TOYOTA'S HEADLIGHTS ARE TERRIBLE AND MAKE IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. THEY ARE USING THE SAME 9012 BULBS USED ON THE GMC SIERRA BEFORE YOU GUYS ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE SIERRA'S HEADLIGHTS. SEE THIS FOR REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.GMCPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/TERRIBLE-HEADLIGHTS/ I REALLY THINK TOYOTA SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO FIX THI…
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TOYOTA'S HEADLIGHTS ARE TERRIBLE AND MAKE IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. THEY ARE USING THE SAME 9012 BULBS USED ON THE GMC SIERRA BEFORE YOU GUYS ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE SIERRA'S HEADLIGHTS. SEE THIS FOR REFERENCE: HTTP://WWW.GMCPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/TERRIBLE-HEADLIGHTS/ I REALLY THINK TOYOTA SHOULD DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS. ON RURAL ROADS WITH ANIMALS LIKE DEER I FEEL ITS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA ODI #11092396
5,333 miles · Mar 30, 2018
Exterior Lighting
THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTO HIGH BEAMS. WHICH DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. ON MONDAY, MARCH 26,2017, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING. SHE HAD THE AUTO HIGH BEAM SETTING ON AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED FROM LOW TO HIGH AND BACK SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE SHE WAS FOLLOWING A CAR. THE SENSORS DID NOT RECOGNIZE THERE WAS A C…
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THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTO HIGH BEAMS. WHICH DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. ON MONDAY, MARCH 26,2017, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING. SHE HAD THE AUTO HIGH BEAM SETTING ON AND THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHED FROM LOW TO HIGH AND BACK SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE SHE WAS FOLLOWING A CAR. THE SENSORS DID NOT RECOGNIZE THERE WAS A CAR IN FRONT OF HER. AT OTHER TIMES, WHILE DRIVING WITH THE AUTO SELECTION ON THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH JUST VANISHES AND WILL NOT RESET UNLESS YOU MANUALLY TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS, THEN TURN THEM BACK TO AUTO. THIS WAS ONE OF THE SELLING POINTS OF THE CAR THAT TOYOTA ADVERTISES, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK AS IT SHOULD. UNFORTUNATELY IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THIS MAY CAUSE A ROAD RAGE INCIDENT, IF THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE GETS AGITATED. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATE, BUT I FEEL AS IF THIS WAS A WASTE OF MY TIME. THE DEALERSHIP THINKS THE SETTING IS TOO SENSITIVE, BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY. SO BASICALLY I WAS TOLD DON'T USE IT. IT WAS SET WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AND THE AUTO INDICATOR JUST VANISHED FROM THE DASH.
NHTSA ODI #11082198
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2018
Exterior LightingSeat Belts
THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHES IN THE CABIN , BUT IT IS QUIET,AND I CAN NOT HEAR IT. THE DEALER SAID 2 TIMES THAT IT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED , CASE CLOSED.. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXP.CENTER , CASE # [XXX] AND [XXX] AND TALKED TO [XXX] . THE CASE MANAGER 1-800-331-4331 AND HE SAID THE DEALERS SERVICE TECH.IS RIGHT CASE IS CLOSED.I BE…
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THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHES IN THE CABIN , BUT IT IS QUIET,AND I CAN NOT HEAR IT. THE DEALER SAID 2 TIMES THAT IT CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED , CASE CLOSED.. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXP.CENTER , CASE # [XXX] AND [XXX] AND TALKED TO [XXX] . THE CASE MANAGER 1-800-331-4331 AND HE SAID THE DEALERS SERVICE TECH.IS RIGHT CASE IS CLOSED.I BELIEVE A SAFETY ISSUE EXISTS HERE... I HAVE ELECTRIC SEATS AND THE SEAT BELT RECEIVER IS LOW IN THE CREVICE IN THE CORNER MAKING TIME TO BUCKLE UP VERY ,VERY HARD IN THE WINTER.AGAIN TOYOTA CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED,CASE CLOSED.MY WEIGHT IS 158 LBS. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11075808
9,000 miles · Jan 27, 2018
Exterior Lighting
REVERSE LIGHTS ARE 2'X2' TRIANGLE LIGHTS AT THE BOTTOM OF CAR. MOST REVERSE LIGHTS ARE TOWARDS MIDDLE OF PANEL WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS. NOT VISIBLE TO SOMEONE ELSE POSSIBLE REVERSING AT SAME TIME AND CAN'T SEE BOTTOM OF MY CAR. 2014 MODEL HAD THEM IN MIDDLE. NOT SURE OF 2016 OR 2016 BUT MY 17 AND CURRENT 2018 HAS REVERSE LIGHTS…
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REVERSE LIGHTS ARE 2'X2' TRIANGLE LIGHTS AT THE BOTTOM OF CAR. MOST REVERSE LIGHTS ARE TOWARDS MIDDLE OF PANEL WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS. NOT VISIBLE TO SOMEONE ELSE POSSIBLE REVERSING AT SAME TIME AND CAN'T SEE BOTTOM OF MY CAR. 2014 MODEL HAD THEM IN MIDDLE. NOT SURE OF 2016 OR 2016 BUT MY 17 AND CURRENT 2018 HAS REVERSE LIGHTS AT BOTTOM. SAFETY ISSUE IF PEOPLE CAN'T NOTICE YOUR REVERSE LIGHTS.
