2016 Toyota RAV4 Visibility Problems

I had a significant car accident in 2020 and luckily only broke my thumb. I was rear ended. The car I had at the time was a brand new Toyota Rav4, which luckily did have side airbags and they deployed appropriately. However, I have since had the opportunity to drive other vehicles and would like to ensure the safety of myself and others on the road whether the car be foreign or domestic. Please see the following requests: 1. Toyota's electronics freeze intermittently. This is not the first Toyota Rav4 that I have had and it seems to have done this in the majority of them (2/3). This is dangerous as it can become a distraction to the driver if not familiar with this abnormality. The backup camera also variously changes it's functions, preferences, and layout. 2. The navigation system has to be updated by a chip instead of updated wirelessly. 3. It is not an electric vehicle. 4. I should not have to pay for gasoline or electricity if the sun can be used as a fuel source. Please research the and utilize solar cell panel paint to charge all electric cars and implement that into all domestic and foreign electric cars as soon as possible due to the inflating economy. 5. With full self driving availability please ensure that all cars on the road, whether they be electric or gas, have this capability due to safety issues as well as the extent of morbidity and mortality cases due to trauma patients. I have already emailed you on this problem. Please follow up. 6. Due to the younger generation and their addiction to social media as well as their cell phones, please ensure that there is voice capability within all cars. It may also be beneficial for a camera to be installed inside of the car since the younger generation is so prone to filming themselves. This would also help with liability issues if an accident were to occur. 7. Ensure there is a way to charge a cell phone without needing to plug in the phone.

NHTSA ID

11640194

Incident

Feb 24, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that the moon roof was leaking. The failure had gotten progressively worse over time causing damage to the interior of the vehicle. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 43,000.

NHTSA ID

11417886

Incident

Dec 1, 2020

Mileage

43,000 mi

I HAVE HAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE BATTERY TROUBLE WITH MY TOYOTA RAV4. I FIRST BOUGHT A NEW 2014 AND AT MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO TRADE IT IN AND GET A NEW 2016. I STILL HAVE THIS ONE, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE BATTERY TROUBLE. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED AT WORK WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF CORROSION, AND TO THIS DAY, THE TERMINALS CORRODE OVER EVEN WITH NEW BATTERY. THE PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK WITH THE KEY BUTTON BC OF THIS ISSUE. I WOULD ESTIMATE I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY 3-5 TIMES BETWEEN THE TWO CARS, WITH NO REAL SOLUTION. BATTERIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REPLACED/INSTALLED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. (I'M SURE INVOICES COULD BE PULLED IF NECESSARY) MY CARS HAVE NOT STALLED WHILE RUNNING, THEY WON'T START OR JUST START TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES W LIGHTS, AND IT GETS CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THEY USUALLY RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT WHILE THE BATTERY IS COVERED. A SEPARATE BUT EQUALLY UNSETTLING ISSUE IS WITH THE WINDSHIELD. IT RECENTLY CRACKED DUE TO A PASSENGER FLICKING A BUG ON IT. YOU WOULD THINK A ROCK LANDED ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11399862

Incident

Aug 23, 2019

Mileage

30,000 mi

MY BRAND NEW CAR CAUGHT FIRE IN THE FRONT WHILE IT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A RESTAURANT. I CAME OUTSIDE TO LEAVE AND IT WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED FROM THE FIRE. I SAW THE RAV4 INVESTIGATION IS HAPPENING AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD MY REPORT INCLUDED. THE FIRE HAPPENED IN THE FRONT LEFT (AS IT WAS STATED IN THE ARTICLE OTHER CARS). I CAN SEND YOU ADDITIONAL DETAILS IF NEEDED BUT EVERYTHING IS MATCHING UP WITH THE OTHER INCIDENTS. IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR WHICH IS WHY IT WAS SUCH A STRANGE EVENT.

