Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2007)

1,004 consumer complaints on file.

#10682359February 9, 2015
ENGINE
OIL CHANGED AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AT 83036 MILES. AT 87750 MILES, OIL LIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER AND ENGINE STARTED SMOKING DUE TO LOW OIL SOON AFTER. ADDED 3 QUARTS OF OIL AND HAD OIL CHANGED AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 6/30/14 AT 87829. CONTINUED TO CHECK AND ADD OIL-NEXT ROUTINE OIL CHANGE: 11/19/14 AT 93035 MILES AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, CAR WAS STRUGGLING UP HILLS AND SOUNDING LIKE IT WOULD STALL. EMERGENCY OIL CHECK-LOW OIL AT 94709 MILES. LOCAL MECHANIC HAD TO ASSIST TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. RECEIVED AN "EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION" NOTICE FROM TOYOTA ON 2/6/15. PROTOCOL TO ADDRESS MALFUNCTIONING ENGINES IS TO HAVE TOYOTA VERIFY "EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION". CUSTOMER MUST PAY FOR OIL CHANGE IN ORDER TO BEGIN PROCESS, REGARDLESS OF PAST EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT CLAIMS OF EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. DANGEROUS, FAULTY ISSUES WITH ENGINES SHOULD NOT BE THE DRIVERS' RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVE. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OWNER HAS MAINTAINED ALL RECORDS TO DEMONSTRATE PROPER CARE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680886February 3, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
THE DEALER SAID THAT THE SENSORS BEHIND MY BREAKS WERE DEFECTIVE. MY ABS AND CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. CAN YOU HELP. THE DEAL SAID IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN USE MY BRAKES THE OLD FASHION WAY BY PUMPING THEM. ABS DOES NOT WORK. WHAT CAN I DO. TOYOTA SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE RAVE4. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680089January 30, 2015
ENGINE
1. MY CAR USES AN ALARMING AMOUNT OF OIL (1 QUART BEFORE EVERY 1500 MILES). 2. IN ADDITION, THE OIL WARNING LIGHT NEVER COMES ON. I DISCOVERED THIS DEFECT WHEN I FIRST REALIZED MY CAR WAS BURNING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OIL, AND I WAS THREE QUARTS LOW JUST PRIOR TO MY OIL CHANGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678247January 22, 2015
ENGINE
I HAVE BEEN BRINGING MY CAR TO A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. DURING THIS PERIOD MY CAR WAS COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I'VE HAD MY BRAKES REPAIRED, SEVERAL RECALLS TENDED TO, AND MANY OIL CHANGES PERFORMED. THERE WAS ONE OCCASION WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A CHAIN AUTO SERVICE STORE TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED. IT WAS AT THIS CHAIN THAT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL LEVEL IN MY CAR WAS DANGEROUSLY LOW. I CALLED THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT I USUALLY BRING MY CAR TO FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO PERFORM AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST ON MY CAR. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS SO THAT THEY COULD PERFORM THE TEST. ON THE FINAL TEST DAY I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS INDEED LOSING ABNORMALLY EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND THAT THE FIRST STEP TO REMEDYING THE MATTER WOULD REQUIRE TAKING THE ENGINE APART. AT THIS POINT MY MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I AM NOW RELYING ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT THE EXCESSIVE LOSS OF OIL IN CARS LIKE MINE IS A ISSUE THAT TOYOTA IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH. IN 2011, TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHICH SERVICED MY CAR NEVER TOLD ME THIS EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY MAY DECIDE NOT TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR AFTER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REMOVED AND TAKEN APART AT WHICH POINT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS. HOWEVER, IF THE REPAIR NEEDED TO BE DONE WHEN MY CAR WAS UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, THEN WHY DIDN'T THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPAIR IT? THE TSB WAS ISSUED IN 2011 AND I BEGAN BRINGING MY CAR TO THEM IN 2012. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678345January 22, 2015
SEATS
THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED LEATHER SEATS BECOME EXCESSIVELY HOT AND THEY HAVE TO BE SHUT OFF WHILE IN USE. AFRAID OF FIRE- OR ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670624January 7, 2015
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION (ECU). TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WAS ADVISED AT THE DEALERSHIP (KENDALL TOYOTA) THAT THIS MALFUNCTION WILL PREVENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYMENT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IS NOT SPECIFICALLY A WEAR N TEAR ITEM AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA. RAV 4 HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS BUT NONE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670467January 6, 2015
