2007 Toyota RAV4 Visibility Problems

MY CAR IS MAKING THE "GROWLING" NOISE DESCRIBED IN TOYOTA'S WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT AND TOYOTA WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT THE CAR SHAKES AT SPEEDS MORE THAN 40 MPH, SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS A FLAT EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T (LOUDER WHEN MAKING TURNS AND SWITCHING LANES), AND MAKES A BANGING NOISE IN THE REAR (SOUNDS LIKE A CAR DOOR SLAMMING) WHEN DRIVING. VISOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY UP--FALLS AND OBSTRUCTS VIEW WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11365625

Incident

Mar 31, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

THE DRIVER-SIDE SUN VISOR FALLS DOWN, AND WILL NOT STAY UP WHEN STOWED. THIS BLOCKS THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD, PRESENTING A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11081306

Incident

Mar 20, 2016

Mileage

72,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SUN ROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1710231754. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11035823

Incident

Oct 16, 2017

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR BEGAN FLOPPING FORWARD AND WILL NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. SOMETIMES IT JUST DROPS DOWN WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED AND OF COURSE IT INTERFERES WITH VISIBILITY. I HAVE READ THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE. IT WAS MENTIONED AT ONE OF MY SERVICE VISITS AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BUT I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $150.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. SINCE READING MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE IT SEEMS IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. IT WILL DROP DOWN WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES OR SOMETIMES BY ITSELF.

NHTSA ID

11035204

Incident

Jan 1, 2013

Mileage

110,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11010359

Incident

Jun 21, 2017

Mileage

89,663 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN CLOSED POSITION AT ANY TIME. IT IS HANGING DOWN ABOUT 45 DEGREES FROM THE ROOF HEADLINER, PARTIALLY BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW AND PRESENTING AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. IN ADDITION, AN INJURY HAZARD EXISTS IN THE EVENT OF A FRONT END CRASH, SINCE THE DRIVER'S HEAD WILL IMPACT THE SUN VISOR FIRST. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF THIS DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA ID

10821973

Incident

Jun 6, 2015

Mileage

50,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL DROP DOWN INTERMITTENTLY, DURING DRIVING, OBSCURING DRIVER VIEW OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

10809033

Incident

Nov 25, 2015

Mileage

102,000 mi

VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE STARTING FALLING DOWN AND WILL NOT STAY PUT AT ABOUT 14000 MILES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IT WILL FALL HALF WAY DOWN TO REPLACE WILL BE OVER 150.00

NHTSA ID

10781534

Incident

Oct 13, 2015

Mileage

14,000 mi

THE SUN VISOR LOST THE ABILITY TO SHADE THE SUN CAUSING A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ID

10779949

Incident

Aug 31, 2015

Mileage

125,525 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR CONTINUOUSLY FALLS DOWN BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW OUT THE FRONT WINDOW. O ONE INSTANCE AAS I WAS DRIVING AT 60 PLUS MILES PER HOUR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND MY VISION WAS BLOCKED AS I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANES WHILE TURRNING MY HEAD AT THE SAME TIME HOLDING UP THE VISOR AND TRYING TO LOOK BEHIND TO BE SURE THE LANES WERE CLEAR TO SAFELY CHANGE LANES. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY ON MANY OCCASIONS!. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR ALSO FALLS FOWN ( I AM THE SOLE OWNER OF THIS CAR AND VERY SELDOM EVEN HAVE PASSENGERS SO THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR IS NOT EVEN USED VERY OFTEN. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW THAT MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE! I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT . TOYOTA SHOULD FIX THIS FAULTY DESIGN!

