2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while the vehicle was being charged, the battery intermittently failed to charge. As a result, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that unknown warning lights were illuminated but turned off after the battery was on charge mode. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the cause of the failure could not be determined, and the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be driven more often. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000. The VIN was unavailable.

The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, he attempted to avoid a rock but was unsuccessful. The contact stated that rock struck the fuel neck and caused a substantial fuel leak, 13/8 hose was unprotected and cut. A fellow motorist alerted the contact of the failure. The contact inspected the vehicle and found the leak. The contact temporarily fixed the leak and drove to the residence. The contact ordered a new filler neck and repaired the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer recommended that the contact take the vehicle to an authorized local dealer for inspection. The vehicle was inspected by a service dealer. The vehicle was repaired by owner. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

JAN 29, 4:45PM, EVERETT WA. SHORTLY AFTER MERGING ONTO SOUTHBOUND I-5 FROM 526 THERE WAS A SINGLE LOUD EXPLODING NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF GLASS PIECES. THE SHADE GUARD WAS CLOSED. OPENING SHADE GUARD SHOWED THAT SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED LEAVING JAGGED GLASS AROUND THE EDGE TILTING UPWARDS. VEHICLE SPEED ABOUT 55MPH. WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND ABOUT 40 DEGREES.

RE.: PREMATURE FAILURE OF 2017 TOYOTA RAV-4 SE HYBRID 4-WD ALUMINUM WHEEL. ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, 2018, WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON HIGHWAY 70 AT AROUND 10:25 A.M., THE LEFT REAR WHEEL FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY ON MY WIFE'S 2018 TOYOTA RAV-4 SE HYBRID. I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY WIFE, MY 13-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND MY 9-YEAR OLD SON WHEN WE WERE STARTLED BY A LOUD BOOM, WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I HAD RAN OVER SOMETHING, BUT QUICKLY RULED THAT OUT BECAUSE WITHIN SECONDS I COULD FEEL THE VEHICLE'S REAR END MAKING LOUD NOISES AND VIBRATED STRONGLY. I KNEW THEN THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. WE WERE GOING ABOUT 65MPH AND TRAVELING EAST ON THE FAR LEFT HAND OF A 4-LANE HIGHWAY. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE BUDDHIST TEMPLE, I TOOK THE DAMAGED TIRE OUT TO INSPECT IT. I WAS TRYING TO SEE WHAT HAD CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. BUT AS I WAS INSPECTING THE TIRE I THEN NOTICED THE FRACTURED AREA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ALUMINUM WHEEL. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM MY PICTURES, THE INNER AND OUTER ALUMINUM WHEEL BEADS HAS NO SIGN OF DAMAGE. IN ADDITION, I COULD NOT DETECT ANY PUNCTURE HOLE IN AND AROUND THE RUBBER TIRE THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE METAL FRACTURES. I WANT TO ALERT YOU TO THE POTENTIAL ALUMINUM WHEEL DEFECT THAT MAY EXIST IN MY OTHER THREE FACTORY SUPPLIED WHEELS, AS WELL AS OTHER RAV-4 THAT HAVE THE SAME SE WHEELS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN. I HOPE THAT NHTSA WILL REVIEW THE EVIDENCE I HAVE PROVIDED AND BEGIN A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS DANGEROUS WHEEL DEFECT. I WILL KEEP THE DAMAGED WHEEL AND WILL NOT ALLOW TOYOTA OR BOMMARITO TO TAKE POSSESSION OF MY DAMAGED ALUMINUM WHEEL UNTIL I HAVE RECEIVED FURTHER INSTRUCTION FROM YOUR OFFICE. (SEE ATTACHED PDF FOR ADDITIONAL VEHICLE INFO)

PURCHASED 02/13/17. MAR VA TO FL, SEAT HEATER ON, NOTICED HOT SMELL SEAT GOT EXTREMELY HOT, TURNED IT OFF, TAKES 10-15 MINS TO COOL DOWN WHILE IN SEAT. DAY 2 OF TRIP, HAPPENED AGAIN. STOPPED AT REST AREA, JEANS STUCK TO LEG, EXAM SHOWED RED POPPED BLISTER ON UPPER RIGHT LEG, EXTREMELY PAINFUL. APPLIED BURN CREAM AND BANDAID. DROVE TO FRIENDS, SITTING ON LEFT CHEEK. TOOK PICS, WENT TO URGENT CARE. DIAGNOSIS 2ND DEGREE BURN. 3/23 DEALER INSPECTED SEAT HEATER, STATED IT'S DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF AT 107 BUT WOULD PUT IN SYSTEM INCASE IT HAPPENED AGAIN, DIAGNOSED OPERATING AS DESIGNED. IN MAR CORPORATE OPENED 1ST CASE. BURNED 5 MORE TIMES, LAST ON 3/19/18, VEHICLE TO DEALER EACH TIME, ALWAYS DIAGNOSED "OPERATING AS DESIGNED". ONE TECH CHECKED TEMP WITH 3 DIFFERENT GUNS, HIGHEST TEMP WAS 111 OTHER GUNS WITHIN 3 DEGREES. ONE DEALERS SERVICE WRITER SUGGESTED THEY DISCONNECT IT TO ENSURE NO MORE BURNS. HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES, THAT WHILE DRIVING ARE EASED WITH THE HEAT FROM THE SEAT. ON 6/15 AND 7/12 18, VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO DRIVER'S SEAT GETTING EXTREMELY HOT, SHUT DOWN AND NOT OPERABLE FOR 3 HOURS, THO THE PASSENGER SEAT WORKED. REPORTED ISSUES TO MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED ANOTHER CASE NUMBER. JUST FOUND OUT BOTH HAVE BEEN CLOSED. 7 TIMES TO DEALER FOR NAV/RADIO PROBLEMS, 2 CASES, STOPPED WORKING BLACK SCREEN, SYSTEM FREEZING UP, TAKES 5-7 MINS CALCULATING DIRECTIONS, NOT RECOGNIZE ROADS DRVING ON, USE CELL PHONE AS GPS. SOME SERVICE WRITERS DON'T WRITE ALL CONCERNS ON REPAIR ORDER, REPEATED BLOWN FUSES, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAR SLAMS ON BRAKES, CRUISE SLOWS THO CAR AHEAD IS IN OTHER LANE. CODES SINCE PURCHASE, LOST COMMUNICATION WITH BCM-3 TIMES, LOST COMMUNICATION WITH NAV CONTROL MODULE ONCE, LOST COMMUNICATION WITH BCM MODULE B-ONCE, PRE COLLISION SYS-TWICE, 1 ROUGH IDLLE. DEALER NEVER TOLD ABOUT CODES, ALWAYS "SYSTEM OPERATING AS DESIGNED".

THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. NO OTHER CARS WERE AHEAD ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME AND THERE WERE NO OVERPASSES. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD OR OVERHEAD. SUNNY DAY, APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES. AFTER MARKET CROSSBARS HAD BEEN INSTALLED BY THE DEALER 6 DAYS PRIOR. UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF DEALER CAUSED DAMAGE; DEALER CLAIMS THEY DID NOT. CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN MINIMALLY SINCE CROSSBAR INSTALLATION. ROOF OF CAR DOES NOT SHOW ANY INDICATION OF DAMAGE.