Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
360–25K
2025–50K
2050–75K
1075–100K
11100–150K
10150K+
107 reports with mileage · 90 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports25 fire reports16 injury reports
What owners actually said
197 reports
34,000 miles · Sep 11, 2016
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 RAV4 NEAR DOWNTOWN TAMPA ON ADAMO DRIVE AND WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN, AND SUDDENLY I HEARD SOME KIND OF NOISE AND FELT LIKE MY VEHICLE WENT DEAD WITHOUT ANY ELECTRICAL POWER AND IT STARTED REVERSING ON IT'S OWN AND SPUN TO RIGHT. FORTUNATELY SINCE I WAS TAKING A TURN I WAS HARDY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT …
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RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 RAV4 NEAR DOWNTOWN TAMPA ON ADAMO DRIVE AND WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN, AND SUDDENLY I HEARD SOME KIND OF NOISE AND FELT LIKE MY VEHICLE WENT DEAD WITHOUT ANY ELECTRICAL POWER AND IT STARTED REVERSING ON IT'S OWN AND SPUN TO RIGHT. FORTUNATELY SINCE I WAS TAKING A TURN I WAS HARDY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 10 MPH AND HENCE MY FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR & HEAD LIGHT ETC. GOT DAMAGED AND THERE WAS A VERY MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FENDER ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BEHIND OUR RAV4. FOR THE SAME REASON NONE OF US - EITHER MYSELF, MY FRONT CO-PASSENGER OR THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BEHIND OUR RAV4 WERE PHYSICALLY HURT AND WERE VERY SAFE AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BEHIND OUR RAV4 INFORMED THAT HE HEARD A KIND OF STRANGE SOUND AND SAW OUR RAV4 REVERSING & TURNING RIGHT, AND HE MOVED AWAY INTO THE RIGHT LANE. THE POLICE OFFICER, WHO HAS COME ALSO INFORMED THAT SHE HAS COME ACROSS THIS KIND OF INCIDENTS WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES RECENTLY, AND DID NOT GIVE ME CITATION AFTER REVIEWING MY INCIDENT FREE DRIVING RECORD AND ALSO SHE COULD NOT FIND REASON FOR THIS FREAK INCIDENT WHICH LOOKS MORE LIKE A MECHANICAL DEFECT OF MY RAV4, AND ADVISED TO TAKE TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION & RESOLUTION. ON FURTHER RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS RECALL - "ELECTRICAL POWER ASSIST SYSTEM" (EPS) FOR 2014 RAV4 WHICH WAS IDENTIFIED & DOCUMENTED BY TOYOTA ON 03/13/2015 BUT WAS NOT NOTIFIED TO THE CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA COMPANY, COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, INFORMED THE RECALL AND WE ARE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, COMPUTER DATA ANALYSIS FROM OUR RAV4. I AM HEREWITH ATTACHING THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE RECALL. I AM VERY MUCH WORRIED & CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, SINCE IT IS OF VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE REVIEW AND REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10905635
Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2016
StructureInjury
RAV4 2014 BACK SEAT PASSENGER DOORS HAVE SHARP EDGES AND HAVE HIT MY 2.5 YRS OLD DAUGHTER MANY TIMES. IT IS A DANGEROUS EDGE AND IT COMES AT THE HEIGHT OF 2.5 TO 3 YEAR OLDS WHEN THEY TRY TO GET IN THE BACK SEAT. I HAVE TO BE ALWAYS LOOKING AFTER IT TO BE CAUTIOUS. IT COULD LEAD TO A DANGEROUS EVENT IF NOT PREVENTED. TOYOTA SHOU…
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RAV4 2014 BACK SEAT PASSENGER DOORS HAVE SHARP EDGES AND HAVE HIT MY 2.5 YRS OLD DAUGHTER MANY TIMES. IT IS A DANGEROUS EDGE AND IT COMES AT THE HEIGHT OF 2.5 TO 3 YEAR OLDS WHEN THEY TRY TO GET IN THE BACK SEAT. I HAVE TO BE ALWAYS LOOKING AFTER IT TO BE CAUTIOUS. IT COULD LEAD TO A DANGEROUS EVENT IF NOT PREVENTED. TOYOTA SHOULD PROVIDE GUARD TO COVER THOSE SHARP EDGES AS IT IS A FAMILY VEHICLE AND SAFETY SHOULD BE TOP PRIORITY. EVEN FOR ADULTS IT CAN CAUSE SHARP CUT WHICH WOULD BE A CASUALTY IF NOT PREVENTED. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK INTO THIS. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THIS THANKS
NHTSA ODI #10881642
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2016
VisibilityInjury
