2004 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

ON JUNE 14, 2010, I NOTICED A PINKISH LIQUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR AFTER MY SON BACKED IT UP. I CALLED MY AUTO SHOP AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT. THEY RIGHT AWAY TOLD ME DON'T DRIVE IT AND THEY WILL HAVE A TOW TRUCK COME AND TOW IT. AFTER THE MECHANIC TOOK A LOOK AT THE ISSUE HE FOUND THAT THE COOLANT LEAKED AND THEN FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. HE DIDN'T KNOW WHY THIS HAPPENED SINCE MY CAR IS ONLY 6 YRS OLD WITH 65,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER I AGREED TO DO THE REPAIR, WHEN HE REMOVED MORE PARTS TO GET TO IT, HE NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS WERE STRIPPED. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAPPENED TO OTHER 2004 RAV4'S. I CALLED TOYOTA AND A REP TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE BUT IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THE ISSUE DOESN'T HAPPEN TOO A LOT OF CUSTOMERS SO THEY WILL NOT RECALL OR HELP WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR. I ALSO DID MORE DIGGING AND FOUND OUT THAT SOME OF TOYOTA OLDER MODELS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE HEAD GASKETS BLOWING AND THE BOLT WAS STRIPPED. I HOPE THAT IF TOYOTA DID USED SOME OLD PARTS IN THE 2004 RAV4, THEY SHOULD TELL THE CUSTOMER AND PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE BLOCK WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. UPDATED IVOQ 08/05/10.*JB *TR

AVOIDING DEER, HIT EMBANKMENT AND CAR ROLLED ONTO PASSENGER SIDE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CAR EQUIPPED WITH FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WHILE THE GEARS WERE CHANGED AND THERE WAS TROUBLE ACCELERATING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BLACK; THE FLUID WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,600.

2004 TOYOTA RAV4 L - DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH, NO DASH WARNING LIGHTS ON, SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO CABIN, WITHIN LESS THAN A MINUTE FIRE SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN LESS THAN 3 MINUTES. REGULAR SERVICE DONE AT TOYOTA DEALER. *TR

WHILE EXITING A PARALLEL PARKING SPACE, I LIGHTLY TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR JERKED FORWARD AND THEN STARTED TO GO AT A RAPID SPEED. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR STOPPED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST. *TR

HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. ON OCCASION , WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF BY APPLYING THE BRAKES OR TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN RESUME IS ENGAGED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE BEYOND THE SET SPEED . HAVE TO TURN CRUISE CONTROL OFF WHEN THIS HAPPENS OR THE CAR WOULD CONTINUE TO SPEED UP. HAPPENS ONLY OCCASIONALLY, NOT ALL THE TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT RENTED A 2004 TOYOTA RAV 4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH IN THE SNOW, HE TRIED TO MAKE A TURN AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THE BALD TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 30 MILES BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE SLIDE ACROSS THE ROAD AND CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. THE RENTAL AGENCY TOWED THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANOTHER RENTAL. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE RENTAL VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY INSPECTED BEFORE HE RENTED IT. THE MANAGER ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE RENTAL VEHICLE FAILURE. THE RENTAL VEHICLE INDICATED THAT IT WAS INSPECTED ON 2/11/10 AND THE INCIDENT OCCURRED 5 DAYS AFTER THE INSPECTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE ANTI-SKID AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AND WOULD REMAIN ON UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO SET ANY SPEED DURING THE ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUOUSLY. ALSO, THE DEAD BATTERY FAILED TWICE AND REQUIRED A JUMP START. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

ON DEC.6,2009, MY RAV4 OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. THE COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO GRIND THE VALVES AND REPLACE. WHEN THIS WAS ATTEMPTED, 4 BOLTS THAT ATTACH TO THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE SECURED. THE ONLY OPTION WAS A NEW/REBUILT ENGINE. THE COST -$3700. I HAVE LEARNED THAT OTHER 2004 RAV OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND TOYOTA WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS NOR HELP WITH LABOR COSTS. I HAVE CONTACTED THEIR CALIFORNIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE I WAS NO LONGER PROTECTED BY A WARRANTY. IN ADDITION TO TAKING OVER 5 WEEKS TO REACH THIS CONCLUSION, MY CAR IS STILL NOT REPAIRED AS I PONDER WHAT I SHOULD DO. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION APPEARS NOT TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN OF LOCAL DEALER NOR TOYOTA CORPORATE. *TR

