This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The car had 115,000 miles on the engine and was just at 3,000 miles post oil change. Making a left turn over oncoming traffic the car died. Barely missed having an accident. As the car sat it did restart. No lights on the dash for engine issues. Drove 2 miles directly to my mechanic. The car had half a quart of oil remaining! Car now closely monitored burns 1/2 quart every 500 miles and more if highway driven.
Making a left hand turn across traffic and the car completely shut down. Restarted car. A mile later making a right turn and the car completely shut down. Took the car to my mechanic and they had it fail 3X while turning. Only 2000 miles since last oil change I had less than a quart of oil remaining. Oil burning / consumption put me and others at serious risk for a car accident.
The contact owned a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the traction, anti lock braking system and the 4 wheel drive warning lights would intermittently illuminate on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to gary force Honda (2325 scottsville rd, bowling green, ky 42104) where she purchased the vehicle and they diagnosed the vehicle with a defective traction, anti-lock brake and 4 wheel drive sensors. The contact was given an estimate for the repairs but the vehicle was not repaired. One day while driving around a curve at 30 mph, the vehicle hydroplaned and flipped over, landing upside down. The side air bags deployed upon impact; however, the driver and passenger air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed at the scene. The contact was treated at the scene for minor cuts to her face. The contact went to the hospital the next day for check up, despite both the contact and the passenger experiencing soreness due to the accident, no major injuries were reported. The vehicle was totaled and towed to an independent junk yard. The manufacturer nor a Toyota dealer had been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Just purchased 2011 Rav4 with 104K miles and soon found out it has a bad cam gear! apparently this is a known defect for this year! of course it's not under warranty at this mileage! shocked like everyone else to find out this wasn't recalled by Toyota. They need to step up and take responsibility for this known faulty part! not happy with my first Toyota!
Several cars have had a camshaft timing gear assembly problem since day 1. so many people back 10 years ago had the problem and stories of engineers being called in to diagnose it fill the net. How do we now 11 years in know that while the camshaft gear was in need of R/R that engine damage of any kind didn't occur? T-sb-0041-13 has been revised so many times it is ridiculous that this has not become a full fledged recall.
- East Windsor, NJ, USA
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The complaint specified does not seem to happen frequently or consistently, has happened randomly 2 times in a 6 week period. Specifically, car was engaged in the drive gear on auto transmission and was stopped at the moment, once at the parking spot at local walmart, brought to complete halt with foot on the brake, and ready to shift lever to park, before I could do that, brake went soft and car moved/surged forward, hitting the safety pole in the parking spot. The safety pole saved from head on hitting the car already parked in the opposite parking spot. The picture of the front of the car against the safety post is attached. Another time, was stopped with foot on the brake, waiting to merge into traffic, at the local hyvee store, suddenly braking was gone, engine surged withpower and the car jumped into the middle of intersection. Fortunately I was able to avoid the collision with other cars on the road. Both times the car was at standstill, in drive gear, foot on the brake. In forty or more years of driving I have never have this happened before I did file a claim with stae farm, because there was damage to the front bumper. A picture is attached. I have not yet driven this car, after it was repaired by the body shop, due to profound fear that this incidence can happen again. Toyota company says they have found nothing wrong, just like they have denied for similar issues with their other cars in the past. Please help
Waiting at stop sign - car began accelerating, engine revving, racing (again, while at a complete stop). I braked and vehicle took full control seemingly pulling sideways first and then lurching out onto the roadway casing a devastating crash totaling my car and causing the other person's vehicle extensive damage. I could have been seriously injured or killed. It's the second time this happened. 1st time pulling into parking space - accelerated lurching forward no matter how much I braked striking curb and post - stalled out, thank goodness. A case has been opened with Toyota but I am told they'll deny anything wrong even though I have 10 pages of complaints in hand of people who have experienced this same nightmare I did. It's time for Toyota to take full responsibility and do something immediately. A class action lawsuit seems pretty obvious at this point concerning this dangerous safety issue since Toyota is not taking responsibility by issuing/sending out recalls on this dangerous mechanical failure which next time may cause a death.
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle started to experience high oil consumption, which eventually caused the spark plugs to burn out. The vehicle was taken to Toyota carlsbad (6020 avenida encinas, carlsbad, ca 92011) where they tested the oil consumption. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls and were unable to provide any further assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 107,000. Consumer stated Toyota has diagnosed yhis vehicle as having an oil consumption issue. It failed the test 1/23/19 on the 3rd testing using 1 quart of oil for 598 miles. At 107,000 miles I took the vehicle in for oil consumpton. They told me I had extended warranty so they examined the car. Later I was told that I was told incorrect info. Consumer took the vehicle in a third time. Both visits I was told the car passed the oil consumption test problem is getting worse.
I was stopped at a red light with the brake fully engaged when runaway acceleration tried to take over the vehicle and make it inch forward into oncoming traffic on hwy 90. Due to my quick actions of continuing to press brake, I put vehicle in neutral then park, then I shut off the engine and turned on flashers. A policeman immediately drove onto highway and stopped traffic in order to escort me to my church parking lot about a block away. We then took it to a relatives home nearby. It could be the electronic throttle, throttle position on pedal, throttle body motor, computer programming issue etc.
Car is 7 years old with 123,000 miles. Recently started burning oil excessively. My car is not covered under the Toyota tsb related to this issue. Had it tested at Toyota dealer & it failed. Literally ran out of oil & didn't know it; car just stopped in traffic. Toyota refuses to do anything for me.
