NHTSA Complaint #11612290 — 2019 TOYOTA RAV4

Coolant valve failed ($700)shortly after warranty ended; extended warranty did not cover repair. Coolant valve then caused harness to be unusable causing for a $4500 part replacement to be required. During the whole process the Toyota dealership maintenance told me that the engine repair required alert was for normal maintenance and directed me to continue driving with it until my scheduled service every time after speaking with three different people and a mechanic at the dealerships maintenance shop. I was then told after bringing in the car that I could leave although the alert was still present. Finally after the maintenance supervisor looked at my car I was told it was not safe to have been driving. Toyota made a faulty part that they expected to break and still put it in vehicles. They then are not even aware/ do not acknowledge this widespread issue in 2019 and 2020 rav-4s and Carrolas. This defective part can cause the engine to have catastrophic issues as I was later told by the maintenance manager at a Toyota dealership. However, Toyota is leaving car owners and leaders out of thousands of dollars in repairs and not acknowledging or warning customers of a dangerous issue.