2007 TOYOTA RAV4 Electrical System Problems

My driver side door caught on fire and was completely destroyed to include all associated wiring. Toyota had my contact information but never contacted me about any of the recalls.

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with battery failure. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

I own a 2007 Toyota Rav-4 with 155k miles. I had bought the vehicle used from a licensed Toyota dealership about 3 years ago and have been diligent about conducting the routine scheduled maintenance. The vehicle had no known recalls. I was driving about 25mph when I started to smell smoke. The drivers side door caught on fire while the vehicle was in motion. There were literally flames coming out of area with the buttons used to control the windows. I immediately pulled the vehicle over and the car ended up having to be towed. On Google, Toyota has had several other incidents where this exact same recall issue happened and the vehicle caught on fire. I called the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and the Toyota Corporate as well. I smoke to a representative on a Wednesday and they let me know my case number and that someone...

I was driving and the engine caught on fire. Thank God for people telling me that my car was having flames coming from under my car. By the time I pull over flames were coming out of my hood

while driving down the big bear mountain, the vehicle lost power steering i could not turn the wheel and hit the railing, thank god i didn't hit another car. The battery light was flashing steering locked up other dash lights came on. The mechanic could not give me any answers, Toyota says there is no recall on this and after reading other complaints about the 2007 Toyota RAV 4 i am shocked that the dealership has nothing to say and can not fix the problem, this is so dangerous and i am at a loss on how to fix the problem. who has to die for them to take this problem seriously!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL. THE CONTACT ADDED ADDITIONAL OIL AND THE ENGINE WAS COLD. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, SLIP TRACTION CONTROL, AND 4WD WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BREWER AIRPORT TOYOTA (8900 UNIVERSITY BLVD, MOON, PA 15108, (412) 357-5503), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 *BF *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

POWER SWITCH CONTROL ON DOOR PANEL WAS ON SMOKE AND MELTED . IT WAS INTOXICATING AND SCARY. WHY DD IT HAPPEN? VERY DANGEROUS. IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS ? I WAS DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED.

WHETHER I'M DRIVING OR PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CAR SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY. I CANT TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS OR ROLL DOWN THE POWER WINDOWS. I HAVE NO LIGHTS WHATSOEVER, SO NO ONE CAN SEE ME AT NIGHT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER A BUS ALMOST REAR-ENDED ME. PREVIOUSLY THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CANNOT FIX MY CAR.

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN ARROW HWY IN THE RAIN WHEN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. I LOST POWER FROM BOTH MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY INTERMITTENTLY. I WAS COASTING DOWN TO AN APPROACHING INTERSECTION WHEN I MADE THE DESCISION TO TURN RIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. THE STEERING WAS SO HARD THAT I NEARING HIT THE CENTER DIVIDE. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE BARELY WORKING AND MANY OF MY DASH ICONS WERE COMING ON RANDOMLY. THROUGH IT ALL, MY ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AND I MADE TO THE NEXT STREET THAT TURNED INTO CONDOS THAT HAD PARKING SPACES. I SHUT MY ENGINE OFF AND TRIED A RESTART. THE ENGINE,OF COURSE,DID NOT START. AFTER BEING HAULED TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN ALTERNATOR THAT SHORTED THE BATTERY. HAVING A LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN THIS ELECTRICAL AREA, I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS CAN HAPPEN BUT WITH PROPER DESIGN IT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED....

ALTERNATOR FAILS AT 45000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT OBSERVED WATER IN HER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER (A1 TOYOTA, 50 AMITY RD, NEW HAVEN, CT, 06515, 203-389-1521) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING CABINET FILTER AND DRAIN HOSE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW COWL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,663.

