30 of the 880 complaints about the 2006 Toyota RAV4 are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,000 miles.
30
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR, WON'T STAY UP, BLOCKS MY VIEW WHEN I'M DRIVING, HAVE TO DUCK DOWN TO SEE FARTHER THAN THE FRONT OF MY RAV4......IT SEEMS THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, THAT THE SUN VISOR GAVE OUT, I THINK THIS IS A DRIVING HAZARD, SINCE IT BLOCKS A GOOD PORTION OF YOUR VIEW WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11003747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V689000 (VISIBILITY); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10875606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS ACTIVATED, BUT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V096000 (SEAT BELTS), 15V689000 (VISIBILITY), 13V383000 (SUSPENSION), AND 11V113000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10853563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE POWER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH IT DOESN'T WORK WELL . SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES NOT, TO MALFUNCTION OVERHEAT..
NHTSA complaint #10692603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVER SIDE VISOR WONT STAY IN UP POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10681996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
THE SUN VISOR DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT HOLD ITSELF UP IN POSITION. THE VISOR DROPS DOWN WHEN PUT UP OR CAN BE SET ON A SIDE OR CAN BE SET FULL FORWARD CLOSER TO THE FRONT GLASS, BUT IT CAN EASILY MOVE. THE SUN VISOR WEIGHT IS TO HEAVY FOR THE DESIGN AND MAKING IT FAULTY. A TOYOTA DEALER EMPLOYEE MENTION IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON "ALL RAV 4" OF THE SAME MODEL. THE INCIDENT HAPPEN DRIVING UP A HILL WITH THE VISOR FULL FORWARD AS TO COVER ONESELF FROM THE DIRECT SUN. UPON FALLING IN AN UNSEEN STREET HOLD THE VISOR DROPPED DOWN, AT THE SAME TIME ANOTHER CAR WAS COMING AND DUE TO THE POSITION UPHILL OF THE CAR AND THE VISOR DROPPING SUDDENLY IT ALMOST CAUSED A DIRECT FRONTAL COLLISION. THE VISOR MUST BE CHANGE AS IT INHIBITS PROPER FRONTAL VISION AND FUNCTION. *TR UPDATED 2/19/2016
NHTSA complaint #10669403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING. I HAVE TRIED GETTING IT TO STAY THERE WITH VELCRO, HOWEVER THE VISOR IS TOO HEAVY AND IT WILL NOT HOLD IT UP. I CALLED TOYOTA WHO STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME WITH THIS. IT WOULD COST ME OVER $100 TO GET THIS FIXED. THEY DO NOT SEE IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE, HOWEVER IT IS VERY DISTRACTING. I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTS ON THE INTERNET OF OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE VISOR.
NHTSA complaint #10644248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
DRIVER VISOR UNEXPECTEDLY FELL DOWN INTO DRIVERS VIEW WHILE DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY. IT COULD NOT BE MOVED TO THE SIDE TO STAY OUT THE WAY EITHER AS IT SEEMS TO HAVE JUST STRIPPED OUT.IT HAD TO BE REMOVED COMPLETELY IN ORDER TO SEE OUT WINDSHIELD PROPERLY. THE SAME THING OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER. THIS CREATES A DRIVING HAZARD BOTH BY THE UNEXPECTED DROPPING OF THE VISOR CREATING A VIEWING OBSTRUCTION AND BY NOT USING THE VISOR ALSO BECAUSE OF GLARE FROM THE SUN. TOYOTA RECALLED THE EXACT SAME VISORS THEY USE ON THE CAMRY MODEL BUT WON'T ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE RAV4 MODELS UTILIZING THE SAME VISOR!
