Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Apr 24, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 54 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0
What this page shows
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Toyota RAV4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming engine
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Engine
Filed Apr 24, 2015
RECEIVED WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE-ZE7, AS INSTRUCTED, DEALER TEST WAS PERFORMED. OIL LOSS TOTALS UNDER 1QT. FOR EA. 1200 MILES DRIVEN. WAS TOLD THIS DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THIS: TOYOTA SERVICE REQUIRED FOR OIL CHANGE IS EVERY 5,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION OF JUST UNDER 1QT PER 1,200 MILES, SO DRIVING 5,000 MILES WOULD EFFECTIVELY BURN 4QTS., OR MORE, THEREBY STARVING ENGINE FOR OIL AND RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME TO KEEP CHECKING OIL LEVEL, AND ADD OIL AS REQUIRED. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISED THEM OF MY OPINION. I AM ABLE TO ADD OIL AS REQUIRED, BUT QUESTIONED CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT OTHER SENIOR CITIZEN'S ABILITY TO SELF MAINTAIN THE OIL LEVEL, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANY CONSUMER THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS ASSIGNED ME A CASE NUMBER FROM REGIONAL CA. OFFICE. I WAS TOLD THAT PERHAPS TOYOTA WILL CHANGE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS SO THAT AT 5,000 MILES, OIL CONSUMPTION WOULD NOT RESULT IN ENGINE STARVATION AND FAILURE. ALSO, IN MY CASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR OIL LOSS, AND IF IT INCREASES IN VOLUME, COME BACK TO DEALER AND TEST AGAIN. I THINK THAT DESIGN FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTIFICATION THAT WAS MAILED TO ME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10712635
Incident
Apr 23, 2015
Mileage
63,964 mi
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 6, 2015
RAV 4 TOYOTA 1997-WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES WITHOUT THE RPR INCREASED WITHOUT CONTROL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BECOME EXTREMELY HOT, FLUIDS WERE DRAINED . CAR SENT TO DARCARS TOYOTA THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND NOW FACING SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, BECAUSE LACK OF RECALL RPR 'S ISSUE VERY DETRIMENTAL AND RISKY . *TR
NHTSA ID
10692661
Incident
Feb 5, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
EngineInterior & seats
Filed Dec 27, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SHIFTED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE). *AK
NHTSA ID
10146145
Incident
Dec 20, 2005
Mileage
113,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 8, 2003
Crash reportedFire reported
MY RAV 4 - 57348 MILES. IT STARTED MAKING A TAPPING SOUND IN THE ENGINE AND IT HAS MAKES A METAL ON METAL VIBRATION UPON ACCELERATION AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I MAKE A GRADUAL LEFT TURN AND DECELERATE. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER. THEY SAY IT MAY BE THAT THE LIFTERS ARE A BIT WORN AND THAT THIS WILL NOT HARM ANYTHING. THIS IS ODD BECAUSE A NEW ENGINE WAS PLACED IN THE CAR AT 49,000 + MILES. THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT THE VIBRATION NOISE WAS AND SAID THAT IT IS POSSIBLY A ROCK IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I KNOW WHAT THAT SOUNDS LIKE AND STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THEIR ANALYSIS. THE NOISE IS DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE ENGINE. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10010158
Incident
Mar 3, 2003
Engine
Filed Mar 8, 2003
MY RAV HAS HAD 2 ENGINE REPLACEMENTS THE FIRST AT 16,000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 49,000 MILES. THE FIRST ONE HAPPENED WHEN IT STALLED OUT GOING THROUGH AN EXTREMELY LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE ACCESS ROAD AND THE SECOND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *NLM
NHTSA ID
10010157
Incident
Mar 12, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 26, 2002
WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ID
8017189
Incident
Aug 24, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 18, 2000
PROBLEM OF STALLING AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION ONGOING SINCE JUNE..NOW AUGUST AND BACK TO DEALER AGAIN AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN IN VEHICLE..
NHTSA ID
728359
Incident
Jun 5, 2000
Engine
Filed Sep 22, 1999
THE CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR INITIALLY JUST HAD A STARTING PROBLEM WHERE IT WILL START AND STALLS IMMEDIATELY. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT THE STARTER AND I HAD IT REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS COLD OR WARM. I COULD JUST PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND IT WON'T START. IF I WAIT ABOUT TEN MINUTES, IT WILL START AGAIN. BUT, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. YESTERDAY, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH THE CAR JUST STALLED. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER. I WAITED ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND IT STARTED AGAIN. THERE IS NO RHYME OF REASON TO THIS, THERE IS NO WARNING OF ANY KIND.
NHTSA ID
711787
Incident
Sep 21, 1999
Engine
Filed Mar 24, 1999
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRANK BUT NOT START.
NHTSA ID
607837
Incident
Jul 22, 1998
Engine
Filed Mar 23, 1999
ENGINE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START.
NHTSA ID
544518
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 1997
CAR STALLED TWICE.
NHTSA ID
515641
Incident
Feb 5, 1997
Engine
Filed Jun 30, 1997
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY ABOUT 80 MPH HAD ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED OR DIED OUT FOR NO REASON IN HEAVY TRAFFIC; EVERYTHING WENT OUT. *AK
NHTSA ID
813659
Incident
Jun 20, 1997
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.