2012 Toyota RAV4 EV: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING 35 ON A LOCAL ROAD, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER TO THE PROPULSION SYSTEM. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WORKED AS I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO COAST SAFELY TO A TURNOUT. THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHT SAYING "CHECK EV SYSTEM, HAVE DEALER CHECK IMMEDIATELY" WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE RAV4 EV AS THE TOYOTA AND TESLA PARTS HAVE TROUBLE MAINTAINING COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER WITHIN A PART CALLED THE GATEWAY ECM. MY CAR WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER AFTER THIS INCIDENT, WHERE THEY UPDATED TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667402 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING IN THE PARKING GARAGE AT WORK AND THE YELLOW EXCLAMATION LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH WITH A MESSAGE THAT SAYS "CHECK EV SYSTEM. HAVE YOU VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY." I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND THE CAR STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ECU. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668160 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 EV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REMEDY. FIVE DAYS AFTER THE RECALL REMEDY WAS PERFORMED, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD TO A HIGH SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED OVER A MEDIAN, A CONCRETE BARRIER, AND INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR WHIPLASH, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED …

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808813 at NHTSA ↗

ON OCTOBER 17 SHORTLY BEFORE 2 PM PST IN CLEAR WEATHER, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT ABOUT 2 TO 3 MPH. I TURNED THE VEHICLE INTO THE SPOT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR SURGED OVER THE CURB, HIT A TREE, WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED ONTO A PARKED CAR. (THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES.) THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. FINALLY I DEPRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND IT TURNED OFF. JUST 5 DAYS EARLIER, THE CAR HAD UNDERGONE A SAFETY RECALL REPA…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,296 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811744 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2012 RAV4 EV HAS AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHERE THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ACTUALLY ENGAGE FROM R TO D, OR D TO R WHEN STATIONARY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENTATION INDICATES SO. THE VEHICLE INSTEAD MOVES INADVERTENTLY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. IT HAS BEEN A CHRONIC ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, AND I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONDITION, BUT THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WOULD BE INSTALLED AND MIGHT CORRECT THE MATTER. IT HAS NOT, AND MY WIFE A…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10840133 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 EV. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V577000 (VISIBILITY/WIPER) AND 16V096000 (SEAT BELTS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10978983 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-03-13 (March 13, 2015)

Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Rav4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. Due to a software issue within a component of the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly, the electric propulsion motor may shift to "neutral" resulting in a possible loss of drive power.

Consequence: A loss of drive power may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly software, free of charge. The recall began on September 10, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2015-09-18 (September 18, 2015)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.

Consequence: Over time, the dripping water may cause corrosion and wear at the joint, potentially resulting in the separation of the wiper linkage. Once this occurs, the wipers would not function, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water diverter channel. In addition, a new wiper linkage with a wiper motor crank arm will be installed. The wiper linkage will have a protective cover over the wiper linkage joint to minimize water splash and a retainer ring to prevent the wiper arm from separating from the wiper motor. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service number at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2016-02-19 (February 19, 2016)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.

Consequence: A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0F.