2018 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 331 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 31 involved a crash and 32 involved a fire. 18 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v batteryNov 1, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
Campaign 23V734000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsJun 28, 2019
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Campaign 19V503000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, other, labelsDec 20, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
Campaign 17V831000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
331 reports, newest first.
Exterior lighting, Nov 27, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR AFTER DUSK, THE HEADLAMPS PROVIDED INSUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE WHERE THE HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN APPROACHING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO UEBELHOR TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 788 W 12TH AVE, JASPER, IN 47546, (812) 482-2222) TO BE DIAGNOSED AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS INTENDED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ILLUMINATION WAS INADEQUATE IN RURAL AREAS, BUT WAS NOT AFFECTED IN AN URBAN SETTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200.
Other or unspecified, Nov 10, 2018
ON 8/28/18 MY RAV4 SUNROOF EXPLODED ON HWY. 51 IN A 45MPH ZONE JUST NORTH OF MINOCQUA, WI, ABOUT 15 MI FROM MY HOME. I DO NOT HAVE A CELL PHONE SO DROVE HOME AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA RHINELANDER, WI 2018. AFTER EXPLAINING THE SITUATION AND. ASKING WHAT MY NEXT STEP SHOULD BE, I WAS TOLD TO CALL MY INSURANCE REP..AS THEY DID NOT COVER GLASS BREAKAGE. AFTER I GOT THE SUNROOF REPAIRED, I WROTE A LETTER TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND TOYOTA RHINELANDER DATED 9/16/18 OUTLINING MY CONCERNS. MY REQUESTS WERE TWO-FOLD: 1) THAT THEY NEED ONLY TO REIMBURSE ME FOR MY MINIMAL REPAIR COSTS: ABOUT $350, AND 2) THAT SOMEONE TELL ME HOW, BY WHOM, AND TO WHAT AGENCY THIS INCIDENT WOULD BE REPORTED. MY LETTERS WENT UNANSWERED. I CONTACTED RHINELANDER ON OCT. 25, 2018 AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL A HOT LINE NUMBER. I DID SO IMMEDIATELY AND WAS PROMISED A CALL THE NEXT DAY. I DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL BACK; A WEEK LATER I CALLED AGAIN AND WAS ASSIGNED A CASE MANAGER. THE END RESULT WAS A DENIAL OF MY REQUEST. AGAIN, THE REASON GIVEN WAS THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSESS THE SITUATION BECAUSE II DID NOT BRING HE CAR INTO TOYOTA FOR AN INSPECTION AFTER THE EXPLOSION (AND, NOBODY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO DO THIS). I UNDERSTAND THE PERSON I TALKED WITH IS NO LONGER WITH THE COMPANY. THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR HERE IS SAFETY. HAD THE DOOR TO THE SUNROOF BEEN OPEN , I COULD HAVE BEEN SPRAYED WITH GLASS, SERIOUSLY INJURED OR INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC COLLISION. THE DEAFENING NOISE ALONE WAS ENOUGH TO POSSIBLY CAUSE A SERIOUS MISHAP.THERE ARE MANY WEBSITES, INCLUDING CONSUMER REPORTS, THAT REPORT THESE EXPLOSIONS, YET I WAS TOLD BY RHINELANDER THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF AN EXPLOSION, AND A STONE PROBABLY CAUSED THE INCIDENT. I WILL BE HAPPY TO FURNISH A COPY OF MY LETTERS AND NOTES OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM
Exterior lighting, Oct 26, 2018
BRAND NEW RECENTLY PURCHASED VEHICLE AND THERE IS CONDENSATION IN BOTH HEAD LIGHTS
Visibility, Oct 9, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITH A LOUD NOISE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOWE TOYOTA OF WARNER ROBINS (LOCATED AT 375 S HOUSTON LAKE RD, WARNER ROBINS, GA 31088, (478) 971-5693). THE DEAKER STATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SMALL CRACK IN THE GLASS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE EXPLOSION ONCE THE GLASS BECAME HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO BEAMAN TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 1525 BROADWAY, NASHVILLE, TN 37203, (615) 251-8400), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1810023189. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,400.
