PAINT, IN A 18 INCH LONG / 5 INCH WIDE PATCH, HAS LOST IT'S CLEAR COAT. EXPENSIVE DETAILING WAS ABLE TO POLISH THE SPOT BUT THE DULLNESS RETURNED WITHIN ONE MONTH.
NHTSA ODI 11244851
Home · 2011 Toyota RAV4 Hv · Complaints
These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.
Newest first · 287 complaints · page 3 of 12
PAINT, IN A 18 INCH LONG / 5 INCH WIDE PATCH, HAS LOST IT'S CLEAR COAT. EXPENSIVE DETAILING WAS ABLE TO POLISH THE SPOT BUT THE DULLNESS RETURNED WITHIN ONE MONTH.
NHTSA ODI 11244851
ALL WINDOWS BESIDES THE WINDSHIELD HAVE WATER SPOT BUILDUP. WE HAD THEM PROFESSIONALLY REMOVED IN JUNE OF 2014. 5 YEARS LATER THE SPOTS ARE BUILDING UP AGAIN. THAT WOULD BE AT 36,000 MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 90,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI 11244852
SEVERAL CARS HAVE HAD A CAMSHAFT TIMING GEAR ASSEMBLY PROBLEM SINCE DAY 1. SO MANY PEOPLE BACK 10 YEARS AGO HAD THE PROBLEM AND STORIES OF ENGINEERS BEING CALLED IN TO DIAGNOSE IT FILL THE NET. HOW DO WE NOW 11 YEARS IN KNOW THAT WHILE THE CAMSHAFT GEAR WAS IN NEED OF R/R THAT ENGINE DAMAGE OF ANY KIND DIDN'T OCCUR? T-SB-0041-13 HAS BEEN REVISED SO MANY TIMES IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT THIS HAS NOT BECOME A FULL FLEDGED RECALL.
NHTSA ODI 11244998
AT 79,000 MILES BOTH REAR OUTPUT SHAFT SEALS WENT OUT DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. AN AIR REGULATOR ON THE TOP OF THE OUTPUT SHAFT CASE CAN GET CLOGGED EASILY AND IF NOT CAUGHT IN TIME CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE TO NOT ONLY THE SEALS BUT THE TRANSMISSION CASE. ALSO, AT 80,000 MILES THE ENTIRE STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR WORSE IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING..
NHTSA ODI 11240743
MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 35+ MILES PER HOUS WHEN I INADVERTENTLY HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WHO HAD SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY TO 25 MPH OR LESS. BOTH VEHICLES SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGES AS SEEN IN PHOTOS
NHTSA ODI 11234036
TRANSMITION HAS A GRINDING NOISE WHILE IN 3RD GEAR. THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE OTHER 3 RAV-4 THAT I HAVE. HAPPENING AT 90,000 TO 105,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER
NHTSA ODI 11221459
BODY: DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR FAILURE TO REMAIN UPRIGHT, IMPEDING VISION. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE VAPOR CANISTER RELEASING CHARCOAL PELLETS THAT PLUG THE VENT VALVE. DISABLES VEHICLE ANTI-SKID TRACTION AND 4X4. CAR IS UNDER 75K MILES
NHTSA ODI 11218631
DRIVER VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN THE UP POSITION. THE VISOR WILL FALL DONE "WHILE DRIVING" THE VEHICLE BLOCKING THE DRIVERS VIEW OF THE ROAD CAUSING DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE VEHICLE OPERATION.
NHTSA ODI 11218401
MY BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2014. THE DEALER PUT IN A NEW BATTERY AT THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR. IN EACH CASE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALER AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THE BATTERY "FAILED THE LOAD TEST". EACH TIME THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY FREE, SAYING IT WAS STILL UNDER 100% WARRANTY. MY CAR HAD 56,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT NOW HAS 117,000. I TOOK THE CAR RECENTLY TO TWO INDEPENDENT TOYOTA MECHANICS WHO ALSO COULD FIND NOTHING ABOUT THE CAR WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE BATTERY FAILURE. THE CAR HAS NEVER FAILED TO START WHEN I TAKE IT OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT FAILS WHEN I HAVE PARKED SOMEPLACE AND NEED TO START IT AGAIN. I DRIVE THE CAR ALMOST EVERY DAY, SO THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF A DRAIN CAUSED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THUS FAR THE BATTERY FAILURE HAS OCCURRED IN THE CITY WHERE I LIVE. WHEN THE BATTERY IS RECHARGED BY AAA AFTER I FAIL TO RESTART THE CAR, I AM ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR HOME AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. I HAVE NO PROBLEM STARTING THE CAR FOR THIS TRIP. MY ONLY SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM IS TO BUY A GB40 TO CHARGE THE NEXT TIME I HAVE A BATTERY FAILURE, WHICH WILL BE MY FOURTH FREE ONE!
