2007 Toyota RAV4 Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be aligned. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V596000 (Suspension). The vehicle was taken to a tire shop, and the contact was informed that the rear tie rods were welded, and an alignment was impossible. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 182,342.

NHTSA ID

11687356

Incident

Sep 9, 2025

Mileage

182,342 mi

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the sound was coming from the tires. The contact was informed that no issues were found. Additionally, the contact stated that the check engine warning light, the traction control warning light, and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11629684

Incident

Aug 31, 2024

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

The rear sub frame broke/ rusted, needing to be replaced unable to drive car safely

NHTSA ID

11518800

Incident

Apr 13, 2023

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while installing new tires on the vehicle, the mechanic stated that the wheel bearings fractured and that both front axles were rusted. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, and it was confirmed that the wheel bearings were fractured and that the front axles were rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted, and the contact left a message. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 179,000.

NHTSA ID

11503420

Incident

Oct 17, 2022

Mileage

179,002 mi

OIL BURNING. MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL BURNING. A QUART EVERY 200 500 MILES ON AVERAGE.

NHTSA ID

11339848

Incident

May 10, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE THERE WAS A POP SOUND IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS LEAD TO THE RAV4 COMING TO A STOP AFTER IMPALING ON GUARDRAIL FROM FREEWAY SPEEDS. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARED THAT THE REAR LEFT WHEEL WAS THE CAUSE AND WAS AT AN ANGLE INSTEAD OF BEING PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND LIKE THE REST OF THE WHEELS.

NHTSA ID

11322921

Incident

Feb 1, 2020

Mileage

146,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A WOBBLE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB TYLER TOYOTA LOCATED AT (7201 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505) WHERE AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TOWING ROD BAR WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE REAR TOW ROD BARS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. *BF*JB

NHTSA ID

11311104

Incident

Jan 2, 2020

Mileage

104,000 mi

TOYOTA HAS BEEN CLAIMING I HAVE NO OPEN RECALLS AND I LEARN I HAVE TWO. THEY CAN NOT LOCATE MY VIN TO REMEDY MY ISSUES ... SINCE I'VE OWN THE VEHICLE IN THREE STATES, AND AGAIN NOW HERE IN WISCONSIN. MY VEHICLE BODY IS LITERALLY FALLING APART (ON ITS OWN!) AND I CAN'T REPAIR IT OR GET RECALLS RECTIFIED. IT'S A 2007 WITH UNDER 70K MIKES! I PAID FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY DID NOTHING BUT OIL CHANGES WHICH I PAID FOR.

NHTSA ID

11268811

Incident

Oct 15, 2019

77000 MILE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH BUSHINGS WENT BAD ,LOWER BALL JOINTS BAD INNER & OUTER TIE RODS BAD , SWAY BAR END LINKS BALL JOINTS BAD.ALIGNMENT & RE-BALANCED TIRES AFTER REPLACEMENT .BEGAN SWAYING IN ROAD FIGHTING STEERING ON EVERY BUMP WITH DIPPING OF FRONT END & VIBRATION BADLY OF CAR ESPECIALLY STEERING WHEEL , WORN NEW TIRES ON OUTSIDES .COMPLETE RECORDS IN TOYOTA VEHICLE REPAIR SERVICE SITE.TOTAL COST SO FAR FOR THE ABOVE IS 158.00 PLUS 44.95 PLUS 1 WEEK DOWN TIME, DUE TO ALL JOINTS BAD AND VIBRATIONS AND SWAYING AROUND HAS CAUSED THE CV SHAFTS TO GET LOOSE GOOD SHAKE AND NOT IN TO OUT SIDEWAYS DIRECTION - UP TO DOWN THEY HAVE SLIGHT PLAY AND HEAR A CLUNK BOTH WAYS (TO BE REPLACED WHEN HAVE MONEY WILL BE ANOTHER 150 TO 195 BUCKS AND ANOTHER DAY OR 2 DOWN TIME, NOT SURE OF FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS YET OR THE REAR SWAY BAR ALL THEM LINKS , THIS IS HOW BAD THE SWAYING GOT SO NEEDS CHECKED ANY BACK PARTS WILL COST ME APPROX 240.00 -- REPLACED PARTS LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH BALL JOINTS AND BUSHINGS ALONG WITH INNER PLUS OUTER TIE RODS ALONG WITH SWAY BAR LINKS WERE BOUGHT THROUGH AMAZON FROM DETROIT AXEL SELLER SO MAY BE ABLE TO GET RECEIPT IF NEEDED-- THE TIRE RE-BALANCED WAS DONE AT LYNN LAYTON FORD OF DECATUR ALABAMA 256-350-2120 CUSTOMER [XXX] INVOICE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ID

