Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 704 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Toyota RAV4. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 704 · page 1 of 29
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2006 Toyota Rav4. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 122,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 199,694.
My 2006 Toyota RAV4 was supposedly repaired under the rear suspension arm recall (C0J / G0V), but the rear tie rod ends still have yellow stickers reading “this is a recalled part” and no epoxy on the bolts. A Toyota dealer refused to inspect the vehicle and relied solely on the VIN record. The car now rides roughly, and I believe additional suspension components have been damaged due to the unresolved recall. I am concerned for my safety and request NHTSA investigation.
For several months the 2006 Rav4 with only 118k miles had been experiencing intermittent failure of power steering while driving at speeds between 5-20mph. These failures resulted in the steering wheel to become extremely difficult if not impossible to turn while the car is driving. In each incident, this resulted in stopping the car and putting on emergency lights until we can safely turn off the car and hopefully the issue goes away several minutes later. This issue has proven to be very dangerous when in traffic with no place to pull over and with the steering tightening up, it is not even possible to pull over in most cases. Four different mechanical shops tried to replicate the issue and none were able to determine the root cause nor replicate it consistently. This issue has been happening more frequently now and the car cannot be taken out safely. As [XXX] drivers, this is not safe by any means and Toyota should consider this a critical safety recall and cover towing costs to move this. There are no signs of instrument lights or any leaks coming from the car. This seems to be entirely a malfunction of steering components. With regard to incidents resulting from this, my mother is the primary driver, she is [XXX] old and injured her wrist trying to move the steering wheel to a safe location. Her wrist is still in pain several days later. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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.
The vehicle is owned and operated in Costa Rica. I submitted the vehicle for the 4 incomplete recall items associated with its VIN. I was told by Grupo Purdy Toyota of Costa Rica that Manufacturer Recall Number G0V NHTSA Recall Number16V596 does not apply in Costa Rica and they declined to complete the recall remedy. Is this correct or should they be completing the recall remedy?
I notified Toyota of an issue with my car a couple years ago. One day I came out to find my car missing big portions of paint (it had been a windy night); all of the paint in the attached photos came off in a single night and day, which is not normal paint performance. I came to find out that other years for the same make and model had a recall program for "pearl white paint". The issue seemed to be affecting my vehicle too. With large portions of paint peeling freely of the body of my vehicle, it began to rust. Rust eroding the structure of a vehicle can make the car unsafe for drivers and passengers. In an accident situation, the structure of the vehicle may be compromised by the rust, leading to more severe harm to occupants. Additionally, if the roof of the car is compromised, moisture could leak into the interior systems and cabin space, leading to other hazards, with potentially severely harmful outcomes. Toyotas response to the photos, report from the dealership, and BBB complaint I filed was: "your vehicle has not been identified as one of the vehicles impacted by the pearl white paint issue". Therefore, I had to pay to repaint my whole vehicle out of pocket. It was clear from the pictures and report that the paint issue was directly affecting my vehicle, but Toyota refused to acknowledge this and rectify the hazard.
The contact owned a 2006 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard a scraping and shuddering sound at the hood of the vehicle. The contact then stated that another vehicle noticed a spark underneath the vehicle and notified his wife. The contact’s wife was able to veer the vehicle off the road and exit the vehicle when the hood of the vehicle started to inflame. No warning lights were illuminated. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Two days ago my car was driving perfectly on the highway. The oil pressure light turned on I turned off the highway immediately and put more oil in the car. At this point my car is consuming over a quart every week and I don't drive more than a couple of hundred miles every week. I've taken several longer trips with this car. I started the car back up after checking the oil level, started driving and the light didn't come back on. About 10 more miles down the road on the highway the oil pressure light the check engine light vsc light the four-wheel drive light appear. I go to an AutoZone and I get a code p0012. I've done lots of research and I've learned that this is all related to Toyota's well-known defective design and manufacturing of their engines. I have a 2az Fe engine. I bought this car with 125,000 miles on it in 2020. It now has about 154,000 mi on it. I didn't know that the oil consumption was extreme until this point of research. Now my car is making a rattling sound most likely the engine needs to be replaced. Technically yes I can drive it but it will stall and probably light on fire if I do and this is dangerous. They had a TSB warranty extension in 2016 I believe. I did not own the car that time nor do I know if that car was even subjected to the extension notice. But it is well known engine can do this and the Pistons fail around this mileage that my car has. It's out of warranty but I'm reading everywhere people having problems with this year's car and the other cars with this engine right now. There's a whole group of engines that are starting to fail because of these poorly designed Pistons that can affect oil leakage. Not only wasting a precious resource but causing a very dangerous situation for drivers. This should be addressed by Toyota still I want them to fix my engine or replace it before I cause an accident that can lead to death. I'm choosing to not drive it right now but I don't have the luxury of a second car. I may have to drive it.
