NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
92 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jul 7, 2008
Electrical SystemPower Train
CAR NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR (SLIPPING) AND THEN BANGING AND JERKING INTO GEAR AT FIRST TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. LATER AFTER I SAW THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND WITH MANY CALLS TO TOYOTA CORPORATE THEY PERFORMED FURTHER TEST AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE ECM THEY ARE REPLACING IT BUT ONLY…
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CAR NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR (SLIPPING) AND THEN BANGING AND JERKING INTO GEAR AT FIRST TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. LATER AFTER I SAW THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND WITH MANY CALLS TO TOYOTA CORPORATE THEY PERFORMED FURTHER TEST AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE ECM THEY ARE REPLACING IT BUT ONLY PAYING FOR HALF OF THE COST CURRENT MILEAGE 89,000 THEY ARE SAYING IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 9,000 MILES EVEN THOUGH IT WAS REPROGRAMMED LAST YEAR (APRIL 07) AT 72,000 MILES I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE 2002 RAV 4 AND TRULY BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL AND PAY THE TOTAL AMOUNT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233425
53,965 miles · Jul 5, 2008
Electrical SystemPower Train
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND MY LOCAL DEALER WOULD FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM TWICE. THE 3RD TIME TOYOTA HAD A RECALL ON THE COMPUTER AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECU. NOW THE 4TH TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PUSHING THE PEDAL OR IT WOULD STOP IN TRAFFIC WITH THE HOPES…
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IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND MY LOCAL DEALER WOULD FIX SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM TWICE. THE 3RD TIME TOYOTA HAD A RECALL ON THE COMPUTER AND REPROGRAMMED THE ECU. NOW THE 4TH TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT GO WHEN PUSHING THE PEDAL OR IT WOULD STOP IN TRAFFIC WITH THE HOPES OF NOT GETTING INTO A WRECK. BARELY MADE IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT HAD A BAD MAIN COMPUTER FAILURE AND THE "SHIFT SOLENOID B" WAS BAD. ALL THIS WITH ONLY 83K MILES. THIS SEEMS SOMEWHAT VERY LOW TO BE HAVING THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM. I CONTACTED TOYOTA, GAVE THEM THE INFO AND THEY INVESTIGATED AND SAID IT WAS WAY OUT OF WARRANTY SO THE CASE IS "CLOSED". THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS TO BE $4998 BUT WITH THE DEALER GIVING ME A "ONE TIME GOOD WILL 50% SPLIT AND A SENIOR CITIZENS DISCOUNT", IT HAD A FINAL PRICE OF $3,725.63. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10233221
95,000 miles · Jun 24, 2008
Electrical SystemPower Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE COMPUTER FAILURE, WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION ARE CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED AT THE COST OF $4,600. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 95,000.
NHTSA ODI #10232150
89,000 miles · Jun 4, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE IDLING OR DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSISTENTLY FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECM AT THE COST OF $1,225.69, WITHOUT THE CONTAC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE IDLING OR DRIVING AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSISTENTLY FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ECM AT THE COST OF $1,225.69, WITHOUT THE CONTACT'S APPROVAL. THE REPAIR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN HER EXTENDED WARRANTY. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY REFERRED HER BACK TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.
