NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
69 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Nov 17, 2021
Unknown Or Other
One day, after the car was sitting in my garage for a week, I drove it and found that the driver side rear wheel stopped turning. I noticed grease on the inside wall of the rim of this wheel. The rim of the other wheels are clean. I tried a few more times wiggling it back and forth and the wheel was still stuck. Two days later …
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One day, after the car was sitting in my garage for a week, I drove it and found that the driver side rear wheel stopped turning. I noticed grease on the inside wall of the rim of this wheel. The rim of the other wheels are clean. I tried a few more times wiggling it back and forth and the wheel was still stuck. Two days later a tow truck driver came and he tried a few more times and was able to get the wheel freed. But then when driving it, there is noise from the wheel.
NHTSA ODI #11440763
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2021
Unknown Or Other
Back up camera fills with Water. when it rains and cannot see from it til it dries out a few days after rain and even then it’s cloudy probsbly due to rain getting into it
NHTSA ODI #11430198
47,000 miles · Apr 11, 2021
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
CAR STARTED STALLING WHOLE IN MOTION YESTERDAY. I HAVEN'T THOUGHT TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. TODAY IN MY 3RD DRIVE OF THE DAY AFTER I STOP AT A RESTAURANT, I START THE CAR TO THE SURPRISE IT JUST STALLED AND GIVE ME CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION I TRY TO START IT AGAIN WITH NO LUCK. I'M FAR FROM HOME I CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AN…
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CAR STARTED STALLING WHOLE IN MOTION YESTERDAY. I HAVEN'T THOUGHT TOO MUCH ABOUT IT. TODAY IN MY 3RD DRIVE OF THE DAY AFTER I STOP AT A RESTAURANT, I START THE CAR TO THE SURPRISE IT JUST STALLED AND GIVE ME CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION I TRY TO START IT AGAIN WITH NO LUCK. I'M FAR FROM HOME I CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND IS CLOSED. I WILL HAVE TO WAIT TOMORROW MORNING TO TOW THE CAR TO THEM. I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS TO HAPPEN IN A TOYOTA VEHICLE ONLY 3 YEAR OLDER. LAST YEAR THEY CHANGE THE BATTERY BECAUSE IT LET ME STRANDED SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM FOR SURE.
NHTSA ODI #11407481
6,000 miles · Mar 14, 2021
Unknown Or OtherFire
THIS CAR STARTED A FIRE ON THE ROAD WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION, AND AFTER I DROVE IT OVER A MILE ON A CITY STREET ON APRIL 22ND, 2019. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AFTER I SAW SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE HOOD IN FRONT OF DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD. I LEFT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO CALL FOR HELP. LESS THAN A MINUTE, AFTER I LEFT THE C…
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THIS CAR STARTED A FIRE ON THE ROAD WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION, AND AFTER I DROVE IT OVER A MILE ON A CITY STREET ON APRIL 22ND, 2019. I STOPPED THE CAR AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AFTER I SAW SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE HOOD IN FRONT OF DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD. I LEFT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY TO CALL FOR HELP. LESS THAN A MINUTE, AFTER I LEFT THE CAR, THE FIRE STARTED, THE FLAMES WENT UP TO 10 FEET HIGH IN A SHORT 2 MINUTES, IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES, BEFORE THE FIREMEN PUT FIRE OFF, THE CAR WAS BURNED TO THE FRAME WITH NOTHING LEFT INSIDE. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN A LITTLE OVER 6000 MILES AT THE TIME. TOYOTA HAS NOT COVERED ANY OF MY LOSS AND TAKEN THE RESPONSIBILITY.
