Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2024)

207 consumer complaints on file.

#11681323August 18, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
On July 27, 2025 I was pulling into a parking space at a local pharmacy. I had removed my foot from the accelerator pedal and it was resting on the brake pedal. My 2024 Hybrid Rav 4 lurched suddenly and then accelerated at a fast rate of speed. It was as if the vehicle was possessed. Although I braked, I was not able to stop the vehicle before damage was done to the front end. I have reported this incident to Toyota and they sent someone to download the analytics from the black box. I have a copy of that report. I believe Toyota is responsible for the repair of this vehicle which had less than 5.000 miles on it at the time of the incident. My vehicle had been serviced at a Toyota dealership on 7/23 for it's 5,000 mile service. I am now scared of my own vehicle and fear this will happen again.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681091August 16, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
When idling with intermittent wipers on, the vehicle began smoking under the hood, engine light came on dash as well as “steering power low” warning, then engine shut off. The vehicle was unable to be started again after waiting a few minutes. The gear shift could not move from parked. The vehicle was purchased new and had only 20,000 miles on it. I ended up having it towed to a Toyota dealership but by that time the battery was drained from leaving the hazards on too long. They could not identify any other problems and sent me on my way with a working vehicle. After talking to a manager at another Toyota dealership, they identified that this is an occasional problem with this vehicle. The manager was able to contact Toyota who suggested they replace the air intake tube and bezel. Hopefully after these new parts are replaced I will not experience a random shutdown again. It’s such a specific set of conditions to cause the problem but a quick search online showed that other people have encountered similar situations with the wipers on intermittent while idling. Someone mentioned pressing the switch to turn off the automatic engine shut off as a temporary fix. I was blocking traffic and police had to direct traffic around me while I waited for the tow. Thankfully the traffic was not moving fast.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11678808August 6, 2025
TIRES
Tire size 225/65R17 On [XXX] the front tire on the passenger side blew out on [XXX] just west of the exit to [XXX] as I was driving from Warren MI to Horseheads NY. I was able to safely steer off the highway to the shoulder. A man stopped to help, he put the donut on the car and put the blown out tire in the cargo space. I have the tire in my garage. I drove off the highway a few miles to the exit for Hornell NY and called Williams Toyota in Elmira NY, they had a replacement tire in stock but couldn’t fit me into their service schedule until July 15, 2025. I had to extend my stay in Horseheads by 2 nights so in addition to the cost of mounting and balancing the new tire I had to pay for 2 extra nights at the hotel where I was staying. I bought my RAV4 from Golling Toyota in Warren MI in February of 2024, it had 9843 miles on it, the tire was original equipment, and I have had the tires rotated as required by the maintenance schedule. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677533July 31, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, SEAT BELTS, STEERING
Brakes failed to respond wheels locked and steering shut down
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11677289July 30, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
The hood of the vehicle vibrates excessively, especially at high speeds. I have reported this issue since the day of purchase and have taken the vehicle to the dealership four times without a resolution. This situation poses a significant safety risk to me and my family, as I believe the hood could open and cause a serious accident. I request an official inspection and resolution regarding this matter. Please advise on how to proceed with a possible warranty claim or further investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676998July 29, 2025
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
The driver was pulling into a friend's carport. After crossing a small curb her foot was taken off the gas and was moving to the brake. The car was going slightly uphill as slow as a car can go with no gas pedal depressed. The car then accelerated as if someone pressed the gas to the floor. In a matter of 8 feet it gained enough speed and momentum that when it hit our friend's parked car the 4 door SUV was pushed forward 4 feet. The gas pedal was never pushed by the driver. No failed component was ever identified by multiple inspections by the Toyota dealership, the insurance company, the body shop and the 3rd party company hired by Toyota to download the ACM data and the Vehicle Control History. We had filed a complaint with the Toyota Brand Engagement center hoping Toyota would make a proper investigation. A police report was made also. No one was injured but the homeowner was standing a few feet away. It could have been much worse. There were no warning messages, the emergency braking did not engage, and the airbags did not deploy. Earlier in the day the car's proximity sensors were beeping with no indication of what was setting them off. It took 3 cycles of park to drive to stop the beeps. The driver even walked around the car to try to identify what was setting it off. After the crash the passenger side rear window went down by itself and the rear liftgate went up. It took 7 weeks for Toyota Corp Legal to respond saying they found nothing wrong. To this day they have not shared the Vehicle Control History raw data with us. Their response made no mention of them looking into a failure of the ADAS system with regard to the Cruise Control or any other sensors that send signals to the throttle. I am attaching their response and various other inspects and reports. Also a ring video of the crash poorly converted to a gif. No option to attach a video is in the instructions.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677065July 29, 2025
ENGINE
Vehicle has stopped in the middle of the road 3 times so far each time I’m getting a message: Engine stopped Steering Power low