2004 RAV 4 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING VERY HARD. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE. TOOK IT TO AAMCO FOR TESTING. IT IS RELATED TO THE COMPUTER MODULE AND CAUSED INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

2004 RAV4. ACCELERATOR HAS BECOME ERRATIC IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. CAR WILL LEAP AHEAD WITH VIRTUALLY NO PRESSURE ON PEDAL. ONLY DOES IT OCCASIONALLY. PEDAL IS MOUNTED QUITE HIGH, ABOVE THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND CANNOT CONTACT FLOOR MATS. WHILE PULLING INTO A RIGHT ANGLE PARKING SPOT AT LOW SPEED AND WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED AHEAD. I WAS ONLY 5 FEET FROM A BRICK WALL AND COULD NOT RESPOND QUICKLY ENOUGH TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE. IMPACT WITH WALL PLASTER (ABOUT 1 FOOT WIDE) CRUSHED THE BUMPER, GRILL AND BUCKLED THE HOOD. APPARENTLY SPEED WAS NOT GREAT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT SEATBELTS CAUSED CHEST INJURY TO BOTH MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF. PERHAPS FORTUNATE THAT THE WALL WAS SO CLOSE OR MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED. WILL BE TRADING THIS CAR IN AS SOON AS IT IS REPAIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY DRIVE NORMALLY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS WARM. WHILE IDLING ON TOP OF A HILL THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO ROLL BACKWARDS. THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH HIS VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, AND WOULD NOT DECELERATE. CONSEQUENTLY HE CRASHED INTO A POLE. SHE SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED .THE POLICE WERE STILL CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION, AND A REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE IF NECESSARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP WHICH LIMITS VISABILITY. I HAD IT CHANGED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN RECENTLY. TOYOTA ADMITTED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT WILL NOT FIX IT FOR FREE.

CAR WAS SERVICED MAY 28, 2009, THEN DRIVEN ACROSS COUNTRY, FROM NEW YORK STATE. ABOUT TWO HOURS OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, THE CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, WAS FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY EMPTY OF COOLANT. CAR BROUGHT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE NO RADIATOR OR OTHER COOLING SYSTEM LEAKS WERE DETECTED, BUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. WHEN THEY TORE DOWN THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET, THEY STATED THAT "THE BOLTS ARE STRIPPED" AND NOW THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED -- AT A COST OF $7000 +. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN OTHER TOYOTAS WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THERE MIGHT BE A TSB OUT ON IT -- BUT IT WAS PAST WARRANTY AND SO WERE "STUCK". NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN WHY THE BOLTS WOULD HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY "STRIPPED". THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THREE WEEKS WHILE WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT. THE HEAD MECHANIC SAYS IT ISN'T WORTH ANYTHING BUT HE'LL TAKE IT OFF OUR HANDS FOR THE COST OF THE PARTIAL REPAIR BILL ($600). WE'RE NOT GETTING THE STRAIGHT STORY, TOYOTA REFUSES TO COVER THE REPAIR, BUT THERE ARE POSTINGS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH VERY SIMILAR STORIES, INCLUDING THAT TOYOTA HAS SELECTIVELY "PARTICIPATED" IN THE REPAIRS. THERE IS NO TSB FOR THIS CAR APPARENTLY -- BUT THERE ARE FOR CARS WITH THE SAME ENGINE. *TR

ON JUNE 1, 2009 I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH 121K MILES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT HOT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & VSC TRAC LIGHT CAME ON. DISCOVERED COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW. TOOK TO DEALER NEXT MORNING WHO QUOTED ME A "HEAD GASKET" REPAIR FOR $1500 OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER A MONTH OF NOT DRIVING IT (TO COME UP WITH FUNDS FOR REPAIR), I RETURNED TO DEALER ON JULY 1, 2009. DEALER ADVISED AFTER TAKING IT APART THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING AND THE BOLTS WERE "STRIPPED" AND I ALSO NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BLOCK WHICH WOULD RUN ABOUT $6,000+. I HAD NEVER HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE UNTIL THIS INCIDENT & COMPLETED GENERAL MAINTENANCE REGULARLY. DEALER CALLED TOYOTA WARRANTY WHO AGREED TO PAY FOR ENGINE BLOCK (PARTS & LABOR FOR EVERYTHING BELOW THE HEAD) BUT THAT I STILL HAD TO PAY THE ORIGINAL QUOTE OF $1500 FOR THE HEAD GASKET, WATER PUMP & S BELT. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH SAME EXACT PROBLEM, OBVIOUSLY SINCE TOYOTA AGREED TO PAY FOR PART OF THIS THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE BUT WILL NOT MAKE A RECALL. I FEEL THEY OWE ME THE HEAD GASKET REPAIR AS WELL SINCE IT IS ALL PART OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND WILL FILE A PRODUCT COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA. *TR

