NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
75 reportsClear category filter72,000 miles · Dec 12, 2017
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED AND HORSESHOE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT QUICKLY CUT OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FAILURE RECURRED. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED AND HORSESHOE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT QUICKLY CUT OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
NHTSA ODI #11054241
36,000 miles · Aug 11, 2017
Electrical SystemStructure
LA PINTURA DE LA GUAGUA SE ESTA SALIENDO. LAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS TIENEN PROBLEMAS CUANDO QUIERES ABRIR O CERRAR LAS MISMAS CON EL LLAVERO. SE LE DAO A AMBAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS EL MOTOR O LO QUE LE LLAMAN "ACTUATOR" A UNA SEMANA DE DIFERENCIA Y CUANDO INTENTO ABRIR LA PUERTA DESDE ADENTRO PARA BAJARME SE QUEDA CERRADA Y NO ME PE…
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LA PINTURA DE LA GUAGUA SE ESTA SALIENDO. LAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS TIENEN PROBLEMAS CUANDO QUIERES ABRIR O CERRAR LAS MISMAS CON EL LLAVERO. SE LE DAO A AMBAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS EL MOTOR O LO QUE LE LLAMAN "ACTUATOR" A UNA SEMANA DE DIFERENCIA Y CUANDO INTENTO ABRIR LA PUERTA DESDE ADENTRO PARA BAJARME SE QUEDA CERRADA Y NO ME PERMITE ABRIRLA TENGO QUE ESTAR DNDOLE LOCK/UNLOCK HASTA QUE ME DEJA QUITARLE EL SEGURO PARA PODER BAJARME DE LA GUAGUA; ESTO ASUNTO EN PARTICULAR ME PREOCUPA EN CASO DE ALGN ACCIDENTE NO PUEDA ABRIRLA. OTRO PROBLEMA QUE TIENE ES QUE CADA 3 MESES, ES QUE LAS BOMBILLAS DE "STOP" DEL LADO DERECHO SE DAA Y TENGO QUE ESTAR CAMBINDOLA. ESTO HA SUCEDIDO DESDE APROXIMADAMENTE DICIEMBRE 2015. THE PAINT IS COMING OUT. THE FRONT DOORS HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN YOU WANT TO OPEN OR CLOSE THEM WITH THE KEY RING. BOTH FRONT DOORS DAMAGED THE WHAT THEY CALL THE ACTUATOR A WEEK APART AND WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE TO GET OUT THE CAR IT IS CLOSED AND I CAN'T OPEN IT I HAVE TO BE HIT THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON UNTIL IT LETS ME REMOVE THE LOCK TO GET OFF THE CAR; THIS ISSUE IN PARTICULAR WORRIES ME BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT I WON'T BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FAST. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT HAS IS THAT EVERY 3 MONTHS, THE BULBS LIGHT FOR STOP ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS TO BE CHANGE BECAUSE IT DAMAGE AND I HAVE TO BE CHANGING IT. THIS HAS BEEN APPENING SING AROUND DECEMBER 2015.
NHTSA ODI #11014700
62,000 miles · Aug 9, 2017
Electrical System
IN MAY, 2017 THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR QUIT WORKING. I PAID OVER $600 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS WEEK, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ACTUATOR HAS QUIT. ON BOTH DOORS, THEY WILL ONLY LOCK IF I MANUALLY PUSH THE LOCK. WE HAVE HAD MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FIND OUT IT…
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IN MAY, 2017 THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR QUIT WORKING. I PAID OVER $600 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS WEEK, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ACTUATOR HAS QUIT. ON BOTH DOORS, THEY WILL ONLY LOCK IF I MANUALLY PUSH THE LOCK. WE HAVE HAD MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FIND OUT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA. NOT HAPPY! I CAN UPLOAD A PICTURE OF THE INVOICE FROM THE FIRST LOCK IF YOU NEED IT, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
NHTSA ODI #11014046
Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
SQUIRRELS CRAWLED INTO THE HOOD AND CHEWED THE BATTERY CABLE WIRE AND TURN SIGNAL WIRE, THIS HAPPENED 2 DAYS IN A ROW AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE THE FIRST TIME. THE SOY BASED COATING OF THE WIRES IS ATTRACTING A SWARM OF SQUIRRELS.
NHTSA ODI #10966663
30,000 miles · Jan 4, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineSteering
WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON. THIS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WITHIN 6 WEEKS.
