general problems of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 - part 1

I am reporting a potentially recurring safety-related failure of the electric engine coolant/water pump on my 2019 Toyota Rav4 equipped with the 2. 5l a25a-fks engine. My vehicle recently developed dtc p26cb/p26cb71, indicating an electric engine coolant pump performance/speed problem. The failure caused loss of proper coolant circulation and resulted in my vehicle overheating while I was driving on the highway. An unexpected cooling-system failure at highway speed creates a safety hazard and can result in severe engine overheating, potentially catastrophic engine damage, and an unexpected need to stop near traffic. Approximately two months before this failure, my vehicle received a separate cooling-system repair from an authorized Toyota dealer under customer support program 24te04, which covers the flow shut-off valve/water-bypass assembly on certain 2019–2021 Rav4 vehicles. Approximately two months later, the vehicle developed the p26cb coolant-pump fault. Toyota previously documented electric water-pump problems involving p26cb71 on a25a-equipped vehicles. In tech tip t-tt-0614-20, dated may 28, 2020, Toyota identified p26cb71, p26ca14, and p26ca31 and/or coolant leakage from the electric water pump on a25a applications, including the Rav4. Toyota stated the issue was "currently under investigation. " Toyota subsequently confirmed to me that the p26cb water-pump issue is separate from the 24te04 repair and that there is currently no customer support program or warranty extension covering the physical electric coolant pump on my 2019 Rav4. I request that NHTSA review complaint, warranty, repair, and manufacturer data to determine whether premature electric coolant-pump failures involving p26cb/p26cb71 represent a broader safety-related defect trend, particularly in 2019–2021 Rav4 vehicles equipped with the a25a engine, and whether further investigation or corrective action is warranted.

Component: engine — engine cooling system — coolant pump summary: the electric water pump on my 2019 Toyota Rav4 failed prematurely at 64273 miles. The check engine light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code p26cb (engine coolant pump performance/stuck off). The engine coolant temperature fluctuated rapidly / coolant level dropped. The vehicle required immediate repair to avoid engine damage. This is a recurring failure pattern on 2019–2021 Toyota Rav4 and camry vehicles equipped with the 2. 5l a25a-fks engine, where the electric water pump seizes due to an apparent defect in its plastic housing and rotor assembly. Failures are routinely reported at 30,000–60,000 miles—far below the expected service life of the component. Loss of coolant circulation creates an overheating hazard and can lead to sudden loss of propulsion and engine damage while driving. Toyota has issued technical service bulletins related to coolant seepage at the pump but has not recalled the component or extended warranty coverage, leaving owners to bear repair costs of $600–$1,300 for a premature defect-driven failure. I request NHTSA to evaluate this defect for a safety recall.

As soon as my vehicle hit 100k mileages and there's "awd system malfunction" sign showed up on dash. Got it done replaced it cost roughly more than $500. After 2 days later another problem shows up on dash this time it was "engine maintenance required" show on dash again. Heard people had the same issue to whoever own 2019 Rav4 and they all had the same for those 2 issues. Toyota company should pay attention for these kind of problems or like some of of recall.

The 8-speed automatic on my 2019 Rav4 (2. 5l 4 cyl) has been shifting super rough at lower speeds, to the point to where downshifts can send the revs into redline territory, but the car really doesn't move. No warning lights, passed state inspection, recently serviced. Purchaced this car in janurary with 50k miles on it and noticed it within a few weeks of driving. I am now at 57k and the issue is signifigantly worse than it was before. Will be taking it to Toyota soon. The safety issues arise when I do not know how the car is going to accelerate or respond to throttle input in traffic. I don't trust the car to handle any fast throttle input if I need to move out of the way quickly.

