NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
257 reports28,643 miles · May 24, 2016
Service Brakes
WHILE I WAS STOPPING IN FRONT OF A RED LIGHT, AND MY FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE, I PUSHED THE BRAKE DOWN AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, CAR KEPT ON MOVING. I THEN USED THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, SO NO ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED ON LAST SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016, EARLY IN THE …
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WHILE I WAS STOPPING IN FRONT OF A RED LIGHT, AND MY FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE, I PUSHED THE BRAKE DOWN AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, CAR KEPT ON MOVING. I THEN USED THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, SO NO ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED ON LAST SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016, EARLY IN THE MORNING. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CAR'S BRAKE FUNCTIONS AS EXPECTED. BUT I ALWAYS HAVE A FEAR THAT IT MIGHT DO THE SAME THING SOMETIME SOMEDAY, AND I MIGHT NOT BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ACCIDENT FREE.
NHTSA ODI #10870470
20,000 miles · May 12, 2016
Unknown Or Other
THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A LOUD THUD OF SOMETHING HITTING THE ROOF OF OUR CAR, BUT WE WERE DRIVING IN AN OPEN PARK AREA WITH NOTHING OVERHEAD AND NO OTHER CARS WITHIN CLOSE DISTANCE. WE OPENED THE SUNROOF COVER AND SAW THAT IT HAD COMPLETELY CRACKED. BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME, MUCH OF THE GLASS WAS MISS…
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THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A LOUD THUD OF SOMETHING HITTING THE ROOF OF OUR CAR, BUT WE WERE DRIVING IN AN OPEN PARK AREA WITH NOTHING OVERHEAD AND NO OTHER CARS WITHIN CLOSE DISTANCE. WE OPENED THE SUNROOF COVER AND SAW THAT IT HAD COMPLETELY CRACKED. BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME, MUCH OF THE GLASS WAS MISSING.
NHTSA ODI #10864700
24,000 miles · Apr 27, 2016
Service BrakesCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH THEN CRASHED INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLES HAD MINOR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH THEN CRASHED INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLES HAD MINOR DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
NHTSA ODI #10861879
30,000 miles · Apr 27, 2016
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ABRUPTLY TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ABRUPTLY TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH REAR PADS, ROTORS, AND HARDWARE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF *TR
NHTSA ODI #10861661
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
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2016
Power Train
VIBRATION AT LOW SPEEDS .
NHTSA ODI #10853121
15,234 miles · Apr 2, 2016
Unknown Or Other
ON RARE OCCASIONS,THE PUSH BUTTON START WILL NOT TURN OFF ENGINE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. I ALSO HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
NHTSA ODI #10853073
103 miles · Mar 31, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE RAV4 CLASS ACTION WAS EVEN FILED. I OWN A RAV 4 2003 AND I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER INFORMING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE 103,000 MILES ON IT. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER ON A REGULAR BASE .RECENTLY 3/25, 2016 IT STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, AND WAS DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK IT TO MY …
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I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE RAV4 CLASS ACTION WAS EVEN FILED. I OWN A RAV 4 2003 AND I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER INFORMING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE 103,000 MILES ON IT. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER ON A REGULAR BASE .RECENTLY 3/25, 2016 IT STARTED TO RUN ROUGH, AND WAS DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK IT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD ADJUST THE ECM WHICH THEY DID AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT ANOTHER 100 MILES. WELL, I ASKED THEM WHAT HAPPENS IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AND THEY SAID THEN WE REPLACE THE ECM FOR $ 1100 DOLLARS IF THAT DOES NOT FIX IT THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $6,000 DOLLARS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. AT THE TIME I DID NOT REALIZE HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO OWNED THIS MODEL HAD THIS PROBLEM. SO I TOOK IT HOME AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT. I AM A HOME DIALYSIS NURSE AND TRAVEL QUITE FREQUENTLY TO PATIENT'S HOMES WHO DEPEND UPON ME WHEN THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR DIALYSIS TREATMENTS. WELL, NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS WORKING LATE AND COMING HOME ON A MAIN HIGHWAY PM 03/31/2016 AND IT HESITATES TO SHIFT WHEN MERGING AND SHAKES. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND BUT LUCKY IT FINALLY ENGAGED AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. I CALLED MY TOYOTA DEALER AND TOLD THEM AND THEY WENT ON TO SAY WELL WE THEN HAVE TO REPLACE THE ECM ETC. I TOLD THEM ABOUT MY SEARCH REGARDING THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND THEY PUT THE MANAGER ON THE LINE. I TOLD HIM ABOUT BY RESEARCH ETC. HE SAID HE WOULD THEN FIND PARTS FROM A DISCARDED RAV 4. NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR, WHICH WILL AFFECT THE LIVES OF MY PATIENT'S, AND HOW RELIABLE WILL IT BE IF THEY ARE GOING TO THE JUNK YARD FOR PARTS TO REPAIR IT. PLEASE HELP ME.
NHTSA ODI #10852840
7,500 miles · Mar 31, 2016
Unknown Or Other
TRIED TO PLACE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE OUT OF GARAGE AFTER STARTUP. THERE WAS UNUSUAL NOISE, GRINDING, FROM AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. PUT LEVER BACK INTO PARK AND TRIED AGAIN TO PLACE TRANSMISSJON INTO REVERSE. AND HEARD SAME NOISE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND MADE RESTART. ALL NORMAL. THIS SAME TYPE OF EVENT HAPPENED AGAIN APPROX…
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TRIED TO PLACE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE OUT OF GARAGE AFTER STARTUP. THERE WAS UNUSUAL NOISE, GRINDING, FROM AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. PUT LEVER BACK INTO PARK AND TRIED AGAIN TO PLACE TRANSMISSJON INTO REVERSE. AND HEARD SAME NOISE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND MADE RESTART. ALL NORMAL. THIS SAME TYPE OF EVENT HAPPENED AGAIN APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER IT HAS NOT, AS YET, OCCURED AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #10852789
17,000 miles · Feb 22, 2016
Engine
OUR TOYOTA 2013 RAV4 HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE GAS PEDDLE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO THE FLOOR, AND THE RPM'S WENT FROM 3-8 INSTANTLY. UPON BRAKING, THE ACCELERATOR WENT BACK TO NORMAL, BUT AS SOON AS THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY HAPPENED AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES WERE APPL…
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OUR TOYOTA 2013 RAV4 HAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE GAS PEDDLE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO THE FLOOR, AND THE RPM'S WENT FROM 3-8 INSTANTLY. UPON BRAKING, THE ACCELERATOR WENT BACK TO NORMAL, BUT AS SOON AS THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED, THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY HAPPENED AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AGAIN, AND THE CAR WAS PULLED OVER. THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF, THEN RESTARTED. AT THIS POINT THE CAR DROVE NORMAL FROM THEN ON.
NHTSA ODI #10837455
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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