What 254 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev

I was traveling south on [XXX] when the vehicle stalled. I started the engine and proceeded. I noticed my Rav4 smoking from the engine so I turned off into a Extra Space Storage parking at 1415 Bergen Boulevard, Fort Lee N.J. 07024 were it stalled again. I then exited the vehicle and opened the hood and observed a burst flames coming from the engine/battery area. I ran to a Wendy's and asked for a fire extinguisher, but the fire escalated rapidly, burning the entire interior and exterior of the vehicle. It was towed to Sanos Towing Company 344 Bergen Blvd. Palisades Park. N.J. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11622497

I had a 2013 Rav4, while i was driving the car the car started a fire under the hood and burn completely up. Im trying to file a complaint or talk to someone discussing this matter. Toyota says I need to file a bad faith complaint.

NHTSA ODI 11592405

Pulled into driveway, turned off car. Entered house within a couple of minutes front end of car burst into flames. Fire Dept. was called to put out fire. Car was towed to Newburgh NY for insurance adjustor inspection. I was on my way to store and stopped at in-laws. Had I not made this stop, I would have been on thruway. If car had been a few feet closer to garage, it would have set the garage, with car inside, on fire, and house. Car in garage could have exploded (gas tank). The recall was received days prior to incident, and indicated remedy would be ready in June 2024. Police and Fire Dept were called, insurance reps, I believe have inspected the car. It was towed and I did not meet with insurance rep. There were no warning lights or problems, passed inspection in August 2023. Police Incident Rep #[XXX], 12/20/23, 12:05 p.m. Yonkers PD INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11562628

I was driving back home with my kids on 12/31/22 as usual, car suddenly turned off. The engine then caught fire within 2 min of turning off, the whole car was on fire within 8 min.

NHTSA ODI 11499684

I turned the key and started the RAV4 parked in my driveway. It immediately made unusual noices (gurgling, spitting, etc.). Within a minute, there was a loud "BOOM" under the hood and fire began coming out from underneath the car. I got out of the car and got a safe distance from it. My neighbors came running over as they heard subsequent explosions and saw black smoke billowing from my direction. Within a matter of a few minutes, the entire car was engulfed in flames. The fire department came and extinguished it. There is nothing left! BTW, I am 91 years old. This could have had a very different and sad outcome!

NHTSA ODI 11462559

The contact owned a 2013 Toyota RAV-4. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an unknown speed, she detected a burning odor inside the vehicle as smoke was coming through the vents. As well as flames from under the hood. The contact's daughter pulled and stopped upon exiting the vehicle the front was engulfed in flames. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was not filed nor a police department was not filed as they were on the scene. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was notified and a case was opened. The contact stated researched failure online and found an investigation by NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.

NHTSA ODI 11449223

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT STATED THEY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT GOT OUT THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND NO ONE WAS INJURED DURING THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11406921

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE WHEN SHE SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ITSELF. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE AROUND THE CORNER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED ONCE MORE. THE CONTACT LOOKED UP AND SAW GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE WHEN SHE SAW GRAY SMOKE BILLOWING AND WITHIN SECONDS OF EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE POLICE AND FIRE RESCUE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOT AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED IT TOTALED, BUT COULDN'T DIAGNOSE WHAT THE FAILURE WAS SINCE THE VEHICLE'S EXTERIOR FRAMES WERE ONLY LEFT. THE CONTACT INFORMED CHARLES MAUND TOYOTA (8400 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78758) OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CLAIM, HOWEVER THEY LATER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED SINCE THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT A DEFECT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT UPON INSPECTION, THE J HOOK WAS MISSING AND THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS WELDED TO THE BATTERY HOLD DOWN BRACKET AS THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SAW A NEWS ARTICLE THAT NHTSA WAS PROBING ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE FOR 2013-2018 TOYOTA RAV4, AND BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,187. *BF*LN

NHTSA ODI 11403048

THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. THE RAV4 LIMITED WAS TOTALED. IT WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD 17,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY TOYOTA. THE LAST SERVICE WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS NOT HONORED THEIR 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE CAR. TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED A REPLACEMENT CAR, RENTAL OR ANYTHING. EVERY TIME WE CALL OUR TOYOTA CASE MANAGER OR LEGAL DEPARTMENT MANAGERS, WE HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE AND THEY NEVER RETURN OUR CALLS.

NHTSA ODI 10860544

I WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO AN EXIT DRIVEWAY. ABOUT 12 FEET DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME WAS A CEMENT BRICK WALL PARALLELING THE DRIVEWAY. AS I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR ROCKETED INTO THE CEMENT BRICK WALL. FORTUNATELY,, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND I WAS NOT INJURED BADLY NOR WAS ANYONE ELSE. $ 13,000 TO FIX MY CAR AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL HAPPEN TOME AGAIN. I WILL BE LIKE DRIVING A TIME BOMB. I PLAN TO TAKE THE CAR TO TOYOTA AND HAVE THEM CHECK MY SYSTEMS AND CERTIFY, THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10622640