Toyota RAV4 brakes problems
1,379 complaint narratives mention brakes terms.
Key facts
9,267 owner complaints analyzed
50 distinct recall campaigns
52,730 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 5,429 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Braking behavior evidence
1,379 of 9,267 complaints match this topic (14.9%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10093012 · 2004-09-22 (September 22, 2004)
NOTE: TOYOTA CALLED AND SAID THAT SINCE I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED, THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING.....I SAVED THE PART. I AM WRITING NOW BECAUSE I SAW A TV NEWS STORY ABOUT THE ROLL-OVER CONCERN WITH SUV'S. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ROLL-OVER IF NOT FOR THE LOCATION AND LOW SPEED. DEAR TOYOTA (EDITED FOR SPACE), IT IS RARE THAT I WOULD TAKE THIS STEP UNLESS I THOUGHT NOT SPEAKING UP COULD BE FAR MORE TRAGIC OR DISASTROUS. LAST WEEK, AS I WAS SLOWLY TURNING THE CORNER DOWN A SIDE STREET AT WORK (I WORK ON AN ARMY INSTALLATION), I HEARD AND…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10494598 · 2013-01-24 (January 24, 2013)
I GOT THE CAR OFF OF MY BROTHER FOR $4,000.00, IT LOOKS GREAT, NEVER EVER BEEN WRECKED, PAINT GREAT, BRAND NEW TIRES, NEW EXHAUST, NEW BRAKES, ETC. I WAS WAITING ON HIM TO GET THE TITLE NOTARIZED AND HE BROUGHT IT OVER TODAY, BUT THIS MORNING WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE FUSE BOX BURST INTO FLAMES, BOTH WINDOWS CAME DOWN AND LUCKILY I HAD A LARGE FIRE EXTINGUISH IN MY HOUSE AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, OTHERWISE IT WAS PARKED BETWEEN 3 BUILDINGS WORTH 1/2 MILLION $$$ AND SURELY WOULD HAVE BURNED ALL 3 DOWN IF I HAD NOT HAD THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10494598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720388 · 2000-03-20 (March 20, 2000)
I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CAR. A SHORT TIME LATER AN ADDITIONAL SOUND OF SOMETHING ROLLING AROUND FREELY IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS HEARD. I SUSPECTED BRAKE TROUBLE AND TOOK THE CAR TO SEARS AUTOMOTIVE WHERE THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORKED ON 1 MONTH PRIOR. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANICS NOTICED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE FRONT AXLE SNAPPING AT THE WHEEL. THE SOUND WAS THE BROKEN OFF PIECE AND NUT ROLLING AROUND. THE BROKEN AXLE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BRAKE PAD AND CALIPER AND FRONT-END ALIGNMENT. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010158 · 2003-03-08 (March 8, 2003)
MY RAV 4 - 57348 MILES. IT STARTED MAKING A TAPPING SOUND IN THE ENGINE AND IT HAS MAKES A METAL ON METAL VIBRATION UPON ACCELERATION AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I MAKE A GRADUAL LEFT TURN AND DECELERATE. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER. THEY SAY IT MAY BE THAT THE LIFTERS ARE A BIT WORN AND THAT THIS WILL NOT HARM ANYTHING. THIS IS ODD BECAUSE A NEW ENGINE WAS PLACED IN THE CAR AT 49,000 + MILES. THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT THE VIBRATION NOISE WAS AND SAID THAT IT IS POSSIBLY A ROCK IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I KNOW WHAT THAT SOUNDS LIKE AND STRONGLY DIS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724176 · 2000-06-19 (June 19, 2000)
UPON START UP OF ENGINE, BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL "LOCKED UP" AS PUTTING CAR INTO GEAR. TURNED OUT ENGINE WAS STALLING OUT. CAR ALSO WOULD TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN AFTER RESTARTING ENGINE AND PUT INTO DRIVE. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS IDLE CONTROL VALVE PROBLEM AND REPLACED PART. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724176 at NHTSA ↗