NHTSA ODI #10939782
17,450 miles · Apr 20, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineStructureFire
THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. THE RAV4 LIMITED WAS TOTALED. IT WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD 17,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY TOYOTA. THE LAST SERVICE WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS NOT HONORED THEIR 3YR/36,00…
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THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. THE RAV4 LIMITED WAS TOTALED. IT WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD 17,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY TOYOTA. THE LAST SERVICE WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS NOT HONORED THEIR 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE CAR. TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED A REPLACEMENT CAR, RENTAL OR ANYTHING. EVERY TIME WE CALL OUR TOYOTA CASE MANAGER OR LEGAL DEPARTMENT MANAGERS, WE HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE AND THEY NEVER RETURN OUR CALLS.
NHTSA ODI #10860544
20,000 miles · Jan 11, 2016
Electrical SystemService Brakes
THE "POWER BRAKE ACTUATOR" WENT OUT ON MY 2013 TOYOTA RAV-4 THREE TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD COME ON. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF THE GAUGES INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND P…
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THE "POWER BRAKE ACTUATOR" WENT OUT ON MY 2013 TOYOTA RAV-4 THREE TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD COME ON. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF THE GAUGES INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING WOULD ALL STOP WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THIS WOULD MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHAT SO EVER.
NHTSA ODI #10819456
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other
MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): XXXXXXX. BOUGHT A TOYOTA CERTIFIED AT DEALERSHIP, (PUSH BUTTON) HOWEVER IN SIX OCCASIONS, CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN ON. INDICATOR LIGHT FOR STEERING WAS ON. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, AND ONCE I PULLED THE STEERING HARD THEN CAR STARTED FINE. TOOK CAR TO DEA…
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MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): XXXXXXX. BOUGHT A TOYOTA CERTIFIED AT DEALERSHIP, (PUSH BUTTON) HOWEVER IN SIX OCCASIONS, CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN ON. INDICATOR LIGHT FOR STEERING WAS ON. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, AND ONCE I PULLED THE STEERING HARD THEN CAR STARTED FINE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER TO CHECK IT, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. THE LAST TIME, THE CAR DID NOT START EVEN WITH THE TOYOTA ROAD ASSISTANCE STAFF/TOWING, WAS UNABLE TO GET IT OUT OF GARAGE, AREA WAS TOO LOW. ENDED UP LEAVING CAR AT GARAGE OVERNIGHT. NEXT DAY, I RETURNED THE CAR, DID A TRADE IN FOR NEW TOYOTA. HOWEVER, DEALER OR TOYOTA CO. DID NOT ADMIT PROBLEMS WITH CAR. BATTERY WAS FUNCTIONING FINE AS EVERYTHING ELSE WOULD TURN ON, IE, RADIO, AC ..FAN, LIGHTS.
NHTSA ODI #10807676
8,000 miles · Jun 11, 2015
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL THE GAUGES AND WARNING LAMPS FLICKERED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V143000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL THE GAUGES AND WARNING LAMPS FLICKERED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V143000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
NHTSA ODI #10724709
7,490 miles · Jan 15, 2015
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHEN MAKING A LEGAL U-TURN ON A BUSY ROAD I RAPIDLY BRAKED THE CAR (FROM 45MPH TO 2-3MPH) TO A PARTIAL STOP ROLLING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS TO A HARD LEFT. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR EXPECTING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE U-TURN AND INSTEAD THE CAR HESITATED AND SLOWED FEELING LIKE THERE WAS A MOMENTARY L…
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WHEN MAKING A LEGAL U-TURN ON A BUSY ROAD I RAPIDLY BRAKED THE CAR (FROM 45MPH TO 2-3MPH) TO A PARTIAL STOP ROLLING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS TO A HARD LEFT. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR EXPECTING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE U-TURN AND INSTEAD THE CAR HESITATED AND SLOWED FEELING LIKE THERE WAS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE ACCELERATOR WITH NO IMMEDIATE EFFECT IN ACCELERATION. APPROXIMATELY 2-3 SECONDS PASSED AS ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHED IN THE LANE I WAS DRIFTING INTO WHEN SUDDENLY ALL ACCELERATION RESUMED NORMALLY. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST ONCE. ECO MODE WAS TURNED ON AND MY RAV4 IS AN AWD MODEL. I CONSIDER IT TO BE A REPORTABLE INCIDENT SINCE THE HESITATION WAS NOT EXPECTED AND INCREASED THE PROBABILITY OF COLLISION WITH TRAFFIC IN THE DRIVING LANE I WAS TURNING INTO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10672812
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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