1996 TOYOTA RAV4 Problems & Recalls

EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL USE, 1 QT EVERY 1000 MILES

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WOULD DROP, THE DOORS WOULD SHUT ABNORMALLY AND THE LOCKS WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTUR...

Mileage: 6,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WOULD DROP, THE DOORS WOULD SHUT ABNORMALLY AND THE LOCKS WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTUR...

Mileage: 6,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BECAME UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE ...

Mileage: 367,000

I GOT THE CAR OFF OF MY BROTHER FOR $4,000.00, IT LOOKS GREAT, NEVER EVER BEEN WRECKED, PAINT GREAT, BRAND NEW TIRES, NEW EXHAUST, NEW BRAKES, ETC. I WAS WAITING ON HIM TO GET THE TITLE NOTARIZED AND HE BROUGHT IT OVER TODAY, BUT THIS MORNING WHEN I SHUT THE DOOR IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE FUSE BOX BURST ...

Mileage: 150,000

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS CLOGGED UP AND I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE NOT HAPPENED LIKE THAT. NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. OIL AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT; HOWEVER THERE WAS NO...

Mileage: 130,000

NOTE: TOYOTA CALLED AND SAID THAT SINCE I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED, THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING.....I SAVED THE PART. I AM WRITING NOW BECAUSE I SAW A TV NEWS STORY ABOUT THE ROLL-OVER CONCERN WITH SUV'S. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ROLL-OVER IF NOT FOR THE LOCATION AND LOW SPEED. DEAR TOYOTA (E...

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER HIT ICE POT HOLE, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A GUARD RAIL, PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED HALF WAY. *AK *NM

Mileage: 99,000

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE OWNER HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE SWERVED ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO 5TH GEAR. THE 4TH GEAR ALSO BEGAN SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER 40,000 MILES THE EXACT SAME FAILURE RECURRE...

Mileage: 60,000

THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT FORCEFUL IMPACT.*JB

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO CRASH. *TS *NLM

Mileage: 12,200

WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY FRIEND (WHO WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND LIKES TO SIT WITH HIS KNEES UP) ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND FOUND THAT ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HAD NO POWER TO THE WHEELS. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTEN...

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH ANY PUMP OR TAP TO GEAR SHIFT IT WILL GO INTO NEUTRAL, LOSING ALL POWER, ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

DRIVER' S SEAT BELT FAILS TO RELEASE FOR USAGE, NEEDS TO JERK HARD TO PULL IT OUT. WOULD RETRACT BACK VERY SLOWLY.ALSO, SEAT BELT WILL NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO MOVE IN SEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT RETRACTOR NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO BEING BROKEN ON INSIDE. *AK

IN WINDY CONDITIONS OR ON PARKED INCLINE REAR LIFTGATE WHICH OPENS LIKE A DOOR, SLAMMED INTO OCCUPANT WHO SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK THE DEVICE WHICH HOLDS THE DOOR OPEN IS NOT ADEQUATE BECAUSE OF THAT THE DOOR CLOSES TOO EASILY. *YH

THE FRONT STRUTS ON MY 1996 TOYOTA RAV4 HAVE BEEN LEAKING FOR SOMETIME. WHEN THIS WAS DICOVERED THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 30,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN OFF RAOD.*AK

I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE CAR. A SHORT TIME LATER AN ADDITIONAL SOUND OF SOMETHING ROLLING AROUND FREELY IN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WAS HEARD. I SUSPECTED BRAKE TROUBLE AND TOOK THE CAR TO SEARS AUTOMOTIVE WHERE THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORKED ON 1 MONTH PRIOR. UPON INSP...

5/7/96-FRONT WHEELS CLEANED OF BRAKE DUST; 3/5/97-MILEAGE-14118: FRONT BRAKE JOB DONE(BRAKES GRINDING); 9/13/97 BRAKES SQUEAKING-REAR BRAKES CLEANED AND ADJUSTED.; 12/1/97-FRONT BRAKES WORN OUT-REPLACED; 12/98-FRONT BRAKES GRINDING-PADS REPLACED AGAIN; 10/16/99-FRONT BRAKES REPLACED AGAIN. I REQUES...

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIEDTHE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN. TOOK TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES & HAD VEHICLE TEST DRIVEN. BRAKES WERE TAPPED LIGHTLY & TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

I CONTINUE TO HAVE SQUEAKING NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS/BRAKES. THESE NOISES OCCUR AT ALL SPEEDS WHETHER BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR NOT. DESPITE NUMEROUS SETS OF REPLACEMENT BRAKES, THE SQUEAKING PERSISTS. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, GRINDING NOISES ARE AUDIBLE, ESPECIALLY AS THE CAR NEARS A STO...

