Toyota RAV4 electrical problems
759 complaint narratives mention electrical 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.
Electrical and battery issues evidence
759 of 9,267 complaints match this topic (8.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
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 10041719 · 2003-10-13 (October 13, 2003)
MY RAV 4 HAS HAD A VERY COSTLY AND DIFFICULT-TO-FIX ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THE LAST 3 MONTHS. SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT UP, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAD STALLING PROBLEMS AND ONCE DIED COMPLETELY. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAVE WORKED ON IT AND NOBODY HAS YET BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM COMPLETELY. IT HAS ALWAYS COME BACK. THE DEALERSHIP EVEN SAID THAT IT HAS TO FAIL COMPLETELY AGAIN BEFORE THEY CAN ATTEMPT TO KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. THAT MEANS I WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO BE STRANDED UNTIL SOMEONE CAN MAYBE FIX THE VEHICLE. I MAY BE FORCED TO SELL THE VEHICLE FO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041719 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 ↗