1996 Toyota RAV4 Owner Complaints

EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL USE, 1 QT EVERY 1000 MILES

NHTSA ID

10919964

Incident

Jan 14, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WOULD DROP, THE DOORS WOULD SHUT ABNORMALLY AND THE LOCKS WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10563346

Incident

Jul 8, 1998

Mileage

6,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 367,000.

NHTSA ID

10532844

Incident

Jan 31, 2013

Mileage

367,000 mi

I GOT THE CAR OFF OF MY BROTHER FOR $4,000.00, IT LOOKS GREAT, NEVER EVER BEEN WRECKED, PAINT GREAT, BRAND NEW TIRES, NEW EXHAUST, NEW BRAKES, ETC. I WAS WAITING ON HIM TO GET THE TITLE NOTARIZED AND HE BROUGHT IT OVER TODAY, BUT THIS MORNING WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE FUSE BOX BURST INTO FLAMES, BOTH WINDOWS CAME DOWN AND LUCKILY I HAD A LARGE FIRE EXTINGUISH IN MY HOUSE AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, OTHERWISE IT WAS PARKED BETWEEN 3 BUILDINGS WORTH 1/2 MILLION $$$ AND SURELY WOULD HAVE BURNED ALL 3 DOWN IF I HAD NOT HAD THE ABILITY TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FLAMES WERE AS HIGH AS THE WINDOW AND THE CAR A TOTAL LOSS AS ALL THE WIRING BURNED UP IN LESS THAN 2 MINUTES IN THE FUSE BOX AREA. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, I AM SURE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS AND AT THE VERY LEAST THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD HAVE BURNED UP. I AM 55 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS THE VERY FIRST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED THAT CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494598

Incident

Jan 24, 2013

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS CLOGGED UP AND I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE NOT HAPPENED LIKE THAT. NM

NHTSA ID

10170999

Incident

Jan 10, 2002

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. OIL AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT; HOWEVER THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC NOTICED A HOLE THAT WAS BLOWN THROUGH THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

10153952

Incident

Mar 25, 2005

Mileage

130,000 mi

NOTE: TOYOTA CALLED AND SAID THAT SINCE I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED, THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING.....I SAVED THE PART. I AM WRITING NOW BECAUSE I SAW A TV NEWS STORY ABOUT THE ROLL-OVER CONCERN WITH SUV'S. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ROLL-OVER IF NOT FOR THE LOCATION AND LOW SPEED. DEAR TOYOTA (EDITED FOR SPACE), IT IS RARE THAT I WOULD TAKE THIS STEP UNLESS I THOUGHT NOT SPEAKING UP COULD BE FAR MORE TRAGIC OR DISASTROUS. LAST WEEK, AS I WAS SLOWLY TURNING THE CORNER DOWN A SIDE STREET AT WORK (I WORK ON AN ARMY INSTALLATION), I HEARD AND FELT A TREMENDOUS CRASH. MY RAV-4 DROPPED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND THE TIRE INSTANTLY BLEW. MY MOMENTUM WAS STOPPED BY A LARGE CONCRETE BARRIER OR I MAY HAVE HIT SOMEONE. AFTER I WAS TOWED (THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE), THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED WHAT I WAS TOLD BY SOME OF THE ENGINEERS - SOMETHING SNAPPED (COMPLETELY SEVERED) UNDERNEATH ("IN A WEIRD SPOT")....THAT SOMETHING WAS PART OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE. AS I TRAVEL ROUTE 80 IN NORTHERN NJ, I AM VERY GRATEFUL WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT IF I HAD BEEN ON A HIGHWAY, I WOULD HAVE FLIPPED, POSSIBLY SEVERAL TIMES, AND, OBVIOUSLY, WOULD NOT BE WRITING TO YOU NOW.....I BOUGHT MY RAV-4 IN 1996 WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT. ALTHOUGH IT COST ME $1800.00 IN REPAIRS, THE MONEY IS LEAST IMPORTANT IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS. I'M CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT THE ROAD SURFACE TO AVOID ANY BUMP....BRAKING INAPPROPRIATELY, BUT THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. I WOULD NOT BE THIS UPSET IF THIS WAS A SMALL CAR, BUT THIS IS A SUV AND I EXPECT IT TO HANDLE THE RIGORS OF A NJ WINTER. EVEN A TOYOTA MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED...TO PARAPHRASE HIM....'THESE TRUCKS ARE BUILT TO LAST FOREVER'. COULD THERE BE A FLAW IN THE PART? I TOOK A DIGITAL PHOTO OF THE PART THAT WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED (AND NO, IT IS NOT THE BALL JOINT). I CANNOT ATTACH IT TO THIS E-MAIL. TELLING ME A BOUGHT THE CAR IN '96 AND HAVE OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER. THANK YOU, CELESTE GOODHART. *AK