NHTSA ODI 11209983
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 35 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HEISER TOYOTA (11301 W METRO AUTO MALL, MILWAUKEE, WI 53224, (414) 357-2100) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA ODI 11208025
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT A VERY LOW SPEED, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
NHTSA ODI 11206202
THE VEHICLE HAS A CHRONIC ISSUE WITH THE O2 SENSOR WHICH WILL PROMPT A ENGINE LIGHT. THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF THE 4WD AND STABILITY CONTROL AND WILL HAPPEN AT ANY TRIGGERING OF THE ENGINE LIGHT. THIS IS CONCERNING ESPECIALLY IN WINTER ENVIRONMENTS.
NHTSA ODI 11191478
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI 11189733
THE COMPLAINT SPECIFIED DOES NOT SEEM TO HAPPEN FREQUENTLY OR CONSISTENTLY, HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY 2 TIMES IN A 6 WEEK PERIOD. SPECIFICALLY, CAR WAS ENGAGED IN THE DRIVE GEAR ON AUTO TRANSMISSION AND WAS STOPPED AT THE MOMENT, ONCE AT THE PARKING SPOT AT LOCAL WALMART, BROUGHT TO COMPLETE HALT WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND READY TO SHIFT LEVER TO PARK, BEFORE I COULD DO THAT, BRAKE WENT SOFT AND CAR MOVED/SURGED FORWARD, HITTING THE SAFETY POLE IN THE PARKING SPOT. THE SAFETY POLE SAVED FROM HEAD ON HITTING THE CAR ALREADY PARKED IN THE OPPOSITE PARKING SPOT. THE PICTURE OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR AGAINST THE SAFETY POST IS ATTACHED. ANOTHER TIME, WAS STOPPED WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WAITING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, AT THE LOCAL HYVEE STORE, SUDDENLY BRAKING WAS GONE, ENGINE SURGED WITHPOWER AND THE CAR JUMPED INTO THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE COLLISION WITH OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. BOTH TIMES THE CAR WAS AT STANDSTILL, IN DRIVE GEAR, FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IN FORTY OR MORE YEARS OF DRIVING I HAVE NEVER HAVE THIS HAPPENED BEFORE I DID FILE A CLAIM WITH STAE FARM, BECAUSE THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER. A PICTURE IS ATTACHED. I HAVE NOT YET DRIVEN THIS CAR, AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE BODY SHOP, DUE TO PROFOUND FEAR THAT THIS INCIDENCE CAN HAPPEN AGAIN. TOYOTA COMPANY SAYS THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING WRONG, JUST LIKE THEY HAVE DENIED FOR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THEIR OTHER CARS IN THE PAST. PLEASE HELP
NHTSA ODI 11187171
BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON 1) WHEN DRIVING AND BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT BEING PUSHED DOWN, AND 2) WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY, AS WHEN IT IS PARKED AND NOBODY IS INSIDE THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI 11186033
FIRE UNDER THE HOOD
NHTSA ODI 11183825
WAITING AT STOP SIGN - CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING, ENGINE REVVING, RACING (AGAIN, WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP). I BRAKED AND VEHICLE TOOK FULL CONTROL SEEMINGLY PULLING SIDEWAYS FIRST AND THEN LURCHING OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY CASING A DEVASTATING CRASH TOTALING MY CAR AND CAUSING THE OTHER PERSON'S VEHICLE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IT'S THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. 1ST TIME PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE - ACCELERATED LURCHING FORWARD NO MATTER HOW MUCH I BRAKED STRIKING CURB AND POST - STALLED OUT, THANK GOODNESS. A CASE HAS BEEN OPENED WITH TOYOTA BUT I AM TOLD THEY'LL DENY ANYTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH I HAVE 10 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS IN HAND OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME NIGHTMARE I DID. IT'S TIME FOR TOYOTA TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND DO SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SEEMS PRETTY OBVIOUS AT THIS POINT CONCERNING THIS DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY BY ISSUING/SENDING OUT RECALLS ON THIS DANGEROUS MECHANICAL FAILURE WHICH NEXT TIME MAY CAUSE A DEATH.
