2006 TOYOTA RAV4 Steering Problems

For several months the 2006 Rav4 with only 118k miles had been experiencing intermittent failure of power steering while driving at speeds between 5-20mph. These failures resulted in the steering wheel to become extremely difficult if not impossible to turn while the car is driving. In each incident, this resulted in stopping the car and putting on emergency lights until we can safely turn off the car and hopefully the issue goes away several minutes later. This issue has proven to be very dangerous when in traffic with no place to pull over and with the steering tightening up, it is not even possible to pull over in most cases. Four different mechanical shops tried to replicate the issue and none were able to determine the root cause nor replicate it consistently. This issue has been happening more frequently now and the car cannot be taken out safely. As [XXX]...

While my son was driving me the vehicles steering wheel locked and he was unable to steer the vehicle. It caused us to go off the road down a steep hill and wreck. I’ve never had any problems with this vehicle so it was completely unexpected. If there had been anyone in our path we wouldn’t of been able to stop from hitting them. It has not been inspected but there are witnesses to the accident

Clunking noise when turning steering wheel right or left. Numerous complaints from 006 RAV 4 owners. Fear that my steering will fail and cause an accident or Death. The issue is a defective intermediate steering shaft. Toyota will not issue a recall and will only repair if vehicle is still under warranty. How many complaints, accidents, or deaths will it take for this manufacturer to do the right thing???

FOR SOME TIME THERE HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS COMING ON AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED BY MECHANICS, INCLUDING ONE AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FOUND. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STATIONARY, BUT I BELIEVE MY SON SAID IT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM WHILE IN MOTION.

I BOUGHT A USED 2006 RAV4 3.5 L V-6, AFTER A MONTH A BOUGHT IT. I NOTICED WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT I HEARD A CLUNK SOUND. I FOUND OUT THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS THE PROBLEM. THIS COMMON TO MOST RAV4, DEALERSHIP IT'S NORMAL BUT TO ME IT DOESN'T FELL NORMAL WHEN I'M DRIVING, IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS WILL COME OUT OR BROKE OFF. KIND OF SCARY THING TO FEEL WHEN DRIVING. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE COULD HURT OR DIE.

VEHICLE DID HAVE AN OFFICIAL RECALL(STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY) VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED 2X'S. VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM. STEERING GETS TIGHT AND KNOCKS. SENT LETTER TO TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA CREATED CASE #[XXX] DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR *TT CONSUMER STATED THERE ARE 2 ODI NUMBERS #352270 AND #1182873. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *LN*JB

STEERING FROZE UP WHILE LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY AND P/S LIGHT CAME ON. SHUT ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE. I RECALL AT LEAST ONE OTHER TIME THAT STEERING LOCKED UP TEMPORARILY WHILE AT A STOP. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC AS MANUAL RECOMMENDS. DIAGNOSTIC SHOWS DTCS U0105 AND U0121. FOUND TAB ST005-06 RELATED TO THIS ISSUE AND "UPDATED POWER STEERING ECU AVAILABLE". DIAGNOSTIC $150, PARTS AND LABOR $1600+ CLEARY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE REQUIRING A RECALL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THERE ARE MANY MORE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS.

STEERING 'CLUNKS' AND CAR WON'T TURN AT LOW SPEEDS/STATIONARY, RADIO MOMENTARILY CUTS OUT AND DASH LIGHTS FLASH. CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FURTHER AFTER A FEW SECONDS. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY, SO FAR ONLY AT LOW SPEEDS/WHILE PARKING OR LEAVING A PARKING SPACE.

HEAR CLUNK SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING. CHECK WITH TOYOTA SUNNYVALE DEALER, THEY SAID THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TODAY THE CAR DID NOT STALL BUT ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT LAND AND ON A STRAIGHT ROADS I GLIDED TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. I COULD NOT START THE CAR SO I JUMPED STARTED THE CAR AND PROCEEDED TO GET OFF NEXT EXIT AND PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN!!!! I READ ABOUT ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING ON TOYOTA VEHICLES. I AM CHECKING THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND BATTERY BUT WANT TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A RECALL. THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE WHILE SEARCHING THE INTERNET. I UNDERSTAND THAT BATTERIES AND ALTERNATORS DO GO BAD BUT LOSS OF STEERING WHILE MOVING COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN IN A CURVE IN THE ROAD. I HAD PREVIOUS CARGO IN THE...

STEERING POPS WHENEVER I MAKE A TURN.

THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY SHE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WAS REPLACED BY MILTON RUBEN TOYOTA AT THE COST OF $1134.00.

AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS AND SOMETIMES QUICK ACCELERATION ALL THE LIGHTS COME ON THE DASH AND YOU LOSE ALL STEERING , IT LOCKS UP THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES , TO MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER SHE WAS LUCKY THERE WAS NOT A CORNER WHEN IT HAPPENED SHE WOULD'VE SHOT STRAIGHT OFF THE ROAD . THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS I HAVE LOOKED IT UP AND THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE ON THE RAV4S AND SEVERAL OTHER TOYOTA'S. IF I KNEW THIS ISSUE WAS A PROBLEM I WOULD NOT OF PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER.

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2015 WITH THE NOISE/ISSUE ALREADY OCCURRING. IT IS A POPPING/CLICKING WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT WITH STEERING WHEEL. HAD DIAGNOSIS DONE AT REPAIR SHOP. IT IS THE INTERMEDIATE DRIVE SHAFT THAT IS WORN/DEFECTIVE. TOYOTA HAS HAD KNOWN TSB'S ON THIS PART SINCE 2008, BUT REGARDLESS OF SAFETY CONCERNS, REFUSES TO REPLACE OR REIMBURSE.

I HEAR A RIDDLING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE EACH TIME I START THE CAR. CLICK SOUND WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL.

TOYOTA DEFECTS

TAKATA RECALL, NOISE FROM RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. VERY, VERY LOUD NOISE.ALSO, HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICING, A SERVICE MECHANIC AT THE DEALER NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PENDING A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

VEHICLE FRAME CHASSIS CORROSION UNSAFE DEFECTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL LOUD NOISE PROGRESSING FROM THE AREA OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, REVERSING, OR MAKING A TURN. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS REQUIRED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ALSO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT PROVIDED NO SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

GOOD DAY ' PLEASE: APPRAISE UNSAFETY DEFECTS. THANKFUL.

UNSAFE DEFECTS MALFUNCTION

TOYOTA DEFECTS MALFUNCTIONING

WHILE SITTING IN SLOW 5-10MPH TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND THE AIRBAG DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME (FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS AT A TIME). A FEW MILES LATER, OTHER WARNING LIGHTS (VSC, SLIP, ABS, ENGINE, BATTERY) ALL ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 12 HOURS LATER. THE ALTERNATOR IS A YEAR OLD AND THE BATTERY, TIRES, ALIGNMENT, AND ENGINE COILS ARE ALL BRAND NEW. AFTER HALF A DOZEN CALLS TO THE DEALERSHIP, COME TO FIND OUT, THE PROBLEM IS THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE POWER STEERING... A PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED AND RECALLED FOR 2014-15 MODEL YEAR RAV4S. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW, AND IT IS INSULTING AND NEGLIGENT THAT TOYOTA IS PRETENDING THIS ISN'T A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR OTHER MODEL...

STEERING COLUMN CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. ON-GOING ISSUE SINCE DECEMBER 2015.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED A LOUD METAL NOISE WHILE TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

MY WIFE'S 2006 RAV4 HAS A "CLUNKING" NOISE IN THE STEERING THAT IS WORRISOME TO US. IT HAS BEEN PRESENT AND GETTING WORSE FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS, NOW. I NOTICED THE NOISE AS BEING FAINT BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL MY STEPSON ASKED ME ONE DAY WHAT THE NOISE WAS. IT OCCURS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER AND WHEN I MENTIONED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE WE HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED THEY BASICALLY BLEW US OFF AND IMPLIED THAT IT WAS OUR FAULTY DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM OTHER RAV 4 OWNERS BUT TOYOTA DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO FIX THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE FIX WILL COST FROM 5 TO 7 HUNDRED DOLLARS. WE WERE ASKED IF WE WNTED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND WE SAID NO, THAT TOYOTA SHOULD...

GOOD AFTERNOON, TOYOTA DEFECTS AND MALFUNCTIONS. PLEASE, IMPROVE SAFETY PERFORMANCE. THANK YOU FOR HELPING. *TR

HEAR CLUNK TYPE NOISE WHEN TURN IN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ON THE RAV4 IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN CAN DEGRADE INTO A STEERING HAZARD.

STEERING COLUMN CLUNCKING NOISE YEAR: 2006 MAKE: TOYOTA MODEL: RAV4/BASE ISSUE: STEERING COLUMN CLUNCKING NOISE. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR ON THE 12TH OF JUNE BUT HAVE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE TALKING ABOUT IT.

MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED EDITION, I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT STEERING COLUMN EACH TIME I TURNED THE WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT. THE NOISE OCCURS ONLY WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING AND IT IS A CLUNKING NOISE ALONG WITH A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND WHEN I BROUGHT IT UP WITH THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP THE ATTENDANT SAID THAT IT WASN'T AN ISSUE. THE PROBLEM ISN'T GOING AWAY AND THE NOISE AND CLUNKY FEELING WHEN TURNING STEERING HAS BEEN INCREASING. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS ABOUT 40K MILES (OUT OF WARRANTY @ 36K). FEW MECHANICS FROM OTHER PLACES LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT NEED TO BE FIXED ASAP. I READ BLOGS AND NOTICED MANY OF THESE VEHICLE HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. I HOPE TOYOTA WON'T WAIT UNTIL AN ACCIDENT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.

