IF THE RECALLED SENSOR WASN'T DESIGNED TO FAIL AND IT WILL BE COVERED EVEN IF WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED WHAT'S SO DIFFERENT ABOUT A FAULTY SPIRAL CABLE FAILING AFTER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED? I AM GOING TO TAKE A WILD GUESS HERE AND SUGGEST TOYOTA HAS SOMEONE TASKED TO READ THESE COMPLAINTS TO STAY INFORMED OF TOYOTA OWNER SENTIMENT. SO THIS IS FOR YOU! HOW MANY INCIDENTS WITH OR WITHOUT INJURIES OR WORSE HAVE TO HAPPEN BEFORE TOYOTA DOES THE RIGHT THING AND CORRECTS THE AIRBAG ISSUES AND QUITS HIDING BEHIND THE EXPIRED WARRANTY EXCUSE? TOYOTA DID NOT BECOME A KEY PLAYER IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY BY BEHAVING LIKE THIS.WHAT HAS CHANGED? NEXT STEP TAKE IT VIRAL USING ALL AVAILABLE MEDIA! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482202October 25, 2012
STEERING
THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING SHAFT CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE IN STEERING. TOYOTA IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE DEFECTIVE PARTS... HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/TOYOTA/RAV4/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481551October 23, 2012
SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT A LINK TO THE STABILIZING BAR WAS FRACTURED. THE DEALER STATED THIS HAD BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE. THE CONTACT ASKED ABOUT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V373000 (SUSPENSION: REAR) FOR THE REAR TIE ROD, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE LINK FOR THE STABILIZER BAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD BOTH LINKS REPLACED SINCE THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE ONE ON THE RIGHT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK AS WELL DUE TO IT NOT BEING BOLTED CORRECTLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 12/5/12 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS RUST FORMING AROUND THE BOLT. UPDATED 12/10/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481260October 20, 2012
STEERING
DEALER INFORMED ME YESTERDAY THAT INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE MANUFACTURE.SHAFT WAS REPLACED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AT A COST OF $880, OF WHICH I HAD TO PAY $500 AS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER DOWNPLAYED WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT INSISTED THAT I SHOULD PAY $715 TO REPLACE THE SHAFT WHICH IS MAKING KNOCKING NOISES WHEN DRIVEN. THIS HAS TO BE A DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND I'VE HEARD THAT OTHER MODELS IN THE LINE HAVE ALSO SUFFERED SIMILAR STEERING ISSUES. CAN ONLY HOPE IT DOESN'T LEAD TO STEERING FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480795October 17, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED APPROX 6 WEEKS BACK. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID A VEHICLE RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR MY VEHICLE, DUE TO THE AIR BAG CURTAIN SENSOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP; RECALL WORK WAS DONE. LESS THAN 1 MILE DRIVING, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. TOOK VEHICLE BACK AND AFTER 3-4 HOURS OF TROUBLESHOOTING I WAS TOLD THAT THE SPIRAL/COIL CABLE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS AT FAULT AND PARTS AND LABOR WOULD COME TO $530. DID AN INTERNET SEARCH ON '07-08 RAV4, AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND MORE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPIRAL/COIL CABLE THAN WITH THE CURTAIN SENSOR. IN SEVERAL CASES, OWNERS HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL AND WERE TOLD THE SAME I WAS (NEEDED A NEW SPIRAL/COIL CABLE). AFTER READING ALL THE DEPLOYMENTS OF RAV4 AIRBAGS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING NOR IMPACTED; I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS RELIABLE. IS THERE A LARGER ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAGS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480935October 17, 2012
STEERING
WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT A STRANGE NOISE HAPPENING AND YOU CAN FEEL SOME SORT OF BUMP OR CATCH IN THE STEERING. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. A NEW SHAFT IS GOING TO RUN $400.00 PLUS AT LEAST AN HOUR OF LABOR. THIS MEAN THAT IT IS GOING TO COST EACH OWNER OF THIS RAV4 MODEL AT LEAST $500.00. TOYOTA HAS PUT A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THIS VERY PROBLEM. THE BULLETIN # IS TSB-0318-08 REV1. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR DESIGN PROBLEM AT THE BASIS OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480709October 16, 2012
VISIBILITY
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW VISOR LOOSE AND DOES NOT STAY IN POSITION. FALLS DOWN INTO DRIVERS VIEW OBSTRUCTING VISION AND DISTRACTING DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480716October 16, 2012
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION
