2007 Toyota RAV4 Body & structure Problems

Sub frame is rusted to the point of not being able to pass state inspection requirements.

NHTSA ID

11667304

Incident

Jun 9, 2025

Subframe rusted in half, the only way I found it was when we put new shocks on it. It peeled off about 1/2 the tread on a brand new tire. Dangerous, if passengers side rear tire would've broke loose it would throw rear of car into oncoming traffic!

NHTSA ID

11621510

Incident

Oct 23, 2024

I took my car in to address the panel warning symbols. Was told that my unibody style was no longer safe to drive due to severe rust. Was informed that the car could possibly fall apart.

NHTSA ID

11523055

Incident

May 20, 2023

Frame is rot

NHTSA ID

11473488

Incident

Jun 8, 2022

HOOD MOVES WHEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HOOD IS PROPERLY LATCHED.

NHTSA ID

11182626

Incident

Feb 24, 2019

Mileage

155,000 mi

PAINT "BUBBLING-UP" AND PEELING; PAINT FADING. LOSING OIL.

NHTSA ID

11065656

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC NOTICED SEVERE RUST ON THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11024607

Incident

Sep 20, 2017

ON MARCH 29, 2016, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN THE FAR LEFT LANE WHEN A GENTLEMAN DRIVING A GREEN PICKUP TRUCK COME RUSHING UP BESIDE ME. HE WAS WAVING AT ME POINTING DOWN AT THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF MY TOYOTA. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE I WAS DRIVING ON A FLAT TIRE AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT SO I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW. HE YELLED AS HE WAS STILL POINTING DOWN AT THE FRONT OF MY TOYOTA "YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE". HE GOT AHEAD OF ME AND I PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. HE GOT OUT OF HIS TRUCK AND RAN BACK TO MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 AND SAID "MA'AM, YOU BETTER GET YOUR PURSE AND THINGS AND GET OUT, YOUR CAR IS ON FIRE". AT THAT TIME, SMOKE WAS POURING OUT SOMEWHERE UP FRONT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY THE TIRE. I GOT MY THINGS AND WE MOVED TO THE BACK OF MY TOYOTA WHEN AT THAT TIME, IT WENT UP IN FLAMES. I TOOK CARE OF THAT VEHICLE BECAUSE I CAN NOT AFFORD ANOTHER. MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS IN NOVEMBER 2015 WITH ONLY 50035 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT WAS LAST INSPECTED, EVERYTHING WAS FINE. SO I AM NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW THIS HAPPENED. TIRES WERE ABOUT A YEAR OLD AS WELL. CAR JUST DON'T CATCH ON FIRE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. ON APRIL 4, 2016 A FRIEND AND I TOOK A DRIVE TO MY BURNT VEHICLE AND SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT WAS MY TOYOTA. AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE I HAD WALKED AWAY WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THERE IS NO ENGINE, NO DASHBOARD, NO STEERING WHEEL, NO FRONT SEATS, AND NO BACK SEATS. ALL BURNED! HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

NHTSA ID

10860196

Incident

Mar 29, 2016

Mileage

60,035 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER A MANUFACTURER RECALL WHERE ALL FOUR TIRES WERE ALIGNED. THE DEALER USED AN EPOXY RESIN ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES AND THE FRAMING. MONTHS LATER, AFTER THE MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE AN ALIGNMENT AND TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANICS STATED THAT THE EPOXY PREVENTED THE TIRES FROM RECEIVING A REAR ALIGNMENT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT ONLY THE FRONT ALIGNMENT COULD BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REMEDY THE REMOVAL OF THE EPOXY RESIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10750047

Incident

May 1, 2015

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR FAILURE TO WORK PROPERLY CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE AND POSSIBLE BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. THE SUN VISOR IS NOT STAYING IN THE STOWED POSITION WHICH IS FLAT AGAINST THE INTERIOR ROOF OF THE CAR DUE TO A KNOWN FAILED MECHANISM WITHIN THE SUN VISOR SUCH AS THE SPRING LOADED MECHANISM WHICH IS FAILING. INSTEAD, THE SUN VISOR IS DROPPING DOWN AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE. THIS HAS CAUSED MY HEAD TO HIT IT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE. AND, IF INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION, THIS COULD CAUSE THE SUN VISOR TO SLICE THROUGH MY NECK BECAUSE IT IS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE GOING ACROSS MY NECK SINCE IT WILL NOT STAY UP DUE TO THE FAILED SPRING MECHANISM WITHIN THE SUN VISOR. AGAIN, THIS COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR BODILY INJURY IF IT IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF. AFTER RESEARCH OF MY OWN, I HAVE FOUND AND BEEN TOLD BY RELIABLE SOURCES IN THE TOYOTA INDUSTRY THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR AND POSSIBLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL OVER TIME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AT TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS THAT THIS PART IS ONLY COVERED BY A 3 1/2 YEAR WARRANTY INSTEAD OF THE SAME WARRANTY AS THE CAR. THIS TELLS ME THAT TOYOTA MAY KNOW THAT THIS PART WILL FAIL OVER TIME. ALL OTHER VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED WITH MANUAL SUN VISORS HAVE NEVER FAILED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR SINCE THEY DO NOT HAVE INTERNAL PARTS LIKE THE TOYOTA MODEL HAS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $85 TO HAVE IT REPLACED WHEN THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD NOT FAIL. IT'S NOT A MOVING PART WITHIN THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639120