NHTSA ID

11398858

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

14,600 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPER INTERVALS DO NOT CHANGE SPEED AND THE FASTEST SETTING IS INADEQUATE IN HEAVY RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324567

Incident

May 15, 2016

I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS FROM DAY ONE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED PROPERLY. SINCE THEN MY WIFE HAS HIT A DEER BECAUSE SHE CAN NOT SEE MORE THAN ONE CAR LENGTH IN FRONT WITHOUT THE HIGH BEAMS ON. NOW SHE ALWAYS DRIVES WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON. THISORNING SHE WAS VERBALLY ACCOSTED FROM ANOTHER DRIVER FOR DRIVING WITH HER HIGH BEAMS ON. WE LIVE IN A MORE RURAL AREA WITH VERY FEW STREET LIGHTS. GET A RAV 4 PUT IT IN A TOTALLY DARK AREA AND TURN ON THE HEAD LIGHTS. MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN BUMPER AND END OF LIGHT. THEN YOU WILL SEE THE ISSUE. THE LIGHTS MIGHT HAVE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIREMENT MEET BUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE GOES LEFT AND RIGHT AND NOT FORWARD WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11141041

Incident

Oct 17, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A ROCK STRUCK THE SUN ROOF, FRACTURED IT, AND CAUSED GLASS TO EXPLODE AND IMPLODE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (FINDLAY TOYOTA FLAGSTAFF, 5030 E MARKETPLACE DR, FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86004, (888) 736-7324) WHO AT FIRST INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PART. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE PART WOULD BE REPLACED BY A WARRANTY AND THE END RESULT WAS THAT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT OF THE PART AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A FOLLOW-UP RESPONSE WITHIN A DAY TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD REMEDY THE FAILURE BY REPLACING THE PART THAT FAILED PREMATURELY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA ID

11074371

Incident

Feb 17, 2018

Mileage

25,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT THE SPEED LIMIT ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. NO OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OR SIDE. THE SUN ROOF GLASS EXPLODED. NO PERSONAL INJURIES.

NHTSA ID

11062588

Incident

Oct 19, 2016

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE SUN ROOF FRACTURED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, PIECES OF BROKEN GLASS STARTED TO FALL INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. CLEARWATER TOYOTA (21799 US HWY 19 N, CLEARWATER, FL 33765, (800) 667-9051) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,250. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11062360

Incident

Jan 7, 2018

Mileage

10,250 mi

SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS UNDER OR NEAR AN OVERPASS WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOMETHING DROPPED FROM THE OVERPASS AND STRUCK THE SUNROOF, BUT WE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING FALL.

NHTSA ID

11058147

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

Mileage

9,756 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE SUNROOF SHATTERED SENDING GALSS ONTO MY WIFE AND THE CAR BEHIND US.

NHTSA ID

11057915

Incident

Dec 26, 2017

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,771. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATED CT STATE POLICE WERE CALLED AND RESPONDED. THEY FOUND NO DEBRIS, NO SIGN OF ANY IMPACT. THEY WROTE AS HAVING BEEN "SPONTANEOUS." UPDATED 8/24/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11054155

Incident

Dec 9, 2017

Mileage

11,771 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A ROCK STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED IT TO FRACTURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONATCT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE REPAIR PART WAS ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,421.

