What 302 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

Purchased less than 2 months ago from Performance Mitsubishi in Delray Beach FL. Lift gate was not opening and closing properly. Yesterday the hinges broke and lift gate won't shut. It appears there is a class action lawsuit for this issue. I am now responsible for fixing this because the dealership won't.

NHTSA ODI 11738886

Request for Resolution -Peeling Paint on 2025 Toyota RAV 4 I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding a paint peeling issue with my 2025 Toyota RAV 4 and Toyota's refusal to address the defect, despite timely reporting and documentation. The paint on my vehicle began peeling around February 2024 and significantly worsened by January 2025. I promptly filed two complaints with Toyota, and case numbers were opened. Per Toyota's request, I obtained a repair estimate from Toyota of Katy (attached) and submitted it through their system. However, Toyota has since closed both cases without resolving the issue, stating that the paint repair program expired in November 2024. This is particularly troubling because the issue was reported while the paint damage was progressing, I believe this reflects a serious quality defect that affects the appearance, durability, and resale value of the vehicle, and Toyota is failing to take appropriate responsibility. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this matter and consider whether similar complaints exist from other Toyota owners experiencing premature paint peeling. Thank you for your attention to this matter

NHTSA ODI 11675776

Paint on the top my car is peeling.

NHTSA ODI 11615838

Paint is flaking at the upper doors

NHTSA ODI 11526751

The power hatch door liftgate support rods problems. The hatch door won't close. This is the third times. First two times were under warranty, this time is after warranty. The liftgate must have mechanical or design problem when manufacturing. If the hatch back door suddenly drop, it will hurt my head or body when I try to reach my trunks.

NHTSA ODI 11477644

About three months ago the liftgate on my 2015 Toyota RAV4 SUV, suddenly started not wanting to close properly as if the door shock absorbers had slipped out of place. I clarify that at no time has my vehicle been impacted, forced or stolen. The moment I opened the door with the button, once I went to close it, it stayed open, causing my vehicle to get wet inside every time it rains. I can not park it in open places because they can force the door that is left open and they can steal it. There are times when the door opens but doesn't want to close, and other times it just doesn't want to open. I understand that I have taken very good care of my vehicle and this is an essential part of it. I hope you can give me a quick solution on this. Thanksyou!

NHTSA ODI 11465597

THE ROOF'S COLOR IS PEELING OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11408326

THE PAINT IS PEELING MY 2015 BLUE RAV, I HAVE VISITED MARK JACOBSEN TOYOTA IN DURHAM NC. SPOKE TO THE BODY SHOP, THEY SAID THIS IS THE SAME ISSUE THEY ARE SEEING ON THE WHITE CARS THAT ARE BEING REPAINTED PER THE LETTER ON YOUR WEBSITE HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2019/MC-10170749-9999.PDF THEY SAID AT THIS TIME TOYOTA IS NOT FIXING MY PEELING PAINT BECAUSE IT ISN'T WHITE. HE SUGGESTED I CALL THE NATIONAL HOTLINE, WHICH I DID AND FILE A CLAIM 21031900209 BUT THEY ALSO SAID THEY ARE ONLY FIXING WHITE PEELING PAINT. I THINK THEM FOR THEIR TIME AND REQUESTED TO SPEAK TO A SUPERVISOR- THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME BACK YET.

NHTSA ODI 11404020

OUR MOON ROOF HAS COME LOOSE FROM ROOF ON TWO OCASIONS. DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED TWICE AT NO CHARGE TO US, BUT NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THE FIRST INDICATION BOTH TIMES WAS A RATTLE THAT SLOWLY BECOMES WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 11399461

THE PAINT ON THE PANEL ABOVE THE CAR HAS BEGAN TO BUBBLE UP AND TEAR OFF. THE PAINT CONTINUES TO COME OFF. THE PAINT BEGAN COMING OFF IN A CHUNK THAT WAS ABOUT 2' BY 3'.

NHTSA ODI 11395162

I WAS ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN AND COLLIDED WITH A BLACK CAR AT NIGHT THAT DID NOT HAVE IT'S HEADLIGHTS ON. THEIR AIR BAG DEPLOYED, - MINE DID NOT. CITY OF RALEIGH, NC. STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11387408

I WAS ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN AND COLLIDED WITH A BLACK CAR AT NIGHT TIME THAT DID NO HAVE IT'S HEADLIGHTS ON. CITY OF RALEIGH, NC. STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11387405

THE POWER LIFTGATE OF THIS MODEL FAILS TO OPEN IN COLD WEATHER. DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND CLOSE WHEN UTILIZING THE MANUAL OVER-RIDE BUTTON.

