1997 Toyota RAV4

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/27/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,SEATS

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SHIFTED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE). *AK

• 12/13/2001· POWER TRAIN

  THE FIFTH GEAR FAILED. *YD

• 12/08/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  I CANNOT FILL THE GAS TANK ON THIS VEHICLE; GAS GAUGE NEVER REGISTERS AS FULL. TOPS OFF SEVERAL TIMES, CANNOT TELL WHEN TANK IS FULL. DEALERSHIP TELLS ME IT NEEDS NEW SENDING UNIT, WHICH NEITHER THEY NOR TOYOTA WILL PAY FOR.

• 12/03/2013· STRUCTURE

  WE TOOK OUR 1997 RAV4 TO THE MECHANIC FOR A ROUTINE TIRE ROTATION AND OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THE SUBFRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT IT IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH ALL RAV4'S AND THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THESE VEHICLES. I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING IN OTHER VEHICLES I'VE OWNED. MY MECHANIC WHOM I TRUST IMPLICITLY SAID THEY'VE REPLACED MANY SUB FRAMES ON THESE VEHICLES EXCLUSIVELY. *TR

• 11/29/2003· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  PRIOR TO A TURN, WHEN THE LEFT OR RIGHT BLINKER IS PUT ON, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF. AFTER ABOUT 4 SECONDS THEY COME BACK ON. THEN, AFTER THE TURN, AS THE BLINKER AUTOMATICALLY CANCELS, THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AGAIN FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS. *AK

• 11/27/2000· SEATS

  THE SEAT DESIGN IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND NOT SUPPORTIVE TO THE CONSUMER, THE SEAT BACK ANGLES BACK AND THE HEADREST ANGLES FORWARD, THIS OFFERS THE CONSUMER NO HEAD SUPPORT. *MJS

• 11/20/1997· SEAT BELTSCrash

  UPON BEING BROADSIDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CAR SPUN INTO A TRAFFIC ISLAND ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. SEA TBELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND DRIVER WA STHROWN TOWARDS PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER'S HEAD STRUCK THE POST/DOOR FRAME OR ROOF, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK

• 11/15/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  SOMEONE HIT THE DRIVER FROM BEHIND AND VEERED INTO NEXT LANE WHERE ANOTHER CAR HIT THE DRIVER AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY,RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK

• 11/09/2000· STEERING

  STEERING WHEEL NUT BECAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING, DAMAGING CABLE REEL ASSEMBLY WHICH CONTROL AIRBAG, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED STEERING WHEEL NUT MUST HAVE COME FROM MANUFACTURER LOOSE. *AK

• 11/02/1999· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG SYSTEM DURING COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN HEAD, CHEST AND NECK INJURIES. INJURIES MAY NOT HAVE OCCURED IF AIRBAG'S WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. *YC

• 10/28/1998· POWER TRAIN

  THE BOOT AROUND THE MANUEL TRANSMISSION CAME OFF JAMMING MOVEMENT OF THE SHIFTER.

• 10/19/1999· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE IDLE AIR CONTROL (IAC) VALVE CONTROLS THE IDLE SPEED BY METERING AIR AROUND THE THROTTLE PLATE, UNDER CONTROL OF THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE IAC VALVE ON MY VEHICLE STICKS WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD, REQUIRING ME TO HOLD A SLIGHT THROTTLE PRESSURE TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING AFTER CRANKING. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AS I WAS EASING THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AT IDLE, THE IAC VALVE UNSTUCK AND CAUSED THE CAR TO SURGE AHEAD. THIS IS VERY ABRUPT AND DISCONCERTING, BUT IT HAS NOT (YET) CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE A TOYOTA FACTORY SHOP MANUAL, AND I MADE THE RESISTANCE AND VOLTAGE CHECKS CALLED OUT FOR THE IAC VALVE; ALL WERE SATISFACTORY. SINCE THE VALVE'S COILS APPEAR TO BE OKAY, AND THE ENGINE COMPUTER'S COMMANDS APPEAR TO BE OKAY, I CONCLUDE THAT THE IAC VALVE SIMPLY STICKS WHEN IT IS COLD. THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY WITH A WARM ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM BEGAN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, AND IT NOW OCCURS AT ALMOST EVERY MORNING START. I COMMUTE ABOUT 25 MILES PER DAY. *AK