NHTSA ID

10985690

Incident

May 8, 2017

Mileage

9,421 mi

AFTER LEAVING A RESTAURANT WITH OUR GRANDCHILD GETTING INTO OUR 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 VEHICLE, GLASS STARTED FALLING OFF THE BACK OF THE ROOF AS WE PULLED OUT ON THE HIGHTWAY. IT APPEARS THAT POSSIBLY A FOUR DOORS CLOSING CLOSE TO THE SAME TIME SHATTERED OUR SUNROOF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOMBARD TOYOTA IN LOMBARD, IL WHERE THEY DEEMED IT "ROAD DAMAGE AT HIGHWAY SPEED". I CORRECTED THE SERVICE REP TO CLARIFY WE WERE JUST TAKING OFF FROM THE RESTAURANT AFTER GETTING INTO THE CAR. THE REMAINING GLASS WAS PUSHED UPWARD AND NOT INWARD. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE SUNROOF ON THE RAV4, BUT NEITHER THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP NOR THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. AFTER CLOSE TO TWO WEEKS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR, I JUST PICKED IT UP YESTERDAY. THE BILL--$1400 I SEE OTHER SUNROOF HAVE BEEN REPORTED BLOWING UP. THANKFULLY, WE HAD INSIDE DOOR CLOSED. NEVER AGAIN WILL I PURCHASE A VEHICLE WITH A SUNROOF, ESPECIALLY FROM TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID

10979839

Incident

Apr 8, 2017

Mileage

5,300 mi

MY 2016 RAV4 LE COMES WITH A SIDE VIEW MIRROR THAT HAS A BUILT IN NON-ADJUSTABLE BLIND SPOT MIRROR. THIS BLIND SPOT MIRROR DOES NOT SHOW THE BLIND SPOT AREA. IT SHOWS AN AREA TWO LANES AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. PAGE 154 OF THE RAV4 OWNERS MANUAL ERRONEOUSLY INDICATES THIS ADDITIONAL MIRROR IS A BLIND SPOT MIRROR AND HAS A DIAGRAM ERRONEOUSLY SHOWING HOW IT FUNCTIONS.THE BLIND SPOT MIRROR IS MISLEADING AND DANGEROUS. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO GET APPROVAL FROM THE TOYOTA CORP. TO REPLACE THE GLASS MIRROR INSERT. TOYOTA CORP REFUSED MY REQUEST AND TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. ATTACHED IS A SEQUENCE OF THREE PICTURES SHOWING HOW THE BLIND SPOT MIRROR DOESN'T SHOW AN APPROACHING VEHICLE UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. THIS IS PARTICULARLY CONFUSING AND DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. YOU GET TO SEE HEADLIGHTS FROM TWO LANES OVER AND NOT THE HEADLIGHTS ACTUALLY APPROACHING YOU. A TOYOTA PERSON TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE $8000 MORE EXPENSIVE 2016 RAV4 WHICH IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WITH SENSORS. THIS IS A BAD WAY TO MAKE MONEY. ALL I WANT IS FOR TOYOTA TO AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE INTERCHANGEABLE GLASS MIRROR INSERTS USED ON PREVIOUS YEAR RAV4 VEHICLES AND TO STOP INSTALLING THE DANGEROUS SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WITH BUILT IN NON-ADJUSTABLE BLIND SPOT MIRRORS. THE VISION IS POOR ON THE RAV4 AND TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE REASONABLY PRICED THE SENSORS AND VISION ITEMS FOR ALL MODELS INSTEAD OF ONLY MAKING THESE SAFETY ITEMS AVAILABLE ON VEHICLES LOADED WITH HIGH PRICE FEATURES. TOYOTA NEEDS TO PUT SAFETY FIRST. I HAVE HIGH REGARD FOR TOYOTA AND PREVIOUSLY PURCHASED THREE TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT WERE EXTREMELY GOOD AND LASTED A LONG TIME. THEY ALL HAD GREAT VISIBILITY. THE RAV4 COULD HAVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WITH MUCH BETTER VISION.

NHTSA ID

10855713

Incident

Mar 12, 2016

Mileage

60 mi

MY CAR WAS 4 DAYS OLD. I WAS DRIVING IN THE POURING RAIN, ON A HIGHWAY GOING 55-60MPH, WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES AHEAD OF ME OR ON THE SIDE OF ME. MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED! THE SUNROOF WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION AT THE TIME BUT THE CLOTH COVER WAS OPEN. LUCKILY IT EXPLODED OUTWARD BUT SOME TINY SLIVERS OF GLASS DID COVER THE INSIDE.

NHTSA ID

10824253

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

Mileage

180 mi