Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Toyota RAV4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 76 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 76, in the owner's own words
My driver side door caught on fire and was completely destroyed to include all associated wiring. Toyota had my contact information but never contacted me about any of the recalls.
The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with battery failure. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
I own a 2007 Toyota Rav-4 with 155k miles. I had bought the vehicle used from a licensed Toyota dealership about 3 years ago and have been diligent about conducting the routine scheduled maintenance. The vehicle had no known recalls. I was driving about 25mph when I started to smell smoke. The drivers side door caught on fire while the vehicle was in motion. There were literally flames coming out of area with the buttons used to control the windows. I immediately pulled the vehicle over and the car ended up having to be towed. On Google, Toyota has had several other incidents where this exact same recall issue happened and the vehicle caught on fire. I called the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and the Toyota Corporate as well. I smoke to a representative on a Wednesday and they let me know my case number and that someone would be in touch to follow-up within 48 hours. However, it has been 6 days and I haven’t received any update.
I was driving and the engine caught on fire. Thank God for people telling me that my car was having flames coming from under my car. By the time I pull over flames were coming out of my hood
while driving down the big bear mountain, the vehicle lost power steering i could not turn the wheel and hit the railing, thank god i didn't hit another car. The battery light was flashing steering locked up other dash lights came on. The mechanic could not give me any answers, Toyota says there is no recall on this and after reading other complaints about the 2007 Toyota RAV 4 i am shocked that the dealership has nothing to say and can not fix the problem, this is so dangerous and i am at a loss on how to fix the problem. who has to die for them to take this problem seriously!!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE CONTACT ADDED ADDITIONAL OIL AND THE ENGINE WAS COLD. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, SLIP TRACTION CONTROL, AND 4WD WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BREWER AIRPORT TOYOTA (8900 UNIVERSITY BLVD, MOON, PA 15108, (412) 357-5503), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 *BF *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
POWER SWITCH CONTROL ON DOOR PANEL WAS ON SMOKE AND MELTED . IT WAS INTOXICATING AND SCARY. WHY DD IT HAPPEN? VERY DANGEROUS. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ? I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED.
WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. I CANT TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS OR ROLL DOWN THE POWER WINDOWS. I HAVE NO LIGHTS WHATSOEVER, SO NO ONE CAN SEE ME AT NIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER A BUS ALMOST REAR-ENDED ME. PREVIOUSLY THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CANNOT FIX MY CAR.
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN ARROW HWY IN THE RAIN WHEN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. I LOST POWER FROM BOTH MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS COASTING DOWN TO AN APPROACHING INTERSECTION WHEN I MADE THE DESCISION TO TURN RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. THE STEERING WAS SO HARD THAT I NEARING HIT THE CENTER DIVIDE. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE BARELY WORKING AND MANY OF MY DASH ICONS WERE COMING ON RANDOMLY. THROUGH IT ALL, MY ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND I MADE TO THE NEXT STREET THAT TURNED INTO CONDOS THAT HAD PARKING SPACES. I SHUT MY ENGINE OFF AND TRIED A RESTART. THE ENGINE,OF COURSE,DID NOT START. AFTER BEING HAULED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN ALTERNATOR THAT SHORTED THE BATTERY. HAVING A LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN THIS ELECTRICAL AREA, I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN BUT WITH PROPER DESIGN IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. THE BATTERY WAS SAVED AFTER RECHARGING. HERE IS MY POINT; I DON'T WANT ANY ONE THAT I KNOW AND LOVE TO GO THROUGH WHAT I HAD TO. THOSE THAT DRIVE THIS CAR SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WITH A CAR EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRICAL STEERING. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN MORE SEVERE IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE STALLED; WHICH, BY THE WAY WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN A SHORT TIME.
ALTERNATOR FAILS AT 45000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT OBSERVED WATER IN HER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER (A1 TOYOTA, 50 AMITY RD, NEW HAVEN, CT, 06515, 203-389-1521) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING CABINET FILTER AND DRAIN HOSE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW COWL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,663.
MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT BUT WHEN I WANTED TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE FOB WOULDN'T WORK. THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DEPLETED AND WHEN I REPLACED THE BATTERY, BY AAA, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAYED ON EVEN AFTER I TOOK OUT THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THIS CAN CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DIE AGAIN. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY SO THAT THE LIGHT THAT STAYS ON WILL NOT DEPLETE THE BATTERY. THE CAR SHAKES BECAUSE THE POWER ISN'T GETTING TO THE RECEIVER VERY WELL. THIS IS A PROBLEM INSIDE THE ELECTRIC HUB. AT ANY MOMENT MY CAR CAN SHUT OFF BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC CURRENT ISN'T STABLE WHEN THE CAR IS ON. ONE OF THE FUSES OR SOMETHING ISN'T DISCONNECTING PROPERLY, CAUSING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO STAY ON.
DROVE FOR OVER AN HOUR IN DRY, STABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS. UPON SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING GARAGE ON SURFACE STREETS THE STEERING COMPLETELY STALLED WITH MULTIPLE ALARM LIGHTS FLASHING, INCLUDING BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS STILL ON AND ABLE TO DRIVE BUT WITH VERY POOR ACCELERATION. THIS CAUSED ME TO BLOCK TRAFFIC ONCOMING TRAFFIC FOR OVER 10 MINUTES AS I LABORED (WITH A LOT OF STRENGTH) WITH THE STALLED POWER STEERING BACK AND FORTH UNTIL INLINE WITH THE GARAGE. CALLED TRIPLE A IMMEDIATELY AND HAD BATTERY CHANGED. DESPITE THE CAR WORKING AGAIN WITH STABLE STEERING, STILL CONCERNED ABOUT STALLING AGAIN, PARTICULARLY IN CITY STREETS (INCLUDING THE SF HILLS) AND FREEWAYS. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME FIX FOR POWER-STEERING BEING THE FIRST THING TO FAIL WITH THE BATTERY/ALTERNATORS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT USED WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 75MPH AFTER ABOUT 5 HOURS WHEN A BUNCH OF WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (INCLUDING BATTERY, AIR BAG, AND BRAKE), MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND MY SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET MY CAR SIT FOR A MINUTE, RESTARTED MY CAR AND THREE DIFFERENT LIGHTS CAME ON (VSC, CHECK ENGINE AND SLIP INDICATOR) AND MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T WORK ANYMORE. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 110,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE; THIS IS A DEFECT. FROM READING ONLINE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS COULD BE A FATAL DEFECT AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING.
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES ALL ELECTRICITY, ALL THE LIGHTS, EVERY LIGHT INDICATOR, THE RADIO ARE OFF. THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING AND THE CAR STOPS IMMEDIATELY. THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS BUT ALSO HAPPENED ONCE WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS OUT. AFTER I ENTERED AND TURNED THE KEY THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY IN THE CAR. NO LIGHTS, NO INDICATORS, ETC WERE ON. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK BUT HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. ALSO TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED IT AND RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST BUT COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY AND SENSORS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,800.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE RADIO OR TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
DRIVING 55 MPG AROUND CURVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC STEERING LOCKED UP HARDLY ABLE TO PULL.OFF SIDE OF ROAD. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY JULY 25 2015 GOING 60 DOWN BUSY HEY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND STEERING FROZE HAD TO GET OF TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THEN IT WAS ABLE TO STEER BUT BATTERY.LIGHT FLICKERS HA D BATTERY LREPLACED DAY BEFORE.
THE CAR FAILED TO START, THE BATTERY WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND HAD NOT WATER IN IT. CHANGED THE BATTERY, THE CAR STARTED PROPERLY; HOWEVER, ONCE SET TO DRIVE IT HESITATED A BIT, AS IF IT WERE CHOCKING FOR LACK OF GAS BUT IT HAD GAS. DROVE ON AND AT ABOUT SPEED OF 40 MPH STEERING BECAME HARD TO HANDLE, AC AND ENGINE CUT OFF. RESTARTED IT DROVE BACK HOME... JUST MADE THE LAST PAYMENT ON THE CAR, CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE DEALER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT HAD OIL CONSUMPTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE POWER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH ASSEMBLY RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOW WOULD ROLL UP. *JB
OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION (ECU). TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WAS ADVISED AT THE DEALERSHIP (KENDALL TOYOTA) THAT THIS MALFUNCTION WILL PREVENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYMENT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IS NOT SPECIFICALLY A WEAR N TEAR ITEM AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA. RAV 4 HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS BUT NONE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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