2006 Toyota RAV4 Body & structure Problems

Rear subframe rusted out. I took it in because my car started sounding like the Titanic after it hit an iceberg. The mechanic described it as “a giant hole in the bottom of the car.” I read there were recalls on frames for other Toyotas, but we kept up with every recall on this vehicle and the subframe was never listed as an issue. I get a regular multipoint inspection at the Toyota dealership about every six months, and no one caught this. I was told it is not safe to drive, and will snap at any time. I am lucky I did not crash.

NHTSA ID

11651879

Incident

Mar 28, 2025

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR AND FRONT AXLES WERE RUSTED OUT AND RUST COVERED THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CURRY WATER TOWN TOYOTA (832 STRAITS TURNPIKE, WATERTOWN, CT 06795, (203) 758-8261), BUT THE MECHANICS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. .*BF CONSUMER STATED THE TOYOTA DEALER IN WATERTOWN, CT (CURRY) REFUSED TO DO A SAFETY RECALL ON THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM DUE TO AXLE RUST. THIS RUST WAS NEVER BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION PREVIOUSLY. *JB

NHTSA ID

11204002

Incident

Apr 7, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

VEHICLE FRAME CHASSIS CORROSION UNSAFE DEFECTS.

NHTSA ID

10935904

Incident

Dec 16, 2016

HOW DO I GET MY NAME REMOVED FROM ANY COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING THE ABOVE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOTALED IN JUNE, 2010. I HAVE TRIED COMMUNICATING THIS TO TOYOTA AND STILL RECEIVE RECALL NOTICES. I AM NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS CAR...NOTIFICATION OF IT BEING TOTALED WAS FILED WITH THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING IN JUNE, 2010. THIS VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND TOTALED REGARDS, [XXX] [XXX]@HOTMAIL.COM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

10733431

Incident

Jun 21, 2010

Mileage

101,000 mi

I TOOK MY CAR TO CONICELLI TOYOTA, IN SPRINGFIELD PA., FOR A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE COUPLING SUB-ASSY, PART # 41303-42022 HAD TO BE REPLACE & WOULD COST $1450.00. REALLY!!! A ODD PART THAT DOES NOT GO BAD IN A CAR, BUT TOYOTA HAVING ISSUES WITH IT. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR SINCE I NEED MY CAR & I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THIS SHOULD OF BEEN COVERED UNDER SPECAIL POLICY ADJUSTMENT WAB2190. THE TSB# IS TSB 0080-13. PLEASE LET ME KNOW ON THIS. *JS

NHTSA ID

10585486

Incident

Apr 25, 2014

Mileage

86,469 mi

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH US GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND POSTED IN BANGKOK, THAILAND SINCE SEPTEMBER 2011. WE SHIPPED OUR CAR IN OUR CURRENT POST AND USING IT HERE IN BANGKOK. WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA LAST YEAR 2013 FOR OUR RAV 4 VEHICLE. I CALLED THE TOYOTA COMPANY AND TOLD THEM OUR CASE BUT UNTIL NOW WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY ACTIONS FROM THEM YET. WE CALLED THEM 4 TIMES, I FORGOT THE FIRST DATE, 2ND CALL WAS APRIL 15, 2013, 3RD CALL WAS JAN 6, 2014 AND FEBRUARY 2, 2014. WE WILL BE MOVING TO OUR NEXT ASSIGNMENT TO ADDIS ABABA AND STILL PLANNING TO BRING OUR CAR WHEN WE MOVE NEXT MONTH. THEY GAVE ME THIS CASE NUMBER : 130-227-0141. I THINK WE HAVE BETTER CHANCE TO FIX THE CAR HERE IN THAILAND THAN IN ADDIS ABABA BUT TOYOTA HAVEN'T INFORM US ABOUT THE NEXT STEP. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT OUR CAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. RESPECTFULLY YOURS, DANILO FRANCISCO

NHTSA ID

10568332

Incident

Mar 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD WAS EXTREMELY SOAKED WITH WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE PLASTIC COWL COVER AND SEAL PLATE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIRS AND THE FLOORBOARD BECAME MOLDED IN ADDITION TO CONDENSATION BUILDING ON THE WINDOWS FROM THE MOISTURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE WATER BEGAN TO FREEZE DUE TO THE COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,825.