NHTSA complaint #10617022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
SUN VISOR ON DRIVERS SIDE FAILS TO STAY UP BLOCKING VISIBILITY OF DRIVER . RESEARCHED ONLINE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS . TOYOTA HAS ONLY PROVIDED A RECALL WITH ONE MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10562483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
MY DRIVER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP, AND DROPS DOWN IN FRONT OF MY FACE, BLOCKING MY FIELD OF VISION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I LIVE IN PORTLAND, OREGON AND WE HAVE MUCH MORE GRAY INSTEAD OF SUN, SO MY VISOR DOESN'T GET USED THAT MUCH THROUGH THE YEAR. I SEARCHED ON WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM FORUMS, AND SEE THAT IT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH OTHER RAV4 OWNERS, SOME STARTING AT 15,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THAT TOYOTA HAS REDESIGNED THE PART AS A REPLACEMENT, BUT TOYOTA WANTS TO CHARGE $70 FOR THE REPLACEMENT VISOR + INSTALLATION. IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT, AND A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD EASILY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10542644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
MY SUNVISOR WOULD NOT STAY UP. THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. WHILE I'M DRIVING IF I HIT A BUMP IT FALLS INTO MY VEIW.
NHTSA complaint #10542488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
WHILE DRIVING THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUDDENLY FELL IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND HIT MY NOSE. I COULD NOT SEE AND ALMOST VEERED INTO A DITCH. MY NOSE WAS BRUISED AND SWOLLEN FOR 3 WEEKS. THE VISOR HAS CONTINUED TO BE A TROUBLESOME ISSUE AS IT CONTINUES TO FALL RANDOMLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE BLINDED BY IT OR STRUCK BY IT. I HAVE TRIED USING VELCRO TO HOLD THE VISOR IN IT'S PLACE BUT TO NO AVAIL AND HAVE TRIED CORRECTING THE MISTAKE BUT HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO "FIX" IT. THE VISOR HAS FALLEN WHILE DRIVING MANY TIMES CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SWERVE. TOYOTA WILL NOT RECALL BUT OFFERED TO CORRECT IF I WOULD PAY THEM $175.00! THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS SEEN AT THIS SITE: HTTP://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/FORUMS/98-4-3-INTERIOR/104489-DRIVER-SIDE-SUN-VISOR-INSTALLATION.HTML. PLEASE HELP AS THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND I DO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO PAY TOYOTA TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART.
NHTSA complaint #10524479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DOES NOT STAY UP. IT OSBTRUCTS THE DRIVER'S VISION AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10502254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE VISOR FREQUENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ABRUPTLY DROPS TO A STRAIGHT-DOWN POSITION. IN THIS POSITION IT IMPAIRS FORWARD VISIBILITY, AND FOR TALL DRIVERS IT CAN BLOCK THE VIEW OF THE ROAD COMPLETELY, IF YOU HAVE TO BRAKE SUDDENLY IT CAN HIT YOU IN THE HEAD.
NHTSA complaint #10499455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE RAV4 HAS A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR IN WHICH IT WILL NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE VISOR FREQUENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ABRUPTLY DROPS TO A STRAIGHT-DOWN POSITION. IN THIS POSITION IT IMPAIRS FORWARD VISIBILITY, AND FOR TALL DRIVERS IT CAN BLOCK THE VIEW OF THE ROAD COMPLETELY. THERE IS ALSO A WIDELY-REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING (THERE ARE 166 REPORTS ON THIS SITE AT THE TIME OF MY FILING) WHICH IS NOTICED IN THE FORM OF A KNOCKING OR CLUNKING NOISE WHICH CAN ALSO BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. MANY OWNERS, INCLUDING ME, ARE CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD BE A PRECURSOR TO A STEERING COMPONENT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10496648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE DRIVER SIDE VISOR MECHANISM HAS BROKEN AND THE VISOR HANGS DOWN, IMPAIRING THE DRIVER'S VISION. THE VISOR IS RARELY USED AND HAS VERY LITTLE WEAR. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY SUCH LITTLE USE. SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY PART. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANYTHING HUNG FROM THE VISOR THAT COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT TO THE VISOR MECHANISM.
