What 254 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev

IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN FROM THE NORMAL DRIVING POSITION IN THE SUNLIGHT DUE TO GLARE. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO TAKE HIS EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. THIS IS UNSAFE AND COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT. TOYOTA SERVICE CLAIMS THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10628315

CAR STARTED ACTIN G UP ON MAY 4TH. DIDN'T WANT START RIGHT AWAY IT STATED AFTER 4 5 TIRES AFTER 3 DAYS OF THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL DEALER THEY TOLD ME BATTERY WAS LOW AND THEY CHARGED IT. I BROUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IT HAS ONLY 14 MILE AND I BROUGHT IN MARCH 31 2014. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN YESTERDAY ( 05/18/2014). *JS

NHTSA ODI 10592352

WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR'S ELECTRIC SYSTEM STARTED REBOOTING ITSELF A FEW TIMES, AND THE CAR EVENTUALLY STALLED ON A BUSY STREET! THE POWER WAS COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN AND I COULDN'T EVEN TURN THE FLASH LIGHT ON. I HAD TO HAVE POLICE OFFICER COME TO THE LOCATION WHERE THE CAR STOPPED TO PROTECT OTHER DRIVERS (UNTIL A TOWING TRACK ARRIVED). THIS INCIDENT APPENDED ON 4/24/12 ON EASTBOUND CARMEL VALLEY ROAD RIGHT BEFORE THE INTERSECTION WITH EL CAMINO REAL. I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM TWO MONTHS PRIOR, AND HAD A TOYOTA DEALER LOOK AT THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE AND SIMPLY UPDATED THE SYSTEM SOFTWARE. AS OF TODAY, 4/25/14, THE CAR IS STILL AT A TOYOTA DEALER AND BEING REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10584988

THE INSTALLED NAVIGATION SCREEN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE DRIVER'S NORMAL DRIVING POSITION AND IN ALMOST ANY DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITION. BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA RAV 4 LIMITED JULY 2013 WITH NAVIGATION. AMBIENT GLARE THROUGH THE VEHICLE WINDOWS AND/OR SUN ROOF WASH OUT THE DISPLAY, THIS IS DEFINITELY A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING AND TRYING TO VIEW THE SCREEN WHEN IT IS IN NAVIGATION MODE, BORDERS FIRMLY AS UNSAFE. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY USE THAT ITEM AND ITS FUNCTIONS LOCATED THERE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION. MY 2011 TOYOTA RAV 4 LIMITED WITH NAVIGATION DID NOT PRESENT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10566174

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, UNDER ANY CONDITION, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOK, RATHER THAN GLANCE, AT THE SCREEN TO DETERMINE DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS, ROAD HAZARDS, WARNINGS, ETC. THE GLARE IS ALMOST BLINDING AT TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10559490

THE INSTRUMENTS (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE) OF THE CAR DO NOT LIGHT UP IF THE HEADLIGHTS ARE OFF. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING UNDER UNDERPASSES OR IN THE SHADOW OF TREES, ETC., SINCE ONE UNEXPECTEDLY CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER OR TACHOMETER UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10558027

ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WIRING IS EXPOSED TO ELEMENTS. THIS IS A CRUCIAL PART AND IN CLIMATES WHERE SALT IS USED, LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO FAILED STABILITY CONTROL OR ENGINE PROBLEMS COULD RESULT. SEE PHOTOS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM AT HTTP://WWW.YOBYOT.COM/CARS/WHY-TOYOTA-IS-LOSING-ITS-REPUTATION-FOR-QUALITY-AND-RELIABILITY/2013/11/10/ . *TR

NHTSA ODI 10551702

2013 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DASHBOARD SPEEDOMETER DESIGN FLAW. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD SPEEDOMETER WAS SET BACK INTO A TUNNEL THAT DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON. WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO TURN ON THE NIGHT DRIVING LIGHT IN ORDER TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER.

NHTSA ODI 10550245

THE 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS NO DASH LIGHTS AROUND THE SPEEDOMETER IN THE DAYTIME. THE SPEEDOMETER SITS BACK IN THE DASH AND YOU CAN NOT SEE YOUR SPEED AT A GLANCE. THEREFORE YOU CAN FIND YOURSELF GOING FASTER THAN THE SAFE SPEED LIMIT. AT NIGHT IT LIGHTS UP AND IS FINE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10550458

VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. NO POWER AND THEN A SURGE CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK. HAPPENS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE ECM IS DEFECTIVE AND TOYOTA WAS FORCED TO ADDRESS THIS AFTER CLASS ACTION SUIT SEE RAV4ECMSETTLEMENT.COM, ALTHOUGH THIS RESULTED IN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY RATHER THAN A RECALL. MY CAR IS 4 MONTHS PASSED THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY ALTHOUGH IT HAS LOW MILEAGE. THE FAULTY ECM CAN CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND UNFAIR SITUATION FOR THOUSANDS OF OWNERS. TOYOTA DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10550180

2013 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A DEFECT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE DISPLAY PANEL BACK LIGHT ONLY ILLUMINATED WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. EVEN IF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED ON DURING THE DAY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS ONLY MARGINALLY ILLUMINATED AND THE BRIGHTNESS CONTROL THUMBWHEEL HAD VERY LITTLE EFFECT.

