Two problems related to ignition have been reported for the 2007 Toyota RAV4. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2007 Toyota RAV4 based on all problems reported for the 2007 RAV4.
Was driving normal - only a few minutes after ignition - strange scent of plastic burning. Looked down to find a thick white smoke coming from window switches, flame seen through cracks. Had to pull over immediately @ gas/service station to extinguish the flame - I had no liquid to extinguish at time of incident. Went directly to Toyota dealership and dropped off vehicle. They are saying there is no recall - so they would not purchase me a rental had to pay for it myself. . Read more...
The driver door's window/lock control panel spontaneously caught fire while I was operating the vehicle. I was not using the controls at the time. I could hear the sound of burning and feel heat behind the panel, however no actual flames came outside of the panel. Copious amounts of smoke began to billow from the openings in the control panel. I stopped the car and turned off the ignition. After several seconds the sound of burning ceased. The smoke continued to billow from the openings in the control panel for a couple of minutes. I called the Toyota dealer where I purchased the car and was told by the service department to come in. I restarted the car and drove about one mile to the dealership. While I was driving small amounts of smoke continued to come out through the openings in the control panel. At the dealership they placed some kind of "lock" on the driver's side control for the front passenger window. I have since seen the actual control mechanism. A portion of the electrical component is charred, and where this char is there is a hole burned through the plastic enclosure.