1998 Toyota RAV4 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VAPOR CANISTER AND THE VACUUM SWITCHING VALVE (VSV) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,734. Consumer stated vehicle has been repaired.*JB

NHTSA ID

11413379

Incident

Apr 12, 2021

Mileage

140,734 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THEIR VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED A BLACK EYE, SEVERAL LEG BRUISES AND HAD TO GET 7 STITCHES IN HER HEAD. THE PASSENGER IN THE BACK SEAT SUSTAINED TWO BROKEN RIBS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A JUNK YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11403564

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

MY VEHICLE IS BEING RECALLED FOR TAKADA AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ID

11374940

Incident

Nov 11, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THROUGH LOCAL EMISSIONS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V033000 (AIR BAGS). THE VIN TOOL CONFIRMS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SUBJECTED TO THE RECALL. NEITHER A DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11311119

Incident

Feb 24, 2020

EVEN AFTER I REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS WHILE DOING MAINTENANCE, THE BRAKES ARE STILL LOOSE AT TIMES, MOSTLY AFTER RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

11041468

Incident

Oct 30, 2017

EXCESSIVE OIL USE, TRIED TO HAVE DEALER FIX AT 149,000, WOULD NOT CHECK. WARENTY ENHANCEMENT, NOW 200000 MILES 1 QT+ 1200 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER 2/27/17 SAID I HAD TO PAY 3000+ TO FIX. TOYOTA NEW IT WAS BAD PISTONS OR RINGS AND ADMIT IT. BUT I PAY? ALWAYS TOOK CARE OF VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

10968427

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

149,000 mi

RE: SAFETY RECALL FOR REAR OUTBOARD SEATBELTS. I FIRST BECAME AWARE OF THE THE RECALL IN FEB. 2016. IN EARLY MARCH, WE SCHEDULED NORMAL MAINTENANCE FOR OUR RAV4. WHEN WE INQUIRED ABOUT THE SEATBELT RECALL, THE DEALERSHIP HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE ISSUE. I HAVE NOW BEEN DRIVING MY 6 AND 8 YEAR OLD CHILDREN AROUND IN A VEHICLE WITH RECALLED SEATBELTS FOR 2 MONTHS. TODAY, APRIL 7, IS THE FIRST NOTIFICATION I HAVE RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA AND THE NOTIFICATION STATES THAT TOYOTA STILL HAS NO "REMEDY". TOYOTA IS PUTTING MY CHILDREN IN DANGER EVERYDAY AND I HAVE LOST ALL TRUST IN TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID

10854226

Incident

Feb 23, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ROTOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10618588

Incident

Sep 13, 2011

DURING SLOW TURNS SUCH AS THROUGH INTERSECTIONS THERE IS A KNOCKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2008 AND HAS BEEN GETTING SLOWLY WORSE. DHL TOYOTA IN WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE STEERING CAN GO AT ANY TIME. THERE ARE 2 TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS DATING FROM 2008 ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM: T-SB-0308-08 AND T-SB-0318-08. I WAS TOLD TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR IT AND THE FIX IS $2800. SINCE TOYOTA TOLD ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND TOYOTA SHOULD FIX IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10560765

Incident

Jan 18, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A TRACTOR TRAILER. WHILE SWITCHING LANES, THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL, CRASH INTO THE TRACTOR TRAILER AND THEN INTO THE GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EACH OF THE THREE PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS HOWEVER NONE OF THEM LOCKED ON IMPACT, CAUSING INJURY TO EACH OF THE THREE PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER REPAIRED NOR INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10462724

Incident

May 20, 2012

Mileage

105,000 mi

THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK TWICE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD INSTEAD INTO DRIVE. THIS WAS AT LOW SPEED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE FIRST BRAKING ATTEMPT FAILED, THE BRAKE WAS PUMPED A SECOND TIME AND IT FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED INSTEAD. FIRM PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL A THIRD TIME AND THIS DID PROMPT THE VEHICLE TO STOP BUT IT WAS CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING ANOTHER CAR ALREADY STOPPED AT THE LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10395749

Incident

Apr 10, 2011

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING SHE WOULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE FUEL TANK FILLER NECK AND FUEL TANK WERE COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,500.

