2012 Toyota RAV4: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THERE WAS A RAPID INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE CONTACT APPLIED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL OPENED THE DOORS AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,009 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449667 at NHTSA ↗

THE ANGLE OF THE FORWARD-LEANING HEADRESTS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SIT UP STRAIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THEY PUSH THE DRIVER'S HEAD FORWARD, CAUSING NECK AND BACK PAIN. VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND DANGEROUS SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE TURNING THE HEADRESTS AROUND IN ORDER TO DRIVE COMFORTABLY. THANK YOU. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10459680 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA RAV-4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE IN REVERSE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO HER LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,620. UPDATED 0…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,620 miles reported. Look up ODI 10461475 at NHTSA ↗

THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE DOORS LOCKED AND THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP. SOMETIME BETWEEN 10PM AND 5:30AM THERE WAS A FIRE THAT CREATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT THE COATING ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND BLOW OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, MELT THE CENTER OF THE DASH AND THE AREA BETWEEN THE VISORS WHERE THE CONTROLS FOR THE SUNROOF AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE. IT ALSO CAUSED A SHORT IN THE WIRING THAT RESULTED IN TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS EVEN THOUGH THE SWITCH WAS OFF. WE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE CAR BATTERY TO TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. TOYOTA DID AN …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462327 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE IS ONLY A FEW WEEKS OLD AND THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN DEVELOPING A CRACK FROM THE PASSANGER SIDE SPREADING TOWARDS THE CENTER OF AND DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSANGER SIDE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463061 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2012 HAS DONE THIS VIRTUALLY FROM DAY 1. WHEN BRAKING, THERE IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION FOR 1/4 TO 1/2 SECOND AT THE TIME THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS. I ALSO NOTICE IT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND BRAKING. IT IS MORE DANGEROUS AT SLOWER SPEEDS ESPECIALLY WHEN BRAKING AT A LIGHT WITH SOMEONE IN FRONT OF YOU. IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE PRESSING BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME. IT DOES NOT DO THIS ALL THE TIME. MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A DAY. I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW HARD YOU BRAKE AND WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING. IT IS MOST NOTICEABL…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472426 at NHTSA ↗

MY REAR SUSPENSION PERIODICALLY THUMPS A FEW MINUTES AFTER I START DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IS MOST NOTICEABLE ON A DIRT ROADS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A ROCK IS HITTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, BUT I KNOW IT IS NOT A ROCK! IT ONLY DOES IT ONCE. IT'S LIKE THE SUSPENSION IS BINDING AND THEN RELEASES AFTER A CERTAIN DISTANCE DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472428 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS A LEASED CAR. THIS DATE WAS THE FIRST EPISODE OF A RECURRING PROBLEM. EACH TIME IT TOOK PLACE ON A LOCAL STREET. EACH TIME AS THE DRIVER ( MY WIFE OR MYSELF ) WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE TO BRING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE. THIS FIRST INCIDENT WAS NOTEWORTHY BUT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE NEWNESS OF THE VEHICLE. THE THREE INCIDENTS THAT FOLLOWED WERE CONSIDERABLY WORSE. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER FROM WHOM THE CAR IS LEASED AND WERE TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN . WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN ON AUGUST 23 AND PICKED IT UP O…

Owner-reported narrative. 85 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473271 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2013-04-09 (April 9, 2013)

Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2014-02-12 (February 12, 2014)

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2012 and 2013 Toyota Tacoma and Lexus RX350 vehicles and certain model year 2012 Toyota Rav4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the brake system contains a brake actuator that adjusts the fluid pressure of each wheel cylinder. An electrical component within the actuator may experience an increased resistance resulting in the illumination of various warning lights, including those for the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system, Antilock Brake System (ABS), and Traction Control system.

Consequence: If this occurs, these systems could become inoperative, reducing the directional control assistance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Toyota and Lexus dealers will update the software for the Skid Control electronic control unit, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2014. Owners may contact Toyota 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.