2000 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Vehicle speed control is the leading concern among 40 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 26th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2000 reports, 6 involved a crash. 4 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator moduleJan 22, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.
Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based on the inspection, dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate one, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.
Campaign 20V033000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, air, disc, rotorAug 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR, WHEN EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, CAN DEVELOP STRESS FRACTURES IF THE LUG NUTS ARE TIGHTENED WITH EXCESSIVE TORQUE.
THE DISC ROTOR COULD BREAK (WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE WHEEL), RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION ON THAT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND STEEL WHEELS WITH NEW DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND NEW ALUMINUM WHEELS. IN ADDITION A CAUTION LABEL THAT READS, "USE NEW GENUINE TOYOTA ALUMINUM WHEELS." WILL BE AFFIXED. VEHICLES ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS WILL ONLY REQUIRE CAUTION LABEL INSTALLATION.
Campaign 00V212000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, park/neutral start interlock switchAug 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. IF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE REPEATEDLY PARKED BY PLACING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE "P" POSITION WITHOUT APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PARKING LOCK ROD, A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING LOCK SYSTEM, COULD BREAK.
THIS CONDITION CAN RENDER THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.
Campaign 00V211000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
40 reports, newest first.
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 28, 2003
SHORTBLOCK REPLACED ON 2000 MR2 SPYDER @ TEMPE TOYOTA FOR THE SECOND TIME
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 28, 2003
ENGINE FAILURE
Equipment, Oct 28, 2002
CONSUMER NOTIFIED, AIR CONDIONER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY (MOLDY) DEALER HAS INSPECTED SEVERAL TIME AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION TS
Vehicle speed control, Aug 29, 2002
WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH CONSUMER DEACTIVATED CRUISE CONTROL RPMS STAYED SPEEDED UP. IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO SLOW DOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Power train, Jun 5, 2002
WHEN IN REVERSE THERE IS A LOUD NOISE AT ALL TIMES. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANSSMISION.*AK
Visibility, Jun 5, 2002
WINDSHIELD HAS LOTS OF SMALL CHIPS ON IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN SANDBLASTED.*AK
Fuel system, Gasoline, Visibility, Apr 16, 2002
FUEL TANK ACCESS DOOR HAS DESIGN DEFECT. WHEN OPENED (TO GAIN ACCESS TO FUEL CAP), IT RUBS THE EDGE OF THE VEHICLE BODY PANEL SURROUNDING THE ACCESS DOOR. THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH MODEL 2001, AS A FRIEND HAS REPORTED THE SAME COMPLAINT. AS FOR THE VEHICLE GLASS, IT WAS SCRATCHED EASILY FROM ROAD DEBRIS BEING RUBBED BY THE WIPERS, AND ALSO INSIDE OF THE GLASS GRIT. THIS HAS NEVER OCCURRED WITH PREVIOUS VEHICLES OWNED, SO THE GLASS MUST BE UNUSUALLY SOFT.**** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760761. *AK *JB
Power train, Jan 29, 2002
CONSUMER STATES HE BELIVES THAT VEHICLE HAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, WHEN DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A CLUNK SOUND, VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON 2 OCCASIONS, HOWEVER DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER REPAIR OR ACTION.*JB
Suspension, Aug 22, 2001
EXPERIENCING WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, VEHICLE PULLS SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT, BECAUSE THE HIGHWAYS ARE SLANTED TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT.
