2006 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
704 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 539 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 223 of 704 complaints (31.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 232 | 33.0% |
| Braking behavior | 75 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 28 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 1.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 223 |
| Engine | 109 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 69 |
| Suspension | 68 |
| Air Bags | 51 |
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Power Train | 30 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 22 |
Steering: 223; Engine: 109; Vehicle Speed Control: 69; Suspension: 68; Air Bags: 51; Electrical System: 34; Power Train: 30; Engine And Engine Cooling: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 113 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 120 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 124 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 80 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 81 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 113; 25,000 to 49,999: 120; 50,000 to 74,999: 124; 75,000 to 99,999: 80; 100,000 to 149,999: 81; 150,000 and above: 21
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (124). 165 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 46 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 52 |
| 2010 | 122 |
| 2011 | 49 |
| 2012 | 57 |
| 2013 | 67 |
| 2014 | 62 |
| 2015 | 38 |
| 2016 | 33 |
| 2017 | 52 |
| 2018 | 26 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 46; 2007: 31; 2008: 24; 2009: 52; 2010: 122; 2011: 49; 2012: 57; 2013: 67; 2014: 62; 2015: 38; 2016: 33; 2017: 52; 2018: 26; 2019: 19; 2020: 7; 2021: 7; 2022: 4; 2023: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 232 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 75 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 28 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 10162812 · 2006-07-18 (July 18, 2006)
ANOTHER DRIVER WAS DOING ABOUT 60 WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN THE POURING RAIN AND HIT A LOW SPOT ON THE FREEWAY THAT HAD ABOUT 3" OF WATER IN IT. HE DIDN'T SEE IT SOON ENOUGH TO AVOID IT SO HE JUST HUNG ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND PRAYED. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN QUITE A BIT BUT KEPT GOING STRAIGHT SPRAYING WATER EVERYWHERE. THE NOISE FROM THE WATER HITTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR WAS DEAFENING. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT AND 4X4 LIGHT, CAME ON. HE STOPPED BY THE DEALER ON HIS WAY HOME TO HAVE IT CHECKED. HE WAS IN THE WAITING …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162812 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178614 · 2007-01-12 (January 12, 2007)
IN JUNE 2006, I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 SPORT. GREAT VEHICLE. I DRIVE 100 MILES A DAY ROUND TRIP TO WORK. AS OF 1/12/07, THERE ARE 15,725 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. AROUND 12,500 MILES, I NOTICED A STRANGE GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEN MAKING A HARD RIGHT OR LEFT TURN (TURNING INTO A PARKING PLACE OR MY DRIVEWAY). I TALKED WITH THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THE FIRST ATTEMPT WAS TO HEAVILY LUBRICATE THE STEERING AS I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS DRY. THE CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR AN OIL AND LUBE EVERY 4,000 MILES. THIS DID NOT RES…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158098 · 2006-05-23 (May 23, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER BEING PARKED IN A PARKING LOT FOR 2 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. IT WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED AT AN EXCEPTIONAL SPEED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO STOP THE MOMENTUM OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE MADE AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 100 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE USED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE KEY WAS TURNED TO THE OFF P…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,845 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159106 · 2006-06-06 (June 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE THE BRAKES HAD EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AND SPONGINESS. THIS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING DURING NORMAL BRAKING ON NORMAL ROADS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 06/27/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160260 · 2006-06-20 (June 20, 2006)