• 10/18/2006· POWER TRAIN

  POPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR! HAD FIXED, AND 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *NM

• 10/14/2011· STRUCTURE

  I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SOME ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TO BE DONE AND WAS CALLED TO COME IN BY THE MECHANIC. HE SHOWED ME UNDER MY CAR, MORE SPECIFICALLY THE FRAME ON MY CAR. IT HAD EXTENSIVE RUST DAMAGE. THE RUST WAS NOT JUST ON THE SURFACE, BUT HAD LARGE HOLES EATEN AWAY WITHIN THE ENTIRE FRAME. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. THE MECHANIC STATED IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, BECAUSE OF THE HOLES/DAMAGE ON THE FRAME. HE DID NOT THINK IT WAS NORMAL WEAR. UPDATED 10/20/11 *BF

• 10/13/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY RAV 4 HAS HAD A VERY COSTLY AND DIFFICULT-TO-FIX ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THE LAST 3 MONTHS. SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT UP, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAD STALLING PROBLEMS AND ONCE DIED COMPLETELY. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAVE WORKED ON IT AND NOBODY HAS YET BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY. IT HAS ALWAYS COME BACK. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN SAID THAT IT HAS TO FAIL COMPLETELY AGAIN BEFORE THEY CAN ATTEMPT TO KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. THAT MEANS I WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO BE STRANDED UNTIL SOMEONE CAN MAYBE FIX THE VEHICLE. I MAY BE FORCED TO SELL THE VEHICLE FOR PARTS WAY BEFORE I SHOULD FOR A CAR OF THAT AGE AND MILEAGE. *LA

• 10/02/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD COMING TO A RED LIGHT CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE, CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT ON BRAKES AND PULLED EMERGENCY BRAKE, CONSUMER SWERVED HITTING A SCHOOL BUS THAT WAS CROSSING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. TOOK TO A MECHANIC, AND HE SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW, A COVER THAT COVERS ACCELERATION CABLE ASSEMBLY, IT FELL INTO PLACE AND LOCKED ACCELERATION OPEN. *AK INVESTIGATION BY INDEPENDENT GROUP INDICATED THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF FAILED/ STUCK ACCELERATOR. *YH

• 09/30/1997· SEAT BELTSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION, TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH. THE SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO HOLD THE OCCUPANT, FORCING THE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT, ALSO THE BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP, AND THE BELTS BECAME VERY LOOSE, THE SEAT BELT WERE FULLY EXTENDED, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER.*AK

• 09/29/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FRONT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND THE BRAKES WENT TO METAL TO METAL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 09/22/2002· TIRES,WHEELS

  THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH ALLOY WHEELS BUT THE SPARE TIRE HAS STEEL RIMS IN WHICH THE EXISTING LUG NUTS DO NOT FIT SO THE SPARE TIRE CAN NOT BE USED. I THINK THE COMPANY SHOULD PROVIDE A USABLE SPARE TIRE. I CONTACTED THEM ABOUT THAT BUT THEY SAID THAT YEAR, THEIR RAV 4 CAME WITH STEEL RIMS SO THEY GAVE ME SOME LUG NUTS TO USE BUT THEY ARE TOO SHORT AND CANNOT LOCK THE TIRE IN PLACE. THE EXISTING LUGS ALSO CANNOT LOCK THE TIRE IN PLACE AND THE TIRE RATTLES. ONE OF THE MANAGERS TOLD ME TO USE THESE IN AN EMERGENCY ONLY BUT I DO NOT WANT TO DAMAGE THE TREADS ON THE BOLTS WITH THE TIRE SLIDING ON THE BOLT. I THINK IF THEY SOLD THE TIRE AS A SPARE, IT SHOULD FUNCTION AS A SAFE SPARE AND I SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PURCHASING ANOTHER RIM, LUG NUTS, OR TIRE JACK SO I CAN USE THE SPARE TIRE SAFELY. THIS SHOULD APPLY TO ALL '97 RAV 4 OWNERS. I DID NOT CATCH IT EARLIER BECAUSE I DID NOT NEED TO USE THE SPARE UNTIL NOW.*AK

