general problems of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 - part 1

Jerks during acceleration. Lurching sensation when acceleration from a stop or after slowing down for a turn. The engine control module (ecm) not communicating effectively with the transmission, leading to searching for gears, rough shifting and low speed hesitation.

My 2019 Toyota 8 speed transmission jerking in stop and go traffic.

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.

The design of some Rav4 grilles (particularly 2019-2024 models) allows rocks and road debris to easily pass through and damage the vulnerable a/c condenser, or radiator behind it, which leads to very expensive repairs. This is what happened to my 2019 Toyota rav 4. Now I have to pay 1300. 00 to get it repaired.

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.

Unknown.

26aug2025 I notified maplewood Toyota mn I had not been notified of safety recalls when NHTSA site confirmed 7 safety recalls. I had absolutly no response. Now NHTSA site says there are no unrepaired recalls when Toyota of maplewood has done no repairs.

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.

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.

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.

You get a message that said engine maintenance required contact the dealer, when you do the scan it's shows that there is a problem with engine coolant bypass valve. After checking online it was multiple people with the same problem.

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.

Faulty coolant valve and Toyota says that it is not covered/part of a recall. However, many vehicles are experiencing this issue so this seems like a widespread problem that Toyota is not taking responsibility for.

While driving at interstate speed and cruise control set, the cruise control stopped working and cruise control malfunction errors, as well as hybrid system malfunction errors appeared. With other cars driving so closely behind me, the quick deceleration caught me off-guard and could have easily been hit from behind. I took the car to Toyota dealership and appears there's already a known issue for a corroded traction cable and since not under warranty (due to mileage >120,000 miles) will cost $4668 to fix. Why is this not a recall if the problem is known?.

Engine coolant bypass valve not working vehicle has 53000 miles was charged 783. 00 dollars to replace at the dealership I understand there is pending lawsuit against Toyota for not doing a recall in regards to this problem with all 2019 to 2023 Rav4.

On 01/29/2025 at around 5:30pm I was driving home from work when suddenly the car stalled. I was going about 45 mph on a secondary to lane highway that was completely black because there are no street lights in that area. There were all kinds of warning lights flashing on the dash. I let my car drift to the shoulder was able to break and put it in park. I tried turning the vehicle back on but it would not start. My cell phone showed no WI-fi connection but I know the area very well and I knew I could walk several feet to a connection. Therefore spite concerns for my safety I had to leave my vehicle in order to call for help. I walked about 30 ft in the pitch black on this highway dressed in dark clothing on a shoulder that was very narrow. There was a pickup truck coming my way who flashed his high beams in my face but did not stop to see if he could help. Actually I was grateful for this because it's a pretty secluded area and I was very frightened for my safety. I was able to get a connection about 30 ft away from the vehicle and called my husband who said he would be on his way. I walked back to the vehicle got in and tried to start it. It would not start but all the warning lights were flashing on the dash. I decided I should take pictures of the warning lights in case we needed that for the dealer. After a couple of minutes I decided to try to start the car again and it did start. I was able to drive down the road to a WI-fi connection called my husband to let him know I was on my way. Once I got home the car seemed to be in order but there was one warning light telling us to take it to the dealer because there was something wrong with the hybrid system. We made an appointment to go in on January 31st. They inspected the vehicle to the tune of almost $200 and diagnosed the problem as follows: hybrid ev battery voltage system isolation internal internal electronic failure rear motor corrosion on both hybrid harnesses. Cost to repair $5,500. 00.

The trunk door has been having major issues, where the hatch hinges and power liftgate strut are not operating correctly. The door is unable to close without manual assistance. Ghettel Toyota of bradenton's service center has inspected and confirmed the malfunction. There were no warning messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure; it first appeared in December 2024, and this car is a 2019 model with 37,000 miles on it. A second opinion was provided by a local body shop, prompting me to report this issue, as they informed me that this has been happening to multiple Rav4 vehicles.

The vehicle suddenly started to smoke and burn by itself when driving on the super crowded highway. I immediately stopped the vehicle and found that the burning site was the bottom of the front-left head of the vehicle (please see the images attached). The mechanician I visited after judged that the fire may due to failed electrical parts or system. He suggested to visit a Toyota dealer for recall. However, the Toyota dealer (crown Toyota, 1201 kettering dr, ontario, ca91761) declined my request with the reason that my vehicle has passed warranty time. The vehicle was just inspected in the Toyota dealer a few days ago. The dealer's inspection report shows that the vehicle does not have any problems besides suggesting to replace tires and front brakes.

