2015 Toyota RAV4: complaints, problems and recalls

THE ARMREST ABOVE THE CENTER COMPARTMENT BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAS A LIGHT RESISTANCE TO PRESSURE. I WAS DRIVE WITH MY RIGHT ARM RESTING ON THIS AND MY WIFE NEEDED TO ADJUST HER POSITION IN HER SEAT. SHE LEANED ON THE ARMREST AND THE ARMREST WENT SLIDING TO THE FRONT AND STARTLED ME. I HAD A 2014 AVALON THAT HAD THE SAME TYPE ARMREST AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. THE DEALER LOOKED AT THIS AND SAID ALL THE RAV4'S ARE LIKE THIS AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. THE INDENTS FOR THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE ARMREST SHOULD BE STRONGER AND NOT SO TEM…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10668994 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75.

Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10681501 at NHTSA ↗

FROM THE DRIVERS POSITION THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE CAN'T BE SEEN. I MISSED THREE CORNERS AT NIGHT BECAUSE I CAN'T DETERMINE WHERE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS AND I WILL NO LONGER DRIVE IT AT NIGHT. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A LETHALLY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW AND DEMAND THAT THE 2015 RAV4 BE REMOVED FROM THE ROADS UNTIL TOYOTA REDESIGNS THE FRONT HOOD, LIGHTS AND DASH AREAS SO THE DRIVER CAN SEE WHERE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS. PS. I'M 5'7" TALL AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THE FRONT OF ANY VEHICLE I'M DRIVING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 812 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705169 at NHTSA ↗

SIGHT LINES - AGAIN. NO ONE UNDER APROX. 5'9" CAN SAFELY OPERATE THIS VEHICLE. I (AT 5'7") CAN NOT SEE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE OR DETERMINE WHERE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE BECAUSE OF THE POOR DRIVER POSITION. THE REAL DANGER HAPPENS AT NIGHT AT UNLIGHTED INTERSECTIONS. TURNS ARE MISSED BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN'T DETERMINE WHERE THE FRONT WHEELS ARE. I KNOW THIS DOESN'T SOUND DANGEROUS, BUT MARK MY WORDS, THERE ARE GOING MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THIS VEHICLE'S POOR DESIGN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 955 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705773 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING) AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.. WHEN THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT SEND ANY AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR A REPAIR UNTIL THE DEALER SENT PHOTOS SHOWING THE NEED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AGAIN AND CONFIRMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE THAT REQUIREMENT.…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10716496 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15VI44000 (STEERING) WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10716667 at NHTSA ↗

I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER ABOUT THE TOYOTA AIR BAG RECALL(TAKATA) THEY PROVIDED MY WITH A RENTAL VEHICLE AND SUGGESTED THAT I CALL THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. WHEN I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT REGISTERED TO MY NAME AS IT WAS STILL IN THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S NAME ACCORDING TO THEIR DATA BASE. THIS IS MY CONCERN. I HAD TO TELL TOYOTA CORPORATION THE TYPE AND YEAR OF VEHICLE THAT I HAD AS WELL AS THE VIN NUMBER AND SHE "UPDATED" THE DATA BASE. MY CONCERN IS FOR THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT DRIVE TOYOTA VEHICLES TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 164,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721527 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10721736 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.