I HAVE A NEW 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND, IN THE FIRST 2000 MILES, IT HAS FAILED TO SHIFT CORRECTLY ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS HAS CREATED DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN MERGING IN TRAFFIC. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE RPMS SHOOT ABOVE 4-5K BUT THERE IS NO ACCOMPANIED INCREASE IN SPEED. GIVEN THE REPEATED POSTINGS ON EDMUNDS.COM ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS, IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ISOLATED CASE WITH MY VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161259 · 2006-07-03 (July 3, 2006)
A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 V6 LIMITED 4X2. PROBLEM: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DEFECT? SOMETIMES WHEN I STEP ON ACCELERATOR THERE'S LAG TIME BEFORE CAR SHIFTS AND GETS GOING. ALSO THERE'S AN ONGOING (MONTH OR SO) DRONING NOISE. I TOOK CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER 6/15/06. SERVICE WRITER AND 2 TECHS HEARD DRONING NOISE WHILE I WAS THERE. WITH THE CAR. I ASKED TO BRING THE CAR IN THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY AS I WORK DURING THE WEEK, BUT THEY SAID SATURDAYS NOT GOOD SO I MADE APPOINTMENT FOR 6/26/06. THEY TOLD ME IT WASN'T DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. I TOOK CAR I…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175050 · 2006-12-04 (December 4, 2006)
TOYOTA TPMS SYSTEM ON RAV4 NOT USABLE WITH SECOND SET OF (SNOW) TIRES. WHEN I PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL SET OF TOYOTA RAV4 OEM RIMS FOR SNOW TIRES, I WANTED TO PUT TPMS RECEIVES ON THOSE RIMS. WHEN I CALLED MY TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SUGGESTED THAT I NOT PURCHASE AN ADDITIONAL SET OF TPMS VALUES AS MY RAV4 COULD ONLY HOLD ONE SET OF TPMS DATA. THEY INSTEAD SUGGESTED THAT I IGNORE THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT, OR COVER IT UP WITH A PIECE OF BLACK ELECTRICAL TAPE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10175050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243160 · 2008-09-23 (September 23, 2008)
FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND SOMETIMES AFTER WORK, CAR WILL NOT START. DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON, BATTERY CONDITION INDICATOR CHECKS GOOD. HAD BATTERY TESTED, BATTERY IS GOOD. OF COURSE, WHEN THE CAR DOES START AND I DRIVE IT IN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER. NO INDICATIONS OF STARTER SLUGGISH OR LOW BATTERY POWER. THESE SYMPTOMS HAVE HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND FORTUNATELY THE CAR WOULD START. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171952 · 2006-10-27 (October 27, 2006)
I PURCHASED A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED 4 CYL IN JANUARY/FEBRUARY OF 2006. I NOTICED A PROBLEM IN ACCELERATION/HESITATION AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT A WEEK. I HAVE EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS ON A DAILY BASIS. STEADY PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR YIELDS NO RESPONSE, OR A STUTTER AS THOUGH THE CAR IS ABOUT TO STALL. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR MOVING IS TO PUSH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE RACES AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP. THIS HESITATION HAPPENS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE FIRST TIME T…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334089 · 2010-06-01 (June 1, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER ADVISED A DIAGNOSTIC AT HER EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 119,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186277 · 2007-03-27 (March 27, 2007)
FIRST DAY I HAD CAR, I GOT GAS, WENT TO THE MALL, CAME OUT AND 3 LIGHTS WERE ON, MY VCD, 4WD, AND CHECK ENGINE. BROUGHT CAR IN WAS TOLD FAULTY GAS CAP. ORDERED ME A NEW GAS CAP, A DAY LATER SAME THING, BROUGHT IT BACK TOLD THEY NEEDED CAR FOR DAY TO ANALYZE, TOLD I NEEDED CHARCOAL CYLINDER, HAD REPLACED A DAY LATER SAME THING AGAIN. BROUGHT BACK TOLD NEEDED FOR A DAY AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE GAS TANK, DAY LATER LIGHTS ON AGAIN, THIS TIME TIGHTENED UP GASKETS, DAY LATER, LIGHTS ON AGAIN. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10304197 · 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)
TOYOTA RAV4 2006 LIMITED, 4CY, ON 2/2/2010, GAS STARTED DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS A HEAVY FLOW. TAKEN TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDS TO REPLACED. IT IS GOING TO BE REPLACED ON 2/4/2010 AT THE COST OF $715.00. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 54,797 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304197 at NHTSA ↗