NHTSA complaint #10487882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
PASSENGER SUNVISOR WILL NOT STAY IN UP LOCKED POSITION. FALLS DOWN AND MY WIFE HAS HIT HER HEAD GETTING IN RAV. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY TOYOTA AS MANY ARE HAVING THIS DEFECTIVE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10463060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
VISOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE FALLS DOWN AND BLOCKS VIEW OF THE ROAD. WILL NOT RETRACT TO IT'S STOWED AWAY POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10455541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY UP AND THIS CREATES A PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING TO THE EXTENT WHERE IT IS A VISIBILITY HAZARD. APPARENTLY TOYOTA HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE SUN VISOR ON THIS YEAR MODEL BUT REFUSED TO DO A RECALL ON THE MATTER. WHEN I TRIED TO PURCHASE ANOTHER SUN VISOR FOR THE VEHICLE I FOUND THAT YOU CAN ONLY PURCHASE IT THROUGH A TOYOTA DEALER AND THE PRICE IS $250.00. APPARENTLY TOYOTA IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF CUSTOMERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SUN VISOR AND REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOW THEY ARE CHARGING A RIDICULOUS PRICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW MANY ARE BAD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. I GUESS WHEN PEOPLE START GETTING KILLED BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY HAZARD, THEN MAYBE SOMEONE WILL THEN DECIDE TO DO SOMETHING TO HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10390171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BEGAN SAGGING. AT FIRST, I WAS ABLE TO POUND IT IN THE "UP" POSITION WITH MY FIST. BUT OVER TIME, THAT STOPPED WORKING. IT IS A GREAT OBSTRUCTION TO VISIBILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10370981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
I HAVE A TOYOTA '06 RAV 4 AND THE SUNVISOR ON DRIVER SIDE KEEPS FALLING; YOU HIT YOUR HEAD EACH TIME YOU ENTER THE VEHICLE; ALSO, IT IS DANGEROUSLY OBSTRUCTING YOUR VIEW WHEN YOU DRIVE BECAUSE IT KEEPS FALLING.
NHTSA complaint #10367889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
SUN VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN UP POSITION LEADING TO A SAFETY HAZARD OBSCURING DRIVERS SIGHT AND A COLLISION HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10342395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
REAR WINDOW JUST SHATTERS. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A PERIOD OF LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED ON BOTH OCCASIONS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE ISSUE OTHER THAN A REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDOW. TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT I'VE SEEN SEVERAL FORUMS ON THE WEB WITH POSTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10306426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. THE SUN VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT STAY UP AND IS A TRUE HAZARD WHILE DRIVING. IT BLOCKS MY VISION SUDDENLY BECAUSE IT DROOPS DOWN INTO MY EYE LINE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WANTS $285 TO REPLACE?
NHTSA complaint #10292880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
ON FREEWAY, OTHER MOTORIST NOTIFIED ME MY CAR WAS "ON FIRE!" I SAW EXCESSIVE SMOKE IN REARVIEW MIRROR. I TOOK THE NEXT EXIT WHICH WAS DIXON, CA OFF INTERSTATE 80 WEST IN CALIFORNIA. THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY THERE IS GRASSY, DID NOT THINK IT WAS SAFE TO STOP...I STOPPED THE CAR AND SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE, COMING UP THROUGH THE HOOD & UNDER THE CAR. THIS WAS TUES, 2/3/09. I HAS THE CAR SERVICED THE FRI BEFORE, 1/30/09 AT TOYOTA VALLEJO IN VALLEJO, CA. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AFTER CALLING AAA FOR A TOW. THE SERVICE ADVISOR, RYAN SAID "IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN FROM ANYTHING THEY HAD DONE. BUT THERE IS AN 'OIL HOSE' THAT HAD BEEN COMING OFF ALOT OF THE RAV4'S." I WAS ALREADY UPSET & THAT MADE ME LIVID!! IF IT WERE A KNOWN PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE CHECKED DURING THE SCHEDULED MAINT. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO LITHIA TOYOTA OF VACAVILLE #47 AT 500 ORANGE DRIVE, VACAVILLE, CA. WORK ORDER 394212. AS OF YESTERDAY, 2/12/09, THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, MEGAN, TOLD ME THERE WAS NO TSB SHE WAS AWARE OF, YET THE PART THAT CAME OFF (VVTI OIL PIPE) WAS NOT FOUND AT ANY OTHER DEALERSHIP OR SUPPLIER IN THE UNITED STATES, AND WAS ON ORDER FROM TOYOTA IN JAPAN. I AM FURIOUS THAT IT APPEARS TOYOTA WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FAILED TO INITIATE ANY STEPS TO PREVENT RISK TO ITS CONSUMERS. I AM ASKING FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION WHICH HOPEFULLY WILL LEAD TO A RECALL OF THE 2006 RAV4'S AND ANY OTHER YEAR THIS AFFECTS. MEGAN, THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER AT LITHIA TOYOTA CONFIRMED WITH MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER, JOSE LARA (GEICO 707-688-3318) THE COST IS COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY....WHAT ABOUT THE COST OF MY LIFE, AND THE LIVES OF THE OTHER MOTORIST SURROUNDING ME??? THE RISK OF FIRE IS NEVER TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER TO AVOID ANY COST OF LIFE.