VEHICLE WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE RPMS WERE ABOVE 3000. HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 50 -55 MILES PER HOUR AND REMAIN IN THE SLOW LANE. REST OF THE TRAFFIC WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH.

HEAD GASKET ON THE 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE INCLUDING CHANGING FRONT BRAKE PADS, AN ALIGNMENT AND OIL CHANGE. WITHIN A WEEK OF THIS VISIT MY HEAT WOULDN'T WORK, TOOK IT BACK, WAS RECHECKED AND ADVISED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THIS VISIT IT STARTED TO SMOKE, TOOK IT BACK AND WAS ADVISED THAT I HAD A LEAK, NEEDED A NEW WATERPUMP. TOOK IT FOR A SECOND OPINION AND DECIDED TO TAKE IT BACK TO MY DEALERSHIP. THEY BROKE DOWN THE ENGINE AND ESSENTIALLY ADVISED ME THAT THE THREADS ON MY HEAD GASKET FELL AND APART IN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL TOYOTA TO SEE THEY WOULD HELP WITH THE COST. I'VE HEARD THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKETS USED IN SOME TOYOTA MODELS. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW AND ONLY HAD 86,000 MILES ON IT BEFORE IT WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS UNLESS I WANTED TO PAY $6,000 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL I FOUND ONLINE DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT IT WAS FOR AN OLDER VERSION OF THIS CAR. I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE PRODUCING THE SAME DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS AND LEAVING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO ABSORB THE COST. THIS IS TRULY UNFAIR AND IN OUR CURRENT ECONOMY, I AM FORCED TO BUY A CAR FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD BEEN PREVENTED IF THEY WERE MAKING QUALITY AND RELIABLE HEAD GASKETS FOR ALL THEIR CARS. *TR

TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT IS ALWAYS LIT...EVEN WITH FULL TIRE PRESSURE. NOW AT 151K MILES, THE VSC TRAC, TRAC OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON. NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WRONG AND BULLETIN BOARDS SHOW PEOPLE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY AT DEALERSHIP ONLY TO HAVE IT COME ON AGAIN. I WILL NOT GO THAT ROUTE, AND WILL TRY TO TURN IT OFF AS IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A GLITCH. WANT TO REPORT IN THE HOPES THAT TOYOTA WILL FIX/RECALL. I LOVE MY RAV4 AND WANT TO BUY ANOTHER ONE WHEN THIS ONE IS TOO OLD TO DRIVE, BUT DON'T WANT TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

I NOTICED A COOLANT LEAK BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD CYLINDER COMING FROM HEAD GASKET.THE LEAK AND THE CAUSE WAS CONFIRMED BY MY MECHANIC. *TR

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE TRANSMISSION STARTED MAKING NOISES. IT CRACKED REAL LOUD ONE TIME AND I HAD NO POWER. WHEN I CAME TO A RED LIGHT AND TRIED TO GO AGAIN IT WOULDN'T TAKE OFF. TOOK ME 3 HRS TO DRIVE 55 MILES TO GET MY RAV HOME. CONTACTED A GARAGE THAT SPECIALIZES IN TRANSMISSION. WAS TOLD THEY JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM TOYOTA THAT THE COMPUTER CHIP IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING BUT THAT I HAD TO MANY MILES TO QUALIFY. THE GARAGE PUT IN A NEW COMPUTER CHIP (RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA) AND IT DIDN'T COMPLETELY TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM SO THEY ENDED UP PUTTING A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION IN TO THE PRICE OF $4611. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE STABILITY LIGHT ARE ON, I HAVE ON AND OFF SMELLED THE SULFUR SMELL. ALSO, HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL GOING OUT OF CONTROL, AROUND SHARP CORNERS WHERE I HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO DISENGAGE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS IT WILL NOT STOP ACCELERATION, IT INCREASES ACCELERATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THERE IS A THROTTLE RESPONSE DELAY UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION, MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN ENGINE IS STILL COLD. MOST RESEMBLES A FLAT SPOT. ENGINE ACTUALLY STUMBLES, OR HESITATES WHEN STARTING OFF. ALSO HESITATES WHEN UNDERWAY UNTIL WARM. *TR

