2019 Toyota RAV4 body problems

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

The rear door (lift gate) hinges are failing and tearing away from the vehicle body, causing misalignment of the rear door, operational failure of the automated lift gate, and water leaking into the interior. This has occurred under normal use conditions. It appears that the hinge design is insufficient to handle the load and forces of normal operation of the door. The failure has been documented in pictures. The Toyota dealership where the vehicle was purchased stated that the vehicle is out of warranty and there is no recall for the hinges, therefore the owner is responsible for repair costs. Had the issue not been found and the hinges failed completely, it could have been extremely hazardous.

NHTSA complaint #11737542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

The rear hatch hinges are undersized causing them to fail and undue stress on the motor.

NHTSA complaint #11736148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

Tailgate problem since Purchase. Tailgate won't close. Gets stuck open. Dangerous. Known issue. Fixed 3 times at Toyota dealer. Faulty hinge and other real parts problems. Dealer says there is a class action lawsuit about the problem. 1st occurred only during Winters starting 2022. Gas door broken 2023. Water leaking into passenger front door 2022. Also door actuator . Have had to replace front 2, now rear broken. Can report separately.

NHTSA complaint #11730046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

While driving, the moonroof on my 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD suddenly exploded with a loud bang and the glass blew outward. There was no impact, debris, or external cause. The sound was similar to a gunshot. The remaining glass appeared to be pushed upward/outward, not inward. This created a safety hazard due to potential driver distraction and risk of injury from falling glass. This appears consistent with other reported incidents involving spontaneous sunroof shattering. No warning light. Moonroof was shut.Sunny day about 40 degrees outside. Traveling at 68 mph. Dog in crate in back

NHTSA complaint #11729533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

I have a 2019 Toyota Rav4 and my liftgate hinges are breaking . The welds are breaking and its causing my truck to no close all the way. Also is truck itself had misaligning itself to the driver side and its also breaking my tail light from the truck hitting it. This is a known problem with this model of car. Toyota has refuse to fix this problem. Leaving people to pay for this repair out of their pocket. The price i have quote for is $2,288.27 that's alot of money. This problem needs to be fix without us coming out of our pocket to fix something that Toyota has known about for some time now. I have been back and forward with my local deal ship snice 3/20/2026. Today i s 3/24/2026 and nothing has changed. I have called Toyota corporate to see if i can some help with is repair. All they keep saying is my car" doesn't meet the reequipments. There should be a recall cause this isnt one two RAV4s its hundreds maybe even tens of thousands.

NHTSA complaint #11726863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

I have noticed visible rust forming on the roof, specifically the front drivers side adjacent to the inside edge of the roof rail that runs forward to aft on the vehicle. The same stated rust spot is near where the roof meets the windshield. It is available for inspection upon request. My 2019 Toyota Rav4 along with several other 5th generation Rav4 owners online are experiencing rust in the same exact spot. This rust may be a result of the Toyota Customer Service Program (CSP) #22TE05 and T-SB-0016-23 that came of a result of the Fishkind v. Toyota Motor Sales, USA et al. No. Case 2:23-cv-02279 Class Action Lawsuit. This rust may have been formed by the leaking roof rail gaskets that have a slow enough leak rate to penetrate the roof rail clip holes and create moisture and rust over an extended period of time but not high enough of a leak rate to cause excess leakage into the vehicle that would immediately alarm the driver to have the vehicle taken into the dealership for immediate repair before the corrosion and rust can have a chance to spread. After several conversations with Toyota Corporate and my Toyota dealership they have denied me CSP inspection and any coverage or good will assistance through the CSP# 22TE05 & T-SB-0016-23 despite evidence of water residue buildup on the headliner visible through a UV blacklight. Even if the rust is not caused from the roof rail gasket leakage, there are still multiple other instances online of other 5th gen rav4 owners experiencing roof rust in the same exact spot adjacent to the drivers side roof rail near the windshield, which points to a manufacturing defect. My safety will be put at risk when the corrosion worsens and leaks through into the electrical components of the vehicle. My dealership witnessed the rust but denied performing an inspection of the roof rail clips since there is currently visible rust, likely due to the roof rail clips leakage. No manufacturer inspection. No noticeable warning symptoms.

NHTSA complaint #11725378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

A recall was issued for a roof leak defect that allowed water intrusion into my vehicle. The recall repair was performed at Autonation Toyota of Weston dealership, where the roof was replaced due to water staining. However, water intrusion which led to black mold growth into the interior carpeting and floor board remained after the repair. The dealership stated that the remaining water intrusion affecting the carpeting was caused by another source. Documentation showing that the recall repair procedure was completed according to the manufacturer’s requirements was requested but has not been provided. The defect involving water entering the vehicle interior remains unresolved. I was last told by the General Manager that my requests and concerns were forwarded to legal, but I have not heard back from October of 2025.

