2009 Toyota RAV4 Suspension Problems

We were informed of safety recalls for our Toyota Rav 4 2009 . We called the local Toyaota dealership for the recalls and was told on the phone after we dropped it off that they did the inspection to make sure the recalls could be completed and informed us that they could ,but they needed to keep overnight because they had to order the parts. Prior to dropping the vehicle off the car was able to be driven and no known issues were visible. Received call following told to come pick it up and that they officially refused to perform the recalls repairs. They stated that excessive structural damage and unsafe to drive to this degradation. Because the structural rust is directly in the exact suspension components targeted by this safety recalls. The vehicle cannot be remedied under standard recall procedures. By refusing the repair without providing an alternative solution The manufacture is failing its federal obligation to remedy a known safety defect. The vehicle is currently trapped in a regularity deadlock. It can not legally or safely be repaired. It is now deemed unsafe to be driven period. When the dealership gave the vehicle back, They wanted us to sign off and yes we refused because they told us it was inspected and was going to be repaired. When they did the inspection it is known that they have to bang , wrench and or pull on these parts to check to see if recall can be completed. Which they told us it could. When the vehicle was picked up we immediately noticed that the steering wheel was no longer in the correct position and that it was making an extreme screeching sound. We did not reach back out to the dealership as we feel they definitely caused more damage and already treated us poorly. We are requesting that the NHTSA intervenes to compel Toyota to provide an alternative remedy. Either structural vehicle replacement or a KB buyback to remove this 100% unsafe vehicle from the road. because the structural rust is directly impacting the exact components .

NHTSA ID

11739536

Incident

May 14, 2026

Repairs of the control arms indicated on recall NHTSA 16V-596 were never done on my vehicle after the recall was issued in 2016. Smart motors Toyota in Madison confirmed that the replacement of the control arms was never done on my vehicle, but they are showing no open recalls on my vehicle in their system due to this being a re-recall. From what I've read many vehicles were incorrectly marked "complete" after the 2012 inspection, but the 2016 update (G0V) was issued specifically because those earlier inspections were found to be insufficient. I am entitled to this repair through Toyota due to this recall as Toyota has confirmed my vehicle was recalled and this repair was never completed. My rear control arms are showing signs of failure consistent with the re-recall.

NHTSA ID

11735702

Incident

May 1, 2026

My son was looking to get his new tires aligned, and was informed by the mechanic that he would need to replace both side rear lower control arms, as Toyota had performed a safety recall GOV, resulting in the arms being epoxied, and therefore cannot be adjusted/ aligned. I contacted Toyota customer experience center (800 331 4331 - 1/16/2024) and she could not even call up the original recall. My question is: How can Toyota permanently remove a vehicle feature (adjustability of the suspension arms), and then require car owners to bear the brunt of re-installing the arms when you need to align your tires? This "solution" is totally unfair. I just purchased a new set of tires, and based on Toyota's "solution" I need to pay out of pocket to replace the control bars and/or damage my tires and have to replace them early. I was not able to find any other information on this issue on the web, and was wondering if Toyota had done anything to address this issue?

NHTSA ID

11565720

Incident

Jan 16, 2024

My rear passenger suspension has multiple part damage. Rear shock bracket failure and other parts.

NHTSA ID

11532363

Incident

May 16, 2023

The rear lower suspension arms recall notice solution was replacement of arms if needed and than sealed with epoxy. Labels were applied stating the arm is no longer adjustable. The vehicle no longer can routinely get a wheel alignment at a market expense. The Toyota company suggests for further alignments go to a Toyota dealership and have a alignment done for 900.00 dollars every time you need a alignment. This is not a safe solution. This only makes owners go to their dealerships and give them thousands of more dollars for taking away a routine adjustable maintenance capability with this permanent one time fix.

NHTSA ID

11446158

Incident

Apr 6, 2014

MY PROBLEM IS UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE I WAS TOLD A RECALL (16V596000) FOR MY REAR SUSPENSION ARMS WAS AVAILABLE AND I NEEDED TO HAVE IT DONE AS THE BACK END NUTS COULDN'T BE ADJUSTED. I CALLED A DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS TAKEN CARE OF 3 YEARS AGO, YET THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS.

NHTSA ID

11402975

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

Mileage

104,000 mi

AUTO BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL AND COOLANT BOX STAYS FULL TO TOP CAR IS STATIONARY

NHTSA ID

11309344

Incident

Feb 12, 2020

Mileage

125,000 mi

SUSP RECAL 13V-383, MY VEH HAS TEMP REAR SUSP ARMS, DEALER NOT WILLING TO PERFOM PERMANENT REPAIR AND REPLACE CAUTION STICKERS STILL ON REAR TIEROD/CNTRL ARMS, KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE PLEASE HELP MY # [XXX] NOTICED UPON INSPECTION NO INCIDENT YET. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11096378

Incident

Mar 14, 2018

Mileage

350 mi

THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM BOLTS ON MY RAV 4 RUSTED OUT AND FAILED. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED AS PART OF A RECALL, BUT THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO DO THAT. BECAUSE THE BOLTS FAILED, I AM BEING ASKED TO PAY FOR NEW REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS AND AN ALIGNMENT.