STEERING
AS SOON AS I BACK UP OUT OF THE GARAGE, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE AS I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL, MORE SO TURNING TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK IT INTO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND HAD 2 EMPLOYEES DRIVE IT. THEY BOTH AGREED IT WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, POSSIBLY A BRACKET. WHEN I TURN IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE WHEEL DOESN'T WANT TO GO ANY FURTHER, MAKES THIS LOUD CLUNKING SOUND THEN LETS GO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND THE TIGHTNESS IN THE TURN HAS WORSENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670296January 5, 2015
ENGINE
JUST AFTER OIL CHANGE, ABOUT ONE WEEK LATER AND HAVING DRIVEN ABOUT 500 MILES, OIL WAS ALREADY ONE QUART LOW. SINCE THEN IT VARIES, BUT IT BURNS MORE OIL THAN ANY CAR I'VE EVER OWNED. ON AVERAGE I NEED TO ADD 2-4 QUARTS OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES, WHICH I PERFORM EVERY 3000 MILES. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION WILL PROGRESSIVELY GET WORSE. AN OBVIOUS DEFECT HERE SOMEWHERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669264December 31, 2014
STEERING
MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS DEVELOPED A LOUD CLUNK AND SLIGHT BINDING WHEN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE DIAGNOSIS FROM TOYOTA APPEARS TO BE A WORN INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. IN MY OPINION, THE STEERING SHAFT ON THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT RESEMBLE THOSE ON OTHER CARS IN THAT STARTS CONNECTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN RUNS VERTICALLY DOWN THROUGH THE DASH AREA CHANGING DIRECTION ABRUPTLY. OTHER VEHICLES HAVE A GENERALLY STRAIGHT STEERING SHAFT IN LINE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AXIS AND NO ABRUPT CHANGES IN ALIGNMENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSIONS ON TOYOTA RELATED WEBSITES OF SIMILAR RAV4 STEERING SHAFT PROBLEMS. IS TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND PREPARING AN INVESTIGATION OR REMEDY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669321December 31, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669135December 30, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS SHORTENED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668347December 26, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HANGS DOWN BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT. PAT LOBB'S TOYOTA OF MCKINNEY REPORTS THAT WHILE IT MAY BE A SAFETY HAZARD, THERE IS NO RECALL. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO BUY NEW VISORS. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT TO TIGHTEN IT MYSELF. IT IS UNSAFE AND $250 FOR NEW VISORS. FROM REPORTS ON THE WEB, MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE CREATING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10664885December 17, 2014
ENGINE
I WAS TOLD THAT MY RAV4 WAS VERY LOW ON OIL AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THOUGH I USUALLY HAVE MY OIL CHANGED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THEY NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT LOW LEVELS OF OIL IN MY CAR. I LEARNED ABOUT THE LOW LEVEL OF OIL WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHAIN TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. HOWEVER, THE PEOPLE AT TOYOTA HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2011. I MENTIONED THE ISSUE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE ME RETURN ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS. NOW MY CAR HAS EXCEEDED THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY AND TOYOTA HAS INFORMED ME THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY MAY NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS POINTED OUT TO ME. I WAS ALSO INFORMED TODAY THAT IT COULD COST ME $1100-$1200 JUST TO HAVE TO ENGINE TAKEN APART. THE COST OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE WILL INCREASE IF THEY TAKE IT APART AND THE PROBLEM ISN'T COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10664490December 16, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ACTIVATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 3/18/15*CN UPDATED 8/18/2015*JS UPDATED 10/19/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662663December 7, 2014
STEERING, SUSPENSION
MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS A "CLUNKING/POPPING" NOISE COMING FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE STEERING LINKAGE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND RACK-AND-PINION ASSEMBLY.IN EARLY 2014, A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN INDIANA RECOMMENDED SERVICING THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY VIA AN ISSUED TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED IN THE SPRING OF 2014 (COST=$1000, CAR MILEAGE ~65K).I HAVE SINCE JOB RELOCATED TO NEW JERSEY AND THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED (CAR MILEAGE ~75K).A DEALERSHIP HERE TOLD ME THAT THE RACK-AND-PINION ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACE (EST. COST= $2000).GENERAL SIGNS OF RACK-AND-PINION FAILURE AS STATED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL RESEARCH ARE NOT OBSERVED IN MY CAR (SIGNS INCLUDING "PLAY/SLOP" IN THE STEERING WHEEL, LOOSE STEERING, STIFF STEERING, ETC.).FURTHER RESEARCH OF THIS ISSUE HAS SHOW MULTIPLE HUNDREDS-OF-THOUSANDS OF RAV4 OWNERS INQUIRING ABOUT THIS ISSUE EITHER VIA RAV4/TOYOTA FORUMS, OR THROUGH THE NHTSA AND OTHER THIRD PARTY AUTO SAFETY AGENCIES.THE DEALERSHIPS SEEM TO BE GUESSING AT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND THEY ISSUE REPAIR GUIDELINES BASED ONLY ON SERVICE BULLETINS WITHOUT FULLY INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE.THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WITH A "CLUNKING/POPPING" NOISE WITH THE STEERING ASSEMBLY OF THESE AUTOMOBILES.OWNERS OF THIS (HIGHLY RATED, ABUNDANTLY SOLD) RAV4 MODEL SHOULD BE ISSUED A RECALL BY TOYOTA TO HAVE THE RACK-AND-PINION AND THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ASSEMBLY FIXED WITHOUT CONSUMER PURCHASE.TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS, AS THEY HAVE ISSUED MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS, BUT HAVE YET TO DEEM THE ISSUE A SAFETY CONCERN LEAVING THEIR LOYAL OWNERS WITH REPAIR COST IN UPWARDS OF $3000 FOR CARS THAT ARE WELL UNDER 100,000 MILES, BUT OUTSIDE OF TOYOTA'S WARRANTY PERIOD. PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND THEIR PRECIOUS PASSENGERS, SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN OF TOYOTA AND THE NHTSA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662319December 5, 2014
ENGINE
MY CAR IS BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING; HOWEVER, WHEN RESEARCHED ONLINE THERE IS A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA AND THERE WAS ALSO A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2011 ADVISING THE DEALERSHIPS TO REMEDY PROBLEM. AT THAT TIME MY CAR WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN UNDER WARRANTY BUT SINCE IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO COVER IT. THEY ESTIMATE COST BETWEEN $4-6000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662090December 3, 2014
ENGINE
SUBJECT VEHICLE HAS BURNED EXCESSIVE OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES - ROUGHLY EVERY 3,500 TO 4,000 MILES, STARTING AT APPROXIMATELY 45K MILES. BETWEEN OIL CHANGES IT IS NOT UNUSUAL TO PUT IN TWO TO THREE QUARTS OF OIL. DRIVER CARRIES AT LEAST ONE QUART OF OIL IN VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES TO HOPEFULLY PRECLUDE ENGINE SEIZURE. OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLICKERED ONE TIME AND DRIVER PULLED OVER TO DISCOVER OIL LEVEL WAS DOWN NEARLY TWO FULL QUARTS LESS THAN 2,000 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654371December 2, 2014
SUSPENSION
2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS, BUT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. *SS THE DEALER GAVE THE CONSUMER, DIFFERENT EXCUSES, AS TO WHY THEY COULDN'T REPAIR THE VEHICLE.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661196November 28, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE AIR BAG, POWER STEERING, AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE TACHOMETER DID NOT INDICATE THE RPM. THE SPEEDOMETER AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WERE INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO INDICATE WHAT GEAR WAS IN SHIFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,526.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660548November 24, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON 11/10/2014 WHEN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. THE RAV4 TOOK LONGER THAN NORMAL TO COME TO A STOP WITH GREATER FORCE REQUIRED TO STOP. ONCE FULLY STOPPED, THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING WITH LOW RPM'S (~500) AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON ALONG WITH VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME, BUT EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AT EVERY STOP LIGHT / STOP SIGN. CONTACTED TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN TUCSON IMMEDIATELY AND SCHEDULED EMERGENCY SERVICE FOR THE NEXT MORNING. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WITH TWO ERROR CODES (P0171 AND P0174 - LEAN AIR/FUEL MIX). WAS TOLD THEY SUSPECTED A BAD TANK OF GAS. TOYOTA ADDRESSED ONE OPEN RECALL (SERVICE CAMPAIGN BST - REFLASH BRAKE CONTROL COMPUTER) ON MY VEHICLE BUT DID NOT INVESTIGATE THE ERROR CODES, ONLY CLEARED THEM. THE FOLLOWING DAY WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. ALMOST NO BRAKE PRESSURE AND BARELY ABLE TO STOP. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC, AND TRAC LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATED AGAIN. LOW IDLE SPEED AS WELL. CONTACTED A DIFFERENT LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION. WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO DAMAGE IN THE DIAPHRAGM CAUSING LOSS OF VACUUM PRESSURE (WHICH HELPED EXPLAIN THE TWO ERROR CODES RELATED TO LEAN AIR/FUEL MIX). TOTAL REPAIR BILL OVER $1000. JUST LUCKY NOBODY WAS INJURED DUE TO FAILING BRAKE SYSTEM ON TOYOTA'S PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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