19 of the 92 complaints about the 1998 Toyota RAV4 are about the braking system — 21% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 120,000 miles.
19
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
EVEN AFTER I REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS WHILE DOING MAINTENANCE, THE BRAKES ARE STILL LOOSE AT TIMES, MOSTLY AFTER RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11041468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ROTOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10618588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ROTOR WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10618588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK TWICE AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD INSTEAD INTO DRIVE. THIS WAS AT LOW SPEED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE FIRST BRAKING ATTEMPT FAILED, THE BRAKE WAS PUMPED A SECOND TIME AND IT FAILED TO STOP AND ACCELERATED INSTEAD. FIRM PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL A THIRD TIME AND THIS DID PROMPT THE VEHICLE TO STOP BUT IT WAS CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING ANOTHER CAR ALREADY STOPPED AT THE LIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10395749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TS
NHTSA complaint #767830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ENGINE LIGHT CAME 0N. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WENT FORWARD AND JUMPED CURB. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND LIGHT WENT OFF. NEXT DAY, DEALER CHECKED SYSTEM'S COMPUTER AND A SENSOR KICKED UP THE IDLER. SENSOR WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE, AND IF IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #897021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR ,CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, VEHICLE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #880767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
REPLACED BRAKES 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE, PADS TWICE A YEAR, REPLACED ROTORS TWICE. BRAKES ARE ALWAYS SQEAKING. CURENTLY, STRUTS ARE LEAKING. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #877601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
REPLACED BRAKES 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE, PADS TWICE A YEAR, REPLACED ROTORS TWICE. BRAKES ARE ALWAYS SQEAKING. CURENTLY, STRUTS ARE LEAKING. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #877601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
SQUEAKY BRAKES WHICH GRADUALLY BECOMES WORSE WITH GRINDING NOISE, PROBLEM WITH ALL ROTOR AND NEED NEW BRAKES, ONE MONTH LATER WITH BRAKES STILL SQUEAKY
NHTSA complaint #9001893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #730266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #730266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE PASSING A TRUCK BRAKES LOCKED UP. DEALER WAS CONTACTED . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #869551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #609341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES SQUEAK.
NHTSA complaint #607292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL
BRAKE SWITCH RELEASE HANDLE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
INTERMITTENTLY THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE "HARD" AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE SLID, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK TOYOTA DECIDED TO TAKE VEHICLE BACK AND GIVE CONSUMER A NEW ONE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #827718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKING SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE, AND ON WET PAVEMENT AT 20MPH THE BRAKES LOCK UP. DEALER AND INSURANCE COMPANY CONTACTED. AFTER REPAIR WORK HAD BEEN DONE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #827738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
POWER ASSISTED FRONT DISC AND REAR BRAKE DRUMS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #529295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.