Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Mar 25, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 327 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Toyota RAV4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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.
Owner reports naming body or structure
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Body & structure
Filed Mar 25, 2024
We have a 09 Toyota Rav4 with a Blizzard Pearl paint that continues to fail. Apparently there were notices sent out in 2022 indicating a recall that would cover these repairs. We were unaware of these notices and continue to experience paint degradation on multiple areas of the car. I have contacted Toyota and they claim no responsibility past the 2022 expiration date. I am hoping that NTSB will reopen the recall regarding this issue. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ID
11579300
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Mar 29, 2023
paint recall the problem was confirmed twice by sansone dealership avenel, nj. 4/28/2021 and 12/1/2022. on both occasionspictures were submitted and i was told it would be taken care of. on 1/23/2023 i dropped car off to be repainted and was told it would be about 1.5 weeks. i picked up the car unrepaired on 2/21/2023. they said they would not honor recall
NHTSA ID
11514445
Incident
Apr 28, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Dec 22, 2021
The paint on my white 2009 Toyota RAV4 has been coming off. Sheets of color is peeling on the roof. I have several large (1-2 inches) bare spots on the top and many tiny ones on the body hood and doors, rusting for years. The manager of Titus-Will Toyota advised me not to do anything about it when I showed them the recall letter from Toyota and let him take pictures of the affected areas of my car. He said he would send a request and let me know about the repair decision. It has been more than two years since my complaint. I ask about it almost every time I go there for my scheduled service maintenance, and I get no answer so far. Until now, I still don’t have a response from them, and I am a little unhappy. Also, I see that I am not their favorite customer and avoided by management as they are always swamping. I showed them how bad the paint continues to come off, and the rust is awful. I could off taken care of it by now, but the manager clearly said not to paint it or do anything about it until he gets confirmation about the issue. My roof could start licking with all this rain and rust. Thank you.
NHTSA ID
11444716
Incident
May 16, 2018
Body & structure
Filed Dec 8, 2020
THE PAINT ON OUR 2009 TOYOTA RAV4 COMES OF WITH THE SLIGHTEST BUMP FROM SOMETHING LIKE A BRANCH, WHICH SHOULD NOT NORMALLY CAUSE PAINT TO COME OFF. BECAUSE OF THIS WE HAVE SEVERAL BARE SPOTS WHICH ARE BEGINNING TO RUST.
NHTSA ID
11378431
Incident
Jul 1, 2019
Body & structure
Filed Sep 11, 2020
SHEETS OF THE PAINT STARTED TO COME OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA ID
11354369
Incident
Sep 5, 2020
Mileage
87,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureFuel system
Filed Sep 30, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 65MPH ON INTERSTATE WHEN LARGE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER DROPPED THEIR DRIVE SHAFT. SHE TRIED TO STRADDLE THE OBJECT DUE TO NO SHOULDER AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN NEXT LANE. REPORT STATED IT RUPTURE GAS TANK AND LOSS ABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE SENDING GET INTO AND THROUGH GUARDRAIL. TOTALLED EVERYONE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH.
NHTSA ID
11265257
Incident
Sep 20, 2019
Mileage
162,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 30, 2016
PAINT PEELING ON ROOF OF 2009 RAV4 TOYOTA, MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR.
