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 2017 Toyota RAV4 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 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 33, in the owner's own words
Yesterday March 25th 2026 I went to work and parked my 2017 Toyota RAV4 and about 30minutes later it was on fire in the parking lot. The fire happened around the battery area
11/1/23 recall for battery safety. Hold down clamp issue. I received an interim recall notification in 2023. I have called Toyota twice and they still don’t have a remedy. It’s been over a year and this is a safety/fire hazard. It’s unacceptable they have not arranged for a remedy over a year later.
As the driver was making a right hand turn, the dash lights came on and the vehicle lost power. The driver was able to get the vehicle to roll to a stop in the middle of the road after making the turn. As the driver exited the vehicle to check the engine, the passenger stated smoke could be smelled coming into the cabin. Before the hood could be disengaged, flames engulfed the engine compartment and began raising above the hood of the vehicle. The occupants of the vehicle activated 911 and emergency personnel extinguished the fire. The fire was contained to the engine compartment. The vehicle does have a recall for aftermarket batteries causing fires. The vehicle was purchased on December 13, 2023 at which time the recall wasn't communicated by the independent dealer. Currently, there isn't a known fix for the recall.
Driving along, and all of sudden engine shuts down. Message indicated a malfunction, showed picture of battery, and indicated to put vehicle in park, and restart engine. Did so, and engine started. Dangerous situation, but luckily traffic was light.
The batter recall was not fixed till April 2024 as mentioned by Toyota.
--Battery terminal/wiring for negative terminal came into contact with the metal hold down clamp --Caused a two alarm structure fire and loss of two vehicles --Current recall in place but remedy of situation not available until 2024 --Current recall in place --Maintenance required light appeared and owner took vehicle in for service two weeks prior to the incident
I was driving my car when no warning lights came on the car started stalling and turning off and then sparks started to come out from the hood. I was able to get the car in a parking lot and when the hood was opened the battery clamp part came off and welded itself to the hood of the car. I had it towed to Price Toyota where they said the battery was fine and that the bolt was missing. They put the same clamp back on and presumed someone tampered with it. The only place that ever touched the battery was them back in June of 2022 when the first recall came out and they said it was fine. I do not feel safe driving this car, especially on a highway if the car stalled like that, I would have been killed. A bolt just doesn't come loose and fall off. Something caused it to loosen and in turn put my life and my kids at risk.
The contact owned a 2017 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that upon arriving at her destination and returning to the vehicle a short time later, she found it engulfed in flames. A witness had already notified local emergency services, who were able to extinguish the fire. The fire marshal was unable to determine the origin of the fire but concluded that the cause was a non-suspicious mechanical failure with the vehicle. A police and fire report was filed, and no injuries were reported. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and declared a loss by insurance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph, fire was detected near the engine and front of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries, crash,es or air bag deployment. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent towing lot. The contact called the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.
Vehicle experienced an unexplained acceleration while at a complete stop with foot on the brake. This has happened several times.
Vehicle surges when accelerating since it was new. Throttle goes dead where engine idles but now power at all. Does it from a standing start, does it on hills and when merging onto a freeway. Now it happens on cruise control, when set on 75 mph engine loses power and slows down to 45 for a few minutes then shutters and speeds back up to 75. This past month if you let the fuel get down to 1/4 of a tank it will happen all the time. On interstate this week it happened and slowed to 35 mph and wouldn't go any faster until more gas was added. No check engine light ever. Dealer has checked twice and says no codes found and can't get it to happen it's a intermittent problem. We almost got hit by a semi on the interstate this week week due to this happening and I was unable to get out of his way because I no throttle response at all.... But engine was idling that all. Had to turn the engine off for 45 minutes before it would have any throttle response at all. Drove down the emergency lane to the next exit and filled up with gas. Engine surged for next 60 miles home. This is a huge problem! I am going to my local Toyota dealer tomorrow to talk with them again about this problem. If they give me the run around again I am going to file a lawsuit against Toyota and the dealership!