The data communication module has failed in my vehicle. This causes several major distractions and increases the risk of an accident. The media screen in the center of the dashboard will send an alert message every 15 seconds saying that ‘the connected device is not compatible’. At night, this alert message is especially bright and distracting. The lights on the sos button are constantly blinking. More significantly, the sos button does not work anymore. The only known solution to this problem is either to disconnect the dcm, or to pay more than $1300 to replace it.

First the problem was the seat belt malfunction and I check it everything was ok do accident or damage and two week later passager side air bag malfunction I took it to Toyota the see the problem they said there are no recall and I have pay out of my pocket to fix manufacture malfunction problem. . After there months later my SUV would not drive faster is move very slow and now it not even 5 years now and my transmission went out I have replace it.

Known dcm issue rendering emergency services button and all dcm services inoperable. Will not be able to activate emergency services in the event of collision. Toyota is aware of this design flaw and put out tsb011220, but they won't cover it outside of the warranty. Potential safety issue.

Coolant leaked 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. Coolant leak also corroded the sensor on the Rav4 coolant bypass valve, which can caused it to remain in the open or closed position and be unable to properly direct coolant throughout the engine.

Water leaking under passenger side visor and near passenger side window near the passenger side airbags.

A malfunction in the electronic control of the engine, throttle, or automatic transmission has been detected. The car then ran hot and started jerking. I took it to autozone for them to look and could not find anything, I had a mechanic come over to look at it, and he couldn't find anything either. I sent it to Toyota wolfchase in memphis TN. Who has stated it will be two or three days before they can even look at it. This seems to be a common problem with Toyota cars yet there's no recall I have seen numerous complaints on google reddit, tiktok, and more. I called corporate to make a complaint and they said they don't see any complaints which I know is not true.

[xxx] - driving my 2019 Rav4 hybrid se nearing [xxx] [xxx] traveling 25-30mph suddenly felt like car was moving faster, stop sign came up fast, slammed on brakes with 0 effect! yelled [xxx]? as I shot across the highway, down the shoulder, coming to rest against a couple small trees. No air bag deployed, wearing seat belts of course, still bumped head on ceiling causing small laceration, neck trauma, and dr found I had also suffered a vitreous detachment (eye). Did not lose consciousness. Vehicle damage appeared to be front left corner but enough underneath to total vehicle. Very fortunate no other vehicles involved and that debris brought car to a stop instead of a big tree or wall. Two witnesses heard brakes. . . Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

Coolent valve needed to be replaced.

Toyota Rav4 2019 xle - engine coolant pump performance/stuck off error code p26cb milage 56,920 Toyota says this is not covered by the 5 year power train warranty. For years Toyota has manufactured this water pump that freezes up due to manufacturing defect that allows the magnetic base housing to rupture. Dealers want to replace entire pump (or at least charge for it) verses replacing the frozen plastic rotor. Dealer claims this is not covered under 5 year power train warranty. Why not? my car temp started climbing and took me hours to get home (10 miles) as I kept stopping for hours waiting for engine cool and sprinkling water from bottles over the engine and trans housing where it butts against the engine (silver brading). (this was late in weekend night - repair shops not open. I do see a recall investigation started (no recall yet) and just wanted to add my complaint to the issue. At first the temp gauge read normal but later started climbing. The engine light did come on the the db2 said p26cb.