Power train, Oct 9, 2018
THE ENGINE DIES TO IDLE SPEED AND THE CAR STOPS OR SLOWS DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS BECAUSE OF A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE CONNECTED TO A 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE TO GET ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN. THE PEOPLE BEHIND START BACKING UP AND ARE MAD. I HAVE TO PULL TO SIDE AND LET THEM BY. MY CHILDREN ARE INSTRUCTED TO SUE TOYOTA IF MY WIFE AND I DIE IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THIS HAS TO BE A COMPUTER GLITCH. ITS VERY DANGEROUS.
Other or unspecified, Oct 6, 2018
WE WERE RETURNING FROM DAYTONA BEACH, FL ON 09/26/2018 AND APPROX. 20 MILES FROM WARNER ROBBINS, GA WHEN WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE IN MILD TRAFFIC WITH TEMPERATURE IN 80'S AND OVERCAST. WE SAW NOTHING HIT OUR CAR AND NO BULLET HOLES, BUT KNEW THEIR WAS A LOT OF NOISE AND SOMETHING WAS WRONG. WE PULLED BACK THE COVER ON OUR SUN ROOF AND SAW THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED AND RAISED UPWARD. IT HAD EXPLODED. WE WENT TO THE DEALER IN WARNER ROBBINS AND THEY SAID IT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SMALL CRACK IN THE GLASS. A DEFECT. THEY VACUUMED OUT THE GLASS AND COVERED IT WITH CARDBOARD, PLASTIC GARBAGE BAGS AND PUT MASKING TAPE ALL AROUND IT TO PROTECT US. (THEY OF COURSE DID NOT HAVE THE PART.) THE HOTEL THERE ALLOWED US TO PARK UNDER THEIR ENTRANCE WHICH WAS COVERED AS IT WAS BEGINNING TO RAIN. ON 09/27/2018 AS SOON AS WE GOT HOME TO NASHVILLE, TN WE WENT TO THE DEALER WE HAD PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM ONLY 4 MONTHS EARLIER ON 06/02/2018. THEY HAVE REFUSED OUR CLAIM. WE DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR SINCE WE DIDN'T CAUSE THIS, BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE SOP IN THESE CASES.
Exterior lighting, Oct 3, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING IN THE FOG, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS REFLECTED LIGHT BACK, WHICH BLINDED THE DRIVER AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF POWAY (858-486-2900, LOCATED AT 13631 POWAY RD, POWAY, CA 92064) WHERE THE LIGHTS WERE CHECKED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT NO ADJUSTMENT WAS NEEDED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 1, 2018
WHILE DRIVING ON SATURDAY MORNING 9/29/18, I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND MY 2018 TOYOTA RAV4 LOST ALL ENGINE POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THE COMPUTER VIDEO SCREEN SHOWED THE MESSAGE "CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE\MALFUNCTION". I THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT DID NOT CRANK OVER, I WAITED A FEW SECONDS, MADE ANOTHER ATTEMPT , THE VEHICLE STARTED. I PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UP THE ERROR MESSAGE IN THE CAR MANUAL AND IT INSTRUCTED ME THAT IT WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL DEALER, THEY RAN A VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT, THEY FOUND NO ERROR MESSAGES OR VOLTAGE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY OFFERED NO REASON FOR THE LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THEY COULD ONLY DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE SO FAR AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED "CORPORATE" TO SEND SOMEONE OUT TO DO FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS ON THE BLACK BOX. ON 10/1/18, I OPENED A PROBLEM REPORT WITH TOYOTA USA AND WAS GIVEN A CASE#. .
