2023 Toyota RAV4 Problems

Front forward camera unavailable, World wide shortage of part. No known date of supply.

The vehicle experienced a sudden, severe loss of vehicle control while driving twice. Without any warning lights, dash indicators, or stored error codes, it began violently surging and decelerating uncontrollably around 20 mph with severe bucking. My [XXX] daughter was driving. Fortunately, this occurred on a quiet local residential road at 5 am; had this sudden failure occurred at highway speeds, it would have resulted in a catastrophic rear-end collision. The vehicle was purchased in May 2023, has 42k miles, and was used normally for school commuting. Incident 1 (XXX): Towed to Toyota. Techs could not diagnose it and opened a Tech Case. Per instructions, dealer replaced shifter assembly due to internal short (Part 33560-0R070). However, within 24 hours of return, the exact same dangerous failure reoccurred suddenly without warning in mild traffic. Experiencing an uncontrollable vehicle was terrifying. Fortunately no crash occurred, but it was towed back immediately. When I raised urgent safety concerns and sought a permanent resolution, Toyota stated it takes 60 days for review. During this period, if the dealer requests loaner return, I must return it immediately. They further stated that as soon as the dealer declares the vehicle "ready for pickup," I must retrieve it immediately or be charged daily storage fees. When I asked how the dealer could diagnose and repair the car entirely on their own—without Toyota Corporate engineering instructions while Toyota is supposedly still investigating the root cause—Toyota had no logical answer. When I asked who assumes legal and safety responsibility if another failure or accident occurs after pickup, Toyota Executive Offices explicitly stated "no one" assumes responsibility. No reasonable consumer would drive an unresolved, life-threatening defect under an explicit disclaimer of safety accountability. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Front forward camera unavailable, World wide shortage of part. No known date of supply.

While making a left turn in my 2026 Toyota RAV4, the vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking / Pre-Collision System suddenly activated without cause. The system sounded an audible warning beep and forced the vehicle to brake and come to a hard stop mid-turn. There was nothing in front of me that should have triggered the system. This put my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk. The forced stop occurred suddenly and unexpectedly while turning, which nearly caused an accident, as vehicles behind me had no warning that I would suddenly brake mid-turn. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages prior to the incident — the false activation occurred suddenly with no prior symptoms. I have dashcam footage of the incident attached below.

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at 46 MPH in heavy rain, a warning message indicating that the pre-collision sensor was blocked and needed to be cleared, was displayed temporarily, and the contact continued driving. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly lost motive power shortly after, and the message "Steering power is low; please contact dealer" was displayed. The vehicle stalled and failed to restart.The following day, the contact's husband successfully restarted the vehicle, but the vehicle immediately stalled again, displaying a "Pre-collision malfunction; please call dealer" message. A local dealer was contacted, and the contact spoke with a receptionist regarding the battery, but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,829.

During the day after driving in rain in a 2023 Rav 4 LE AWD with 19000 miles car turned off. I was parked with it idling and with no warning stalled. I turned on multiple times and it kept stalling out. Finally a message appeared on dash "power steering low". After inspecting under hood and seeing all fluids ok I tried car again (maybe 10 min) and it started. Drove around parking lot it was fine. Drove to my mechanic. No error codes, battery was in good shape. This is very concerning. Suspect water in a hard rain somehow got in car. I was on major roads prior to parking, no huge puddles. Others online have mentioned this issue with no real answer and fears this will occur again while driving. NEEDS A RECAL.

