NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
197 reports9,800 miles · Nov 25, 2015
EnginePower TrainSteering
WHILE MAKING A TURN UNDER 10 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH THE FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITH 2 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AFTER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ONLY A QUICK REACTION ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPED THE CAR FROM HITTING SOMETHING. 2 OF THE TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS T…
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WHILE MAKING A TURN UNDER 10 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH THE FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITH 2 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AFTER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ONLY A QUICK REACTION ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPED THE CAR FROM HITTING SOMETHING. 2 OF THE TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING UP A SLIGHT HILL. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED SINCE TOYOTA CAN'T FIND AN ISSUE, A UN-EXPERIENCED DRIVER MAY NOT REACT FAST ENOUGH TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10807075
20,000 miles · Nov 2, 2015
Air BagsSeat BeltsStructureCrashInjury
CAR 1 CUT IN FRONT OF CAR 2, CAR 3 (OURS) STOPPED 1 CAR LENGTH AWAY, WHEN STARTED TO DRIVE PAST THE CRASH SUDDENLY CAR 4 SLAMMED INTO CAR 3 (OURS) AND PUSHED MY WIFE'S CAR INTO CAR 2 AND CAR 2 INTO CAR 1 AGAIN. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, SEAT BELT LOCKED AND EMS HAD TO GET MY WIFE OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I95…
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CAR 1 CUT IN FRONT OF CAR 2, CAR 3 (OURS) STOPPED 1 CAR LENGTH AWAY, WHEN STARTED TO DRIVE PAST THE CRASH SUDDENLY CAR 4 SLAMMED INTO CAR 3 (OURS) AND PUSHED MY WIFE'S CAR INTO CAR 2 AND CAR 2 INTO CAR 1 AGAIN. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, SEAT BELT LOCKED AND EMS HAD TO GET MY WIFE OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I95 HEADING SOUTH JUST PASSING EXIT 60 HYPOLUXO DR AT ABOUT 45MPH WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP. SHE WAS GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY CAR 4....UPDATED 11/05/15 *BF *JS
NHTSA ODI #10787567
18,000 miles · Oct 27, 2015
Electrical System
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS EATEN BY A RODENT. THE RODENT MADE A NEST IN THE ENGINE AREA AFTER EATING THE WIRES. THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE IS COSTING US $1510 PLUS A RENTAL CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10786504
16,000 miles · Oct 22, 2015
Steering
ON 10/19/2015 THE ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM WARNING PANEL ACTIVATED, LOCKING MY STEERING COLUMN AND PREVENTING THE START OF THE RAV4. TOWING COMPANY ARRIVED, EXPERIENCED/WITNESSED SAME EVENT. RAV4 TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. 10/20 DEALERSHIP STATED "NO REPAIRS PERFORMED VEHICLE OPERATING AS DESIGNED." 10/20/2015 THE CUSTOMER REPRES…
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ON 10/19/2015 THE ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM WARNING PANEL ACTIVATED, LOCKING MY STEERING COLUMN AND PREVENTING THE START OF THE RAV4. TOWING COMPANY ARRIVED, EXPERIENCED/WITNESSED SAME EVENT. RAV4 TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. 10/20 DEALERSHIP STATED "NO REPAIRS PERFORMED VEHICLE OPERATING AS DESIGNED." 10/20/2015 THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE STATED "THERE WAS NO ELECTRONIC FOOTPRINT IN THE MEMORY CARD, INDICATING THIS EVENT TOOK PLACE." NO ACTION BY DEALERSHIP. REPORTED TO GENERAL MANAGER AND TOYOTA CO. TOYOTA CASE #1510220162. TOYOTA STATED THEY WILL NOT BE MAKING ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VIN IS NOT PART OF RECALL NUMBER 15V144000 DATED 3/13/2015. DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATION STATED THE VEHICLE MUST PRESENT THE ISSUE AT THE SHOP OR ON THE ROAD (AT THIS POINT THERE WILL BE A CRASH) BEFORE THEY WILL TAKE ANY ACTION.
NHTSA ODI #10785348
8,921 miles · Oct 20, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
MY 2014 RAV4 HAS A FUEL LINE LEAK. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS IT IS DUE TO A MOUSE AND WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK IT APPEARS THAT THE LINE HAS BEEN SCRAPED RATHER THAN CHEWED. BUT IF IT WAS DAMAGED BY A MOUSE THIS IS ALSO AN ISSUE. THE FUEL LINE SHOULD NOT BE EDIBLE BY RODENTS. WAY TOO MANY AUTOMOBILE PARTS AR…
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MY 2014 RAV4 HAS A FUEL LINE LEAK. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS IT IS DUE TO A MOUSE AND WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK IT APPEARS THAT THE LINE HAS BEEN SCRAPED RATHER THAN CHEWED. BUT IF IT WAS DAMAGED BY A MOUSE THIS IS ALSO AN ISSUE. THE FUEL LINE SHOULD NOT BE EDIBLE BY RODENTS. WAY TOO MANY AUTOMOBILE PARTS ARE BEING MADE FROM "EDIBLE" COMPONENTS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE BEEN WARNED I SHOULD NOT DRIVE MY CAR - THAT IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. FROM INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AND FROM A LOCAL REPAIR PLACE I HAVE FOUND THAT A LOT OF WIRING AND OTHER PARTS ARE RODENT EDIBLE AND CAUSING A LOT OF DEFECTS.