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

79,000 mi

THE GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE CAN EASILY BE STEPPED ON AT THE SAME TIME WITH ONE FOOT. I HAVE DONE THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, IT'S JUST BEEN LUCK THAT HAS PREVENTED ME FROM CAUSING INJURY DAMAGE TO MYSELF OR OTHERS. IT DOES GIVE ME A GOOD SCARE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10596399

Incident

Feb 15, 2013

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 65-70 MPH ON JANUARY 25, 2014, WE STARTED TO NOTICE THE HOOD OF OUR TOYOTA 2007 RAV 4 STARTING TO VIBRATE UP AND DOWN. WE PULLED OVER, OPENED IT AND SLAMMED IT SHUT. IT CONTINUED TO VIBRATE UP AND DOWN, BUT NOT AS MUCH. YESTERDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014, DRIVING TO WORK, ON THE INTERSTATE, THE HOOD STARTING VIBRATING UP AND DOWN HARD AT 70 MPH. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE OFFICE AND LOOKED AT THE HOOD IT WAS OPEN 1". THE FRONT LATCH HAD EVIDENTLY FAILED COMPLETELY; THE BACK LATCH HAD EVIDENTLY HELD THE HOOD ON. IT WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING SINCE THE INTERSTATE WAS PACKED AND I COULDN'T GET OVER. MY RAV 4 IS PRESENTLY AT OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP HOPEFULLY BEING FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562889

Incident

Feb 25, 2012

Mileage

115,000 mi

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SENSOR PROBLEMS, REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE AT THIS POINT. HAD TO REPLACE WHEEL BEARING AND WIRING DUE TO CORROSION, FREE OF CHARGE NOW OTHER SIDE HAS SAME WHEEL BEARING, CORROSION PROBLEM AND THEY WANT $1000.00. HAVE ALSO HAD A CLUNKING IN STEERING COLUMN (BAD KNUCKLE JOINT) THAT TECH'S HAVE NOT FOUND. HEAR THAT WOULD COST AT LEAST $800.00. THEY ALSO SAY WATER PUMP LEAKING AND NEED REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT ENGINE DAMAGE ANOTHER APPROX. $1000.00. I'VE BEEN ONLINE AND THESE ARE ALL PROBLEMS DISCUSSED BY OTHER RAV4 OWNERS. THE TECH TOLD ME THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS TO INCITE A RECALL. MEAN WHILE I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 60K. NOW THEY WANT 3K TO FIX CURRENT PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10501890

Incident

Mar 1, 2009

I WAS DRIVING DOWN FOREST AVE IN BROCKTON, MA, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STATED SMOKING, I QUICKLY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, GOT ME AND MY SON OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND SUGGESTED THAT I GOT IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. SO I DID, TO COPLAND TOYOYTA WHERE IT WAS TROUBLESHOOT TO A MASTER SWITCH ASS. IT WAS REPAIRED AND I HAD TO PAY $580.70 BECAUSE THEY SAID ITS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478657

Incident

Sep 18, 2012

Mileage

85,000 mi

WATER APPEARS IN THE FRONT OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A RAINSTORM, SEEMS WORSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WATER APPEARS TO PERSIST AND DRIP FOR DAYS AFTER THE RAINSTORM FROM BELOW THE DASHBOARD. CONCERN IS THAT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY MAY BE COMPROMISED, ESPECIALLY AFTER REPEATED OCCURRENCES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470249

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

27,000 mi

THIS JUST HAPPEND TO ME ON THE MORNING OF 07/26/2012. I WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP AND LEAVING THE AIRPORT. AS I WAS ABOUT TO PAY MY PARKING FEE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTED SMOKING AND I SAW A SMALL FIRE STARTING TO FLARE UP ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOOR BY THE WINDOW SWITCH. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES THE WHOLE DOOR WAS UP IN FLAMES. *JS

NHTSA ID

10468126

Incident

Jul 26, 2012

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER INTRUSION THROUGH THE FRESH AIR INTAKE UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, CAUSING THE CARPET TO BECOME MOIST AND GROW MOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE GASKET WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND A PLASTIC SEALANT WOULD HAVE TO BE INSTALLED AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10434988

Incident

Jun 21, 2011

Mileage

90,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SUNVISOR ON 2007 RAV4 WILL NOT STAY IN FOLDED UPRIGHT POSITION. THE VISOR FLOPS DOWN IMPEDING VISION WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342392

Incident

Jun 24, 2010

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT OBSERVED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE REAR DOOR RUBBER SEAL DOES NOT REMAIN SECURED AFTER A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. UPDATED 6/3/10 *CN UPDATED 06/10/10