The vehicle experienced a sudden, severe loss of vehicle control while driving twice. Without any warning lights, dash indicators, or stored error codes, it began violently surging and decelerating uncontrollably around 20 mph with severe bucking. My [XXX] daughter was driving. Fortunately, this occurred on a quiet local residential road at 5 am; had this sudden failure occurred at highway speeds, it would have resulted in a catastrophic rear-end collision. The vehicle was purchased in May 2023, has 42k miles, and was used normally for school commuting. Incident 1 (XXX): Towed to Toyota. Techs could not diagnose it and opened a Tech Case. Per instructions, dealer replaced shifter assembly due to internal short (Part 33560-0R070). However, within 24 hours of return, the exact same dangerous failure reoccurred suddenly without warning in mild traffic. Experiencing an uncontrollable vehicle was terrifying. Fortunately no crash occurred, but it was towed back immediately. When I raised urgent safety concerns and sought a permanent resolution, Toyota stated it takes 60 days for review. During this period, if the dealer requests loaner return, I must return it immediately. They further stated that as soon as the dealer declares the vehicle "ready for pickup," I must retrieve it immediately or be charged daily storage fees. When I asked how the dealer could diagnose and repair the car entirely on their own—without Toyota Corporate engineering instructions while Toyota is supposedly still investigating the root cause—Toyota had no logical answer. When I asked who assumes legal and safety responsibility if another failure or accident occurs after pickup, Toyota Executive Offices explicitly stated "no one" assumes responsibility. No reasonable consumer would drive an unresolved, life-threatening defect under an explicit disclaimer of safety accountability. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On August 6 2026, my RAV4 just cut off at the traffic light. The car was completely dead. I was unable to unlock the trunk but the doors did open. The vehicle was towed to the local dealership. The tow truck man hooked up his portable car charger and the car started. On August 8, 2026 the car cut off after parking in a parking space and would not start so I had to get a jump off. After driving for approximately 50 miles to home, I got a low voltage warning and a statement the battery is charging. The local Toyota dealership did a diagnostic test on August 11, 2026 and stated the battery, starter, and alternator were okay. The same thing happened again on August 12, 2026. The car just cut off after stopping in the parking lot. After getting a jump off, I received a message that the battery is charging. Also, the car shifts speed while driving.

While making a left turn in my 2026 Toyota RAV4, the vehicle's Automatic Emergency Braking / Pre-Collision System suddenly activated without cause. The system sounded an audible warning beep and forced the vehicle to brake and come to a hard stop mid-turn. There was nothing in front of me that should have triggered the system. This put my safety and the safety of other drivers at risk. The forced stop occurred suddenly and unexpectedly while turning, which nearly caused an accident, as vehicles behind me had no warning that I would suddenly brake mid-turn. There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages prior to the incident — the false activation occurred suddenly with no prior symptoms. I have dashcam footage of the incident attached below.

Vehicle was traveling straight approximately 70–80 mph in very light drizzle. No warning lights or messages before the event. Vehicle suddenly entered an uncontrolled spin multiple times. During the spin, I heard a grinding noise. After stopping, brake/parking brake system warnings appeared on the dash, video after the event recorded.

The vehicle experienced a sudden, severe loss of vehicle control while driving twice. Without any warning lights, dash indicators, or stored error codes, it began violently surging and decelerating uncontrollably around 20 mph with severe bucking. My [XXX] daughter was driving. Fortunately, this occurred on a quiet local residential road at 5 am; had this sudden failure occurred at highway speeds, it would have resulted in a catastrophic rear-end collision. The vehicle was purchased in May 2023, has 42k miles, and was used normally for school commuting. Incident 1 (XXX): Towed to Toyota. Techs could not diagnose it and opened a Tech Case. Per instructions, dealer replaced shifter assembly due to internal short (Part 33560-0R070). However, within 24 hours of return, the exact same dangerous failure reoccurred suddenly without warning in mild traffic. Experiencing an uncontrollable vehicle was terrifying. Fortunately no crash occurred, but it was towed back immediately. When I raised urgent safety concerns and sought a permanent resolution, Toyota stated it takes 60 days for review. During this period, if the dealer requests loaner return, I must return it immediately. They further stated that as soon as the dealer declares the vehicle "ready for pickup," I must retrieve it immediately or be charged daily storage fees. When I asked how the dealer could diagnose and repair the car entirely on their own—without Toyota Corporate engineering instructions while Toyota is supposedly still investigating the root cause—Toyota had no logical answer. When I asked who assumes legal and safety responsibility if another failure or accident occurs after pickup, Toyota Executive Offices explicitly stated "no one" assumes responsibility. No reasonable consumer would drive an unresolved, life-threatening defect under an explicit disclaimer of safety accountability. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The vehicle exhibits a consistent and reproducible malfunction in the powertrain system, specifically related to acceleration response and drivetrain engagement. While driving at a steady speed, when the accelerator is pressed gradually (approximately 50–60%), the engine RPM increases but the vehicle does not accelerate accordingly. There is a delay in power delivery. When the accelerator is released, the engine may continue revving briefly, followed by a sudden and jerky engagement of the drivetrain. This issue occurs consistently under the same driving conditions and can be reproduced every time. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This malfunction creates a safety risk when merging into traffic, entering intersections, or making turns. The vehicle does not respond when acceleration is required, which can lead to dangerous situations where other vehicles may approach at higher speeds. After the delay, the vehicle may surge forward unexpectedly, increasing the risk of collision. The issue has been reported to multiple authorized Toyota dealerships on several occasions within the first 15 months of ownership. The vehicle has been inspected by dealership technicians, but the concern has not been diagnosed or repaired. Dealerships have stated that the behavior is normal, despite the repeatable nature of the issue. No warning lights, error messages, or diagnostic indicators have appeared at any time. No diagnostic trouble codes have been reported. The vehicle is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the behavior appears consistent with a possible transmission, torque converter, or drivetrain control malfunction affecting acceleration response. The condition is not related to driver input and occurs under controlled, repeatable conditions.

