Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Toyota RAV4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 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 31, in the owner's own words
Burns oil. No leaks and compression is spot on. Burns oil so bad that around every 2,000 miles, if you hit the brakes to hard it causes the car to stall. Whether it's in a parking lot or intersection. Has happened several times. Since I purchased the car in 2022. Has been inspected by Toyota mechanics on more than one occasion, but can't find any solution, have tried thicker oils, oil stabilizers and nothing helps.
Engine oil is burning with out discharging from the engine. Can find no leak anywhere in the engine compartment. Constantly adding oil to the car as the oil indicator isn’t working either. The engine compression is spot on to manufacturers specifications. If the engine runs out of oil it could lead to a crash. Suspension: Loud popping in the rear drivers side when first moving. Don’t know if it is tie rod or something else. Don’t need whatever is causing the pop to break as that could lead to a crash.
Transmission vavle body issue and not safe to drive
I have a 2010 Toyota rav4 limited and sometimes the car starts and sometimes it doesn’t but all the light come on but the car itself doesn’t start I replaced the battery, starter, starter safety switch but it still doesn’t start sometimes
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that she gets her vehicle maintenance on a regular basis, however, when she took her vehicle to get serviced by an independent mechanic she was advised that the oil was low. The contact stated that they put oil in the vehicle, however, when it was time for the vehicle to get maintenance again, she was again advised that the oil was low and that the vehicle was leaking oil. The contact stated that after a while she noticed she was inputting 3 quarts of oil per week in the vehicle. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated on the vehicle at the time of failure. The contact stated that she does not know if the vehicle was losing oil until she checks the oil, which occurs on a regular basis. The contact stated she did contact the manufacturer, who was not able to assist. The failure mileage was 200,000.
While driving my vehicle, it began to smoke under the hood. I exited the highway in order to pull over in a safer location. Some smoke started coming through the vent in the car as I pulled over. I exited the car and moved away and small flames began at the air vents on the outside. After I called 911, The fire kept building until the front half of the car was engulfed. The fire department came and put out the fire. They weren’t sure the exact cause, but believe it started in the engine. My car was up to date on inspection and was not yet due for an oil change. No dashboard service lights were on beforehand. I had State Farm insurance and am not sure yet if they were able to find anything from their investigation.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Nashville Toyota North (2400 Gallatin Pike N, Madison, TN 37115), and diagnosed that the rear differential coupling was leaking oil, the rear driver's side axle bearing was faulty, and the radiator was leaking. The rear differential coupling, rear driver's side axle bearing, and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was past the nine-year extended warranty coverage. The failure mileage was 97,900.
This car was bought for a new driver and we have had 2 separate occasions when she has gotten somewhere and the car wont start. All the warning lights come on, but will not do anything when you push the button. We can jump it and it will start. This is not safe for a young person that could get stranded at random somewhere, and is now afraid to take it somewhere. We have checked the connections and the battery has been checked and is fine. The other complaint is the rear suspension recall. The tires were rotated and now it has a vibration, I was told that because of the recall it cannot be aligned unless things are replaced because of the terrible fix job on the recall. If something is recalled it should be fixed correctly and not be a bandaid job. There should not be a cost associated with a cheap fix that caused more problems. We purchased this vehicle because of reputation, if they are not supporting their product, then it will go and no other toyota products will be purchased.
ODOMETER METER HAS BEEN TAMPERD WITH. *TR
INTERMITTENTLY, MY 2010 RAV4 ENGINE TURNS OFF, WHILE DRIVING, AND THEN TURNS BACK ON SHORTLY AFTER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS YOU LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, MEANING VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AND STOP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. NEVER HAD IT CUT OUT AT A STOP LIGHT. I'M THINKING IT'S THE ECM. THE CAR'S MAINTENANCE IS VERY UP TO DATE. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS VEHICLE AND IT HAS HAPPENED TO HER NUMEROUS TIMES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT ONCE, SHORTLY AFTER GETTING THE CAR FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I ASKED THEM ABOUT IT AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS, OTHER THAN I COULD PAY THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES REGISTERED WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WHICH IS WHY I THINK IT'S THE ECM. TOYOTA HAS UPGRADED THE CODE LEVEL FOR THE ECM TWICE, SO I'M THINKING THERE ARE ISSUES THEY ADDRESSED IN UPGRADING THE CODE. I JUST CAN'T FIND WHAT THOSE UPGRADES FIXED ANYWHERE ONLINE. MY DAUGHTER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, AND IF THE DEALERSHIP ISN'T WILLING TO TALK TO TOYOTA FIRST ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I'M NOT GOING TO SHOVEL MONEY INTO THEIR POCKETS TO TINKER AROUND WITH IT...IT HAS TO HAPPEN IN THEIR PRESENCE, AS THEY SAY...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED TOO MUCH OIL AND WAS TAKEN EVERY SIX MONTHS TO BE SERVICED AT IRA TOYOTA OF DANVERS (99 ANDOVER ST, DANVERS, MA 01923, (978) 739-8300). THE CONTACT WAS NEVER INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND DUE TO LACK OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