11244562

Incident

Jul 19, 2019

Mileage

76,500 mi

AFTER PROCESSING THE SAFETY RECALL ON THE REAR TIE RODS WHICH CONTROL THE TOE OF THE WHEELS, I DROVE 20K MILES AND THEN NEEDED TO DO ANOTHER ALIGNMENT ON THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE TOE OF BOTH WHEELS ARE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT TO THE LEFT BRINGING THE CAR'S STEERING OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, AS THE SAFETY RECALL PROCESS WAS TO CAP THE TOE ADJUSTER BAR ON THE REAR TIE RODS AND FILL THEM WITH EPOXY, THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS WAS TO REPLACE THE TIE RODS AND REPEAT THE SAFTY RECALL BUT THIS TIME THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $720 DOLLARS. SO EVEN THOUGH THIS PART HAS HAD SEVERAL SAFETY RECALLS ON IT AND THAT THE FINAL SOLUTION BY TOYOTA WAS TO HOLD IT TOGETHER WITH GLUE. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND FIGURE OUT A LONG TERM SOLUTION THAT ALLOWS FOR THE CAR TO RETAIN ITS ORIGINAL ABILITY TO DO A PROPER ALIGNMENT.

NHTSA ID

11156022

Incident

Nov 23, 2018

Mileage

136,000 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 750,000 VEHICLES INVOLVED IN TOYOTA'S 2013 CSJ SAFETY RECALL. HOWEVER, IT WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE AUGUST 2016 GOV SAFETY RECALL, AS WERE ABOUT 420,000 OTHER VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO TOYOTATALK.COM, SINCE SO MANY OF THESE RAV4S WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE G0V SAFETY RECALL WHICH CALLS FOR MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM MOUNTING HARDWARE, THIS MEANS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AFFECTED RAV4 VEHICLES ON AMERICAN HIGHWAYS WITH EITHER: 1. POTENTIALLY RUSTING AND/OR CORRODING MOUNTING HARDWARE FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED 2. THE INABILITY TO HAVE A REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHICH COULD LEAD TO DANGEROUS TIRE WEAR THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE ON TOYOTATALK.COM IS "THE DEFECTIVE TOYOTA RAV4 TUBE-STYLE REAR SUSPENSION ARM." IT WAS POSTED ON APRIL 28, 2018. HERE IS THE LINK: HTTPS://TOYOTATALK.COM/DEFECTIVE-RAV4-SUSPENSIONS/ ON NOVEMBER 5, 2018, THE OWNER OF DINSMORE TIRE IN MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, INFORMED ME THAT ONE OF THE TIRES ON THE REAR HAD UNEVEN REAR. HE CITED A MECHANICAL DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE AS THE REASON WHY. HE STATED THAT IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO SUBMIT A WARRANTY CLAIM ON MY VEHICLE'S TIRES PURCHASED THERE, THAT THE TIRE WITH UNEVEN WEAR WOULD BE EXCLUDED. A PHOTO OF THAT TIRE ACCOMPANIES THIS COMPLAINT. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, ON NOVEMBER 9, 2018, AFTERMARKET REAR SUSPENSION ARMS WERE INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. THE INSTALLATION WAS PAID BY ME OUT OF POCKET. A REDACTED COPY OF THE RECEIPT ACCOMPANIES THIS COMPLAINT. SINCE RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC, TOYOTA HAS NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE TO SAY ABOUT THESE CONCERNS. BE THAT AS IT MAY, A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH TOYOTA ON NOVEMBER 5, 2018. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA AND ITS LACK OF ACTION. IT IS MY DEEPEST HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11150723

