What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2007 Toyota RAV4

Typical pattern

3.4% of complaints about the 2007 Toyota RAV4 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2007 vehicle — around the middle of the 268 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (261 complaints), typically at 5.0 yr or about 47,500 miles.

Complaints
1,164
Median age at failure
6.8 yr
Median mileage
68,500 n=918
Crash / fire / tow
10.4% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
261 reports · 47,500 mi
5.0 yr
2.3%
Engine
194 reports · 97,500 mi
8.8 yr
2.6%
Suspension
128 reports · 92,000 mi
8.5 yr
8.6%
Air bags
100 reports · 87,250 mi
6.7 yr
23%
Electrical system
74 reports · 79,800 mi
6.4 yr
33.8%
Speed control
71 reports · 35,000 mi
4.1 yr
16.9%
Power train
48 reports · 57,000 mi
5.9 yr
4.2%
Other
37 reports · 86,521 mi
10.3 yr
16.2%
Engine cooling
36 reports · 44,000 mi
3.7 yr
8.3%
Visibility
27 reports · 64,000 mi
5.0 yr
37%
Service brakes
26 reports · 70,000 mi
8.2 yr
15.4%
Visibility / wipers
24 reports · 79,000 mi
7.9 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

16V596000 2016-08-12
Suspension:rear

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010. The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

16V396000 2016-06-02
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

16V096000 2016-02-19
Seat belts:rear/other

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.

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

15V689000 2015-10-22
Visibility:power window devices and controls

Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

14V743000 2014-11-19
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

14V168000 2014-04-09
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, 2008-2010 Highlander, and 2009-2010 Tacoma, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and General Motors Pontiac Vibe vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver's airbag module housed in a spiral cable assembly, which includes a Flexible Flat Cable (FFC). Due to the shape and location of the FFC's retainer, the FFC could become damaged when the steering wheel is turned.

If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.

13V383000 2013-08-28
Suspension:rear

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

12V491000 2012-10-10
Visibility:power window devices and controls

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Camry, Camry Hybrid, RAV4, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Yaris, Scion xB, Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The power window master switch assemblies in some of these vehicles were built using a less precise process for lubricating the internal components of the switch assemblies. Irregularities in this lubrication process may cause the power window master switch assemblies to malfunction and overheat.

If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.

12V373000 2012-08-02
Suspension:rear

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

11V245000 2011-04-21
Air bags

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 RAV4 VEHICLES. IN THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG (CSA) SYSTEM, THERE ARE TWO SENSORS IN THE AIRBAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO DETECT VEHICLE ROLL ANGLE. IF ONE OF THESE SENSORS MALFUNCTIONS, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT (MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT: MIL) WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE ROLL DETECTION SYSTEM WILL BE SUSPENDED; HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG CSA REMAINS AVAILABLE IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE CRASH. IF BOTH SENSORS FAIL NEARLY SIMULTANEOUSLY AFTER INITIAL AIRBAG SYSTEM CHECK, THE CSA AND THE SEAT BELT

INADVERTENT ACTIVATION OF THE CSA AND/OR THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER CAN CAUSE INJURY TO A VEHICLE OCCUPANT.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 2 mo in service
THE LOUD SOUND APPEARED CLEARLY LIKE A FLUTE SOUND WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING 30 TO 45 MPH. WHEN I RELEASED GAS PEDAL THE SOUND GOES AWAY, BUT WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL AGAIN, THE LOUD FLUTE SOUND APPEARS AGAIN. *JB
Power train 530 mi 5 mo in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO A PASSING GEAR BUT THE VEHICLE WILL SWERVE TO THE RIGHT WITHIN 100 FEET. A REPRESENTATIVE OF TOYOTA AND A REGIONAL MANAGER DROVE THE VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED THE EXACT PROBLEM. AFTER TWO SUSPENSION ALIGNMENTS, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER STILL SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 530. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3000.
Power train 89,079 mi 11 mo in service
TRANSMISSION HAS GONE UP. NO EXCESSIVELY HARD DRIVING IN THE PAST. APPARENTLY TRANSAXLE SHIFT NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR. *TR
Engine cooling 1,500 mi 5 mo in service
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A HIGH PITCHED WHISTLING SOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE WHISTLING SOUND STARTED TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THISWAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO BECOME DISTRACTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,500 . *AKI

Other RAV4 model years

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