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 25 MPH, there was an abnormal bang coming from the vehicle, and the rear glass shattered without impact. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, and the contact was informed that the damage was not covered under warranty. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 57,079.

Hello Respected Sir/Madam, I am the owner of a 2023 Toyota RAV4. I discovered a visible hairline crack in the windshield that originated from the lower left corner on the passenger side. The crack measured approximately 6 inches when I first noticed it in the morning and grew to approximately 12 inches by the afternoon. The windshield was not impacted by a rock, road debris, or any other object, and the vehicle was not involved in an accident. There were no visible chips or signs of external damage at the point where the crack originated. The crack appeared to develop spontaneously and continued to spread on its own. I am submitting this complaint because I am concerned that the windshield may have a manufacturing or installation defect that could affect visibility and vehicle safety. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

On August 6 2026, my RAV4 just cut off at the traffic light. The car was completely dead. I was unable to unlock the trunk but the doors did open. The vehicle was towed to the local dealership. The tow truck man hooked up his portable car charger and the car started. On August 8, 2026 the car cut off after parking in a parking space and would not start so I had to get a jump off. After driving for approximately 50 miles to home, I got a low voltage warning and a statement the battery is charging. The local Toyota dealership did a diagnostic test on August 11, 2026 and stated the battery, starter, and alternator were okay. The same thing happened again on August 12, 2026. The car just cut off after stopping in the parking lot. After getting a jump off, I received a message that the battery is charging. Also, the car shifts speed while driving.

The vehicle exhibits a consistent and reproducible malfunction in the powertrain system, specifically related to acceleration response and drivetrain engagement. While driving at a steady speed, when the accelerator is pressed gradually (approximately 50–60%), the engine RPM increases but the vehicle does not accelerate accordingly. There is a delay in power delivery. When the accelerator is released, the engine may continue revving briefly, followed by a sudden and jerky engagement of the drivetrain. This issue occurs consistently under the same driving conditions and can be reproduced every time. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. This malfunction creates a safety risk when merging into traffic, entering intersections, or making turns. The vehicle does not respond when acceleration is required, which can lead to dangerous situations where other vehicles may approach at higher speeds. After the delay, the vehicle may surge forward unexpectedly, increasing the risk of collision. The issue has been reported to multiple authorized Toyota dealerships on several occasions within the first 15 months of ownership. The vehicle has been inspected by dealership technicians, but the concern has not been diagnosed or repaired. Dealerships have stated that the behavior is normal, despite the repeatable nature of the issue. No warning lights, error messages, or diagnostic indicators have appeared at any time. No diagnostic trouble codes have been reported. The vehicle is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and the behavior appears consistent with a possible transmission, torque converter, or drivetrain control malfunction affecting acceleration response. The condition is not related to driver input and occurs under controlled, repeatable conditions.

