NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
197 reports17,700 miles · Sep 5, 2018
Structure
WE EXPERIENCED THE CLASSICALLY DESCRIBED SUNROOF EXPLOSION (A.K.A. SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF BREAKAGE) THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LARGE OBJECT CRASHED INTO OUR 2014 TOYOTA RAV4, OR AN OR AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS. MY GIRLFRIEND IMMEDIATELY ASKED 'WAS IT A BLOW OUT', AND I RESPONDED NO BECAUSE THANKFULLY, I HAD 100% CONTROL O…
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WE EXPERIENCED THE CLASSICALLY DESCRIBED SUNROOF EXPLOSION (A.K.A. SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF BREAKAGE) THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LARGE OBJECT CRASHED INTO OUR 2014 TOYOTA RAV4, OR AN OR AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS. MY GIRLFRIEND IMMEDIATELY ASKED 'WAS IT A BLOW OUT', AND I RESPONDED NO BECAUSE THANKFULLY, I HAD 100% CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT SWERVE OR BRAKE OR FEEL ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES BUT, APPARENTLY LET OFF THE GAS AND WAS SLOWING DOWN. THEN, THE DRIVER OF A PICK-UP TRUCK OVERPASSING US ON THE RIGHT GAVE US DIRTY LOOKS AND WAVED TO US LIKE WE NEEDED TO PULL OVER. WE EXITED ON THE NEXT EXIT (S. ACADIANA THROUGHWAY). THE SUNROOF VISOR WAS THANKFULLY CLOSED, AND UPON OPENING IT UP WE NOTICED THE CONVEX CRATER-LIKE SHATTERED SUNROOF, AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT WHEREUPON WE TOO NOTICED THE EXCESSIVE NOISE DUE TO WIND CONTACTING THE OPENING. THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD, WITH A CONVEX, VOLCANO-LIKE CRATER, AND THOUSANDS OF STRESS CRACKS WITH HUNDREDS OF LITTLE GLASS SHARDS EVERYWHERE AROUND THE OPENING. THIS OCCURRED IN THE CENTER, WITH ABOUT OF THE TOTAL SUNROOF SURFACE AREA MISSING (EJECTED). THIS OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 TRAVELLING ROUGHLY 65MPH ALONG I-10 IN BATON ROUGE, LEFT-HAND LANE, WESTBOUND NEAR THE MERGER OF I-12, DURING LIGHT RAIN, NO VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME, SMOOTH SURFACES, NO CONSTRUCTION IN VICINITY, WITH NO OVERHEAD LAMPS OR OVERPASSES. WIDE OPEN DIVIDED HIGHWAY. TEMPERATURE WAS 76F, PER CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11124602
52,000 miles · Aug 13, 2018
Unknown Or Other
RADIO NAVIGATION QUIT WORKING AT 52000 MILES.ITS CONSTANTLY REBOOTING. DEALER SAYS NEED NEW RADIO WHICH WILL COST ABOUT $1200.00
NHTSA ODI #11119517
62,500 miles · Aug 10, 2018
Visibility/wiper
CONSTRUCTION ON 59/20 BROKEN WINDSHIELD
NHTSA ODI #11119277
50,000 miles · Jul 30, 2018
Visibility/wiper
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING IN MY RAV 4, I HEARD AN INCREDIBLY LOUD BOOM THAT STARTLED ME. IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH SOMEONE HAD FIRED A GUN JUST OUTSIDE MY CAR. I THEN FELT SOME GLASS SHOWERING DOWN ON ME. I QUICKLY LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF SOMEONE HAD THROWN A ROCK THROUGH A WINDOW OR SHOT AT MY CAR, BUT ALL WINDOWS WERE INTA…
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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING IN MY RAV 4, I HEARD AN INCREDIBLY LOUD BOOM THAT STARTLED ME. IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH SOMEONE HAD FIRED A GUN JUST OUTSIDE MY CAR. I THEN FELT SOME GLASS SHOWERING DOWN ON ME. I QUICKLY LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF SOMEONE HAD THROWN A ROCK THROUGH A WINDOW OR SHOT AT MY CAR, BUT ALL WINDOWS WERE INTACT. I THEN LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT MY SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND MOST OF THE GLASS WAS GONE. LOOKING IN FRONT OF MY CAR, THERE WEREN'T ANY TRUCKS FROM WHICH ROCKS MIGHT'VE FALLEN. AND LOOKING BEHIND ME, I HADN'T DRIVEN UNDER ANY BRIDGES FROM WHICH SOMETHING MIGHT'VE FALLEN OR BEEN THROWN. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT TO SEE WHAT MIGHT'VE CAUSED THE SUNROOF TO SHATTER. THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE FOUND IN MY CAR TO EXPLAIN IT (NO ROCKS OR OTHER OBJECTS THAT MIGHT'VE FALLEN INTO THE CAR). I THEN NOTICED SOMETHING STRANGE - THE GLASS THAT REMAINED ON THE SUNROOF WAS BENDING UPWARD (AWAY FROM THE CAR) AS THOUGH SOMETHING INSIDE THE CAR CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. HERE'S A VIDEO I RECORDED SHOWING THE REMAINING GLASS: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/NZE6NT829TM IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE. I'M GLAD I WASN'T HURT, AND I THANK G-D THAT MY KIDS WEREN'T IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED.