2006 Toyota Rav4 with 2.4 liter engine burning oil rapidly. Burning approximately 4 quarts of oil in 3,000 miles. Vehicle currently has 100,000 miles. Issue persists even though I maintain routine maintenance on the vehicle. Luckily no safety hazards have occurred yet, but there is a high risk for potential safety hazard. Vehicle has been inspected by 3 different mechanics. I have been told by 3 different mechanics that this is a common issue for cars with this year/engine. About 2,800 miles after high synthetic oil change the vehicle begins to sound like it is struggling to accelerate at low speeds and the check engine oil light will briefly turn on at random then go away. Light does not stay lit or continuously flicker.
The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while making a right or left turn, there was a loud popping sound coming from the steering wheel. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that the popping noise was progressively louder while steering to make a turn. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering linkage needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
While my son was driving me the vehicles steering wheel locked and he was unable to steer the vehicle. It caused us to go off the road down a steep hill and wreck. I’ve never had any problems with this vehicle so it was completely unexpected. If there had been anyone in our path we wouldn’t of been able to stop from hitting them. It has not been inspected but there are witnesses to the accident
Clunking noise when turning steering wheel right or left. Numerous complaints from 006 RAV 4 owners. Fear that my steering will fail and cause an accident or Death. The issue is a defective intermediate steering shaft. Toyota will not issue a recall and will only repair if vehicle is still under warranty. How many complaints, accidents, or deaths will it take for this manufacturer to do the right thing???
My Toyota RAV4 started smoking by the headlights last night while I was driving on the highway. I pulled over and opened the hood to see what was happening and it burst into flames. The car completely burned. Nothing left! I see on the internet that other people have had this happen. Please investigate.
excessive oil consumption 1 1/2 quart oil every 600 miles
The rear subframe in my '06 Toyota RAV4 has rusted through. This is a key structural part of the vehicle, all of the rear suspension components attach to this subframe, so it's concerning to see the integrity of the subframe completely compromised. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps or symptoms of the failure. I happened to be under the car checking out an issue with a heat shield when I happened to notice the frame condition.
This 2006 Rav4 engine is known for its massive oil consumption due to the faulty piston rings. Always kept oil in it and had regular changes because of this issue. Checked the oil 2 days prior to the engine failure, and all was well. Driving down the hwy going around 70mph, the engine started to lose power and sound funny (high rpm sounds with no power), so I took my foot off the gas and coasted for a few seconds. Down to 50mph, I hit the gas pedal, and then a loud BOOM happened and car shook. Smoke from the engine, and then all the dash lights came on. Lost all power. Looked under the engine and a piston had blown a hole through the bottom of it. Needs new engine now. Mechanic inspected it and they documented with a picture. Thankfully I was not injured as that could have caused a serious wreck, especially if there was someone behind me. I've read about these engines being blown regularly online. Even some before 100k miles. No warnings before this happened.
THIS COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO DISCOVERY SRX P215/70R16 COOPER TIRES WHICH WERE BOUGHT ON OCTOBER 23 2018. THESE TIRES ARE IDENTICAL TO RECALL 'NHTSA RECALL NO. - 19T-005 AFFECTING COOPER DISCOVERER' AND COOPER EVOLUTION' TIRES' ONLY THEY ARE THE 16 INCH TIRES. WE BELIEVE THAT THE 16 INCH TIRES SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. HERE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH THESE TIRES: 1.10-23-18 PURCHASED DISCOVERY SRX P215/70R16 COOPER TIRES WITH ROAD HAZARD FROM BLAINS FARM & FLEET IN VERONA WI VEHICLE MILES 106292 2.10-28-18 REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW FOR NO REASON, CHANGED AND RETURNED TO BLAINS FOR REPLACEMENT (NO RECEIPT WAS GIVEN) 3.11-25-18 WHILE DRIVING HOME AND ROUNDING A CORNER, THE CAR VEERED INTO A CURVE AND DESTROYED THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE, RIM, AND WHEEL COVERS ON BOTH WHEELS. REAR TIRE WAS ALSO REPLACED BECAUSE OF BULGE ON TIRE. WE PAID THE $770.46 BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS OUR FAULT BUT NOW ARE WONDERING IF THIS WAS A TIRE ISSUE TOO. MILEAGE 107274 4. 02/21/2019 FOUND BULGE IN REAR PASSENGER TIRE, REPLACED TIRE AT BLAINS FARM AND FLEET 5.2/27/19 HAD ALIGNMENT CHECKED BECAUSE TIRE FELT LIKE THEY WERE NOISY AND WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. 6.04/16/21 FOUND BULGE IN DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE AND WILL HAVE REPLACED. CALLED DAVID AT COOPER TO EXPLAIN ALL OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD SAY THAT THE FAILURES ALIGN WITH RECALL 19T-005 EXCEPT FOR THE SIZE OF THE TIRE. HE SAID THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING EXCEPT WANTED US TO TAKE THE TIRE WITH THE BULGE TO THE DEALER, WHICH WILL DO.
