NHTSA Complaint #10702251 — 2007 TOYOTA RAV4

V6 ENGINE MAKES A RATTLE NOISE AT STARTUP. IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY THE DEALER AS THE VVT CAMSHAFT GEAR. TOYOTA HAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (T-SB-0094-09) IDENTIFYING THE CAUSE AS THE INTAKE OR EXHAUST CAMSHAFT VVT ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER THE LEXUS DIVISION OF TOYOTA HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON IS AND GS MODELS (REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V395000). THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT THE LOOSE BOLTS COULD CAUSE THE VVT GEAR HOUSING AND SPROCKET TO SEPARATE AND RESULT IN THE ENGINE STOPPING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. IF THIS IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH TO CAUSE A CRASH FOR A LEXUS CUSTOMER, THEN WHY ISN'T THIS DANGEROUS ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR A TOYOTA CUSTOMER. THESE ARE THE SAME MOTORS AND THE CUSTOMERS SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH. *TR