NHTSA complaint #11724421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

The rear liftgate began malfunctioning and would intermittently fail to open or close properly. The issue had previously been reported to a Toyota dealership, but the problem could not be reproduced at the time. I noticed recently that the liftgate was not fully closing on the passenger side. While inspecting the liftgate more closely, I discovered that the passenger side liftgate hinge is cracked and the metal at the hinge base is separating. The crack appears to run through the hinge bracket where it attaches to the body. The driver side hinge also shows signs of stress. Because the hinge is cracked and separating, there is concern that the liftgate could eventually detach or fall unexpectedly. The liftgate is heavy, and a hinge failure could allow it to drop suddenly, posing a risk of injury to someone standing near or underneath it. If both hinges fail at the same time, the liftgate could become detached from the vehicle while driving resulting in an accident and potential injury to myself, my family, and others that are hit by or hit the liftgate. The dealership suggested the damage may have occurred from forcing the liftgate closed when the liftgate struts failed to function. However, the cracking appears consistent with progressive metal fatigue rather than a single impact event. This appears to be a structural hinge failure that could affect the safe operation of the liftgate. The dealership has documented my concerns on numerous occasions and today they visually saw the hinges in their current shape.

NHTSA complaint #11722706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

The hinge has broken from the body, causing the liftgate to fail to close the back trunk area of the vehicle. The defective hinge has caused misalignment of the door and an unsecure compartment which is a violation of NC State Law according to NC GS 20-116. This puts the passenger's and driver of the vehicle and other surrounding vehicles at risk by failing to stay aligned or seal properly. I fear that glass may crack due to the currently misalignment. I have sought out further information from a Vehicle Repair Center, who confirmed there is a current Lawsuit on the Case No.: 5:24-cv-00912ZACH HUGHES, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC., TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, and TOYOTA MOTOR.

NHTSA complaint #11717300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

The rear trunk door would occasionally fail to open or shut for the last several years. It was inconsistent with this behavior and I was never able to get it to fail when at the dealership servicing department. This weekend when at the store, it failed shutting and I had to force it to shut. While driving home it rattled itself open. I had to pull over to inspect it and could not get it to close. When I looked closer, the hinge of the door had been ripped from the body on the passenger side of the vehicle. I have never been in an accident nor have I ever had any impact on this door.

NHTSA complaint #11715053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

I began experiencing intermittent rear liftgate sensor issues on my 2019 Toyota RAV4 in late 2020. The power hatch would stop halfway while opening. On 3/24/2021, while the vehicle was under factory warranty, I brought it to a Toyota dealer for inspection. The dealer stated the issue could not be replicated and advised me to manually push the hatch upward. No repair was made. Over time, the condition worsened. The liftgate began intermittently stopping halfway while closing, using both the key fob and the interior dash button. In 2022, a rattling noise developed in the rear of the vehicle, later determined to be associated with progressive liftgate structural failure. By 2024, the rear liftgate became unsafe and largely inoperable. The hatch shifted significantly to the left, leaving an abnormally large gap at the top and driver’s side. I stopped using the liftgate due to concern it could fail unexpectedly or not close properly. I contacted Toyota Engagement Services multiple times, explaining that this issue is widely reported among 2019 RAV4 owners and presents a safety concern. On 11/18/2025, the vehicle was inspected at Crabtree Toyota. The inspection confirmed rear liftgate hinge failure. The dealer provided video documentation and a written repair estimate. The health inspection also noted a separated and broken passenger-side rear hatch pulse sensor requiring replacement. Toyota closed my case without repairing the defect. Toyota offered a “good faith” credit of approximately 75% of the repair cost that cannot be applied to the liftgate structural or sensor repair and is only usable for unrelated future service. This appears to be a known, progressive defect involving rear liftgate hinges and related sensors on 2019 Toyota RAV4 vehicles. The condition presents a safety risk, as the liftgate may fail to stay open, close unexpectedly, or malfunction electronically. My VIN has been provided. Photos, video, and repair documentation are available upon requ

NHTSA complaint #11708446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the rear hatch door failed to remain securely closed. The contact stated that the failure intermittently occurred and became more frequent over time. Additionally, the front driver’s side seat belt buckle and rear passenger’s side seat belt buckle failed to buckle and lock securely. They also stated that the front driver's side electronic reclining seat made grinding sounds while operating. The contact also stated that water was leaking into the vehicle from the rear passenger’s side quarter panel. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failures, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 32,000.