NHTSA ODI #10783846
6,235 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE SLOW MOVING IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT. WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN AND ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER CAR HAD COLLIDED WITH OTHER (PARKED) CARS, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES. IT COLLIDED IN QUICK SUCCESSION WITH FOUR CARS UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED (CAR WAS TURNED OF…
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VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE SLOW MOVING IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT. WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN AND ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER CAR HAD COLLIDED WITH OTHER (PARKED) CARS, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES. IT COLLIDED IN QUICK SUCCESSION WITH FOUR CARS UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED (CAR WAS TURNED OFF). LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED, THERE WERE DOZENS OF PEDESTRIANS RETURNING TO THEIR VEHICLES AFTER A CLASSIC CONCERT. I ASKED FOR AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CAR MAKER. INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED ON 6 JULY (CDR/EDR RECORD RECOVERED FROM SRS MODULE). IN SEPTEMBER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA SAYING NO MECHANICAL DEFECT WAS FOUND. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL DEFECT BUT A SOFTWARE DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION. I'VE OWNED TOYOTAS FOR OVER 15 YEARS - WHICH I HAD ALWAYS CONSIDERED A VERY RELIABLE COMPANY - HAVE BEEN A DRIVER FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A SINGLE ACCIDENT. THE EXPERIENCE WAS SO TERRIFYING IN SPITE OF TOYOTA REASSURANCE I FELT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND TRANSFERRED THE LEASE TO A DEALER (BEARING SOME MONETARY LOSS, UNFORTUNATELY). I FILE THIS COMPLAINT SO THAT FUTURE OWNERS CAN BE MADE AWARE, AND IN ORDER TO ASSIST ACCURACY OF STATISTICS AND STUDIES ON SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS.
NHTSA ODI #10779897
4,500 miles · Sep 30, 2015
Electrical System
NAVIGATION SCREEN IS DANGEROUSLY UNREADABLE IN SUNLIGHT; THE GLARE IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THROUGH.
NHTSA ODI #10778728
11,400 miles · Aug 13, 2015
Air BagsCrash
I WAS DRIVING ON AN OVERPASS AND WAS ABOUT TO TURN ONTO AN ON RAMP TO ENTER INTERSTATE 70 IN LIMON COLORADO AND I STRUCK A VEHICLE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE OF BOTH OUR CARS. AND MY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. I HIT THE STEERING COLUMN WITH MY RIGHT ARM AND LEFT SIDE OF MY CHEST AND STOMACH.
NHTSA ODI #10748492
16,025 miles · Aug 11, 2015
Unknown Or Other
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 65 MPH AT AROUND 9 AM WHEN WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BOOM ON TOP OF OUR 2014 RAV4. THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WE SAW FLY UP OFF THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO SEE WHAT MIGHT HAVE FLOWN OFF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW NOTHING. WE WERE …
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WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 65 MPH AT AROUND 9 AM WHEN WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BOOM ON TOP OF OUR 2014 RAV4. THERE WERE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WE SAW FLY UP OFF THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO SEE WHAT MIGHT HAVE FLOWN OFF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND SAW NOTHING. WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND FIND A PARKING LOT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE. OUR SUNROOF HAD A BIG HOLE IN THE MIDDLE AND ALL THE REST OF THE GLASS WAS CRACKED LIKE A SPIDER WEB. THERE WAS NOTHING FOUND SUCH AS ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT IN THE GLASS THAT COULD HAVE HIT THE VEHICLE AND NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE ROOF. THANKFULLY THE COVER WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME. WE DID NOT HAVE A CHOICE BUT TO BREAK OUT ALL THE REMAINING GLASS AFTER CONTACTING THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP/AND INSURANCE COMPANY, SO AS NOT TO SPRAY GLASS ON THE ROAD OR DRIVERS ON OUR 45 MILE DRIVE BACK HOME. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD US IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY AND WOULD HAVE TO BE AN INSURANCE CLAIM. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
NHTSA ODI #10747781
26,594 miles · Aug 10, 2015
Unknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH, MANUFACTURER INSTALLED SUNROOF EXPLODED. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS 88DEG. SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT, AND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE OFF ROAD THINKING MY CAR HAD BEEN HIT. NO OTHER CARS OR PEOPLE ON ROADWAY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. NO OVERPASSES OR TREES, EITHER. NO ROCKS OR DEBRIS WERE FOUND IN THE BROKEN GLASS. …
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WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH, MANUFACTURER INSTALLED SUNROOF EXPLODED. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS 88DEG. SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT, AND CAUSED ME TO SWERVE OFF ROAD THINKING MY CAR HAD BEEN HIT. NO OTHER CARS OR PEOPLE ON ROADWAY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. NO OVERPASSES OR TREES, EITHER. NO ROCKS OR DEBRIS WERE FOUND IN THE BROKEN GLASS. COVER WAS CLOSED, OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN GLASS. TOYOTA HAS HAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT.
