Body Problems of Toyota RAV4 - part 2

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.

See all problems of the 2013 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2024 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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...

The door lock actuators required repair on all my doors for the Rav4 2020. They stopped working after the 3 year warranty was up. This is a safety issue. I had to manually lock and unlock my doors, which left in a dangerous position at night. Over the course of a year all 4 doors needed to have the actuators replaced. This happrened in 2024.

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!.

See all problems of the 2007 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

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).

Brand new vehicle recently purchased 9/28/2024 at the dealership, Toyota of aa, michigan. While driving at highway speeds greater than 70 mph, the flimsy hood balloons/bubbles up and starts flexing visibly and violently with almost 2 inch amplitude waves and looks like it wants to become unlatched and slam into the windshield. Pretty scary! this is definitely a safety risk that raises the fear in me of a potential serious crash. Vehicle dropped back at the dealership 10/7/2024 for inspection.

The hood of the vehicle vibrates excessively, especially at high speeds. I have reported this issue since the day of purchase and have taken the vehicle to the dealership four times without a resolution. This situation poses a significant safety risk to me and my family, as I believe the hood could open and cause a serious accident. I request an official inspection and resolution regarding this matter. Please advise on how to proceed with a possible warranty claim or further investigation.

Rear passenger door keeps flooding after rain. Bottom door seal needs to be physically lifted to the side for water to drain out of the door.

Hood vibration/fluttering at 40 speed and more at highway speeds, visible shaking even when closed. I took my car to dealer but they said no recalls. No help me with the car issues. That vibration distracted me and made me feel not safety as well as my passengers.

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.

The paint of the exterior body is peeling off after becoming bubble on the surface. It appears all over the body including hood, roof, doors, etc. For reference, please see attached photos. This can eventually start rusting. This has come to know only after using a car for a year and four months, which proves this needs to be addressed because it may be going to start rusting other parts of the body or structural components. Car is available for inspection, on request.

Rear passenger door does not drain and holds water. This is a potential mold issue which is a health problem. This will also cause the doors to rust.

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.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving and coming to a stop, there was a sound of moving water coming from the rear driver's side and passenger's side doors. The contact stated that upon opening the doors, she was able to partially drain the water; however, water was still leaking inside the rear driver's side and passenger's side doors during rainy weather. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

In reference to Toyota motor north America - customer support program zkg. My Toyota vehicle has experienced paint peeling on the exterior metal body panels. I have applied to receive coverage from Toyota for the paint peeling as part of the zkg program. Toyota has denied my request for coverage and did not provide me with notice of the zkg program. The paint color of my vehicle is the original factory applied blizzard pearl (070) paint color. The vehicle experienced noticeable paint peeling around 9. 5-10 years past the date of first use of the vehicle. I reported the paint peeling to my local Toyota dealer service center around two (2) weeks after the car was ten (10) years past the date of first use. Because the zkg program coverage had expired by the time I had reported the paint peeling, the Toyota dealer service center referred me to the Toyota brand engagement center. The Toyota brand engagement center denied my request for coverage because the vehicle was reported shortly after the duration of coverage. I did not receive notice of the customer support program zkg from Toyota. I became the owner of this vehicle in the same year that the program notification was sent out. The paint peeling did not start until very close to time of coverage expiration for my vehicle. I was unaware that I would be required to report the paint peeling issue to Toyota by a certain date as I was never made aware of the customer support program zkg from Toyota.

See all problems of the 2014 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

For a long time, lift gate was not functioning correctly, when trying to close the liftgate does not close. In peak winters it was a lot of frustration to close the lift gate. Showed it dealership many times, later that issue worsened to hinge tear. Now it shows like falling apart. Requested to Toyota to repairs, repair is not done yet. Assistance in this regards would be highly appreciated.

I was pulling into a parking spot in a parking garage. My foot was off the accretor ready to brake and then the car self accelerated and hit the cement wall. The red brake light came on and I slammed on the brake but the damage was done. The front bumper was cracked on the left side and dented on the right side. There whole front end was scraped and scratched. The collision sensor is damaged.