NHTSA complaint #11704726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

Rear door liftgate hinges defective. They are too week combined with electric power struts. They are being pulled away from body of vehicle and become misshapen (bent, deformed,etc) and causes door/liftgate to be unbalanced and and stick out too far away from body. Now the door/liftgate can not close and be secured

NHTSA complaint #11703424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

Lift cylinders of power liftgate are operating at different times causing gate to twist. Liftgate fails to open and close automatically, causing prolonged beeping while liftgate is open. Hinges holding liftgate in place have started to bend and crack apart from the body of the car. An independent auto body shop inspected this issue and recreated the tailgate failure. Quote to repair included replacing hinges, lift cylinders and to recheck electronic connections.

NHTSA complaint #11701480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

I am reaching out regarding a structural issue I’ve experienced with my 2019 Toyota RAV4, specifically with the rear power liftgate. Recently, I noticed that the liftgate hinges are beginning to crack and pull away from the body of the vehicle. The alignment of the trunk has shifted slightly, and there is visible damage around the hinge area. This appears to be worsening over time and is beginning to affect the liftgate’s ability to close properly and securely.

NHTSA complaint #11679398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fluid leaking from the driver’s side rear door. An unknown dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #11677218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

The roof of my SUV is leaking and it’s leaking into my two airbags. There’s a sunroof and the roof rack

NHTSA complaint #11675381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while stopping the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal slushing sound coming from the front passenger's side door. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and it was determined that the door seals had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired and remained with the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA complaint #11668150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

Back doors are completely water logged (full of water) and won't drain .

NHTSA complaint #11665188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

1st: veh purchased Jan 2023 with new set of tires. Within 11k miles, about 9months: Rear tires unable to be aligned properly due to no camber adjustment. Rear tires have excessive inner rear (belts showing) with 11k miles on tires. Took veh to dealership and was told I just need a set of tires and an alignment. When the tech was questioned if it was an accurate alignment, we were told it would be off a couple degrees because the OE rear control arms did not have any adjustment. This was repaired by an independent shop using aftermarket set of rear control arms, a proper alignment and 2 new rear tires ($1200)--because Toyota dealer would not own any accountability of an error nor do the PROPER requested repair since proper repair did not involve OE Toyota parts. This was repaired, case closed and tires have 20k miles on them with beautiful, even wear. 2nd: Rear door hatch will not close electronically. 2 incidences of bent (left) hinge from forcing the tailgate closed and damaged rear taillamp from mis-alignment. Post hinges replaced: re-sets have been done, disabling door and re-enabling, and disconnected battery. Still will not close electronically. This had been occurring over a year and no one knows the fix. I will not be going back to my local stealership and the next one is 30 miles away.

NHTSA complaint #11663561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

I bought my Rav4 in 2019 brand new. For years, anytime there is a hard rain, the doors fill up with water. Water does not drain properly. I brought my car into Toyota a couple of years back. They told me that there was no fix and that when that happens, just to lift up the weather stripping on all four doors, to let the water drain. They acted like this is completely normal. Just last week, I brought my car in again to Toyota to see if they had a fix for it. They ended up charging me about $700 to replace all of the weather stripping on the doors. This is very clearly a manufacturing default and the customer should not be charged for what is a common issue with this car! If this is a well known issue at this point, why has this not been recalled? Again, the doors have had issue draining the water properly since day one and the car was brand new! Anytime the doors fill with water, you can literally hear the water splashing around in the doors while driving! I am not a happy customer. Toyota never takes responsibility!

NHTSA complaint #11661564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

There is a water accumulation problem in the doors. This could potentially cause some rot from the inside out causing electrical to fail or metal to rust and cause the affected door(s) to not open correctly. No warning lights came on or anything on the dashboard.

NHTSA complaint #11660359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

Rear passenger door keeps flooding after rain. Bottom door seal needs to be physically lifted to the side for water to drain out of the door.

NHTSA complaint #11659192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the liftgate hinge had fractured into two pieces, causing the liftgate to fail to operate as designed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the repair was not covered under recall or warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #11653142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

The rear hatch hinges cracked almost all the way through and had to be replaced. We were afraid to drive the vehicle because we didn’t want the hatch back to fall off while driving and create an accident.