SUV ACCELERATED WHEN I USED THE BRAKE! I WAS STOPPING AT RED LIGHT!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (COPELAND TOYOTA, 1554 MAIN ST, BROCKTON, MA 02301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE'S RPMS INCREASED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK FORWARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED MORE BRAKE PRESSURE THAN NORMAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND THE RPMS TO DECREASE. THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT, DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL INJECTORS MAY NEED CLEANING OR REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EVAP SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA HOTLINE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 03/02/17*LJ *CN
CAR ACCELERATED AHEAD WHILE PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN. THE HARDER I APPLIED THE BRAKES.... THE MORE IT TRIED TO SURGE AHEAD. FINALLY GOT IT STOPPED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY WIFE TODAY. SHE WAS PARKING THE CAR AND WHEN SHE TOUCHED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SURGED AHEAD ON HER. SHE FINALLY ALSO GOT IT STOPPED BUT IT SCARED HER. WHEN IT HAPPENS, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS REALLY HARD AND THE MOTOR ACCELERATES EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL IS BEING PUSHED AND NOT THE GAS PEDAL. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY ARE GOING TO GET IT IN TOMORROW TO CHECK IT OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING ONTO THE CARPET IN THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOSE IN THE VEHICLE WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND WOULD NEED TO BE RE-INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
LEFT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING SERVICE . IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE I HAD JUST JUMPED ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A THIRD LIGHT ALL CAME ON. I THEN DROVE TO AUTOZONE I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A 02 SENSOR. BUT I HAD JUST LEFT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. I READ A POST ON YOUR WEBSITE AND WITH THE SAME CONCERN AND DECIDED TO ADD MY COMPLAINT. I WILL BE TAKING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY.
APRIL 2014: AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STABILITY CONTROLS ON DASH WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INFORMS THAT THERE IS A CHARCOAL CANISTER MALFUNCTION AND THE PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DEALER PERFORMED REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF TOYOTA PARTS. PAID ~$900. FEBRUARY 2016: SAME LIGHTS ON DASH WHILE DRIVING. TAKE TO THE DEALER AND THE ERROR CODES INDICATE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ESTIMATE $1020. THE PART IS NO LONGER UNDER 12-MONTH WARRANTY AS IT WAS REPLACED 20 MONTHS AGO.
ON 07/06/14 THE CAR SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE WHILE STOPPED . CAR MOVED TOWARD MOTORCYCLE STOPPED AHEAD OF ME AT THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL EVEN THOUGH I WAS PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKE. IF I HAD NOT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF I WOULD HAVE HIT THE MOTORCYCLE. TODAY 08/06/14 AT APROX. 20 MPH THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AS I WAS SLOWING FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CAR ACCELERATOR WENT TO FULL THROTTLE UNCONTROLLABLY RUNNING THROUGH A RED LIGHT. *TR
CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, A KNOCK OR RATTLE NOISE FROM ENGINE .. *TR
AFTER COMPLETING A 5 BLOCK DOWNHILL DRIVE IN SECOND GEAR WITH LITTLE USE OF EITHER THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKE, I THEN BRAKED AS I TURNED INTO MY GARAGE IN ORDER TO PARK MY VEHICLE. AS I ENTERED MY GARAGE AND WHILE STILL BRAKING AND AT SLOWING SPEED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY APPLIED HEAVY BRAKE PRESSURE AND UP SHIFTED IN AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR. MY BRAKING MAY HAVE SLOWED, BUT DID NOT STOP, THE VEHICLE'S FORWARD ACCELERATION. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE WHEELS LOCKED, FORWARD PROGRESS STOPPED (JUST IN FRONT OF THE BACK WALL OF MY GARAGE), AND I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF USING THE IGNITION SWITCH. I DID NOT THINK OF TRYING TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH FIRST AND I DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR DIFFERENT OPTIONS; I HAD ONLY A FEW SECONDS TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL OR IT WOULD HAVE HIT THE BACK WALL OF MY GARAGE. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS STOPPED, I WAITED A FEW SECONDS, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE (WHICH STARTED NORMALLY), AND THEN BACKED INTO MY PARKING SPACE. I HAVE NOT USED THE VEHICLE SINCE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION TWICE IN 4 YEARS. UPDATED 04/08/14
LEAKING WATER PUMP, REPLACED AT 60,000 MILE SERVICE INTERVAL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED HIM THAT THE O RING SEAL WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING OIL. THE O RING WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE O RING THE CONTACT NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS OUT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE O RING WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,806.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED TO 5000 ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000.
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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