2017 Toyota RAV4

FROM THE IIHS WEBSITE: "THE TOYOTA RAV4 WAS REDESIGNED FOR THE 2013 MODEL YEAR. ALTHOUGH TOYOTA REINFORCED THE STRUCTURE IN LATER MODEL YEARS ON THE DRIVER SIDE TO IMPROVE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN SMALL OVERLAP FRONTAL CRASHES, NO SUCH CHANGES WERE MADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE." FOR THE 2013 REDESIGN, TOYOTA KNEW ENOUGH TO CORRECT THE STRUCTURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO REMEDY THE IIHS'S RATING OF POOR; HOWEVER, THIS CORRECTION WAS NOT MADE BILATERALLY AND THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL COMPROMISED. AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE RAV4, THE PASSENGER SIDE SMALL FRONT OVERLAP TEST WAS NOT BEING CONDUCTED BY IIHS, AND IT WAS NOT DISCLOSED THAT THE CHANGE WAS MADE ONLY TO THE DRIVER SIDE. THE SALES GM AT THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THAT MY CAR IS STILL SAFE AND REMAINS AN IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK. I OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM A CASE MANAGER WHO SAID THE CAR MEETS FEDERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES AND HAS A FIVE-STAR SAFETY RATING WITH NHTSA. HE CALLED THE SMALL OVERLAP FRONT CRASH TEST SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF "OVERLY AGGRESSIVE" AND "VERY SPECIALIZED." HE STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A "CHRONIC PRODUCT DEFECT" TO MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE AND THAT MY "COMPLAINT IS WITH THE PRODUCT DESIGN" THAT THERE IS "NOTHING FOR TOYOTA TO DO." IF THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF CRASH TEST WERE SO SPECIALIZED AND UNIMPORTANT TO TOYOTA, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DRIVER SIDE, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS THE ONLY SIDE BEING TESTED. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA FOR FAILING TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT BILATERALLY, IN MY OPINION, PUT ME IN A POSITION WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR UNDER FALSE PRETENSES. I CHOSE THE RAV4 BECAUSE AT THE TIME, IT RECEIVED ALL GOOD RATINGS IN THE VARIOUS CRASHES WHICH HAD BEEN CONDUCTED. THE FACT THAT TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MISREPRESENTATION IS STARTLING FOR A COMPANY THAT HAS USED SAFETY AS THE FOUNDATION FOR ITS REPUTATION.

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT CAME WITH A "TEMPORARY" SPARE TIRE AND WHEEL. I PURCHASED AN OEM 2017 RAV4 WHEEL AND TIRE THAT MATCHES THE NORMAL TIRES FOR CONVENIENCE AND ESPECIALLY SAFETY REASONS. I ALSO ATTEMPTED TO PLACE THE FULL SIZE TIRE AND WHEEL IN THE WHEEL WELL OF THE RAV4 WITH NO SUCCESS. IN SHORT, THE WHEEL WELL IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR A FULL SIZE TIRE AND PROJECTS APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR. IT ALSO CAN NOT BE SECURED TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER EVALUATING THE SITUATION, I CALLED THE TOYOTA CONSUMER DEPARTMENT AND AFTER THEY CONSULTED WITH THEIR TECHNICAL PERSONNEL, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FULL SIZE WHEEL WILL NOT FIT IN THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL! ON PAGE 644 OF THE 2017 RAV4 OWNERS MANUAL THERE IS A DIRECT REFERENCE TO A FULL SIZE WHEEL STORAGE AREA IN ADDITION ON PAGES 642 AND 645 TO A TEMPORARY TIRE USE, ETC. THE RAV4 TEMPORARY TIRE IS NOT THE SAME CIRCUMFERENCE AN FULL SIZE TIRES; THUS, THE TOYOTA CONSUMER DEPARTMENT STATED THAT DUE TO THIS SITUATION, TEMPORARY TIRES MUST NOT BE MOUNTED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IF THERE IS A FLAT TIRE ON THE FRONT OF THE RAV4, A PERSON MUST MOUNT A REAR TIRE ON THE FRONT THEN MOUNT THE TEMPORARY TIRE ON THE RELOCATED FULL SIZE TIRE ON THE REAR. THIS PROCEDURE IS VERY DANGEROUS IN THE BEST OF SITUATIONS. I PROPOSE THAT TOYOTA BE REQUIRED TO MODIFY THE SPARE TIRE WELL TO FIT FULL SIZE TIRES AND PROVIDE FULL SIZE TIRES ON THEIR VEHICLES. HONDA DOES THIS FOR THEIR CRV SMALL SUVS. SPARE WHEEL WELLS FOR THE TOYOTA CAMRYS AND COROLLAS ARE LARGE ENOUGH FOR FULL SIZE TIRES. THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING OF THE USELESS TEMPORARY TIRE ASSEMBLY HAS TO COST MORE THAN A FULL SIZE TIRE. THE NET WEIGHT BETWEEN THE TWO IS ABOUT 12 LBS. WHICH ADDS ABOUT FIVE GALLONS OF GASOLINE PER YEAR @ 15,000 MILES. THIS CONCERN WAS EXPRESSED IN THE SEPTEMBER 2018 ISSUE OF CONSUMER REPORTS ON PAGE 12.

