2000 Toyota RAV4 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2000 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while inspecting the battery, there were white hard stains on the battery and the parts holding the battery in place, causing the battery to move independently, allowing the battery to leak. An Independent mechanic was contacted. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic. The battery was replaced at Jiffy Lube, and the contact was informed that a screw was missing and that the battery was loose. The contact was informed to be careful while driving the vehicle. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 172,000.

NHTSA ID

11697471

Incident

Nov 3, 2025

Mileage

172,000 mi

SENT FOR INSPECTION FAILED FOR BAD CONTROL ARM AND FOR RUSTED OUT ENGINE CRADLE NEEDS REPLACED

NHTSA ID

10744622

Incident

Jul 29, 2015

Mileage

203,814 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,266.

NHTSA ID

10731517

Incident

Jun 28, 2015

Mileage

169,266 mi

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS REMAINS ON THOUGH THERE IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT CAN BE FOUND BY ANY REPAIR SHOPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680322

Incident

Feb 2, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF FIFTH GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

NHTSA ID

10532662

Incident

Jul 5, 2005

Mileage

62,000 mi

I SENT INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY RE MY MOTHER'S ACCIDENT BUT DID NOT HAVE THE VIN. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR, FATAL FRONT-END MVA INTO A SMALL, RESULTING IN WHAT THE MECHANIC CALLED "INCREDIBLE DAMAGE TO ENGINE - IT CAUSED MORE INTERNAL DAMAGE THAN YOU'D THINK" AND HE WONDERED ABOUT HIGH SPEED. I AM ASKING YOU TO LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF RAPID ACCELERATION VS BRAKE ISSUE, RESULTING IN A HIGHER ENERGY (THAN WOULD BE EXPECTED) CRASH. I HAVE THE POLICE REPORT ETC. PREVIOUSLY, SHE HAD NEVER EVEN RECEIVED A TICKET (AND WAS ALMOST 59 YRS OLD). THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10506041

Incident

Jul 31, 2000

Mileage

3,894 mi

THE ENGINE CRADLE AND CONTROL ARMS ARE PREMATURELY CORRODED. THERE ARE UNUSUALLY LARGE HOLES IN THE STEEL. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10455380

Incident

Apr 10, 2012

Mileage

96,000 mi

I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT WILL NOT PASS NYS SAFETY INSPECTION, BECAUSE OF A RUSTED FRONT ENGINE SUBFRAME. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE FRAME AND SEEMS THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE EARLY IN THE CARS LIFESPAN, THE CAR HAS 108K MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399068

Incident

May 4, 2011

Mileage

108,000 mi

TOYOTA CRASHED INTO TREE, RESULTING IN FATAL INJURIES THAT MAY BE CONSISTENT WITH HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT, NO DECELERATION. 59 YR OLD DRIVER HAD NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE. NEW TOYOTA RAV4. MECHANIC REMARKED ON DAMAGE TO VEHICLE GIVEN LOCATION OF ACCIDENT. UPDATED 03/04/11 *BF*TR

NHTSA ID

10384256

Incident

Jul 31, 2000

WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH IN A 2000 TOYOTA RAV4. MOVED TO LEFT LANE TO PASS AND ACCELERATED TO APPROX. 49 MPH. ACCELERATOR JOLTED TO A VERY HIGH RPM AND SPEED INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. MOVED INTO A LEFT HAND TURN LANE; AND PUT THE VEHICLE INTO "NEUTRAL". AFTER 10-12 SECONDS THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION RETURNED TO IDLE. REPORTED TO (2) TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS. I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY NOTICE OR RECALL FOR THIS YEAR/MODEL OF TOYOTA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10324682

Incident

Apr 9, 2010

Mileage

170,000 mi

GAS PEDAL NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN DEPRESSED NO ACTION & THEN ACCELERATES QUICKLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320022