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT BUT WHEN I WANTED TO OPEN THE DOOR, THE FOB WOULDN'T WORK. THE BATTERY HAD BEEN DEPLETED AND WHEN I REPLACED THE BATTERY, BY AAA, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STAYED ON EVEN AFTER I TOOK OUT THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. THIS CAN CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DIE AGAIN. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY SO THAT THE LIGHT THAT STAYS ON WILL NOT DEPLETE THE BATTERY. THE CAR SHAKES BECAUSE THE POWER ISN'T GETTING TO THE RECEIVER VERY WELL. THIS IS A PROBLEM INSIDE THE ELECTRIC HUB. AT ANY MOMENT MY CAR CAN SHUT OFF BECAUSE THE ELECTRIC CURRENT ISN'T STABLE WHEN THE CAR IS ON. ONE OF THE FUSES OR SOMETHING ISN'T DISCONNECTING PROPERLY, CAUSING THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TO STAY ON.

DROVE FOR OVER AN HOUR IN DRY, STABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS. UPON SLOWING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING GARAGE ON SURFACE STREETS THE STEERING COMPLETELY STALLED WITH MULTIPLE ALARM LIGHTS FLASHING, INCLUDING BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS STILL ON AND ABLE TO DRIVE BUT WITH VERY POOR ACCELERATION. THIS CAUSED ME TO BLOCK TRAFFIC ONCOMING TRAFFIC FOR OVER 10 MINUTES AS I LABORED (WITH A LOT OF STRENGTH) WITH THE STALLED POWER STEERING BACK AND FORTH UNTIL INLINE WITH THE GARAGE. CALLED TRIPLE A IMMEDIATELY AND HAD BATTERY CHANGED. DESPITE THE CAR WORKING AGAIN WITH STABLE STEERING, STILL CONCERNED ABOUT STALLING AGAIN, PARTICULARLY IN CITY STREETS (INCLUDING THE SF HILLS) AND FREEWAYS. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME FIX FOR POWER-STEERING BEING THE FIRST THING TO FAIL WITH THE BATTERY/ALTERNATORS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT USED WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 75MPH AFTER ABOUT 5 HOURS WHEN A BUNCH OF WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (INCLUDING BATTERY, AIR BAG, AND BRAKE), MY POWER STEERING FAILED AND MY SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET MY CAR SIT FOR A MINUTE, RESTARTED MY CAR AND THREE DIFFERENT LIGHTS CAME ON (VSC, CHECK ENGINE AND SLIP INDICATOR) AND MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULDN'T WORK ANYMORE. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 110,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE; THIS IS A DEFECT. FROM READING ONLINE, THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS COULD BE A FATAL DEFECT AND SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES ALL ELECTRICITY, ALL THE LIGHTS, EVERY LIGHT INDICATOR, THE RADIO ARE OFF. THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING AND THE CAR STOPS IMMEDIATELY. THIS NORMALLY HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS BUT ALSO HAPPENED ONCE WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED AND THE KEY WAS OUT. AFTER I ENTERED AND TURNED THE KEY THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY IN THE CAR. NO LIGHTS, NO INDICATORS, ETC WERE ON. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK BUT HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. ALSO TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED IT AND RAN A DIAGNOSTICS TEST BUT COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM EITHER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE BATTERY AND SENSORS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,800.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE RADIO OR TURN SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DRIVING 55 MPG AROUND CURVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC STEERING LOCKED UP HARDLY ABLE TO PULL.OFF SIDE OF ROAD. HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY JULY 25 2015 GOING 60 DOWN BUSY HEY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND STEERING FROZE HAD TO GET OF TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THEN IT WAS ABLE TO STEER BUT BATTERY.LIGHT FLICKERS HA D BATTERY LREPLACED DAY BEFORE.

THE CAR FAILED TO START, THE BATTERY WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND HAD NOT WATER IN IT. CHANGED THE BATTERY, THE CAR STARTED PROPERLY; HOWEVER, ONCE SET TO DRIVE IT HESITATED A BIT, AS IF IT WERE CHOCKING FOR LACK OF GAS BUT IT HAD GAS. DROVE ON AND AT ABOUT SPEED OF 40 MPH STEERING BECAME HARD TO HANDLE, AC AND ENGINE CUT OFF. RESTARTED IT DROVE BACK HOME... JUST MADE THE LAST PAYMENT ON THE CAR, CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE DEALER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT HAD OIL CONSUMPTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE POWER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH ASSEMBLY RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WINDOW WOULD ROLL UP. *JB

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION (ECU). TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WAS ADVISED AT THE DEALERSHIP (KENDALL TOYOTA) THAT THIS MALFUNCTION WILL PREVENT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYMENT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IS NOT SPECIFICALLY A WEAR N TEAR ITEM AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA. RAV 4 HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS BUT NONE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, THE AIR BAG, POWER STEERING, AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE TACHOMETER DID NOT INDICATE THE RPM. THE SPEEDOMETER AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WERE INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO INDICATE WHAT GEAR WAS IN SHIFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,526.

