NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
75 reportsClear category filter60,352 miles · Nov 29, 2020
Electrical System
AFTER NOT HAVING USED THE CAR FOR A WHILE, I DECIDED TO SEE IF THINGS WERE GOOD. I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR AT ALL, SO I DECIDED TO JUMP START IT. THE CAR TURNED ON BUT THERE WAS A WARNING SAYING "PROBLEM WITH EV SYSTEM, TAKE TO DEALERSHIP". ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, I FELT THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR HAD BEEN REDUCED SIGNIFICAN…
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AFTER NOT HAVING USED THE CAR FOR A WHILE, I DECIDED TO SEE IF THINGS WERE GOOD. I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR AT ALL, SO I DECIDED TO JUMP START IT. THE CAR TURNED ON BUT THERE WAS A WARNING SAYING "PROBLEM WITH EV SYSTEM, TAKE TO DEALERSHIP". ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, I FELT THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR HAD BEEN REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY. WHEN I ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAY LEAVE YOUR CAR HERE AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I LEFT IT THERE AND START TO HEAD BACK HOME. AS I AM GOING BACK, THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTS ME AND SAYS "WE CAN'T WORK ON THIS CAR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE WHO IS EXPERIENCED WITH THIS. COME BACK AND PICK IT UP." SO I HEAD BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON THE PHONE, I MADE SURE THEY KNEW IT WAS A FULLY ELECTRIC CAR AND THEY SAID WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ANYWAYS, AS I AM DRIVING BACK HOME, THE ACCELERATION IS STILL VERY POOR. IT TAKES 30 SECONDS TO GO FROM 0 TO 40MPH. I GET A DIFFERENT WARNING SAYING "BATTERY OVERHEATED, LIMITING ENERGY SUPPLY". THERE ALSO IS THIS NASTY ROTTEN EGG TYPE SMELL AS WELL. I AM KIND OF SCARED NOW BECAUSE BATTERY POWERED CAR HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CATCH ON FIRE. SO FAR NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11376968
61,000 miles · Oct 3, 2020
Electrical SystemFire
DROVE THE CAR 8 BLOCKS ON CITY STREET TO THE FILLING STATION, WHILE TURNING INTO THE FILLING STATION FROM ACCESS ROAD THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE DASH WENT COMPLETELY BLACK JUST SHORT OF FUEL PUMP. STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED, DROVE 50 FT. TO FUEL PUMP. SHUT CAR OFF TO FILL WITH GAS. WENT INTO STATION TO PRE-PAY FOR FUEL. RET…
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DROVE THE CAR 8 BLOCKS ON CITY STREET TO THE FILLING STATION, WHILE TURNING INTO THE FILLING STATION FROM ACCESS ROAD THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE DASH WENT COMPLETELY BLACK JUST SHORT OF FUEL PUMP. STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED, DROVE 50 FT. TO FUEL PUMP. SHUT CAR OFF TO FILL WITH GAS. WENT INTO STATION TO PRE-PAY FOR FUEL. RETURNED TO THE CAR, FILLED WITH FUEL AND TRIED TO START. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR IT WAS COMPLETELY BLACK, NO ELECTRONICS AT ALL, CALLED MY WIFE TO GET A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT REMOVED FROM THE GAS STATION, THEN WENT IN TO STATION TO TELL ATTENDANT THE SITUATION. WHILE EXITING THE STORE I NOTICED SPARKS AND GLOWING EMBERS DROPPING TO THE GROUND FROM INSIDE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA. I TURNED BACK AND ASKED THE STATION ATTENDANT FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, RETURNED TO CAR, WITH 5 LB EXTINGUISHER, HOOD WOULD NOT RELEASE SO SPRAYED EXTINGUISHER UP UNDER WHEEL, AROUND HOOD CRACKS, AND BY THIS TIME THE HEAD LIGHT HAD A HOLE WHERE THE FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT, SO SPRAYED FIRE REPELLENT INTO THE HOLE. AFTER ABOUT 10 SEC EXTINGUISHER WAS EMPTY. TOLD GAS STATION ATTENDANT TO CALL FIRE DEPARTMENT AS THE VEHICLE WAS GOING UP IN FLAMES. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES.
NHTSA ODI #11362502
59,000 miles · Aug 4, 2020
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCKS WERE UNABLE TO BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF $1,800 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCKS WERE UNABLE TO BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF $1,800 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
NHTSA ODI #11343210
95,000 miles · Jul 13, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH ALL LIGHTS COMING ON ON THE DASH BOARD. IT CUTS ON WHEN YOU PUT CAR BACK IN PARK THEN TURN THE KEY, BUT STILL TURNS OFF AGAIN WHEN YOU TAKE IT PAST A CERTAIN SPEED OR WHEN STOPPING TO HARD.
NHTSA ODI #11339049
62,000 miles · Mar 9, 2020
Electrical SystemFire
I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD. AS I TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND SMOKE AND FUMES BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN. I PULLED TO THE SIDE,GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND RAISED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY. A PERSON NEARBY NOTICED THE FIRE AND CAME TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD. AS I TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND SMOKE AND FUMES BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN. I PULLED TO THE SIDE,GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND RAISED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY. A PERSON NEARBY NOTICED THE FIRE AND CAME TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED. LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE ALSO RESPONDED.
