2014 Toyota RAV4: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED AND PUT INTO REVERSE THE BACKUP CAMERA IS DIM AND UNVIEWABLE FOR 15 SEC. BACKING UP DURING THIS PERIOD IS OBVIOUSLY HAZARDOUS AND IT IS VERY ANNOYING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT BECOMES VISIBLE. THIS IS RELATED TO THE WHOLE DISPLAY CONSOLE AS THE RADIO, NAV SYSTEM, AND BU CAMERA ALL COME ON AFTER 15 SEC. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN ON MY WIFE'S 2007 PRIUS ALTHOUGH OCCASIONALLY IT DOES NOT SWITCH TO THE BU CAMERA AT ALL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587235 at NHTSA ↗

NEW CAR DUNLOP TIRES HAVE SEVERE ROAD HAZARD. EVERY SMALL ROAD CONDITION MAGNIFIES INTO GREAT STEERING PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 142 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587726 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A LAG IN THE ACCELERATOR WHEN MOVING FROM VERY SLOW OR FROM A STOP. WHEN MOVING INTO CROSS TRAFFIC IT IS HAZARDOUS AS YOU LOSE SIGNIFICANT SPEED OR ACCELERATION CREATING AN UNREASONABLE RISK THAT THE CROSS TRAFFIC WILL COLLIDE WITH YOUR VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE AS IT HAPPENS ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THE DEALER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND IS DUCKING THE ISSUE. I AM AFRAID IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY MAY BE SERIOUS INCIDENTS AS OTHER OWNERS HAVE SAID THE SAME THING TO ME. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608190 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ON AND OFF BUTTON TO THE BLUETOOTH THAT WAS STANDARD WITH THE VEHICLE SHOULD SHUT ON AND OFF BY USING THE POWER BUTTON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER BUTTON WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT TURN THE BLUETOOTH OFF WHEN IT WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT'S HEART ALSO BEGAN TO FUNCTION ABNORMALLY AND SHE BECAME EXTREMELY WEAK, NEARLY COLLAPSING AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE INABILITY TO TURN THE BLUETOOTH OFF AND ON IN ORDER TO PREVENT IT FROM INTERFERING WIT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10610930 at NHTSA ↗

RAV 4 TRAVELING ON ROADWAY WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK ITS RIGHT FRONT FENDER AND FRONT DOOR IN T-BONE IMPACT. FORCE OF IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO MOVE RAV 4 TO THE LEFT 2.5 LANES. RIGHT SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10614535 at NHTSA ↗

I JUST GOT A LEASED A BRAND NEW RAV4-2014 ON JULY 1, 2014. I REPORTED TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: ON 7/6/14, I CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORTED. I WAS TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY, WHILE THEY ORDERED THE PART. HOWEVER, ANOTHER ISSUES I REPORTED: A( ON 7/1/14 WHILE DRIVING TOWARDS MY HOME THE LEFT FRONT HUBCAP, CAME OFF. IS DEFECTIVE. B) REAR HUBCAP, PASSENGER SIDE, WITH DAMAGE, ANYTIME IS GOING TO COME OFF WHILE DRIVING, MAY HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER CAR. C) REAR BACK BODY OF THE CAR, A PLASTIC PIECE IS PEELING BACK, MAY COME OFF…

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10614831 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING MY BRAND NEW TOYOTA 2014 RAV4, THEY WERE THE FOLLOWING: 1. THE CAR WAS VIBRATING SLIGHTLY AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. 2. THE ?CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE AWD DRIVE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS. 3. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING FIRM ALONG WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. REMEMBER, THIS WAS ALL WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. 4. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. 5. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WOULD ONLY USE THE BATTERY. 6. I TRIED TO START THE CAR…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630245 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER GETTING T-BONED AT AN INTERSECTION, MY TOYOTA RAV4 IMMEDIATELY CAUGHT FIRE. THE CAR WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY THE RIGHT WHEEL AND RIGHT TO MID SECTION OF THE HOOD. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR IT WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632313 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-12-30 (December 30, 2014)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.

Consequence: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.

Reported: 2015-01-16 (January 16, 2015)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.

Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.

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

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.

Consequence: An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2023-11-01 (November 1, 2023)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.