NHTSA complaint #10258563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
WATER SEAMS TO GATHER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR MAT. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP CLOSEST TO ME AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A LEAK FROM THE WINDSHIELD AREA AND TECHNICIAN NEEDS TO ASSES THE SITUATION BUT SINCE I HAD 37,000 MILES ON THE CAR IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE WATER GATHERS ONLY WHEN IT RAINS. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CONDENSATION FROM THE AC BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THIS IS RAIN WATER ENTERING THE CABIN. 2006 RAV4.
NHTSA complaint #10254114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE GLASS IN THE WINDSHIELD OF A 2006 TOYOTA RAV4. BRIEFLY, THE GLASS SHATTERED IN A MANNER THAT IS UNCHARACTERISTIC OF SAFETY GLASS LEAVING SHARDS AND SLIVERS OF GLASS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE FROM THE IMPACT OF A ROCK FROM THE HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE THE TEMPERING PROCESS LEFT THIS WINDOW DEFECTIVE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURIES, PARTICULARLY TO THE EYES, OF DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS IS MORE THAN SHOULD BE ALLOWABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10171408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
AN ACCOUNT OF INCIDENT INVOLVING EXPLOSION OF SUNROOF ON 2006 RAV4/TOYOTA RENTAL VEHICLE RENTED FROM BEAVER TOYOTA, 1500 ST. MICHAEL DR. SANTA FE, NM 87505 IS GIVEN BELOW. VEHICLE INF. IS AS FOLLOWINGS: VEHICLE LINE: 2006 RAV4/SPORT, [XXX], [XXX], [XXX]. INCIDENT: VEHICLE WAS RENTED FOR 1 WEEK STARTING 11JUL06 WITH EXPECTED RETURN DATE ON 18JUL06. A VACATION TRIP WAS PLANNED FOR 2 NIGHTS IN KEYSTONE, CO, AND 2 NIGHTS IN TAOS, NM. ON ROUTE TO TAOS, NM FROM KEYSTONE, CO ON THE MORNING OF THE 14TH OF JULY 2006, WE WERE DRIVING DOWN US HIGHWAY 285 SOUTH OF FAIRPLAY, CO TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MILES/HR. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE OF US. THE SUNROOF WAS OPENED BRIEFLY, PERHAPS FOR 2-3 MINUTES, BUT THEN CLOSED. SHORTLY AFTER CLOSING THE SUNROOF, WITH THE SUN BLIND OPEN, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SENDING MOST OF THE SHATTERED GLASS EXTERIORLY. THE HOLE IN THE SUNROOF WAS CENTRALLY LOCATED AND MEASURED APPROXIMATELY 12 IN. (TRANSVERSE LENGTH) X 6 IN. (LONGITUDINAL LENGTH). WE WERE UNAWARE OF AN IMPACT OF ANY OBJECTS HITTING THIS VEHICLE. ON 17JUL06, WE SPOKE TO MR. GUERRERO AT BEAVER TOYOTA REGARDING WARRANTY, POSSIBLE DEFECT OF THE SUNROOF, AND WERE INFORMED THAT HE CONTACTED TOYOTA. WE WERE TOLD US THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE SUNROOFS. I INFORMED MR. GUERRERO THAT I INTENDED ON REPORTING THIS INCIDENT TO BOTH TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY, AND TO THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE IT WAS MOST LIKELY, CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCE THAT THE SUNROOF EXPLODED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *NM UPDATED 07/12/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10162867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