Over a period of tme water has been collecting in the right rear door. Upon doing some research I found out that this is a problem with the Rav4 of this particle year. During my search I found out that there are drain holes at bottom of the door under a rubber gasket. I lifted the gasket up and there was a large amount of water that came out. After a couple more rains the exact same thing happened again. I took the car to the Toyota dealership where it was purchased from and told them the problem and they stated that the gasket on the bottom of the door needed to be replaced , but not only the right rear door but all three of the other doors as well, but could not explain to me how the water was getting in the doors. I had to pay over $500 in order to get this repair which I feel the cost should be absorbed by Toyota because a design flaw. Any help would be appreciated.

Paint on the top my car is peeling.

See all problems of the 2015 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The brakes failed, without warning, while parking; causing me to hit a pole/wall in my employer’s parking garage on April 12, 2024. I was injured, and obtained care from uchicago medical center. Toyota assigned an independent investigator to assess my vehicle; which was completed on April 29, 2024. Per Toyota, no brake issues were noted. My vehicle remained at oak lawn Toyota from April 12, 2024- may 31, 2024.

This vehicle is equipped with a power back door (pbd) that has begun to malfunction. March 29, 2024 was the first occurrence of the pbd malfunction when the opened back door would not fully close after clicking the appropriate button on the electronic key switch. There were no warnings that preceded the malfunction. The pbd would only close the back door a few inches before stopping. Additional clicks only closed it a few more inches and manual closing (requiring significant pressure) was required to fully close the door. Additional random occurrences of this pbd malfunction have happened over the past six months and have now become so frequent that on September 30, 2024 I turned off (via the multi-information display) the pbd function and must now resort to fully manual opening and closing of the back door. Based on multiple other complaints filed with NHTSA for this particular vehicle (2020 Toyota Rav4; NHTSA id numbers 11572353, 11572802, 11573768, 11579590, 11585733), I inspected the edges of the back door, the body's back door cavity, and the two back door spindles for damage, foreign objects, dirt, etc. That might impede pdb operation and found none. I also inspected the two back door hinges and saw no damage, no warping, no corrosion, and no movement of the hinges from their original installation locations. This pbd malfunction affects safety as the force required to manually open and close the back door is significant and operation of the back door might be impossible for people not physically able to effect the force needed. The vehicle is available for inspection and has not yet been inspected by the Toyota dealer where I purchased the vehicle in August 2020 or by others.

At less than 8000 miles on this brand new vehicle, the paint started chipping away all the way down to the metal under the paint on the front of the car… the dealership that I ordered from the manufacturer through stated it will probably start to rust and that I need to have someone repaint it… they tried to refer me to someone that they use for paintwork… and stated it will be at my expense; although I was forced to purchase toyoguard platinum and the clear paint cover protection packages/warranties. I have owned multiple of this make and model vehicle in the past and have never had an issue with the paint peeling off and chipping as it is on this brand new vehicle.

Hood shakes in the middle presenting the appearance that the hood will open on its own, side mirrors shake causing distorted view.

My wife and I were traveling down sr74 mp 12 and rear ended a cow at 68 miles per hour. The airbags did not deploy from impact and yet the car is totaled the hood started through the safety glass of the windshield.

While driving down the highway at the speed limit in our town on a clear evening with no weather, the sunroof of our 2023 Toyota rav 4 exploded. There was a loud bang and it shattered as if the glass had been under significant stress or pressure. The glass bowed up in the middle and a section the size of a small saucer dropped out. There was a rigged break along the front edge of the sun roof. There were no bumps or holes in the road - it was smooth. There were no other vehicles nearby - no one threw a rock at our car. The noise was so loud that it was disruptive and shocking and thankfully I was not in heavy traffic or an accident might have occurred. I researched the web and found numerous instances of this sunroof explosion occurring. Please get Toyota to fix this before someone is serious injured.