Incident

Nov 9, 2018

Mileage

134,461 mi

WE HAD RECALL GOV ON MY TOYOTA RAV4 ON 1/18/18 81000 MILES. AT THIS TIME I ALSO HAD NEW FRONT STRUTS AND REAR SHOCKS INSTALLED WITH A FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENT. THEN 8000 MILES LATER AFTER THE FIX IN OCTOBER I NOTICED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR NEW REAR BRAKES AND AN ALIGNMENT. AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER PERFORM A REAR ALIGNMENT DUE TO THIS RECALL "FIX" THAT PERMANENTLY SEALED IT INTO ONE PLACE. WE WERE TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR BACK INTO ALIGNMENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR TOE BAR. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE REAR TIE ROD, AND TOYOTA'S SOLUTION TO AN ENGINEERING FLAW IS TO MAKE THE REAR TIE ROD NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE, THUS COSTING THE CONSUMER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT ISSUE. IT IS NOT FEASIBLE OR FAIR TO EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WHEN TOYOTA CREATED THE ISSUE WITH THEIR "FIX" INSTEAD OF CREATING A REPLACEMENT REAR TOE THAT IS ADJUSTABLE LIKE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THIS FIX HAS CREATED A NEW SAFETY ISSUE WITH TIRE WARE AND HANDLING ISSUES. BEFORE THE FIX I WAS EXPERIENCED NEITHER OF THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

11144162

Incident

Oct 18, 2018

THE RECALL ON THE REAR SUSPENSION EPOXIED THE BAR IN PLACE. NOW IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DO AN ALIGNMENT. TIRES ARE WEARING UNEVENLY AND VSC LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

11143723

Incident

Oct 27, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE WORN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE BEING NOTICED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY LITHIA TOYOTA OF KLAMATH FALLS (2675 WASHBURN WAY, KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON 97603) PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT PART UTILIZED BY THE DEALER HAD NO ADJUSTMENT ABILITY, WHICH WORE OUT THE REAR TIRES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO NO ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

11104275

Incident

Jun 23, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION) BY KOONS TOYOTA (1107 WEST ST, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY PREVENTED THE REAR TIRES FROM REALIGNING WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION ARM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1802022112. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,698.

NHTSA ID

11067259

Incident

Feb 2, 2018

Mileage

190,698 mi

WE CONTINUE TO ENCOUNTER RESISTANCE WITH CAPITOL TOYOTA, 783 AUTO GROUP AVE NE, SALEM, OR 97301 (503) 399-1011 SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL ON OUR VEHICLE. THEY TELL YOU THEY ARE REVIEWING YOUR FILE AND WILL GET BACK TO YOU AND REFUSE TO SCHEDULE. WE'VE ENCOUNTERED THIS SAME TACTIC WITH THIS DEALER ON PAST RECALL NOTICES.

NHTSA ID

11062581

Incident

Jan 4, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF ROCK HILL (640 GALLERIA BLVD, ROCK HILL, SC 29730) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 888-270-9371 AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. A CASE NUMBER WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,203.

