on a nice clear spring day in california, driving on the 101 freeway my 2017 toyota rav4 xle sun roof just Exploded..no trucks around me...and no overpasses...it just exploded outwards i belive....no warning .....could have very easily cause a serrious accident/injury...some glass dropped on driver/passanger...dome rolloed of…
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on a nice clear spring day in california, driving on the 101 freeway my 2017 toyota rav4 xle sun roof just Exploded..no trucks around me...and no overpasses...it just exploded outwards i belive....no warning .....could have very easily cause a serrious accident/injury...some glass dropped on driver/passanger...dome rolloed off top of the car.
NHTSA ODI #11457210
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2021
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper
WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ALL FRONT HEADLAMPS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY LEAVING ME IN THE DARK. DEALER NEXT DAY FOUND BOTH FRONT HEADLAMP BULBS HAD BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAM FILAMENTS BURNED OUT! THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT BUT FOR MY FOG LIGHTS. HOW CAN ANYONE FEEL SAFE IN A VEHICLE IN WHICH ALL LIGHTS MIGHT FAIL WH…
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WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ALL FRONT HEADLAMPS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY LEAVING ME IN THE DARK. DEALER NEXT DAY FOUND BOTH FRONT HEADLAMP BULBS HAD BOTH LOW AND HIGH BEAM FILAMENTS BURNED OUT! THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT BUT FOR MY FOG LIGHTS. HOW CAN ANYONE FEEL SAFE IN A VEHICLE IN WHICH ALL LIGHTS MIGHT FAIL WHILE DRIVING UNLIT CURVY ROADWAYS?
NHTSA ODI #11432373
24,000 miles · Nov 23, 2020
Visibility/wiper
2017 TOYOTA RAV4 LE ISSUES. THERE IS QUITE A LOT OF ROAD NOISE ESPECIALLY DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE COULD BE INSULATED BETTER. THE PRIMARY ISSUE IS WITH THE WIPERS. THE SPEED SETTINGS ARE NOT REFINED ENOUGH. THE SETTING CAUSE THE WIPERS TO EITHER BE TOO FAST OR SLOW DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF RAIN EXPERIENCE. ALSO, I HA…
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2017 TOYOTA RAV4 LE ISSUES. THERE IS QUITE A LOT OF ROAD NOISE ESPECIALLY DURING HIGHWAY TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE COULD BE INSULATED BETTER. THE PRIMARY ISSUE IS WITH THE WIPERS. THE SPEED SETTINGS ARE NOT REFINED ENOUGH. THE SETTING CAUSE THE WIPERS TO EITHER BE TOO FAST OR SLOW DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF RAIN EXPERIENCE. ALSO, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WIPERS THAT DO NOT CAUSE THE ANNOYING LOUD STUTTER/RUBBNG NOISE. I HAVE TRIED ALL THE DIFFERENT TOP OF THE LINE BRANDS WITH NO SUCCESS. RAINX, MICHELIN, BOSCH, AND TRICO.
NHTSA ODI #11376034
23,600 miles · Jan 13, 2020
Visibility/wiper
BOTH IN MOTION/STATIONARY. WINDSHIELD AND RT. FRONT DOOR GLASS SHOW SIGNS OF DELIMITATION AS SEEN BY LOCAL GLASS REPAIR AND TINTING COMPANIES. BOTH BELIEVE THE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT WILL BECOME WORSE AS THE POLYVINYLBUTARETE GLUE SECTIONS BECOME CONNECTED IN A GROWING "SPIDER WEB" ARRAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE GLASS. ANY SUNLIGHT AT A 30 …
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BOTH IN MOTION/STATIONARY. WINDSHIELD AND RT. FRONT DOOR GLASS SHOW SIGNS OF DELIMITATION AS SEEN BY LOCAL GLASS REPAIR AND TINTING COMPANIES. BOTH BELIEVE THE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT WILL BECOME WORSE AS THE POLYVINYLBUTARETE GLUE SECTIONS BECOME CONNECTED IN A GROWING "SPIDER WEB" ARRAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE GLASS. ANY SUNLIGHT AT A 30 DEGREE ANGLE TO SOUTH TRAVEL CAUSES CONFUSION AS THE PHOTONS HIT THE GLUE AND REFLECT THE LIGHT. LOCAL GLASS TECH CALLS THESE "STARS".
NHTSA ODI #11299082
77,000 miles · Sep 5, 2019
Visibility/wiper
WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THEN, I COULD HEAR WIND THROUGH THE INSIDE COVER. THERE ARE PIECES OF BROKEN GLASS ABOVE THE INSIDE COVER. I HAD THE INSIDE COVER CLOSED WHILE DRIVING, SO THE GLASS DID NOT ENTER THE CABIN. REVIEW OF MY DASH CAM FOOTAGE DID NOT SHOW ANY VISIBLE DEBRIS OR ROCK…
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WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THEN, I COULD HEAR WIND THROUGH THE INSIDE COVER. THERE ARE PIECES OF BROKEN GLASS ABOVE THE INSIDE COVER. I HAD THE INSIDE COVER CLOSED WHILE DRIVING, SO THE GLASS DID NOT ENTER THE CABIN. REVIEW OF MY DASH CAM FOOTAGE DID NOT SHOW ANY VISIBLE DEBRIS OR ROCKS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT. IT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION AND NOT A CRACK.