ALL DASH LIGHTS TURNED ON AND STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. DROVE HOME. RESTART THE VEHICLE, NO ISSUES, LEFT IT RUNNING, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. HAD IT TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED BATTERY. YESTERDAY 11-18-14, SAME ISSUE GOING ABOUT 40 MPH. HAD IT TOWED TO SAME DEALERSHIP. ALTERNATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. TOYOTA ALSO INFORMED THAT WATER PUMP IS FAILING. THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH, THESE ARE EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUES THAT SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY TOYOTA AND PEOPLE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR SUCH AN EXTENSIVE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WHEN THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,925.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

ON 08/09/14 WE WERE DRIVING IN PARKING LOT WITH 5 PEOPLE IN CAR. STARTED DRIVING AND ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. CAR GLIDED TO A STOP WITH GEARS AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. CALLED AAA FOR A TOW 20+ MILES AWAY TO CLOSEST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEN GOT TRANSPORT FOR OURSELVES TO HOTEL FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT MORNING GOT RENTAL CAR TO DRIVE TO TOYOTA DEALER WHERE CAR HAD BEEN TOWED TO. REPAIR WAS SIMPLY A BLOWN FUSE FOR VEHICLE REMOTE STARTER WHICH WAS ODDLY LOCATED UNDER STEERING WHEEL. SIMILAR INCIDENT HAPPENED (03/12/08) WHILE DIVING IN CANADA AND REPAIRED THEN AT A TOYOTA DEALER AT 12,101 KM. THE REMOTE STARTER WAS PART OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE NEW CAR. NOW, WE FEAR DRIVING RAV4 ON HIGHWAY AT ANY SPEED FOR FEAR CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP AND STEERING WILL LOCK UP. REMOTE STARTER NEEDS TO BE REMOVED OR FIXED AT...

WELL-MAINTAINED 2007 RAV4 (67K MILES, NO ISSUES IN THE PAST) STALLED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. NEARLY GOT REAR ENDED AS HAZARD FLASHER LIGHTS DID NOT WORK AT ALL. ALL POWER CUTS OFF TO INSIDE OF CAR. ONCE FAN IN ENGINE TURNS OFF (ABOUT 6 MINUTES) CAR CAN START AGAIN. DEALERSHIP SAID "DIRTY THROTTLE BODY PART" SO THEY CLEANED IT. HAPPENED 2ND TIME THE NEXT WEEK! THEN DEALERSHIP REPLACED ENTIRE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. HAPPENED 3RD TIME THE FOLLOWING WEEK! IT'S AT DEALERSHIP AGAIN NOW. EACH TIME IT HAPPENS, CAR IS DRIVING AND ONCE ABOUT 6 MINUTES PASSES, I CAN DRIVE AGAIN. BARELY HAVE TIME TO GET NEAR THE SHOULDER OF ROAD. *TT

ON MARCH 21ST THE ABS, VSC, TRACTION AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN DRY WEATHER CONDITION. WHEN THE LIGHTS WERE ON, THE ABS SYSTEM WAS TRIGGERED MAKING DIFFICULT TO BRAKE TO STOP. SINCE THEN THE WARNING LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON AND OFF AND SO I'VE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTIES WHEN SLOWING DOWN AT A HIGHER SPEED RATE 60 MPH, SLOW SPEED 20 MPH, AND EVEN STOPPING. ON TUESDAY, APRIL 8 I BROUGHT THE RAV4 TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT THE BREAKS WERE OK. DEALER SAID: IT IS JUST THE A REAR SENSOR THAT NEEDS TO BE RESET. SO DEALER TECHNICIAN RESET THE SENSOR THE SAME DAY. ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014 AROUND 6:00 PM WHEN TURNING LEFT AT A CORNER I HEARD A TICKING NOISE THEN FOUR WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED AGAIN AND THE BREAKS...