BRAKES MAKES LOUD GRINDING SOUNDS. *AK

CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES SQUEAKING/GRINDING, DUE TO FAULTY CALIPERS PRESSING DOWN TOO HARD ON PADS CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR, PADS REPLACED TWICE.

FRACTURE JUST FORWARD OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER. UNIT APPEARS TO HAVE INADEQUATE SUPPORT.

IN COLD WEATHER, BELOW 30 DEGREES, BOTH FRONT DOOR LOCK MECHANISMS ARE PRONE TO FREEZING. THIS SOMETIMES MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE VEHICLE. OTHER TIMES, THE DOOR OPENS, BUT THEN WILL NOT SHUT BECAUSE THE LOCK MECHANISM IS FROZEN. THE DOOR JUST BOUNCES AGAINST THE FRAME AND DOES NOT LATCH. ...

YOUR FORM IS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY PROBLEM. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE SURGE OR STUCK ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPNED TWICE DURING OWNERSHIP. ONCE WHILE PARKING AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. SECOND TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL,AND HAD TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE TO AVOID HITTING...

SINCE THE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE, IT WOULD OCCASSIONALLY HYDROPLANE ON SLIGHTY WET SURFACES AND GO TO THE LEFT. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY HYDROPLANED FROM THE RIGHT LANE OF THE FREEWAY TO THE LEFT WITH NO WARNING. THE LAST INCIDENT ENDED IN A CRASH. WHILE TRAVELING IN A LIGHT...

GAS LINE FAILURE.

THE ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO BURN AND RESULTING IN A "FIRE" ON THE BRAKES. BRAKES LOCKED UP UNEXPECTLY EVEN WHEN NOT PRESSING THE BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS/ PADS/ MASTER CYLINDER. HOWEVER, MASTER CYLINDER PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

THE ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO BURN AND RESULTING IN A "FIRE" ON THE BRAKES. BRAKES LOCKED UP UNEXPECTLY EVEN WHEN NOT PRESSING THE BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS/ PADS/ MASTER CYLINDER. HOWEVER, MASTER CYLINDER PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

THE ABS BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PADS TO BURN AND RESULTING IN A "FIRE" ON THE BRAKES. BRAKES LOCKED UP UNEXPECTLY EVEN WHEN NOT PRESSING THE BRAKES. DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS/ PADS/ MASTER CYLINDER. HOWEVER, MASTER CYLINDER PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK

VEHICLE PARKED ON SLIGHT HILL LOCKED IN REVERSE, ROLLED FORWARD DOWN HILL AND HIT ANOTHER CAR. CAUSE OF THIS HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

DURING SIDE IMPACT, DESIGN/SHAPE OF HEAD REST CAUSED NECK INJURY TO DRIVER. ACCORDIING TO DRIVER'S DOCTOR, SHAPE/HARDNESS OF HEAD REST, CAUSED NECK INJURY. DESIGN ALRIGHT FOR MAJOR CRASHES, NOT MINOR; WHILE AT STANDSTILL, VEHICLE SIDE SWIPED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH DURING HIGH WINDS, PROCEEDING AROUND A MOUNTAIN, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO ROLLOVER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

DOOR LOCK FAILED.

LEFT CYLINDER HEAD FAILED.

TRANSMISSION SOLENOID FAILED.

THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SCISSOR JACK PROVIDED WITH VEHICLE DOES NOT LIFT THE VEHICLE HIGH ENOUGH TO REMOVE A TIRE. FIVE ADDITIONAL INCHES OF LIFT ARE REQUIRED TO LIFT THE TIRE 1/2 INCH OFF THE GROUND. *AK

ENGINE STALLS.

ALARM SYSTEM FAILED.

HEATING SYSTEM FAILED.

SEAT GOES OFF TRACK WHILE ADJUSTING.

BRAKES SQUEAL/EXHIBIT EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.

BRAKES MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES AND JERKING VIBRATIONS.

TRANSMISSION SOLENOID FAILED.

BRAKES DISC PADS WORN OUT.

BRAKES FAILED.

SPEEDOMETER REPLACED.

OIL LEAK.

DEFECTIVE FUEL FILLER NECK, CAUSING GAS TANK PRESSURE TO PREMATURELY SHUTOFF THE GAS PUMP WHEN REFILLING VEHICLE.

FAILURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND AND WILL JUMP UP AND DOWN AND GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DURING A HEA-ON COLLISION. *AK

AIR BAG HORN BUTTON FAILED.