1/30/14 RECALL PART - REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM REPAIRED BY HANDY. SHORTLY AFTER (1-3 MONTHS) I NOTICED SWERVE/SWAY DURING HARD RIGHT TURNS. I SUSPECTED BAD OR UNDERINFLATED TIRE ON DRIVERS SIDE REAR. CHECKED ALL TIRE INFLATION AND LUG NUT TIGHTNESS BUT THE SWERVE/SWAY CONTINUED. ON 10/16/14 I HAD (4) NEW SNOW TIRES INSTALLED AT SUMNER TIRE IN NEWPORT/DERBY, VT. I THOUGHT IT WOULD ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM BUT THE SWERVE/SWAY CONTINUED. ON 10/21/14 I HAD LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORM A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT MAKE THE ADJUST BUT CONFIRMED DRIVERS SIDE REAR WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. ON 1/16/15 I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT HANDY TO RESOLVE THIS AND OTHER ISSUES. HANDY OFFERED FREE LABOR IF I PAID $309.43 FOR PARTS TO REPLACE THE FAILED RECALL. WITHIN A FEW DAYS I CONTACTED NATIONAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE TO [XXX]. REF #CAN'T BE ENTERED AS IT FLAGS AS A SS...

PROBLEMA CON SISTEMA DE FRENO.AL FRENAR EL AUTO RAV4 EL PEDEDAL DE FRENO PIERDE PRECION BAJA HASTA EL FONDO . CUAL HAY QUE ESTAR APLICANDO VARIAS VECES EL PEDAL FRENO PARA MANTENER PECION EN EL FRENADO DE EL AUTO. EL COSUMO DE ACEITE EXSESIVO.EN EL MOTOR .EL CONTROL DEL VOLANTE SONIDO FUERTE AL GIIRAR. *TR

STEERING CLUNKING NOISE AND LOOSENESS. *TR

I BROUGHT MY 2006 RAV4 TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR TWO DIFFERENT RECALL NOTICES INCLUDING THE SUSPENSION AND AIRBAG. UPON INSPECTION, THEY NOTIFIED ME THE WATER PUMP NEEDED REPLACING AND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKETS WERE LOOSE. THEY SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND TRIED TO TELL ME THAT IT IS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR & TEAR. MY LAST VEHICLE I HAD FOR OVER 190,000 MILES AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. UPON RESEARCHING, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY AS FAILURE TO FIX IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. PREVIOUSLY I HAVE BROUGHT THE LOUD POPPING NOISE TO VARIOUS TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD OF THIS ISSUE IN 9 YEARS. THIS ISSUE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IF IS WASN'T FOR THE RECALL ON THE AIRBAG. ANYTHING THAT APPEARS TO BE A "COMMON" ISSUE...

U-JOINT IN STEERING COLUMN WEARING OUT AND MAKING NOISE. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP SAID COMMON PROBLEM, BUT NOT AT 21,000 MILES. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR APPROXIMATELY $400. *JS

I HAVE HAD AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH MY 2006 RAV 4 AND A "CLUNKING" NOISE WHILE STEERING. WE HAD THIS REPAIRED ONCE WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2006. BUT THE EXACT SAME FEEL AND NOISE HAS RETURNED. THE STEERING WHEEL CLICKS WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, AND YOU CAN FEEL THE "CLICKING" IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND WITH YOUR FEET IN THE CAR. AFTER DOING BASIC RESEARCH ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT THIS SPECIFIC MODEL OF RAV 4 HAS NOT ONLY HAD MANY RECALLS, BUT THIS STEERING ISSUE IS WIDESPREAD. THANKS! *JS