NHTSA ID

10093012

Incident

Mar 13, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HIT ICE POT HOLE, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A GUARD RAIL, PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED HALF WAY. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10058014

Incident

Feb 12, 2004

Mileage

99,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE SWERVED ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO 5TH GEAR. THE 4TH GEAR ALSO BEGAN SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER 40,000 MILES THE EXACT SAME FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE 5TH GEAR FAILING. THEY ARE NOT CLAIMING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10055930

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT FORCEFUL IMPACT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10007049

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO CRASH. *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID

10001432

Incident

Nov 19, 2002

Mileage

12,200 mi

WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY FRIEND (WHO WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND LIKES TO SIT WITH HIS KNEES UP) ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND FOUND THAT ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HAD NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING. I PULLED OVER AS SOON AS I COULD. I FEARED THAT IF I PUT THE GEAR SHIFTER BACK INTO DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD DRASTICALLY LURCH (FASTER OR SLOWER). AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT IS ACTUALLY LOCATED CLOSER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE THAN THE DRIVER SIDE AND EASILY BUMPED INTO NEUTRAL. I CALLED A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND ASKED THAT THEY FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL CARS ARE DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO SWITCH INTO NEUTRAL SHOULD YOU BE SLIDING ON A SLIPPERY ROAD. AND THAT THEY THEREFORE COULD AND WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE READ ONLY GREAT THINGS ABOUT TOYOTAS BUT AFTER THIS EXPERIENCE, I PLAN TO SELL THIS CAR AND NEVER GET ANOTHER TOYOTA. THIS, I THINK, IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS SAFETY DESIGN FLAW. PEOPLE WITH KIDS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT MUST HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO THEM ALL THE TIME. I THINK THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. NO AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT SHOULD BE EASILY ACCIDENTLY TAPPED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.*AK

NHTSA ID

765655

Incident

May 18, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH ANY PUMP OR TAP TO GEAR SHIFT IT WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL, LOSING ALL POWER, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014149

Incident

May 17, 2002

DRIVER' S SEAT BELT FAILS TO RELEASE FOR USAGE, NEEDS TO JERK HARD TO PULL IT OUT. WOULD RETRACT BACK VERY SLOWLY.ALSO, SEAT BELT WILL NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO MOVE IN SEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT RETRACTOR NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO BEING BROKEN ON INSIDE. *AK

NHTSA ID

880331

Incident

Jan 10, 2001

IN WINDY CONDITIONS OR ON PARKED INCLINE REAR LIFTGATE WHICH OPENS LIKE A DOOR, SLAMMED INTO OCCUPANT WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK THE DEVICE WHICH HOLDS THE DOOR OPEN IS NOT ADEQUATE BECAUSE OF THAT THE DOOR CLOSES TOO EASILY. *YH

NHTSA ID

878444

Incident

Mar 29, 2000

THE FRONT STRUTS ON MY 1996 TOYOTA RAV4 HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR SOMETIME. WHEN THIS WAS DICOVERED THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 30,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN OFF RAOD.*AK

NHTSA ID

726178

Incident

Feb 1, 2000

I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CAR. A SHORT TIME LATER AN ADDITIONAL SOUND OF SOMETHING ROLLING AROUND FREELY IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS HEARD. I SUSPECTED BRAKE TROUBLE AND TOOK THE CAR TO SEARS AUTOMOTIVE WHERE THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORKED ON 1 MONTH PRIOR. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANICS NOTICED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE FRONT AXLE SNAPPING AT THE WHEEL. THE SOUND WAS THE BROKEN OFF PIECE AND NUT ROLLING AROUND. THE BROKEN AXLE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BRAKE PAD AND CALIPER AND FRONT-END ALIGNMENT. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS, THE AXLE HAD A MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE BOTH AXLE PIECES IN MY POSSESSION. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE THEM OR IF THERE IS MORE INFORMATION NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. - DARRYL ROBB. *AK