NHTSA ID

10442907

Incident

Feb 8, 2008

Mileage

9,825 mi

LETTER ON BEHALF OF RE TOYOTA CHARGING HER FOR A REPAIR ON HER 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT SHE FEELS SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT WHEN THE TECHNICAL SERVICE REPORT CAME OUT IN 2006 RE A COWL PANEL WATER LEAK *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED DURING A HEAVY RAINSTORM, WATER BEGAN LEAKING ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA CORP. SHE WAS INFORMED HER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID

10429869

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

MY 2006 RAV 4 HAS HAD A SERIES OF FRONT END PROBLEMS DATING FROM JAN 2007 TO APRIL 2009. IT HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP 9 TIMES (WARRANTY WORK) WITH NUMEROUS PARTS BEING REPLACED BEFORE TOYOTA HAD THEIR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REP COME AND LOOK AT IT. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING JUST ABOUT ALL OF THE FRONT END COMPONENT PARTS EXCEPT THE STEERING. THAT WAS THE 10TH TIME THE CAR WAS IN. NOW AFTER 21 MONTHS THE SOUND IS BACK AND I CAN EVEN FEEL VIBRATION KNOCK IN THE STEERING. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2006. MILEAGE AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE WAS 4847. MILEAGE IN APRIL 2009 WAS 26737. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41800. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH THE FEELING THAT SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK WHILE I'M MAKING A SHARP TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372426

Incident

Jan 16, 2007

Mileage

26,737 mi

WE BOUGHT OUR 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 IN FEBRUARY 2006 AND IT BEGAN LEAKING WATER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR AREA THIS PAST FALL WITH THE FIRST RAINS. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE LEARNED THAT TOYOTA ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (BO021-06 REVISED) NOVEMBER 1, 2006 SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH THE WATER LEAKAGE PROBLEM, THEY TITLE; COWL PANEL WATER LEAK. HOWEVER, TOYOTA NEVER CONTACTED US AND WE ARE BEYOND THE 36,000 MILE OR 3 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD SO THEY WILL DO NOTHING TO MITIGATE THIS DESIGN FLAW. SINCE THEY DIDN'T CONTACT US WHEN THEY LEARNED OF THIS PROBLEM, WHEN WE COULDN'T HAVE IT REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, IT APPEARS TOYOTA ONLY WANTS TO MAKE MONEY ON REPAIRS FOR THEIR KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316337

Incident

Nov 21, 2009

Mileage

85,000 mi

CLUNKING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CHIPPED PAINT ON THE HOOD, AND A JUMBLED RADIO SCREEN. RADIO FIXED, STEERING COLUMN ONGOING, PAINT STILL CHIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293436

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE CAR WAS LIFTED UP TO REPLACE TIRES AND SOMEHOW THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS PUSHED UP AND GOT STUCK WITH THE EXIT INSIDE THE BUMPER LEADING TO A FIRE AND MELTING THE BUMPER. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE CAR DEALER AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE TIRES PLACE DIDN'T NOTICED THAT THE EXHAUSTED SYSTEM WAS STUCK UP.THE BUMPER WAS REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10285738

Incident

Jun 12, 2009

Mileage

42,000 mi

SINCE DAY ONE THERE WAS A KNOCKING/POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL AT PARK AND LOW SPEEDS. I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES AND FINALLY, AND IRONICALLY, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE. PREVIOUS TRIPS YIELDED THE EVER PRESENT "COULD NOT DUPLICATE". HOWEVER STEERING ADJUSTMENTS VIA AN ALIGNMENT WAS ATTEMPTED. COULD NOT DUPLICATE BUT TRIED SOMETHING ANYWAY? THE IRONIC PART ABOUT WHEN THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE NOISE IS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS 4000 MILES PAST WARRANTY. FUNNY HOW SUCH AN OBVIOUS THING CAN GO UNNOTICED UNTIL WARRANTY EXPIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253513

Incident

Dec 20, 2008

Mileage

5 mi

WATER LEAKING IN ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE INTERIOR OF CAR IS BLACK DID NOT NOTICE LEAK UNTIL MOLD AND MILDEW STARTED TO FORM AND CAUSE ORDER IN THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE OCTOBER OF 2007. MOST RECENTLY DID NOT NOTICE LEAK UNTIL FOOT SLIPPED OFF OF BRAKE FROM SOLE OF SHOE BEING WET. MY CONCERN IS THE POSSIBLE MOLD AND MILDEW AND FOOT SLIPPING OFF OF BRAKE OR GAS PEDDLE FROM SOLE OF SHOE BEING WET. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUE APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES WITH NO PERMANENT SOLUTION BEING REACHED. TOYOTA 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT CONTACTED REGARDING PROBLEM AND WAS ISSUED A CASE NUMBER (200806260919). I WAS CONTACTED BY CASE WORKER TOLD THAT THIS WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE BECAUSE LEAVES WERE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. BUT ON THE SERVICE RECORD STATES THAT NO CAUSE COULD BE DETERMINED AND THAT THEY CLEANED OFF CONDENSATION DISCHARGE TUBE AND ORDERED THE CAR DETAILED TO REMOVE ODOR, WHICH WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232588

