Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
025–50K
550–75K
375–100K
8100–150K
6150K+
23 reports with mileage · 39 unknown
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.
Air Bags. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. 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.
14 crash reports4 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
62 reports
64,000 miles · Apr 26, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
1999 TOYOTA RAV4 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.*MR THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING. SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN AND THE DRIVER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A TOWEL. AFTER THE FIRE THE TAILLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED. THE P…
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1999 TOYOTA RAV4 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.*MR THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING. SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN AND THE DRIVER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A TOWEL. AFTER THE FIRE THE TAILLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED. THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT AND WIRING WERE DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10119282
64,000 miles · Mar 21, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND THEY HAD ME TAKE THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER. SO I TOOK IT TO MIDTOWN TOYOTA, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 1999. I SPOKE WITH A JIM CHRISTENSE…
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COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND THEY HAD ME TAKE THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER. SO I TOOK IT TO MIDTOWN TOYOTA, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 1999. I SPOKE WITH A JIM CHRISTENSEN ,773-622-6300 X 4911. HE IS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER A WEEK I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS 6 YEARS OLD AND HAD 64,000 MILES ON IT THAT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. BUT THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW, AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY AFTER MARKET INSTALLATIONS OF ANY KIND. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE THAT CAN MAILED UPON REQUEST. DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO FRONT RIGHT SIDE, HEAD LIGHTS, WIRING BURNED AND WASHER RESERVOIR. THE BACK TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DON'T WORK ANY MORE. ALSO A FAN IN THE ENGINEER KEEPS RUNNING WHICH CAUSES MY BATTERY TO RUN DOWN. MY CAR WAS IN PREFECT RUNNING CONDITION UP UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH @ TOYOTA REGARDING THIS INCIDENT IS TROY H. HIGA, 310-468-5638. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GO ABOUT TROY, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE I COULD SPEAK TO REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10115440
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
WITHOUT ANY DASH WARNING LIGHT COMING ON 1999 TOYOTA BLEW ITS ENGINE. *BF *TC
NHTSA ODI #10111633
70,000 miles · Jan 14, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
VALVE STEM SEALS NEED REPLACED $810.75 BY TOYOTA DEALER 80,000 MILES
NHTSA ODI #10106348
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2004
Seat Belts
BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELT CONNECTIONS HAVE STOPPED LATCHING INTO AND LOCKING THE SEAT BELT. I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT WORKING. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTIONS IF SO WHY AND WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE DONE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10066245
104,950 miles · Dec 24, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *CB *JB
NHTSA ODI #10046353
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2003
Fuel System, Other
1999 TOYOTA RAV4 -- LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WHEN INDICATOR NEEDLE WAS JUST BELOW 1/2 A TANK. CONSUMER HAD TOYOTA EXTRA CARE. DEALER SAID THE PROBLEM WAS A FUEL SENDER BRACKET, PART #77017-42020, AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTRA CARE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10049018
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A 1999 RAV4. YESTERDAY I'M DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, I THOUGHT A ROCK HIT MY CAR. I STOPPED AT THE STORE AND I GO TO GET MY KEYS OUT OF IGNITION AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IS BROKE. THE BACK OF THE SWITCH WAS JUST HANGING. THAT WAS THE LAUD NOISE I HEARD. THE BACK POPPED OFF. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THER…
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I HAVE A 1999 RAV4. YESTERDAY I'M DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, I THOUGHT A ROCK HIT MY CAR. I STOPPED AT THE STORE AND I GO TO GET MY KEYS OUT OF IGNITION AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IS BROKE. THE BACK OF THE SWITCH WAS JUST HANGING. THAT WAS THE LAUD NOISE I HEARD. THE BACK POPPED OFF. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS? THANK YOU
NHTSA ODI #10031075
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
HEAD ON COLLISION -AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY-FRACTURING STERNUM,RIBS AND INJURING RIGHT SHOULDER. PRE-TENSIONER ON SEAT BELT FAILED ALSO. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10018492
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
PRODUCT SAFETY DUE TO NON DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. DT
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based on the inspection, dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate one, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. IF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE REPEATEDLY PARKED BY PLACING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE "P" POSITION WITHOUT APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PARKING LOCK ROD, A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING LOCK SYSTEM, COULD BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RENDER THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR, WHEN EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, CAN DEVELOP STRESS FRACTURES IF THE LUG NUTS ARE TIGHTENED WITH EXCESSIVE TORQUE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DISC ROTOR COULD BREAK (WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE WHEEL), RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION ON THAT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND STEEL WHEELS WITH NEW DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND NEW ALUMINUM WHEELS. IN ADDITION A CAUTION LABEL THAT READS, "USE NEW GENUINE TOYOTA ALUMINUM WHEELS." WILL BE AFFIXED. VEHICLES ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS WILL ONLY REQUIRE CAUTION LABEL INSTALLATION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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