Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2006)

705 consumer complaints on file.

#10176542December 19, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
MY 2006 RAV4 HAS DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL) ALONG WITH THE OPTITRON DASH (LCD DASH THAT IS LIT WHENEVER THE CAR IS RUNNING - AS OPPOSED TO THE DASHBOARD BEING LIT ONLY WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON). ON THE RAV4 TOYOTA ONLY PROVIDES A SMALL ICON TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. WITH THE OPTITRON DASH AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS I AM ABLE TO GET INTO MY CAR AT NIGHT, SEE THE LIGHTED DASH AND LIGHT COMING FROM THE HEADLIGHTS AND ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVE THAT MY FULL NIGHTTIME HEADLIGHTS ARE ON (INSTEAD OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS). THE PROBLEM WITH THIS SETUP IS MY TAIL LIGHTS ARE NOT ON. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS RUNNING W/O TAIL LIGHTS AT NIGHT COULD CAUSE REAR-END COLLISIONS. RATHER THAN PROVIDE RAV4 OWNERS WITH A SMALL DASHBOARD INDICATOR SHOWING WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LIT, TOYOTA SHOULD INCLUDE; EITHER AN INDICATOR THAT SHOWS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT ON, OR INCLUDE AUTO-ON HEADLIGHTS FOR VEHICLES WITH DRL AND OPTITRON DASHBOARDS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175890December 12, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE THE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 BASE MODEL WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY SLUGGISH TO RESPOND TO BRAKING, SUCH THAT THE ENGINE SOMETIMES CONTINUES TO REV FORWARD FOR A SECOND OR TWO EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS LEADS TO EXCESSIVE BRAKING DISTANCES. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS THE CAUSE OF AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT THAT WE SUFFERED ON 8/5/06. IN DENSE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, I WAS ABOUT 20 FEET BEHIND AN OLDER TOYOTA PATHFINDER AND HAD JUST ACCELERATED FROM ABOUT 15 MPH TO ABOUT 25 MPH, AS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE VEHICLES WAS GROWING. THEN THE PATHFINDER IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON HIS/HER BRAKES BECAUSE ANOTHER VEHICLE SWERVED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TOO, BUT THE RAV4 DID NOT IMMEDIATELY BEGIN TO SLOW. INSTEAD, I COULD FEEL THE ENGINE STILL PUSHING THE CAR FORWARD. THE RAV4 FINALLY DID BEGIN TO SLOW DOWN RIGHT ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE PATHFINDER CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, WE HIT THE NOW-STATIONARY PATHFINDER IN FRONT OF US AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 5 MPH. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT THE FRONT END OF THE RAV4 WAS MASHED IN. I HAVE DRIVEN DOZENS OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES OVER NEARLY 20 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE, AND I THINK EVERY OTHER ONE WOULD HAVE COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WELL BEFORE THE POINT OF IMPACT (AS DID THE PATHFINDER IN FRONT OF ME, DESPITE A VEHICLE CUTTING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT). THIS LEADS ME TO SUSPECT THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RAV4 TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE WHENEVER THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A DANGEROUS TIME LAG. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED, THEY ROAD-TESTED AND EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEY CLAIMED WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS THE VEHICLE DOWN-SHIFTING, WHICH RESULTS IN HIGHER RPMS BUT LESS FORWARD MOTION. I DON'T BUY IT. I HAVE TRIED JAMMING ON THE BRAKES TO CAUSE SUCH DOWNSHIFTING AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175050December 4, 2006
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
TOYOTA TPMS SYSTEM ON RAV4 NOT USABLE WITH SECOND SET OF (SNOW) TIRES. WHEN I PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SET OF TOYOTA RAV4 OEM RIMS FOR SNOW TIRES, I WANTED TO PUT TPMS RECEIVES ON THOSE RIMS. WHEN I CALLED MY TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SUGGESTED THAT I NOT PURCHASE AN ADDITIONAL SET OF TPMS VALUES AS MY RAV4 COULD ONLY HOLD ONE SET OF TPMS DATA. THEY INSTEAD SUGGESTED THAT I IGNORE THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT, OR COVER IT UP WITH A PIECE OF BLACK ELECTRICAL TAPE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176439November 30, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2006 RAV 4 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PASSENGERS WERE STILL INSIDE. *TS THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TWO OCCUPANT WERE KILLED. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10174698November 29, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE
BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR. WHENEVER IT RAINS, WATER COMES DOWN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND MAKES A PUDDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOT WELL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174218November 25, 2006
STRUCTURE
AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING DISPLAY ON RAV-4 LIMITED MODELS WITH ELECTRONIC HVAC CONTROL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE DURING DAYTIME/SUNLIGHT CONDITIONS, MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO TRY TO READ THE DISPLAY AND DRIVE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172713November 6, 2006
EQUIPMENT
2006 TOYOTA RAV4, TOYOTA HAS DETERMINED AND ISSUED A REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR THE FRESH AIR VENTILATION INLET AREA AS THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK HOWEVER HAS NOT FULLY DISCLOSED OR ADDRESSED THE POTENTIAL FOR MOLD OR MILDEW GROWTH THAT MAY BE PRESENT AS RESULT OF THE FAILURE. I AM FORWARDING THIS COMPLAINT TO YOUR ATTENTION AS A CONCERN FOR ALL 2006 RAV4 OWNERS THAT AS A RESULT OF THIS LEAK COULD HARM OCCUPANTS THAT HAVE RESPIRATORY DISEASES.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172372November 1, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 4X4 LIMITED IN MARCH 2006. SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE ACCELERATION EITHER NOT RESPONDING OR LURCHING FORWARD. WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP, IT OCCASIONALLY TAKES THE CAR SEVERAL SECONDS TO ENGAGE AND ACCELERATE. OTHER TIMES, WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP AT A LIGHT OR SIGN, THE CAR CONTINUES TO REV THE RPM''S AND LURCHES FORWARD. IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR FROM LURCHING FORWARD, WE HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND SLAM ON THE BREAKS. THIS IS VERY SCARY IF YOU ARE COMING UP TO AN ACTIVE INTERSECTION. FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171952October 27, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED 4 CYL IN JANUARY/FEBRUARY OF 2006. I NOTICED A PROBLEM IN ACCELERATION/HESITATION AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I HAVE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS ON A DAILY BASIS. STEADY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR YIELDS NO RESPONSE, OR A STUTTER AS THOUGH THE CAR IS ABOUT TO STALL. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR MOVING IS TO PUSH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE RACES AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP. THIS HESITATION HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED I WAS PULLING ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY FROM A SIDE STREET AND WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BECAUSE THE CAR SIMPLY WOULD NOT GO (UNTIL I SLAMMED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR). THIS IS VERY UNSAFE FOR EVERYDAY DRIVING. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHO STATED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS 'NORMAL' FOR TOYOTAS AND SOMETHING I NEEDED TO GET USED TO. THEY DID CHECKOUT THE CAR AND SAID NO ERROR CODES WERE GENERATED AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171712October 24, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WARMED UP, THERE WAS LITTLE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING, THEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD EXTREMELY FAST. THE LAST OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER TWICE FOR THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 12/1/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171408October 20, 2006
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE GLASS IN THE WINDSHIELD OF A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. BRIEFLY, THE GLASS SHATTERED IN A MANNER THAT IS UNCHARACTERISTIC OF SAFETY GLASS LEAVING SHARDS AND SLIVERS OF GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE FROM THE IMPACT OF A ROCK FROM THE HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE THE TEMPERING PROCESS LEFT THIS WINDOW DEFECTIVE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURIES, PARTICULARLY TO THE EYES, OF DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS IS MORE THAN SHOULD BE ALLOWABLE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170788October 13, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE VEHICLE HAD AN ACCELERATION LAG ISSUE CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO NOT SWITCH GEARS IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169490September 28, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE HAS FREQUENT PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION - ESPECIALLY FROM STANDING STILL. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS WHEN TRYING TO ENTER TRAFFIC FROM MY DRIVEWAY, OR FROM OTHER PLACES. I WILL STEP ON THE GAS, BEGIN MOVING, THEN THE ENGINE WILL BOG DOWN AND I WILL HAVE NO ACCELERATION AT ALL. HAVING CHILDREN, I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BASED IN LARGE PART TO ITS SAFETY FEATURES. THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER, PRACTICALLY NEGATES ALL OF THAT. IF I STEP ON THE GAS I SHOULD EXPECT RELIABLE ACCELERATION SO I CAN SAFELY MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY DEALER, AND THEIR EXPLANATION HAS BEEN THAT THIS IS AN INTENTIONAL THING, TO BE SURE THE LUBRICANT IN THE TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE TRAIN IS OF SUFFICIENT TEMPERATURE BEFORE ALLOWING HARD ACCELERATION, THUS REDUCING WEAR ON COMPONENTS. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME, EVEN AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE - I DO NOT ACCEPT THIS REASON, NOR DO I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ACCEPTABLE WAY TO DEAL WITH COMPONENT WEAR. I SHOULD HAVE ACCELERATION AT ALL TIMES. IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO DRIVE INTELLIGENTLY AND NOT GUN THE ENGINE WHEN IT IS COLD, POSSIBLY DAMAGING THE ENGINE. BUT IT IS TOYOTA'S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE ME WITH A VEHICLE THAT WILL RESPOND TO MY DEMANDS AT ANY TIME. MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY'S DEPENDS ON THIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169024September 23, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN MY WIFE IS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 90 POUNDS. TOYOTA 2006 RAV4 WITH SIDE AND CURTAIN BAGS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169022September 23, 2006
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A SERIOUS DELAY IN THE ACCELERATION OF MY 06 TOYOTA RAV4. IT IS DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. I HAVE GOTTEN NO HELP FROM THE DEALER OR TOYOTA. IT HAPPENS ABOUT 5-10 TIMES PER WEEK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168429September 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THERE IS A SEVERE HESITATION WHEN PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. THIS IS MOST NOTABLE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR A NEAR STOP. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE A/C BEING ON OR IN MY HEAD, BUT I HAVE RULED OUT THE A/C, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL WORK WONDERFULLY ONE NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING, THE THROTTLE RESPONSE IS VERY SLUGGISH. SOMETIMES SEEMS TO BOG DOWN IF YOU GIVE IT MORE GAS AND THEN YOU HAVE TO EASE WAY BACK ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ONCE IT GETS GOING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168218September 14, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY RAV4 "LAGS" OR "HESITATES" WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER TO GET UP TO SPEED-ESPECIALLY WHEN I AM TRYING TO MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY TECHNICIANS THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS NO "FIX" FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167960September 12, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
!. FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT ACTIVATED WHEN AN ADULT (MY WIFE) WEIGHING 90 POUNDS IS SEATED IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. 2. NO INSIDE RELEASE FOR REAR HATCH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167760September 9, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2006 TOYOTA RAV4 SPORT - INCONSISTENT THROTTLE, ACCELERATION DELAY. FROM A COASTING POSITION THERE IS A DELAY IN RESPONSE WHEN ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR, USUALLY FOLLOWED BY A SUDDEN HIGH SPEED ACCELERATION. AT LOW SPEEDS THE ACCELERATOR IS HYPERSENSITIVE. IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT SUDDEN HIGH SPEED RESPONSES DESPITE MY BEST EFFORTS TO MODERATE AND CONTROL PEDAL PRESSURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10167132August 31, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 IN APRIL AND THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE AN ISSUE NO ONE WANTS TO ADDRESS, WE ON THE FORUMS CALL IT ERRATIC ACCELERATION. THE CAR USES SOME TYPE OF ELECTRONIC SENSORS TO DETERMINE THE CHANGE IN GEARS WHEN ACCELERATING AND IT IS VERY ERRATIC. ONE TIME IT GOES SMOOTHLY AND ANOTHER IT TAKES OFF, VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSTABLE. TOYOTA WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE BUT 90% OF THE OWNERS WILL TESTIFY TO IT. TOYOTA NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A FIX BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE. * NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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