2022 Toyota RAV4

Safety issue: "Engine Stopped/Started: Due to Steering Power Low" Yesterday, it was heavy rain. My new 2022 RAV4 shut down and would not start due to the warning sign "Steering Power Low." I restarted a few times, but the whole car was jerking and the rpm's were fluttering up and down. The yellow check engine light and the orange warning signs, followed by an exclamation point, came on, along with the messages "Engine Stopped Steering Power Low" and "Not Ready to Drive." then shut down the car. I called for a pickup instead and was not able to start the car until the next day. It was so terrifying, and I was fortunate that the accident did not occur. What would happen if it were to happen as I or other RAV4 owners were in the middle of the road or nowhere for help? As I looked up problems with the new RAV4 online, other RAV4 owners had the same issues, with zero diagnosed reports from Toyota dealers (see links below). [XXX] [XXX] This is a safety concern; I'd be happier that the accidents have not happened yet. So, I urge the Toyota manufacturer to investigate the issue, rectify it, and start making a recall of the 2019–2024 RAV4 to fix the problems before an accident occurs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While driving at highway speed, check engine light came on along with warning message in multifunction indicator stating "Hybrid System Malfunction. Diminished Power. Contact Dealer", and car immediately decelerated from 60 mph to about 35 mph. When releasing accelerator, car shuddered. Once stopped, car accelerated very poorly, and barely was ablate ascend hills in neighborhood (5-10 mph going up hills). hybrid car appeared to be operating on gas engine only, and electrical system for traction motors appeared to be short circuiting.

The Engine Coolant Bypass Valve is a known issue across the 2019-Present RAV4 generation. We have taken our RAV4 to the dealership numerous time for the “Maintenance Required Soon” message that comes up when the car starts. The dealer always says that is is just a reminder for us to get our vehicle serviced at 20,000. The service interval message is supposed to only come on at every 5,000, not every 3,000. We took it by our local auto parts store, and the man that works there has a 2019 RAV4 that has the same problem. They had to take theirs to the dealer and have the Coolant Bypass Valve replaced. If not addressed soon, it could cause the engine to overheat. The man at the auto parts store said it doesn’t hurt to drive it but it is best not to prolong it. There needs to be an investigation of a recall started on this, as it can be a very confusing situation. It makes people think the car is just reminding you of your service maintenance interval. But this is not what this message means. When you take it to the dealer, they are clueless and they will give you the runaround. [XXX] of Pell City, Alabama. 2022 Toyota RAV4 XLE purchased from Serra Toyota of Birmingham INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

I purchased the car last July. Up to December, the car performed fine. Starting in December when I used the car heater repeatedly due to subzero temperatures, I noticed a burning smell coming from the vents. I was afraid that the engine or car would catch fire. I called the Tansky Toyota dealership and was told to bring the car in. They checked the car and I was told the smell was identified as engine coating which is burning off and it may take up to 4-6 month for the smell to go away. When I asked about the effects of the burning smell on my health, the assigned service adviser told me that “if Toyota put it there, it is fine’. In February, the smell in the enclosed car cabin got so bad that I felt nauseous, my eyes were burning, and I had metallic after taste in my mouth. When I took my car to the Tansky dealership, I was told that what I am smelling is a new car smell. Just to prove it, the assigned service advisor asked random dealership employees to sit in my car and to confirm that the car has a so called “new car smell”. When I asked if they could do something about the smell I was told to take the car to an independent car shop. The dealership was dismissive of my concerns. I had new cars before and none of them produced the so called “new car smell” when I used the heater. I contacted Toyota and requested an independent inspection. The inspection was scheduled at the same dealership and when I received the report, it basically said that the inspector could not duplicate the problem so my concern was dismissed. Unfortunately, during independent inspection, my car was not tested in subzero temperature to replicate the problem. My main concern is the effect of the burning chemicals on my health and possibly ability to operate the car safely. No one was able to tell me what kind of chemicals are in the engine coating. At the time of purchase, I was not told that the car has engine coating which will gradually burn off via heater vent into the cabin.

At 2:05 pm on March 21, 2023 my car suddenly lurched forward and to the left as I was pulling into a parallel parking place. The vehicle was operating in electric mode on "ECO" with the the gearshift in "D" at the time, but I heard the starter motor kick in and the engine rev up simultaneous with the sudden lurching. The lurching was so fast that it threw my head against the head rest. The vehicle jumped an 8 inch concrete curb leaving a skid mark on the right side and traveled 10-12 feet across a side walk and into dirt landscaping. Upon slamming on the brake, the car came to rest and the engine died. There were no prior incidents. The odometer read 4648 at time of incident. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer or police. No injury to the driver or pedestrians occurred.The incident has not recurred since yesterday's incident. After the incident, the tire pressure indicator light appeared on the dashboard. The weather at time of the incident was 72 degrees and cloudy. The vehicle had just completed a short 1 mile drive at low speed. There were no electrical transformers nearby but a ReSound GN hearing aid recharge battery case was sitting on the passenger seat at the time of the incident.