Bought brand new in Nov 2006 from Hudson Toyota. Noticed water in Passenger side carpet. Hudson Toyota fixed it; said seal part was "missing". After 3 years, same issue. Same seal was broken. Fixed. Bought a house. Rav4 was always in garage. I did notice occasional mold smell. When I left it outside in heavy rain, I noticed the SAME DAMN ISSUE. Air inside the car is BAD. Health issue for kids, infants. Toyota deserves a FINE for this issue and NHTSA needs to look at this with suspicious eye. Toyota is hiding customer complaints made directly with Toyota. CRIME.

I have learned that 2006-2007 models have been affected, but there is no recall or a safety issue. I thought the price was way too high and that you can't replace the part needed you have to buy the whole kit. Some owners likely could live with water seeping in when it rained hard and the wind picked up. Not me, it would eventually make your vehicle smell moldy and eventually rust would start to prevail. If the water does affect something electronic when it seeps through I hope it becomes a recall and Toyota ends up repaying me. I do love my Rav 4 though!!

Noticed a puddle on the pass side front floor after a heavy rain. Carpet was soaked. Leak originated behind the dash panel, along the firewall. I've read other complaints about the plastic cowling cracking due to ice formations at the base of the windshield, thereby causing the leak.

Toyota has not issued a recall, or TSB.

I'm disappointed in the decline of Toyota quality. I have a 94 Toyota DX with over 340k on it and it runs like a champ; factory clutch, rear brakes and no major issues. This led me to purchase a 99 4 Runner, which was crap. Traded it for a 2004 4 Runner which had catalytic converter issues and was also crap. Traded that for the 2006 Rav which has been a disappointment. Fit and finish isn't there, with numerous rattles, creaks, etc., appearing after a few months. I'm not hard on my vehicles and maintain them well.

If I ever purchase another vehicle, I will look at Nissan first, Toyota last.

I bought my toyota rav4 in 11/2010, notice floorboard to be wet after rain or heavy rain to the passenger side back in march 2012, notice the driver side wet at floor board 2 rains ago, now notice rain coming to passenger window at the corner of window. also lately i notice the steering wheel vibrates when i brake. I went to toyota dealership in baytown,tx to complain about the floorboard getting wet after rain. my vehicle spent all day there one time and they claim they couldn't figure out where the leak is coming from. I checked on line and notice many complaints like mine on line concerning this vehicle. toyota sent out a bulletin back in 2006 acknowledging this problem and sent out a fix it plan, they wouldn't honor the bill, and dealer is trained by toyota to prentend to not know anything of it. I called toyota headquarters and they don't acknowledge the problem and said there is no recall for this. in my opinion there should be.

this should be a recall. this problem with the cowl causing EXCESSIVE water on passenger side carpet is dangerous because interior windows condensate which reduces visibility and windows freeze. also mildew. I needed a towel while i was driving to clear windows because the venting system could not handle all the condensation. Toyota is aware of this problem with the cowl

and it is a defect on their part for 05,06,07 rav4 models. now i am having this problem AGAIN. purchased my 06 rav4 brand new. ended up buying a LEMON

Okay,

So I bought my car 12/09/09 from the original owner who had the prepaid Toyota maintenance program until 60k miles. I bought the car with 69.5k miles and his cologne smell was very strong -- and a bit musty. After the first couple of big rains I noticed water pooling on the passenger floor mat area. The carpet underneath was completely soaked -- it was then I started checking online for dash leaks on the RAV4. After researching RAV4World.com and finding the TSB for the cowl leak, I started calling Toyota. They were pretty rude and did not want to be helpful in having the problem fixed. I began to get a respiratory infection (coincidence or cause?) after driving the car for only a couple of weeks.

I don't feel this should've been my financial responsibility. Toyota referred me to dealers, and dealers referred me back to Toyota for having the repairs done. I was getting quotes from dealers of the repair costing $500! I finally decided on a dealer with a body shop who would give me a free estimate. I needed to fix the issue as my chest infection was not getting better. The dealer told me the repair would be about an hour of labor and the part (tiny foam strip) was only $14. I went for it, and asked the dealer to make sure to dry and disinfect the carpet and padding (i pulled the carpet out to see the extent of mold/bacterial growth -- they were conscientious and determined to satisfy my situation -- I think they felt it was a Toyota problem as I was told that they were surprised the part to "replace" according to the TSB was not there in the first place. Did the person or machine in Japan really mess up? Yup. And to add insult the injury, Toyota has not ever contacted me about my complaints to them, or responded to my email to them. Luckily, it has since not leaked at all as far as I can tell, and the car smells like an odor-free, newer car. The whole ordeal with Toyota has taught me that as a company, Toyota is ready to take and not give back. The TSB should really be made available to Toyota staff and most especially, to owners of those vehicles. Knowing the TSB, I could have been cognizant of the Toyota-found, but not willing to admit fault problems and have them fixed before it gets worst. I think Toyota has horrible customer relations, and that their products are not as great as one might expect.

Toyota would rather ignore me.

Noticed small amount of water on passenger side of vehicle. I took it to the dealer and the service writer said it was a clogged sunroof drain. They "cleaned it out" and the problem was fixed. About six months later when heavy rains returned the leak returned and I took it back to the dealer and they look at the drain again and cleaned it out one more time. Two weeks later after a heavy rain I found a small pool of water on the passenger side. I took it back to the dealer once more and asked the service writer could it be a leak around the fresh air vent intake and they looked at me as if I didn't know what I was talking about. Later that day they called back and informed me the cowling was bad and it would have to be replaced. They did not have one in stock so they ordered one and made a temporary fix until it arrives.

This was the second of two problems I need to have fixed, the other was clunking in the steering column. So much for the vaunted Toyota quality.

It started with a really bad smell, like mold. I kept spraying things to get the car to smell good. But, the smell coming back. I took it to get clean and then I felt that the passenger floor was wet. I remove the carpet and it came from under the dash.

I took it to the dealership thinking it was something with the A/C and at the dealership they told me that it was some seal that goes in the body that is broken. Since the car was not in the 36,000 mile they told me that is not under warranty. So I had to pay $140.00 I ask if my extent insurance would cover and it and they told me that is not a mechanical issue. So it would not be cover.

I ask the dealership how many other Rav4 had this issue and they told me that they have seen 3 issues and they cannot explain how this seal broke. I have own several vehicles and older than 3 years and I have never heard of a seal from the body braking and letting the water from outside making the car get wet.

I called Toyota corporate to make the report and ask about a recall on it and they said that they have not seen that. So I made a report on it. I believe there will be more of this happening. I can't believe a car that is so new can have the type of issue. I will take it to another dealership and see what they recommend. I will post the results, If anyone had this issue please post comments.