• 09/22/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR INITIALLY JUST HAD A STARTING PROBLEM WHERE IT WILL START AND STALLS IMMEDIATELY. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT THE STARTER AND I HAD IT REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS COLD OR WARM. I COULD JUST PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND IT WON'T START. IF I WAIT ABOUT TEN MINUTES, IT WILL START AGAIN. BUT, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. YESTERDAY, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH THE CAR JUST STALLED. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER. I WAITED ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND IT STARTED AGAIN. THERE IS NO RHYME OF REASON TO THIS, THERE IS NO WARNING OF ANY KIND.

• 09/13/2004· POWER TRAIN

  FIFTH GEAR FAILED, NEED TO REPLACE ENTIRE MANUAL TRANSMISSION.*AK

• 09/08/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  AUTO CHOKE VALVE FAILURE.

• 09/01/1998· AIR BAGS

  FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER. (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

• 08/29/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VEHICLE STALLS IN RAINY WEATHER.

• 08/26/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

• 08/18/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PROBLEM OF STALLING AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION ONGOING SINCE JUNE..NOW AUGUST AND BACK TO DEALER AGAIN AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN IN VEHICLE..

• 08/15/2019· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE ALARM ADD ON MODULE AND HARNESS WERE FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND HAS SHORTED OUT UPON INSPECTION OF MODULE I HAVE FOUND BURNT CIRCUITS . VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO START ALSO LEADING TO BELIEVE THE ECM HAS BEEN EFFECTED .

• 08/13/2008· TIRES

  DRIVING ON I -10 IN BUCKEYE AZ @ SPEED OF 65-70 WHEN SAW SPARKS COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF MY RAV4 THEN A LOAD THUMPING SOUND AND THEN THE CAR WEAVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO ROLL OVER. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE RAV TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND WHEN EXITING THE CAR SAW THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BUT THE TIRE WAS FULLY INFLATED THIS CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE WHEEL WELL , BUMPER AND FENDER RESULTING IN AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND ALOT OF JITTERY NERVES AS THERE WERE 2 SMALL GRANDCHILDREN AND A PREGNANT DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. TIRE IS A UNIROYAL P215/70R 99S BW TIGER PAW TOURING SR. BOUGHT AT 61,194 AND I NOW HAVE 83,000 SO I HAVE PUT 22,000 MILES ON THESE TIRES IN 3 YEARS. *TR

• 07/14/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. THE FINAL ACCIDENT WAS A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT AT 40 MPH IN WHICH DRIVER WAS HURT. CAUSE OF PROBLEM UNKNOWN. *AK

• 07/04/2014· STRUCTURE

  MY SON WAS DRIVING, HIT A POTHOLE, AND THE SUB FRAME COMPLETELY BROKE IN HALF. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT IT HAD BEEN ROTTING OUT FROM THE TOP. *TR

• 06/30/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY ABOUT 80 MPH HAD ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED OR DIED OUT FOR NO REASON IN HEAVY TRAFFIC; EVERYTHING WENT OUT. *AK

• 06/20/2002· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  EACH TIME YOU STOP AND THEN PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL IT STICKS. YOU MUST PUSH HARDER THAN USUAL TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE. BUT THAT MAKES THE CAR LURCH FORWARD AT A GREATER SPEED THAN YOU WOULD LIKE. IN TRAFFIC THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE FUEL INJECTORS , BUT I THINK IT,S IN THE LINKAGE OR THE WAY THE PEDAL WAS MADE THAT IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

• 06/19/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  UPON START UP OF ENGINE, BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL "LOCKED UP" AS PUTTING CAR INTO GEAR. TURNED OUT ENGINE WAS STALLING OUT. CAR ALSO WOULD TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN AFTER RESTARTING ENGINE AND PUT INTO DRIVE. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS IDLE CONTROL VALVE PROBLEM AND REPLACED PART. *AK

