Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Toyota RAV4 - part 1

The contact’s uncle owns a 2022 Toyota Rav4. While the uncle was driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. During the failure, the instrument panel remained illuminated, but the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. While with the local mechanic the vehicle was restarted and operated normally. The vehicle was immediately driven to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,000.

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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.

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I was stopped for one minute in a drive-thru, and when I took my foot off the brake to accelerate, the vehicle stalled. It told me "engine stopped power steering low". I moved out of the drive-thru in neutral, turned off the car then turned it back on. Everything was okay and had no issues. At the time of the accident, my windshield wipers were on. My eninge's auto stop/start was also on. There was a safety risk because my car stalled out when starting up, causing me to have to turn off the car and turn it back on while stopped. I have not been able to reproduce the problem with my dealer yet. I have not had the vehicle inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives? I did not have any warnings of this incident. I got a "engine stopped power steering low" message when the issue occurred.

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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.

I have a faulty coolant bypass valve on my 2021 Toyota Rav4. Every time I turn on the air conditioning the service engine required comes up on my notifications a known recall problem for Toyota Rav4’s of this year.

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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.

2021 Toyota Rav4 gas xxx vehicle suddenly stopped while driving busy roadway in [xxx] wife and young children were passengers dashboard displayed “engine stopped” dashboard displayed “steering power low” police responded police determined waiting for the insurance tow was unsafe police arranged emergency towing vehicle subsequently inspected by beaver Toyota dealer drove approximately 26 miles attempting to reproduce the issue no fault code/history found problem could not be reproduced you remain concerned about a potentially recurring safety defect information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Idling, received a warning of "engine stopped. Steering power low". Trying to restart the car - it would start up then immediately shut down w/ the same error. Letting it sit for 15 minutes allowed it to reset and start again. It was raining at the time, wind shield wipers were on if that matters.

Driving my one owner 2025 rav 4 hybrid- pulling into a parking spot while gently pressing on the brake to slow car. Car was slowing then suddenly accelerated while brake pedal still being pressed, lunged forward and hit a wall in front of the parking space. No warning lamps/alarms went off and drivers seat belt did not engage. Called dealership to report incident.

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On August 25, 2026 when I went to turn my vehicle on in the morning, and I started to drive the vehicle alert the lta malfunction visit your dealer on the dash. Call dealer and scheduled service for the next day August 26, 2026. In the morning I went to go start my vehicle to take it in and it wont start at this point on the dashboard was showing not ready to drive and it would not start and I reached out again to the dealer and the had roadside assistance to tow the vehicle in to the dealer. When roadside assistance I gave him my keys and the vehicle started up but now vehicle dash alerted drive-start control malfunction visit your dealer. Roadside did nothing but up the key in the ignition. Vehicle once towed to the dealer was running and no alerts showed on the dashboard and the dealer informed that the multi- point vehicle everything checked out. Jayleen informed that tech ran the computer and saw the alert but could not do no repair due to at the time of service there was no sign on the dash and if where to happen to bring the vehicle in to the dealer. Jayleen also mention that wire my have been chewed. I asked it they inspected for that, she informed no due to no alerts where I dashboard. Then she when on to say that it was my dash camera that was draining my battery. I mention to her that the vehicle was not coming in for battery issues. So I uninstalled my dash camera to see if that was the issues. My vehicel has been parked mostly. Now today September 7,2026 car did not start and show pre-collision system malfuntion.

2021 Toyota Rav4 (gas model) has experienced a sudden, unexpected engine stall/shutdown on a public road. The incident occurred while shifting into drive after backing up in reverse. The engine immediately died without any prior dashboard warning lights or mechanical symptoms. The information screen displayed a message stating "put car in park" or "shift into park. " the vehicle safely restarted immediately after shifting back into park and pressing the ignition button. This intermittent stall has happened three times under the exact same directional shifting conditions over the last 1. 5 years, creating a high-risk scenario for a rear-end collision in active traffic. After previous incident (one year ago) when the engine stopped when shifting from reverse to drive, I took it to Toyota service. Dealership diagnostics could not previously replicate the issue due to its intermittent nature and the absence of a permanent check engine code. Checked battery and performed health check.

