Dec 28, 2024Electrical systemBody & structureFire
The vehicle suddenly started to smoke and burn by itself when driving on the super crowded highway. I immediately stopped the vehicle and found that the burning site was the bottom of the front-left head of the vehicle (please see the images attached). The mechanician I visited after judged that the fire may due to failed electrical parts or system. He suggested to visit a Toyota dealer for recall. However, the Toyota dealer (Crown Toyota, 1201 Kettering Dr, Ontario, CA91761) declined my request with the reason that my vehicle has passed warranty time. The vehicle was just inspected in the Toyota dealer a few days ago. The dealer's inspection report shows that the vehicle does not have any problems besides suggesting to replace tires and front brakes.
NHTSA ODI 11632904
Dec 21, 2021Electrical systemBody & structureDriver assistanceCrash
Around 2:30 pm on Thursday, December 2, 2021, my wife and I were on our way to the gym for a workout. I was pulling my auto out of my garage. It was in reverse when it stopped half way and did not finish backing out. I put it in drive and then in reverse and I was able to back out. Once out of my driveway, I backed out into the street in reverse. From reverse, I put my car in Drive to start driving on the street. At this point, the car spun out of control and I could not control its movements. The car turned around on the street and drove into my yard. It ran through the yard, spun around through some hedges, onto my driveway and continued back into the yard. At this time it hit a tree in the yard, went back on the road, turned into my driveway before coming to a stop. We got out and inspected the damage. The entire front bumper and the assembly was hanging from the body of the car. The damage was extensive. Thankfully, no one was on the road and the only damage was to my car and my yard. shrubs and tree. This car is a Limited Edition with cameras and braking functions that stop the car if an object comes in its way. The car kept accelerating and did not brake to avoid collision. Note: We bought this 2019 RAV4 in March 2019. It was brand new, full loaded with many safety features. In October of 2019, we heard sounds coming from the front of the car. We took it to Toyota dealership to have it diagnosed. They determined that the Electromagnetic Clutch Assembly needed to be replaced. The car had 7100 miles on the Odometer.
NHTSA ODI 11444623
Aug 1, 2020Body & structureCrash1 injury
ON MARCH 14, 2020, AND AT 12:30 PM, I CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF A PARKED SMALL SUBARU SUV ON MY PRIVATE COMMUNITY STREET, WHICH WAS AT LOW-SPEED (10 MPH) BUT THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS BADLY DAMAGED AND COST ME ABOUT $17,000 TO FIX IT! WHILE NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE OTHER VEHICLE EXCEPT SOME MINOR SCRATCHES ON ITS FRONT BUMPER! ALSO, MY LEFT LEG WAS INJURED BECAUSE OF THE HARMFUL KNEE AIRBAG, AND GOD KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME IF THE ACCIDENT WAS AT A HIGHER SPEED, OR ON THE FREEWAY? OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME IF ANOTHER ACCIDENT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE AT A HIGHER SPEED, OR ON THE FREEWAY? SO, I SENT A COMPLAINT LETTER TO TOYOTA AND ASKED THEM TO RETURN THE CAR AND CANCEL MY CONTRACT WITH TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES. BUT THEY DENIED MY COMPLAINT AND SAID THAT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THE CONCERN IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECT IN MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP! WHILE I HAD TOLD THEM THAT MY COMPLAINT AND CONCERN IS ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES AND THAT VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AT ALL, BECAUSE THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS VERY WEAK AND CANNOT SAVE MY LIFE IF ANOTHER ACCIDENT IS LIKELY TO OCCUR IN THE FUTURE AT A HIGHER SPEED, OR ON THE FREEWAY. AND AFTER THAT ACCIDENT, I CANNOT TRUST MY CAR ANYMORE, BUT THEY JUST IGNORED ME! I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A MINOR ACCIDENT CAN CAUSE THAT MUCH DAMAGE TO MY CAR, WHILE THE CAR I CRASHED INTO WAS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL! THE PICTURES OF THE CARS AND MY INJURED LEG ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
NHTSA ODI 11342635