NHTSA ODI 11180213
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED TO EXPERIENCE HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE SPARK PLUGS TO BURN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA CARLSBAD (6020 AVENIDA ENCINAS, CARLSBAD, CA 92011) WHERE THEY TESTED THE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *BF CONSUMER STATED TOYOTA HAS DIAGNOSED YHIS VEHICLE AS HAVING AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. IT FAILED THE TEST 1/23/19 ON THE 3RD TESTING USING 1 QUART OF OIL FOR 598 MILES. AT 107,000 MILES I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CONSUMPTON. THEY TOLD ME I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY SO THEY EXAMINED THE CAR. LATER I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS TOLD INCORRECT INFO. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN A THIRD TIME. BOTH VISITS I WAS TOLD THE CAR PASSED THE OIL CONSUMPTION TEST PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE.*JB
NHTSA ODI 11173588
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED WHEN RUNAWAY ACCELERATION TRIED TO TAKE OVER THE VEHICLE AND MAKE IT INCH FORWARD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON HWY 90. DUE TO MY QUICK ACTIONS OF CONTINUING TO PRESS BRAKE, I PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL THEN PARK, THEN I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND TURNED ON FLASHERS. A POLICEMAN IMMEDIATELY DROVE ONTO HIGHWAY AND STOPPED TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO ESCORT ME TO MY CHURCH PARKING LOT ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY. WE THEN TOOK IT TO A RELATIVES HOME NEARBY. IT COULD BE THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE, THROTTLE POSITION ON PEDAL, THROTTLE BODY MOTOR, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING ISSUE ETC.
NHTSA ODI 11173088
DRIVERS SIDE VISOR WON'T STAY UP WHICH CAUSES A VISIBILITY ISSUE. THERE'S A RECALL ON THE CAMRY S BUT NOT ON THE RAV4 AND SAME PART. I SAW ANOTHER PERSON REPORTED SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER IS QUOTING $170 PLUS TO FIX. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS VISOR FOR A YEAR NOT T EVEN REALIZING IT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS A RECALL FOR ANOTHER MODEL. I FEEL TOYOTAS DEFECTIVE PART SHOULD BE FIXED OR OFFER A LOWER RATE TO FIX ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI 11171127
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO UMANSKY TOYOTA (1357 RICHMOND ROAD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,719.
NHTSA ODI 11166482
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO UMANSKY TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 1357 RICHMOND RD, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22911, (434) 509-4870) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE MAY HAVE ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,639.
NHTSA ODI 11164834
TRAVELING 30 MPH SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE. CAR'S ENGINE SELF ACCELERATED. PUMPED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. CAR CONTINUED TO SELF-ACCELERATE AND BRAKING WAS INEFFECTUAL AND I RAN INTO BACK OF AN 18 WHEELER FLAT BED TRUCK. *DT
NHTSA ODI 11164251
TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMTED V6, THE CAR SHOWED THREE WARNING LIGHTS: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT, AND THE VSC (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL) LIGHT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. AFTER RUNNING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIAGNOSTIC, THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE THE O2 SENSOR. MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE SENSOR, AND THE NEXT DAY AFTER DRIVING ROUGHLY 10 MILES ON A RURAL LOCAL ROAD THE SAME LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. THESE WARNING LIGHTS DISABLE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SIMPLY DUE TO AN EXHAUST ISSUE. THIS IS UNNECESSARY AND DANGEROUS FOR DRIVING IN ANY KIND OF INCLEMENT WEATHER. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF TOYOTA. READING THE FORUMS, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT ANY SOLUTION TRIED RESULTED IN THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS OCCURRING AGAIN AND AGAIN. BELOW ARE THE LINKS TO THE VARIOUS FORUMS I CONSULTED: HTTPS://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/96-4-3-GENERAL/68870-BAD-OXYGEN-SENSOR-CRIPPLES-RAV4.HTML HTTPS://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/88-4-2-FAULTS-FIXES/166049-O2-SENSORS.HTML HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T38566_DS710420 HTTPS://REPAIRPAL.COM/OXYGEN-SENSOR-MAY-FAIL-281 THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD ISSUE THAT HAS LARGELY NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE REMEDIED BY MECHANICS OR AUTO ENTHUSIASTS. IT IS MY FEELING THAT GIVEN THE FREQUENCY OF THIS ISSUE AND THE LACK OF A CLEAR SOLUTION, A RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED.
NHTSA ODI 11163618
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS BUCKLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUGOFF TOYOTA (878 US-1, LUGOFF, SC 29078) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANT COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
NHTSA ODI 11162947
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