NHTSA ODI #10747665
Official recalls
4Nov 1, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
Mar 13, 2015
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Jan 16, 2015
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Trailer Hitches
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Exterior Lighting
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Dec 30, 2014
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
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
1PE21005 · Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events
Opened Feb 25, 2021 · Closed Aug 12, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles on 25 February 2021. At the time of opening, ODI attributed eleven allegations and additional EWR events to this PE. PE21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in PE21005 involved the originally supplied 12V battery. The reported fires took place in vehicles known to contain aftermarket batteries or whose age exceeded the expected life of the original equipment battery. ODI identified battery dimensioning as it relates to the battery retention system (hold down bracket, radiator support bolt, J-hook, and battery tray) as the main factor set in the contact between the battery hold down bracket contacting the positive terminal of the 12V battery. The subject vehicles carried over the same battery tray and retention system from the prior generation (MY2006 – MY2012) of RAV4 vehicles. However, the subject vehicles were equipped with a dimensionally smaller battery (Group 35) than the prior generation (Group 24F). The smaller- length measurement in the Group 35 battery size in a battery tray originally designed to fit a Group 24F battery contributed to increased potential for battery movement which was exacerbated by the diversity in aftermarket battery configuration and irregularities intrinsic to battery replacement procedures. Battery movement coupled with the proximity of the B+ terminal on the battery and the grounded electrically conductive hold down bracket set the stage for a short to ground leading to an engine stall (if in operation) followed by a vehicle fire. This investigation was not able to classify the installation status, battery size, or cause of every allegation due to the fire event causing damage to the area, inaccessible vehicle, modification to the battery retention system after the event, and/or inconclusive photographic evidence. Toyota's investigation of the issue identified aftermarket battery catalogs that listed an improper battery replacement size (Group 26R) that would nevertheless fit into the subject vehicles whose battery retention system is incapable of reliably restraining a Group 26R battery. On 18 November 2021, Toyota initiated a consumer advisory campaign (21TG01) to the subject vehicle owners, notifying them of the correct size battery and offering a free inspection of the battery and retention hardware, a caution label to affix to the hold down bracket, and a discounted replacement 12V battery. This investigation with Toyota established three broad categories to characterize the battery retention system state of a given vehicle: "correct", "minor mis-installation", and "major mis-installation". - The "correct" terminology references the front bolt, bracket, and J-hook installed in a position not in contact with the positive battery terminal and the front bolt torqued to 17 Nm and the J-hook engaged with the tray hole and torqued to 4.9 Nm. - A "minor mis-installation" would describe the three retention components installed in the prescribed location, however not to the correct torque values. - The "major mis-installation" condition would constitute a retention component missing or disconnected from the system. Toyota's own testing used five exemplar batteries installed on a subject vehicle in each battery categorization resulted in: - Contact between the B+ terminal and hold down bracket in "major mis-installations" - Movement of the battery in "minor mis-installations" - No observable motion in "correct" installations. ODI conducted its own evaluation of the Toyota- specified replacement battery and 5 aftermarket Group 35 batteries. The six batteries tested conformed to the Group 35 Battery Council International (BCI) standard on overall dimensional tolerance and terminal location. That standard does not define the edge shape or material of battery casing. Physical interaction between the hold down bracket and the battery case and the friction between the casing material and the battery tray resulted in a large variability in movement forces required to incite movement when the battery was installed in the "correct" condition. Resulting in movement at an induced lateral load between 0.6 G and 1.91 G equivalent force across each battery. This force is higher than a typical vehicle could exert in a steady state turn and would only experience loads through brief shock or impulses. Multiple shock or impulse loads across time would contribute to a delay between the replacement battery installation and the fire event. Likelihood of a fire event increases as the installation method degraded from the "correct", to "minor mis-installation", and then to "major mis-installation". Protruding vent caps atop some of the batteries tested aided in restricting battery movement relative to the hold down. An absence of vent caps permitted additional movement. Following several discussions and vehicle inspections with ODI during this investigation, on 01 November 2023, Toyota filed a safety recall (NHTSA 23V-734) of 1,853,568 MY 2013 through MY 2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles to reduce the risk of a vehicle fire with redesigned battery retention components. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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