The contact owned a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while the wife was driving approximately 35 MPH, the odor of smoke was present inside the vehicle. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, smoke and flames were seen coming from under the hood. The fire department was called to the scene to extinguish the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed and later towed away. A fire report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
While driving the vehicle I smelled something burning and saw smoke coming out of the air vents. I immediately pulled to the side of the road and got out. I noticed fire and smoke coming from under the hood. I called 911 and the Fire Dept. arrived to put the fire out. It was towed to a nearby storage yard until the insurance company could be notified. After talking with and submitting photos to the insurance company the vehicle was considered a total loss. We are waiting to hear back from the insurance company concerning our claim. Upon researching engine fire related to defective battery in these vehicles I learned that almost 2 million 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 have been affected. I am just thankful everyone was able to get out of the vehicle safely before it caught on fire.
On Saturday, May 14, 2022, my vehicle burned. and has since been totaled. The car had been trouble-free since I bought it in 2018. I was so pleased with it that I had just paid off the balance on the loan the week before because I wanted to keep it for 10 years. Prior to it burning, I had just driven it a couple miles for the first time in 2 weeks (it had been parked in a friend's garage). There were no warning lights visible during that time. I got out of the car for 3 minutes and was about to get back in when I noticed white smoke coming out of the hood. Within 30 seconds the hood had become engulfed in flames. The entire front and interior of the car was destroyed in the blaze, which the Fire Department had to extinguish. No one was injured, but two cars on either side were damaged by the fire. The car had last been serviced by Headquarter Toyota in Miami on January 22, 2022. They had not done the government-recommended inspection of the engine area during the servicing.
The driver owned a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact called on behalf of her son who was driving approximately 35 MPH when he lost control of the steering due to the functionality of the steering wheel and accidentally crashed into a pole. There were no warning lights. The 2 front and 1 side air bag deployed. The police and fire and ambulance arrived on the scene. The driver was transported to the hospital where he received a CT scan for his injury. There was a police report. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage yard. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000
The contact owned a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after several attempts. The contact saw smoke coming out from underneath the hood of the vehicle and immediately exited the vehicle. The contact then saw flames coming out from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with the assistance of the fire department. There were no injuries sustained. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot where it was totaled. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
Vehicle automatically slows down and shakes violently. We had it checked out at a Toyota dealership and they didn’t find any problems with the vehicle when they performed a diagnostic check. It continues to happen when vehicles is on the fwy. EV light appears on screen flashing on and off.
I bought my Rav4 in September of 2017 brand new and within 6 months I had a dead battery needing replacement so I replaced it via AAA. Since then, I have had the battery replaced an additional 3 times! I always serviced my car at the dealer and took very good care of it. Then after 50k miles, I started having odd lighting issues…both headlight bulbs had to be replaced within 3 weeks of each other and one high beam bulb, and then my tail lights went out! Then I would occasionally have trouble starting the car and with a natural gas smell, rotten eggs. Which could be a catalytic converter or fuel pump issue but can also be the battery. Well, my Rav was in the driveway with a dead battery and with no tail lights and had been sitting there for a month since I mainly drive our Sienna.My Rav just caught on fire and was completely destroyed. No one was hurt but if the Sienna had been out there it would’ve caught on fire and it burned the garage door…Rav totaled! I also had a very expensive brake job last year and think those are faulty too. But this fire….was bad and I can’t get a car of equal value with what i received for the total loss. What is Toyota doing about this? Less than 4 yr old well taken cared of Rav 4 XLE that I paid cash for and now can’t even replace with a Corolla! There were no warning lights ever, not even for the dead battery’s. And less than 6 months prior to the fire, it was serviced at my Toyota dealer and they said all was good. The firemen that came also told me that Rav4 fires have increased and I searched on Consumer Reports and sure enough…what was explained was a carbon copy of my experiences. Thank god no one was in it when it started, but the house could’ve caught fire as well. Toyota needs to do something for those of us who had their cars totaled due to fire…just the time invested finding a replacement is worth something….not to mention the time vested researching vehicles before I bought the Rav4. plus the depreciation, etc….
