Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2009)

327 consumer complaints on file.

#10534253August 8, 2013
SUSPENSION
I BROUGHT MY 2009 TOYOTA RAV 4 INTO THE ROMANO TOYOTA (6400 BASILE ROWE EAST SYRACUSE, NY 13057) SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE FOR POSSIBLE RUSTING IN THE REAR SUSPENSION BAR. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ASSURED ME THAT THEY HAD THOROUGHLY CHECKED THE RECALLED PART, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. 5 MONTHS LATER, I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH ON A 3-LANE HIGHWAY, AND I SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT MY CAR, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WAS HANGING AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE CAR. AN INDEPENDENT AUTO BODY SHOP CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION BAR (THE PART THAT WAS RECALLED, AND THAT TOYOTA ASSURED ME WAS PERFECTLY FINE 5 MONTHS BEFORE), HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. ROMANO TOYOTA REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM WITH US, AND SIMPLY REPEATED THAT "IF THEY LOOKED AT THE PART, THEN IT WAS FINE." WHILE TOYOTA CORPORATE CONFIRMED THE FINDINGS OF THE INDEPENDENT AUTO BODY SHOP AND REIMBURSED US FOR THE COSTS OF REPAIR, AS FAR AS I'M AWARE, TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN ANY STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THIS TERRIFYING (AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY) EXPERIENCE DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANOTHER DRIVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524088July 10, 2013
ENGINE
BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL AND OIL CHANGE, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WATER PUMP HAS FAILED AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $700. UPON RESEARCH, THIS EARLY WATER PUMP FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH RAV4'S, ALTHOUGH NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514343May 30, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT APPROACHED A TRAFFIC STOP AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512331May 16, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE RPM FAILED TO DECREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DECIDED TO SEND OUT AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510884May 7, 2013
ENGINE
I NOTICED A STRANGE RATTLING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE WHEN STARTING MY CAR 1ST THING IN THE MORNING AND WHEN STARTING IT AFTER IT HAS SAT FOR A FEW HOURS; I RESEARCHED ONLINE FOR OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAS DISCOVERED AN ISSUE WITH THE CAM SHAFT ON SOME VEHICLES. I HAVE JUST LEARNED OF A 2ND RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, THIS ONE FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION AFTER VISITING THE TOYOTA WEBSITE, BUT I FOUND NOTHING ABOUT A RECALL REGARDING THE CAM SHAFT. I HAD PLANNED ON BRINGING THE CAM SHAFT ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SERVICE TECH WHEN I TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION RECALL BUT AM UNSURE IF ANYTHING WILL BE DONE. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510352May 2, 2013
STEERING
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOUD "CLUNKING" NOISE AND NOTICEABLE SHAKING IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED OF STEERING OR RELATED SUBCOMPONENT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDST OF TRAFFIC. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I NOTICED MY SYMPTOMS ARE FAIRLY WIDE-SPREAD AMONGST OTHER RAV 4 OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510119April 30, 2013
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 45 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND SUSTAINED NUMEROUS SEVERE TO MODERATE INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT END WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WOULD BE DISPATCHED THE FOLLOWING DAY TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. ONE MONTH LATER, THE REPRESENTATIVE STILL HAD NOT PERFORMED THE INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE REPAIRS HAD ALREADY BEGUN, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 10/28/2014*LJ UPDATED 7/14/2015*JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10505370April 2, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT WITH RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO VERY HIGH RPM. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND ENGINE REVVED EVEN HIGHER. TURNED OFF IGNITION. SIGNAL TURNED GREEN AND SINCE I WAS IN TRAFFIC, DECIDED TO TRY TO START ENGINE AGAIN. ENGINE STARTED AND PERFORMED NORMALLY. IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO TOYOTA DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. WE ARE NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE! THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE HAD WE BEEN MOVING IN TRAFFIC! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504587March 26, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502245March 10, 2013
WHEELS, TIRES
I WRITE THIS LETTER SEEKING FOR HELP. SINCE THE YEAR 2011 I AM HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE RIGHT WHEEL OF MY CAR WHERE THE TIRE STICKS CONSTANTLY. THE PANEL SHOWS THE LIGHT ON FOR ALL TIME. IN TWO YEARS ALREADY BOUGHT TWO TIRES, MY CAR IS THE YEAR 2009, I CONSIDER A NEW CAR. THE VISITS BEGAN TO BE FREQUENT IN THE COMPANY TOYOTA, WITH REPORT OF BUYING ANOTHER TIRE. I WONDER IF THIS PROBLEM BECOMES NORMAL. BECAUSE CHILDREN ARE IN MY CAR DAILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500123February 26, 2013
AIR BAGS
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE RAV 4 AND HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A CAR. SHE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT AT NO TIME DID THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494969January 28, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494629January 24, 2013