NHTSA ODI 10549165

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, UNDER ANY CONDITION, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOK, RATHER THAN GLANCE, AT THE SCREEN TO DETERMINE DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS, ROAD HAZARDS, WARNINGS, ETC. THE GLARE IS ALMOST BLINDING AT TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10546055

THE INSTALLED NAVIGATION SCREEN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE DRIVER'S NORMAL DRIVING POSITION AND IN ALMOST ANY DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITION. GLARE FROM THE SCREEN AND DASHBOARD BORDERS ON UNSAFE. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY USE THAT ITEM AND THE 12 OR SO FUNCTIONS LOCATED THERE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION. NOTIFIED THE SERVICE MANAGER 2 TIMES AND BOTH TIMES WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL DISTRACTION THIS WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND SOME WILL BE FATAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543276

ON LOCAL ROAD, ACCELERATING FROM STOP. VEHICLE SUDDENLY "SHUT-OFF" GOING INTO NEUTRAL AND UNABLE TO PUT BACK INTO DRIVE. STEERING WENT "LIMP". VEHICLE DRIFTED RIGHT, POWER STEERING WAS EFFECTED, STEERING DIFFICULT. VEHICLE COASTED INTO PARKING LOT TO THE RIGHT, FORTUNATELY NO VEHICLES HAPPENED TO BE PASSING ON THE RIGHT AT THAT PRECISE MOMENT, THEREFORE NO ACCIDENTS. BUT THERE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN ONE. ATTEMPTS AT RESTARTING VEHICLE RESULTED IN "TAKE EV TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP" MESSAGE AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ON DASH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ORIGINATING DEALERSHIP WHICH IT CONTINUES TO BE DIAGNOSED AND UNRESOLVED. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON 9/3/2013 < 6 DAYS PRIOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10543196

NAVIGATION SCREEN DIFFICULT TO SEE IN MOST LIGHTING CONDITIONS. MUST TAKE MORE THAN BRIEF GLANCE AT NAV SCREEN TO DETERMINE FREEWAY MARKINGS, INTERSECTIONS, STREET NAMES OR SEARCH FOR RADIO STATION. HAS POSSIBILITY FOR BECOMING GREAT DISTRACTION. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10538448

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SUN WOULD SHINE ON THE DASHBOARD, IT WOULD PRODUCE A BLINDING GLARE THAT CAUSED THE INFORMATION PANEL AND THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM TO BECOME UNREADABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 320.

NHTSA ODI 10533727

I HAVE A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED. IN ANY SIGNIFICANT AMBIENT LIGHT LEVEL, THE NAVIGATION SCREEN IS NOT VISIBLE. THE GLARE ON THE SCREEN IS HORRIFIC. NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND CONFIRMED THAT I DID, INDEED, HAVE A PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME TO MEET WITH A FACTORY REP. I MET WITH THE REP, AND HE AGREED THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER HE HAD NO IMMEDIATE SOLUTION. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA "HOTLINE" AND THEY REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, TRYING TO POSITION MY HEAD SO THAT I CAN TRY TO GET A CLEAR VIEW OF THE SCREEN. (WHICH IS STILL NOT POSSIBLE) I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR AN OPTION THAT IS UNUSABLE. PLEASE HELP! TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM TO BE LISTENING TO ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10526395

AT ANY SPEED IN ANY WEATHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE...THIS NEEDS ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE AS IS A PAID FOR UPGRADE AND DUE TO PEOPLE WORKING TO SEE THE SYSTEM ACCIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10524469

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DURING THE DAY, SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN DUE TO AN INTENSE GLARE, EVEN ON CLOUDY DAYS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 6/4/13 *CN UPDATED 06/13/2013 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10511882

BOUGHT NEW RAV4 TOYOTA 2013 LAST MONTH WITH NAVIGATION. SCREEN BARELY VISIBLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TOYOTA FIELD REPRESENTATIVE WHO DOES NOT KNOW TO REPAIR. DEALER SAY IT IS INDEED A PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. I ALSO HAVE A 2012 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WHICH HAS A PERFECTLY CLEAR SCREEN TOYOTA TELEPHONED ME BUT NOT ENCOURAGING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10509471

I BOUGHT A NEW 2013 RAV 4 WITH TOYOTA NAVIGATION. ON ANY SUNNY DAY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE MAP DUE TO THE GLARE. I PLAN ON COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10508045

2 SEPARATE EPISODES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN A BRAND NEW CAR DEALER UNABLE TO VERIFY DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10505885

PURCHASED NEW 2013 RAV4 ON 23 MAR 13. THE ENTUNE NAVIGATION DISPLAY (BOTH DAY AND NIGHT MODE) IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT (IN DAY MODE) OR AT NIGHT TIME (IN NIGHT MODE). THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION WHEN USING THE NAVIGATION AND RESULTS IN THE DRIVER HAVING TO AVERT EYES TO FOCUS ON THE DISPLAY LONGER THAN NECESSARY FOR DETAILS. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. A NORMAL DISPLAY WOULD NOT HAVE THESE ISSUES. I HAVE EXAMINED ANOTHER BRAND NEW RAV4 WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED MY ENTUNE SYSTEM; THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. PLEASE PREVAIL UPON TOYOTA TO FIX THIS WITH EITHER A HARDWARE OR SOFTWARE UPDATE. *TR

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