13 of the
61 complaints about the 1997 Toyota RAV4 are about the
engine — 21% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
100,000 miles.
RECEIVED WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE-ZE7, AS INSTRUCTED, DEALER TEST WAS PERFORMED. OIL LOSS TOTALS UNDER 1QT. FOR EA. 1200 MILES DRIVEN. WAS TOLD THIS DID NOT QUALIFY FOR REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THIS: TOYOTA SERVICE REQUIRED FOR OIL CHANGE IS EVERY 5,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION OF JUST UNDER 1QT PER 1,200 MILES, SO DRIVING 5,000 MILES WOULD EFFECTIVELY BURN 4QTS., OR MORE, THEREBY STARVING ENGINE FOR OIL AND RESULTING IN ENGINE FAILURE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED ME TO KEEP CHECKING OIL LEVEL, AND ADD OIL AS REQUIRED. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA'S SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AND ADVISED THEM OF MY OPINION. I AM ABLE TO ADD OIL AS REQUIRED, BUT QUESTIONED CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT OTHER SENIOR CITIZEN'S ABILITY TO SELF MAINTAIN THE OIL LEVEL, OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANY CONSUMER THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS ASSIGNED ME A CASE NUMBER FROM REGIONAL CA. OFFICE. I WAS TOLD THAT PERHAPS TOYOTA WILL CHANGE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS SO THAT AT 5,000 MILES, OIL CONSUMPTION WOULD NOT RESULT IN ENGINE STARVATION AND FAILURE. ALSO, IN MY CASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR OIL LOSS, AND IF IT INCREASES IN VOLUME, COME BACK TO DEALER AND TEST AGAIN. I THINK THAT DESIGN FAILURE DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED UNDER THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTIFICATION THAT WAS MAILED TO ME.
NHTSA complaint #10712635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesAdelphi, MD
ENGINE
RAV 4 TOYOTA 1997-WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES WITHOUT THE RPR INCREASED WITHOUT CONTROL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BECOME EXTREMELY HOT, FLUIDS WERE DRAINED . CAR SENT TO DARCARS TOYOTA THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND NOW FACING SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, BECAUSE LACK OF RECALL RPR 'S ISSUE VERY DETRIMENTAL AND RISKY .
NHTSA complaint #10692661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 113,000 milesChicago, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SHIFTED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE).
NHTSA complaint #10146145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairbanks, AKCrashFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY RAV 4 - 57348 MILES. IT STARTED MAKING A TAPPING SOUND IN THE ENGINE AND IT HAS MAKES A METAL ON METAL VIBRATION UPON ACCELERATION AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I MAKE A GRADUAL LEFT TURN AND DECELERATE. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER. THEY SAY IT MAY BE THAT THE LIFTERS ARE A BIT WORN AND THAT THIS WILL NOT HARM ANYTHING. THIS IS ODD BECAUSE A NEW ENGINE WAS PLACED IN THE CAR AT 49,000 + MILES. THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT THE VIBRATION NOISE WAS AND SAID THAT IT IS POSSIBLY A ROCK IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I KNOW WHAT THAT SOUNDS LIKE AND STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THEIR ANALYSIS. THE NOISE IS DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE ENGINE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Faibanks, AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY RAV HAS HAD 2 ENGINE REPLACEMENTS THE FIRST AT 16,000 MILES AND THE SECOND AT 49,000 MILES. THE FIRST ONE HAPPENED WHEN IT STALLED OUT GOING THROUGH AN EXTREMELY LARGE PUDDLE OF WATER ON THE ACCESS ROAD AND THE SECOND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louiville, KY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE AND WITH NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8017189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Derry, NH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
PROBLEM OF STALLING AND VEHICLE ACCELERATION ONGOING SINCE JUNE..NOW AUGUST AND BACK TO DEALER AGAIN AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN TRAFFIC ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN IN VEHICLE..
NHTSA complaint #728359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ellicott City, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE CAR HAS A STALLING PROBLEM. I HAVE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR INITIALLY JUST HAD A STARTING PROBLEM WHERE IT WILL START AND STALLS IMMEDIATELY. THE LAST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT THE STARTER AND I HAD IT REPLACED, BUT IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS COLD OR WARM. I COULD JUST PULL INTO A GAS STATION AND IT WON'T START. IF I WAIT ABOUT TEN MINUTES, IT WILL START AGAIN. BUT, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. YESTERDAY, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60MPH THE CAR JUST STALLED. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER. I WAITED ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND IT STARTED AGAIN. THERE IS NO RHYME OF REASON TO THIS, THERE IS NO WARNING OF ANY KIND.
NHTSA complaint #711787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flushing, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CAR STALLED TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #515641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Brun, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILED CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START.
NHTSA complaint #544518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Brun, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRANK BUT NOT START.
NHTSA complaint #607837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Flushing, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS IN RAINY WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #515641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Berkley, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY ABOUT 80 MPH HAD ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED OR DIED OUT FOR NO REASON IN HEAVY TRAFFIC; EVERYTHING WENT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #813659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.