Exterior lighting, Sep 28, 2018
MY 2018 RAV4 IS EQUIPPED WITH DYNAMIC RADAR CRUISE CONTROL, A FEATURE WHICH I LIKE VERY MUCH LIKE WHEN TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. THIS FEATURE AUTOMATICALLY DECELERATES MY VEHICLE TO MATCH THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AHEAD AND KEEPS YOU FOLLOWING AT A SAFE DISTANCE. HOWEVER, THE SAFETY ISSUE I HAVE DISCOVERED IS THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DECELERATES, IT APPARENTLY DOES NOT ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE VEHICLE BEHIND YOU IS NOT WARNED THAT YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN. TWICE IN THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE, WHILE TRAVELING ON RELATIVELY STRAIGHT, FLAT, INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS, I HAD THE DYNAMIC RADAR CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME REDUCED SPEED FAIRLY QUICKLY (FROM APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 45MPH) DUE TO ROAD CONSTRUCTION. MY VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SLOWED ACCORDINGLY, BUT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME DID NOT REALIZE I WAS SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ACTIVATE AND I WAS VERY NEARLY REAR ENDED. FORTUNATELY, SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WERE NARROWLY AVOIDED IN BOTH THESE INCIDENTS. I BELIEVE THE DYNAMIC RADAR CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE IS VERY GOOD, VERY USEFUL FEATURE; HOWEVER, THE SYSTEM MUST BE MODIFIED TO ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LIGHTS WHEN THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DECELERATES. ONE OF THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN JULY, 2018, AND THE OTHER IN AUGUST, 2018. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND ALSO WITH THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER (800 331-4331). THE LATTER ESTABLISHED A CASE NUMBER (1809280901). I WISH TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE FOLLOW-UP OCCURS TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Sep 25, 2018
PURCHASED 2018 RAV 4 ADVENTURE THREE DAY'S AGO AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT ON A ROAD WITH NO OTHER AVAILABLE LIGHTING. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH A VEIL COVERS 1/2 TO 2/3 OF WINDSHIELD MAKING VISIBILITY NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. THE BEAM ANGLE OF THE HEADLIGHTS BARELY COVER THE ROAD IN FRONT OF YOU AND NOTHING ABOVE THE HEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE HOOD. YOU CAN SEE NOTHING IN FRONT OF YOU AND EVEN LESS ON THE SIDES OF THE ROAD.CHANGING THE SETTING FROM AUTO, ON AND HIGH BEAM TO NOT CHANGE RESULT. I WANT TO RETURN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO POINT IN HAVING A VEHICLE YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE DURING THE DAY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND VERY DISAPPOINTING! I HOPE NO ONE SUFFERS INJURY OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF THIS POOR DESIGN.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 24, 2018
TOYOTA RAV 4 ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN WHILE DRIVING I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER SHOWS THAT IT DIDN'T ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. IT HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES THE LATEST WAS TODAY SEPT 24. I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND OTHER DRIVER BECAUSE ONCE IT TOOK ME THR A RED LIGHT A D TODAY I ALMOST HIT A TREE.
Exterior lighting, Sep 24, 2018
MY RAV4 HAS VERY POOR LIGHTING AT NIGHT MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THE LINES ON THE ROAD. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW A FEW DAYS AGO BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANY DEFECTS WITH THE HEAD LIGHT BUT DOES AGREE THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS POOR.
Structure, Service brakes, Sep 1, 2018, crash
THE VEHICLE BREAKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP A COUPLE HUNDRED FEET BACK FROM STOPPED VEHICLE SITTING AT REDLIGHT, THIS COMPLETELY RESULTED IN COLLISION ON AUGUST 26, 2018. THERE WAS ONLY APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED ON AUGUST 18, 2018
Other or unspecified, Aug 30, 2018, crash
HAZARDS OF THE PUSHBUTTON START: THE ENGINE CAN BE TURNED OFF WHILE CAR IS STILL IN GEAR.....MINE WAS IN REVERSE, (I THOUGHT IT WAS IN P AS THERE IS NOT AN ALIGNMENT (R IS UP & TO THE RIGHT).....FIRST DAY I DROVE IT, JUMPED OUT, WAS KNOCKED DOWN, FRONT L TIRE ROLLED OVER MY LEG....NO WARNING, NO SAFEGUARD AGAINST THIS.......