THERE'S A RECALL ON MY 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 AND THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO MENTION IT. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN JULY 2017. THE RECALL WAS MADE JUNE 15 2017. RECALL ID#265486. RECALL IS 17R2 FOR TIRES. SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT HERE AS I HAVE KIDS IN THE CAR SOMETIMES. PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. THE ALSO HAS THE FOLLOWING NOTICEABLY PROBLEM WHEN IN MOTION OR DRIVING MODE: SUSPENSION ISSUES: STRUTS,SPINDLE, CONTROL ARMS, BALL JOINTS, STABILIZERS, AND RELATED COMPONENTS MAY PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD. IT IS VERY SCARY TO HEAR THAT TRUTLE GRINDING NOISE.

ON THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 6TH, 2017, MY 88-YEAR-OLD FATHER, DIED OF ACCIDENTAL CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. HIS DEATH RESULTED FROM HIS NEW TOYOTA RAV4 KEYLESS CAR NOT TURNING OFF, ULTIMATELY FLOODING HIS APARTMENT WITH THE DEADLY GAS. HE WAS FOUND IN HIS BED, DEAD, ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, AROUND 10:25 A.M. HIS TWO CATS HAD ALSO EXPIRED. THE TOYOTA RAV4 WAS STILL RUNNING ' 14 HOURS FOLLOWING HIS RETURN HOME FROM A FAMILY DINNER. THE CARBON MONOXIDE READING INSIDE HIS CAR WAS 330. THE RESIDENCE REGISTERED AT 53. MORE THAN TWO HOURS AFTER DISCOVERING MY FATHER'S BODY, THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS IN THE HOUSE WERE STILL 30. THIS AFTER DOORS AND WINDOWS WERE OPENED AND A LARGE FAN PROVIDED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS USED TO PUSH THE AIR THRU THE RESIDENCE. THE CARBON MONOXIDE TRAVELED TO THE NEIGHBOR'S ADJOINING GARAGE AND THRU HER APARTMENT WALLS. MORE THAN ONE HOUR AFTER MY FATHER WAS DISCOVERED, THE NEIGHBOR'S APARTMENT CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS WERE STILL 40 ' REQUIRING A HOSPITAL VISIT. THE DETECTIVE ON THE SCENE FOUND THE TOYOTA KEY FOB ON THE DINING TABLE ' JUST YARDS FROM THE ATTACHED GARAGE WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED. THE CAR WAS LEASED IN JULY OF 2017. IT WAS DELIVERED IN MID-AUGUST 2017, BY TOYOTA DEALER. AT NO TIME DURING THE SALE OR UPON DELIVERY, WAS IT IMPRESSED UPON MY FATHER THAT THE KEYLESS CARS PRESENTED A CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY CONCERN. AT NO TIME WAS MY FATHER OFFERED AN OPTION FOR A 'KEYED' CAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING SYSTEMS ON THE CAR TO SUGGEST THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. IT SEEMS INCOMPREHENSIBLE THAT TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WITH ADDITIONAL WARNING DEVICES FOR DRIVERS, AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF AFTER A SET TIME, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, BE REQUIRED TO EMPLOY A POLICY THAT SUGGESTS A KEY IGNITION WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR SENIOR DRIVERS. FYI: LOCAL POLICE/EMT RESPONDED TO THE SCENE. A REPORT WAS FILED. *TT *TR

MY WIFE DROVE HER CAR (2017 TOYOTA RAV4 , PURCHASED ON NOV 17TH,2016) INTO MY NEIGHBOR 'S MAILBOX AND A SMALL TREE NEXT TO THE MAILBOX IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA ON THE MORNING OF JUN 22TH,2018.PLEASE FIND ATTACHED PICTURE AND YOU WILL FIND THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UNDER THE SITUATION LIKE PICTURE SHOWS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY . ALSO, I WANT TO CONFIRM IS ANY RECALLS FOR THIS MODEL? THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED AT 33971 SUMMERSET DRIVE,SOLON,OH.NOBODY HURT BUT THE CAR LOOKS REALLY TERRIBLE.