NHTSA ID

10378026

Incident

Jan 10, 2011

Mileage

117,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS SIGNIFICANTLY CORRODED AND RUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE FAILURE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS AGAINST THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS OR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,565.

NHTSA ID

10376679

Incident

Jan 7, 2011

Mileage

117,565 mi

ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING A PARKING SPOT IN A WALGREENS DRUG STORE LOT IN OUR 1998 TOYOTA RAV 4. SHE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF MORE THAN 5 TO 10 MPH. SHE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ABOUT A FEW FEET BEFORE THE PARKING SPOT WHICH CAUSED HER TO JUMP A CURB AND CRASH INTO A COLUMN OUTSIDE OF THE STORE. BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS. MY WIFE HAD EXTENSIVE BRUISING AND GREAT PAIN IN THE CHEST AREA WHICH NECESSITATED A TRIP TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. LUCKILY THE DAMAGE WAS ONLY BRUISES. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STORE COLUMN. IT IS ESTIMATED THE CAR MUST HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 30 MPH OR MORE WHEN IT HIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10356256

Incident

Sep 9, 2010

Mileage

71,300 mi

1998 TOYOTA RAV4. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 7 OF THE 11 YEARS SHE HAS OWNED IT. WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS AT A FULL STOP, AND PROCEEDED TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, NOTHING HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH EXTREME FORCE, SO THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD OR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED UP AND DOWN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD. THE SERVICE CENTER LUBRICATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10334835

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

MY 98 RAV4 STARTED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AFTER WE HIT 120,000 MILES. IT HAS DONE IT ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS ONLY HAPPEND WHEN WE ARE STOPPED AT A LIGHT OR STOPPED TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFIC, IT MAY HAVE DONE IT ONLY 1 OR 2 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. *CN

NHTSA ID

10307109

Incident

Jun 9, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

TOYOTA RAV4 2000 HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION IS MAKING NOISES AND ACTING STRANGE. PROBLEM PRESENTED FIRST IN HIGHWAY 15 IN CONNECTICUT, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. VERY DANGEROUS WITHOUT WARNING INCIDENT. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, BUT VERY FRIGHTENING. AFTER INCIDENT TRANSMISSION START SLIPPING AND MAKING STRANGE NOISES. THE CAR IS PARKED AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. I SAW AN ARTICLE IN THE NY TIMES INDICATING THIS SITE FOR RECORDING COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295470

Incident

Dec 11, 2009

Mileage

132,000 mi

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 TOYOTA RAV4 IN OCTOBER 2009. THE VEHICLE HAS 42,000 MILES. WHEN DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE THE TRUCK BEGAN TO JERK AND LOOSE POWER. WE GOT OFF ON THE NEAREST EXIT AND MADE IT HOME SAFELY. THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE TRUCK HAS DONE THIS AND 4 OCCASIONS. IT PUTS MY DAUGHTER AT RISK FOR BEING REAR ENDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292432