NHTSA ID
10899533
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Body & structure
Filed Jul 26, 2015
I HAVE PEELING OF PAINT ON EXTERIOR SURFACE DOWN TO THE METAL. IT IS LOCATED ON TOP BETWEEN SUNROOF AND WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA ID
10743536
Incident
Jul 26, 2015
AirbagsBody & structureEngine
Filed Jan 31, 2015
Crash reported
I WAS DRIVING AND THE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY WENT OFF, EXPLODING IN MY FACE. THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE, DUST, AND DEBRIS. BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE (AIRBAG IN MY FACE AND SMOKE/DEBRIS IN THE VEHICLE), I CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10680189
Incident
Dec 12, 2014
Mileage
57,668 mi
Body & structureDriver assistanceFuel system
Filed Jun 13, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported
ON JUNE 8, 2014, WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 TOYOTA RAV4, I BEGAN TO SLOW FOR A STOP LIGHT. SEVERAL CARS WERE ALREADY STOPPED. SUDDENLY, AND UNEXPECTEDLY, MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE CAUSING ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND FORCING IT INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT; MY ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV-UP, EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND HARD ON THE BRAKES. FINALLY, I SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. ALL THREE VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED, TWO SIGNIFICANTLY. A PASSENGER IN THE SECOND VEHICLE EXPRESSED PERSONAL ANXIETY DUE TO A 'HEART CONDITION' AND POSSIBLE NECK INJURY. BOTH DRIVERS FILED CLAIMS ON MY INSURANCE, BUT NO DAMAGE ESTIMATES OR INJURY CLAIMS ARE AVAILABLE AS YET. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. DURING 2013, I HAD TWO PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS AND SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHILE DRIVING THIS RAV4, CAUSED BY SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. DAMAGE OF ABOUT $3,000 WAS INCURRED; HOWEVER, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. ONE ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED. ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, THE RAV4 SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, ACCELERATED. IN EACH INSTANCE, I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NO ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE OCCURRED. PRIOR TO OWNING THE RAV4, I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 4-DOOR TOYOTA CAMRY. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, DURING THE EIGHT MONTHS I OWNED THE VEHICLE, I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY AT CRUISING SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY. BECOMING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ' I TRADED THE CAMRY ON THE THEN NEW 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. AS A 68 YEAR OLD SINGLE WORKING WIDOW, I AM AFRAID OF DRIVING THE RAV4 TO WORK OR ON WEEKENDS. IN JANUARY, 9013, A LEGAL CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR FOR TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, ADVISED BY LETTER THAT BASED ON THEIR INSPECTION OF THE 2009 RAV4; THE 2013 ACCIDENTS WERE 'NOT THE RESULT OF ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT.'*JS
NHTSA ID
10598075
Incident
Jun 8, 2014
Mileage
70,500 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Apr 18, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION BUTTON FAILED TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,342. UPDATED 6/10/14*CN
NHTSA ID
10583445
Incident
Jan 1, 2012
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structureDriver assistance
Filed Aug 8, 2012
Crash reported
ON JUNE 6 2012 DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT I HAD AN UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION ON MY 2009 TOYOTA RAV4 AND THE CAR ONLY STOPPED BECAUSE I HIT MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE WALL. EVEN THOUGH I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. IT WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT. I FILED A CLAIM WITH TOYOTA MANUFACTURER, THEY INSPECTED THE CAR ON JUNE 19,2012. I GOT A LETTER JULY 30 2012 FROM TOYOTA MOTOR SALES USA INC. THAT SAYS THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR AND THAT IT IS "OPERATING AS DESIGNED, WITHIN FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS" "HOWEVER THE INSPECTION OF YOUR VEHICLE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY SORT OF A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT AND WE ARE UNABLE TO OFFER ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE". I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS SAFE BUT NOW (THANK GOD NOBODY WAS HURT) I DON'T TRUST THIS CAR AND I LOST CONFIDENCE ON TOYOTA CARS. