What 328 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Toyota RAV4 Phev

My lift tailgate is malfunctioning. Continued forced opening can cause the hinges to crack and messes with the alignment and closing of the tail gate making it a safety issue.

NHTSA ODI 11746910

Severe, chronic rainwater intrusion through the vehicle's front cowl and body seams, resulting in catastrophic flooding of the passenger-side cabin floorboards. This issue occurs even when all sunroof drains are completely clear and functional. Toyota has issued Technical Service Bulletin 0055-24 acknowledging body seam and cowl leaks for this vehicle type. The passenger-side floorboard houses critical electrical wire harnesses and sits adjacent to the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS/Airbag) control module. Chronic standing water on the floorboard presents an immediate risk of electrical short-circuits, potentially causing sudden vehicle stalling, electrical component fires, or the uncommanded deployment/failure of the vehicle's airbag safety systems. Furthermore, the thick foam insulation beneath the carpet remains saturated, creating an immediate, toxic mold hazard within an enclosed passenger cabin, severely impacting occupant health and air quality. The manufacturer and dealership have left the vehicle unrepaired for over 30 days, refusing to remediate this safety hazard.

NHTSA ODI 11740651

The automatic lift gate started failing and became misaligned causing the back lift gate to be unable to be closed and damaged my passenger rear tail light as well due to the malalignment issue resulting in having to drive without the back gate fully shut until I can afford the 2k cost quoted to fix it. My research shows this is a very common issue with the rav4's in this production cycle

NHTSA ODI 11725079

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while it was raining, rainwater was leaking into the vehicle on the driver's side through the factory installed roof rack. The contact stated that water had accumulated under the brake and accelerator pedals. The contact stated that the floor mat was saturated with water. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the roof rack needed to be replaced and the electrical system needed to be inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 39,286.

NHTSA ODI 11660014

The paint on my entire vehicle is peeling and flaking off. Every panel has a paint issue. I have had my toyota dealership check several times over the last 2 years to see if my vin is on the ZKG program approved and it keeps coming back no. My vehicle paint is peeling more and more. I would like this to be addressed and looked into please.

NHTSA ODI 11623686

The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was water leaking from the driver's side visor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that water was entering the vehicle through the sunroof and traveled throughout various areas of the vehicle including the visor, dashboard, and door panels. The vehicle was not repaired. After receiving the diagnosis, the contact's insurance provider was informed, who then sent an appraiser to inspect the vehicle. Upon a visual inspection of the vehicle, the insurance appraiser discovered toxic mold throughout the interior panels of the vehicle including under the dashboard and door panels. The mold presence was extensive, and the vehicle was declared a total loss by the insurance provider. The contact stated that she and her husband had experienced unexplainable periods of illness that were later attributed to the presence of mold in the vehicle but were at the time unaware of a possible cause. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11618487

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, she became aware that the front passenger’s side seat was wet. The contact stated that it was raining, and she thought that she had left the front passenger’s side window slightly open. The contact stated that as she was drying the front passenger’s side seat and became aware that water was leaking from the where the passenger’s side handle attached to roof of the vehicle. The contact stated that water had saturated the pillar and the front passenger’s side door covering. The contact was concerned that using the door or locking the door could result in a short circuit. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11570231

ON 7/3/20 AT ABOUT 3 PM EDT I WAS PREPARING TO TURN LEFT AND EXIT MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WAS STOPPED. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED STRAIGHT AHEAD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I TRAVELLED ABOUT 100 TO 150 FEET, CLIMBED AN ENBANKMENT AND LANDED IN A SMALL WOODED RAVINE. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT MY NEIGHBORHOOD ONTO A PAVED ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11338142

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER LEAKED ONTO THE FLOORMAT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRIME TOYOTA BOSTON (617-469-1000, LOCATED AT 1605 VFW PARKWAY, WEST ROXBURY, MA 02132) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A WATER HOSE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOCKED. THE FAILURE CAUSED WATER FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER TO DRAIN ONTO THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CARPET WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CARPET ISSUE AND STATED THAT IT WAS THE CONTACT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE CARPET WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,220.

NHTSA ODI 11276932

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD THAT REFLECTED ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE CAUSED VISION IMPAIRMENT, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO ALMOST STRIKE A PEDESTRIAN. THE CONTACT PLACED BLACK FELT OVER THE DASHBOARD TO CONCEAL THE GLARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ACTON TOYOTA OF LITTLETON (221 GREAT RD, LITTLETON, MA 01460, 978-263-1500) WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11245516

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CAR WASH, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING ONTO THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR. SUN TOYOTA (3001 US-19, HOLIDAY, FL 34691, (727) 310-3070) PERFORMED A TEST ON THE VEHICLE WITH THE SAME HIGH PRESSURE CAR WASH AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WITH THREE SIMILAR VEHICLES THAT WERE TESTED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW, AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO USE A DIFFERENT CAR WASH UNTIL THEY COULD MAKE A DESIGN CHANGE. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 15 DAYS AND PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE DEALER DID NOT REQUEST THE LOANER BACK UNTIL THE CONTACT HIRED AN ATTORNEY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER HAD TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ATTORNEY WAS WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.

NHTSA ODI 11192834

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AROUND 740AM ON 287 SOUTH JUST PAST RT 24. DASHBOARD HAS "4WD" WARNING AND SMOKE COMING OUT FROM HOOD. I QUICKLY MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND FIRE BROKE OUT BEFORE CAR CAME TO FULL STOP, ALL WITHIN ONE MINUTE. I BARELY ESCAPE THE CAR AND CALLED POLICE AND FIRE DEPT. THEY CAME AND PUT OFF THE FIRE. THERE ARE TWO EXPLOSIONS BEFORE THE FIRE WAS PUT OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11183106

DRIVING MY 2018 TOYOTA RAV4 ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE TIME AND NO ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT WAS INVOLVED IN CAUSING THE EXPLOSION.

NHTSA ODI 11164997

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

NHTSA ODI 11123950