NHTSA ODI #11065361
10 miles · Nov 25, 2017
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, FORM A LINE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD UNLESS HIGH BEAMS ARE ACTIVATED. YOU CANNOT SEE STOP OR STREET SIGNS. UNLESS YOU KNOW THERE IS A STOP SIGN OR ROAD ENTRANCE YOU CANNOT SEE THEM WHEN USING THE LOW BEAMS. 2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT BEING …
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HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, FORM A LINE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD UNLESS HIGH BEAMS ARE ACTIVATED. YOU CANNOT SEE STOP OR STREET SIGNS. UNLESS YOU KNOW THERE IS A STOP SIGN OR ROAD ENTRANCE YOU CANNOT SEE THEM WHEN USING THE LOW BEAMS. 2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. VERY DANGEROUS. I AM NOW LEERY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #11048415
225 miles · Nov 5, 2017
Exterior Lighting
OUTPUT FROM THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS TERRIBLE. LOW BEAMS ARE SO DIM THAT IT'S OFTEN TIMES HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE PEDESTRIANS AND ANIMALS. THIS IS UNSAFE I BELIEVE. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE BULBS JUST LIKE GMC DID HTTP://WWW.GMCPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/TERRIBLE-HEADLIGHTS/ IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE LATERALLY…
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OUTPUT FROM THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS TERRIBLE. LOW BEAMS ARE SO DIM THAT IT'S OFTEN TIMES HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE PEDESTRIANS AND ANIMALS. THIS IS UNSAFE I BELIEVE. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE BULBS JUST LIKE GMC DID HTTP://WWW.GMCPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/TERRIBLE-HEADLIGHTS/ IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE LATERALLY AT NIGHT WITH JUST THE LOW BEAMS ON.
NHTSA ODI #11043357
1,400 miles · Oct 21, 2017
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper
ROAD VISIBILITY AT NIGHT USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. WHEN LOW BEAMS ARE USED AT NIGHT THERE IS A DEFINE DARK PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT CENTER (HORIZONALLY) THE AREA BELOW THE LINE IS LIT BUT THE AREA ABOVE IS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE IS LESS THAN 300 FT AND REDUCES DOWN TO 50 75 FT WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. EV…
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ROAD VISIBILITY AT NIGHT USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. WHEN LOW BEAMS ARE USED AT NIGHT THERE IS A DEFINE DARK PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT CENTER (HORIZONALLY) THE AREA BELOW THE LINE IS LIT BUT THE AREA ABOVE IS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE IS LESS THAN 300 FT AND REDUCES DOWN TO 50 75 FT WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. EVERY THING ABOVE THE LIT LINE IS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IS HALOGEN AND IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT USING THE HIGH BEAMS..DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS.
NHTSA ODI #11035351
500 miles · Sep 25, 2017
Exterior Lighting
THIS WINDSHIELD IS CALLED THE WINDSHIELD OF DEATH ONLINE!THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE ARC ONLY LIGHT UP PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE REFLECTION, THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD IS BLACK. IT IS ALARNMING. THE NIGHTS WERE RAISED A SLIGHT AMOUNT BY THE DEALER BUT VISIBILITY IS STILL NOT UP TO PAR-- GOING AROUND CORNERS I…
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THIS WINDSHIELD IS CALLED THE WINDSHIELD OF DEATH ONLINE!THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE ARC ONLY LIGHT UP PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE REFLECTION, THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD IS BLACK. IT IS ALARNMING. THE NIGHTS WERE RAISED A SLIGHT AMOUNT BY THE DEALER BUT VISIBILITY IS STILL NOT UP TO PAR-- GOING AROUND CORNERS IS DANGEROUS. IT SEEMS TAT THE HALOGEN BULBS DO NOT GIVE ENOUGH LIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #11025381
300 miles · Aug 22, 2017
Exterior Lighting
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 LE. THE FIRST TIME WE DROVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT WE WERE SHOCKED THAT, WHEN USING LOW OR HIGH BEAMS, A DARK AREA APPEARED ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING OUR VISION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND FEEL SAFE. WHEN YOU GO UP AND DOWN SMALL HILLS, THE DARKNESS MOVES UP AND …
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WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 LE. THE FIRST TIME WE DROVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT WE WERE SHOCKED THAT, WHEN USING LOW OR HIGH BEAMS, A DARK AREA APPEARED ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING OUR VISION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND FEEL SAFE. WHEN YOU GO UP AND DOWN SMALL HILLS, THE DARKNESS MOVES UP AND DOWN AS WELL, AND IS VERY ANNOYING. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THIS WAS THE WAY THE CAR WAS MADE. THEY WOULD DO NOTHING AND,IN FACT, TOLD US THAT THEY DIDN'T OWN THE CAR ANYMORE AND THAT WE SHOULD COMPLAIN TO TOYOTA; THAT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINED PERHAPS THEY WOULD HAVE A RECALL. FRANKLY, WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #11018788
6,000 miles · Jun 20, 2017
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHTING TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD. IN ADDITION, THE AUTO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENT IN ILLUMINATING THE ROAD AHEAD. HOSELTON TOYOTA OF EAST ROCHESTER, …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHTING TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD. IN ADDITION, THE AUTO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENT IN ILLUMINATING THE ROAD AHEAD. HOSELTON TOYOTA OF EAST ROCHESTER, NEW YORK WAS CONTACTED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO GET USED TO THE WAY THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATED. THE DEALER'S REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND TECHNICIAN WERE CONTACTED A SECOND TIME AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY. HOSELTON TOYOTA WARNED THAT ANY MORE ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BLIND ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
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 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
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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