NHTSA ODI 11377575

LIFT GATE STRUT IS CAUSING MISALIGNMENT OF THE LIFT GATE, SO LIFT GATE SHIFTING AND UNABLE TO OPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11374381

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED FROM AN IMPROPER WELDING OF THE HOOD STRIKER PLATE, WHICH CAUSED THE STRIKER PLATE TO FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVE LANDERS TOYOTA (866-584-3934, LOCATED AT 10825 COLONEL GLENN RD, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72204) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1910282935. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11277552

FRONT END COLLISION- DIRECT HIT-2015 TOYOTO RAVE 4 -AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.CAR A HIT CAR B, CAR A GOING 50, HIT CAR B GOING 15 MPH. CAR B TOTALED

NHTSA ODI 11207960

I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN OPENED THE HOOD, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE STRIKER FOR THE HOOD LATCH HAD BROKEN FREE OF THE FACTORY WELDS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE, RENDERING THE LATCH INOPERABLE. WHILE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE OR BLOWS TO THE FRONT END OR HOOD. THERE ARE NO MARKS OR SIGNS OF DAMAGE AT ALL. THE STRIKER HAS SIMPLY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE HOOD. IT APPEARS THAT THE FACTORY WELDS JUST FAILED. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN OR HOW IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11190947

CAR STALLED SO I PULLED OVER. THERE WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN MINUTES IT TURNED INTO A BIG FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO BE CALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11138884

AFTER BEING PARKED IN CARPORT OVERNIGHT ON A WINTER NIGHT IN DEC 2017, I DROVE ONLY A COUPLE OF MILES DOWN THE I-15 FREEWAY IN UTAH BETWEEN SPANISH FORK AND SPRINGVILLE NO MORE THAN 60 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD 'EXPLODING SOUND' ON THE TOP OF MY CAR OUTSIDE AND THEN 'TINKLING' NOISES FROM THE FRONT OF THE ROOF AREA TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. IT HAPPENED AT 0900 ON A COLD SUNDAY MORNING AND THE TRAFFIC WAS EXTREMELY LIGHT. THE NEAREST VEHICLES TO ME WERE AT LEAST 10 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD AND BEHIND ME AND THERE WERE NO VEHICLES ON EITHER SIDE OF ME. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE ROAD HAZARD AND NO ICE FALLING FROM ANYWHERE SINCE WE HAD HAD NO WINTER WEATHER OF ANY KIND SO FAR THAT SEASON. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND EXAMINE THE DAMAGE, THERE WAS A GIANT HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY MOON/SUN ROOF. IT HAD MYSTERIOUSLY EXPLODED WITH JAGGED EDGES JETTING UPWARDS WITH SHARDS OF SHATTERED GLASS LITTERING THE TOP OF MY CAR AND INSIDE ON THE MOON/SUN ROOF SLIDER INSIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11056675

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A 'RED' LIGHT AND HIT IT ON THE RIGHT FENDER. FENDER CAME OFF. OTHER VEHICLE HAD FRONT SMASHED IN AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE TOYOTA. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEATBELT, BUT LACK OF AIRBAG CAUSED DRIVERS ARM AND CHEST TO HIT STEERING WHEEL AND LEGS TO HIT OTHER COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11053796

CPSC:THE WIRING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MY 2015 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT CONTROLS INFORMATION SENT TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHEWED THROUGH BY SQUIRRELS. THE CAR WAS LOCATED IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT WRAPPINGS AROUND THESE WIRES ARE NO LONGER RUBBER. *BF

NHTSA ODI 10958170

TAKATA RECALL. I WOULD LIKE MORE INVESTIGATION REGARDING WHEN A CAR IS REPAIR PER SPECIFICATION AND STATE LAW. HOW IS THAT A COMPANY TAKE CONTROL OF THE VALUE AND HISTORY OF THE CAR. BUT IS NOT REPORTED THE CORRECT WAY WHEN THE REPAIR IS DONE. AFFECTING THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10919727

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN PHILADELPHIA AT A LOW SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE QUICKLY WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND DESTROYED MOST OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE ENGINE, DASHBOARD, FRONT SEATS, WINDSHIELD, WINDOWS, FRONT TIRES WHICH EXPLODED, AND AIRBAGS.

NHTSA ODI 10840172

I HAD A VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE WITH A 2015 TOYOTARV4 XLE. I WAS GOING UP AN EXIT RAMP SLOWLY WITH THE TRAFFIC GOING AND STOPPING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STUCK BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. I COULD NOT RETRACT MY FOOT TO BRAKE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUING GOING FORWARD. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE BRAKING/ACCELERATION DUE TO THE SHORT SPACE BETWEEN AND OR THE HEIGHT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY MANY OTHER DRIVERS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT AND I AM SURE THIS NOT NEW TO THE TOYOTA COMPANY. I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER AND HAVE FILED A CASE NUMBER.

NHTSA ODI 10825582

I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR ROUGHLY 10 MONTHS. IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE TWO WINDSHIELDS IN THAT TIME. ONE WAS CRACKED IN EARLY OCTOBER 2015 AND REPLACED ON NOVEMBER 7, 2015(LENGTHY DUE TO REPLACEMENT UNAVAILABILITY). THE OTHER HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 23,2015 AND REPLACED ON DECEMBER 26,2015 BOTH CRACKS WERE DUE TO (WHAT I CONSIDER) RELATIVELY SMALL STONE CHIPS THAT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 90 NEAR NORTH EAST, PA. I HAVE OWNED IN EXCESS OF 15 VEHICLES IN MY 44 YEARS OF DRIVING. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A WINDSHIELD IN ANY OF THE OTHERS (YES SOME REPAIRS WERE DONE). I AM QUESTIONING IF THE WINDSHIELDS IN THESE CARS ARE BEING MANUFACTURED TO THE SAME SPECIFICATIONS AS IN THE PAST AND IF NOT DO THEY STILL MEET THE CURRENT SAFETY STANDARDS.

NHTSA ODI 10816526