I WAS DRIVING ON I-82 BETWEEN SELAH AND YAKIMA AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE WIND WAS BLOWING FAIRLY AGGRESSIVELY OUTSIDE THAT DAY AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ROUGHLY 70 - 75 DEGREES. WHILE DRIVING MY SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. NO ROCK HIT THE CAR AND I WAS NOT DRIVING UNDER AN UNDERPASS WHERE ANYONE COULD HAVE THROWN S…
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I WAS DRIVING ON I-82 BETWEEN SELAH AND YAKIMA AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE WIND WAS BLOWING FAIRLY AGGRESSIVELY OUTSIDE THAT DAY AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ROUGHLY 70 - 75 DEGREES. WHILE DRIVING MY SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. NO ROCK HIT THE CAR AND I WAS NOT DRIVING UNDER AN UNDERPASS WHERE ANYONE COULD HAVE THROWN SOMETHING AT MY CAR. THE SOUND WAS LIKE A GUNSHOT. I SINCERELY THOUGHT I HAD BEEN SHOT AT. GLASS FLEW EVERY WHERE. MY SUNROOF VISOR WAS OPEN SO THE SHARDS RAINED DOWN INTO MY CAR AND ALL OVER ME. I HAD GLASS DOWN MY NECK, IN MY HAIR, AND EVEN FOUND A PIECE ON MY EYELID WHEN I RUBBED MY EYE AND CUT MY EYELID AND THE SKIN NEAR MY INNER EYE. THERE WAS NOTHING I WAS AWARE OF THAT OCCURRED ON THE ROAD THAT DAY THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE SUNROOF TO BREAK. BUT IT BLEW OUT WITH EXTREME FORCE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10861920
Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP THE SUDDENLY STOPS ACCELERATION CAUSING A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, BACK TO DEALER TWICE WITH NO RESOLUTION, WILL BE TAKING IT BACK TO DEALER AGAIN , AFTER 6 TOYOTAS IF THIS CAN'T BE RESOLVED IT WILL BE TRADED FOR ANOTHER MFG. VERY DISAPPOINTED …
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WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP THE SUDDENLY STOPS ACCELERATION CAUSING A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, BACK TO DEALER TWICE WITH NO RESOLUTION, WILL BE TAKING IT BACK TO DEALER AGAIN , AFTER 6 TOYOTAS IF THIS CAN'T BE RESOLVED IT WILL BE TRADED FOR ANOTHER MFG. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA.
NHTSA ODI #10854379
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2016
Visibility/wiper
REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING IN A TIMELY MANNER. WHAT'S THE POINT OF ALERTING OWNERS THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION ONLY TO HAVE NO CORRESPONDING SOLUTION AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER? THERE SHOULD BE A DEADLINE FOR THIS SORT OF THING.
NHTSA ODI #10854070
20,700 miles · Apr 6, 2016
Steering
AT THE FIRST TIME, I DROVE THIS CAR TO PICK MY DAUGHTER UP FROM HER SCHOOL. WHEN I WAITED FOR MY DAUGHTER,I WASN'T TURN OFF THE ENGINE, JUST STEPPED ON THE BREAK UNTIL MY DAUGHTER GOT ON ABOUT ONE MINUTE. AND THEN I RELEASED THE BREAK WANTED TO MOVE ON. I COULDN'T TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR JUST MOVE STRAIGHT. I REST…
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AT THE FIRST TIME, I DROVE THIS CAR TO PICK MY DAUGHTER UP FROM HER SCHOOL. WHEN I WAITED FOR MY DAUGHTER,I WASN'T TURN OFF THE ENGINE, JUST STEPPED ON THE BREAK UNTIL MY DAUGHTER GOT ON ABOUT ONE MINUTE. AND THEN I RELEASED THE BREAK WANTED TO MOVE ON. I COULDN'T TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR JUST MOVE STRAIGHT. I RESTARTED MY CAR AGAIN AND THE CAR COULD MOVE NORMALLY. AT THE SECOND TIME, WHEN I WAS WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, MY CAR SUNDDENLY SHAKED ABOUT FOUR SECONDS AND THEN THE ENGINE OFF AUTOMATICALLY AND THE STREERING WHEEL COULDN'T TURNED TOO. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT COULD MOVE AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #10853928
5,000 miles · Feb 18, 2016
Unknown Or Other
THE ROOF RACK CROSS BARS DO NOT STAY IN PLACE WHILE BEING USED AND CAR IS IN MOTION. WE PURCHASED A ROCKYMOUNT FOR OUR BIKES THAT CONNECTS TO THE ROOF CROSSBARS AND WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE STOCK CROSS BARS MOVED BACKWARDS SO THAT OUR BIKES WERE HANGING OVER THE BACKSIDE OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10836892
Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2016
Unknown Or Other
LARGE BLACK AREA AT TOP OF WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. MAINLY ON DARK ROADS. THIS IS WHILE DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON.
