Manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe problems of the 2006 Toyota RAV4

While driving east on I-490 from rochester to I-90, the check engine light came on and the engine was misfiring. We exited the freeway and the check engine light started to flash, the engine sputtered and died. I put the car in neutral and parked on the right curb. Fortunately this happened on a city street and not on the freeway. Power steering was of course lost, so the maneuver was difficult. Aaa towed the car to our repair shop, and they reported 24 engine codes were thrown, and recommended a complete engine tune-up, including replacement of the six ignition coil packs, spark plugs, and intake manifold gaskets. Much of the $1,000 expense was 4. 5 hours of labor, to remove the intake manifold (necessary to reach the rear bank of cylinders 1,3,5). This was not the first time the ignition coils have failed on this vehicle. In October 2012 (around 50k miles) engine code p0354 was thrown, and I replaced the coil on cylinder 4. In January 2014 (around 58k miles) code p0356 was thrown, and I replaced the coil on cylinder 6. Since the dangerous incident of lost power and replacement of all six coils on 14 June 2016 (around 80k miles) only nine months and 7k miles later, code p0351 (bad coil on cylinder 1) was thrown on 24 March 2017, and now code p0355 (cylinder 5) was thrown on 28 March 2017. I have already spent around $1,200 to deal with this problem, and the car is today back in the repair shop to have two rear bank coils replaced, for $229. There is clearly something wrong when these coils are failing under normal operating conditions, especially after only 7k miles. This is not just a problem for us. Other repair shops have said this era of Rav4 is known for this problem. . Read more...

I have been changing my oil every 3000 miles / 3 months or less this Rav4 is not leaking oil and not putting soot out or blowing blue smoke out the tail pipe showing that it is burning oil. No engine lights or oil lights came on until the engine stopped running. By this time it was too late. I took my Rav4 to goodyear and they said that they had to put 4. 5 quarts of oil in which is how much the Rav4 takes. They also stated they did not see any oil leaks anywhere. This is the base model four cylinder model. Oil should not be gone in less than 3000 miles especial with an engine that has less that 150000 miles today. I feel this is a defect that should be addressed by Toyota and that everyone that encounters this problem should be compisated for the kbb fair value at the time it happens for this problem. We the people buy cars that should last and not be stuck in a financial hardship for a factory defect that does not even warn us of low oil.

Muffler & tailpipe and housing on my Rav4 are rusting extensively. Had dealer check it out. Recommends I replace my exhaust system. There were holes in my exhaust systems due to rust. Called and complained to Toyota headquarters. Unfortunately, they only offer a 3 yr/36,000 mile warranty. Case ref #1203230216. My car is only 5 yrs old!!! my exhaust system can fall off my Rav4 on the highway and cause an accident. Who is to blame in such a senario? Toyota motor company for making inferior exhaust systems? there is rust on garage floor where I park my Rav4!!!.

Last night while driving with my young daughter on a lonely highway with no cell service, my 2006 Toyota rav 4 v6 limited started making a noise. I immediately checked my dash and no lights were on, pressures okay. The noise stopped and I kept driving. About twelve miles from home the noise started again and my daughter noticed. I looked down and my oil pressure light flashed on and right back off. We barely made it to our house. When I got out and looked under the car, oil was everywhere. It had ran all the way to the back of the car. When I pulled the dip stick there was no oil on the stick. My husband checked it today and found a hole in a rubber hose. I went on-line and have read hundreds of similar stories. Supposedly, Toyota was to send out a letter in October 2009 to all 2006 rav owners. Well, I never received a letter and I've been the one and only owner at the same address. So, it's not like I couldn't be found. Now my husband is trying to find the replacement part for the vvti- oil hose, that is now called a 'pipe'. I want to know why this wasn't considered a recall issue instead of a limited service campaign? that oil had spewed all over and under the hot engine onto the manifold. There was nothing keeping it from catching fire which could have taken both our lives. If I had received the letter (a year and a half ago) the hose could have been replaced. Now, I'm looking at repair costs that could include a new engine. At this point, we don't know how much damage was done. My car is paid for and I don't have the funds to buy a new car or have the engine replaced. I want to know with all of the other Toyota issues in the last several years, why this wasn't addressed? my husband just called a local dealer to get the replacement part. He said the warehouse has over 250 in stock! which tells them that this is no isolated issue. He said that the part number has changed about four times, which means Toyota knows there is a safety issue.

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Rav4. The contact noticed a patch of oil underneath the vehicle. He checked the oil and discovered that it was completely low. He placed five quarts of oil in the vehicle and within 30 minutes, all five quarts had leaked out. The contact took the vehicle to a repair shop, but it has not yet been inspected. The dealer stated that they had just repaired this issue on another Toyota Rav4 and that it was a safety issue. Through research, the contact discovered a TSB for the Toyota avalon (service bulletin number 06405, NHTSA item number 10018855, component: engine and engine cooling:engine, summary: engine oil drip: bank 1 vvti oil line). Both the avalon and the Rav4 have the same engine. The TSB stated that vehicles may experience a small/slow oil drip from the bank 1 vvti oil supply line on the front of the engine. The contact has experience repairing vehicles and stated that the oil supply line on the front of the engine appeared to burst, which caused oil to splatter all over the engine and exhaust manifold. There was no indication that the oil was low in the vehicle. The contact believes that the failure was due to a manufacturer defect and a recall should be issued. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 80,000.