Incident

Feb 15, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHEN THE NEWS CAME OUT REGARDING THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE TOYOTAS, I RECALLED HAVING A SIMILAR PROGRAM WITH MY 2000 RAV 4. ON JULY 8,2002 I EXPERIENCED AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS GOING AROUND 55 MPH ON FREEWAY, WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. DESPITE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 70MPH FROM 55MPH. I TRIED PUTTING MY FOOT UNDER THE THROTTLE TO PULL IT UP WITHOUT SUCCESS, I ALSO TRIED PUSHING BACK ON THE MAT, THINKING THE MATT WAS IN THE WAY, BUT THE MATT WAS NOT STUCK UP AGAINST THE THROTTLE. I ALSO PUT ON MY FLASHERS TO TRY AND WARN OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM. I KEPT THINKING, "WITH A GAS TANK HALF FULL, I WOULD NEED TO TRY AND DRIVE TO SEATTLE IN ORDER FOR THE GAS TO RUN OUT, WHICH WOULD THEN STOP THE CAR". MEANWHILE, I CONTINUED TO KEEP TRYING TO PUSH THE THROTTLE UP WITH MY FOOT AND APPLY THE BRAKES. AFTER WHAT SEEMED LIKE AN ETERNITY, BUT WAS PROBABLY ONLY A FEW MINUTES, BECAUSE I DROVE PASS MY USUAL EXIT , THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND I HAD CONTROL OF THE CAR AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW IF MY PUSHING UNDER AND UP ON THE THROTTLE DID IT. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY "DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT". I STILL HAVE THE SERVICE INVOICE , WHICH DOCUMENTS MY PROBLEM. NATURALLY I WAS FRIGHTENED BY THE WHOLE SITUATION AND IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN. HOWEVER, I ALSO HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION SINCE. IT SEEMS THOUGH THAT TOYOTA'S ACCELERATION PROBLEM STARTED WAY BACK. MAYBE THERE ARE OTHER OLDER RAV4S OUT THERE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TEND TO KEEP ALL MY CAR INVOICES, SO LIKE I SAID I HAVE THE ORIGINAL INVOICE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319375

Incident

Jul 8, 2002

Mileage

43,112 mi

WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THE ENGINE REVS UP ON ITS OWN AND STARTS MOVING. THE FOOT IS ONLY ON THE BRAKE AND NOT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST MANY YEARS BUT NOT ALWAYS. WHENEVER IT HAPPENS, I BRING IT TO 'NEUTRAL' FROM 'DRIVE' GEAR POSITION TO STOP IT FROM MOVING. AS I AM HEARING RECALLS SOMEWHAT RELATED TO THIS KIND OF ISSUES, I AM BRINGING IT UP SO THAT IT MAY ALSO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN YOUR INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10304547

Incident

Jan 2, 2010

Mileage

110,000 mi

I BOUGHT 4 NEW GOODYEAR TRACKER 2 TIRES SIZE P22570R16 FROM WALMART THAT ARE WARRANTIED FOR 50,000 MILES. AFTER ABOUT 10,000 I NOTICED SOME DRY ROT AND CRACKING IN BETWEEN THE TREADS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO WALMART AND SHOWED THEM. THE TIRE MANAGER SAID HE'S SEEN A LOT OF THIS WITH THESE TIRES BUT SAID THEY HAD TO CONTACT GOODYEAR BEFORE ANYTHING COULD BE DONE. THE NEXT DAY THE STORE MANAGER CALLED ME BACK AND SAID THEY SPOKE WITH GOODYEAR AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND HAVE SOMETHING DONE AND THE TIRES REPLACED BEFORE IT DOES CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR FATALITIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10267612

Incident

Apr 30, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA RAV 4. IN AN ATTEMPT TO FASTEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT, IT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ALSO DOES NOT ADJUST PROPERLY. THE ENGINE SIZE OR THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10222197