Dear NHTSA, I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding a recurring issue with my 2019 Toyota Rav4, which I believe poses a significant safety concern. The check engine light on my vehicle frequently illuminates, resulting in the disablement of the all-wheel drive (awd) system. I initially brought my vehicle to a Toyota dealership, where they replaced the charcoal canister (evap) three times based on the diagnostic code. Despite these repeated repairs, the problem persists. Suspecting that the issue might be related to the dealership's service, I sought a second opinion from another Toyota dealership. Unfortunately, they provided the same diagnosis and solution, which again failed to resolve the issue. Given that the awd system is a critical safety feature, especially in adverse driving conditions, I believe this issue should be considered a safety concern and potentially covered by a recall. Further given that the evap system is directly tied to the fuel it also should be considered a safety concerns. The repeated failure to address the root cause of the problem not only undermines the reliability of the vehicle but also compromises the safety of its occupants. I kindly request that the NHTSA investigate this matter and consider issuing a recall to address this widespread issue. Your attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated, as it would ensure the safety and satisfaction of Toyota Rav4 owners. Thank you for your time and consideration. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The rear power liftgate metal hinges are peeling away from the body of the vehicle. My liftgate doesn't close properly and is out of alignment to stay safely latched closed and has become 100% unusable. There is a 1. 5 inch gap (you can see light and water can enter) on rear pass. Side and the door is tightly jammed closed on the rear driver side. After speaking with a Toyota service manager, he casually let me know he sees this frequently. I have learned this is a very known issue yet Toyota will do nothing to prevent these defective hinges from being installed or cover repairs. The service manager told to take it to the collision center to get quoted on a repair. I did and my out of pocket cost (because Toyota won't take responsibility for this defect) is between $700 and $2700, depending how much damage occurred to other components caused by the defective hinges (the collision company has also stated they've done many of these repairs). My vehicle showed no visible sign of failure prior to breaking. It would occasionally fail to close, as if an object was in the way, but upon re-trying to power liftgate button, it would close. Sometimes it would take 3 to 4 times to be successful. But, it never appeared as if it was out of alignment or damaged until last weekend when I tried to close it and it forced closed itself very incorrectly. Considering my vehicle was purchased less than 5 years ago, brand new, this shouldn't be happening. It definitely shouldn't be showing this kind of wear on a vehicle I haven't even had to change brakes, tires or a simple headlight on the entire ownership of the vehicle. When I use those items every single day. My liftgate is used 1 time or less a week. The cost of this repair is half what I still owe on it and I didn't even do anything to cause it, it happened due to faulty hinges that are not safe. How do I know my hatch won't open while driving? or that it won't break opposite and my liftgate becomes unsecured from my SUV altogeth.

Engine maintenance light - requiring change of coolant bypass valve.

When I was driving the car to work the automatic system (malfunction ) failed to restart in red light, I have to stop to restart (awd malfunction } says to take to the dealer, I was driving back tothe dealership , they are saying car had zero coolant in syystem, raditor was leaking engine overheat to blow head gasket, a week before I was taking car dealership to state inspection and found only one issue that was back brake to change, no leak nothing they found, now I spent $7679 dollars to fix it I had all the proof what the dealerships try to say from the begining even I fixed, I am trying get rid of the vehicle now , it isonly 47454 miles when the incident happend.

My issued started as a persistent warning light that the vehicle needs to be taken to dealer. They informed me that the the engine coolant bypass valve was malfunctioning. This problem is so common that the service writer was able to diagnose it within 10 seconds of hearing the symptoms. Apparently these parts are used in the Rav4, the corolla and some camry’s 2019-2021. These aren’t even a question of if they will break but how soon (sometimes as early as 20,000 miles). My car has 38,036 miles on it. It is very low mileage and driven conservatively. The safety issue is that this repair is to put the same faulty part in, which costs just shy of $900, only to have the same issue reoccur in another 20-30k miles. It is tempting to continue to drive the car without making the repair, as it is costly and frustrating, yet it is not safe so the repair must be done. This is such a widespread problem in these cars, that there is no doubt that some drivers just cannot afford the expense and are continuing to operate their vehicles, regardless of safety. I believe this should be a recall or at the least a warranty enhancement to the parts as they become faulty, so that until Toyota has a better fix, it is no fault of the driver and not an unexpected expense to cover to drive their fairly new vehicle, which they didn’t expect to have to need costly repairs so soon. This is an issue inherent in either the poor design or the poor manufacturing which forces the drivers to put safety in competition with their financil.

Vehicle has been releasing a chemical odor when engine is started. At 36,000 miles the engine maintenance requird light alerted driver to have vehicle checked. Diagnostic indicated the coolant bypass valve was needing replacement. Cost for repair $760 + tax. Part for repair is priced at less than $100 at local car parts store but repair must be done at dealership to maintain powertrain warranty. Pov: excessive price for a part that should not be failing at 36,000 miles. Driver advised to not drive vehicle for safety reasons.

Engine coolant valve by-pass issues. Engine coolant bypass hose fails.