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS AS SEVERAL LIGHTS WERE ON. WAS CALLED BY SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE D SQUIB CIRCUIT/SPIRAL CABLE IS FAULTY AND THEREFORE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NOT OPERATIONAL. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS I WAS UNAWARE OF MY AIRBAGS NOT FUNCTIONING. THANK GOD, WE DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT! THE TOYOTA DEALER WHOM WE PURCHASED OUR 2007 RAV 4 FROM BRAND NEW OF COURSE WANTS TO REPAIR IT FOR APPROX. $500.00. THAT IS INSANE AS THIS ISSUE SHOULD NEVER OCCUR. AFTER READING MANY POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND CLEARLY THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THIS. *TR

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WATER PUMP FAILURE. *SMD THE #6 IGNITION COIL WAS REPLACED, AS IT WAS SHORTING OUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE, WHEN IT WAS TURNED.*JB

A R E CALL NOW ON THE CLOCK SPRING STOP ACTING STUPID'S. *TR

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THIS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SAFETY SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWS THE AIRBAG TO INFLATE DURING A FRONTAL OR SIDE IMPACT CRASH. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. ON THE DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE SPIRAL CLOCK CABLE WHICH RESIDES UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND IS AN INTRICATE PART OF THE SAFETY, DRIVER SIDE AND OTHER AIRBAGS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. IF THIS PART WAS NOT REPLACED THEN I COULD BE FATALLY HURT OR KILLED IF THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT TOYOTA HAD DONE A RECALL ON THIS EXACT PART BUT ONLY ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA, THIS EFFECTED OVER 700,000 VEHICLES RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED TOYOTA IMMEDIATELY AFTER HAVING THE...

MY 8 MONTH OLD BABY WAS AUTO- LOCKED IN THE CAR ON AN 80 DEGREE SUNNY DAY! I DOUBLE CLICKED THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON MY CAR'S KEY FOB ON APPROACH, OPENED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND PUT MY CHILD IN THE CAR SEAT AND PUT MY PURSE (KEYS ON TOP) IN THE FLOOR WITH THE DIAPER BAG. ENTIRE CAR STILL UNLOCKED, I CLOSED THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND WALKED AROUND TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO GET IN. THE CAR BEEPED ALOUD BEFORE I COULD GRAB THE DOOR HANDLE TO GET IN, LOCKING ALL DOORS OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY THERE WAS A MECHANIC ON THE SAME STREET I WAS ON, BUT IT STILL TOOK 15 MINUTES START TO FINISH TO FINALLY GET MY CHILD OUT. UPON READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL, IT STATED THAT THERE IS A 30 SECOND TIMER FOR THE AUTOLOCK FEATURE THAT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE IF...

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV4 WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY WIFE AND SHE NOTICED INDICATOR LIGHTS SUDDENLY COMING ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE SPUTTERING AND STARTING TO STALL. PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE STALLING, SHE NOTICED THE POWER STEERING INOPERABLE AND SHE WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STEERING TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER LANE AND TO A STOP. SHE CALLED ME AND I CALLED FOR EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. AT THIS TIME, AS THE ENGINE RAN, THE POWER STEERING WAS STILL INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE. IT WAS THEN TOWED HOME. MY MECHANIC CHECKED AND FOUND THE BATTERY TO BE UNDERCHARGED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR NOT PROPERLY CHARGING THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AND THE POWER STEERING AND ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS RESUMED BACK TO NORMAL. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT SHOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING AS LONG AS...

MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE ANNUAL STATE INSPECTION, I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE SPIRAL CABLE FOR AIRBAG LIGHT THAT HAD SHORTED OUT. THE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AT A TOTAL COST OF $442.01. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AN EARLIER RECALL FOR AN AIRBAG SENSOR AND I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE AS WELL AND NOT THE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CAR OWNER. *TR

WITH NO WARNING, THE THREE LIGHTS CAME ON: 4WD, VSC, ENGINE. NOW THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT COIL #5 FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR A STAGGERING $350 PARTS AND LABOR. AMAZING, BECAUSE THE PART COSTS ONLY $40, WHAT IS THERE WORTH LABOR FOR $310? I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE TOYOTA RAV4 CARS. I FIXED IT AND TWO WEEKS LATER, COIL #4 FAILED, THIS ONE FOR ANOTHER $350! WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR. IT IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH COILS FAILING.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN FOREST AVE IN BROCKTON, MA, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STATED SMOKING, I QUICKLY TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, GOT ME AND MY SON OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND SUGGESTED THAT I GOT IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. SO I DID, TO COPLAND TOYOYTA WHERE IT WAS TROUBLESHOOT TO A MASTER SWITCH ASS. IT WAS REPAIRED AND I HAD TO PAY $580.70 BECAUSE THEY SAID ITS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. *TR

TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES PRIOR TO APPROACHING TURN LANE AND COULD NOT STOP. BRAKES WERE THERE (PEDAL WAS FIRM AND DID NOT GO TO FLOOR) BUT ACCELERATOR SEEM TO OVERRIDE THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PROCEEDED TO STAND ON BRAKES TO ATTEMPT TO STOP AS THERE WERE THREE LANES OF STOPPED TRAFFIC AND NO WHERE ELSE TO GO. SHIFTED CAR INTO PARK TO COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP TO AVOID HITTING 8+ CARS AND PUSHING THEM INTO A VERY LARGE INTERSECTION. CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 46000 MILES ON IT AND HAD NEW BRAKES INSTALLED 8 MONTHS PRIOR. CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED 1 MONTH PRIOR FOR GENERAL SERVICE POINT CHECKS. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP SAME DAY OF THIS INCIDENT - THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. OFFERED TO SERVICE BASED ON A PREVIOUS RECALL TO REMOVE THE CURRENT FLOORMAT AND ADJUST ACCELERATOR. ONE MONTH...

MY WIFE LEFT HOME TO DRIVE TO THE STORE - A 3-MILE TRIP, ALL IN-TOWN DRIVING. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 1/2 MILE, SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CAR FROM BEHIND THE PANEL ON THE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR. SHE STOPPED THE CAR. THE VOLUME OF SMOKE ACCUMULATING IN THE CAR INCREASED. A PASSER-BY STOPPED, CALLED 911, REPORTED THE FIRE, AND ASSISTED MY WIFE, WHO CLIMBED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND EXITED THE CAR OUT THE FRONT, RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR. BY THE TIME THE FIREMEN AND POLICE ARRIVED, APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MINUTES LATER, SMOKE WAS DENSE AND FLAMES WERE SURROUNDING THE EDGES OF THE DOOR PANEL. FIREMEN SPRAYED WATER ON THE PANEL, PULLED THE PANEL OFF THE DOOR, AND CONTINUED TO APPLY WATER UNTIL THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THANKFULLY, MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO STOP AND EXIT THE CAR QUICKLY. HAD SHE BEEN IN HEAVY, FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC, IT COULD HAVE BEEN...

I WAS DRIVING THE RAV4 IN APRIL 2011 AND AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 WHEN THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED.THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE BATTERY LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, FIRST THE RADIO QUIT PLAYING AND THEN THE CAR WENT DEAD AS I WAS MOVING IN TRAFFIC. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS VERY STRESSFUL BEING STRUCK IN TRAFFIC. THANKS TO SOME KIND LADIES, THE CAR WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY. WE SUSPECTED IT WAS A BATTERY MALFUNCTION, ALTHOUGH THE BATTERY WAS ONLY 8 MONTHS OLD. WE TOOK THE BATTERY TO PLACE OF PURCHASE AND THEY TRIED TO CHARGE IT, IT WOULD NOT CHARGE SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY FOR FREE BECAUSE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THIS TIME THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN THE RADIO WENT OUT AND THE CAR DIED....