NHTSA ODI #11402838
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2020
Unknown Or Other
I STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON A SMALL INCLINE WHILE THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN DRIVE. I HIT THE POWER BUTTON (WHILE THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED) WITHOUT PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK. WITH THE VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE, AND NOT PROPERLY TURNED OFF, WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS SIX FEET. LATER THAT DAY I TRIED TO …
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I STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON A SMALL INCLINE WHILE THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN DRIVE. I HIT THE POWER BUTTON (WHILE THE BRAKE WAS PRESSED) WITHOUT PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK. WITH THE VEHICLE STILL IN DRIVE, AND NOT PROPERLY TURNED OFF, WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, MY VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS SIX FEET. LATER THAT DAY I TRIED TO RECREATE THE SAME SCENARIO AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. IF YOU PRESS THE POWER BUTTON TO TURN OFF YOUR VEHICLE WHILE IT IS STILL IN DRIVE AND YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, THE CAR WILL ACT AS THOUGH IT IS IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL DOWNHILL. I HAVE NOT TRIED WITH THE CAR FACING DOWNHILL/ROLLING FORWARDS.
NHTSA ODI #11376758
13,800 miles · Nov 6, 2020
Service BrakesUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
WHILE IN REVERSE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE (STOPPED) THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. WHILE FOOT STILL ON BRAKE THE VEHICLE HAD UNCOMMANDED FORWARD ACCELERATION (ENGINE REVVED UP LIKE FOOT FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL). VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ~25 FT AND HIT THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE (FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL ENTIRE TIME). UPON IMPACT, THE VEHIC…
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WHILE IN REVERSE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE (STOPPED) THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. WHILE FOOT STILL ON BRAKE THE VEHICLE HAD UNCOMMANDED FORWARD ACCELERATION (ENGINE REVVED UP LIKE FOOT FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL). VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD ~25 FT AND HIT THE FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE (FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL ENTIRE TIME). UPON IMPACT, THE VEHICLE HAD UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION IN REVERSE (FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL STILL). WAS ABLE TO TURN OF IGNITION AND PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER MOVING ~25FT IN REVERSE. AT FINAL STOP, THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION LEVER WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. NOTE: TOW TRUCK DRIVER STARTED VEHICLE TO GO IN REVERSE A FEW FEET FOR POSITIONING. WITH ENGINE RUNNING, VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND GAS PEDAL PRESSED GENTLY. VEHICLE WENT IN REVERSE (< 2MPH) AS IT SHOULD. FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE AND VEHICLE PUT IN PARK IN ONE MOTION. VEHICLE IN PARK AND FOOT ON BRAKE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP AGAIN. KEY WAS TURN OFF. VEHICLE TOWED.
NHTSA ODI #11373424
9,200 miles · Oct 27, 2020
Unknown Or Other
MY CAR IS A TOYOTA RAV4 2018. ON OCTOBER 20, 2020, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AROUND 60 MPH WITH MY SON ON A BRIGHT, SUNNY DAY IN ABOUT 80 DEGREE WEATHER ON HIGHWAY 605N JUST PAST HIGHWAY 60. OUT OF NOWHERE, WE WE HEARD A LOUD BURSTING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS DRIVING ON TH…
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MY CAR IS A TOYOTA RAV4 2018. ON OCTOBER 20, 2020, I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AROUND 60 MPH WITH MY SON ON A BRIGHT, SUNNY DAY IN ABOUT 80 DEGREE WEATHER ON HIGHWAY 605N JUST PAST HIGHWAY 60. OUT OF NOWHERE, WE WE HEARD A LOUD BURSTING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. THERE WEREN'T MANY CARS ON THE HIGHWAY AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE THIRD LANE FROM THE OUTER EDGE. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I NOTICED THE SUNROOF HAD COMPLETELY SHATTERED. WE HADN'T TRIED TO OPEN THE SUNROOF AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT NOR DID IT APPEAR THAT A ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT HIT THE SUNROOF. ON OCTOBER 22, 2020, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN WESTMINSTER. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE BUT WOULD CONTACT TOYOTA DIRECTLY TO SEE IF TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WOULD COVER THE COSTS. A FEW DAYS LATER, I WAS TOLD THAT TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SHATTERED SUNROOF. I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO GET THE SUNROOF REPAIRED EVEN THOUGH THE INCIDENT WAS NO FAULT OF MY OWN. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES BECAUSE I BARELY DRIVE IT. MY CAR SPENDS MOST OF THE TIME PARKED INSIDE MY COVERED GARAGE. I TAKE EXTREMELY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR THAT IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ANY SCRATCHES ON IT. UPON SEARCHING THE WEB, I NOTICED THERE WERE OTHER REPORTED INCIDENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCED SHATTERED SUNROOFS FROM THEIR TOYOTA CARS. THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. AND WHAT SURPRISED ME EVEN MORE IS THAT TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECALLING THE CARS THESE DEFEATS. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COVERING THE COST FOR REPAIRS FOR MY SUNROOF AND OTHER CARS THAT HAVE HAD SIMILAR TYPES OF DEFEATS.