NHTSA ID

10735330

Incident

Jun 3, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN POSITION, DROPPED DOWN AND BLOCKED VIEW OF ON COMING TRAFFIC

NHTSA ID

10716969

Incident

May 17, 2015

Mileage

74,560 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10677137

Incident

Jan 27, 2011

THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP..AT FIRST IT WAS SLIGHTLY LOOSE AROUND 50K MILES AND THEN 70K THE VISOR NO LONGER STAYS UP AT ALL. I HAVE ACTUALLY HIT MY HEAD ON IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND IT OBSCURES MY VISION. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. NOW I HAVE TO PAY $100 TO BUY A COMPLETELY NEW ONE. THIS IS JUST AN ACCIDENT AND A LAWSUIT WAITING TO HAPPEN. IT LOOKS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF TOYOTAS. MY FIANCE CANT EVEN DRIVE IT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE IS TALLER THAN I AM AND CANNOT SEE OUT OF IT PROPERLY. PLEASE RECALL THIS SO IT DOESNT CAUSE A TRAGEDY AT SOME POINT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10689710

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

Mileage

77,000 mi

THE SUN VISOR IS BADLY DESIGNED AND DOES NOT STAY UP. AFFECTS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE VISORS. FOR A TALL DRIVER LIKE MYSELF THIS IS A SECURITY RISK SINCE IT LIMITS OUTWARDS VISIBILITY. THE VIEW OF TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ROAD SIGNS MOUNTED HIGH IS IMPEDED. THE LOOSE AND FLAPPING VISOR IN LINE OF SIGHT ALSO CONSTITUTE A DISTRACTION WHICH IS IN ITSELF A HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683493

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR HANGS DOWN BLOCKING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT. PAT LOBB'S TOYOTA OF MCKINNEY REPORTS THAT WHILE IT MAY BE A SAFETY HAZARD, THERE IS NO RECALL. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO BUY NEW VISORS. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT TO TIGHTEN IT MYSELF. IT IS UNSAFE AND $250 FOR NEW VISORS. FROM REPORTS ON THE WEB, MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE CREATING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10668347

Incident

Dec 26, 2014

Mileage

84,700 mi

I OWN A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 4 WD. I WAS CHECKING RECALLS AND DECIDED TO READ COMPLAINTS.. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE DRIVERS SIDE VISOR. THAT DOESN'T STAY UP.. WE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS HAPPENED, BUT WITHIN THIS PAST YEAR OR SO. IT WILL NOT STAY UP. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, I AM SHORT SO ITS DOWN, BUT , MY HUSBAND WHO IS TALL CREATES A PROBLEM WITH HIM. I THOUGHT IT WAS KIND OF FUNNY THAT, IT WAS JUST OUR CAR, THAT MAYBE MY HUSBAND HAD DONE SOMETHING, WHEN HE MOVED IT.. UNTIL I READ ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING. THAN WHEN WE TOOK THE CAR FOR OUR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, HE SAID IT WOULD COST 125.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. , HE SAID IT WAS A MECHANISM INSIDE THE ARM HOLDER. MY HUSBAND DECLINED AT THAT TIME. NOW AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS, I NOW KNOW IT WASN'T' JUST OUR CAR. I BELIEVE TOYOTA KNOWS THIS AND BECAUSE IT IS A HAZARD THEY SHOULD FIX IT. ITS IRONIC THAT THE 2007 RAV HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. PLEASER HAVE THEM FIX IT. THANK-YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10660074

Incident

Jan 21, 2013

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOES NOT STAY UP AND COMES DOWN DURING DRIVING AND CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD WHERE IT BLOCKS OUR VIEW WHEN DRIVING. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF THIS ISSUE WITH SEVERAL TOYOTA MODELS (RAV4, HIGHLANDER ETC.), YET TOYOTA HAS 'NOT' ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS SERIOUS DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE! I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO TAKE MY TOYOTA IN FOR 4-5 RECALLS ON OTHER ISSUES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007! TOYOTA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS VISOR ISSUE IMMEDIATELY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10644342

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR NO LONGER STAYS IN PLACE WHEN STOWED AND INSTEAD DROOPS DOWN AT APPROXIMATELY A 40 DEGREE ANGLE. THIS IMPAIRS DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AS IT FALLS SQUARELY WITHIN THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION. IT ALSO BECOMES A DISTRACTION IN THAT THE DRIVER IS CONSTANTLY PUSHING THE VISOR BACK INTO PLACE, TO NO EFFECT. THE PROBLEM IS IMPAIRED VISIBILITY DUE TO A FAILING PART. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE FOR TOYOTA AND YET TOYOTA REFUSES TO CORRECT THIS OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643254