Recurring Problems with AWD Malfunction, Engine Light On. Contacted Toyota two month ago, No reply from Toyota; Description of Complaints: On March 19, 2021, I was driving my Rav4 (VIN[XXX] ) to go to Toledo Ohio. During the driving, the AWD System Malfunction/2WD Mode Engaged and the Engine Light came on (see attached). Interestingly, the warning lights came on and off three to four times and each time I felt a drag/hesitation as if the gear was changed from 4WD to 2WD (Exhibit 1) . It advised me to visit the Toyota Dealer. After arriving Toledo, OH I visited Jim White Toyota Dealer next morning and explained the situation. The dealership was very cordial and helpful. Unfortunately, they did not record any malfunctioning Code (Exhibit 2). While returning home on March 21, 2021, the AWD warning light did not come on. A few days later, these warning lights came on again, and that forced me to visit the local Toyota Dealer, Fitzgerald, for inspection again. They diagnosed the problem to Code P0456 (Exhibits 3-4). This code refers to “…that there is a small leak in the evaporative emission control system.” Today (05/31/2021), after two repairs at Fitzgerald Toyota, Gaithersburg, The "AWD malfunction came back on with the engine light on again. The code reads: P043Eand F;P2401,P2402 and P2419. Please ask Toyota to address this problem and make it as part of recall to fix this problem. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TOOK MY 2017 RAV4 LE TO TOYOTA FOR SHAKING/VIBRATING AT STOPLIGHT WHEN FULLY WARMED UP. IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME I STOP AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. THEY CANNOT FIND ANY FAULTS OR CODES RELATED TO THE ISSUE AND CLAIM EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WILL STALL AT EVERY LIGHT. HOWEVER THEY DID TELL ME THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE ON ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE LOT WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE, BUT THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. SEEMS TO BE ON ALL 2017 RAV4 LE'S NOT JUST MINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE THEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED IT TOTALED. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER JAY WOLFE TOYOTA OF WEST COUNTY ( 14700 MANCHESTER RD, BALLWIN, MO 63011) AND THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
FROM A STOP OR SLOW MOVE, SOMETIMES WHEN I HAVE TO PULL AHEAD QUICKLY, AS TO GO BEFORE AN ONCOMING CAR, THE ENGINE WILL LOSE POWER AND NOT ACCELERATE AS INTENDED.
AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN COLD WEATHER, WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS AT RED LIGHT/STOP SIGNS RPM DROPS TO 400-500 RESULTING IN NOTICEABLE SHAKING LIKE THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO STALL. I'M AFRAID THE VEHICLE MY STALL IN THE FUTURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED, WARNING MESSAGES BEGAN TO DISPLAY ON THE DASH SCREEN; BEFORE WHITE SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER LARRY MILLER TOYOTA (2465 48TH CT. BOULDER, CO 80301) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,500.
I HAD OWN 2017 TOYOTA RAV4LE FOR LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND LESS THEN 25000 MILE, WE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS TO HAVE A SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE. WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEM AT ALL, OVERALL IT WAS GOOD DRIVING CAR. HOWEVER, ON 5/4/2020, I PARKED MY CAR AT PARKING LOT, TURNED OFF ENGINE. I HEARD GENTLE CLICK CLICK TWO SOUND, DO NOT REALIZED IT WAS FROM MY CAR (OTHER PEOPLE WAS UNLOAD STUFF). I OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR GET READY TO OFF MY CAR AND GO. I SMELLED RUBBER BURNING. I LOOK AROUND AND SEE MY ENGINE HAD LIGHT SMOKE CAME OUT FROM ENGINE, THEN BECAME DARKER SMOKE, AND FOLLOW BY FIRE. I CALLED 911, THEY SEND A FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT OFF THE FIRE FOR ME. MY TOYOTA RAV4 LE WAS ALL BURNED BY UNKNOWN REASON. I DO NOT SMOKE, I PAID OFF MY CAR AND I HAVE NO FINANCIAL GAIN TO HAVE CAR BURN. I JUST WANT TO WARNING OTHER OWNER, IT COULD HAPPENED TO YOU, I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO WORK OUT FROM MY BURNING VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT TOYOTA DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ABLE TO HONOR SUCH WARRANTY, ASKED ME CALL HEADQUARTER, I TRIED TO EMAIL BUT AFTER I UPLOAD PICTURES AND IT WAS SUDDENLY INTERCEPTED IN THE CLOUD-DISAPPEAR. I AM REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO WARNING OTHERS. *TR
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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