Incident

Aug 1, 2007

AFTER A SESSION OF HEAVY RAIN WATER LEAKS ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. IT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER PROLONGED RAIN AND SEEMS TO BE LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE BENEATH THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I'VE READ ONLINE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222313

Incident

Mar 25, 2008

Mileage

10,000 mi

FRONT CUP HOLDERS FOR THE 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 ARE INADEQUATE FOR HOLDING MOST CUP SIZES WITHOUT FEAR OF THE CUP TIPPING OVER. THE LOCKING MECHANISM TO SECURE A CUP DOES NOT ACCOMMODATE LARGE OR MEDIUM DIAMETER SIZED CUPS (ONLY SMALL DIAMETER CUPS CAN BE SECURED IN THE HOLDER). I ALMOST SCALDED MYSELF ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS DUE TO THE CUP TIPPING OVER UPON MAKING A TURN. TOYOTA IS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE IT ISSUED A RETROFIT FOR THE 2006 AND 2007 VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214123

Incident

Apr 1, 2006

TOYOTA RAV4 2006 LEAKS INTO PASSENGER SIDE COMPARTMENT LEAVING FLOOR AND FRONT INSULATION SOAKED WITH RAIN WATER. THIS RESULTS IN SEVERE MILDEW AND MOLD WITH HORRIBLE SMELL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. REPAIRS SUPPOSEDLY MADE AND INSULATION REPLACED BUT CAR STILL SMELLS BADLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211872

Incident

Nov 1, 2007

Mileage

13,000 mi

WATER LEAKING ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR...CARPET IS SOAKED. APPEARS TO HAPPEN AFTER HEAVY RAIN. WE ARE BRINGING IT IN TO DEALER AGAIN TOMORROW - THIS IS THE THIRD TIME. THEY SAID THEY WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THE A/C IS LEAKING. THE WATER GUY WON'T BE IN UNTIL LATE NEXT WEEK AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS ALREADY SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE AND MAY INCUR MORE IF IT CONTINUES TO RAIN BEFORE THIS IS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10200563

Incident

Aug 21, 2007

WATER LEAKING IN THROUGH THE DASHBOARD ON PASSENGER SIDE WHEN IT RAINS. TAKING IT IN TO TOYOTA TODAY. 4-18-07.*AK

NHTSA ID

10188289

Incident

Apr 18, 2007

INCIDENT NO INJURIES SO FAR I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 PURCHASED IN MEXICO SERIAL# TMZD31V865021536 THERE ARE TWO INCIDENTS REPORTED WITH DEALER IN MEXICO BUT NO RESPONSE AT ALL: 1. THE PASSANGER SEAT EXCESIVELY VIBRATES AND WOBBLES WHEN NOBODY IS SEATED, I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT POSES A RISK; I HAVE HAD THREE PREVIUOSLY NEW VEHICLES AND NEVER I HAVE SEEN A SEEN VIBRATE AND MAKE NOISE AND RATTLES BY ITSELF WHEN YOU ARE ON THE ROAD AND NOONE IS SEATED. 2. WATER LEAK FROM THE HEBA OR AIRCONDITION UNIT, I HAVE AT LEAST 4 INSTANCES IN WHICH WATER LEAKS FOM THE IP OR DASH, THE WATER POSSES A RISK OF ELECTRICA SHORT OR MAJOR MAILFUNCTION, IS COMMING FROM INSIDE THE DASHBOARD IN THE PASSANGER SIDE ! PLEASE HELP, DEALER DO NOTHING, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS POSSES A RISK MY GUESS IS YES. I'M REPORTING HERE BECAUSE IN MEXICO THERE IS NOT AN ENTITY AS THIS ONE AND THIS VEHICLE IS ALSO SOLD OVER THE USA. THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED OVER JAPAN AND IS THE VERY SAME THAT TOYOTA SELLS IN AMERICA. *NM

NHTSA ID

10180642

Incident

Jan 24, 2007

Mileage

12 mi

BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR. WHENEVER IT RAINS, WATER COMES DOWN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND MAKES A PUDDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOOT WELL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174698

Incident

Jul 31, 2006

AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING DISPLAY ON RAV-4 LIMITED MODELS WITH ELECTRONIC HVAC CONTROL IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE DURING DAYTIME/SUNLIGHT CONDITIONS, MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO TRY TO READ THE DISPLAY AND DRIVE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10174218

Incident

Feb 21, 2006

Mileage

25 mi