Body Problems of Toyota RAV4 - part 1

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.

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When I put my car on park. The driver side (left door) lock actuator makes a long click noise. Also when I press on unlock it makes that sound as well.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Yesterday March 25th 2026 I went to work and parked my 2017 Toyota Rav4 and about 30minutes later it was on fire in the parking lot. The fire happened around the battery area.

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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.

The driver side door lock actuator makes a long click noise. Also when I unlock my car it makes the same sound.

This complaint is being filed as a follow-up to a previously submitted NHTSA complaint regarding door lock failures on my 2021 Toyota Rav4 hybrid. Since the original complaint, a second door has now failed. In addition to the front passenger door, the rear passenger-side door will no longer lock or unlock electronically using the key fob or interior power lock button and must be locked manually. When attempting to lock the vehicle, the vehicle emits a warning beep indicating a door is unsecured, even though some doors appear locked. Upon inspection, the rear passenger door was found unlocked. This issue appears to be progressive, affecting multiple doors. Doors may appear locked when they are not, creating a security concern.

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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.

When pulling into a driveway, sudden acceleration while slowing down caused crash into side of the garage and damage to the right front fender, side panel and hood.

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When driving our rav 4 we heard loud bang type noise. We stopped and pulled over and looked all around the rav 4 and didn't see anything. When I checked the roof I found our sunroof had shattered. The sunroof was closed at the time. No one was injured at the time.

See all problems of the 2025 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Rear lift gate hinge bent. No known cause other than hinge may be faulty.

I am writing to formally report a significant structural failure regarding the power liftgate system on my 2020 Toyota Rav4 hybrid xle. Recently, the trunk began failing to close properly. Upon a detailed inspection, I discovered that the sheet metal surrounding the hinges has suffered catastrophic failure. The left-side hinge mounting point is severely fractured, and the right side is exhibiting clear stress cracks. This is not a case of "wear and tear. " this is a structural failure where the force exerted by the factory power struts appears to have overpowered the vehicle's body structure, leading to metal fatigue and tearing. I would like to emphasize the following points regarding this case: maintenance & care: this vehicle has been maintained strictly according to Toyota’s recommended intervals and has been handled with the utmost care. There has been no external impact or misuse of the liftgate. Safety risk: the inability to securely latch the trunk poses a severe safety hazard. I am concerned about the liftgate's stability at highway speeds and the potential for exhaust fumes to enter the cabin. Consequently, I no longer feel safe using this vehicle for my daily commute. Request for action: given that this appears to be a known issue within the 2019–2021 Rav4 production years, I am requesting that Toyota stand behind its reputation for quality and safety. I ask that Toyota cover the full cost of the structural repairs and the replacement of the affected hinges and struts. I trust that Toyota will treat this as a priority safety matter. I look forward to your prompt response regarding a diagnostic appointment and a resolution for these repairs. Sincerely, [xxx] VIN [xxx] phone number [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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I am reporting a safety defect involving the front passenger door lock actuator on my 2021 Toyota Rav4 xle hybrid. The front passenger door will not lock or unlock using the key fob or the interior power door lock button. The door must now be locked manually. This defeats the vehicle’s automatic locking system and creates a safety and security concern. This condition prevents all doors from being secured properly when driving or when parked. A passenger may believe the door is locked when it is not, increasing the risk of unauthorized entry, theft, or passenger safety issues. The failure occurred during normal use and without warning. The vehicle has been properly maintained. I have learned that multiple Toyota Rav4 owners have reported similar door lock actuator failures, indicating a potential widespread defect. This issue occurred shortly after the factory warranty expired. Due to the safety implications, I believe this issue warrants investigation and possible recall or manufacturer repair program. “this failure occurred without warning and with no dashboard alerts. ”.

I discovered early rust formation on my vehicle shortly after purchase. The dealership only proposed painting over the rust instead of investigating the underlying cause. This may indicate a factory-related structural defect and could pose a long-term safety risk. I am requesting an investigation.

The panoramic sunroof shattered on its own out of nowhere. It just made loud noise. We thought it was tire, but car did not make move, looking above we saw the panoramic section of sunroof shattered. I went to dealer, they said there is a point of contact (means something has hit the roof) and they told me I have to file with insurance company. Insurance company is asking a million questions. It seems they are both passing it to each other. To my opinion it is manufacturing flaw. Very unsafe!.

The driver door on my 2021 Toyota Rav4 has an automatic unlock feature that unlocks the door when you approach the car with the key in your pocket. This feature has malfunctioned to the point that I cannot open the door at all, even with the key fob. I have to either manually remove the physical key from the fob and open the door that way, or else enter the vehicle from a different door and unlock manually from inside. This causes a significant delay in my ability to enter the vehicle and could pose a safety risk if I or my wife (who usually drives it) needed to exit a dangerous situation quickly. I’m told this malfunction is the result of a faulty door actuator, and repairs would cost over $300. I’m also told it’s a common bug among Rav4’s from 2018 to 2024. It seems there’s no recall because Toyota is under the impression that it isn’t common enough. Well I’m reporting to let someone know that it is at least one vehicle more common than you previously believed. Also, it’s 2025. I don’t think I should have to pay over $300 for doors that work.

The power rear liftgate will close on a person or object and cannot be stopped except if one presses on a very specific part of the edge of the liftgate, towards its center. This happens no matter how much upward force is applied to the area of the pull handles and the edges. When my wife pulled the handle, the liftgate closed with force that she could not resist. This obviously creates a serious safety hazard for small children, pets, or really anyone trying to close the liftgate or who may have inadvertently hit the button or pulled the handle.