On August 6 2026, my Rav4 just cut off at the traffic light. The car was completely dead. I was unable to unlock the trunk but the doors did open. The vehicle was towed to the local dealership. The tow truck man hooked up his portable car charger and the car started. On August 8, 2026 the car cut off after parking in a parking space and would not start so I had to get a jump off. After driving for approximately 50 miles to home, I got a low voltage warning and a statement the battery is charging. The local Toyota dealership did a diagnostic test on August 11, 2026 and stated the battery, starter, and alternator were okay. The same thing happened again on August 12, 2026. The car just cut off after stopping in the parking lot. After getting a jump off, I received a message that the battery is charging. Also, the car shifts speed while driving.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The vehicle experienced a sudden, severe loss of vehicle control while driving twice. Without any warning lights, dash indicators, or stored error codes, it began violently surging and decelerating uncontrollably around 20 mph with severe bucking. My 18-year-old daughter was driving. Fortunately, this occurred on a quiet local residential road at 5 am; had this sudden failure occurred at highway speeds, it would have resulted in a catastrophic rear-end collision. The vehicle was purchased in may 2023, has 42k miles, and was used normally for school commuting. Incident 1 (08/03/2026): towed to Toyota. Techs could not diagnose it and opened a tech case. Per instructions, dealer replaced shifter assembly due to internal short (part 33560-0r070). However, within 24 hours of return, the exact same dangerous failure reoccurred suddenly without warning in mild traffic. Experiencing an uncontrollable vehicle was terrifying. Fortunately no crash occurred, but it was towed back immediately. When I raised urgent safety concerns and sought a permanent resolution, Toyota stated it takes 60 days for review. During this period, if the dealer requests loaner return, I must return it immediately. They further stated that as soon as the dealer declares the vehicle "ready for pickup," I must retrieve it immediately or be charged daily storage fees. When I asked how the dealer could diagnose and repair the car entirely on their own—without Toyota corporate engineering instructions while Toyota is supposedly still investigating the root cause—Toyota had no logical answer. When I asked who assumes legal and safety responsibility if another failure or accident occurs after pickup, Toyota executive offices explicitly stated "no one" assumes responsibility. No reasonable consumer would drive an unresolved, life-threatening defect under an explicit disclaimer of safety accountability.

On July 31, 2026, while traveling approximately 55 mph on a maryland highway, my 2025 Toyota Rav4 unexpectedly lost power and shut off while in motion. There was no check-engine warning before the failure. The vehicle became disabled in a travel lane. Police responded, and the lane had to be closed because the vehicle could not be safely moved. There was no crash, fire, or injury. The vehicle was taken to an authorized Toyota dealership. The dealer documented that it had “shut off mid drive,” reported finding no codes in the engine ecu, and performed service campaign 26tc03 concerning an incorrect mass airflow sensor reading. The dealer replaced a radiator air guide and stated that the vehicle should return for further diagnosis if it stalled again. On August 2, only approximately 36 miles after that service, the vehicle failed to restart at approximately 40,529 miles and required a jump. Lta and pre-collision system malfunction warnings appeared. The pre-collision warning returned while the vehicle was moving, and the Toyota connected app also recorded the malfunction. The vehicle was then towed back to the dealership and is available for inspection. The cause remains unknown. The concern involves an intermittent engine shutdown/no-start condition, a possible 12-volt electrical or charging-system failure, and the loss of forward-collision and lane-assistance functions. The dealer’s prior multipoint inspection marked the battery as acceptable, but no actual cca battery-test result was documented.

Drove home vehicle under 20,000 miles 2025, got to drove way parked and car stalled shaking amd stated steering power low, and shut off. Tried to re start it and did the same thing stalled shook amd shut off with the same warning. No previous issues.

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 mph, the vehicle aggressively accelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and remained with the dealer for additional diagnostic tests. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

I was in a drive thru and my car had been idling for less than 5 minutes in the rain and started shuttering really bad with my roms dipping low. I put the vehicle in park and the the entire vehicle shut off and would not stay on without dying. For the next 20 minutes everytime I tried to start it it shut off immediately no matter what I would do. The vehicular kept telling me “engine stopped steering power low”. It let me put the vehicle in accessory mode and was fine but my steering wheel remained locked. After about 30 minutes I was able to get the vehicle to start and pull up about 15 feet before it shuttered and I put it in park and it died again. I had to get it towed to the dealership.

Intermittent stalling in various conditions including idling, highway driving and city driving.