NHTSA ID

11062359

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

Mileage

141,203 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED TOYOTA PASADENA AT (626) 795-9787 (3600 E FOOTHILL BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91107) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11062003

Incident

Aug 10, 2016

TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION AND SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED MY VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FIX IS INADEQUATE. AFTER THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM (TIE ROD) IS EPOXIED INTO A FIXED POSITION, THE REAR TIRES CAN NO LONGER BE REALIGNED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION ARM. THIS FIX IS INADEQUATE AND PLACES UNDUE FINANCIAL BURDENS ON THE RAV4 OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

11057383

Incident

Mar 2, 2017

Mileage

86,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAD THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM RECALL (NHTSA 16V596000) . WHEN THE DEALERSHIP DID THE RECALL THEY SEALED THE PARTS IN EPOXY, THE CAR IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AGAIN IN LESS THAN I YEAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS BEING TOLD THAT IT WILL COST $700 TO GET THE ALIGNMENT DONE. THE SUSPENSION HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE EPOXY. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE ONE YEAR WARRANTY OF THE RECALL. TOYOTA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS SINCE THEY DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE PROPERLY DURING THE RECALL AND NOW THE CAR CAN NOT HAVE REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. I CANNOT GET A ROUTINE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE OF THE EPOXY USED DURING THE RECALL. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.

NHTSA ID

11045179

Incident

Nov 9, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN NOISE UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA ID

11039281

Incident

Mar 29, 2017

Mileage

112,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE REAR CONTROL ARM RECALL THAT SEALS THE PART IN EPOXY, MAKING REAR TOE ADJUSTMENT IMPOSSIBLE. THIS VEHICLE IS OUT OF TOLERANCE ON REAR TOE AND WILL COST $685 TO REPAIR. TOYOTA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS SINCE THEY RENDERED THE SUSPENSION PART NON ADJUSTABLE.

NHTSA ID

11021209

Incident

Aug 24, 2017

Mileage

92,000 mi

TOYOTA REFUSED TO HAVE THE REAR TIRES OF MY CAR BE ALIGNED. SINCE I SUBMITTED THIS CAR FOR THAT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM RECALL, I ALWAYS HAVE ISSUES WITH REAR TIRE MISALIGNMENT WHICH TOYOTA OFFERED NO REMEDY. I BELIEVE DRIVING A MISALIGNED WHEELS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11021125

Incident

Jul 10, 2017

FOUND BY MAIL ABOUT RAKATA AIR BAGS, AND MY SERVICE FOR OIL,FILTER WAS CALLED BY REPAIR SHOP,TIME FOR SERVICE, FINISH THE CAR SERVICE , BEFORE LIVED I ASK A QUESTION ABOUT, THE RECALL AND HE LOOK THE SCREEN,TOOK 30 SECONDS (FLAHS) AND SAYS, YOU CAR, DON'T HAVE ANY RECALL, WHY? NO IM CURIOUS, WHAT ABOUT THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM 1, AND HEARD ABOUT SEAT BELTS,SAFETY RECALL, AND MOST OF INFO.STILL IN CHINESE OR JAPANES, AND SOME ONE PUT NEW BUT COMO N THEY LOOK CHEAP AND HAVE A TACOMA TOTALLY DIF. FOUND 11 RECALLS, NOW TRASMISSION AUT,BURN OUT,AT 100000 MILES, SORRY BUT LOOK LIKE THE REPAIR SHOPS DON'T CARE ABOUT "US" THE WANT TO SELL CARTS, BUT MAKE A OT OF MISTAKES AND WE PAY TO GET KILL IN CAR ACCIDENT,CAUSE DEFECT OF FACTURY,THEY FIXED THE CARS,BUT LIFE AND FEW THURS AND DLLS DON'T RETURN WIFES,SONS,HUSBAND,GONE SO WHY CARS COMPANIES ARE IN SO MUCH IN A HURRY NOT EASY TO PAY A LOAN OF 60,000 IN 5 YEARS, AND 3 YEARS LATER WANT YOU TO LEAVE THE CAR AND AGAIN,AND AGAIN,AAIN BY T M, PAS,CA #1

NHTSA ID

11019998

Incident

Aug 2, 2017

Mileage

105,600 mi