2007 Toyota RAV4 Electrical System Problems

My driver side door caught on fire and was completely destroyed to include all associated wiring. Toyota had my contact information but never contacted me about any of the recalls.

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with battery failure. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

I own a 2007 Toyota Rav-4 with 155k miles. I had bought the vehicle used from a licensed Toyota dealership about 3 years ago and have been diligent about conducting the routine scheduled maintenance. The vehicle had no known recalls. I was driving about 25mph when I started to smell smoke. The drivers side door caught on fire while the vehicle was in motion. There were literally flames coming out of area with the buttons used to control the windows. I immediately pulled the vehicle over and the car ended up having to be towed. On Google, Toyota has had several other incidents where this exact same recall issue happened and the vehicle caught on fire. I called the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and the Toyota Corporate as well. I smoke to a representative on a Wednesday and they let me know my case number and that someone would be in touch to follow-up within 48 hours. However, it has been 6 days and I haven’t received any update.

I was driving and the engine caught on fire. Thank God for people telling me that my car was having flames coming from under my car. By the time I pull over flames were coming out of my hood

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE CONTACT ADDED ADDITIONAL OIL AND THE ENGINE WAS COLD. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, SLIP TRACTION CONTROL, AND 4WD WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BREWER AIRPORT TOYOTA (8900 UNIVERSITY BLVD, MOON, PA 15108, (412) 357-5503), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 *BF *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

POWER SWITCH CONTROL ON DOOR PANEL WAS ON SMOKE AND MELTED . IT WAS INTOXICATING AND SCARY. WHY DD IT HAPPEN? VERY DANGEROUS. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ? I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED.

WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. I CANT TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS OR ROLL DOWN THE POWER WINDOWS. I HAVE NO LIGHTS WHATSOEVER, SO NO ONE CAN SEE ME AT NIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER A BUS ALMOST REAR-ENDED ME. PREVIOUSLY THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CANNOT FIX MY CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT OBSERVED WATER IN HER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER (A1 TOYOTA, 50 AMITY RD, NEW HAVEN, CT, 06515, 203-389-1521) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING CABINET FILTER AND DRAIN HOSE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW COWL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,663.

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT BUT WHEN I WANTED TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE FOB WOULDN'T WORK. THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DEPLETED AND WHEN I REPLACED THE BATTERY, BY AAA, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAYED ON EVEN AFTER I TOOK OUT THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THIS CAN CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DIE AGAIN. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY SO THAT THE LIGHT THAT STAYS ON WILL NOT DEPLETE THE BATTERY. THE CAR SHAKES BECAUSE THE POWER ISN'T GETTING TO THE RECEIVER VERY WELL. THIS IS A PROBLEM INSIDE THE ELECTRIC HUB. AT ANY MOMENT MY CAR CAN SHUT OFF BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC CURRENT ISN'T STABLE WHEN THE CAR IS ON. ONE OF THE FUSES OR SOMETHING ISN'T DISCONNECTING PROPERLY, CAUSING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO STAY ON.

DROVE FOR OVER AN HOUR IN DRY, STABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS. UPON SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING GARAGE ON SURFACE STREETS THE STEERING COMPLETELY STALLED WITH MULTIPLE ALARM LIGHTS FLASHING, INCLUDING BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS STILL ON AND ABLE TO DRIVE BUT WITH VERY POOR ACCELERATION. THIS CAUSED ME TO BLOCK TRAFFIC ONCOMING TRAFFIC FOR OVER 10 MINUTES AS I LABORED (WITH A LOT OF STRENGTH) WITH THE STALLED POWER STEERING BACK AND FORTH UNTIL INLINE WITH THE GARAGE. CALLED TRIPLE A IMMEDIATELY AND HAD BATTERY CHANGED. DESPITE THE CAR WORKING AGAIN WITH STABLE STEERING, STILL CONCERNED ABOUT STALLING AGAIN, PARTICULARLY IN CITY STREETS (INCLUDING THE SF HILLS) AND FREEWAYS. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME FIX FOR POWER-STEERING BEING THE FIRST THING TO FAIL WITH THE BATTERY/ALTERNATORS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT USED WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE RADIO OR TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES ALL ELECTRICITY, ALL THE LIGHTS, EVERY LIGHT INDICATOR, THE RADIO ARE OFF. THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING AND THE CAR STOPS IMMEDIATELY. THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS BUT ALSO HAPPENED ONCE WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS OUT. AFTER I ENTERED AND TURNED THE KEY THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY IN THE CAR. NO LIGHTS, NO INDICATORS, ETC WERE ON. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK BUT HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. ALSO TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED IT AND RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST BUT COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER.

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION (ECU). TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WAS ADVISED AT THE DEALERSHIP (KENDALL TOYOTA) THAT THIS MALFUNCTION WILL PREVENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYMENT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IS NOT SPECIFICALLY A WEAR N TEAR ITEM AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA. RAV 4 HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS BUT NONE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE AIR BAG, POWER STEERING, AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE TACHOMETER DID NOT INDICATE THE RPM. THE SPEEDOMETER AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WERE INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO INDICATE WHAT GEAR WAS IN SHIFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,526.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT HAD OIL CONSUMPTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

ALL DASH LIGHTS TURNED ON AND STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. DROVE HOME. RESTART THE VEHICLE, NO ISSUES, LEFT IT RUNNING, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. HAD IT TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED BATTERY. YESTERDAY 11-18-14, SAME ISSUE GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. HAD IT TOWED TO SAME DEALERSHIP. ALTERNATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA ALSO INFORMED THAT WATER PUMP IS FAILING. THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH, THESE ARE EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY TOYOTA AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR SUCH AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,925.

ON 08/09/14 WE WERE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT WITH 5 PEOPLE IN CAR. STARTED DRIVING AND ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. CAR GLIDED TO A STOP WITH GEARS AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. CALLED AAA FOR A TOW 20+ MILES AWAY TO CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEN GOT TRANSPORT FOR OURSELVES TO HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT MORNING GOT RENTAL CAR TO DRIVE TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE CAR HAD BEEN TOWED TO. REPAIR WAS SIMPLY A BLOWN FUSE FOR VEHICLE REMOTE STARTER WHICH WAS ODDLY LOCATED UNDER STEERING WHEEL. SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED (03/12/08) WHILE DIVING IN CANADA AND REPAIRED THEN AT A TOYOTA DEALER AT 12,101 KM. THE REMOTE STARTER WAS PART OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE NEW CAR. NOW, WE FEAR DRIVING RAV4 ON HIGHWAY AT ANY SPEED FOR FEAR CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP AND STEERING WILL LOCK UP. REMOTE STARTER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED OR FIXED AT IT IS NOT SAFE. *TR