• 05/30/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  IT WAS RAINING, NOT HEAVY, THOUGH. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO BRAKE BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE CAR STARTED LOSING CONTROL AND I COULDN'T BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR AT ALL. THEN THE CAR STARTED MOVING TOWARDS THE LEFT QUICKLY AND SPINNED FOR ABOUT 2 OR 3 TIMES. THE REAR END ON THE RIGHT SIDE FINALLY HIT THE MIDDLE BARRIER ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR TURNED OUT TO BE FACING THE INCOMING TRAFFIC. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WASN'T HURT TOO BADLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HIT ANY OTHER CARS (LUCKILY) AND IT WAS THE REAR END THAT GOT HIT. I GOT A BIG BRUISE ON MY THIGH AND MY WHOLE BODY WAS SORE FOR 3 DAYS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A DEFECT WITH THE BRAKE OR THE WHEELS OR NOT, BUT I THOUGHT I'D REPORT THIS FOR OTHER OWNERS TO BE AWARE OF. *AK

• 05/06/2004· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  MANUFACTURER RECENTLY ISSUED A WARRANTY EXTENTION TO CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF THE EMISSION SYSTEM AND SELECTIVELY EXCLUDED MY COMPONENT (EGR VALVE) EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATOR. I BELEIVE THIS COMPONENT SHOULD BE INLCUDED IN THE LIST OF EXHAUST SYSTEMS WHICH SHOULD RECEIVE EXTENDED CARE DUE TO POOR WORKMANSHIP.

• 04/24/2015· ENGINE

  RECEIVED WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE-ZE7, AS INSTRUCTED, DEALER TEST WAS PERFORMED. OIL LOSS TOTALS UNDER 1QT. FOR EA. 1200 MILES DRIVEN. WAS TOLD THIS DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THIS: TOYOTA SERVICE REQUIRED FOR OIL CHANGE IS EVERY 5,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION OF JUST UNDER 1QT PER 1,200 MILES, SO DRIVING 5,000 MILES WOULD EFFECTIVELY BURN 4QTS., OR MORE, THEREBY STARVING ENGINE FOR OIL AND RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME TO KEEP CHECKING OIL LEVEL, AND ADD OIL AS REQUIRED. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISED THEM OF MY OPINION. I AM ABLE TO ADD OIL AS REQUIRED, BUT QUESTIONED CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT OTHER SENIOR CITIZEN'S ABILITY TO SELF MAINTAIN THE OIL LEVEL, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANY CONSUMER THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS ASSIGNED ME A CASE NUMBER FROM REGIONAL CA. OFFICE. I WAS TOLD THAT PERHAPS TOYOTA WILL CHANGE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS SO THAT AT 5,000 MILES, OIL CONSUMPTION WOULD NOT RESULT IN ENGINE STARVATION AND FAILURE. ALSO, IN MY CASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR OIL LOSS, AND IF IT INCREASES IN VOLUME, COME BACK TO DEALER AND TEST AGAIN. I THINK THAT DESIGN FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTIFICATION THAT WAS MAILED TO ME. *TR

• 03/31/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  THE SUBJECT IS "IMPROPER CIRCUIT DESIGN CAUSED SELF IGNITED FIRE TO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRIC ABNORMALITY WITHIN THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR" . THE TIME THAT HAPPENED THE MOTOR WAS OFF AND CAR IN PARK IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. VEHICLE IS A 1997 TOYOTA RAV-4 MANUFACTURED IN APRIL 1997 BY THE TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AT THEIR ASSEMBLY PLANT IN MOTOMACHI-THARA, JAPAN. AT THE TIME OF ITS FABRICATION , THE VEHICLE WAS ASSIGNED UNIQUE PUBLIC IDENTIFICATION NUMBER [XXX]. COMPUTERIZED SCRUTINY OF THIS NUMBER RELATIVE TO CHECK DIGIT"4" AND SEQUENCE NUMBER "056588" HAS CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE IDENTITY. THERE WAS INVESTIGATION BY THE HARD FACTS INVESTIGATIVE ENGINEERING REPORTED ON JANUARY 01, 2003. I WILL BE ABLE TO SEND COPY OF THE WHOLE REPORT. I FILED A COMPLAINT TO THE COMPANY AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:TOYOTA MOTORS SALES , U.S.A.,INC. 19001 S. WESTERN AVENUE,P.O. BOX 2722, TORRANCE,CA 90509-2722 TO [XXX]. , CLAIM ANALYST ,LEGAL DEPARTMENT, ON 12/23/2002. THE CASE ID #[XXX]. THE ANSWER WAS THE CAR IS OLD AND THE VEHICLE ODOMETER INDICATES A REGISTERED 49,851 MILES ROAD UTILITY. CASE IS CLOSED. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 03/28/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE AIR FUEL SENSOR HAS POSSIBLY FAILED. *SLC