I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT MY REAR LOWER SUSPENSION THAT I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND WHEN I'M ON THE ROAD AND GETTING WORSE AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. THEN I GET THIS RECALL NOTICE TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND STILL NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT I HAD TO PUT NEW TIRES ON MY VEHICLE AND HAS CAUSED THE INSIDE TO BE WEARING OUT, ON JUST THE INSIDE TIRE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE WHERE I BOUGHT MY TIRES AT AND THEY STATED THAT EVEN IF I ROTATE MY TIRES IT STILL WILL CONTINUE TO WEAR OUT BECAUSE SOMETHING IS CAUSING TO WEAR THEM OUT. I THINK IF SOMETHING IS CAUSING THIS BY A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM AT LEAST SOME ONE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. PLEASE IF I CAN GET SOMEONE TO CALL ME TO GET THIS RESOLVED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ANYMORE BECAUSE I FEEL I COULD LOSE OF CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479725October 11, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKES ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT FAIL AND THERE WERE EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE POLICE WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS DESIGN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479731October 11, 2012
STEERING
AT ANY SPEED, AN AUDIBLE "CLUNK" IS PRESENT WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT. FURTHERMORE, ONE CAN FEEL A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL THAT EXACTLY MATCHES THE "CLUNK" SOUND. DURING LOW SPEEDS AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE THE NOISE AND VIBRATION IS PROMINENT ANY TIME THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, THE SOUND IS LESS PRONOUNCED, BUT A VIBRATION AND FEELING OF "LOOSENESS" IN THE STEERING IS PROMINENT. SINCE THIS VEHICLE IS USED AS A FAMILY CAR WITH YOUNG CHILDREN (AND A PREGNANT WOMAN) PRESENT, THIS NOISE/VIBRATION COMBINATION IS DISTURBING AS WE FEAR STEERING FAILURE. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO TOYOTA'S TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST001-08 WHICH MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION OF MY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT IS APPARENT THAT TOYOTA ISSUED THIS TSB AS A RESULT OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS AND DEVELOPED A PROCEDURE AND REPLACEMENT PARTS TO CURE SUCH A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479604October 10, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, ENGINE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS WAS AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE FLOOR MATS. THE ACCELERATION HAD ENOUGH "G" FORCE TO PIN THE OCCUPANTS BACK IN THEIR SEATS. DRIVER WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO TRAFFIC WAS AHEAD. RAPID ACCELERATION APPEARED TO STOP AFTER PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL. TOYOTA APPEARS TO ATTRIBUTE ALL THESE INCIDENTS TO THE FLOOR MATS. AN ACCELERATION THAT PINS YOU BACK IN THE SEAT --FLOOR MAT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH DENSITY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE 2 YEARS WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. MOST OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN MORE SUBTLE THAN THE ONE DESCRIBED HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479709October 10, 2012
STEERING
HI GOOD DAY, I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAIN ABOUT MY VEHICLE PROBLEM TOYOTA RAV4 2007 "STEERING KNOCKING" WHICH AFFECTS MY DRIVING ABILITY CAUSE IT BOTHERS ME WHILE DRIVING DUE TO NOISE EVERYTIME I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT. I ALREADY WRITE THE COMPANY ABOUT THIS MATTER BUT THERE IS NO PROPER ANSWER ABOUT THE DEFECT. I SEARCH THE VEHICLE DEFECT ONLINE AND THERE ARE A LOT OF RAV4 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE IT'S NOT TO LATE TO NOTIFY THIS PROBLEM AND NOT WAITING FOR THE TIME THAT IT WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS TO THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I AM JUST ANTICIPATING THAT THERE WILL BE NO FUTURE ACCIDENTS ARISE RELATED TO THIS VEHICLE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478935October 7, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND APPLIED THE BRAKES. A HISSING SOUND COULD BE HEARD AND THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF STOPPING POWER. I HAD TO APPLY AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AND IT ALSO TOOK AN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE TO GET IT STOPPED.. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH THE STABILITY CONTROL AND OTHER DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY TO GET HOME. THE LIGHTS THEN WENT AWAY. AND THE CAR PERFORMED SOMEWHAT NORMALLY. THEY CAME BACK ON, A DAY LATER. AND SO DID THE SYMPTOMS, BUT ONLY SPORADICALLY. THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAS A LEAK. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER THE INTERNET. SPECIFICALLY, HERE: HTTP://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/99-4-3-MECHANICAL/91243-WHAT-CAUSES-BRAKE-BOOSTER-FAILURE.HTML I THINK GIVEN THE HISTORY OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE A RECALL SHOULD BE DONE. THIS IS A $900+ REPAIR, AND FOR A CAR WITH A LITTLE OVER 50K MILES IS UNACCEPTABLE AND ABOVE ALL, DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478822October 6, 2012
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION
I HAD HEARD A SLIGHT CLUNKING NOISE FROM THE REAR. I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD CLUNK, STARTED DOWN A HILL AND LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I WENT FROM ONE SIDE OF THE STREET TO THE OTHER. LUCKILY NO CARS WERE COMING. FINALLY A GOT THE CAR STOPPED AND RETURNED TO MY GARAGE. LOOKING AT THE REAR RIGHT TIRE IT WAS BENT IN AT THE TOP. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS WAS "LEFT REAR TIE-ROD PULLED APART". I HAD IT REPLACED. WE HAD JUST RETURNED FROM PHILADELPHIA THE DAY BEFORE AND HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD IT OCCURRED ON PENNSYLVANIA'S NORTHEAST EXTENSION, TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. I NEVER EVEN THOUGHT TO REPORT IT BACK THEN AND I AM SURE THIS IS A RESULT OF THIS RECALL 12V373000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478710October 5, 2012
STEERING
FOR 2 YEARS PRIOR TO TAKING THE CAR TO TOYOTA FOR REPAIR, I WAS HEARING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, NORMALLY WHEN I BEGAN USING THE CAR EARLY IN THE MORNING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO FIND THE PROBLEM, EXPECTING IT TO BE A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS BROKEN ALONG WITH A YOKE ASSEMBLY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS ALARMED THAT I HAD BEEN DRIVING A CAR WITH A BROKEN STEERING SHAFT FOR SO LONG. TOYOTA REPLACED THE BROKEN PARTS AND CHARGED ME $600. I THOUGHT TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THE COST AS A WARRANTY ITEM BUT THEY REFUSED. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A STEERING DEFECT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF VIA A SAFETY RECALL. HAD THE SHAFT BROKEN OR BECOME MORE DAMAGED THEN A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478657October 4, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING DOWN FOREST AVE IN BROCKTON, MA, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STATED SMOKING, I QUICKLY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, GOT ME AND MY SON OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND SUGGESTED THAT I GOT IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. SO I DID, TO COPLAND TOYOYTA WHERE IT WAS TROUBLESHOOT TO A MASTER SWITCH ASS. IT WAS REPAIRED AND I HAD TO PAY $580.70 BECAUSE THEY SAID ITS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477396September 28, 2012
STEERING
DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING. CAR FEEL VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY ON VET SURFACE AND DURING BRAKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477102September 26, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES PRIOR TO APPROACHING TURN LANE AND COULD NOT STOP. BRAKES WERE THERE (PEDAL WAS FIRM AND DID NOT GO TO FLOOR) BUT ACCELERATOR SEEM TO OVERRIDE THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PROCEEDED TO STAND ON BRAKES TO ATTEMPT TO STOP AS THERE WERE THREE LANES OF STOPPED TRAFFIC AND NO WHERE ELSE TO GO. SHIFTED CAR INTO PARK TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP TO AVOID HITTING 8+ CARS AND PUSHING THEM INTO A VERY LARGE INTERSECTION. CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 46000 MILES ON IT AND HAD NEW BRAKES INSTALLED 8 MONTHS PRIOR. CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED 1 MONTH PRIOR FOR GENERAL SERVICE POINT CHECKS. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP SAME DAY OF THIS INCIDENT - THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. OFFERED TO SERVICE BASED ON A PREVIOUS RECALL TO REMOVE THE CURRENT FLOORMAT AND ADJUST ACCELERATOR. ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN STARTED WORKING INTERMITTENTLY SOMETIMES DISPLAYING GARBLED TEXT ON THE RADIO DISPLAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477134September 26, 2012
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WENT ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER - THEY SAID IT WAS THE SPIRAL CABLE FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AIR BAG WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR OVER $500. THIS WAS AFTER THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN THE SUBJECT OF ANOTHER AIRBAG-RELATED RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476917September 24, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS WAITING AT A STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. SUDDENLY, WITH NO INPUT FROM ME, THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. ADDING MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE I WAS UNABLE TO KEEP IT FROM MOVING FORWARD. WITH FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SLOWLY MOVED INTO THE REAR PANEL OF A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, DOING FENDER DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, THAT IT HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I'VE HAD IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE, AND BOTH TIMES THEY INFERRED THAT IT WAS MY ERROR. I KNOW THAT EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, I WAS NOT MOVING, AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR'S ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP WITH NO ACTION TAKEN MY ME. SOMETHING IS DANGEROUSLY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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