VEHICLE HAS A FLAT SPOT, OR THROTTLE RESPONSE LAG, ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN COLD, AND STARTING OFF IN 1ST GEAR. SUSPECT THE ECU MAY NEED UPDATING, WITH THE THROTTLE BY WIRE SYSTEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER TWO REAR WINDOWS SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY. ON ONE OCCASION, THE CONTACT HAD JUST TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE WINDOW JUST POPPED, SHATTERED, AND EXPLODED. THE SECOND TIME, THE CONTACT HAD JUST GOTTEN INTO THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DRIVER DOOR WHEN THE REAR WINDOW DRIVER SIDE ALSO POPPED, SHATTERED, AND EXPLODED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY REFERRED HER TO A LOCAL DEALER. SHE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT TOYOTA, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED HER CALLS. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2004 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ANOTHER A VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. IT WAS BADLY DAMAGED, AND SO WAS THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HAD THE SEAT BELT ON . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CONTACT HAD PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK

TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 37K BECAUSE THEY WERE DRY ROTTED. I REPLACED THE TIRES PER THE TIRE WARRANTY WITH THE SAME TIRES AND AT 95K MILES THEY ARE AGAIN DRY ROTTED. I RECOMMEND THAT TOYOTA STOP PUTTING TOYO TIRES ON ITS RAV4S. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TOYOTA ISSUED BATTERY TWO TIMES IN THE VEHICLE AND IT IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD. *TR

TRANSMISSION ISSUES, NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY ALL THE TIME! DEALER TELLS ME TRANS NEEDS $3000.00 IN REPAIRS! *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE BROKEN WHILE SELECTING TO PARK, THIS VEHICLE COULD ROLL FORWARD OR BACKWARD UPON RELEASING THE BRAKE. IF IN CASE THE CABLE BROKEN WITHOUT KNOWING WHILE CRUISING I HAVE NO OPTION TO DOWNSHIFT IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ON A DOWNHILL ROAD OR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. I'VE REPLACED THE PART AT A COST OF $196.00 + LABOR. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CHILD WAS RESTRAINED IN A SAFETY SEAT, THE CHILD'S LEFT THUMB BECAME TRAPPED INSIDE THE SLOT FOR A REMOVABLE CUP HOLDER THAT ATTACHED TO THE SEAT. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE OCCUPANT'S FINGER FROM THE SLOT, BUT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE THUMB COULD NOT BE REMOVED. THE CHILD INSIDE THE SEAT WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE THE SAFETY SEAT WAS LITERALLY CUT OFF OF THE OCCUPANT'S THUMB. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS A COSCO ALPHA OMEGA, MODEL # 22-151-BLA; DATE OF MANUFACTURE WAS NOV. 14, 2005. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY DURING MY LUNCH HOUR, 1310 HOURS, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED. THE CRACK STARTS AT THE TOP PASSENGER SIDE, COMES AND AT ALMOST THE MIDDLE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE, CURVES TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. CAR IS 2 1/2 YEARS OLD. CAR WAS TAKEN FOR SERVICE THE NEXT DAY. TOYOTA REFUSES REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD. FOUR SERVICE TECH'S SAID THEY SEE NO ROCK CHIPS, AND SAID THE CRACK IS DUE TO FACTORY FAILURE. HOWEVER, ON THE SERVICE REPORT, IT'S WRITTEN THAT CRACK IS DUE TO HEAT. I LIVE IN EUREKA, CALIFORNIA, ON THE COAST, WHERE THE HIGH MIGHT BE 63 DEGREES IF WE ARE LUCKY! *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE CALIPER REMAINED IN A CLOSED POSITION. THE PADS, ROTORS, AND CALIPERS WERE REPLACED. 10,000 MILES LATER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE PADS, ROTORS AND PINS WERE REPLACED.