NHTSA ID

11072241

Incident

Feb 2, 2018

Mileage

82,540 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, A LOUD WOBBLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHOOK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL A TOYOTA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BY THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TEJAS TOYOTA (19011 US-59, HUMBLE, TX 77338, (281) 446-0271) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RELATED TO A RECALL; HOWEVER, THE SUSPENSION ARM WAS LOOSE ALONG WITH THE BOLTS. THE REAR SUSPENSION ARMS WERE REPLACED, AN ALIGNMENT WAS COMPLETED, AND THE ARMS WERE LOCKED WITH EPOXY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V383000 (SUSPENSION) ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2015. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11058489

Incident

Dec 21, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (RODLAND TOYOTA EVERETT, 6816 EVERGREEN WAY, EVERETT, WA, 98203) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11051182

Incident

Sep 19, 2016

HERITAGE TOYOTA S.BURLINGTON VT REPAIR JOB FIND AFTER DID A COMPREHENSIVE ALIGNMENT IN WHICH VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT THEN PUT TWO NONE ADJUSTING REAR TIE RODS ON MY RAV4 AND SAYING IT IS OK, WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11043188

Incident

Sep 17, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS INCOMPLETE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (TOYOTA OF MANHATTAN IN NEW YORK, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS NOT PERFORMED DUE TO A FAILURE WITH THE SUSPENSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,700.

NHTSA ID

11013936

Incident

Aug 3, 2017

Mileage

71,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000(SUSPENSION) WAS RECEIVED IN AUGUST OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (ED MORSE TOYOTA, LOCATED IN DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA) ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11006600

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10969690

Incident

Oct 24, 2016

CAR HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE IN THE FRONT WHEEL AREA WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING, TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE PURCHASED, PLANET TOYOTA IN MATTESON, ILL, WAS TOLD THE RIGHT STRUT WAS DAMAGED AND BINDED, ALSO CUP WAS DAMAGED ON BOTH STRUTS, I FIND THIS ODD SEEING AS HOW THE CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. WE BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH BY THE WAY, DOES NOT COVER IT.

NHTSA ID

10967886

Incident

Mar 22, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

I WAS TOLD TODAY THAT MY LEFT REAR SUSPENSION IS NOT RIGHT IT IS OFF AND CAN CAUSE HARM. I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA DEALERS THAT THEY FIXED IT, I CANNOT GET MY CAR AN ALIGNMENT IN THE REAR DUE TO THIS.

NHTSA ID

10965942

Incident

Mar 14, 2017

2 RECALLS SINCE LAST YEAR. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER UNWILLING/UNABLE TO PERFORM REMEDY DESPITE NUMEROUS REQUESTS.

NHTSA ID

10959201

Incident

Aug 10, 2016

IN 2013, TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL ON THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AND HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE ON 7/19/14. ONE ARM WAS REPLACED, AND ONE WAS COATED WITH AN EPOXY COATING. THE CAR BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AND WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AT WHICH WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REAR TOE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER. THE RECALL WORK DONE IN JULY 2014 INVOLVED APPLYING AN EPOXY THAT MADE THIS PART NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE. ON 2/25/17, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE TOYOTA DEALER, WHICH FAILED AN ALIGNMENT CHECK AT THE REAR TOE. 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 FOR A COST OF 600 DOLLARS. WE CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND WERE OFFERED A 10% DISCOUNT TO GET THE WORK DONE. 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. THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME AND MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN.

NHTSA ID

10957751

Incident

Feb 25, 2017

Mileage

89,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10950001

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND THERE WAS NO ESTIMATED TIME FRAME FOR THEIR AVAILABILITY. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10918466

Incident

Oct 24, 2016

WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE TIE RODS TWICE AND IT WON'T STAY IN ALIGNMENT. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES TO SCHEDULE IT TO BE FIXED AND CALLED CORPORATE AND THEY WON'T DO MUCH AND IT WON'T STAY IN ALIGNMENT AND THEY WON'T FIX IT RIGHT. THE CAR IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE WITH IT BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND NO OTHER MECHANIC WILL TOUCH IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A STICKER SAYING IT CAN ONLY BE ADJUSTED BY TOYOTA BECAUSE THEY GLUE THE TIE RODS IN PLACE. TOYOTA SAID IF WE HAVE REPLACED BY AN OUTSIDE SOURCE BECAUSE THE DEALER WON'T CALL US BACK THEY WILL NOT HELP COVER IT. THEY WON'T ALLOW US TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALER AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

10909484

Incident

Aug 22, 2016

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUE WITH THE RV4, ALL RELATED TO THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE RECAL FOR TOYOA WITH PART OF THE SUSPENSION LEAKSUNBOLTED FROM THE CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT UP IN TO THE WHEEL WELL. ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SLOW SPEED DID I NOT GET IN TO AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. AT 65K MILES, I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN TO THE SHOP. BOTH REAR LINKAGES TO THE ANTI-SWAY BAR WERE BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AGAIN ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION.

NHTSA ID

10850356

Incident

Feb 15, 2016

Mileage

65 mi

REAR SUSPENSION ARMS WERE REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL. IT WAS FOUND A YEAR LATER, THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. DURING THIS TIME, THE HANDLING OF THE CAR ON TURNS AND IN WET WEATHER WERE IMPAIRED. ALSO, THE TIRES WORE UNEVENLY AND WERE BALD ON THE INSIDE. I FOUND OUT, THAT THE RECALL FIX REPLACED THE ORIGINAL ADJUSTABLE ARMS WITH NON-ADJUSTABLE ARMS AND THE CAR COULD NOT BE ALIGNED. TOYOTA WANTED $830 TO REPLACE THE ARMS AGAIN IN ORDER TO ALIGN IT. THIS WOULD MEAN EVERY TIME THE CAR NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT OF THE REAR WHEELS, NEW REAR ARMS WOULD HAVE TO BE PURCHASED. THAT CAR HAS BEEN ALTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN TO THE ADVANTAGE OF TOYOTA. ..UPDATED 03/10/16 *BF

NHTSA ID

10839448

Incident

Jul 17, 2014

Mileage

45,365 mi

IT APPEARS THAT A SOUND, SUSPENSION OF THE RAV 4 NEED SOME REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10746969

Incident

Aug 4, 2015

Mileage

65,730 mi