NHTSA ODI #11366770
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2020
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other
NOT SOON AFTER I LEASED MY RAV4 THE BRAKES STARTED GRINDING AS IF I NEEDED NEW BRAKES & EVERYTIME I WENT IN FOR MAINTENANCE THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THEM & THEY LOOK FINE. THE ROTORS ARE RUSTED JUST ON THE INNER PART ON BOTH REAR ROTORS & MY CAR IS GARAGED SO THERE ISNT ANY REASON WHY THEY SHOULD BE GRINDING OR SQUEALING.…
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NOT SOON AFTER I LEASED MY RAV4 THE BRAKES STARTED GRINDING AS IF I NEEDED NEW BRAKES & EVERYTIME I WENT IN FOR MAINTENANCE THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THEM & THEY LOOK FINE. THE ROTORS ARE RUSTED JUST ON THE INNER PART ON BOTH REAR ROTORS & MY CAR IS GARAGED SO THERE ISNT ANY REASON WHY THEY SHOULD BE GRINDING OR SQUEALING. IT MAKES THE NOISE WHEN I'M IN MOTION. ALSO THE RADIO STATIONS ARE COMPLETE STATIC & I HAVE HAD 2 DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS LOOK AT IT & THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE WIRING BUT CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY ALL MY STATIONS COME IN STATICALLY.
NHTSA ODI #11341323
17,300 miles · Apr 14, 2020
Unknown Or OtherCrash
I HAD BEEN USING THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON THE WESTBOUND CA 134 IN GLENDALE/BURBANK, CA. I HAD TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC FROM THE HOV LANE DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. I THEN USED THE AUTO TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR TO GAIN MORE TORQUE IN CHANGING LANES WHEN THE CAR WENT INTO A STALL AND LOST ALL…
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I HAD BEEN USING THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON THE WESTBOUND CA 134 IN GLENDALE/BURBANK, CA. I HAD TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC FROM THE HOV LANE DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL. I THEN USED THE AUTO TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR TO GAIN MORE TORQUE IN CHANGING LANES WHEN THE CAR WENT INTO A STALL AND LOST ALL POWER. CONSEQUENTLY WE WERE REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR. OUR CAR WENT INTO A LOCKOUT AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SHOULDER BY THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS A RANDOM EVENT OR A GLITCH IN THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER.OR SOMETHING ELSE TOTALLY UNRELATED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11321128
14,500 miles · Mar 23, 2020
Unknown Or Other
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, SEAT BELT WARNING, PEDESTRIAN WARNING AND OTHER AUDITORY SAFETY FEATURE WARNINGS ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE AND THEREFORE MAY BE INADEQUATE IN PROVIDING THE INTENDED SAFETY FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RETROFIT A CONTROL THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO ADJUST THE SAFETY FUNCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE DR…
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LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, SEAT BELT WARNING, PEDESTRIAN WARNING AND OTHER AUDITORY SAFETY FEATURE WARNINGS ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE AND THEREFORE MAY BE INADEQUATE IN PROVIDING THE INTENDED SAFETY FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RETROFIT A CONTROL THAT MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO ADJUST THE SAFETY FUNCTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE DRIVER.
NHTSA ODI #11319061
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.
Jun 28, 2019
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Dec 20, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
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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