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

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. 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

10639136

Incident

Jun 2, 2014

Mileage

79,000 mi

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

2007 TOYOTA RAV4 SUN VISORS WILL NOT STAY UP, WHICH RESTRICTS VISIBILITY. AT FIRST, THE PASSENGER VISOR STARTED TO HAND DOWN, ABOUT AN INCH FROM THE ROOF. EVENTUALLY, BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE VISORS REMAIN IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE VISOR COMPLETELY RESTRICTS VISIBILITY AND APPARENTLY, HAS BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE WITH TOYOTA FOR YEARS. 15 SEP 2014, I TOOK MY RAV4 IN FOR RECALL WORK AND ASKED THEM TO FIX THE VISORS. I WAS TOLD THE NEXT DAY, THAT IT WOULD COST 240 DOLLARS TO REPLACE BOTH VISORS. I TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND BASICALLY STATED, THAT TOYOTA WAS RESPONSIBLE AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT. CALLED TOYOTA 800-331-4331 AND TALKED WITH CUSTOMER CONCERNS. SHE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE AND THAT MY 36K MILE WARRANTY HAS ALREADY PASSED. I TOLD HER THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY AND DESIGN FLAW THAT PRESENTS A HAZARD TO ANYONE WHO DRIVES THE VEHICLE. CUSTOMER CONCERNS STATED THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS MATTER, THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT TOYOTA WOULD DO. SINCE BEING TOLD THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE RESEARCHED SEVERAL CONSUMER BLOGS, TOYOTA OWNERS, AND HAVE SEEN SEVERAL BLOGS/COMPLAINTS CONCERNING TOYOTA CAMRY'S, RAV4'S, HIGHLANDER'S AND TUNDRA'S, ALL HAVING THE SAME SUN VISOR SAFETY ISSUES. MANY HAVE REPLACED THEIR VISOR'S TWO AND THREE TIMES. MOST BLOGS DISCUSS REMEDIES TO FIX, ONLY FINDING THE MATTER A PAIN AND SAFETY ISSUE NO ONE WANTS TO REMEDY. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE VISORS SO THAT THEY CAN BE SAFELY ADJUSTED TO SAFELY STAY UP AND OUT OF THE WAY WHEN NOT IN USE. I DON?T THINK WE SHOULD WAIT FOR NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES AND DEATH TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SAFETY DESIGN FLAW AND SERIOUS SAFETY COMPLICATIONS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10633793

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW VISOR LOOSE AND DOES NOT STAY IN POSITION. FALLS DOWN INTO DRIVERS VIEW OBSTRUCTING VISION AND DISTRACTING DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10564948

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THREE RECALL NOTICES IN THE MAIL SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND STATED THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521762

Incident

Jun 25, 2013

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH RECALL NOTICES FOR REAR SUSPENSION AND POWER WINDOW SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DID NOT BELIEVE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED, AS HE IS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE STILL PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION, AFTER THE DEALER IT WAS FIXED. DUE TO THE ONGOING SUSPENSION PROBLEMS, IT WAS AFFECTING THE STEERING SHAFT, RACK AND PINION AND TIE ROD. UPDATED 03/12/13

NHTSA ID

10494241

Incident

Nov 12, 2012

IN MY VEHICLE, THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR HAS LOOSENED SO THAT IT WILL NOT STAY UP OUT OF THE WAY NEXT TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR. IT DRIFTS DOWN INTO MY LINE OF SIGHT AND HINDERS MY VISION. WHEN I PULL IT DOWN TO USE, IT ALSO WILL NOT STAY UP AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. SO IT'S NEARLY ALWAYS IN MY WAY. AND IT CAN'T BE ADJUSTED BY ME. IT HAS TO BE REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP. FOR A LARGE COST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10492907

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

62,000 mi