Fuel/propulsion SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other
In at least 5 or more instances the vehicle has had unintended acceleration and thrust the car forward while I was braking and trying to come to a stop. Once it happened at a 4-way intersection and propelled my car into the middle of the intersection and I had to swerve to avoid a head-on collision with another car. I , or the…
Read full complaint
In at least 5 or more instances the vehicle has had unintended acceleration and thrust the car forward while I was braking and trying to come to a stop. Once it happened at a 4-way intersection and propelled my car into the middle of the intersection and I had to swerve to avoid a head-on collision with another car. I , or the other driver, could have been killed. In all cases the braking failed to stop the car and in fact sped it up even though the brakes were applied.
NHTSA ODI #11582671
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2021
Fuel/propulsion System
The Fuel Pump entire system failed. I have a receipt of $731.50 to have it fixed. I was stranded coming off Belt Parkway in New York City, I feared for my car as the cars came flying off of the exit ramp. The Toyota Company has sent recalls on most of their Fuel Pumps except my 2013 Toyota Rav4. All of my alerts went on immedia…
Read full complaint
The Fuel Pump entire system failed. I have a receipt of $731.50 to have it fixed. I was stranded coming off Belt Parkway in New York City, I feared for my car as the cars came flying off of the exit ramp. The Toyota Company has sent recalls on most of their Fuel Pumps except my 2013 Toyota Rav4. All of my alerts went on immediately but then the car just stopped and I managed to coast to the off the ramp. There were no warnings but when I looked up Toyota Recalls the main problem is their Fuel Pump Injectors in most of their cars and I had no knowledge of this.
NHTSA ODI #11427495
5,800 miles · Oct 29, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System
GIVE HIGHT STARTING
NHTSA ODI #11367105
42,000 miles · Sep 26, 2020
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
DRIVING MY 2013 TOYOTA RAV4EV WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH. LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THERE WAS A MESSAGE IN THE DISPLAY OF "CHECK EV SYSTEM. HAVE YOUR VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY"
NHTSA ODI #11361268
19,000 miles · Jun 1, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
NHTSA ODI #10722628
5,000 miles · Feb 8, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
ON RARE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING, I WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER. IT'S AS IF SOMEONE HAS SUDDENLY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY TO REGAIN POWER IS TO TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN PUSH DOWN AGAIN TO REGAIN SPEED. IT CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME ON FLAT ROADS, …
Read full complaint
ON RARE OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING, I WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER. IT'S AS IF SOMEONE HAS SUDDENLY TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY TO REGAIN POWER IS TO TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN PUSH DOWN AGAIN TO REGAIN SPEED. IT CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME ON FLAT ROADS, HILLS, SNOW OR RAIN COVERED, THERE SEEMS TO BE NO REASON FOR THIS. THE TOYOTA DEALER SAYS HE CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM UNLESS I CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM FOR HIM SO HE CAN SEE FOR HIMSELF WHAT IS HAPPENING & THEN SOLVE THE PROBLEM. BUT I CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM! IT'S TOTALLY RANDOM. THIS PUTS ME LITERALLY ON PINS & NEEDLES WHEN I DRIVE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM PASSING A CAR AND SUDDENLY I LOSE POWER? I HAVE 20000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND LOSS OF POWER HAS OCCURED MAYBE 20 TIMES. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND DANGEROUS. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10682011
10,000 miles · Jan 1, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System
WHILE BACKING UP, VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE DOING MUCH DAMAGE. WIFE DRIVING MANY YEARS, NEVER HITTING ACCELERATOR WHEN SHE MEANT TO HIT THE BRAKES. DO NOT KNOW WHY RAPID ACCELERATION OCCURRED. HAS NOT HAPPENED MOVING FORWARD. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10669489
120 miles · Sep 17, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System
I LEASED A RAV4EV. WENT TO PICK IT UP ON THURSDAY (8/8/13) AND IT WOULDN'T START-- CHECK EV SYSTEM, ETC. DEALER GAVE ME A LOANER, IT SPENT THE DAY IN THE SERVICE DEPT, AND THEY WOUND UP UPDATING THE SOFTWARE & IT APPARENTLY WAS OK. BROUGHT THE CAR HOME ON FRIDAY. ON SUNDAY, 8/11/13, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS D…
Read full complaint
I LEASED A RAV4EV. WENT TO PICK IT UP ON THURSDAY (8/8/13) AND IT WOULDN'T START-- CHECK EV SYSTEM, ETC. DEALER GAVE ME A LOANER, IT SPENT THE DAY IN THE SERVICE DEPT, AND THEY WOUND UP UPDATING THE SOFTWARE & IT APPARENTLY WAS OK. BROUGHT THE CAR HOME ON FRIDAY. ON SUNDAY, 8/11/13, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TURNED OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY-- ENGINE STOPPED, POWER STEERING STOPPED, AND I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO NEGOTIATE ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND GET OFF OF THE ROAD. CHECK EV SYSTEM MESSAGE ON SCREEN, BATTERY IS STILL HALF FULL. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, 120 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PROPULSION SYSTEM AND THE GATEWAY ECU WERE FAULTY. I DECIDED NOT TO KEEP THAT CAR AND LEASED ANOTHER RAV4 EV. VERY SCARY! *TR
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.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Trailer Hitches
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Exterior Lighting
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
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
1
PE21005 · 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.
Illustration