1999 TOYOTA RAV4 Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION IN THE EVENING, THE RADIO WAS ACTIVATED THE NEXT MORNING. ALSO, THE FAN IN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON SOME OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED AND RENDERED THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V278000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

1999 TOYOTA RAV4 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.*MR THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING. SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN AND THE DRIVER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A TOWEL. AFTER THE FIRE THE TAILLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED. THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT AND WIRING WERE DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM

THE CONNECTION TO THE ALTERNATOR WAS HEAVILY BURNT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE FOR 1/2 HOUR PRIOR TO THE POLICE DEPT. ARRIVING TO HELP THE CONSUMER OUT OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW THAT DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE CONSUMER TO EXIT VEHICLE UNDER POWER LOSS. *MJS

THE CONNECTION TO THE ALTERNATOR WAS HEAVILY BURNT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE FOR 1/2 HOUR PRIOR TO THE POLICE DEPT. ARRIVING TO HELP THE CONSUMER OUT OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW THAT DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE CONSUMER TO EXIT VEHICLE UNDER POWER LOSS. *MJS