NHTSA complaint #11652159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

Toyota RAV4 5th Gen Power Lift Gate Hinge Issues Unpredictable Failure: If the lift gate or its components fail unexpectedly, it could cause injury to someone loading or unloading items, especially if they are unable to react in time. Obstructed Visibility: If the lift gate detaches while in motion, it could obstruct the driver’s rear visibility, increasing the risk of an accident. Risk to Other Road Users: A detached lift gate or related debris could pose significant danger to pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles on the road. Vehicle Stability and Control: A sudden failure or detachment of the lift gate components could destabilize the vehicle, especially at high speeds. Damage to Emergency Equipment: If the lift gate collapses or detaches, it could damage essential safety or emergency equipment stored in the trunk, leaving occupants unprepared in an actual emergency. Child and Pet Safety Concerns: Families frequently use RAV4s as family vehicles. A collapsing or failing lift gate could pose a serious risk to children or pets while loading or unloading. Potential for Escalating Damage: The failure of hinges or struts could result in cascading damage to other parts of the vehicle, such as electrical systems or the rear windshield, creating additional safety hazards. Delayed Emergency Response: If the lift gate malfunctions or becomes stuck in a partially open or closed position, it could impede access to the cargo area in emergencies, such as retrieving a first aid kit.

NHTSA complaint #11632935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

I am writing to file a formal complaint regarding a manufacturing defect in my vehicle and the refusal by Toyota to honor its responsibilities for repair despite clear acknowledgment of the issue. In October 2024, I discovered a small water leak from the roof of my vehicle. I attempted to schedule an appointment with the nearest Toyota dealer, but the timing of their available appointments conflicted with my work schedule, and it was not possible for me to get a timely appointment. In an effort to mitigate the leak, I tried to fix it myself until I could get the vehicle to the dealership. Upon visiting the dealership, I was informed that the issue was a manufacturing defect, but they refused to repair my vehicle because I had attempted to fix the issue myself. This worsened the leak, as they did not return my vehicle to its original condition. I was then informed that I would have to bear the full cost of repairs. I had no prior knowledge of any recall associated with my vehicle. After conducting my own research, I discovered that Toyota had acknowledged the manufacturing defect affecting my vehicle model but had not notified me or issued a recall. I reached out to Toyota’s customer service, and they assured me that they would approve the repair through the dealership. However, after approximately a month of waiting, Toyota informed me that they would not cover the costs of the repair, and they declined to take any further responsibility.

NHTSA complaint #11629392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

My car frame floods every time it rains. This flooding includes my sunroof drain clogging. As a result of the water retention in my car’s frame, my cars safety system controller units are being corroded and thus I DO NOT have any reliable safety monitoring system. I have looked into this and this a COMMON complaint for Toyota 2019-2021 Rav4 sunroof cars. I have had the sunroof drain cleared multiple times but the issue remains. So far it has impacted my tire pressure safety monitoring systems. This is a MAJOR safety issue as the electrical safety monitoring system controller units are NOT properly functioning as a result of poor water drainage.

NHTSA complaint #11629224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

Initially thought a seal on the windshield was faulty, so contacted the business who replaced the windshield. Business owner came to owner’s house Mon, Nov 4, 2024. He did a thorough inspection of all areas where water was identified by owner (dash, under the dash, on the driver side floor) and confirmed it was not the windshield. He then inspected the roof rack and determined the roof rack was defective and leaking water from the ceiling of the vehicle, down into the dash, and ultimately onto the floor. He recommended contacting Toyota because this was a known issue. By 12pm on Mon, Nov 4, 2024 owner contacted Toyota alerting them to the issue. An appointment was made to bring the vehicle in for inspection on Mon, Nov 11, 2024. Owners do not have a garage or carport, so a canopy was pitched over the car in an effort to prevent any further water damage and moisture absorbing canisters were placed in the car. The vehicle was not driven in the rain during the period after first noticing the leak and bringing it in to the dealership. Evidence of Electrical Damage: On Friday, November 1, 2024 the driver side seat became extremely hot, to the point of needing to pull over and turn the car off. The seat heater was not turned on at any point during this time. On Saturday, Nov 9, 2024 and Nov 11, 2024 while driving on the highway, the car (normally driven in Eco Mode) unexpectedly switched into Mud&Sand mode and all safety features switched off. Owner was unable to manually override this occurrence. The “Normal” button did not work. After a few minutes, the vehicle switched into the default setting and owner was able to put it back into Eco Mode. On Nov 11, 2024 owner brought vehicle into Toyota for diagnostics. Owner requested that the electrical components also be inspected and was told it was not covered under the Customer Support Program.

NHTSA complaint #11624987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.