1999 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
110,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 54 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 24.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
Air Bags: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Electrical System: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Structure:Frame And Members: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 31 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 5; 2002: 5; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 6; 2011: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2020: 5; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 0 · 2002-05-09 (May 9, 2002)
DEALER PUT NEW BRAKE PADS ON TO STOP SQUEAKING, TO NO AVAIL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 0 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316272 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)
AS I'VE SAID IN PREVIOUS CORRESPONDENCE TO YOUR OFFICE, AND TO TOYOTA, ALL UNANSWERED, MY 1999 RAV 4 HAS OFTEN SURGED WHILE MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, ESPECIALLY WHEN I SLOW DOWN ON AN INCLINE (THE ENGINE RACES) AND I CAN BARELY BRAKE IT TO A FULL STOP. I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRONIC, BUT THE TOYOTA DEALER IN BERKELEY, CA WHERE I BOUGHT IT STONE-WALLS, AND REFUSES TO BELIEVE IT UNLESS THEIR MECHANIC TAKES IT OUT FOR A RUN. OF COURSE, IT NEVER HAPPENS THEN, BECAUSE IT ONLY HAPPENS TO ME ABOUT ONCE IN A HUNDRED TIMES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10316272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181173 · 2007-01-30 (January 30, 2007)
TL*- WHILE DRIVING A TOYOTA RAV 4 WITH 80000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER THE TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF FOURTH GEAR AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE . SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WHILE THEY WERE REPAIRING THE GEAR SHIFT, THEY ALSO DETERMINED THAT FIFTH GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. AT 12,000 MILES THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WHILE IN 5TH GEAR. THE CONTACT DID NOT WANT THE SAME TECHNICIAN TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT BE REPAIRED CORRECTLY. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. 8JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289999 · 2009-10-27 (October 27, 2009)
1999 TOYOTA RAV BEING DRIVEN BY MY 18 Y/O DAUGHTER. SHE COMPLAINED THAT THE CAR WOULD REV AND THEN JOLT WHEN IT WOULD FINALLY SHIFT INTO GEAR. WE BROUGHT IT TO A AAMCO DEALER TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS DONE. THEY SAID IT WAS THE COMPUTER THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY AT THE TIME WE DECIDED SHE SHOULD DRIVE IT HOME AND PARK IT. IT DIED ON THE WAY HOME WHILE SHE WAS ON THE FREEWAY. IT JUST WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR AND SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF PARLEYS CANYON (I-80) IN UTAH. NOT THE BEST SITUATION FOR A YOUNG…
Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115440 · 2005-03-21 (March 21, 2005)
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND THEY HAD ME TAKE THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER. SO I TOOK IT TO MIDTOWN TOYOTA, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 1999. I SPOKE WITH A JIM CHRISTENSEN ,[phone removed] X 4911. HE IS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER A WEEK I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS 6 YEARS OLD AND HAD 64,000 MILES ON IT THAT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. BUT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119282 · 2005-04-26 (April 26, 2005)
1999 TOYOTA RAV4 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.*MR THE FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING. SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN AND THE DRIVER NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A TOWEL. AFTER THE FIRE THE TAILLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS NO LONGER WORKED. THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT AND WIRING WERE DESTROYED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819469 · 2016-01-11 (January 11, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION IN THE EVENING, THE RADIO WAS ACTIVATED THE NEXT MORNING. ALSO, THE FAN IN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON SOME OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOS…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558279 · 2000-12-04 (December 4, 2000)
THE CONNECTION TO THE ALTERNATOR WAS HEAVILY BURNT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE FOR 1/2 HOUR PRIOR TO THE POLICE DEPT. ARRIVING TO HELP THE CONSUMER OUT OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW THAT DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE CONSUMER TO EXIT VEHICLE UNDER POWER LOSS. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149730 · 2006-01-30 (January 30, 2006)
THE GAS TANK IN THE CONSUMER'S RAV 4 WAS INSTALLED WITH A HOLE IN IT. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOLE WAS HIDDEN BY THE CHASSIS AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION. *JB THE HOLE CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 52,113 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313981 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
I HAD A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP ON MY 1999 TOYOTA RAV4 WHICH GAVE ME PROBLEMS UP UNTIL IT STOPPED WORKING, WHICH I HAD TO TOW MY VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637042 · 2014-09-17 (September 17, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE ONLY THING KEEPING IT FROM FRACTURING WAS THE STEERING LINKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 220,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637042 at NHTSA ↗