2009 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
327 owner complaints analyzed
15 distinct recall campaigns
26,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 241 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 91 of 327 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 118 | 36.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 31 | 9.5% |
| Steering behavior | 26 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 0.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 91 |
| Suspension | 54 |
| Engine | 27 |
| Steering | 25 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 91; Suspension: 54; Engine: 27; Steering: 25; Unknown Or Other: 21; Electrical System: 18; Power Train: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 17
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 119 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 35 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 26 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 119; 25,000 to 49,999: 35; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 10
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (119). 86 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 94 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 38 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2009: 16; 2010: 94; 2011: 25; 2012: 17; 2013: 17; 2014: 38; 2015: 23; 2016: 22; 2017: 26; 2018: 12; 2019: 7; 2020: 12; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 118 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 31 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 26 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 10285198 · 2009-09-25 (September 25, 2009)
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKES AND THE POSITION OF THE BRAKE SWITCH IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEDAL INTERFERED IN BRAKING WHENEVER HE STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONTACT STATED HE ALMOST HAD TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKES. CONTACT CALL THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURE BECAUSE HE JUST PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 4, 2009 THEY INFORM HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER SO THEY CAN CHECK IF THERE WAS ANY ALTERING OF THE BRAKES OR ARE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. CONTACT STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285198 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285973 · 2009-10-01 (October 1, 2009)
AN EMERGENCY STOP FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65 MPH) ON HOT (85+F) DRY PAVEMENT RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN EXPECTED BRAKING CAPACITY. BEST GUESS IS THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM THROTTLED BACK AVAILABLE BRAKING CAPACITY. BRAKE PEDAL CAN BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR AT WILL BUT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TAKES OVER BRAKING. THE BRAKES CANNOT BE IMMEDIATELY RELEASED AND ADDITIONAL PRESSURE (BRAKING) CANNOT BE APPLIED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10287217 · 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)
IT TRANSMISSION GEARS SEEMS SLIPPING WHEN GOING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND. SOMETIMES IT WAS LIKE HORSE RIDING JUMPING. IT HAPPENED TWICE WHEN I WAS DOING A LEFT TURN AND ALMOST GOT INTO ACCIDENT WITH THE COMING VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM IS THE ECU AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10287217 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10291418 · 2009-11-08 (November 8, 2009)
TOYOTA 2001 RAV4, TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, DOESN'T WANT TO GO WHEN YOU STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 195,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10291418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319317 · 2010-03-12 (March 12, 2010)
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) AND FUEL GAUGE PROBLEMS: I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2009 TOYOTA RAV4 SPORT V6 4X2 ON MAY 09, 2009 IN HOUSTON TEXAS. IT WAS ON DEC. 13, 2009 THAT I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I-10 FROM HOUSTON TO NEW YORK CITY. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF I-10 BETWEEN EXIT 775A AND 776A. I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. SUDDENLY, I HEARD A "CLICK" FROM THE DASH BOARD AND THE EPS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN I LOST THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING, I FELT MY STEERING WHEEL SO HARD AND COULD NOT TURN IT. I REALIZED THAT I WAS IN THE V…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10322101 · 2010-03-25 (March 25, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH TURNING A CORNER AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN A JERKING MOTION. A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CONTINUED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AFTER PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE ACCELERATION FAILURE WAS UPDATED IN THE DATABASE. THE VEHICLE HAD PRIOR R…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,285 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10270200 · 2009-05-28 (May 28, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA RAV4. AFTER PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMOKE MOSTLY APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THERE WERE VERY STRONG FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE HEAT FROM THE FIRE MELTED THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10270200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296791 · 2009-12-23 (December 23, 2009)
VEHICLE FAILS TO START OCCASIONALLY, LIGHTS TURN ON WITH NORMAL BRIGHTNESS INDICATING IT IS PROBABLY NOT A BATTERY ISSUE,BUT NO CRANKING . DEALER CHECKED THE CAR, BUT COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DATE BELOW IS THE APPROX LAST INCIDENT DATE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433028 · 2011-10-27 (October 27, 2011)
ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2011 AT APPROXIMATELY 12 IN THE AFTERNOON, I WAS DRIVING MY FAMILY'S 2009 TOYOTA RAV4 WITH MY WIFE AND INFANT SON, EASTBOUND ON HIGHWAY 44 BETWEEN WINNER, SD AND PLATTE, SD. WITH THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL SET AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH, I CHANGED LANES AND BEGAN TO PASS THE TRUCK AHEAD OF OUR VEHICLE ON THIS TWO-LANE COUNTRY ROAD. INCREASING THE VEHICLE'S SPEED TO 70 MPH TO COMPLETE THE PASS OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND RETURN TO THE EASTBOUND LANE, THE TOYOTA RAV4 UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 85 MPH…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433028 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11265257 · 2019-09-30 (September 30, 2019)
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 65MPH ON INTERSTATE WHEN LARGE TRUCK IN FRONT OF HER DROPPED THEIR DRIVE SHAFT. SHE TRIED TO STRADDLE THE OBJECT DUE TO NO SHOULDER AND ANOTHER VEHICLE IN NEXT LANE. REPORT STATED IT RUPTURE GAS TANK AND LOSS ABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE SENDING GET INTO AND THROUGH GUARDRAIL. TOTALLED EVERYONE FRONT END OF VEHICLE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE SUFFERED SIGNIFICANT CONCUSSION AND WHIPLASH.
Owner-reported narrative. 162,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11265257 at NHTSA ↗