SAT, JULY 1, 2006 THE REAR WINDOW OF MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV4 SIMPLY BLEWOUT SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC, PRECIPITATION OR WIND AND TEMP HOVERED 75-80 DEGREES. MOST OF GLASS REMAINED LOOSELY INTACT BUT WAS ALL SHATTERED WITH A MEDIUM SIZE HOLE IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW, WITH SMALL FRAGMENTS FOUND OUTSIDE OF WINDOW. SMALL PIECES OF GLASS CONTINUED TO FALL OUT. THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING COLD (NOT RUNNING) SINCE THE EVENING PRIOR (6:30PM) AND WAS IN PARTLY SHADED AREA. BOTH REAR DRIVER/ PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS LOWERED ABOUT 2 INCHES TO CIRCULATE AIR. NOTHING WAS IN CAR TO CONTRIBUTE TO INTERNAL PRESSURE AND NOTHING HIT THE CAR AS I WAS WITNESS TO THIS EVENT AS IT OCCURRED. DRIVEWAY IS ON A HILL; CAR FACED FORWARD AND ANGLED DOWN THE HILL TOWARD GARAGE (CAR REAR END HIGHEST). LARGE GLASS PIECES FOUND MOSTLY OUTSIDE OF CAR JUST BELOW WINDOW WITH SOME LARGER PIECES LAYING ON OUTSIDE OF REAR DOOR WITH SMALLER FRAGMENTS ON THE GROUND BELOW. SMALL GLASS FRAGMENTS FOUND INSIDE CAR BELOW WINDOW. PICTURES TAKEN. TOYOTA CONTACTED AND QUESTIONED AS TO NEXT STEP. TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE OFFERED NOTHING AS THIS WAS HOLIDAY WEEKEND AND NOTHING WAS AVAILABLE,ACCORDING TO TOYOTA. AUTO GLASS REPAIR COMPANIES CALLED AND NO ONE AVAILABLE DUE TO HOLIDAY. INSURANCE COMPANY CALLED, GIVEN SAME STORY AGAIN! TOYOTA CALLED AGAIN. CAN'T LEAVE CAR SIT WITH BROKEN REAR WINDOW AND WE EXPECT RAIN. ASKED ABOUT KNOCKING REST OF GLASS OUT AS THE GLASS NEEDED TO BE CLEANED UP AND OPENING NEEDED TO BE SECURED. I EXPLAINED I COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR, IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE & TOWING WAS NOT AN OPTION AS NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER DIDN'T HAVE TOWING CAPACITY...AND CLOSED IN AN HOUR. KNOCKED REST OF GLASS OUT AND TAPED UP REAR WINDOW OPENING. DROVE TO DEALER MON MORNING TO LEAVE RAV FOR REPAIR AND SECURED RENTAL CAR. TOLD MY CAR WOULD NOT BE LOOKED AT UNTIL WED. THUR MY CAR LOOKED AT AND NEW WINDOW ORDERED AND HOPED TO BE HERE IN A WEEK OR SO. BROKEN GLASS DISPOSED OF.
NHTSA complaint #10161716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD FOR THE TOYOTA RAV 4 ARE CRACKING VERY EASY. MINE HAS LESS THAN 3000 AND I HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED IT ONCE AND TODAY IT CRACKED AGAIN. THE DOT RATING IS NOT RIGHT DOT 20 . MY PONTIAC IS 147 AND HAS TAKEN MUCH BIGGER HITS AN NO DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10160576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.