Body Problems of Toyota RAV4 - part 1

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.

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2010 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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 :(.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

- 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).

See all problems of the 2024 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Rear subframe rusted out. I took it in because my car started sounding like the titanic after it hit an iceberg. The mechanic described it as “a giant hole in the bottom of the car. ” I read there were recalls on frames for other Toyotas, but we kept up with every recall on this vehicle and the subframe was never listed as an issue. I get a regular multipoint inspection at the Toyota dealership about every six months, and no one caught this. I was told it is not safe to drive, and will snap at any time. I am lucky I did not crash.

See all problems of the 2006 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The rear hatch hinges cracked almost all the way through and had to be replaced. We were afraid to drive the vehicle because we didn’t want the hatch back to fall off while driving and create an accident.

Liftgate hinges on my 2020 Rav4 hybrid xse failed, causing misalignment so the liftgate/tailgate does not close properly or completely. Liftgate hinges are made of materials that are not strong enough for consistent and safe operation. Toyota has not issued a recall or provided safety warnings or notifications, nor is the company providing replacement hinges. Rav4 owners are left to pay for the replacement of these hinges when it’s a quality issue that can impact the safe operation of 2020 Toyota Rav4s. Toyota recently settled a lawsuit brought by an individual because of this issue.

“the factory paint on my 2014 Toyota Rav4 (blue ) is peeling in large sections on the roof and hood. The metal underneath is exposed. This appears to be a widespread issue affecting this paint color, and Toyota has acknowledged it in other models. I’m concerned about corrosion and long-term durability. ”.

See all problems of the 2014 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Power lift gate not opening and shutting then noted that the mount on the passenger side is partially sheared off the car bracket and starting to separate on the drivers side. Was unable to close the hitch all the way, and beeping continuously while driving so brought to a Toyota dealer service who ordered replacement pistons, in the mean time battery died due to being unable to close back. Once piston parts were obtained by Toyota service center, had to have the car towed due to battery not able to be charged, then they noticed the bolts starting to shear off. Stated they have never seen anything like this but when looked online, found this has been a common problem and a class action suit has been filed for this exact reason.

I am reporting a paint peeling issue on my 2013 Toyota Rav4 limited that has the potential to be a safety hazard. Large sections of paint have peeled off, exposing bare metal on the hood, roof, and/or doors, and I am concerned about its impact on visibility, corrosion, and potential flying debris while driving. 1. Visibility obstruction & glare risk: the paint on my hood is peeling off in patches, causing sun glare and reflection issues that impair my ability to see the road under certain lighting conditions. This is particularly dangerous during sunrise, sunset, or nighttime driving under streetlights. 2. Risk of corrosion leading to structural integrity issues: with the bare metal exposed, the affected areas are at risk of rusting and corrosion, which could weaken the vehicle’s structure. If left untreated, corrosion could affect critical safety components such as the hood latch or airbag crash sensors located behind painted surfaces. 3. Potential for peeling paint to become road debris: while driving at highway speeds, I have noticed paint flaking off and flying away. This could become a hazard to other vehicles, especially for motorcyclists or drivers behind me who could be hit by the debris. 4. Compromised vehicle visibility to other drivers: the exposed, uneven patches of primer and metal create an irregular surface, which could affect how my vehicle is seen by others, especially in low-light conditions. This may increase the risk of rear-end collisions due to diminished contrast. Toyota response: Toyota previously acknowledged this issue with a warranty enhancement program (wep zkg) for peeling paint, but I was informed that my vehicle is one year past the extended coverage period. Despite the defect being well-documented, Toyota has refused to assist. This is not just a cosmetic issue—it has clear safety implications. I urge NHTSA to investigate this problem further to determine if additional action is needed.

Appears to be a manufacturing defect. Side doors back and front fill with water. Windows rolled up and down have streaks of water(wet all the time). Water pours out of door frames. Sloshing of water in doors. Car has no more than 15,000 miles on it. Always keep covered in garage. Car does not accumulate debris or leaves. Have taken into Toyota palo alto twice now. No real help. Cannot see well from windows - safety issue as side windows stay streaked obscuring view and mold concerns with wet interior doors.

Tailgate will not close when button on the back or by the driver's seat is pressed. After pressing the close button at tailgate or driver's seat with tailgate open, it will lower an inch then beep several times and lift open again. Toyota dealer claims this is a known issue and the solution is to "reset" the tailgate, which they would do for me. Resetting immediately failed, and the issue persisted. Toyota service department said, "there is a button on the hatch that will reset it. You will hold that button until it does a sequence of beeps (beeeeeeeeepp, beep beep beep) then let go an press it again like you would want to close it and you should be good to go! :)" (sic). This solution worked once and immediately failed the second time I attempted to close the tailgate. This is a daily issue that was replicated at the dealer but not fixed.