CLUNKING NOISES WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL EITHER SITTING STATIONARY OR MOVING. *TR

MY RAV4 MAKES AN ANNOYING KNOCKING/POPPING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT LOW SPEEDS. *JS

I NOTICE A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN THE WHEELS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT GOING AT A LOW SPEED. I LOOKED ON GOOGLE SEARCH ABOUT CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING . THERE WAS A LOT OF TOYOTA RAV 4 OWNERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY TOYOTA DEALER HE SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH RAV 4'S . I CALLED TOYOTA COMPLAINT LINE AND THEY TOLD MEN A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS OUT ON THE PROBLEM BUT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME. I KNOW FROM BEING AN AUTO MECHANIC THAT WHEN YOU HAVE LOOSE PLAY IN THE STEERING THAT IT WILL DEVELOP INTO A DANGER DRIVING MY CAR. PLEASE REQUIRE TOYOTA TO HAVE A SAFETY RECALL ON THE STEERING . THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH HIS 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4; HE HOPING THAT TOYOTA CAN BE FORCED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION AND REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPAIRING STEERING SHAFT (FULL DOCUMENT NOT IMAGED). *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED PER TOYOTA TSB-0130-12, BECAUSE OF WHINING NOISE BUT HE WAS INFORMED THE TSB WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT. IT WAS CONFIRMED, THAT AN INTERNAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 60 MPH AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. CAR MADE A NOISE AND ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON LIKE IT WAS SLIDING ON ICE, NO BAD WEATHER THAT DAY. COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL AND SPEEDOMETER WENT TO 0 AND WOULD NOT WORK THE REST OF THE JOURNEY. MADE IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG, AND IT WAS "THE COLD WEATHER" THAT PROBABLY CAUSED IT. THEY RAN A FEW TESTS BUT NOTHING WAS DONE TO THE CAR. NO ANSWERS TO MY PROBLEM AND NOTHING HAPPENED SINCE. BUT NOW I AM WORRIED BECAUSE OF THE RECENT RECALL AND MAKES ME THINK THIS INCIDENT WAS RELATED. *TR

EXPERIENCING A "CLUNKING" OR "THUMPING" NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN OR STEERING ASSEMBLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. FROM MY CHECK OF THIS PROBLEM ON VARIOUS WEBSITES/CUSTOMER FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA RAV4. *TR

WHEN BACKING THE CAR OUT AND TURNING THE STEERING, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE THAT OCCURS. IT MOSTLY OCCURS FROM A COLD START. THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THIS, BUT THE DEALER WON'T COVER IT. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A POPPING SOUND. IT WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THAT CAR AND MADE THE EXHAUST SOUND REALLY LOUD. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE CENTERPIPE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MATERIAL OF THE CENTERPIPE AND CATALYTIC WAS RUSTED AND THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED IT ON ME AND THAT I DROVE THE CAR OFF ROADING. I TOLD THEM THAT THE CAR HAS NEVER GONE OFF ROADING, GARAGED, AND WELL MAINTAINED. OTHER 2006 RAV4 OWNERS HAVE CITED THE SAME ISSUE STATING THAT THE MATERIAL AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE CENTERPIPE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE OF POOR QUALITY. THE SEAMS OF THE CENTERPIPE JUST COMPLETELY CAME UNDONE. WHEN SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP, THEY...

WHEN BACKING THE CAR OUT AND TURNING THE STEERING, THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE THAT OCCURS. IT MOSTLY OCCURS FROM A COLD START. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A POPPING SOUND. IT WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THAT CAR AND MADE THE EXHAUST SOUND REALLY LOUD. SHORTLY AFTER, THE CAR SEEMS TO BE DRIVING VERY CLUNKY AND DOES NOT DRIVE AS WELL AS USUAL. THE CAR VIBRATES AND DRIVES VERY SLOWLY. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT DROPPED A CYLINDER. THE ENGINE SOUNDS VERY CLUNKY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

FRONT LEFT CLUNKING NOISE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS, TOLD BY DEALER ISSUE IS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING. DEALER DID NOT SOUND CONFIDENT WHEN STATING IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. HAVE READ ABOUT MULTIPLE 2006 RAV4 OWNERS HAVING DEFECTIVE STEERING. *TR

12/22/2010 @ 44,169 MILES THE STEERING KNOCKED WHEN TAKING TIGHT TURNS. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. 9/16/2011 @ 50,131 MILES THE ALTERNATOR BEARINGS GAVE WAY AND THE WATER PUMP WAS SEEPING FLUID. THE ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. 12/16/13 @ 63,336 MILES THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VEHICLE STABILITY LIGHT AND 4WD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED, THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND THE SUV NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. *TR

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2013 WHEN MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG DAUGHTERS (AGES 2 & 4) WERE COMING HOME FROM SHOPPING. OUR VEHICLE EXPERIENCE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, ENDANGERING THE LIVES MY WIFE AND MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SHE LOST CONTROL. LUCKILY, SHE WAS NOT MOVING VERY FAST AND WAS ABLE TO STOP QUICKLY AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE ON-RAMP TO AN INTERSTATE 71 WITH A POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH AND THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. HAD THE FAILURE OCCURRED 20 SECONDS LATER, MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED IN A RAV 4 WITH ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL. WE CANNOT EVEN FATHOM THE POTENTIAL OUTCOME IF THAT FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH TRUCKS ETC. WE TOOK THE RAV INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMEDIATE AND ABNORMAL NOISE IN THE STEERING SHAFT. AS A RESULT, PART OF THE STEERING SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,635 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000. ...UPDATED 11-12-13 *BF UPDATED 11/18/2013 *JS