ON OCCASION, WHILE GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN AND I GET A MESSAGE THAT SAYS "CHARGING MALFUNCTION". IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN I PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ONTO THE BUSY STREET I LIVE ON. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED ONCE WHEN I PARALLELL PARKED. I HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTART FOR IT TO WORK AGAIN. I TRIED TO RECREATE THE SITUATION BUT CANNOT. I BROUGHT IT TO TOYOTA AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER. MOST RECENTLY IT HAPPENED TO ME LAST NIGHT WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. (6-20-18) TIME. I PURCHASED THE CAR AUGUST OF 2017 AND IT STILL IS UNDER WARRANTY HOWEVER I HAVE HAD NO LUCK WITH TOYOTA. THEIR RESPONSE WAS WE WILL NOTE IT IN THE FILE.

FRONT ROTORS CAUSED THE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE TERRIBLY WHEN DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH WHEN YOU JUST TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDDLE. THE RAV 4 2017 ONLY HAS 14,900 MILES. I BROUGHT RAV 4 TO DEALER FOR NORMAL 15,000 MILE MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD THE ROTOR NEED TO BE RESURFACED... FOR $180.00....CALLED IT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" IT APPEARS THAT IN COLORADO OR MOUNTAIN AREAS THAT ROTOR NORMALLY NEED TO BE RESURFACED. THE RAVA 4 FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF STEERING THE RAVA 4 AT 70 MPH. THEN DEALER SAID OH THAT IS NORMAL, WE HAVE TO RESURFACE ROTORS OF RAV 4 (2017) IN THIS AREA ALL THE TIME. ON MAY 16, 2018 I CALLED 800-331-4331 TOYOTA US HEAD QUARTERS AND SPOKE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. CASE # 1805162014 AND HE SAID HE WOULD CALL THE AUTONATION TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER ON ARAPAHOE IN COLORADO AND GET BACK TO ME IN A FEW DAYS. WELL ON MAY 31, 2018 CUSTOMER SERVICE FROM TOYOTA CALLED ME AFTER I SPOKE WITH ON MAY 30, 2018 TO ANDREA, EXPLAINING THE SITUATION. THE OFFICAL RESPONSE WAS OH THAT IS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR FOR RAV 4 2017 ROTORS...IT IS YOUR COST IF A RECALL IS ISSUED ON THE ROTORS YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED! THE REST OF THE STORY, I TOOK A TRIP FROM DENVER, CO TO PHOENIX, AZ MAY 3, 2018. I HAD APPROX 13,000 ON THE RAV 4., WHICH REQUIRES DRIVING DOWN HILL FROM FLAGSTAFF, AZ ...APPROX. 120 MILES. THAT MOUNTAIN DRIVING RESULTED IN THE RAV 4 BRAKING TO CAUSE THE SEVERE SHAKE OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALMOST LOOSING CONTROL OF RAV 4 AT 70 MPH. THE CRUISE CONTROL SLOWS THE CAR DOWN AS YOU APPROACH OTHER SLOWER VEHICLES AND IF YOU JUST TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDDLE THE RAV 4 WANTS TO SHAKE THE RAV 4 APART! YOU LOOSE TOTAL CONTOL OF RAV 4 IF LEAVE FOOT ON BRAKE PEDDLE.. TOYOTA SAYS THAT IS JUST NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ... WELL AT SPEED LIMIT ON INTER STATE ..THESE ROTORS CAN CAUSE TO HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT!!!

WHEN STOPPED AT MY CLOSED DRIVEWAY GATES I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL IT TOOK OFF IN (DRIVE) FORWARD. IT DROVE SO HARD IT SENT THE GATE FLYING AND BROKE THE METAL LOCK. I WAS IN SHOCK AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKE. IT STOPPED BUT I WAS IN SHOCK. IT JUST TOOK OFF. IT DID IT AGAIN AFTER REPORTING IT TO MY DEALER AND INSURANCE COMPANY. THEY WANT TO SEE IT AFTER THE REPAIRS ARE DONE. ALSO THE FRONT DETECTOR WILL SUDDENLY STOP MY RAV4 2017 WHILE I'M DRIVING 55 MPH FOR SOMEONE PASSING ME IN A RIGHT TURN LANE. BOUGHT IT LAST SUMMER. IS THIS A LEMON AND DOES THE LEMON LAW APPLY.