The coolant bypass valve on my vehicle failed, leading to a risk of sudden engine overheating and potential coolant leaks into the electrical harness. This is a documented defect (csp 23te03) that Toyota has failed to address for vehicles over 100,000 miles, creating a safety hazard for high-mileage owners. This is a major concern on a known issue and those that don't have funds to pay for this known failure. They need to do a recall for all!.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "engine maintenance required - visit the dealer" was displayed on the screen. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the coolant flow control valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to customer support program: 24te04. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

I was driving down a road and my engine just stopped working lights came on saying there were several issues including the engine. I researched online and found there were recalls due to this same problem for the same make, model and year as my vehicle, but there is no recall on my vehicle. The dealer confirmed the engine was seized up or whatever wording they used. No one has inspected it other than rodland Toyota. There were no warning lights or messages or symptoms before the issue.

This is another complaint with the same issue. Got gas on January 1, 2026, the truck did not how any indication that it was going to have any problems. Engine shut down and wouldn’t turn back on. This has happened twice after getting gas, no dealership knows the problem. This is casing me stress and putting myself and family in danger. Considering it stops out of no where.

My 2019 Toyota Rav4 experienced a dangerous electrical and transmission failure that ultimately caused the vehicle to stall while driving and made me lose control. For several weeks before the incident, the vehicle showed subtle hesitation when accelerating but no warning lights. After the car stalled and spun out coming off the ben franklin bridge onto I-76 near downtown camden, police responded, confirmed the vehicle had unexpectedly shut off, and verified there was no crash damage. I later brought the car to the Toyota dealership, where they discovered corrosion on the battery cable, failed abs sensors, and a weak battery. I paid $668 for a new battery, new cable, and abs sensor repairs. At that time, the dealership did not inform me of any transmission issues and released the vehicle back to me. I made it only a short distance up the road before realizing the vehicle could not accelerate past 40 mph and was still malfunctioning, so I immediately returned it. The next day, the dealership initially claimed there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, but after I insisted they re-evaluate the car, they then informed me that the transmission was failing and needed replacement. This sequence of electrical instability, combined with the transmission malfunction, ultimately led to the earlier stall where I lost all power steering and braking assist and spun out into the median. The vehicle, diagnostic records, and replaced components are available for inspection. The sudden loss of power and control created a major safety risk to me and other drivers in a high-traffic area.

My 2019 Toyota Rav4 hybrid (VIN: [xxx] ) suffered sudden engine failure due to coolant intrusion. On Nov 20, 2025, johnstons Toyota in harriman, NY (ro#xxx) diagnosed the issue and recorded dtcs p26ca31 and p26cb, which indicate failure of the coolant flow control/bypass valve. The dealer confirmed heavy white smoke from the exhaust with a strong coolant smell and advised the engine had failed, recommending a replacement. This vehicle is part of the early 2019 japan-built batch widely known for premature electric water pump and coolant-flow system failures. Internal impeller swelling, seal leakage, and bearing seizure can cause coolant pressure spikes and ultimately head-gasket failure with coolant entering the cylinders. This defect has been reported by thousands of Rav4 hybrid owners (2019–2021). Toyota has addressed it quietly through internal tsbs such as xxx and xxx but no public recall has been issued. The safety risk is severe: the engine began emitting thick white smoke and ran roughly, risking sudden power loss, overheating, or engine seizure while driving. A stall at highway speed could easily cause a collision. Toyota USA opened case #xxx but declined assistance despite the defect being well documented. This failure was sudden, with no warning lights prior to the incident. Given the widespread nature of this defect and its clear safety implications, I request that NHTSA open a formal investigation into the electric water pump/coolant system failures in 2019–2021 Toyota Rav4 hybrids and consider requiring a safety recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact managed to push the vehicle over to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Stopped for gas on 11/6/2025 immediately after getting gas the truck shook twice, the power steering light and engine shut down light came on and the truck turned off. Waited for a few minutes to turn the engine again it wouldn’t start. Got it towed to my nearest dealership who kept it for a day. Said there was nothing wrong with the truck, there was no code showing and they couldn’t determine the cause of the problem.

Was insinuating engine was over heating even in -4° weather has no hot air plenty of coolant. This is causing the vehicle to "buck" amd having to have to pull over and waiting several minutes to let the engine "cool off" I can make it about 3 miles in-between pull overs. After some research I feel like the issue falls under a current lawsuit against Toyota regarding the coolant valve based on reading other issues and what my rav is doing. It is a several thousand dollar fix through a dealership and one my family can not afford especially if it is a poorly manufactured part of the car. It is one of two vehicles we have and need to daily living especially having a child and no means yo offered another safe vehicle at this time. The coolant pump itself.