NHTSA ODI #11316999
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
I AM ENTERING A SAFETY COMPLAINT REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY TOYOTA 2013 RAV4. TODAY, I WENT TO MY LOCAL CAR REPAIRMAN TO FIX A HEADLIGHT THAT BLEW OUT. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN 6 MONTHS. IN SEPTEMBER, WE HAD TO COMPLETELY CHANGE BOTH HEADLIGHTS BECAUSE PARTS IN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE MELTING. YET, LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER, MY PA…
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I AM ENTERING A SAFETY COMPLAINT REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY TOYOTA 2013 RAV4. TODAY, I WENT TO MY LOCAL CAR REPAIRMAN TO FIX A HEADLIGHT THAT BLEW OUT. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN 6 MONTHS. IN SEPTEMBER, WE HAD TO COMPLETELY CHANGE BOTH HEADLIGHTS BECAUSE PARTS IN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE MELTING. YET, LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER, MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BLEW OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS SOMETHING SYSTEMATICALLY WRONG WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. ACCORDING TO MY CAR MECHANIC, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BURN OUT. THIS CREATES HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR ME AND MY PASSENGERS.
NHTSA ODI #11309649
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2019
Electrical System
2013 RAV4 LIMITED W/ 63,000 MILES. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT WITH SMART KEY PUSH BUTTON START. FOR TWO YEARS THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A INTERMITTENT IGNITION FAILURE. SCENARIO: CAR IS UNLOCKED, KEY FOB IS RECOGNIZED, FOOT ON BRAKE, PUSH START AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE ANTI-THEFT COLUMN LOCK WILL NOT RELEASE AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND TO …
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2013 RAV4 LIMITED W/ 63,000 MILES. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT WITH SMART KEY PUSH BUTTON START. FOR TWO YEARS THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A INTERMITTENT IGNITION FAILURE. SCENARIO: CAR IS UNLOCKED, KEY FOB IS RECOGNIZED, FOOT ON BRAKE, PUSH START AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE ANTI-THEFT COLUMN LOCK WILL NOT RELEASE AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND TO ITS START COMMAND. THEN IT WILL. THERE IS NO CONSISTENT PATTERN TO WHEN IT WILL FAIL OR WHEN IT WILL "FIX" ITSELF. RECENTLY IT HAS REACHED A LEVEL OF FAILURE THAT ITS TOO RISKY TO TAKE ANY PLACE AND EXPECT TO START AND GET HOME SAFELY. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF DEALER SERVICE 12 PLUS DAYS IN THE LAST 30. DEALER HAS EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE AND HAS DONE EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS, CONCLUSION IS, ITS NORMAL. I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IN 2013 AND WHAT TOYOTA HAS PROVEN IS THEY ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO REPAIR. I NOW RESORT TO DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY BEFORE PUTTING CAR IN PARK OR CLOSING THE DOORS SO THE ANTI THEFT WON'T LOCK. DOORS AND STEERING WHEEL WON'T LOCK SO WHEN I RECONNECT THE BATTERY IT WILL START. IT HOWEVER RUNS REALLY BADLY UNTIL IT RECALIBRATES. A RELATED CONCERN OF MINE IS THIS INTERMITTENT UNLOCK PROBLEM MAY SUDDENLY LOCK WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AND HAVE A CLAIM. I HAVE REPORTED TO LOCAL ATTORNEY GENERAL CLAIMING VIOLATION OF SERVICE CONTRACT. I HAVE READ ON LINE OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BUT I'VE NOT READ OF A SOLUTION. I SERVICE RECORDS, EMAILS AND RELATED CLAIMS DOCUMENTS. THIS FIRST OCCURRED IN 2017 AND HAS GROWN FROM AN ANNOYANCE TO UNACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU
NHTSA ODI #11265718
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2019
Electrical System
MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS DOORS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK STARTED FAILING ONE BY ONE. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF MY CAR AND IT WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WHEN THIS BEGAN. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN SEVERAL DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11217323
45,000 miles · Jan 26, 2019
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering
CAR WON'T START. PANEL TURNS ON BUT IT WON'T ENGAGE THE STARTER. CAN HEAR A BUZZ NOISE, LIKE A MAGNETIZED COIL GOING OFF. SHIFTER IS LOCKED. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. BRAKE IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH DOWN. ONLY WAY I CAN START THE CAR IS WITH THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE PUSHING THE START BUTTON FOR 15 SECONDS. BUT STILL THE SHIFTER IS BLOCK…
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CAR WON'T START. PANEL TURNS ON BUT IT WON'T ENGAGE THE STARTER. CAN HEAR A BUZZ NOISE, LIKE A MAGNETIZED COIL GOING OFF. SHIFTER IS LOCKED. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. BRAKE IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH DOWN. ONLY WAY I CAN START THE CAR IS WITH THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE PUSHING THE START BUTTON FOR 15 SECONDS. BUT STILL THE SHIFTER IS BLOCKED IN PARKING AND TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR I NEED TO USE THE LITTLE SWITCH UNDER THE BUTTON SIZE COVER NEXT TO THE SHIFTER. TOYOTA HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON. VEHICLE HAS 45K MILES
NHTSA ODI #11172318
Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2018
Electrical System
BOTH POWER LOCKS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE FUSES ARE FINE. IT SEEMS IT'S AN ACTUATOR ISSUE COMMON WITH TOYOTAS.
NHTSA ODI #11078792
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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