NHTSA ODI #10229905
121,000 miles · Mar 31, 2007
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
ECU OR ENGINE COMPUTER UNIT. THIS COMPUTER IS BAD. WHEN SHIFTING .THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN THE COMPUTER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR TO SHIFT IN. THIS IS SCARY WHEN IN TRAFFIC. IT WOULD START IN LETS SAY 2ND GEAR THEN BANG BACK TO 1ST GEAR. WHAT A JOLT FOR YOU AND THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10186623
63,000 miles · Nov 30, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFire
NOVEMBER 17, 2006 - AFTER BEING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE RAV4 ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DEMOLISHED, TIRES EXPLODED, GLASS EXPLODED OVER AT LEAST A 20 FOOT RADIUS. TWO ENGINE TRUCKS AND 10 RESPONDERS LATER THE FIRE WAS OUT. 63,000 MILES, NO PRIOR PROBLEMS, …
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NOVEMBER 17, 2006 - AFTER BEING PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE RAV4 ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ENTIRE INTERIOR WAS DEMOLISHED, TIRES EXPLODED, GLASS EXPLODED OVER AT LEAST A 20 FOOT RADIUS. TWO ENGINE TRUCKS AND 10 RESPONDERS LATER THE FIRE WAS OUT. 63,000 MILES, NO PRIOR PROBLEMS, 50K MAINTENANCE COMPLETED BY DEALER JAN 2006. VIN HAS ZEROS AND LETTER O WHICH ARE INDISTINGUISHABLE. TRY BOTH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174769
40,000 miles · Mar 24, 2006
Electrical SystemCrash
THE CAR SUFFERED MECHANICAL DEFECT AND THE FRONT END BAR WAS BROKEN, WHEN FRONT END BAR BROKE IT LOST DIRECTION AND HIT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME TO TAKE THE ACCIDENT REPORT. WE WERE DRIVING AT 25MPH ON FREEWAY NUMBER 405. I HAVE CALLED MY AUTO INSURANCE AND I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. I HAVE FULL COVER. I AM…
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THE CAR SUFFERED MECHANICAL DEFECT AND THE FRONT END BAR WAS BROKEN, WHEN FRONT END BAR BROKE IT LOST DIRECTION AND HIT ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT. THE HIGHWAY PATROL CAME TO TAKE THE ACCIDENT REPORT. WE WERE DRIVING AT 25MPH ON FREEWAY NUMBER 405. I HAVE CALLED MY AUTO INSURANCE AND I WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. I HAVE FULL COVER. I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM MY AUTO INSURANCE TO FIX THE CAR. I HAVE CONTATED TOYOTA AND I ALSO HAVE A CASE WITH THEM. THE CASE NUMBER IS 200603011457. I HAVE TOYOTA AND THE CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVE IS CHRISTY. CHRISTY HAVE SAID TO WAIT AT LEAST 60 DAYS. I CAN'T WAIT 60 DAYS. I NEED MY CAR. THE AUTO INSURANCE HAS NOT GIVEN ME A RENTAL. I HAVE COMPLAINT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF AUTO INSURANCE IN CALIFORNIA. THEY WILL CONDUCT AND INVESTIGATION. THE CASE NUMBER WITH MY AUTO INSURANCE IS 10000148757. MY AUTO INSURANCE CARRIER IS INFINITY. WHAT I WANT IS TOYOTA TO REPLACE MY CAR. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. I FEEL THIS BROKEN BAR SHOULD BE RECALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10153609
45,100 miles · Nov 1, 2005
Air BagsBack Over PreventionElectrical System
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE CHANGES OF OIL AND FILTER. TWICE THEY SUGGESTED A WYNNS SYSTEM ENGINE CLEANING WHICH WE PAID FOR. THE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON APRIL 2005. LAST OCTOBER 7, 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OIL LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CAR STOPPED. …
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I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA RAV 4. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE CHANGES OF OIL AND FILTER. TWICE THEY SUGGESTED A WYNNS SYSTEM ENGINE CLEANING WHICH WE PAID FOR. THE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON APRIL 2005. LAST OCTOBER 7, 2005 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE OIL LIGHT LIT UP AND THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR WAS TOWED FROM THE HIGHWAY TO OUR HOUSE AND THE NEXT DAY WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER ADRIEL TOYOTA IN RIO GRANDE, PUERTO RICO. ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER THEY CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THE MOTOR STALLED AND THE WARRANTY WAS NOT GOING TO PAY SINCE I HAD NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO THEM FOR THE LAST OIL CHANGE. I REMINDED THEM THAT JUST NINE MONTHS EARLIER A WYNNS MOTOR ENGINE CLEANING HAD BE DONE BY THEM AND THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE MOTOR OF THE CAR TO HAVE SLUDGE IF THEY HAD DONE THE JOB CORRECTLY. THE TOYOTA COMPANY OF PUERTO RICO CALLED TO TELL ME THE SAME THING. I MADE A COMPLAINT AT THE CONSUMERS AFFAIRS IN PUERTO , I AM WAITING FOR A DECISION. TODAY I SHOWED THE PICTURES TO AN AUTOMOTIVE EXPERT WHO STATES THAT THE MOTOR HAVE NOT HAD ANY OIL CHANGES AND THE WORST WAS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THE ENGINE HAD BE CLEANED. THE DEALERS STATES THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY MOTOR SLUDGING ON ANY RAV 4 IN PUERTO RICO BUT CONSUMER REPORT STATES THAT TOYOTA HAS THIS PROBLEM MOST COMMONLY WITH CAMRY'S . TODAY I FOUND OUT THAT RAV 4 HAVE THE SAME ENGINE CAMRY'S HAVE. AM I SUPPOSED TO BE PUNISHED FOR WHATEVER PROBLEM TOYOTAS ENGINES HAVE?