Excessive oil consumption. At least one quart of oil needs be added every 600 miles. Problem started at approximately 80,000 miles. Oil sludge built up in a valve which caused the vehicle to stall unexpectedly.
Rav4 -cel, 4WD, trac off all three lights came on. I had them read 4 times by 3 different mechanics. Each time I was told rear oxygen sensor needs to be replaced. I had the sensor replaced twice in less than 2 weeks to confirm it wasn't a faulty sensor. The all 3 lights came back on in less than 24 hours. Fyi: The other sensor was replaced as well.
I have a defective vvt-I gear on my 2011 Rav4. Upon researching the diagnosis from my local Toyota dealer (david maus Toyota), I discovered that Toyota has known about this engineering flaw since 2010 and had put out a technical service bulletin (T-sb-0146-10) so that dealerships would know how to replace the defective part. My vehicle's VIN # is specifically listed on this tsb as an effected vehicle. Also, there are many of forums, online, of people having the same problem and Toyota is refusing to replace these parts for owners. This is not a wearable part. It should never have to be replaced and it is a very expensive repair (approx. $2,000) with no discounts. I should mention that I have been dilligent with my car's maintenance and can pull most (if not all) of my oil changes, if necessary. Apparently, the same issue was discovered with certain Lexus models, back then, and they did a recall for those vehicles but not the Toyota models (Camry, highlanders, Rav4S, siennas, and venzas were all affected from this particular factory from the years of 2009-2011). I filed a case with Toyota's corporate office (case # 1606011778) and they offered a $400 refund after I paid for the repair. This is just not acceptable, in my view. Yes, the vehicle is out of warranty, but this is not a warranty issue. This should have been a recall back in 2010 when they discovered it and ditributed the tsb. I offered to pay for the part (at Toyota's cost) if they covered the labor (that is the most expensive cost to the repair), but they would not budge. It is a time sensitive issue, as well, because I am a single mother. This is my only vehicle and operating the vehicle with a malfuntioning vvt-I gear is causing damage to the engine. I am attaching the tsb with the listed affected VIN #S.
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. When the contact depressed the brake pedal, the engine roared and the vehicle accelerated without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who was unable to replicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall; therefore, they declined to help unless the dealer replicated the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
When braking, sudden acceleration occurred- seems to reset by letting up on brake and reapplying. Has happened on various locations and types of roads. While out of state dealership replace purge valve- seemed ok, but then on 1/25/16 was backing out of driveway had foot on brake and felt engine racing, put into park with racing engine, turned key off restarted and seemed ok had garage check could not find anything no codes showing currently back at dealership to put on their computer. This is an on-going issue for several months, but does not happen on any regular basis so it has not been identified by any garage yet. Please help
Four unintended acceleration incidents has occurred with my Toyota Rav4. Recent incidents on 9/1415 (college park, md when brake applied at a red light with vehicle ahead; passenger/witness in car). High RPM and engine rev occurred; both feet on brake in attempt to keep car from advancing; put car in neutral and then park and engine stopped revving. And on 10/5/15 (damascus, md when brake applied at stop sign with vehicle ahead). Both feet on brake, car to neutral then to park. Actions did not stop engine rps. Turned key to turn off vehicle. Rubber mat (on top of Toyota carpet mats) was removed before leaving the Toyota service center on 9/15/15. Proving on 10-5-15 that the unintended acceleration problem is not a result of floor mats which Toyota would like everyone to believe. Vehicle will be taken to darcar frederick md to filed second incident report on Monday, 10/12/15 (delay because I left on travel 10/5/15). Intent will be to determine trade-in value of car and most likely purchase another vehicle. It's time that Toyota recognize unintended accceleration problems with their Rav4S.
About a year ago, I packed my car to go on vacation. I put the dog in the car and returned to my house to get something. When I returned to the car, it was locked. I assumed I had inadvertently pushed the lock button on the remote so ignored it. Over the last 6 months, this has happened more frequently. On July 6, 2015, my mother and I went to walmart. I went in and she stayed in the car. When I returned the door was locked and she could not open it with the power door lock on the door, so I had to use my remote. Today, I was taking things out of the rear compartment and the keys were hanging in the door to the house. I heard the car door lock itself. I took it to the dealership and we could open the door and watch it lock itself in less than one minute of being opened. During that time, the inside electronic door locks would not work to open the door, it would only open with the remote or the manual door lock. The dealership wants me to bring the car in for inspection tomorrow, but Toyota corporate will not assure me that I won't have to pay for the diagnosis of this problem. I feel this is a safety feature of the Rav4 and they should be willing to diagnose this for free. If they don't, I will not take the car in. I told them I am very concerned that this may happen to someone else and could involve children getting locked in a car without the ability to unlock the door (if they don't know how to use the manual lock)....updated 09/11/15 updated 10/13/15
On 4/22/2015, I had been driving my 2011 Toyota Rav4 limited edition at highway speed for about 2 hours. After leaving the interstate I was braking and completing a counterclockwise U-turn going about 10 mph when the engine began to race uncontrollably. Based on my previous experience with this problem (this is the fourth time this has occurred) I threw the shifter into park while continuing to brake. This quickly brought the engine speed down to idle. I had my wife confirm that I had my right foot on the brake pedal only. There was no "pedal misapplication." The floor mats were securely in place and there were no loose objects on the floor. The road was dry and the temperature was probably in the 50S. The odometer was about 51,000 miles. This was the first recurrence of this problem since 12/26/2014. I brought the car to my Toyota dealer. They could not identify the problem and said they would charge me if I brought the car in again for a recurrence of the problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- East Windsor, NJ, USA