NHTSA Complaint #11571345 — 2020 TOYOTA RAV4

The following is an issue involving my 2020 RAV4 Toyota battery manufacturing defects that ended the life of my RAV4 battery. The mentioned event occurred on [XXX], and a report was created and recorded by a Toyota representative on [XXX], via (800) 331-4331 phone call, with the reference report number [XXX]. The nature of the issue was that my 2020 RAV4 battery parts came loose from the inside, and the metals were rubbing with each other, causing the smoke and the battery to overheat, ending its life due to the mentioned manufacturing defects. Based on the dangerous, alarming issue of overheating and dense heavy smoke from the battery, I left it at the dealer for service to prevent any toxic fumes, fire, or explosion. I told the dealer adviser that those manufacturing defects are a serious safety concern that should be reported in the public’s best interest to avoid any possible tragedies. I noticed when I picked up my car from the dealer that the battery manufacture defect was not recorded in the paperwork I had received; the manager and the advisor didn’t show any sense of urgency to the matter, so I filed a report to Toyota Motor North America Headquarters, Plano Texas. Report number: [XXX] The dashboard panel never displayed any safety hazard warnings or any symbols indicating the conditions of the smoke and battery overheating were jeopardizing my life and my family aboard while I drove with them. I paid $ 552.55 for the battery and a diagnostic service; management did not want to acknowledge that a manufacturing defect ended the battery life. Customers should not be responsible for replacement costs when the event is caused by manufacturing imperfection “even though the warranty is over.” The dealer advisor and management know that these manufacturing battery defects happen. Still, nobody ever informed me to be mindful of the dangerous state of faulty battery defects when I purchased my 2020 RAV4. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)