NHTSA Complaint #11378093 — 2020 TOYOTA RAV4

THE 14.5-GALLON GAS TANK IN MY 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID HAS A DEFECT THAT PREVENTS THE TANK FROM BEING FILLED TO CAPACITY. THIS DEFECT NOT ONLY FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE GAS TANK REGULATIONS, WHICH PROHIBIT THE SALE OF VEHICLES THAT CANNOT FILL 90 PERCENT OR WITHIN TWO GALLONS OF THEIR NOMINAL GAS TANK CAPACITY, BUT SUFFER FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED DRIVING RANGE. THE FUEL TANK DEFECT PREVENTS ME FROM GETTING ANYWHERE NEAR THE VEHICLES' ADVERTISED 550-PLUS-MILE RANGE (I AVERAGE 400-425 GALLONS A TANK), WHICH WAS A MAJOR SELLING POINT AND FOR WHICH I PAID A PREMIUM PRICE FOR; THIS HAPPENS AT EVERY INTERVAL I HAVE TO FILL UP ON GAS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL, I MAY RUN OUT OF FUEL WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT OR LEAVE ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF A BUSY OR DESERTED ROAD AND WITH A NY WINTER, IT IS JUST NOT SAFE TO BE STRANDED IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WHEN IT IS FREEZING COLD OUTSIDE. RUNNING OUT OF FUEL MAY ALSO DAMAGE MY VEHICLES FUEL SYSTEM TOO! THE OWNER'S MANUAL WARNS THAT IF MY VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF FUEL OR THE FUEL IS TOO LOW, THE HYBRID SYSTEM MAY NOT BE ABLE TO START.