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Unknown - on xxx, at just 7,741 miles, my 2025 Toyota Rav4 xle premium awd (VIN: [xxx]) suffered a catastrophic and life-threatening complete mechanical and hydraulic transmission failure. The vehicle completely lost forward propulsion when placed in drive mode, rendering it entirely immobile. When placed in reverse gear, the transmission violently over-pressurized, causing the vehicle to suddenly surge and jump uncontrollably. Simultaneously, the dashboard displayed 6 critical safety system failures: 1. Check engine — electronic control malfunction 2. Vehicle stability control system (vsc/trac) malfunction 3. Secondary collision brake system malfunction 4. Pre-collision system malfunction 5. Parking brake system malfunction 6. Advanced ultrasonic detecting and ranging system malfunction ourisman Toyota chantilly (ro# xxx) has confirmed complete transmission failure. Fault codes found: p28167f — pressure control solenoid h actuator stuck off, p08ba7f — pressure control solenoid l actuator stuck off. Estimated repair cost: $11,347. 42. While this failure fortunately occurred on a local road, had it occurred while merging onto I-66 or I-95 at highway speeds, it would have inevitably caused a catastrophic high-speed collision. This represents an extreme manufacturing defect and life-threatening safety hazard. Toyota corporate cases opened: #xxx (original case) and #xxx (full replacement request). I am requesting full vehicle replacement. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

"engine coolant bypass valve failed suddenly on highway (code p2681-15), risking engine overheat and stall. Toyota acknowledged this defect under csp 24te04 but refused assistance due to vehicle having 103,660 miles (just past 100k miles). Failure causes immediate safety and overheating hazard. ".

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TSB t-sb-0010-24 p0303 code 163,000 miles Toyota denied goodwill assistance cost: $2,549. 65 check engine light came on with vehicle hesitation on acceleration almost caused to stall with reduced power while driving , the dealership diagnosed the issue as TSB t-sb-0010-24 with cylinder #3 misfire requiring exhaust valve lash adjuster to be replaced. Contacted Toyota corporate to request help with goodwill or discount , was denied , was told they couldn't help no reason given . This issue is a well know Toyota Rav4 defect and even though they claim it only happens when is cold this happened to my SUV at f. Please help.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the economy feature disengaged while driving. While the lane assist was activated, the vehicle drifted over into another lane. The engine was revving and backfired. The vehicle lost motive power while driving at undisclosed speeds. The driver's side windshield had a glaze or wax on the outside. While idling, the vehicle surged forward. The driver hovered a foot over the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to several dealers, autonation Toyota winter park service center (225 n semoran blvd, winter park, FL 32792); claremont Toyota (601 auto center dr, claremont, CA 91711); and miracle Toyota (37048 us-27, haines city, FL 33844); but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

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!.

Coolant bypass valve leak. An known issue however dealership will not pay for repairs due to vehicle having 106000 mile. 6000 over what the bulletin 24te04 states it will cover.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, coolant was observed leaking from the engine compartment with no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine casing had failed, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but denied the engine replacement request because the vehicle had previously been serviced by an independent mechanic for engine maintenance. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 20v064000 (engine and engine cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 34,678.

Upon taking my 2021 Rav4 hybrid in for the rear traction motor cable corrosion recall (25td01) on 5/7/2026, I was told there are no parts, no estimated arrival time, and therefore not even a rough estimate for a timeframe of repair. I was told that no one would inspect or evaluate the part in question to indicate if the car was safe to drive. I expressed my extreme concern given the recall includes risk of power failure, even while driving. I received inconsistent, avoidant answers and an absolute denial to remedy the situation in any way. I was told the dealership is "dolan" and not "Toyota". I again expressed my concerns about safety and the dealerships' denial to, at minimum inspect the recalled part and/or housing of the part. Emily, the service manager stated that Toyota does not "allow" loaner vehicles for this particular recall. She could not provide any sources for this information. To summarize; the dealer with not provide an inspection of the recalled part and/or housing, or give an estimated timeline for repair given I am #125 on a waitlist. There is a complete lack of regard for mine or my children's safety as the dealer will not provide any assessment of how bad the damage could be. They suggested that I continue to drive the vehicle, acknowledging all of the safety hazards that could occur. I am terrified of the possibility of having an accident with my kids in the car due to this recalled part failing, not having a vehicle to get to and from work, and the potential additional costs that this unaddressed recall issue could cause. Please advise!.

I was driving through pretty heavy rain for about 65 miles. When I got to my destination, I was idling in the car for a few minutes when the car started to shake. I turned the car off. Upon turning it back on the engine would start and the car would shake before getting a message “engine stopped. Power steering low. ” after two hours, I was able to turn the car on and move a little bit but the car was lurching and the rpm needle was rapidly bouncing between 1,000 and 2,000.

