What 869 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with unknown warning lights illuminated and blinking. The contact stated that the steering wheel became very firm. The contact pulled over on the side of the roadway and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that water enter the cabin of the vehicle through the roof rails and caused electrical damages to an unknown wiring harness connector. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed; however, no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 70,811.

NHTSA ODI 11500529

I have had my RAV 4 since it was brand new. Today while i was driving, the mud and sand screen popped up automatic with traction control light, later i was able to turn it to normal then the light would go off for a while and it comes back again. It all happened while i was driving in I 355 going down to Lemont, IL from Palatine IL. I had the same problem but not with the mud and sand but with snow back in 2019 when it was a brand new, took it to a dealership and they said they have never seen like this before and they just reset the computer and it went off. I am pretty sure when I first bought it, even i push each and every button of either snow, sports or mud, the traction light wouldn’t come off. While driving on i 355 today, my car slide for a while which was the most scary part, first I assume it was raining but after when the rain stopped too, it was skidding while applying the brake. I have the regular maintenance, just did the brakes with rotors, changed tires, oil change every 3-4k miles. I tried to talk to Toyota 800 number but wasn’t able to connect with them.

NHTSA ODI 11500042

As I was turning into a parking spot my car made a growling noise and suddenly lunged forward and accelerated at high speeds, hitting two cars and only stopping once the car hit a wall. I had no control of the car as it accelerated and the brakes did not work.

NHTSA ODI 11499525

We have a 2019 RAV4 the mud and sand mode kept randomly turning on in the highway. The car loses traction when it goes into the mode. Toyota claimed they are not responsible. This is a very danger issue.

NHTSA ODI 11499248

This vehicle has continued to have issues. The most recent and dangerous issue is the electrical problems due to water leakage. Water getting into the vehicle's interior can be hazardous with all the solenoids, modules, and wires. The roof rack leaking is a common issue for these vehicles. It does not become an issue until they have been exposed to rainy environments or washed. The water in our vehicle leaked down the driver-side A-pillar, behind the steering wheel, and into the floorboard. This caused a shortage in wiring for the mud/sand terrain modes and the safety systems for the vehicle. This would happen at random times, including down the freeway at 70mph. The adaptive cruise control would shut off and emergency braking would be defective if needed. The water does flow across the airbag in the A-pillar which could cause a more serious issue. Now, there is a possibility of the airbag not deploying in the case of a collision. The racks leaking is something Toyota should be recalling or publishing a TSB.

NHTSA ODI 11498501

The vehicle enters mud/sand mode spontaneously, causing the ABS, traction control, and forward collision warning to turn off. I cannot enter mud/sand mode myself when pressing the button. Must turn on normal or eco mode to get out of mud/sand mode once it activates. It has happened over a dozen times in a week.

NHTSA ODI 11497817

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that water was leaking into the vehicle through the roof rack. The water entered the compartment where the air bags were located. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

NHTSA ODI 11496454

Front breaks squeal when braking at low speeds. Mileage under 10k miles

NHTSA ODI 11493339

Water was entering inside the front of the cabin from the roof rack. Water entering inside the wiring can cause short circuit and cause fire

NHTSA ODI 11492963

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, an abnormal glass-cracking sound was heard. The contact pulled over and noticed that the sunroof glass had shattered; however, the sunroof visor prevented the glass shards from entering the cabin of the vehicle. There was no impact on the sunroof that could have caused it to shatter. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11491584

The driver side seat belt has stopped functioning correctly. It engages just fine, but is very dificult to get it to release. I have to jerk on the belt to get it off. I am concerned that if I needed to exit the vehicle for an emergency, I wouldn't be able to get it to disengage. It started doing this around October 14, 2022. I will be making an appointment with a Toyota dealership to have it checked.

NHTSA ODI 11491467

The car is leaking water from the driver side roof rack

NHTSA ODI 11491355

Brake System A malfunction in the Brake System has been detected. Continuing to drive may be dangerous. Stop in a safe location and contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Pre-Collision System A malfunction in the Pre-Collision System has been detected. Do not rely on this system. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Electronically Controlled Brake System A malfunction in the Electric Control Braking System has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Anti-Lock Brake System A malfunction in the Anti-Lock Brake System or brake assist system has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Drive-Start Control System A malfunction in the Drive Start Control System has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Blind Spot Monitor A malfunction in the Blind Spot Monitor System has been detected. Do not rely on the system for lane changing. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Vehicle Stability Control System A malfunction in the VSC, TRAC, or hill-start assist control system has been detected. Do not rely on these systems. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022 Secondary Collision Brake System A malfunction in the Secondary Crash Mitigation Support Brake System has been detected. Contact your Toyota dealer to have your vehicle inspected. 10/20/2022

NHTSA ODI 11490323

This as well as many many other 2019, 2020, & 2021 Rav4s develop water leaks in the roof (due to inadequate gaskets in the rood rails) which result in water entering in vehicle very close to the side curtain airbags. Toyota updated the parts on the current model year but refuses to issue a recall. This is dangerous due to the strong possibility of water contacting the airbags and or the electrical connections.