Incident

Mar 17, 2008

Mileage

179,000 mi

MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY CAME OUT OF FIFTH GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING 50-70 MPH. CAR WAS TAKEN TO AN REPAIR FACILITY OTHER THAN TOYOTA, WHERE A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS FOUND. CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. TOYOTA OF AMERICA WAS NOTIFIED. I WAS INFORMED THAT TOYOTA DID NOT CONSIDER THIS 'PROBLEM' WHICH THEY KNEW OF WORTHY OF A RECALL BECAUSE IT DID NOT EFFECT ENOUGH VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197731

Incident

Aug 20, 2003

Mileage

72,000 mi

2000 RAV4. THE WHEEL IS FAILING, DISINTEGRATING. SEVERAL CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE WHEEL RIM, AND THE INNER PART OF THE WHEEL - THE SPOKES - IS SEPARATING FROM THE OUTER PART. THIS IS THE SECOND WHEEL TO FAIL ON THIS VEHICLE, WHICH MAKES IT SURPRISING THAT I HAVE NOT HEARD OF OTHERS. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I REPORTED THE FIRST FAILURE, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, TO TOYOTA CANADA, AND WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER, WHO LISTENED POLITELY, AND OFFERED NOTHING MORE BY WAY OF HELP OR SOLUTION. I HAVE NOT BOTHERED TO REPORT THIS ONE

NHTSA ID

10193021

Incident

Jun 9, 2007

Mileage

174,000 mi

TOYOTA RAV4 2000, 210,000KM. THUMPING NOISE DEVELOPED IN VEHICLE. AFTER LONG SEARCH BY SERVICE SHOP AND BY FRIENDS, NOISE WAS TRACED TO REAR RIGHT WHEEL. INNER CORE OF WHEEL WAS SEPARATING FROM OUTER RIM. THREE BREAKS HAD OCCURRED AT THE WELDS. UNDETECTABLE WHILE ON VEHICLE HOIST. CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LUCKY THAT IT DID NOT FAIL ON A HIGH SPEED TURN. REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA CANADA BY EMAIL. CONTACTED DEALER BY PHONE. SERVICE MANAGER AT THIS SMALL DEALERSHIP SAID HE HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM "TWO OR THREE TIMES" PREVIOUSLY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163394

Incident

Jul 22, 2006

Mileage

131,000 mi

THE CODE SCANNER ON BOTH MY AND MY MOTHER-IN-LAWS TOYOTA RAV4 (2000 AND 2002) HAVE READ ERRORS WITH THE FUEL RATIO AND NOW OURS IS CLAIMING THAT THE AIR FUEL RATIO SENSORS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OURS REPORTED ERRORS P1130 AND P1133. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157763

Incident

May 17, 2006

Mileage

92,386 mi

MANUAL TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY CAME OUT OF FIFTH GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING 50-70 MPH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10099314

Incident

Oct 25, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE SPACE SAVER WHEEL IS MADE OF STEEL, AND THE VEHICLE WHEELS THAT CAME ON THE VEHICLE ARE MADE OF ALLOY. THE SPARE SAVER WHEEL ONLY REQUIRES 3 LUGS:NUTS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WHEELS REQUIRE 5 LUGS:NUTS". CONSUMER FEELS THAT SPACE SAVER WHEEL WILL NOT BE AS SAFE AS THE WHEEL THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE MADE OF ALLOY, AND REQUIRES MORE LUGS:NUTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10044425

CONSUMER NOTIFIED, AIR CONDIONER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY (MOLDY) DEALER HAS INSPECTED SEVERAL TIME AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION TS

NHTSA ID

8021756

Incident

Oct 28, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH CONSUMER DEACTIVATED CRUISE CONTROL RPMS STAYED SPEEDED UP. IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO SLOW DOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8017561

Incident

Aug 17, 2002

WHEN IN REVERSE THERE IS A LOUD NOISE AT ALL TIMES. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSSMISION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011127

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

WINDSHIELD HAS LOTS OF SMALL CHIPS ON IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN SANDBLASTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011125

Incident

Oct 15, 2000