SUSPENSION, WHEELS
SINCE THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT ON SEPT 18, 2009 IT HAS HAD A SHIMMY PROBLEM. DEALER COULD NEVER FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT WOULD DO AN ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION WHEN HE TOOK IT IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT 19,265 MI ON NOV 8, 2011, THEY TOLD MY FATHER HE NEEDED TIRES AND THAT A LUG NUT WAS MISSING. HE TOOK IT DOWN THE BLOCK TO A TIRE SHOP WHO STATED THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT AT LEAST 2 NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT. THEN ON MAY 20, 2012 REPLACED THE OTHER 2 TIRES AT 23,192 MI. HE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LUG NUTS REPLACING 3 DIFFERENT ONES NOW. THE LAST LUG NUT THAT WAS MISSING THE LUG STUD WAS BROKEN ALSO. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO BE TO HAVE 2 OF THE RECALLS FIXED AND THE LUG STUD REPLACED ON NOV 30, 2012 THEY EVEN SAID THESE RAV4'S HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE ISSUES. WE JUST RECEIVED A FIFTH RECALL NOTICE, A SECOND RECALL ON THE SUSPENSION. CORPORATE DOES NOT FILL ANY OF THE ABOVE ISSUES ARE RELATED NOR THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, THAT WE NEED TO GO TO THE ORIGINAL TIRE MANUFACTURE REGARDING THE TIRE ISSUE, THEY ALSO STATED HIS WARRANTY EXPIRED IN SEPT 2012. MY FATHER HAS THE 7YR-70,000 MILE PLATINUM WARRANTY, (THE LAST DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT TO ALSO STATED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED ON 9/12/2012). TOYOTA CORP GAVE ME THE PH NO FOR EXTRA CARE EXTENDED WARRANTY REGARDING THE LACK OF COVERAGE AND SAID TO WAS POSSIBLE IF WE ACTUALLY HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT THEY COULD DO SOMETHING FOR US. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THEM THEY STATED THE WARRANTY WAS IN THE NATIONAL SYSTEM AND HAD NO REASON AS TO WHY THEY'D QUESTION THAT. WHEN I EXPLAINED THE CONTINUAL PROBLEMS HE SAID CORP NEEDS TO ADDRESS. EVERYONE POINTS THE FINGER AT OTHERS. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 26,900 MI. MY FATHER HAS BEEN VERY ILL THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS AND IS UNABLE TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES. MY FATHER HATES THIS CAR, THE DEALERSHIP IN VACAVILLE PURCHASED FROM & HE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10493722January 22, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A STRANGE NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 10 AND 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10492337January 12, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. AS I SLOWED DOWN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SURGE. SINCE MY FOOT WAS ALREADY ON THE BRAKE I WAS ABLE TO PUSH DOWN HARDER ON IT TO STOP IT FROM HITTING THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. WITHIN A SECOND OR TWO, AS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO SURGE, I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK. WHEN I DID THIS THE ENGINE SURGED EVEN MORE. I THEN TURNED OFF THE ENGINE BY TURNING THE KEY WHICH DID SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN. I THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND IT RAN NORMALLY. I WAS SOMEWHAT SHAKEN UP BY THE INCIDENT. NOTE THAT THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FLOOR MATS OR HITTING THE WRONG PEDAL. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE WHOLE TIME THE INCIDENT OCCURRED-IF IT HADN'T BEEN I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490119December 26, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE HEADLIGHTS WAS DEACTIVATED, THE RADIO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC OR THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488822December 14, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO FURTHER ASSESS THE VEHICLE FAILURE. THE INSPECTOR WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482811October 31, 2012
STEERING
I STARTED MY CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY - BUT IT STARTED THEN STOPPED AND WOULD NOT MOVE - THE POWER STEERING EMERGENCY LIGHT HAD TURNED ON AND THE POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. I TOWED THE CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THE COMPUTER WAS FAULTY (ON A 3 YEAR OLD CAR ?!!) AND I NEEDED A NEW ONE AT A PART COST OF ABOUT $700 AND LABOR COST OF $300-$400. THE CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PART IF I PAID FOR THE LABOR. I WAS SUSPICIOUS OF WHY THEY AGREED TO DO THIS, BUT I AGREED. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I DROVE MY CAR DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND ONTO THE ROAD AND AS I WAS TURNING THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, AND I COULD NOT STEER SO I CRASHED INTO A HEDGE. (BUT I COULD HAVE CRASHED AT HIGH SPEED AND BEEN KILLED) . I TOWED THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP - NOW THEY TELL ME THEY ARE REPLACING THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN, AT NO COST TO ME. OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. IF YOU GOOGLE IT, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD POWER STEERING ISSUES AND EVEN CRASHED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING FAULT. PLEASE LOOK FOR A PATTERN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481941October 24, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2009 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DEFECT AND COST *TGW DOCUMENT WAS WRITTEN IN SPANISH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10479721October 11, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE NOISE VOLUME IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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