THE CAR FILLED WITH THE SMELL ,AND SMOKE OF BURNING WIRE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE AND SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE DOOR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT RIGHT BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IT ENGULF INTO FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

WAS DRIVING NORMAL - ONLY A FEW MINUTES AFTER IGNITION - STRANGE SCENT OF PLASTIC BURNING. LOOKED DOWN TO FIND A THICK WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM WINDOW SWITCHES, FLAME SEEN THROUGH CRACKS. HAD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY @ GAS/SERVICE STATION TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAME - I HAD NO LIQUID TO EXTINGUISH AT TIME OF INCIDENT. WENT DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND DROPPED OFF VEHICLE. THEY ARE SAYING THERE IS NO RECALL - SO THEY WOULD NOT PURCHASE ME A RENTAL HAD TO PAY FOR IT MYSELF. I FOUND THESE LINKS RIGHT AWAY ONCE I GOT IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER: HTTP://WWW.KTVU.COM/NEWS/NEWS/TOYOTA-RECALLING-778000-RAV4-SUVS/NP8CR/ THIS IS THE LATEST ISSUE FOR THE POPULAR RAV4, WHICH IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN A GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATION OF DOOR FIRES THAT HAVE BEEN LINKED TO POWER WINDOW SWITCHES. HTTP://WOT.MOTORTREND.COM/BURNING-TOYOTA-CAMRYRAV4-WINDOW-SWITCHES-PROMPT-NHTSA-INVESTIGATION-168895.HTML END OF REPORT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE ELECTRICAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO A TIRE SHOP AND THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE CONTROL PANEL BECAUSE ALL OF THE WIRES WERE MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO SENT OUT A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE FAILURE, ADVISING THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD RESPOND WITHIN THIRTY DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,120.   ..UPDATED 09/12/12 *BF UPDATED 09/12/2012 *JS

I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH ON THE DRIVER'S-SIDE DOOR. WHEN I STOP TO CHECK I SAW FIRE INSIDE THE DOOR. I IMMEDIATE ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. WHEN HE UNCOVER THE SWITCH IT HAS A NICKEL SIDE HOLE. THERE IS NO MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE SWITCH NOT WORKING OR MY WINDOWS. I REALLY THINK I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NEAR MY BROTHERS HOME WHEN THIS HAPPEN. IF I WAS SOMEWHERE (LIKE THE FREEWAY) I REALLY TAUGHT MY WHOLE CAR WOULD OF CAUGHT ON FIRE AND LUCKY MY CHILD WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. *TR

MY 2007 RAV4 DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW WONT GO UP AND DOWN. THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL SWITCH FOR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT MOVE. THE SWITCH FOR THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW ON THE BACK DOOR DOES NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. WHEN IT DOES WORK JUST ONE TAP AND THE REAR WINDOW (DRIVER SIDE) GOES DOWN ALL THE WAY BY ITS SELF. THE OTHER THREE SWITCHES FOR THE WINDOWS AND THE OTHER THREE WINDOWS SEEM TO WORK AND RESPOND HOW THEY SHOULD. ONLY PROBLEM IS WITH THE REAR WINDOW AND THE SWITCH ON BOTH THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE REAR WINDOW DOOR (DRIVER SIDE). ALSO WHILE DRIVING TO WORK DRIVING APROX 10 MPH MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BENT IN TOWARD THE WHEEL WELL. THE TIE ROD WAS BROKE AND THE TIE ROD WAS VERY RUSTED . THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A FREAK OCCURRENCE AND FIXED...

THIS JUST HAPPEND TO ME ON THE MORNING OF 07/26/2012. I WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP AND LEAVING THE AIRPORT. AS I WAS ABOUT TO PAY MY PARKING FEE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR STARTED SMOKING AND I SAW A SMALL FIRE STARTING TO FLARE UP ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOOR BY THE WINDOW SWITCH. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES THE WHOLE DOOR WAS UP IN FLAMES. *JS