NHTSA ODI #10141472
27,000 miles · Mar 21, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES THEN GOT STUCK IN A TRAFFIC JAM. AT THAT TIME, I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FINALLY, I GOT OFF THAT ROAD AND DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES BUT I AGAIN NOTICED THE BURNING SMELL. I CHECKED THE PANEL AND THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING HOT. NEXT, A SMALL CURL OF SMOKE…
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I HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES THEN GOT STUCK IN A TRAFFIC JAM. AT THAT TIME, I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FINALLY, I GOT OFF THAT ROAD AND DROVE ANOTHER 10 MILES BUT I AGAIN NOTICED THE BURNING SMELL. I CHECKED THE PANEL AND THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING HOT. NEXT, A SMALL CURL OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. THEN SUDDENLY SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE VENT. I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING. I REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING FORWARD. THEN THE CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED. FLAMES ENGULFED THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BUT THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10114400
1,189 miles · Jul 17, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
ON JULY 7, 2003 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE BATTERY DISCHARGE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD NO STEERING CAPABILITY. I WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT SIXTY MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE. I ALMOST HIT THE MEDIAN DIVIDER BEFORE I COULD STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED THE DEARLERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. …
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ON JULY 7, 2003 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE BATTERY DISCHARGE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD NO STEERING CAPABILITY. I WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT SIXTY MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE. I ALMOST HIT THE MEDIAN DIVIDER BEFORE I COULD STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED THE DEARLERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED IN, THEY DIDN'T EVEN OFFER TO HAVE IT TOWED. INCIDENTALLY THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 1100 MILES ON IT AND I HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE VEHICLE ABOUT ONE WEEK BEFORE THE ABOVE HAPPENED. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS AND I WENT TO GET MY RAV4 AND ASKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THE DRIVE BELT PULLEYS HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED ON MY NEW RAV4 AND THAT CAUSED THE DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF OF THE PULLEYS AND BROKE THE TENSIONER AND THE HOUSING GUIDE. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND THE NEXT MORNING, THE NEW RAV4 WOULD NOT START. I JUMPED SRTARTED THE RAV4 FROM MY WIFES VEHICLE AND LET IT RUN FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THINKING THAT THE BATTERY JUST NEEDED A CHARGE. MY WIFE WAS GOING TO USE THE NEEW RAV4 VEHICLE THAT DAY TO SHOP. SHE CALLED ME ABOUT MID-MORNING AND INFORMED ME THAT THE NEW RAV4 VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AS SHE HAD GONE TO THE MALL. THAT EVENING MY WIFE AND I WENT TO THE MALL AND JUM STARTED THE VEHICLE AGIN AND I FINALLY GOT IT HOME AND IT IS NOW IN MY GARAGE, IT JUST WILL NOT START. I CALLED AND TALAKED TO THE SERVICE DIRECTOR ABOUT ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I WAS HAVING WITH MY NEW RAV4 SUV. HE EQUATED MY BREAK-DOWNS TO GOING TO THE STORE AND BUYING A BOX OF FOUR LIGHT BULBS AND TAKING THE LIGHT BULBS HOME AND PUTTING A NEW LIGHT BULB IN A LAMP THAT HAD A BURNED OUT LIGHT BULB AND WHEN THE LAMP IS TURNED ON THEN THE NEW LIGHT BULB BURNS OUT. THIS REALLY MADE ME ANGRY. I TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS BIG DIFFERENCE IN A FIFTY CENT LIGHT BULB AND A $25,000.00 NEW VEHICLE WITH ONLY 1100 MILES ON IT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10028517