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674778July 19, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I purchased a brand-new 2024 Toyota RAV4 on November 18, 2023. Since early ownership, the Apple CarPlay/Bluetooth system has been defective. The system repeatedly disconnects, powercycles, and will not reconnect unless I pull over and restart the car, creating a serious safety hazard when I rely on navigation and hands-free features. I have taken my car to the dealership six times under warranty, leaving it for full days, providing photos, videos, and documentation (dates, times, temperatures) as requested. Toyota’s technical representative confirmed in 2023 that this is a known wiring issue affecting the radio WiFi/bluetooth system and said I “just have to wait for an update.” Toyota has admitted the defect but refuses to replace the radio, rewire the vehicle, or provide a 2025 model (which has the updated system). I was told multiple times the delay is due to “FCC approval for the software update,” which is misleading — only hardware needs FCC approval. Toyota’s Bend representative assured me my warranty will apply once the update arrives, but with 10,000 miles left, there is still no fix. This issue is widespread and a clear safety concern because drivers cannot reliably use navigation or hands-free features, forcing unsafe phone use or emergency stops. Toyota is not taking ownership, and this should fall under Lemon Law protections. I request NHTSA investigate this defect in 2024 RAV4s, as the 2025 models already have the corrected hardware/software, leaving earlier owners with unresolved, unsafe systems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673203July 13, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Small stone hit front windshield exactly in middle where window wiper sensor attaches and windshield split down the middle in two. Something is defective with these windshields. This is NOT normal to completely split like this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672851July 11, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Car is one year old, 13k miles and is having transmission issues, most likely related to e-CVT system. When braking you can hear grinding sounds from under the middle of the car. Acceleration is sluggish going up hills and engine seems to slip or race going down hills. Car is being taken to dealer Tuesday July 15 for diagnostics. No warning lights appeared on dash and no alerts on my mobile app. Internet search shows other RAV4 AWD Hybrids are experiencing the same issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11670603July 1, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
While driving at no more than 5 mph, looking for a parking space, the car suddenly accelerated dramatically. I vigorously applied pressure to the brake but the car continued to go forward, sideswiping a parked pickup truck and crashing through a metal fence and coming up against a rock wall. Fortunately, there were no pedestrians walking through the parking lot and no one was injured. I don’t know if the problem has been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle has been inspected by an inspector hired by the manufacturer and also inspected by my auto insurance representative. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptons of this sudden unintended acceleration prior to the failure.
Crash:
Yes
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
#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
#11666876June 13, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Moonroof spontaneously exploded while driving on the highway. The moonroof was closed, no one was trying to open it. All windows were closed, no one was trying to open them. My husband was driving and differently we heard a loud explosion which sounded like a shotgun going off and thought someone was shooting at us. I looked behind the car and could see glass flying everywhere. We safely pulled over and the entire moon roof had randomly and spontaneous exploded. No collision. Nothing fell on us etc. A quick Google search with show you that this is not uncommon for my car's make and model. Something needs to be done! It was terrifying and could have killed is all in the car from the panic hat ensure the
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11665643June 8, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
It is good
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
#11664847June 4, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Bought a 2024 Rav 4 on Oct 4 ,2024. Has a little over two thousand miles in it now. On two different occasions the vehicle has lurched pulled forward while I was sitting stopped foot on the brake. The first incident I was stopped at a stop sign waiting to enter a highway. All of a sudden the motor revved up and vehicle began lurching forward the brake I was pushing on would not stop the vehicle. I was dragged from the stop sign to the highway. I had to turn the key off to stop the Vehicle. The second incident was about a week later. I was stopped at a red light. Foot again on the brake. Suddenly the engine began to rev up and lurching against the brake. I immediately turned the engine off this time. Finally got the vehicle towed to Postoak Toyota in Midwest City where I purchased it. Postoak had told me three different times that I would have to to pay the tow fee or drive the unsafe vehicle to them. About an hour and a half drive. Finally Triple AAA said I was covered through Postoak. Had vehicle towed on May 31 2025. On June 3,2025 I was informed by a Postoak mechanic there was nothing found wrong with my vehicle. I was informed the vehicle has a start stop feature and letting my foot off brake when stopped would cause a small lurch. What happened to me twice in the Rav 4 was no small lurch. Literally dragging me with my foot squarely on the brake. I drove an Escape for six years which had the same start stop feature. Never did the Escape lurch forward.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11664114May 31, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I bought my car in the end of November 2024, and in April 2025 which is less than 5 months and the car's been driven less than 2,000 miles, I noticed the black plastic parts of my car in the front have been melting. This is a defect in the material composition. I see a good amount of other people sharing their similar melting experience on online platforms. When I brought the car and shown pictures to a local Toyota service center, Toyota says it's due to solar convergence. I also called Toyota corporate, and they told me it's not my fault. But they're not helping me fix the issue and repair my car. This should be under warranty. I just bought my car. I do not live somewhere with hot weather. It doesn't make sense, and it isn't acceptable for the car's plastic material on the outside to be melting like this. It's a safety concern that my car parts are melting.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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