NHTSA ODI #10823830
24,973 miles · Jan 31, 2016
Power Train
THIS IS REGARDING RAV4EV - ELECTRIC CAR. I HAD ~50MILES LEFT ON THE BATTERY AND YET I LOST TRACTION MIDDLE OF THE ROAD A MONTH AGO. RADIO AND ALL OTHER THINGS WERE FINE. I HAD THE DASHBOARD SAY "CHECK EV SYSTEM". I HAD TO PULL OVER AND THANKFULLY I WAS ON THE RIGHT MOST LANE WHEN IT HAPPENED. SO I CALLED SOS AND HAD TO TOW T…
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THIS IS REGARDING RAV4EV - ELECTRIC CAR. I HAD ~50MILES LEFT ON THE BATTERY AND YET I LOST TRACTION MIDDLE OF THE ROAD A MONTH AGO. RADIO AND ALL OTHER THINGS WERE FINE. I HAD THE DASHBOARD SAY "CHECK EV SYSTEM". I HAD TO PULL OVER AND THANKFULLY I WAS ON THE RIGHT MOST LANE WHEN IT HAPPENED. SO I CALLED SOS AND HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THEY REPLACED DRIVE UNIT, TRACTION MOTOR AND NEGATIVE MOTOR. WHOLE THING TOOK ALMOST GOOD 3.5 WEEKS. I GOT THE RECALL TAKEN CARE LAST AUG 2015 - SO THIS ISSUE IS AFTER THE RECALL. NOW, I DON'T HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE WITH THE VEHICLE. WHAT IF THIS THING HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY? I AM PRETTY SCARED. I HAVE ONE MORE YEAR ON THE LEASE.
NHTSA ODI #10823312
2,577 miles · Nov 30, 2015
Air BagsService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. BEFORE STARTING WORK, MY WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOWLY PARK OUR 2014 RAV4 AT LESS THAN 2 MPH IN AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE IN THE PUBLIC PARKING LOT WHERE SHE WORKS WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN REACHING A FINAL SPEED OF 21 MPH IN THE SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 SECONDS. DURING THESE 2 TO…
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UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. BEFORE STARTING WORK, MY WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOWLY PARK OUR 2014 RAV4 AT LESS THAN 2 MPH IN AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE IN THE PUBLIC PARKING LOT WHERE SHE WORKS WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN REACHING A FINAL SPEED OF 21 MPH IN THE SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 SECONDS. DURING THESE 2 TO 3 SECONDS THE VEHICLE TRAVELED A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 27 FEET FROM THE EMPTY PARKING SPACE, RUNNING OVER THE PARKING SPACE CONCRETE CURBS AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE RAV4 RIGHT AND THEN RAN INTO A TREE, WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE APPLIED THE SERVICE BRAKE TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THIS EFFORT DID NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. AFTER HITTING THE TREE MY WIFE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND PUSHED A BUTTON TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING THE TREE AT 21 MPH. WE NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF THE PROBLEMS REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, SERVICE BRAKE AND THE NON-DEPLOYED AIR BAGS. TOYOTA OPENED A CASE AND SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE RAV4. WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THEY FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE NOT DRIVING THE 2014 RAV4 DUE TO THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. VEHICLE SAFETY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,577 MILES.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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