• 03/27/2012· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHERE THEY DETECTED THAT THE ENTIRE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BODY FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 05/11/12 *BF UPDATED 05/21/12

• 03/24/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRANK BUT NOT START.

• 03/23/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START.

• 03/21/2012· STRUCTURE

  THE SUB-FRAME IS RUSTING OUT AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. TOYOTA HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *JS

• 03/19/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  GAS PEDAL STICKS. *TR

• 03/08/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCrashFire

  MY RAV 4 - 57348 MILES. IT STARTED MAKING A TAPPING SOUND IN THE ENGINE AND IT HAS MAKES A METAL ON METAL VIBRATION UPON ACCELERATION AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I MAKE A GRADUAL LEFT TURN AND DECELERATE. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER. THEY SAY IT MAY BE THAT THE LIFTERS ARE A BIT WORN AND THAT THIS WILL NOT HARM ANYTHING. THIS IS ODD BECAUSE A NEW ENGINE WAS PLACED IN THE CAR AT 49,000 + MILES. THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT THE VIBRATION NOISE WAS AND SAID THAT IT IS POSSIBLY A ROCK IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I KNOW WHAT THAT SOUNDS LIKE AND STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THEIR ANALYSIS. THE NOISE IS DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE ENGINE. *NLM

• 03/08/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY RAV HAS HAD 2 ENGINE REPLACEMENTS THE FIRST AT 16,000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 49,000 MILES. THE FIRST ONE HAPPENED WHEN IT STALLED OUT GOING THROUGH AN EXTREMELY LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE ACCESS ROAD AND THE SECOND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *NLM

• 03/06/2015· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

  RAV 4 TOYOTA 1997-WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES WITHOUT THE RPR INCREASED WITHOUT CONTROL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BECOME EXTREMELY HOT, FLUIDS WERE DRAINED . CAR SENT TO DARCARS TOYOTA THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND NOW FACING SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, BECAUSE LACK OF RECALL RPR 'S ISSUE VERY DETRIMENTAL AND RISKY . *TR

• 02/24/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  MY 1997 TOYOTA RAV 4 GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING I TOOK IT TO TWO PLACE THEY SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO KEEP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP THEY FIXED IT. WAS MY VEHICLE A RECALL. *TR

• 02/19/2016· STRUCTURE

  1997 RAV4 AWD 109000 DEALER SERVICED TOOK IN FOR A OIL CHANGE 2/18/16 DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CRADLE ASSY HAS A TENNIS BALL SIZE HOLE IN IT NEAR NEXT TO LEFT CONTROL ARM , $2361.30 TO REPLACE OR JUNK THE VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, VEHICLE SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES AND ITS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION NOW, MY 22 YR OLD DAUGHTER HAS BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THE LAST 6 1/2 YRS A VERY POOR DESIGN BY TOYOTA

• 02/14/2005· AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A STEEP HILL AT 35 MPH, AND UPON GOING DOWN A HILL, VEHICLE FISH TAILED OUT OF CONTROL. HITTING A MEDIAN STRIP. CONSUMER HAD TO SWERVE RIGHT, AND WENT INTO A TAIL SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE SEAT BELT EITHER RELEASED OR BROKE. THE ROOF CAVED IN. ALL THE WINDOWS BROKE. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK

• 02/01/1999· TIRES

  TIRE BLEW OUT (BRIGGSTONE P205-65-R15). MJS