FOR SOME TIME THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COMING ON AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED BY MECHANICS, INCLUDING ONE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FOUND. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STATIONARY, BUT I BELIEVE MY SON SAID IT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM WHILE IN MOTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING OIL AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE OIL WAS LEAKING AND EXCESSIVELY BURNING TO THE EXTENT THAT IT COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A WARRANTY RELATED CAMPAIGN REGARDING THE ENGINE HAD BEEN ISSUED HOWEVER, THE TIME-FRAME WAS EXCEEDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
I BOUGHT A USED 2006 RAV4 3.5 L V-6, AFTER A MONTH A BOUGHT IT. I NOTICED WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT I HEARD A CLUNK SOUND. I FOUND OUT THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS THE PROBLEM. THIS COMMON TO MOST RAV4, DEALERSHIP IT'S NORMAL BUT TO ME IT DOESN'T FELL NORMAL WHEN I'M DRIVING, IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS WILL COME OUT OR BROKE OFF. KIND OF SCARY THING TO FEEL WHEN DRIVING. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE COULD HURT OR DIE.
THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL DUE TO BAD PISTON RINGS. I DID SOME DIGGING FOUND THAT THAT IT WAS MANUFACTURED THIS WAY.
AS A RESULT OF HAVING RECALL 16V596000 PERFORMED, REAR TOE ARMS ARE NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE FOR ALIGNMENTS. CONTACTED TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR AT THEIR COST THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSES PREMATURE RUST, OFFERED NO SOLUTIONS. CAUSES PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, LOSS OF TRACTION.
THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING OIL CONSUMPTION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THEY FILLED UP THE OIL AND TOLD ME TO COME BACK AFTER 3000 MILES BUT TO NOT FILL THE OIL. HALFWAY IN, THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED. BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN 3000 MILES, I COULD NOT TAKE IT BACK FOR A FIX. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO ADD OIL OR THE ENGINE BLOWS. WHEN I DID TAKE IT BACK, I WAS GIVEN THE RESPONSE THAT THE VEHICLE BURNS A NORMAL AMOUNT OF OIL AND I TOLD THEM I HAD TO FILL IT IN BETWEEN TO AVOID THE ENGINE BLOWING. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE RECALL. I CONTACTED TOYOTA WHO ALSO REFUSED TO FIX THE RECALL BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP HAD WRITTEN "NORMAL" CONSUMPTION. THE VEHICLE BURNS OIL AT A VERY RAPID RATE AND I WOULD LIKE THIS RECALL PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE.
HAD MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL SERVICES. I ALSO HAD RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE TUNEUP AND BRAKE FLUID DRAIN AND REFILL. WHEN I LEFT THE PARKING LOT OF THE DEALERSHIP, I CROSSED 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC, BRAKED, WAITED FOR ALTERNATE TRAFFIC TO PASS BEFORE TURNING ONTO THE CITY STREET WITH MY FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED, LURCHED THEN ACCELERATED AGAIN WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS AND CONTINUING TO BRAKE WHEN IT ACCELERATED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY TOWED IT BACK IN. AFTER THEY PERFORMED SEVERAL TESTS AND TEST DRIVE IT THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE SAME THING. THERE WERE TWO PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES THAT I DID NOT REPORT TO THIS ENTITY SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR USED. THEY HAPPENED CLOSE TOGETHER AND NOT AGAIN UNTIL THE MOST RECENT EVENT. I BELIEVE THE PROHIBITIVE COST OF THROTTLE BODY AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL MODULE ($1,519.40) WHICH ARE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE FLOOR MATS, IS WHY THE PREVIOUS OWNER SOLD THE CAR TO ME. NO WARNING FORTHCOMING, EVEN THOUGH I DID ASK.
THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL LIKE MAD. I PURCHASED IT THREE WEEKS AGO AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES WHEN I LOOKED AT IT. I HOOKED MY OBD II SCANNER AND NO CODES POPPED, WHICH MADE ME GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE IT. I HEARD ABOUT THE TOYOTA 2AZ-FE ENGINES HAVING OIL ISSUES, BUT THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND. MY MECHANIC CHANGED MY OIL A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO AND NOTIFIED ME THAT I WAS A QUART LOW, BUT FILLED IT FOR ME. HE TOLD ME IF I WAS CONCERNED TO MONITOR IT, WHICH I HAVE. TONIGHT, FEBRUARY 27, 2020, I CHECKED MY OIL WHILE IT'S STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY AND HAS NOT BEEN ON FOR OVER FOUR HOURS AND IT'S RIGHT AROUND THE LOW LEVEL LINE. I GOT MY OIL CHANGED AT 163,035 MILES. IT'S NOW LOW AT 163,260 MILES! I'M SCARED AND CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT BECAUSE BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT AND WORKING, I WOULD DREAD THAT MY RAV4'S ENGINE BLOWS UP OR SEIZES ON ME OUT OF NO WHERE. PLEASE, THIS ISSUE IS SCARY AND CAN PLACE A LOT OF PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN DANGER. I CAN PROVIDE PAPERWORK OF THE DAY OF THE OIL CHANGE AND MY ODOMETER. I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT WHICH I WILL ATTACH.
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.
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