NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
307 reports6,100 miles · Jun 1, 2018
Electrical System
I WAS DRIVING HOME AND AT A RED LIGHT WHEN MY RAV4 STARTED TO SHAKE AND FEEL AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING ERROR ON OUR DISPLAY, "CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". AFTER A FEW SECONDS I WAS ABLE TO TURN MY VEHICLE ON AND PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. …
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I WAS DRIVING HOME AND AT A RED LIGHT WHEN MY RAV4 STARTED TO SHAKE AND FEEL AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING ERROR ON OUR DISPLAY, "CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". AFTER A FEW SECONDS I WAS ABLE TO TURN MY VEHICLE ON AND PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE LATER IT STARTED TO STUTTER AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO MY DRIVEWAY BEFORE IT TURNED OFF AND LOST POWER. I INFORMED MY HUSBAND WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HE TOOK THE VEHICLE OUT TO SEE IF THE SAME ERROR WOULD OCCUR. WITHIN FIVE MINUTES INTO HIS DRIVE THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, AS WE JUST PURCHASED THIS RAV4 BRAND NEW NINE MONTHS AGO. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED MULTIPLE TESTS AND INFORMED US THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. IT IS A LITTLE UNNERVING TO KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE I DRIVE COULD COMPLETELY TURN OFF, POTENTIALLY ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE RISK FOR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, TO ME OR MY FAMILY, IS HIGH IF THIS OCCURS. AGAIN, TO RECAP, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND ALSO WHEN IT WAS IN MOTION.
NHTSA ODI #11099181
25,000 miles · May 30, 2018
Service Brakes
I HEARD SQUEAKING IN MY BRAKES AT 10,000 MILES MY BRAKES WERE GOOD AT 12,000 THEY SAID A HAD 1% LEFT ON FRONT BRAKES. I REPLACED FRONT PADS. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER IN NORTHRIDGE TO COMPLAIN. THEY KEPT ON EYE ON BRAKES I WAS FINE AT 15,000 AND AT 20,000 MILES I HAD 60% ON MY FRONT PADS. I TOOK IN THIS WEEKEND FOR 25,000 SERVICE…
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I HEARD SQUEAKING IN MY BRAKES AT 10,000 MILES MY BRAKES WERE GOOD AT 12,000 THEY SAID A HAD 1% LEFT ON FRONT BRAKES. I REPLACED FRONT PADS. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER IN NORTHRIDGE TO COMPLAIN. THEY KEPT ON EYE ON BRAKES I WAS FINE AT 15,000 AND AT 20,000 MILES I HAD 60% ON MY FRONT PADS. I TOOK IN THIS WEEKEND FOR 25,000 SERVICE I WAS THROUGH TO THE ROOTERS ON THE FRONT. TOYOTA CLAIMS IT IS MY DRIVING. THOUGH THEY TESTED IT THEY FAIL TO EXPLAIN HOW I WENT CRITICAL IN $5,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A VEHICLE WITH SUCH PROBLEMS. BRAKES ARE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT ISOLATED INCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #11098852
12,000 miles · May 16, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH CRASH ON THE FREEWAY WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR SPUN AND THE FRONT END WAS HIT AGAIN CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
NHTSA ODI #11094062
3,300 miles · May 8, 2018
Exterior Lighting
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
8,500 miles · May 4, 2018
Unknown Or Other
INTERIOR TRIM PIECE UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND DIRECTLY OVER THE BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY FALLS DOWN (JUST FRONT CLIPS RELEASE) ALLOWING THE TRIM TO HANG DOWN AND BLOCK ACCESS TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I MANAGED TO GET THE TRIM OUT OF THE WAY, BUT IT FELL SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET I…
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INTERIOR TRIM PIECE UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND DIRECTLY OVER THE BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY FALLS DOWN (JUST FRONT CLIPS RELEASE) ALLOWING THE TRIM TO HANG DOWN AND BLOCK ACCESS TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I MANAGED TO GET THE TRIM OUT OF THE WAY, BUT IT FELL SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. REPAIRS ARE UNDERWAY. I DON'T KNOW IF TOYOTA CAN CORRECT THIS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA ODI #11091972
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2018
Service Brakes
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORE OUT BEFORE 10K MILES ON A BRAND NEW CAR. REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES BECAUSE THEY WERE SO WORN OUT.THAT IS UNHEARD OF. DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND A DEFECT ON THE PART/VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11090185
9,913 miles · Apr 15, 2018
Electrical System
INTERMITTENTLY THE DASH BOARD SCREEN GOES DARK WHILE DRIVING. PER TOYOTA TECH REP THE ENTIRE COMPONENT WAS REPLACED APRIL 13,2018. ONE DAY LATER THE SAME THING OCCURRED. THE REP STATED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE PART . I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR,WONDERING IF ALL WILL STOP WHILE IN MOTION.
NHTSA ODI #11085121
23,000 miles · Apr 4, 2018
Service Brakes
MY BRAKES WERE INSPECTED AFTER OWNING MY 2017 RAV4 FOR ALMOST 5 MONTHS IT NEEDED ITS SERVICE BECAUSE IT HAD18K MILES ON IT. THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND EVERYTHING TO BE IN PERFECT CONDITION, EXCEPT THEY FOUND A NAIL IN THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. FAST FORWARD ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND MY SUV IS BEING REPAIRED AFTER A WRECK AND I…
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MY BRAKES WERE INSPECTED AFTER OWNING MY 2017 RAV4 FOR ALMOST 5 MONTHS IT NEEDED ITS SERVICE BECAUSE IT HAD18K MILES ON IT. THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND EVERYTHING TO BE IN PERFECT CONDITION, EXCEPT THEY FOUND A NAIL IN THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE. FAST FORWARD ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND MY SUV IS BEING REPAIRED AFTER A WRECK AND IT WAS AT THE REPAIR PLACE A WEEK BEFORE THE WOMAN CALLS AND TELLS ME MY CAR IS READY BUT WHEN THEY WERE TAKING THE CAR APART TO FIX THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THE BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR FELL OFF THE RIGHT AIDE AND I NOW NEED TO PURCHASE NEW BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. MY RAV4 HAS 23K MILES AND IS 7 MONTHS OLD, NOT ONE NOISE WAS MADE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT ONLY AFTER. SHE ALSO TELLS ME IT'S NOT ACCIDENT RELATED. I'M NOW GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM THEM ALL TRYING TO GET MY CAR FIXED. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT TODAY AND THE GUY OVER THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN SO HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO CALL THE WOMAN AND SEE WHAT ALL IS GOING ON BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T NEED NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS.
NHTSA ODI #11083266
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 11, 2018
Suspension
TAKATA RECALL. MY RAV4 ONLY HAS 9,000 MILES AND I AM GETTING REALLY IRRITATED WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SUSPENSION. IT'S GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER EVERY TIME I GO OVER SMALL CRACKS ON EVERY STREET I GO ON. THIS INCLUDES HIGHWAYS AND STREETS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM PAYING FOR A NEW CAR WHICH FEELS LIKE I HAVE A 1980 SUSPENSION.
NHTSA ODI #11078562
Official recalls
3Nov 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.
Jun 28, 2019
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.
May 2, 2017
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
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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