Power lift-gate lowered on its own as I was putting groceries in the back compartment. My hands were nowhere near the button you press to lower the lift-gate. If I hadn't quickly ducked out of the way, I could have been seriously injured or killed. This has never happened before. Now I'm reluctant to use the back compartment for fear the lift-gate may lower on its own again. This incident happened this morning in a target parking lot about 9:30 am.

Vehicle hood vibrates under both idle and driving speeds. At highway speeds or bumpy roads the vibration / flexing of the hood metal causes sun and light glare (like a strobe light effect) causing visual disturbances making it hard to stay focused on the road. There is no seal above the headlights which allows additional air under the hood - the faster the speed and / or windy conditions , the more the hood flexes and causes reflection to the drivers eyes. The easiest explanation is if the hood safety latch is engaged and you see the mood moving up and down prompting you to stall and see if the hood is loose.

Rearview camera quit for 3-4 seconds when I was backup. There was a car in my blind spot, aft right quarter, that I couldn't see and I hit his left front panel/headlight causing $2200. Damage to his car plus my car.

Right rear hinge for hatchback failed and making my hatchback unusable. I have been on several websites and this common issue it seems for rav 4. Toyota will not fix it.

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 rear hatch started to get stuck. It is automatic so you would normally press a button to open and close and it would slowly move up or down and close shut on its own. When the issue started, it would "pop open" but stay stuck to a point where I would need to manually lift it open. (hitting my head on it often) right before I took it to the dealership service, it would not close properly. While it seemed close, the notification showed it open therefore, not allowing me to lock my car and the lights on the car would need to stay on while car was parked and off. Driving home, the "open door" notification was beeping non-stop. Once again I had to open and close manually until it was considered "closed" brought the car into the Toyota dealership to assess. They found that the power lift gate hinges on the door were coming off and it needs to go to an auto body for realignment. I performed research online and found this to be a very common issue with the Toyota Rav4's. . Read more...

Every time it rains our rav 4 gets water in the back doors. It sloshes around and you have to manually pull the seal back to drain. It happens every time. My understanding is this is a known issue.

The paint on my entire vehicle is peeling and flaking off. Every panel has a paint issue. I have had my Toyota dealership check several times over the last 2 years to see if my VIN is on the zkg program approved and it keeps coming back no. My vehicle paint is peeling more and more. I would like this to be addressed and looked into please.

See all problems of the 2018 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Initially thought a seal on the windshield was faulty, so contacted the business who replaced the windshield. Business owner came to owner’s house mon, Nov 4, 2024. He did a thorough inspection of all areas where water was identified by owner (dash, under the dash, on the driver side floor) and confirmed it was not the windshield. He then inspected the roof rack and determined the roof rack was defective and leaking water from the ceiling of the vehicle, down into the dash, and ultimately onto the floor. He recommended contacting Toyota because this was a known issue. By 12pm on mon, Nov 4, 2024 owner contacted Toyota alerting them to the issue. An appointment was made to bring the vehicle in for inspection on mon, Nov 11, 2024. Owners do not have a garage or carport, so a canopy was pitched over the car in an effort to prevent any further water damage and moisture absorbing canisters were placed in the car. The vehicle was not driven in the rain during the period after first noticing the leak and bringing it in to the dealership. Evidence of electrical damage: on Friday, November 1, 2024 the driver side seat became extremely hot, to the point of needing to pull over and turn the car off. The seat heater was not turned on at any point during this time. On Saturday, Nov 9, 2024 and Nov 11, 2024 while driving on the highway, the car (normally driven in eco mode) unexpectedly switched into mud&sand mode and all safety features switched off. Owner was unable to manually override this occurrence. The “normal” button did not work. After a few minutes, the vehicle switched into the default setting and owner was able to put it back into eco mode. On Nov 11, 2024 owner brought vehicle into Toyota for diagnostics. Owner requested that the electrical components also be inspected and was told it was not covered under the customer support program.

Subframe rusted in half, the only way I found it was when we put new shocks on it. It peeled off about 1/2 the tread on a brand new tire. Dangerous, if passengers side rear tire would've broke loose it would throw rear of car into oncoming traffic!.

This incident occurred on the morning of [xxx]. I was driving my new, 2024 Toyota Rav4 hybrid on the highway (it has less than 20,000 miles on it). There were no vehicles or other obstacles or road debris of any kind near me. I suddenly heard an incredibly loud, explosive sound. It was like a gunshot or as if a body had fallen on my roof. I then heard the noise of wind. My sunroof had exploded. Fortunately, I had the sunroof and the interior screen closed, so glass did not fall into my car. Once I was able to pull over, I examined the sunroof to find it had shattered and there was no indication of anything falling on or colliding with it. I took two photos and proceeded slowly to the Toyota dealer (ourisman Toyota in richmond, va. ) where I purchased the car brand-new/off-the-truck in February 2024. The dealer stated that they would not cover glass, including a spontaneously exploding sunroof on a new car, and so I am required to pay out of pocket. Although fortunately I was able to keep control of my car and was not injured, this was a serious and dangerous event. (note, I was unable to upload the photos below, but have them available. ) information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).