NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
239 reports10,250 miles · Jan 12, 2018
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE SUN ROOF FRACTURED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, PIECES OF BROKEN GLASS STARTED TO FALL INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. CLEARWATER TOYOTA (21799 US HWY 19 N, CLEARWATER, FL 33765, (800) 667-9051) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE SUN ROOF FRACTURED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, PIECES OF BROKEN GLASS STARTED TO FALL INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. CLEARWATER TOYOTA (21799 US HWY 19 N, CLEARWATER, FL 33765, (800) 667-9051) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,250. *TT *TR
NHTSA ODI #11062360
9,756 miles · Jan 2, 2018
Visibility/wiper
SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS UNDER OR NEAR AN OVERPASS WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOMETHING DROPPED FROM THE OVERPASS AND STRUCK THE SUNROOF, BUT WE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING FALL.
NHTSA ODI #11058147
30,000 miles · Jan 2, 2018
Visibility/wiper
WHILE DRIVING THE SUNROOF SHATTERED SENDING GALSS ONTO MY WIFE AND THE CAR BEHIND US.
NHTSA ODI #11057915
11,771 miles · Dec 12, 2017
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,771. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATED CT STATE POLICE WERE CALLED AND RESPONDED. THEY FOUND NO DEBRIS, NO SIGN OF ANY IMPACT. THEY WROTE AS HAVING BEEN "SPONTANEOUS." UPDATED 8/24/18*JB
NHTSA ODI #11054155
Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2017
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE TURNED ON TO HAVE SUFFICIENT VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ST. COULD TOYOTA (418 2ND ST S, WAITE PARK, MN 56387 (320) 227-8052). THE TECHNICIAN ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS AND …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE TURNED ON TO HAVE SUFFICIENT VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ST. COULD TOYOTA (418 2ND ST S, WAITE PARK, MN 56387 (320) 227-8052). THE TECHNICIAN ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS AND STATED THAT NO FURTHER ACTION COULD BE TAKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE STILL NOT SUFFICIENT. THE STOCK HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AND WERE NOT REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND TOYOTA STATED THAT THE STOCK LIGHTS WERE DESIGNED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT CONSUMER STATED CANNOT SEE MORE THAN 2 TO 3 CAN LENGTHS AHEAD WHEN ON, DIM AT START UPDATED 8/27/18*JB
NHTSA ODI #11054125
13,000 miles · Oct 25, 2017
Unknown Or Other
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH GETTING ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND STARTED HEARING GLASS FLY OFF MY CAR AND SLIDING AROUND ON MY ROOF. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER, PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND SLID BACK THE SUNROOF SHADE. THE ENTIRE CENTER OF MY SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND APPEARE…
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I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH GETTING ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND STARTED HEARING GLASS FLY OFF MY CAR AND SLIDING AROUND ON MY ROOF. I QUICKLY PULLED OVER, PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND SLID BACK THE SUNROOF SHADE. THE ENTIRE CENTER OF MY SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND APPEARED AS IF A GIANT ROCK WAS DROPPED ON IT. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF IMPACT AND I HAVE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND THEY OFFERED ABSOLUTELY NO ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRS.
NHTSA ODI #11039823
11,000 miles · Oct 23, 2017
Unknown Or Other
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN I NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE WATER STARTING TO COME DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE REAR GLASS. I THOUGHT THAT WAS WEIRD BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY WATER ON THE CAR. WHEN I GOT OUT TO MAKE A CLOSER INSPECTION, THE GLASS EXPLODED. THIS OCCURRED SIMPLY BY CLOSING MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR.
NHTSA ODI #11035986
26,000 miles · Oct 23, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL SENSOR HARNESS WAS DAMAGED BY RODENT. VEHICLE HAS 26K MILES AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO REPAIR THE BREAK, AND WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE ENTIRE HARNESS AT A COST NOT COVERED OF $6300. THE MATERIAL CHANGE OF THESE PARTS ATTRACT RATS. THIS DAMAGED CAUSE ABS, LANE DEPARTURE, BLIND SPOT MONITORING AND CRUISE CONTROL S…
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PASSENGER FRONT WHEEL SENSOR HARNESS WAS DAMAGED BY RODENT. VEHICLE HAS 26K MILES AND TOYOTA REFUSED TO REPAIR THE BREAK, AND WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE ENTIRE HARNESS AT A COST NOT COVERED OF $6300. THE MATERIAL CHANGE OF THESE PARTS ATTRACT RATS. THIS DAMAGED CAUSE ABS, LANE DEPARTURE, BLIND SPOT MONITORING AND CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I LIVE IN A GATE COMMUNITY. I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER LINE AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME EXPLANATION OF THE LACK OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. CASE #1710230814
NHTSA ODI #11035705
3,500 miles · Oct 19, 2017
Unknown Or Other
UPON ACCELERATING A STRONG ORDOR ENTERS INSIDE OF VEHICLE TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS (NORMAL SULPHER SMEEL FROM CATALYTIC CONVERTER UPON ACCELLERATION) AT TIMES THIS SMEEL IS VERY STRONG AND NAUSEATING, THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 5200 MILES ON IT, AND WASN'T NOTICE UNTIL IDROVE IT ON THE INTER STATE
NHTSA ODI #11034611
14,000 miles · Oct 3, 2017
Unknown Or OtherFire
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL MY VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND MY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. UNSURE OF THE CAUSE.
NHTSA ODI #11031632
Official recalls
3Nov 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.
Apr 22, 2016
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:other:labels
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Tires
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Apr 7, 2016
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
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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