Incident

Nov 5, 2009

Mileage

42,000 mi

NOT SURE WHAT CATEGORY THIS FALLS INTO, BUT EQUIPMENT SEEMS LIKE THE MOST FITTING: I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE HAS SLIGHTLY HIGH MILES (APPROX. 121,000), IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDINGLY AND HAS WORKED GREAT UNTIL RECENTLY. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, VIA HIGHWAY, FIFTH GEAR MYSTERIOUSLY WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED. ONCE PLACED INTO FIFTH, THE GEAR WOULD POP BACK OUT. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE TRANSMISSION IN FIFTH GEAR, IT WAS NECESSARY TO PHYSICALLY HOLD THE STICK INTO POSITION, OTHERWISE IT WOULD POP OUT. UPON RESEARCH INTO THE PROBLEM, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED FIFTH GEAR, ALTHOUGH IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE MAJORITY OF THEIR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE ONLY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE ANOMALY BY TOYOTA FOUND WAS THAT OF A "RE-ISSUE", NOT A RECALL. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE HAZARDOUS TO THE AUTOMOBILES' DRIVER, AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED JERK CAUSED BY THE GEAR NOT ENGAGING. ANOTHER CONCERN THAT ARISES IS THE FACT THAT ATTENTION IS DIVERTED AWAY FROM DRIVING. I HAVE HEARD THAT TOYOTA IS NOTORIOUS FOR ISSUING WHAT I'VE HEARD CALLED "SILENT RECALLS". IF THIS PROBLEM FALLS INTO SUCH A CATEGORY IT IS ASSUMED THAT TOYOTA DOES ACKNOWLEDGE THE HAZARD AND PROBLEM AND WOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR, RIGHT? SINCE THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT, THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND THE FIFTH GEAR WAS REPLACED OUT OF POCKET. MANY ISSUES HAVE COME TO FRUITION SINCE THE REPLACEMENT, BUT THAT IS A CONCERN BETTER BROUGHT UP WITH THE BBB REGARDING THE "TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS" RATHER THAN WITH NHTSA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249709

Incident

Oct 29, 2008

Mileage

121,000 mi

THE GAS PEDAL BROKE OFF THE FIRE WALL , WITH BOLTS STILL IN TACT TO THE GAS PEDAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237472

Incident

Aug 8, 2008

Mileage

400,000 mi

I HAVE A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4 AND THE RETRACTOR OF THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT IS NO LONGER OPERABLE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY REFERRED ME TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND HE OFFERED TO REPLACE AND INSTALL A NEW SEATBELT AND RETRACTOR FOR HALF OF THEIR NORMAL CHARGE OF APPROXIMATELY $400.00. I THINK THEY SHOULD REPLACE IT AT NO CHARGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199796

Incident

Aug 7, 2007

Mileage

109,000 mi

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER A TWO WEEK PERIOD, THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS LEADS TO A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IN TRAFFIC AS IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO REDUCE MOMENTUM RAPIDLY AND COULD BE EASILY REAR-ENDED. THE LAST EVENT OCCURRED ON 6/7/2007, THE DAY BEFORE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A PRIVATE GARAGE. I HAVE ASKED TOYOTA FOR ASSISTANCE ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS DECLINED. THEY HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE PROBLEM, BUT THE COVERAGE IS NOT ADEQUATE. THIS PROBLEM CAN OCCUR AT ANYTIME AFTER THEIR COVERAGE EXPIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10198870

Incident

Jun 7, 2007

Mileage

99,600 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THERE WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE HAD FAILED DUE TO OIL SLUDGE. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10165643

Incident

Sep 17, 2004

Mileage

94,000 mi

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING UP A NARROW MOUNTAIN PASS THE CAR STARTED TO FEEL UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS HYDRO PLANNING EVEN THOUGH THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY. AFTER THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER SHE NOTICED THAT REAR PASSENGER TIRE LOOKED AS THOUGH THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC FOR AAA STATED THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10129199

Incident

Jul 17, 2005

I WAS DRIVING UPHILL ON 4 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED SPEED DROPPING, I HAD DROPPED TO 50 MPH, THEN STARTED TO HEAR METAL BANGING, I WAS STARTING TO HEAD TO BURM WHEN SOME VERY LOUD METALLIC BANGS HAPPENED, AND ONE OR MORE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND SENT ME INTO A SPIN TO THE RIGHT, AND I HIT GAURD RAILS. I WAS ON RT. 68 EASTBOUND IN MARYLAND, ON SIDELING HILL. AFTER HAVING IT IN THE GARAGE THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT A GASKET OR SEAL LEAKED ON THE DIFFERENTIAL, THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE NEVER HAD IT HAPPEN, NOR DO THEY NO WHY.

NHTSA ID

10098588

Incident

Oct 29, 2004

Mileage

103,000 mi