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH ALL WINDOWS DOWN, HEARD A LOUD NOISE LOOKED BACK TO SEE THE REAR DOOR WINDOW SHATTER COMPLETELY. UPON INSPECTION, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ANY FOREIGN OBJECTS INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE WINDOW PULLED AWAY ABOUT 3/4 INCH ON BOTH EDGES, IT BOWED OUTWARDS AND THERE WAS A RECTANGULAR OPENING IN THE GLASS ABOUT 6 INCHES WIDE BY 2 INCHES HIGH. THE LOCAL DEALER CONCURRED THAT IT WAS NOT A NORMAL REACTION TO THE GLASS BEING HIT BY AN OBJECT BUT SAID NO INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED THEREFORE WILL NOT PAY FOR THE COST OF THE GLASS. *JB

DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION INVOLVING THE PASSENGER FRONT ENDS OF BOTH VEHICLES TWO OF THREE SEATBELTS DID NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING TWO PASSENGERS TO COLLIDE WITH THE DASHBOARD AND THE REAR OF THE FRONT SEAT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS WELL. THE RAV 4 WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH, THE OTHER VECHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH.*AK

I WAS STARTING TO MAKE A K-TURN IN A PARKING LOT. I PUT ON THE BRAKES TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. I MOVED BACK IN REVERSE A LITTLE BIT. THEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN DRIVE, WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD OUT OF MY CONTROL CRASHING INTO A GARBAGE DUMPSTER, FRIGHTENING ME AND DAMAGING MY VEHICLE SEVERELY. I AM CERTAIN I DID NOT GIVE THE CAR ANY GAS TO MAKE IT GO FORWARD AND CAUSE THAT ACCIDENT. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I SUFFERED ONLY MINOR ACHES AND PAINS AS I WAS 75 AT THE TIME. I STILL OWN THE RAV4 AND HAVE HAD NO OTHER ACCIDENTS OR PROBLEMS SINCE THAT TIME. NOW THAT I SEE THERE ARE RECALLS ON LATER YEAR VEHICLES, I WONDER ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE 2004 RAV4. I HOPE NHTSA CAN HELP ME. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY DEPLETED IN THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT REACHED 12000 MILES. ON A DRY ROAD, THE VEHICLE'S STOPPING DISTANCE WAS GREATLY EXTENDED, AND GREATER FORCE THAN USUAL HAD TO BE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO SUGGESTED CALLING NHTSA.

DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BACK WINDOW ON MY 2004 TOYOTA RAV4 SHATTERED TO PIECES. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT SOMETHING HIT THE WINDOW. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WINDOW SHATTERED ON IT'S OWN. *JB WINDOW WAS REPLACED THE DAY AFTER THE EVENT TOOK PLACE.

HAVE APPROXIMATELY 15900 MILES ON MY 2004 RAV4. ENGINE RUNNING QUIETLY UNTIL ONE DAY I WAKE UP AND THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT IS ESPECIALLY LOUD COMING FROM THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SOUND IS ALSO BAD WHEN I ACCELERATE BUT ALSO LOUD IDLING. TOYOTA SAYS IT IS NORMAL EVEN THOUGH EVERY OTHER NEW CAR I HAVE OWNED NEVER SOUNDED LIKE THAT EVEN AFTER 100K ON THE ENGINE . *JB

THE VEHICLE HAD A REAR DOOR WITH A WINDOW AND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH A POP WAS HEARD. THE WINDOW SHATTERED THEN STARTED BREAKING AWAY. IT WAS A MILD DAY. A POLICE OFFICER WAS NEARBY WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF A FOREIGN OBJECT, SUCH AS A BULLET OR ROCK, ETC. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED AND WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY DEFECT WITH THE WINDOW. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THAT NO INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED BY TOYOTA. *AK *SC *JB

CONSUMER WAS SHOCKED AS HE EXITED THE 2004 TOYOTA RAV4.*MR THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE IF IT OCCURS AT A GAS STATION. *NM

MY 2004 TOYOTA RAV 4 CAUGHT FIRE IN MINUTES WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. IT WAS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD, I HAD OIL AND FILTER CHANGES DONE ON SCHEDULE BY TOYOTA AND THE VEHIVLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I SMELLED SOMETHING WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES MY CAR WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE AND WENT UP IN FLAMES.*AK

