2018 Toyota RAV4

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? When driving the Rav4 the dashboard started to alert that different systems where failing. For example, it was flashing Blind Spot Failure, Land Departure Failure, Front Collision Failure. It the warnings where non-stop while driving the car flashing through the different messages. Yes the car is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? With all the systems altering failure the car no longer became safe to drive and had the potential to stall while driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the Toyota service center determined that the car was unsafe to drive due to the failure of the internal wire harness shorting out. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, but a Toyota service center. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No symptoms, the dashboard just started lighting up like a Christmas tree on 7/15.

On the morning of November 4, 2021, at 6:15 a.m., driver was driving to her job as a shuttle driver. She made no stops on her way to work. At approximately 6:30 a.m, drive exited South Padre Island Drive off of Nile Road in her silver 2018 Toyota RAV-4. As she exited the freeway, her car’s console screen went blank, all electricity to the car cut out, and the engine shut off. The car restarted once, cut out again, and then restarted again as she pulled into her employer's driveway. The car cut out once more, and coasted into the parking lot in front of employer. Driver smelled electrical burning and shortly thereafter saw black smoke coming out of the hood. She quickly got out of the car and called 911 after moving safely away from the vehicle and inside the building. A police patroller arrived first and was unable to put out the fire, and at about 6:45 a.m. the Fire Department came and put the fire out.

My daughter and I were driving a Toyota RAV4 from 2018 just like any normal day, the car was working properly, no warnings lights were turned on. While taking a sharp right turn and passing an unevenness on the road the car lost complete power. My daughter couldn’t control the steering wheel of the car, it was stuck. As the car stopped completely, due to gravity, she tried to turn it back on but it didn’t work. A smoke started coming from the front left side of the car’s hood ( or the side of the driver) it was a white smoke. The car didn’t function in any way possible. We stayed inside the car and called roadside assistance. Meanwhile as the electronical gadgets started to turn back on (e.g. radio)the more smoke started coming out of the hood . We noticed that a red light with a car and lock symbol was flashing on top of the radio display monitor, later we learned it was the anti-theft system of the car. We got out of the car and noticed a the flames coming out of the car’s hood. My daughter tried to open the back doors and trunk of the car to save anything if possible, but they didn’t open. Many truckers tried to help us with using their extinguisher (severals) but unfortunately the front hood didn’t open ( was locked). The car ended up burning completely as we waited for firefighter to arrive. A police report was fill out 2023-6-13-6249.

I only had possession of the vehicle for less than 3 weeks and it seemed to be running without problems. Besides driving the car on the date I picked it up, this was only the fifth time I had driven the car. On April 17, 2023, I was driving the car to an appointment when it stalled while in motion. It did restart without any problem (though I did detect a faint odor that I thought might be a rubbery smell, but now believe was probably an electrical smell), and I drove it the remaining approximately half mile to the appointment. When I got out of the car, I noticed what I thought might be steam (thinking the problem may be the radiator) coming from under the hood. I now know this to have been smoke. I went in the building, signed in, and looked back to the car to see flames coming from under the hood. The fire department was called to put out the fire, and a fire marshal came to investigate the cause. The fire marshal told me that the fire initiated at the battery. I have requested a copy of the investigation report, which he told me will be forwarded to me when it is completed. The car has since been towed to LKQ Pick Your Part salvage yard. Two other cars parked next to me were also damaged by the fire. My safety was at risk as I now know that I was in the car when the incident initiated and the fire began. Others in the area could also have been injured as the fire accelerated. The car was parked in a school parking lot, so had the car exploded, there could have been many injuries. No warnings (lamps or otherwise) appeared. I have since done some research, and have found that spontaneous fires such as these have happened to many other Rav4s year models 2013-2018, most particularly 2018. This was a 2018.

The contact owns 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH a burning odor was present inside the vehicle and smoke and small flames was present coming from the dashboard and air vents. The vehicle was immediately driven to the local mechanic. After turning the vehicle off the flames and smoke continued. The mechanic unplugged the engine battery and the smoke and the smoke and flames extinguished. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The contact referenced that NHTSA Action Number PE21005. The failure mileage was 21,000.

Bought brand new 04/02/2018. First battery died July 2018. First cooling system needed replaced December 2019 due to overheating issues. There has been 7 battery replacements, about two each year, the two most recent was July 2022 and October 31, 2022. Second cooling system replaced December 2022 due to overheating issue. Damaged engine and needed to replace engine. Other issues have been stalling while driving in traffic; stalling while turning and at traffic lights. Was told by Toyota technician that it was due to extremely low oil. I asked why no low oil light came on and he stated it must be damaged but too expensive to repair. My wife and I had our safety at risk due to stalling in traffic and being stranded due to dead batteries. One night we had to sleep in a grocery store parking lot as a tow truck wasn’t available that night. Toyota states they test the batteries and find nothing wrong even after at least two of them exploded and leaked acid. This could have created a fire and/or engine damage. They just keep replacing them over and over. I have estimate from independent repair shop of possible diagnosis for battery issue. I can not have an independent repair shop even move a bolt or warranties will be voided. During the second overheating was told by Geico insurance inspector no codes were found despite overheating had occurred and severe enough to cause engine damage. Never receive any warning lights for any problems that occurred; the problems happen with no warnings. The second overheating issue left us almost freezing to death as we could not make it back home and had to pull over; tow truck was unavailable that night. Have all service records; too many to upload here; files too big. Please contact via email overtherainbow0126@gmail.com.

Since I bought the car in 2018, the car has stalled two times while I am driving on the road. That was very dangerous because other drivers almost hit me from behind. The first time I had the problem, the Toyota dealer told me that it was likely caused by bad gas. It happened again this time today. I am bringing it to the dealer again, but likely not able to get a solution. At the same time, I am scared of driving it, yet I need to drive it for work and other necessities. Happened at 32k in August 2020, and 55k in January 9, 2022.

UNKNOWN since insurance or fire department does not want to investigate. However car randomly caught on fire when driving. Could be due to a new battery installed a week prior. Driver and daughter claim as well an electrical issue with AC turning on by itself the morning of car fire which it has never done before. Driver suspects faulty battery since a new battery installed by dealer a week prior and the year before and it is not the first case late model RAV4s are caught on fire due to battery issues.