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated the front passenger’s side Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor failed to detect an occupant seated in the passenger’s seat and was deactivated on the instrument panel. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure; however, the vehicle had not been taken to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched and found information on NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V519000 (Air Bags) and associated the failure with the recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 57,500

My wife was going at about 10 - 15 mph coming up about 2 car lengths to a small curve in a residential area when all of a sudden she heard a pop or snap and the Rav4 went to a super high speed by itself. The acceleration could not be stopped even though she had her feet on the brakes. She had both hands on the steering wheel to avoid hitting a house and ended up going through a wall in the yard. There were no warning sounds and no signals indicating a problem. it appeared that the display was blank. There was no pre-collision warning or braking except as my wife was pushing on the brakes. She also hit the right side into side wall. No air bags deployed even though Windshield and all door glass on sides shattered. My wife the driver was okay and not hurt, and the grandchild in the car seat behind my wife was fine also. Neither had injuries. There were checked by emt. The police looked but all would not try to get in except to remove my granddaughter. My wife was removed also because she could not get out the door was jammed against shed and rock, and handles broken off This happened after the recall work was done by toyota dealer on 12/04/2025. There were no problems prior to the recall. I've listed the recall below. 25TD01 Rear Traction Motor Cable Corrosion - Multiple Model & Model Year Toyota Hybrid (AWD) Vehicles NHTSA Recall ID AWAITING# Recall Date Dealer Reference ID 25TD01 Description The subject vehicles are equipped with a rear motor unit and an HV Floor Under Wire that provide high voltage to operate the motor. Mud, water, or road salt could potentially enter the HV Floor Underwire connector housing and could cause corrosion over time. Excessive corrosion could cause AM Radio Static during certain driving cycles, or the vehicle may not start. Status Remedy Available Remedy Any authorized Toyota dealer will apply a wire harness protector seal to the HV Floor Under Wire Connector. Toyota corporate engagement is looking into this.

When pulling into a driveway, sudden acceleration while slowing down caused crash into side of the garage and damage to the right front fender, side panel and hood.

I was driving over 120 MPH and my car slid and hit the front car. My car later caught fire and ruptured shortly after. The FD extinguished it and it was a total loss. I have no clue as to where it was taken after the accident. Sorry :(

Had safety inspection done when having oil changed on 3/5/26. was informed by dealer that it needed both outer tie rod ends replaced has play in it. this came to a cost of $735.00 with alignment. Of course not covered by vehicle warranty which is useless at this point. I have never had this problem on any vehicles I have owned since starting to drive in 1975. This is a safety and quality issue and I should be reimbursed. I will seriously think about about an American owned company in the future. Having Friend at another dealership TCO 3/18/26 I was away last week and SUV parked in garage.

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was swaying back and forth. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle became inoperable and failed to properly switch lanes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front and rear wheel alignment had failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4 equipped with Firestone Tires, Tire Line: Destination LE2, Tire Size: 225/65/R17, DOT Number: [XXX]. The contact stated that while driving on [XXX], the red light illuminated and there was an abnormal rumbling sound. The contact pulled over at the exit and became aware that the outside circumference of the tire was shredded on the driver’s side rear tire. The tread was in good working order. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where all four tires were replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact about rebates on the tires. The tire and failure mileage was approximately 58,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I have owned this vehicle close to three years and these were the all season tires that came with the car.I live in New England where I run snow tires on the car from October to April every year that I have owned the car. The car has 30K miles on it ,but the tires that came with the car only have about 10K or 7/8 tire tread left. The tires have become very noisy and are starting to cup. I did take the car to the dealer and had the front end checked out and nothing is worn or out of alignment. Tires were rotated at 5K intervals .I contacted Dunlop and was told there was not much they would do since the tires were made when Dunlop was owned by Goodyear. Dunlop is now owned by Falken. I was offers 30% off a new set of tires (Dunlop) as a good will gesture. A new set of tires will run about 1K with tax and mounting/balance. I should have to spend that kind of money on tires that are not worn, just poorly made. Falken admitted that they have a lot of complaints about this tire. Tire size is 225/60R18/ 2023 Toyota RAV4 XSE

The rotating mechanism does not allow the seat to lock properly.