NHTSA ID

720388

Incident

Feb 27, 2000

5/7/96-FRONT WHEELS CLEANED OF BRAKE DUST; 3/5/97-MILEAGE-14118: FRONT BRAKE JOB DONE(BRAKES GRINDING); 9/13/97 BRAKES SQUEAKING-REAR BRAKES CLEANED AND ADJUSTED.; 12/1/97-FRONT BRAKES WORN OUT-REPLACED; 12/98-FRONT BRAKES GRINDING-PADS REPLACED AGAIN; 10/16/99-FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AGAIN. I REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM TOYOTA AND MET WITH THE CUSTOMER SVC MANAGER, KAREN SEARS SEVERAL TIMES AND PRIOR TO THE REPAIR IN DEC. 98 I DID CONTACT TOYOTA AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO AND I WOULD NEED TO REQUEST ARBITRATION. I REQUESTED ARBITRATION AND THEY DID NOTHING BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO A NON TOYOTA FACILITY FOR REPAIR. I HAD TO TAKE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AND REFERRED ME TO ARBITRATION AND I OBVIOUSLY COULD NOT DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH GRINDING BRAKES. THE ONLY WORK DONE WAS THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND ALSO TOLD ME THE ROTORS AND CYLINDERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE IN DEC. 1997, BUT I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT BRAKES SHOULD NOT BE WEARING OUT THIS SOON ON A NEW VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS BRAKE SYSTEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BEGINNING WITHT HE BRAKE DUST ACCUMULATION. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO-I HAVE ASKED TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND I HAVE ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE, I HAVE REQUESTED ARBITRATION AND I HAVE APPEALED THE ARBITRATION DECISION. I AM HOPEFUL YOU CAN HELP ME BECAUSE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS VEHICLE. ALSO WHEN I HAD MY BRAKES CHANGED OVER THE WEEKEND I MET A MAN WHO ALSO HAD A 2 DOOR RAV4 , WHO ALSO TOLD ME HE HAD BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, HAVING TO CHANGE BRAKES PADS AND SHOES OFTEN. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING A PROBLEM BUT I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS EVERY 6-9 MONTHS AS I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND I CANNOT AFFORD THE $600-$1000 WORTH OF BRAKE WORK THE VEHICLE NEEDS. AT THIS POINT I TRULY BELIEVE I WAS SOLD A LEMON WITH A FAULTY BRAKE SYSTEM. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID

713419

Incident

Mar 5, 1997

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIEDTHE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN. TOOK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES & HAD VEHICLE TEST DRIVEN. BRAKES WERE TAPPED LIGHTLY & TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

847842

Incident

Aug 12, 1999

I CONTINUE TO HAVE SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS/BRAKES. THESE NOISES OCCUR AT ALL SPEEDS WHETHER BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR NOT. DESPITE NUMEROUS SETS OF REPLACEMENT BRAKES, THE SQUEAKING PERSISTS. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, GRINDING NOISES ARE AUDIBLE, ESPECIALLY AS THE CAR NEARS A STOP. THESE COMPLAINTS PERSIST REGARDLESS OF THE AGE OF THE BRAKES AND NO MECHANIC HAS OFFERED A SATISFACTORY EXPLANATION.

NHTSA ID

710111

BRAKES MAKES LOUD GRINDING SOUNDS. *AK

NHTSA ID

839846

Incident

Jun 13, 1999

CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES SQUEAKING/GRINDING, DUE TO FAULTY CALIPERS PRESSING DOWN TOO HARD ON PADS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR, PADS REPLACED TWICE.

NHTSA ID

544976

Incident

Nov 19, 1997

FRACTURE JUST FORWARD OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER. UNIT APPEARS TO HAVE INADEQUATE SUPPORT.

NHTSA ID

704392

Incident

Mar 8, 1999

IN COLD WEATHER, BELOW 30 DEGREES, BOTH FRONT DOOR LOCK MECHANISMS ARE PRONE TO FREEZING. THIS SOMETIMES MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE VEHICLE. OTHER TIMES, THE DOOR OPENS, BUT THEN WILL NOT SHUT BECAUSE THE LOCK MECHANISM IS FROZEN. THE DOOR JUST BOUNCES AGAINST THE FRAME AND DOES NOT LATCH. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SIX SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE LATE DECEMBER OF 1998. ON A FEW OF THE OCCASIONS I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE WHILE MANUALLY HOLDING THE DOOR SHUT, AND THEN TIE THE DOOR SHUT FROM THE INSIDE UPON ARRIVAL TO MY DESTINATION.

NHTSA ID

704095

Incident

Dec 26, 1998

YOUR FORM IS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY PROBLEM. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE SURGE OR STUCK ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPNED TWICE DURING OWNERSHIP. ONCE WHILE PARKING AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. SECOND TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL,AND HAD TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS. THE ACCELERATOR EITHER STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE OR SOMETHING CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO OPEN TO FULL, MAKING THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTOL OR STOP. *AK

NHTSA ID

702683