NHTSA ODI #11253450
44,329 miles · Mar 28, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiperCrash
I HAD TO VISIT TOYOTA BECAUSE MY RADIO WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF, WHEN I PARK. EVEN AFTER VISITING TOYOTA FOR AN UPDATE, MY RADIO WILL CHANGE ON ITS OWN, NOT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL) BUT ON ITS OWN.SO IT IS NOT FIXED. WIPERS WILL TURN ON THEN STOP. THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEVICE BEHIND THE DASH THAT I CAN HEAR CLICKING ON AND OFF WELL …
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I HAD TO VISIT TOYOTA BECAUSE MY RADIO WILL TURN ON BY ITSELF, WHEN I PARK. EVEN AFTER VISITING TOYOTA FOR AN UPDATE, MY RADIO WILL CHANGE ON ITS OWN, NOT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL) BUT ON ITS OWN.SO IT IS NOT FIXED. WIPERS WILL TURN ON THEN STOP. THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEVICE BEHIND THE DASH THAT I CAN HEAR CLICKING ON AND OFF WELL AFTER THE IGNITION IS OFF OR WHILE THE CAR IS IDLE FOR A BIT. MY CLIMATE CONTROL CHANGES ON ITS ON EVEN THOUGH IT WORKS FINE MOST OF THE TIME. IT IS AS IF MY CAR IS RECEIVING ADDITIONAL COMMANDS FROM ANOTHER SOURCE. LAST WEEK, AT NIGHT, I WITNESSED TWO MEN STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, SOMEHOW ACTIVATING CAR ALARMS FROM RANDOM CARS. JUST YESTERDAY, NOT FAR FROM WHERE I LIVE A DRIVER "LOST CONTROL" AND RAN INTO TWO HOMES. THE DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM THE CAR, WHILE THE CAR AND THE HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THAT WAS STRANGE TO HEAR ABOUT. IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE FOR MY CAR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO. THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI #11192165
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2017
Visibility/wiper
THIS IS A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT THE SEALS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE DOOR WINDOW GUIDES ARE NOT EFFECTIVE. WHEN THE OUTSIDE WINDOWS ARE FOGGY OR WET, THE BUILT-IN SQUEEGEE DOES NOT WIPE OFF THE WINDOW AS THEY HAVE IN EVERY OTHER CAR. THIS CREATES A HAZARD AS YOU CANNOT SEE TO CHANGE LANES OR BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I REPORTED T…
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THIS IS A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT THE SEALS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE DOOR WINDOW GUIDES ARE NOT EFFECTIVE. WHEN THE OUTSIDE WINDOWS ARE FOGGY OR WET, THE BUILT-IN SQUEEGEE DOES NOT WIPE OFF THE WINDOW AS THEY HAVE IN EVERY OTHER CAR. THIS CREATES A HAZARD AS YOU CANNOT SEE TO CHANGE LANES OR BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I REPORTED THIS TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THE REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS THANK YOU
NHTSA ODI #11053387
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
350 miles · Aug 21, 2017
Visibility/wiper
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD DARKENED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY SENSE, WHICH DARKENED THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT TO PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM THE GLARE OF ONCOMING HEADL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD DARKENED AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY SENSE, WHICH DARKENED THE WINDSHIELD AT NIGHT TO PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM THE GLARE OF ONCOMING HEADLIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED (PIERCEY TOYOTA IN MILPITIS, CA) WHERE THE SALES MANAGER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 350.
NHTSA ODI #11018704
75 miles · Aug 18, 2017
Visibility/wiper
MY 2017 RAV4 IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE CAR IS A LEASE AND WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I GOT IT. IT HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES, WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING. WHEN I HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT THEY SEEM TO CAP OFF. THIS ALLOWS ME TO ONLY SEE THROUGH THE BOTTOM HALF OF MY WINDSHIELD. THE UPPER HALF GOES PITCH BLACK. IT IS EXTREMELY…
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MY 2017 RAV4 IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE CAR IS A LEASE AND WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I GOT IT. IT HAD LESS THAN 100 MILES, WHEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING. WHEN I HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT THEY SEEM TO CAP OFF. THIS ALLOWS ME TO ONLY SEE THROUGH THE BOTTOM HALF OF MY WINDSHIELD. THE UPPER HALF GOES PITCH BLACK. IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE BECAUSE IT IMPAIRS MY VISION. THIS IS A REOCCURRING EVENT AND HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. IT STARTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2016, AND I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF HOW DANGEROUS IT IS.
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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