After routine service at South Coast Toyota in Costa Mesa, CA, I unknowingly drove my 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid for over a week with two missing lug nuts and one extremely loose lug nut on the front passenger wheel. The service performed on April 5, 2025, included an oil change, tire rotation, and full inspection. No issues were reported to me at pickup. Over the next several days, I heard increasing thumping and metallic noises from the front right wheel area, especially at highway speeds. On [XXX], while driving with children in the car, the vehicle made loud metal screeching noises and the steering became impaired—I could not complete a basic turn. I limped the car home at 4 mph. Upon inspection, I found two lug nuts missing and one so loose I could unscrew it by hand. I had the car towed back to South Coast Toyota on April 18. The dealership admitted two lug nuts were missing but failed to apologize or fully document the issue. I was told via text that the only action needed was replacing the missing lug nuts. I received no formal inspection report or confirmation that the vehicle was safe. I paid out of pocket for a third-party inspection at a separate Toyota dealership, which confirmed that the previously recommended sway bar replacement was unnecessary and that my tires and components were in better condition than initially claimed. This was a clear service-related safety failure that could have led to wheel detachment and a serious accident. I drove over 200 miles on freeways with children in the vehicle. The dealership failed to follow basic safety protocols and has not taken responsibility. I am reporting this to NHTSA in the interest of safety and accountability. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Description of the Defect:I am reporting a premature and dangerous failure of the electronic door lock actuators on my 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE. The issue began with the driver’s door lock intermittently failing to respond to the key fob and the internal master switch. Shortly after, the rear passenger door developed the exact same failure. Both doors can now only be operated strictly by manual intervention. The vehicle currently has over 36,000 miles, meaning this safety-critical component failed immediately after the expiration of the manufacturer's bumper-to-bumper warranty.Safety Risk:This component defect poses a severe safety hazard. In the event of a severe crash, electrical failure, or fire, passengers (especially children or occupants in the rear seats) face a high risk of entrapment, as the doors cannot be unlocked electronically for a quick evacuation. Furthermore, because the doors fail to lock automatically while driving, the occupants are left vulnerable to carjacking or external intrusion at intersections, and the doors could potentially be forced open by a child pulling the lever while the vehicle is in motion. This is a well-documented systemic issue across Toyota's 5th generation RAV4 platform, and a safety recall is urgently needed

Door locks not working front doors had actuators replaced after about a year and a half . They have since went out again.

I am reporting a serious safety concern involving the rear passenger-side seat belt in my 2023 Toyota RAV4. After normal use, a child who had been properly secured in a child booster seat in the rear passenger-side seating position was unable to be released from the seat belt. The vehicle had not been involved in an accident, collision, or any emergency situation. The child had simply been riding in the vehicle under normal driving conditions. When it was time for the child to exit the vehicle, the rear passenger-side seat belt had become tangled and tightened around the child. The seat belt would not unlock or release despite repeated attempts to unbuckle it and allow the belt to retract or loosen. The restraint effectively trapped the child in the booster seat. Because the child could not be freed using the seat belt release mechanism, the only way to remove the child safely was to cut the seat belt. This occurred solely because the seat belt could not be released after ordinary use, not because of a crash or any other unusual event. A seat belt is intended to protect occupants while also allowing them to exit the vehicle safely after normal operation. In this case, the rear passenger-side seat belt failed to function as intended and created a serious safety hazard by trapping a child and requiring the seat belt to be cut in order to free them. I am requesting that this incident be investigated to determine whether the rear passenger-side seat belt or its locking mechanism has a manufacturing defect or design issue that could pose a risk to other occupants, particularly children using booster seats. I am able to provide additional information, photographs, repair records, or any other documentation requested as part of an investigation.

I am writing to formally express my concern regarding the premature oxidation developing inside the tail lights on my 2023 Toyota RAV4 XLE. The oxidation is present on both the driver and passenger side tail light assemblies. As the oxidation continues to worsen, it reduces the clarity and effectiveness of the tail lights. This is not only a cosmetic concern but also a potential safety issue. Diminished light output can make it more difficult for other drivers to clearly see my brake lights, tail lights, and turn signals, particularly during nighttime driving or in adverse weather conditions. This increases the risk of rear-end collisions and compromises the safety of both myself and other motorists. I have taken good care of my vehicle, and I do not believe this level of deterioration is reasonable for a 2023 model. Exterior lighting components should remain clear and functional for many years under normal use. The fact that both tail lights are experiencing the same issue suggests this may be a manufacturing or material defect rather than normal wear and tear. I respectfully request that Toyota investigate this matter and inspect my vehicle under the applicable warranty or goodwill policy. If this is a known issue affecting other 2023 RAV4 vehicles, I ask that Toyota consider replacing the affected tail light assemblies at no cost. Vehicle lighting is a critical safety feature, and I believe it is important to address this issue before visibility is further compromised. I have always appreciated Toyota’s reputation for quality, reliability, and commitment to customer safety, and I hope this concern will be resolved promptly. I look forward to your response and a satisfactory resolution. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.