My 2021 Toyota Rav4 began experiencing intermittent shuddering and vibration at low speeds around may 2026. The condition occurred while accelerating from a stop or at slow speeds and became more frequent over time. Because the problem was intermittent, the dealership was initially unable to duplicate it. Independent inspection later found dark transmission fluid containing metal debris, indicating internal transmission failure. I was informed the transmission requires replacement or rebuild. My vehicle has approximately 94,000 miles, which is well below the expected service life of a modern transmission. The symptoms are consistent with numerous reported complaints involving Toyota’s ua80 automatic transmission and torque converter. An unexpected loss of smooth power delivery or hesitation during acceleration creates a potential safety risk, particularly when entering traffic or crossing intersections. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can investigate as this is a very dangerous and concearning issue.

After driving my 2024 Rav4 in rain for about an hour, I was then parked for about 5 minutes in a parking garage and the engine shut down and warning light came on for power steering, and white smoke /steam came out of the engine. Engine would not restart, even after tow truck arrived thirty minutes later. Once dealership received my vehicle they say it starts fine and can't find any issues. They have been unable to duplicate the issue. I saw this same issue online and have requested they check the maf sensor and the battery load test. Seems to be a big issue in these cars.

“required engine maintenance- visit your dealer” message came on the dash. After doing some research and troubleshooting; it appeared to be the coolant bypass valve that everyone has had issues with. The problem was then confirmed with a local provider who instructed us to contact the dealer to see if they’d cover the repair. Otherwise the repair by them would be $700. Toyota customer service told us that there is no TSB or recall for this issue. We would need to have the issue diagnosed and then pay out of pocket for the repair. This is an issue that spreads throughout so many vehicles that it needs to be a recall.

Toyota made a defective coolant valve in their 2019-2021 cars that leaked spontaneously in these vehicles. Over 950,000 cars have been affected to date, including my 2020 Rav4. They are aware of the issue and made a customer support program for this issue which led to engines overheating/electrical code problems, which can cause a severe safety issue if left unrepaired. The program however has a limitation until November 2025 or 100,000 miles whichever comes first. When I was alerted of this, I brought my car to the dealer for service, but they wouldn't replace the part because it wasn't leaking too much at the time to need repair. However, just 4 months after the primary coverage expired, my engine code went off and when I brought my car, the coolant valve turned out to be defective and leaked into the electrical wire harness which then also had to be replaced in addition to the coolant valve. The repair cost was $1200 and both were required to keep the car driving safely and reliably on the road. Because my car had 120,000 miles and the known issue presented after nov2025, Toyota refuses to cover the service, although it is a known manufacturing defect. Toyota is committing fraud to avoid covering this safety issue. The repair is expensive and if left unrepaired, the cars can spontaneously catch on fire on highways and in parks leading to wild fires and endanger others on the road. The Toyota technician specifically informed me the issue was similar to other cars and known and the defect led to the destruction of the wire harness. To avoid a safety recall, Toyota reached a private settlement against class action lawsuit and created a limited csp to avoid covering the defect in cars like mine to maintain their reliability status in consumer reports so cars like mine with little higher mileage won't be reported. It is fraud. I believe they are skipping on consumer repair bills that consumers on entitled to for their manufacturing defect.

The coolant bypass valve failed and the car is a 2021 rav 4 le. I called Toyota and according to the VIN it is not covered for this type of repair. I see quite a few cars have had this same issue, all Toyota's. It was inspected and repaired at a local Toyota dealership but I had to pay out of pocket for the repair. There was a brief warning light that said "engine maintenance required" see dealership or some such thing. Of course it's a safety issue if the coolant valve bypass failure causes the car to overheat.

After driving in rain for about 27 miles then idling in slow traffic, vehicle started running poorly, stalled and would not run properly. Got "reduced engine power, visit your dealer message". Engine would start but stall when put in drive. I held up traffic for several minutes. After several minutes of restarting and stalling, I ran engine in park for 2000-3000 rpm for about a minute. The car then ran fine and I drove for over a week before I could get it to the dealer. It seemed to be run fine during this time. Dealer found code p010014, maf sensor and replaced the sensor. Toyota TSB t-tt-0763-24 appears to describe this issue but it does not appear to have a real resolution for this. It is 'under investigation' just replacing the sensor, if it is just another one of the same type does not give me confidence that this dangerous condition may not happen again. There are many reports like this one.

Sudden and complete failure of the water pump causing an explosion of the part. While traveling down the interstate, put lives in danger due to sudden jolt and rapid deceleration. Recently brought the vehicle in to correct recall on the engine coolant bypass valve. Issue with the bypass valve hastened the deterioration of the water pump to the point of failure. Told by mechanic that this is a known issue that just happens with Toyota’s. If this is a known issue, then it seems to me there should be another recall on the water pump. Plastic parts with highly corrosive liquids at high temps do not mix. Toyota needs to fix this costly issue.