1999 Toyota RAV4 Problems

TODAY I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND MY ENGINE SURGED. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY BRAKING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, AND EVEN THEN IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAS SURGED WHILE BACKING UP. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS OVER THE YEARS THE ENGINE HAS SURGED WHEN THE CAR IS SLOWING DOWN AT A STOPLIGHT OR STOP SIGN, AND USUALLY WHEN I'M GOING UNDER 10 MILES AN HOUR. VERY SCARY! THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH MY FLOOR MAT, WHICH IS FASTENED SECURELY WELL BELOW THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS.ALSO, I'VE NEVER BEEN DISORIENTED AND UNABLE TO TELL WHERE MY FOOT IS. I DON'T DRINK OR SMOKE, AND HAVE A GOOD SAFETY RECORD WITH STATE FARM FOR OVER 40 YEARS. I'VE REPORTED THIS SURGING PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES TO TOYOTA AND THEY CAN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE. THAT'S BECAUSE THE SURGING PROBLEM OCCURS IRREGULARLY, ABOUT ONCE IN EVERY 50 TIMES I BRAKE. AT VARIOUS TIMES I'VE ASKED OTHER DRIVERS OF RAV 4 CARS IF THEY'VE HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND SEVERAL HAVE SAID YES. TOO BAD I NEVER TOOK DOWN THEIR NAMES. I'VE ALSO REPORTED THIS BEFORE TO THE NHTSA, AND NOTHING CAME OF IT. I HAVE FAITH THAT ONE DAY THE PROBLEM WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED. I'M A RETIRED FEDERAL OFFICIAL, SO I HAVE TO THINK THAT WRITING THIS IS NOT A WASTE OF TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A STOP WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,579.

I lost control of the vehicle and I overcorrected causing the car to go airborne. I hit head on into an embankment then continued to roll 3or 4 times before stopping. There were no indications or warnings to make me think these parts were going to malfunction. My airbags never deployed and the seatbelt did not lockup.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V033000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED TOYOTA OF WALLINGFORD (859 N COLONY RD, WALLINGFORD, CT 06492, (888) 927-7559) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION IN THE EVENING, THE RADIO WAS ACTIVATED THE NEXT MORNING. ALSO, THE FAN IN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON SOME OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED AND RENDERED THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V278000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

1999 TOYOTA RAV4 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.*MR THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING. SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN AND THE DRIVER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A TOWEL. AFTER THE FIRE THE TAILLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED. THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT AND WIRING WERE DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

WE TOOK THE RAV4 INTO THE MECHANIC FOR A BRAKE JOB & HE CALLED US TO SAY IT WASN'T ROAD WORTHY BECAUSE THE K-FRAME WAS ALMOST ENTIRELY RUSTED THROUGH AND WE SHOULDN'T PUT OUR CHILDREN IN IT. HE SAID WE SHOULDN'T EVEN DRIVE IT OFF HIS LOT THAT IT COULD HIT A POTHOLE AND BREAK IN TWO. WE CAME & TOOK PICTURES OF ALL THE RUST. HE SAID THE K-FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ROCKER ARMS. WE CAME HOME & RESEARCHED TO FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A COMPANY LIKE TOYOTA WOULDN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A DEFECT LIKE THIS. IT'S CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IMAGINE THE CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE AND INJURY THAT WOULD OCCUR IF I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE DRIVING 65MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY (THAT I HAVE TO TAKE EVERYDAY TO GET ANYWHERE) AND THE FRAME ON THIS VEHICLE BREAKING! I HATE TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME OR MY CHILDREN. ALL BECAUSE TOYOTA DIDN'T MAKE SURE TO MAKE A FUNCTIONAL PART OF THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE OF THEIR VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE ONLY THING KEEPING IT FROM FRACTURING WAS THE STEERING LINKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

I lost control of the vehicle and I overcorrected causing the car to go airborne. I hit head on into an embankment then continued to roll 3or 4 times before stopping. There were no indications or warnings to make me think these parts were going to malfunction. My airbags never deployed and the seatbelt did not lockup.

BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELT CONNECTIONS HAVE STOPPED LATCHING INTO AND LOCKING THE SEAT BELT. I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE REPLACED ABOUT A YEAR AGO, IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT WORKING. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTIONS IF SO WHY AND WHAT IS NEEDED TO BE DONE. *AK

WITHOUT ANY DASH WARNING LIGHT COMING ON 1999 TOYOTA BLEW ITS ENGINE. *BF *TC

VALVE STEM SEALS NEED REPLACED $810.75 BY TOYOTA DEALER 80,000 MILES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME AND CONTROL ARMS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE AND CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 10/8/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. UPDATED 3/23/2015*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME AND CONTROL ARMS WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON 2 LANE ROAD APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE LIGHT TURNED RED AND CAR BRAKES FOR STOP, AT WHICH TIME THE THE LOWER A FRAME COLLAPSED, FORCING CAR TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE CURB, DRIVER SIDE TIRE WAS FORCED UP INTO THE WHEEL WELL. NO INJURIES OCCURED DUE TO LOW SPEED!! HOWEVER WHAT IF IT HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED??? CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND THE "STEEL" A FRAME "CRUMBLED IN MY HAND!!! CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. HARD TO BELIEVE YOU HAVE FAITH THAT THIS CRITICAL MEMBER COULD FAIL SO VIOLENTLY?? HOPE THIS HELPS OTHERS, CHECK NOW!!!!! *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. TO AVOID A COLLISON APPLIED BRAKES AND HIT VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.*AK THIS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JG

1999 TOYOTA RAV BEING DRIVEN BY MY 18 Y/O DAUGHTER. SHE COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR WOULD REV AND THEN JOLT WHEN IT WOULD FINALLY SHIFT INTO GEAR. WE BROUGHT IT TO A AAMCO DEALER TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS DONE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY AT THE TIME WE DECIDED SHE SHOULD DRIVE IT HOME AND PARK IT. IT DIED ON THE WAY HOME WHILE SHE WAS ON THE FREEWAY. IT JUST WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR AND SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF PARLEYS CANYON (I-80) IN UTAH. NOT THE BEST SITUATION FOR A YOUNG GIRL TO BE IN! SHAME ON TOYOTA FOR NOT ADVISING THEIR CUSTOMERS OF THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISING US ON HOW TO PREVENT A WHOLE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT! *TR

TL*- WHILE DRIVING A TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH 80000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER THE TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF FOURTH GEAR AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE . SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WHILE THEY WERE REPAIRING THE GEAR SHIFT, THEY ALSO DETERMINED THAT FIFTH GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. AT 12,000 MILES THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WHILE IN 5TH GEAR. THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT THE SAME TECHNICIAN TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED CORRECTLY. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. 8JB

I HAD A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP ON MY 1999 TOYOTA RAV4 WHICH GAVE ME PROBLEMS UP UNTIL IT STOPPED WORKING, WHICH I HAD TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *TR

THE GAS TANK IN THE CONSUMER'S RAV 4 WAS INSTALLED WITH A HOLE IN IT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOLE WAS HIDDEN BY THE CHASSIS AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION. *JB THE HOLE CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK. *NM

THERE IS RUST IN THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER PASSENGER SIDE. THERE IS A BIG HOLE BECAUSE OF RUST. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IT. *TR

THE UPPER PORTION OF THE HEAD REST JUTS FORWARD, CREATING A DEPRESSION BETWEEN THE DRIVERS HEAD AND SHOULDERS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT IN AN ACCIDENT THE FORCE OF IMPACT OF THE AIRBAG WILL PUSH THE DRIVERS NECK INTO THIS DEPRESSION, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS NECK OR SPINAL INJURY. NLM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS WEARING AT AN ANGLE ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. THE TIRE PROTRUDES OUT TWO INCHES FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOLTS IN THE BACK WERE FROZEN. EVEN THOUGH THE BOLTS WERE ADJUSTABLE, THEY COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST OVER $1,200. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THE DEFECT ON OTHER RAV4 VEHICLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,915.

SPOT WELDS BROKE AWAY FROM FRAME, CAUSING TRAILER HITCH TO SEPARATE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65- 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY AND DROVE OVER EITHER UNEVEN PAVEMENT OR SMALL ROCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER 3 TIMES OR MORE WHICH CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES.*AK

THE OWNERS MANUAL SHOWS THAT A SEAT TETHER ANCHOR CAN BE INSTALLED. HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO INSTALL ONE AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THAT THE MANUAL WAS A MISPRINT AND THE ANCHOR IS ONLY AVAILABLE STARTING IN 2000. *AK