NHTSA ODI #11114603
29,000 miles · Jul 28, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFire
WHILE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 295 IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA, WE HAD JUST GOT ON TO THE BUCKMAN BRIDGE WHEN THE CAR SLOWED, UNCOMMANDED TO 20MPH. I LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE ALTERNATOR AND THE AUTO LSD OR TRACK LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE OPERATING TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. SINCE THE ENGINE TEMPERATU…
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WHILE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 295 IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA, WE HAD JUST GOT ON TO THE BUCKMAN BRIDGE WHEN THE CAR SLOWED, UNCOMMANDED TO 20MPH. I LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE ALTERNATOR AND THE AUTO LSD OR TRACK LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE OPERATING TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. SINCE THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL I TOLD MY DAUGHTER TO KEEP DRIVING TO GET OFF THE BRIDGE, I FELT AS THOUGH THE BRIDGE WAS A BAD PLACE TO PULL OVER. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE WE STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND AT THIS POINT WE DECIDED TO PULL OVER. WHEN WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THREE OF US THEN EVACUATED THE VEHICLE AND STARTED WALKING AGAINST TRAFFIC ON THE BRIDGE. AS WE WERE WALKING AWAY THE SMOKE INTENSIFIED AND THEN ERUPTED INTO FLAMES THAT EMANATED FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE JUST BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. I BELIEVE IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #11114328
50,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE CHECKED BY THE CONTACT AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE CHECKED BY THE CONTACT AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (HIXSON TOYOTA, 11981 LAKE CHARLES, LEESVILLE, LA 71446) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA ODI #11113647
63,194 miles · Jun 21, 2018
Equipment
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE NAVIGATION/INFORMATION SYSTEM SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE SCREEN TURNED A BLUE COLOR AND THE SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (PREMIER TOYOTA, 47190 COOPER FOSTER PARK RD, AMHERST, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE NAVIGATION/INFORMATION SYSTEM SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE SCREEN TURNED A BLUE COLOR AND THE SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (PREMIER TOYOTA, 47190 COOPER FOSTER PARK RD, AMHERST, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE INFORMATION/NAVIGATION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,194. *TT
NHTSA ODI #11103034
10,000 miles · Jun 14, 2018
Service Brakes
THE BRAKES ALWAYS MADE HARSH SOUNDS AT LOW SPEEDS. AND THE BREAKS WORE OUT BY 30000. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO ADVISED ME THAT MY ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #11101950
32,000 miles · Jun 14, 2018
Power Train
2013-2015 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION SHUDDER WARRANTY EXTENSION ZE5. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED UNDER THIS WARRANTY EXTENSIONAT 0 COST TOME. THIS SHOULD BE A L. IT RECALIS A KNOW DEFECT BUT THEY WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO COMPLAIN BEFORE THEY DO THE FIX. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND IT BEFORE I TOOK THE CAR IN SO THE ENTIRE…
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2013-2015 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION SHUDDER WARRANTY EXTENSION ZE5. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED UNDER THIS WARRANTY EXTENSIONAT 0 COST TOME. THIS SHOULD BE A L. IT RECALIS A KNOW DEFECT BUT THEY WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO COMPLAIN BEFORE THEY DO THE FIX. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND IT BEFORE I TOOK THE CAR IN SO THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS FREE INCLUDING A LOANER CAR. THE SPECIFIC COMPONENT(S) COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT IS/ARE AS FOLLOWS: *TORQUE CONVERTER KIT (INCLUDES TORQUE CONVERTER, GASKETS, ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION PAN MAGNETS) *UPDATED ENGINE CONTROL SOFTWARE
NHTSA ODI #11101886
Mileage unknown · May 21, 2018
Unknown Or Other
MY CAR RADIO WENT ON A LOADING SCREEN LOOP, AND NOW IS STUCK ON A LOADING SCREEN . I WENT TO DEALER TO FIX IT OR UPLOAD NEW SOFTWARE BUT THEY SAD THAT RADIO WOULD NOT TAKE. I CAN'T USE CELL HEANDS FREE
NHTSA ODI #11096988
Official recalls
4Nov 1, 2023
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.
Mar 13, 2015
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Jan 16, 2015
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.
Dec 30, 2014
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
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
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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