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE AND THEY KNOW IT. IT WAS A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCED! I DIDN'T MAKE THIS UP, THIS REALLY HAPPENED TO ME. ON AUG 1ST 2012 ON PRESS RELEASE TYT RECALLED RAV4 SUBS AND LEXUS TO FIX THE SUSPENSION OF RAV4S FROM 2006 TO 2011 MODELS. OTHER LAW FIRMS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE UN-INTENDED ACCELERATION HAS TO HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES TO BE CONSIDERED AS COMPLAINT/RECALL PER LEMON LAW AND THAT IF TYT SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, THERE'S NOTHING THEY OR I CAN DO. I'M OUTRAGED TO SAY THE LEAST! CAN YOU HELP? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10469737
Incident
Jun 6, 2012
Mileage
17,124 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 29, 2012
RUST ON THE LATCHES THAT HOLD THE REAR DOOR ON THE 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. ALTHOUGH NOT A MAJOR CONCERN AT THIS TIME, HOWEVER WHEN THE RUST DOES GET WORSE THE DOOR WILL NOT SEAL EXHAUST AND/OR WILL OPEN IN A ACCIDENT OR WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAN BE A HAZARD. I CAN EMAIL PHOTOS OF THE LATCHES. IF YOU WANT THEM. TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AND ITS DEALERSHIP NETWORK ARE NOT WANTING TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I THOUGHT I CAN BRING UP THE ISSUE HERE AND PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THE REPAIR IS SIMPLE SINCE THE LATCHES ARE HELD ON WITH EASILY REMOVED HARDWARE. TOYOTA IS NOT WANTING TO REPAIR A SIMPLE ISSUE THAT CAN BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10459981
Incident
May 28, 2012
Mileage
22,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Feb 24, 2012
I HAVE HA THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS BRAKE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL ,WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT AND WHEN BRAKING YOU FOOT CAN HIT THE GAS PEDAL THIS ALSO THE PEDAL WILL GO DOWN WHEN YOU ARE HOLDING AT A STOP,ALSO ITS NOT LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AS THE CAR WAS SERVICE AT THE DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10449266
Incident
Dec 7, 2011
Mileage
22,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 11, 2010
STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF ALL WELD POINTS ON HOOD OF 2009 TOYOTA RAV 4 V6 LIMITED WITH 27,000 MILES. HOOD LATCH ALLOWED 1/2" OF UPWARD PLAY WHILE BEING LATCHED. HOOD BEING REPLACED. CONTINUAL PROBLEM UNNOTICED UNTIL 3 MONTHS AGO. VERY FLIMSY AND HOOD WAVERED AND RIPPLED WHEN LARGE VEHICLE PASSED GOING BOTH WAYS ON THE HIGHWAY. WOULD NOT COMPLETELY CLOSE AT TIMES. HAD TO RECLOSE HOOD. *TR
NHTSA ID
10329993
Incident
Apr 28, 2010
Mileage
27,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 17, 2010
HELLO. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AN ISSUE TO THE TOYOTA INVESTIGATIONS. I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THIS MODEL/YEAR IS INCLUDED IN SEVERAL OF THE RECALLS. UPON CALLING THE TOYOTA DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALLS. IF THE PROBLEMS ARE INDEED DESIGN PROBLEMS, WHY ARE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALLS? THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ID
10311318
Incident
Feb 16, 2010
Body & structureTires & wheels
Filed Dec 5, 2009
I BOUGHT A TOYOTA RAV-4 SPORT IN JANUARY 2009. IT IS A V-6 WITH THE RUN FLAT TIRES. IN JULY, I PURCHASED A NEW, VERY EXPENSIVE COMPUTERIZED SEWING MACHINE--ONE THAT I HAD HOPED TO BE ABLE TO BUY FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. IT WAS JUST OVER $1400.00. I PLACED IT IN THE BACK OF MY RAV AND DROVE HOME. I SWUNG OPEN THE TAILGATE, NOT THINKING I HAD TO PEAK INSIDE FIRST. THE SEWING MACHINE FELL RIGHT OUT OF THE CAR UNTO THE CEMENT GARAGE FLOOR. I WAS DEVASTATED. THEN I THOUGHT HOW LUCKY I WAS THAT MY FOOT OR MY SMALL DOG WAS NOT INJURED. A TODDLER OR AN INFANT IN AN INFANT SEAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMPUTER IN MY SEWING MACHINE. MY HUSBAND, KNOWING HOW UPSET I WAS, AND SEEING THAT THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, CUT A 2X4 AND WEDGED IT IN ALONG THE EDGE, THUS PREVENTING MY GROCERIES AND EVERYTHING ELSE FROM FALLING RIGHT OUT OF THE CAR AS I OPENED THE DOOR. THE OTHER CONCERN I HAVE ABOUT THIS CAR IS THAT THERE ARE NO RUN-FLAT SNOW TIRES AVAILABLE AND WE LIVE IN AN AREA THAT IS HILLY, WITH A LOT OF SNOW. THE SO-CALLED, "ALL-WEATHER," DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH TREAD FOR OUR TERRAIN. *TR
NHTSA ID
10294582
Incident
Jul 15, 2009
Mileage
8,000 mi
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own