Steering, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Aug 25, 2018
TAMARA RECALL. VEHICLE CONSTANTLY DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF FIXING THE ISSUE HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. AT THIS POINT THE DEALERSHIPS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Aug 22, 2018, fire
MY RAV4 CAUGHT FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHILE PARKED ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 12+ HOURS. AFTER BURNING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, IT EXPLODED WITH A FORCE SO GREAT THAT IT LIFTED THE CAR ONTO THE CURB, KNOCKED OVER A FIREFIGHTER, AND DAMAGED OUR BOAT PARKED 10 FEET ACROSS THE STREET. THE INSPECTOR FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE INITIAL FIRE WAS FROM FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING BUT SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN A CAR EXPLODE IN HIS 25 YEARS ON THE FORCE. TOYOTA CONDUCTED THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION AND AGREED IT WAS ELECTRICAL BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE FAULT DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE
Service brakes, Aug 20, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (HALEY TOYOTA OF RICHMOND, 3600 LONAS PKWY, MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23112, (804) 545-7411) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1808171087, BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,500.
Exterior lighting, Aug 13, 2018
DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS BEAM PATTERN CUTOFF. WHILE DRIVING WITH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT, TOP PART OF LIGHT BEAM PATTERN IS A STRAIGHT LINE LEFT TO RIGHT ACROSS FIELD OF VISION WITH ZERO LIIGHT ABOVE MIDPOINT FIELD OF VISION BOTTOM (ROAD) TO TOP (SKY). ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN DECENDING HILLS IN DARK AND ROAD AHEAD IS FLAT (OR HORIZONTAL) AS WELL AS DECENDING A DIP WHICH CLIMBS BACK UP. NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH LIGHT ABOVE MID FIELD OF VISION. REQUIRES HIGHBEAMS SELECTED WHICH CANNOT ALWAYS BE SELECTED DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR FOLLOWING SOMEONE WHERE IT WOULD BLIND THEM. HIGHER MODEL RAV4 TRIM LEVELS HAVE LED HEADLIGHTS WHICH TOYOA SHOULD RETROFIT ONTO XLE, LE, AND ANY OTHER MODELS AFFECTED. WORRIED ABOUT WIFE DRIVING WITH KIDS. 6 MONTHS INTO A 3YR LEASE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2018
THE AIR CONDITIONER / HEATER / VENTILATION SYSTEM IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DRIVER TAKING THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD. THE RADIO IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE WITHOUT THE DRIVER TAKING THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE REQUIRES DISTRACTED DRIVING. THE HORN CANNOT BE SOUNDED BY PRESSING THE STEERING WHEEL SPOKES; THE DRIVER MUST TAKE A HAND OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND PRESS THE CENTER HORN "BUTTON". IF THERE IS A COLLISION AT THAT TIME, THE AIRBAG WILL EXPLOSIVELY FORCE THE DRIVER'S HAND INTO THEIR FACE. THE SPEEDOMETER IS VERY SMALL AND IS HARD TO READ IN THE DAYTIME BECAUSE IT IS RECESSED, SHADED AND VERY DIMLY BACKLIGHTED. THE FLAT PANEL DISPLAYS ARE MUCH BRIGHTER AND EASY TO READ IN THE DAYTIME. THE NUMBERS ON THE SPEEDOMETER ARE MUCH TOO SMALL TO BE EASILY READ, AND SINCE THEY ARE SET UP AT 20-MPH INTERVALS THE EXACT SPEED IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE. THE RIGHT-HAND OUTSIDE MIRROR CREATES AN UNUSUALLY LARGE BLIND SPOT, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHAT IS TO THE RIGHT OF THE CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS AND IN PARKING LOTS. IT IS SHOCKING HOW DIFFICULT THIS CAR'S INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CONTROLS ARE TO USE, COMPARED TO VEHICLES MADE BETWEEN 1970 - 2013.
Exterior lighting, Jul 28, 2018
HEADLAMP PROVIDES DANGEROUSLY INSUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION WHILE DRIVING IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SITUATIONS: DARK, CURVED, OR HILLY ROADS (SUCH AS US HIGHWAY 1 IN MARIN COUNTY, SKYLINE BLVD IN OAKLAND, CA). 1. VERY LITTLE PERIPHERAL ILLUMINATION ON CURVES 2. SHARP HORIZONTAL CUT-OFF RESULTS IN SHORT BEAM PROJECTION WHEN ASCENDING OR DESCENDING HILLS. BOTH OF THESE OCCUR SIMULTANEOUSLY AND IS FRIGHTENINGLY DANGEROUS WHEN ASCENDING/DESCENDING ON CURVES. THE NHTSA FORM ASKS FOR A DATE THIS OCCURRED. PLS NOTE THIS IS ONGOING UNLESS A DEALER CAN MAKE SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS TO THE BEAM SPREAD. (THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM OF COURSE ON BRIGHTLY LIT ROADS.)
