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1997 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota RAV4 are lower than the model-year median of 258.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 54 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

7 reports
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100,000 miles · Mar 6, 2015
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

RAV 4 TOYOTA 1997-WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES WITHOUT THE RPR INCREASED WITHOUT CONTROL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BECOME EXTREMELY HOT, FLUIDS WERE DRAINED . CAR SENT TO DARCARS TOYOTA THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND NOW FACING SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, BECAUSE LACK OF RECALL RPR 'S ISSUE VERY DETRIMENTAL AND RISKY . …

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RAV 4 TOYOTA 1997-WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES WITHOUT THE RPR INCREASED WITHOUT CONTROL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BECOME EXTREMELY HOT, FLUIDS WERE DRAINED . CAR SENT TO DARCARS TOYOTA THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND NOW FACING SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, BECAUSE LACK OF RECALL RPR 'S ISSUE VERY DETRIMENTAL AND RISKY . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692661

143,000 miles · Mar 19, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

GAS PEDAL STICKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320951

119,002 miles · Feb 24, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

MY 1997 TOYOTA RAV 4 GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING I TOOK IT TO TWO PLACE THEY SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP THEY FIXED IT. WAS MY VEHICLE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10313982

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control

EACH TIME YOU STOP AND THEN PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL IT STICKS. YOU MUST PUSH HARDER THAN USUAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE. BUT THAT MAKES THE CAR LURCH FORWARD AT A GREATER SPEED THAN YOU WOULD LIKE. IN TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTORS , BUT I THINK IT,S IN THE LINKAGE OR THE WAY THE PEDAL W…

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EACH TIME YOU STOP AND THEN PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL IT STICKS. YOU MUST PUSH HARDER THAN USUAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE. BUT THAT MAKES THE CAR LURCH FORWARD AT A GREATER SPEED THAN YOU WOULD LIKE. IN TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTORS , BUT I THINK IT,S IN THE LINKAGE OR THE WAY THE PEDAL WAS MADE THAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #763305

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING TO A RED LIGHT CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT ON BRAKES AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, CONSUMER SWERVED HITTING A SCHOOL BUS THAT WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO A MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, A COVER THAT CO…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING TO A RED LIGHT CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT ON BRAKES AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, CONSUMER SWERVED HITTING A SCHOOL BUS THAT WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO A MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, A COVER THAT COVERS ACCELERATION CABLE ASSEMBLY, IT FELL INTO PLACE AND LOCKED ACCELERATION OPEN. *AK INVESTIGATION BY INDEPENDENT GROUP INDICATED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF FAILED/ STUCK ACCELERATOR. *YH

NHTSA ODI #871972

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

UPON START UP OF ENGINE, BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL "LOCKED UP" AS PUTTING CAR INTO GEAR. TURNED OUT ENGINE WAS STALLING OUT. CAR ALSO WOULD TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN AFTER RESTARTING ENGINE AND PUT INTO DRIVE. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS IDLE CONTROL VALVE PROBLEM AND REPLACED PART. *AK

NHTSA ODI #724176

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

THE IDLE AIR CONTROL (IAC) VALVE CONTROLS THE IDLE SPEED BY METERING AIR AROUND THE THROTTLE PLATE, UNDER CONTROL OF THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE IAC VALVE ON MY VEHICLE STICKS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, REQUIRING ME TO HOLD A SLIGHT THROTTLE PRESSURE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING AFTER CRANKING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AS I WAS EASING T…

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THE IDLE AIR CONTROL (IAC) VALVE CONTROLS THE IDLE SPEED BY METERING AIR AROUND THE THROTTLE PLATE, UNDER CONTROL OF THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE IAC VALVE ON MY VEHICLE STICKS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, REQUIRING ME TO HOLD A SLIGHT THROTTLE PRESSURE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING AFTER CRANKING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AS I WAS EASING THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AT IDLE, THE IAC VALVE UNSTUCK AND CAUSED THE CAR TO SURGE AHEAD. THIS IS VERY ABRUPT AND DISCONCERTING, BUT IT HAS NOT (YET) CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A TOYOTA FACTORY SHOP MANUAL, AND I MADE THE RESISTANCE AND VOLTAGE CHECKS CALLED OUT FOR THE IAC VALVE; ALL WERE SATISFACTORY. SINCE THE VALVE'S COILS APPEAR TO BE OKAY, AND THE ENGINE COMPUTER'S COMMANDS APPEAR TO BE OKAY, I CONCLUDE THAT THE IAC VALVE SIMPLY STICKS WHEN IT IS COLD. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY WITH A WARM ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, AND IT NOW OCCURS AT ALMOST EVERY MORNING START. I COMMUTE ABOUT 25 MILES PER DAY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #713560

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

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