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.
In preparing for a trip, the automatic tailgate went out of alignment and would not close. A local body shop diagnosed the issue as a bent hinge. There was no incident that caused this - the hinge appears to be insufficiently sturdy for a heavy tailgate. The body shop temporarily hammered the hinge back into place, but the seal of the tailgate is imperfect, allowing exhaust fumes to enter the cabin when driving at low speeds. This may also have been true before the gate failed to close, but was not noticed. This is beginning to show up on other RAV4s. The local Toyota dealer would not accept a warranty claim for the issue. A permanent repair is scheduled, but will require several weeks due to scheduling.
Due to recent rains in CA I noticed the headliner near the upper a-frame pillar was damp on both the drivers and passenger side. With a quick search online it is a common problem among 2019-present Toyota Rav4 owners. As of this writing I do not know of a public Toyota approve fix. https://www.rav4world.com/threads/potential-safety-issue-for-rav4-adventure-owners.304363/#post-2770286 https://www.rav4world.com/threads/2019-roof-rack-leak.305629/ I took the car in for service with a Toyota dealer to have the leak addressed within a couple days of noticing the damp headliner. They performed a repair and said all was good. Less than a week later, the same issue occurred. Again, I brought the car back as soon I as I noticed the leak and they did a more thorough repair, replacing more roof rail components. A little over 3 weeks later I noticed the same issue with condensation build up in the car and after looking behind the a-frame covering there were puddles of water in the plastic covering. Again the dealer notified me the repair was done and everything was good, when I picked up the car the head liner was still wet, and I left the car with them. Currently the vehicle is still is possession of the dealer pending next steps. In total the dealer has had the vehicle for 15+ days as of this writing. I am concerned with what other damage is occurring to the airbags, airbag systems, electronic components, electrical connections, and Toyota Safety Sense systems due to prolonged water exposure that could prevent safety systems from operating as and when intended. I am also concerned about mold growth due to the prolonged water exposure and the effect it may have on myself and my passengers. Other than visual indicators of seeing water dripping and damp headliner, there was no indication that the roof was leaking.
The roof rack side rails that come standard on the vehicle are only secured by glue on the front with minimal weather proofing rubber. When driving, the front of the rails lift up and water and dirt can get into the front supports of the car in the left and right of the windshield. This is extremely dangerous and others have reported similar issues. The front of the roof rack side rails needs to be secured with a physical bolt and not just glue.
During a road trip with my wife I discovered that the headliner started leaking down the A-frame and into the curtain airbags on the A-pillar on the driver and passenger side of the vehicle. Within 2 minutes of googling the issue I found out that 2019-2020 RAV4s with the factory installed roof rails experience a leak caused by a faulty gasket. This information was confirmed by my service advisor at Toyota of El Cajon after he stated "Yeah you've got the RAV4 leak, I'm finishing up a warranty claim on one right now". I expressed concerns over electrical damage, damage to the air bags, and possible mold growth in the vehicle and was told that Toyota doesn't consider water leaking into an airbag/control panel to be an issue. I would really like NHTSA to inform Toyota that water leaking into safety equipment through the roof of a new $50,000 car is indeed a safety issue and just awful quality assurance.
- El Cajon, CA, USA
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Rear liftgate hinges bend/broke at car body attachment Appears to be a metal issue with hinges Rear liftgate door will not seal, allowing exhaust gases to enter vehicle Problem was reported to Dealer at 25K mile mark, Dealer will not repair under new car warranty
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the mirror housings of the vehicle were melting. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the failure was a manufacturer defect. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure advised the contact that they would follow up with the dealer. A case was opened. The contact stated the dealer took photographs of the failure. The contact stated the manufacturer contacted her and informed her that their field experts determined that the failure was not a manufacturer defect but an environmental issue called solar conversion. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the mirror housings of the vehicle were melting. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 8,500.
I bumped the car in front of me when starting from a red light at an intersection. Impact speed was less than 3 MPH. The damage from this impact resulted in repair cost of almost $4,200. This is outrageous and an example of poor design on the part of Toyota. It is my understanding that the standards require vehicles to absorb up to 5 MPH frontal impact with no damage. Had I known this vehicle was so poorly protected I would have chosen to purchase something else.
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving in inclement weather, water leaked inside the vehicle from the roof rack into the interior cabin and a by the A-pillar. The contact was concerned that the water could corrode the air bags causing them to not deploy in the event of a crash. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to ray brandt Toyota (2460 veterans blvd, kenner, la 70062) where it was diagnosed with the roof rack seals needing to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to an authorized dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 8,100.
On a city street, this is a unsafe condition, the car do not have a towing eyelet or hook.vehicle became stuck, no way to be remove from street, accident etc..all Rav4 before have this towing eyelet or hook or metal ring to hook a chain and remove the car from a danger situation.
When taking the vehicle through a car wash the edge of the hood by the windshield buckles, flexes and then returns to it's normal shape. The hood also has a rippling appearance while driving at speeds around 70 mph
Driving on interstate and heard an explosion and saw glass flying. Stopped and looked at top of car and sunroof had a large part of it missing. There were no overpasses nor did I see anything that would cause it. Toyota's statement when I took it there was, "it happens." I do not know how it would happen. It makes me think it was a manufacturing error. If I did not have the sunshade closed, I would have been covered in glass.
Air conditioning stopped working twice, first time repaired at my expense and now it's out again less than 2 months later. Repair was $1500 first time. Second continues to rattle from mirrors, front end and carrying rack. My right front fog light out and service said front end was very loose.
Toyota's claim of a 3,500 pound tow capacity is not true. I cannot tow a 3,000 pound house trailer legally with their oem 4-prong wiring harness. A 7-blade plug is required to pass state inspection and Toyota does not and will not provide this harness. False advertising and sucker promotion is the problem. Bait and switch!!! so sad. Very angry!
Side view mirrors on driver side and passenger side vibrate when traveling at any speed and vibrate/shake excessively traveling at highway speeds greater than 50mph. This reduces visibility and causes nausea.
On July 3, 2020 at 2:30pm I was parking the car into a parking space in a strip mall when I had my foot on the brake to stop the car but the car immediately accelerated and crashed into the parked car in front of me. With my foot still on the brake, I put the car into reverse, when the car accelerated again and jerked backwards, with my foot still on the brake, I put the car into drive and the car accelerated and crashed into the parked car in front on me again for the 2nd time. The air bags did not deploy. I waited for the owner of the parked vehicle, the police arrived on site and the car was towed to the dealership. Consumer stated both the dealer and manufacturer were notified.
The contact owns 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that sunlight was reflected off the chrome on the dashboard, which caused the contact's vision to be impaired while attempting to use the side mirrors. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be inspected. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150.
Yesterday 05/21/2020 6 pm in lake nona orlando, I stopped my car on the road due to hail storm and rain at 6 pm, I didn't notice the damage in the night, whole body is disfigured, no glass broken, everywhere depression, I had rav 4 2006, prado 2014 in uae, the body was very strong, but my poor 2020 Rav4 premium xle cant tolerate a simple hail storm, I am very upset, if it is made of steel it will happen like this, its paper like aluminum, I need a Toyota vehicle strong, not like paper. Kindly do the needful, I bought the car under car loan, I spend almost 38000$ on it 31000 plus insurance plus interest 4000, tax etc waiting for the reply, or please exchange with a strong SUV any model with steel body, what safety for passengers, in case of a collision, very upset with this situation.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Akron, OH, USA