Seats, Jul 9, 2018
THERE IS SOMETHING LOOSE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT THAT IS MOVING AROUND AND HITTING THE DRIVERS BACK. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING AND HAPPENS ALL THE TIME DURING DRIVING TAKING THE DRIVERS ATTENTION OFF THE ROAD. THIS IS AN ON GOING ISSUE AND THE DATE IS JUST A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF WHEN IT STARTED.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 29, 2018
THE WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A VERY LARGE CRACK, THE CRACK APPEARED WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED. IT SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED FROM A TINY ROCK CHIP - THE CHIP WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY NOTED. THE CRACK GREW SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE COURSE OF 2 DAYS. THE GLASS COMPANY HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER FOR THE GLASS - 331 BACKORDERS AS OF TODAY, JUNE 30. THEY DO NOT HAVE A DATE WHEN THE GLASS WILL BE AVAILABLE, POSSIBLY SEVERAL WEEKS TO SEVERAL MONTHS. A LARGE BACKORDER IS CONCERNING AS IT WOULD SUGGEST A LARGE VOLUME OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS EXACT OR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE WINDSHIELD.
Exterior lighting, Jun 29, 2018
JUST BOUGHT MY NEW TOYOTA RAV 4 2018 AND REALIZED THAT I CAN'T DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. MY WINDSHIELD TURNS DARK 1/3 TO 1/2 FROM THE BOTTOM AND CONTINUES ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. IT'S ACTUALLY WORSE WHEN DRIVING HOME AND GOING UP MY UNLIT HILL WHEN INSTEAD OF MY BRIGHTS GOING ON AUTOMATICALLY, ONLY MY LOW LIGHTS ARE ON. I AM FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE MY CAR AND NOW REALIZE THAT THERE WERE ONLINE COMPLAINTS GOING BACK YEARS!
Visibility/wiper, Jun 27, 2018
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A SMALL ROCK DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND THEN THE CRACK WENT ACROSS THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD RIGHT ACROSS MY FIELD OF VIEW AS A DRIVER. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED ON JUNE 1ST AND I CONTACTED 4 GLASS REPLACEMENT COMPANIES AND WAS TOLD THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER 3 TO 8 WEEKS. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA AND I WAS TOLD THEY WILL ORDER THE PART. I GOT CONTACTED ON JUNE 26 BY JOHN FROM TOYOTA THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS IN AT COPELAND TOYOTA IN BROCKTON MA. I CONTACTED THE GLASS COMPANY AND THEY WERE ADVISED THE PART WAS NOT IN AT COPELAND. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TODAY AND WAS TOLD BY THEM THAT THEY WERE GIVEN THE INFORMATION FROM ANTHONY AT COPELAND TOYOTA THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS IN. I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE SUPERVISOR AT TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE UNAVAILABLE. I CURRENTLY HAVE A CRACKED WINDSHIELD THAT CAN'T PASS MASSACHUSETTS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY CAN GET ME A NEW WINDSHIELD.
Electrical system, Apr 13, 2018
I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I BOUGHT A RAV4 2018 IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, IT HAS ONLY 1,900 MILES AND IS ALREADY AT THE DEALER AFTER TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL I WENT BACK HOME AND I USUALLY DO I ACTIVATE THE VEHICLE ALARM BUT IT DID NOT WORK. THE KEYS DOES NOT ACTIVATE OR DIS-ACTIVATE THE VEHICLE ALARM AND WHEN THE CAR IS ON THE TIRE PRESSURE SIGN STARTED TO BLINK. THE DEALER STAFF SAID THAT ONE OF THE COMPUTER IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. AT THIS MOMENT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND IRONICALLY IS NOT TIME FOR THE FIRST PAYMENT YET.