The car transmission hesitates to accelerate at slow speeds and jerks or lurches forwards in a uncontrollable way. Dangerous at stop signs or on slow or hilly roads. Dealership does not directly acknowledge this issue, despite mechanic mentioning very clearly it is related to t-sb-0107-19 which Toyota dealerships charge to repair. No warning messages. Issue has existed as long as I have owned the vehicle 1. 5 years from 61,000 miles to 71,000 miles.

I stopped for gas; my car would not start. The power steering fluid light came on. I went inside to purchase some but when I returned to the car, there was no place to pour it. After a few minutes the car started. About a month later, my husband stopped for gas and the car killed right after he left the gas station, about 10 minutes later, it started. Took it to a mechanic, they couldn't find anything wrong with it because the check engine light wasn't on and the car wasn't giving any problem codes. About two weeks ago, I stopped for gas, the car wouldn't start. Finally got it started, and the check engine light came on. However, it's still not reading any codes.

Vehicle states engine maintenance required. Is a consistent reoccurring problem according to dealer. System failure due to manufacturer always puts the user at risk.

2019-2023 model year Toyota Rav4s and Toyota corollas are equipped with defective coolant bypass valves prone to premature failure which can cause coolant to leak out of a vehicle’s closed-loop coolant system, harming its ability to properly regulate engine temperature. This can cause overheating, stalling, increased emissions, and total engine failure and also allows coolant to leak into and damage surrounding engine components, including a vehicle’s electrical system, the complaint relays. The warning message that common appears for this issue is "engine maintenance required visit your dealer ".

7/16/2025 engine maintenance required visit dealer" message on a 2019 Toyota Rav4 le came on and will not go off. Upon further research and inspection coolant bypass valve is faulty.

Scan report done ! odometer 25266. Engine coolant bypass valve "a" control circuit failed test. Engine control module code p2681-15. Message: factory service require !.

Cooling system over temperature. Message kept displaying and check engine lit up again since the first service was done by tech at the dealership on July 15, 2025.

The water pump failed at 49000 miles left me with a repair of $1500 at kendall Toyota dealership.

The vehicle began displaying intermittent warning messages and slipping into "mud & sand" mode without cause. Later, multiple dash lights illuminated, including 4wd malfunction, check engine, and coolant system warnings. The vehicle became undrivable due to overheating. Dealership diagnostics indicated a failure in the coolant bypass valve actuator the electronic water pump was receiving a signal but not responding, resulting in loss of coolant circulation and overheating. There may also be a shorted control panel causing related system failures. This problem has been confirmed by a Toyota dealer, and the vehicle remains at the service center pending resolution. The issue appears related to a known customer support program (csp 24te04), which covers the coolant bypass valve actuator. There was no prior accident or abuse of the vehicle, and the vehicle only has 52,000 miles. Safety was compromised due to unexpected power loss and overheating while in motion. The issue has not yet been resolved. The vehicle has also experienced prior water intrusion through the roof rails, which may have contributed to electrical damage.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a recurring issue in the coolant bypass valve of my 2019 Toyota Rav4 xle premium. Although there was no check engine light, the vehicle displayed a persistent warning: “engine maintenance required – visit dealership. ” this message repeatedly appears on the instrument cluster and blocks critical driving information, including the speedometer, fuel economy, and other key displays. Even when the driver manually cancels the message, it returns within minutes. This creates a constant distraction and obstructs visibility, which poses a safety risk during driving. I took the vehicle to the dealership, where they diagnosed the issue as an internal short circuit in the coolant bypass valve and retrieved diagnostic trouble code p268115. This code relates to a malfunction in the valve’s electrical control system, which affects the engine’s ability to regulate temperature effectively. Toyota currently offers a customer support program (csp) for the coolant bypass valve, but only if the valve is leaking coolant. However, my vehicle's failure was due to an electrical defect, and Toyota does not cover this under the same program. This creates an unfair burden on owners and fails to address the full scope of the issue, even though the results—loss of proper cooling function—are the same. Many Rav4 owners have reported similar problems online, but no recall or technical service bulletin has been issued for this kind of failure. I believe this defect raises genuine safety concerns, including: driver distraction due to persistent warning messages obstruction of critical dashboard information potential for engine overheating or reduced performance I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this issue as a potential safety-related defect and determine whether Toyota should be required to expand support or issue a recall for this component, regardless of whether the failure is due to coolant leakage or internal electrical malfunction.