NHTSA ID

10320162

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

35,000 mi

THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS IN THE 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 ARE TO CLOSE TOGETHER. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE TO ALL BE APPLYING PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER. THE SALESMAN MEASURED THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS IN A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER (I ALSO OWN A HIGHLANDER) AND CLAIMED THEY WERE THE SAME DISTANCE APART. WHEN ASKED TO FIX THE PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I HAVE ALMOST HIT A HOUSE, OFFICE BUILDING, VEHICLES AND MOST RECENTLY MY WIFE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I'VE DRIVEN. INITIAL INCIDENT WAS IN FEB 07. *TR

NHTSA ID

10306719

Incident

Feb 10, 2007

AN INTENSE SQUEAK INITIATED THE VISIT TO THE AUTO DEALER. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS RUBBING ON THE VEHICLE FRAME AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276135

Incident

Jun 26, 2009

Mileage

40,634 mi

JEST BOUGHT A 2007 RAV4, THE FRONT BUMPER AT THE HEADLIGHT SEAM CLIPS ARE BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE. LOOKED AT THREE SAME MODELS WITH ABOUT 20,000 TO 26,000 MILES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240364

Incident

Aug 30, 2008

Mileage

26,000 mi

THE "MEMORY DRIVE FEATURE" ON THIS VEHICLE IS A HAZARD AND SKEWS GAS MILEAGE. I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. I SHOPPED AND COMPARED VEHICLES, PRICES AND CONSUMER GUIDES FOR MORE THAN 2 YEARS. I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE "DRIVING MEMORY FEATURE" IN THE COMPUTER ON THE VEHICLE WHEN CONSIDERING BUYING. VEHICLE HAS LAG TIME BETWEEN THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATION OR TAKE EVASIVE CAPABILITY TO AVOID ACCIDENT OR GET OUT OF THE WAY TO AVOID BEING HIT. THE MEMORY FEATURE, ELECTRONICS/COMPUTER SYSTEM DEVELOPS A MEMORY AS TO A PERSON'S DRIVING "HABIT". IT THEN BECOMES CONFUSED BECAUSE EVERY TIME I DRIVE CONDITIONS CHANGE, MINUTE TO MINUTE, DAY TO DAY, CAUSING THE SYSTEM TO BECOME CONFUSED WHEN I ASK THE CAR TO RESPOND TO AN EXCEPTION IN DRIVING CONDITIONS. MY GAS MILEAGE EPA IS LISTED AS 19 TO 28 MPG, AND I AM YET TO GET 18 MPG ONCE IN CITY DRIVING. I CAN'T EVEN GET CLOSE TO AN AVERAGE OF 19 I GET 17.5. ONE HIGHWAY TRIP I GOT 24.9 MPG, AND I AM AN AVERAGE DRIVER, NOT A LEAD FOOT. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALER HERE IN TUCSON AND THEY "ERASED" THE MEMORY IN THE DRIVE COMPUTER. IT DROVE WELL FOR 2 DAYS THEN HAS RETURNED BACK TO THE PREVIOUS ERASED MEMORY. MY GAS MILEAGE IS WORSE. I TALKED WITH ANOTHER OWNER AND HE TOLD ME TO TAKE IT OUT OF OVERDRIVE FOR IN-TOWN DRIVING. IF I DO THAT THE ENGINE WILL RPMS WILL NOT DROP IF OVER 40 MPH THEREBY ,SKEWING GAS MILEAGE AND WILL DAMAGE THE ENGINE. SO, HERE I AM, PAID $26,000 FOR A CAR AND AM SO UNHAPPY WITH THE RIP OFF. I WOULD BE HAPPIER IF IT WAS AVAILABLE IN A STICK SHIFT SO I COULD TAKE THE CONTROL, BUT AMERICANS ARE LAZY, SO TOYOTA DOESN'T OFFER THIS MODEL IN A STICK SHIFT.(MY PREFERENCE) THE FACT THAT TOYOTA IS NOT FOURTH COMING WITH THIS FEATURE IS GROUNDS FOR FRAUD. BUT THE NEW AMERICAN WAY IS LIE BY OMISSION. I DID CALL THE TOYOTA COMPLAINT LINE, NATIONAL NUMBER AND THEY TOOK A REPORT AND WILL GET BACK WITH ME. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO SPEND MY TIME OFF GOING TO THE DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THE SAME STORY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225914

Incident

Mar 28, 2008

Mileage

6,000 mi

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV-4. IF I APPLY THE BRAKES AND MY FOOT IS PLACED PARTIALLY TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT, IT COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RACE AND THE CAR TO LUNGE FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELS BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I NOTICE AN INCREASED LEVEL OF ACCIDENTS WHERE A VEHICLE CRASHES INTO A BUILDING. I BELIEVE THIS MIGHT BE A CAUSE OF THIS TYPE OF ACCIDENT. I DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AND HE SAID THAT THIS CONDITION IS TYPICAL WITH THE NEW TYPE OF BRAKING SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210427

Incident

May 18, 2007

Mileage

4,000 mi