Visibility, Feb 23, 2001
WINDSHIELD IS NOT HOLDING UP AS GOOD AS IT SHOULD BE. WHEN DRIVING ON ROAD, AND WHAT EVER MAY COME FLYING IN WINDSHIELD'S WAY CAN EASILY CHIP WINDSHIELD. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 12 CHIPS CURRENTLY ON THE WINDSHIELD. *SLC
Visibility, Oct 24, 2000
RECENTLY I WAS CLEANING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND I ACCIDENTLY BUMPED THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. IT WAS A FAIRLY LIGHT TAP AS WOULD BE FOUND IN TYPICAL CLEANING WITH A CLOTH OF THE INTERIOR OF A VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT THE REAR VIEW MIRROR BROKE AWAY FROM THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERING FRAGMENTS OF GLASS ALL OVER THE FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR. I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT IT CAME OFF SO EASILY AND I WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT IT BROKE THE GLASS OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE PROCESS. *AK
Tires, Sep 9, 2000, crash
WE WERE ON VACATION AND TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT, 75, IN PUEBLO, CO WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. FROM WHAT WITNESSES SAID THEY SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THAT TIRE BEFORE I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE ENDED UP GOING OFF THE ROAD ON TO A GRASSY MEDIAN WHERE WE HIT AN INCLINE, WENT AIRBORNE AND THEN LANDED MOTOR FIRST AND ROLLED FOR A GOOD BIT BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND FROM WHAT THE WITNESSES SAID, IT SEEMED TO HAVE ALL STARTED WITH THE SMOKING TIRE. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT BRIDGESTONE WAS MADE BY FIRESTONE BEFORE TAKING THIS DRIVE FROM DENTON, TX TO DENVER, CO (OUR FINAL DESTINATION). IT WAS REPORTED TO THE PUEBLO POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT OCCURED ON I-25 IN PUEBLO, CO. IF ANY FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED, PLEASE CONTACT ME. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN PUEBLO FOR REPAIRS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )
Tires, Sep 9, 2000, crash
WE WERE ON VACATION AND TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT, 75, IN PUEBLO, CO WHEN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. FROM WHAT WITNESSES SAID THEY SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THAT TIRE BEFORE I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE ENDED UP GOING OFF THE ROAD ON TO A GRASSY MEDIAN WHERE WE HIT AN INCLINE, WENT AIRBORNE AND THEN LANDED MOTOR FIRST AND ROLLED FOR A GOOD BIT BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND FROM WHAT THE WITNESSES SAID, IT SEEMED TO HAVE ALL STARTED WITH THE SMOKING TIRE. I DID NOT REALIZE THAT BRIDGESTONE WAS MADE BY FIRESTONE BEFORE TAKING THIS DRIVE FROM DENTON, TX TO DENVER, CO (OUR FINAL DESTINATION). IT WAS REPORTED TO THE PUEBLO POLICE DEPARTMENT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT OCCURED ON I-25 IN PUEBLO, CO. IF ANY FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED, PLEASE CONTACT ME. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN PUEBLO FOR REPAIRS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )
Tires, Aug 9, 2000
HELLO, I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA TOCOMA 4X4 THAT I PURCHASED THIS PAST APRIL. FOR THE PAST MONTH I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES THAT WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE TRUCK. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK TO HAVE THE TIRES LOOKED AT. THE TIRES WERE MAKING A THUMPING NOISE. THIS WAS BEFORE I HAD HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEM FIRESTONE WAS HAVING. THE DEALER TOLD ME TO TAKE THEM TO FIRESTONE TO HAVE THEM LOOKED AT, WHICH I DID. THE FIRESTONE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES WERE LOW ON AIR (THE 26 PSI THAT THE TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME TO RUN THE TIRES ON), AND THAT THE FRONT TIRES HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR. FIRESTONE SAID THE TIRES SHOULD HAVE 32 PSI. FIRESTONE REPLACED THE TIRES COSTING ME $56.00 OF MY OWN MONEY. THE VERY NEXT DAY I COULD NOT EXCEED 55 MPH WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. I NOTIFIED FIRESTONE AND THEY FOUND THE TWO NEW TIRES WERE BAD ALSO. THEY REPLACED THOSE WITH YET ANOTHER TWO NEW TIRES. I SEE NOW FIRESTONE IS RECALLING WILDERNESS AT TIRES HOWEVER, THEY ARE ONLY RECALLING SIZE P235/75R15. THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON MY TRUCK WERE WILDERNESS AT 265/75R15, SO I GUESS IM NOT INCLUDED. WITH ALL THE TROUBLE I HAVE HAD WITH THESE TIRES, I FEAR DRIVING ANY LONG DISTANCES WITH THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT THE SIZE BEING RECALLED. ADDITIONALLY, MY WIFE REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE TRUCK UNTIL WE REPLACE THE FIRESTONE TIRES. I CANNOT AFFORD AT THIS POINT TO PURCHASE ALL NEW TIRES. I HAVE ASKED TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE TIRES ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT FIRESTONE IS RESPONSIBLE. I WOULD STILL LIKE TO REPLACE THESE TIRES WITH SOMETHING LIKE GOODYEAR ATS TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE AND STYLE. IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY THAT THE TIRES I HAVE WILL BE INVOLVED IN THIS SOON? PLEASE RESPOND AS SOON AS YOU CAN, THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: BM13571-4 TIRE SIZE: P265/75R15 )
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 30, 1999
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN AN PANIC SITUATION PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CLAIMS THERE IS NOT PROBLEM; WILL NOT REPAIR. *AK