TOYOTA 2004 RAV 4 SUV WILL SURGE WHEN LETTING UP ON THE GAS PEDAL TO TURN A CORNER. RESPONSE OF THE PEDAL IS ERRATIC AT TIMES WHEN BACKING UP OR WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP. WE HAVE A SERVICE TECH. REPROGRAM THE COMMUTER THAT LEARNS ARE DRIVING HABITS AND IT HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. HENCE, THE 36 MO. WARRANTY EXPIRED AND SO WE JUST LIVE WITH THE SITUATION, BUT THE CURRENT RECALLS GOT US TO THINKING THAT THEY INCLUDE ALOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING. STOPPED COMPLAINING AFTER THE WARRANTY. *TR

2004 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLES LURCHES FORWARD *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WITHIN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED WHEN HE WOULD BRAKE, SUCH AS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH FORWARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND T\HEY FOUND THE ABS ACTUATOR WAS NOT PUMPING PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. *JB

THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WENT OVER A CURB AND FLATTENED HER TIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT. *JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. STRONG SMELL OF SULPHUR FUMES FILLED THE CABIN SINCE FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CHARCOAL CANISTER. IT WAS DETERMINED AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER FAILED AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SO FAR HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED DUE TO PARTS OUT OF STOCK AND IS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED ON SEPT. 24, 2004 UNDER WARRANTY. THIS HAPPENED TO A BRAND NEW TOYOTA RAV 4 AT 2300 MILES.*AK

WHEN MY CAR IGNITION KEY IS IN THE "ACCESSORY" POSITION THE FM CHANNELS OF MY RADIO ARE CLEAR. WHEN I PUT THE KEY IN THE "ON" POSITION THE FM CHANNELS CANNOT BE HEARD OVER THE STATIC.

I PURCHASED THE 2004 RAV4 THE LAST WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2003. - AFTER MY 1ST INITIAL OIL CHANGE, I NOTICED AFTER GETTING MY CAR BACK FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT ALL OF MY PANEL LIGHTS WERE ON. I.E., TIRE GAUGE, VCS, TRAC OFF, MAINT REQ., & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE DAY AFTER HOPING IT WOULD JUST TURN OFF DURING THE DAY & THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED TO RESET MY CAR. LIKE I'M SUPPOSE TO KNOW THIS & WHY DOES MY CAR HAVE TO BE RESET IF ITS BRAND NEW? - AFTER THE SECOND OIL CHANGE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY, AND NOW I'M UP TO MY 3RD OIL CHANGE AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED ALL OVER AGAIN A FEW DAYS AFTER I WENT ON A TRIP.. THIS TIME THE LIGHTS KEEP COMING BACK OVER AND OVER.. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT MY AIR FUEL RATIO SENSOR HAD BLEW & THAT I NEEDED TO LEAVE IT.. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT MY CAR THERE ALL DAY WHEN THEY SAID IT WOULD ONLY TAKE 3 HOURS.. I HAD TO FINALLY CALL AND ASK WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND COME TO FIND OUT, THAT THEY ORDERED THE WRONG PART.. SO NOW I HAVE TO WAIT AN EXTRA 2 WEEKS FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE. WHY AM I HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND MY CAR ISN'T EVEN A YEAR OLD YET? - *AK

WHEN I ACCELERATE, THERE IS A WHISTLING/RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR FRONT OF THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A NORMAL NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTAKE, BUT NO NEW CAR SHOULD RATTLE/WHISTLE THIS LOUDLY!THE NOISE BECOMES MORE AUDILBLE AS THE ENGINE GETS WARMER OR THE TEMPERATURE (WEATHER) IS HOTTER. I WILL FILE THIS COMPLAINT UNDER "UNKNOWN" BECAUSE THIS IS MY VERY FIRST CAR AND I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH CARS AND HOW THEY WORK. I AM SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THIS NOISE ISN'T NORMAL. *JB

SUDDEN AND RAPID ACCELERATION WHEN AUTO WAS PUT IN REVERSE. BRAKES DID NOT WORK. CAR FORCED INTO PARK AND CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS WHILE ENGAGED IN PARK. *AK