NHTSA ODI 11488744

Car randomly switched the driving modes from normal to mud and sand while a driving on the highway about 55 miles per hour, also said precolision system disable, happened in last 3 days

NHTSA ODI 11488138

I received an alert on my vehicle that engine maintenance was required. I conducted a code reader scan of the vehicle. There was no codes that were activated or shown. I took my vehicle to a Toyota dealership. I was advise that my vehicle which only has 42k miles had a bybass coolant value issue. I further saw YouTube videos and read forums on my vehicle and the issue. A lot of individuals are reporting similar issues with their vehicle. An interesting remark, which I noticed was that a lot of the Rav4s from 2019 and newer had the same issue. These cars are not even above the 100k miles, which makes me wonder and worry how safe will my vehicle be. The part is on backorder around 1 month to 3 months. My vehicle begin to display the message around 40k miles. I believe a recall should occur.

NHTSA ODI 11488241

Hybrid system malfunction. Repairs include replacement of motor cable #2 and frame wire. Advanced Corrosion was the explanation. Not covered under warranty (either 3yr/36K or platinum addt’l plan). Problem occurred at 36,366 miles (300+ miles just over standard warranty?) In the midst of delayed communicating with Toyota with no response after 3 days. Was told to reference TSB T-TT-0630-20. After researching, this problem is frequently referenced as being an issue. Should just be a recall at this point.

NHTSA ODI 11487121

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the roof rack clips were fractured and water was leaking into the vehicle, causing the vehicle to shut off intermittently, electrical failures, and air bags malfunction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the headliners were leaking. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.

NHTSA ODI 11486603

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking and making abnormal sounds. Additionally, the vehicle was intermittently unable to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the roof rack sustained water damage, causing an electrical system failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI 11486659

I own a 2019 Toyota RAV4 and have experienced water leaking into the interior of the vehicle after rain and/or when taking the car through a car wash. I believe the water leakage is coming in via the small holes in the roof directly above the front driver seat and front passenger seats. The holes are used to align the plastic clips that help hold the roof rails onto the rood. They are leaking and allowing water to drain down into the interior of the car. This then allows the water to come into contact with the electrical wiring that runs along the top of the roof and down the front window pillars and possible the airbag system. Although I have not experienced a true accident or had a side airbag deploy for NO reason, I am extremely nervous about driving a car that could potentially detonate at any time potentially causing me to wreck! I am also extremely nervous about what affect water coming into contact with electric wiring and components might have on the proper functioning of the airbag system in the car. Although not purely safety related, I also wonder if the constant moisture penetrating the interior confines of the car could potentially expose me to BLACK MOLD and its long term dire health affects.

NHTSA ODI 11485758

Vehicle happens to accelerate involuntarily when driving, especially on highway. You'll be driving, and then suddenly it starts to accelerate faster than usual. Had another family member drove vehicle to work, just to confirm if they had the same issue, and they did confirm that the vehicle was involuntarily accelerating at a higher speed on its own.

NHTSA ODI 11485298

Intermittent loss/delay of acceleration power from a stop. When coming out of a stop, pressing the gas pedal warrants no response except the slow creep that occurs just as a result of lifting off the brake. This has happened a handful of times when trying to accelerate from being stopped at a red light. The problem occurs intermittently and I never know when to expect it. The most recent time this problem happened, I pressed the gas pedal all the way to the floor, and still the car did not accelerate. When left in the middle of an intersection, a loss of accelerator power can be deadly. I am a sitting duck as oncoming traffic comes towards me and I just hope they see me. Furthermore, when stalled out at a red light or stop sign, other traffic has to drive around me, risking the safety of other drivers as well. I took it into my Toyota dealership for repair, but since they are unable to replicate the issue, they cannot fix it. I was also met with skepticism; however, searching online has shown that other people have experienced the same problem with the same vehicle. The vehicle or component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or any others as of now. No engine lights appear when this happens; this is also what led the dealership to believe there wasn't actually a problem.

NHTSA ODI 11485131

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, he heard a loud banging sound. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact noticed that the sunroof glass panel had exploded with 40 percent of the shattered glass remaining. The contact stated that the shade guard was closed at the time of the failure. The contact was able to continue driving. The dealer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,300.

NHTSA ODI 11483644

The roof rack leaks, Toyota trying to charge $800 for labor but the car is not even 40000 miles on it and the roof shouldn’t leak because the airbags are going to get wet and not work

NHTSA ODI 11483359

Engine maintenance light came on after a routine oil change. I took it to a toyota dealer, they said that it has something to do with the coolant system. The problem is ongoing with several toyota models, including rav4, Tacoma, Tundra, Camry, Sienna models 2018-2022. The problem is that the car can suddenly overheat and shut down on a busy highway, which is very Dangerous. Someone, can get killed, if this is not addressed. I don't know why there is not a recall already. The government should definitely get involved.

NHTSA ODI 11482759