The engine maintenance light came on and I took the car to my independent mechanic. The "soft code" indicates that the coolant system valve/hose (engine coolant bypass valve) is showing in the closed position when it should be open. My mechanic has tried to order a replacement part, but is having trouble finding one. After my personal research, I see that there is a class action lawsuit regarding this part from 2024 indicating that it can cause the car to overheat, stall, and potentially severe engine damage. Toyota has no formal recalls on this, but it has been indicated that some owners have received support from Toyota on models built up to 2021.

Started normally, but had a message on the screen saying “check fuel cap. ” I needed gas anyways, drove about 3 minutes to the gas station, turned engine off, put gas. Turned engine back on and within 3 seconds it shut off. The screen displayed “engine stopped- power steering low. ” I tried a handful of times to start, it did not. After 20 minutes and some rest, it started. With no more messages. Battery and alternator were tested, both were good.

Faulty coolant bypass valve at 115,000 miles. Seems to be a repeat issue for many Toyota owners. Not covered by the powertrain warranty, but a known issue by the manufacturer.

The engine maintenance required light comes on when I use the air conditioner. I suspect the coolant bypass hose is not working properly.

Check engine light came on and code p268115 was shown for coolant bypass valve internal failure. Valve was replaced by dealership and I was told it would not be covered under the Toyota customer support program because that only covers valves that leak externally, not internal failures.

Coolant bypass failure.

An error code titled “engine maintenance required. Visited your dealer” appeared on my dash screen. The error code was unable to be removed. I attempted have the car diagnosed by a private auto shop, however no faulty codes pop up. After research online, the problem was determined to be the engine coolant valve, which are faulty on many Rav4s. I eventually get a letter from Toyota for a customer support program regarding the engine coolant valve. When brought in for maintenance, Toyota pulled the error code “p268115” which is for an internal failure of the engine coolant valve. However, Toyota will not replace the part due to their customer support program (24te04) only covering the part for “small engine coolant leak[s]”. Essentially, Toyota will replace the part for being faulty if it had small leaks, but not if the part itself is faulty. When I asked the service member I was working with stated that this is a known problem and “[Toyota] should have just replaced the whole part, but they only do it for small leaks. ” currently, litigation is proceeding regarding the engine coolant valve, alleging Toyota knowingly put faulty parts in their Rav4s. I urge you to investigate this claim.

Engine maintenance required warning came on. Took car to dealership, diagnostic informed the issue was the coolant bypass valve. Repair cost is $781. 28 + diagnostic $160.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

The engine maintenance required message is constantly on. The engine coolant bypass valve needs to be replaced.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the messages "parking brake malfunction", "secondary brake system malfunction”, “4wd malfunction", "lane assist malfunction", "pre-collision malfunction" and messages indicating malfunctions of the electrical system, the engine throttle, and the transmission were displayed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a spark plug and ignition coil were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that all the spark plugs, and ignition coils needed to be replaced prior to the final diagnostic test. The vehicle was not completely diagnosed and was taken back to the mechanic, where a specialist used a camera to diagnose that there was coolant intrusion in cylinder #4, due to a fractured cylinder head. The mechanic related to the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 20v064000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided because the vehicle was not covered under warranty and the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 87,230.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the overheating, parking brake, cruise control, maintenance required, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that there was a misfire in cylinder #2, and that coolant was leaking into the engine. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 20v064000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was unknown.