The left mirror is a blind site when making a left turn at stop signs. The front hood is too high. In a parking lot you can't see the curbs. Toyota said jack up the seat. That does not help. Kids can't be seen in front of the car. This is a safety issue. The number of selections to set the car for driving don't work for older people. The gas and break petal don't work for disabled people.

The hood flutters, and this shimmering is distracting, especially on the highway. The dealership adjusted the rubber stoppers, and this did not fix the problem. On the highway, I have had sunlight flashing in my eyes which poses a safety concern, due to this hood flexing. The problem was noted by the sales rep at the dealership when test driving, and even after a service visit two days later. I bought this car, gold certified, a few days ago and it has persisted since. This seems to be a common problem for which there is a TSB for a Lexus vehicle already.

See all problems of the 2024 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The paint on my 2020 Toyota Rav4 (blueprint color) is peeling and deteriorating prematurely, on the hood. The vehicle has been properly maintained and has not been in any accidents. The paint started peeling without any external cause. I’ve noticed similar complaints from other 2020 Toyota Rav4 owners, especially those with the blueprint color, reporting the same issue. This suggests a widespread paint or clear coat defect from the manufacturer. The peeling paint not only affects appearance but also exposes the metal body to rust and corrosion, which could eventually compromise the vehicle’s safety and structure. Toyota has not issued a recall or offered repairs for this known problem, and many owners are being asked to pay out of pocket for costly repainting. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue as a potential manufacturing defect and urge Toyota to take corrective action through a recall or warranty extension for affected vehicles.

I noted the body is made up of soft materials that slightly bend when push lightly with hand. I put a magnet to see if it’s made up of metal but noted a weak attraction of the magnet to the body. When I used my buttock to push the door to close ( my hands were not free and held several grocery bags), my buttock sunk to the part of the area I pressed on. I heard and felt the bending and clicking sound of plastic then it lifted back to its shape. I almost lost my balance since I’m not expecting the door that soft. I was scared that I dented the door. So how safety is this 2025 Rav4 ? we also have 2023 Rav4 of same model xle awd premier. I wonder what will happen if it has accident with another vehicles on the road. With this body materials will save me from any kind of collisions ? I just noticed this brought by my experience today.

Vehicle has both rear view mirror distortion (assembly mirror face on both sides) vibrate causing distortion deeming outside rear view mirrors useless and hazardous. Toyota issued a technical service bulletin for 2019-2021 Toyota Rav4 models but refuses to pay for this safety defect.

The paint on hood is rusty and corroded, this can affect the body of the vehicle since it exposes the metal and can pose a safety problem. Toyota had a recall for 2010 white paint well the same thing happen to mine which is metallic gray. I have another car from another brand from 2012 and paint is intact just faded which is normal but not corroded. I contacted Toyota and they refuse to take my complaint. They only gave me a claim number 250808001898 for record.

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The hinges for the rear door/hatch broke. The door became unaligned and would not close and I had to drive my vehicle to a repair shop with the rear door ajar. This has not been inspected by manufacturer, no police or insurance inspection either. There is no reason these hinges should be worn and literally torn after 5 years.

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.

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

Sub frame is rusted to the point of not being able to pass state inspection requirements.

See all problems of the 2007 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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

When it rains, the water goes inside the door. So I have lots of water in my door. Toyota didn’t properly seal the outside of the door.

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.

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!.

Enter water when open doors after to rain. All the doors. Dealer in puerto rico not resolver problem.

The paint on the roof of my 2013 Toyota Rav4 has begun to peel (delaminate). I first noticed it in may 2025. More recently, in June, while driving I saw in my rearview mirror what was clearly a chunk of white paint fall off the blowing from the top of my vehicle behind me - which is poses a safety hazard on the road. There are two areas on the roof now peeling. One is about 8inches in diameter (which has grown since may) and the newest area peeling and flaking/flying off is 1 foot long and 4 to 5 inches wide. Areas of the roof where the paint has peeled are beginning to rust and compromise the integrity of the body. I contacted Toyota twice recently regarding my case (#250701000710) which is considered closed. Two representatives said they were sorry I was having this issue but advised that I would have to go to a dealer and take care of it myself. Please be aware that there was a prior/known paint peeling issue that affected cars in blizzard/pearl white (which my car is). They offered what was called a "goodwill service" at the time under which they only paid to repaint any areas of the car that were already peeling at the time. The body of my car had many large areas of peeled paint that were repainted. However, the "goodwill service" program has since expired but now the roof is peeling. So, even though aware that the painting was flawed and prone to significant peeling they did not repaint affected vehicles as a whole and so it appears this issue has resurfaced.

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While shopping at the grocery store, I experienced an incident upon leaving the parking lot. After reaching my first red light, I noticed smoke rapidly billowing from under the hood of my vehicle. My husband, who was driving behind me, immediately saw the smoke and instructed me to pull over. Once I stopped, he asked me to pop the hood. Upon opening it, he urgently removed his shirt to try and extinguish the fire. The damage was extensive — a hole burned through the hood, significantly compromising the vehicle’s crash safety rating. Additionally, melted plastic covered the battery area, and the radiator hose was damaged, rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive.

See all problems of the 2016 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

I was driving over 120 mph and my car slid and hit the front car. My car later caught fire and ruptured shortly after. The fd extinguished it and it was a total loss. I have no clue as to where it was taken after the accident. Sorry :(.

- while driving the vehicle engaged in the automatic emergency breaking system due to the car in front of me, the car was awaiting to turn left, but my lane was clear and I actually did not have the car in front of my vehicle. - while driving to work, at about 40 miles per hour speed, during a not so windy day, in an non-graveled road, my sunroof glass shattered out of nowhere. The dealership checked the affected area and confirmed there was no foreign objects that might have caused the incident. (not covered under warranty).