Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Toyota RAV4 - part 1

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.

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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!.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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.

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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The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "engine maintenance required - visit the dealer" was displayed on the screen. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the coolant flow control valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to customer support program: 24te04. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.

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On two separate occasions, my car has shaken violently and stopped both times while idling one in my driveway one at a stoplight and then an alert that says engine stopped steering power low came on.

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Supplemental to complaint 11728745. My 2025 Rav4 failed at 39,919 miles. Toyota corporate is acting in bad faith to deny the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The case manager repeatedly calls only after 6:30 pm when the dealership is closed to avoid resolution. Furthermore, the representative is now using "legal threats"-directing me to their legal department-as a tactic to stop me from pursuing this valid warranty claim. This is a safety hazard and a violation of federal warranty law.

My 2025 Toyota Rav4 (39,919 miles) has a permanent "check engine" light. On March 18, 2026, diagnostic codes p24517f and p214502a were found, indicating a failure in the switching valve and fuel tank pressure sensor. Toyota USA and the dealer are refusing to honor the 60,000-mile powertrain warranty and federal emissions warranty. I am reporting this as a safety defect because the vehicle may lose power or stall on the highway, creating an immediate crash risk. The manufacturer's refusal to repair a known emission/fuel defect in a new 2025 model has left me with an unsafe vehicle for over 15days.

I was driving the car for 25 minutes over main roads and freeway. There was lots of rain and water on the roadways, plus we just had major snowfall recently that was melting. I get to my destination and had my car in idle for 7 minutes in park. I shift into drive and my car shudders and the engine shuts off with an error "engine stopped- steering power low". I turn off the car and let it sit for one hour. Come back start it up and it does, only to repeat the shudder and then throw the same code. I had it towed to Toyota of auburn, wa. They don't know what the problem is. Reddit forums have consumers with the same car complaining about this issue with no resolve.

After turning my car on and the car running for several minutes, the engine shut off on its own and it said “engine stopped steering power low”. This is the second time this has happened. The vehicle is available for inspection. My safety was put at risk because I am concerned about this happening while driving, or being stranded somewhere. I have not taken my vehicle in yet, but many other Rav4 owners have this issue from my internet searches. This has happened twice to me in the past two weeks. The vehicle has not been inspected. There were no warning lamps/messages/lights prior to failure.

On a rainy day after driving on the interstate, I pulled into a drive thru. Once there and idling for a few minutes, I tried moving forward and the car rough idled, shows message on dash "engine stopped, power stering low" and had reduced engine power and no power steering and then stalls out. I tried turning it back on and it stays on for less than 3 seconds and shuts off. I had it towed to the dealer and they say there are no codes. After reading online, multiple other users experienced the exact same thing when its raining, wipers were on and they were idling after a trip on the interstate. If this would have occurred on the interstate and I lost engine power and reduced steering, it would cause major safety concerns. There were no warning lights prior to the issue and the only thing that flashed for a second when the engine stalled was the power steering, check engine and battery light. Toyota checked the battery and said its at 100%. Dealer cannot identify and issue, but I couldnt drive, had no power steering and had to have the car towed.

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On Friday February 27, 2026 as the vehicle was being driven it caught fire. Fire department and sheriffs office was called to the scene. Vehicle fire was put out but the whole front end burned.

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We were on a funeral procession when suddenly the car accelerated at a very high speed and hit the end of guard rail head on. My wife on the passenger side and two people at the back were all taken to the emergency room. I got pinned on the steering column and taken out via the roof. I had severe abrasions on both legs, wife has 3 broken ribs,the 2 passengers suffered whiplash and complains of chest pains. Car was purchased 11/3/2025 and I took it for a recall fix about a month ago at burien Toyota dealership where we bought it. Incident # 2026-55959 seattle police. At present our car insurance is investigating and our claim # is 082 0356939 allstate.

This is my 2nd report to NHTSA and the 3 rd time in one year that this has happened to my 2024 rav 4. It’s raining and I just pulled in to a publix parking lot and not even 5 minutes of me sitting here preparing to go into the store my engine starts sputtering and shuts off. I’ve taken my vehicle to a Toyota dealership both previous times and they said they didn’t find anything.

I was driving home in the rain for about 75 minutes and when I arrived in my driveway I saw steam coming from the front grille area. It wasn't due to a high engine coolant temperature so I decided to carefully open the hood and check for the source. I saw water inside the bottom of the engine bay behind the radiator steaming from the heat of the engine. A few seconds later, the engine stalled and the following message appeared: "engine stopped, steering power low" which came on with a check engine light, red battery light, and steering light. I used my scan tool and obtained the code: p0171, system too lean. After doing research, I've come up with a conclusion to the potential cause. Starting with the 2022 model year Rav4 non-hybrid (and onwards to the 2025 model year Rav4), the air intake inlet was redesigned from the prior one in the 2019-2021 Rav4 non-hybrid models, as seen in numerous comparison images online. This new design presents a dangerous fault. When driving in rainy conditions, especially at higher speeds with mist kicked up from cars in front, the air intake will take in water. The water will flow to the air filter and then reach the mass air flow sensor (maf). The maf sensor monitors the amount of air entering the engine and sends signals to the car's computer to help determine how much fuel to send to the engine to maintain an ideal ratio for optimal efficiency. Considering that water is getting to the maf sensor, it thinks that the water is excess air, so less fuel is sent to the engine as a result. Since I came to a stop in my driveway, the engine is now at its idle speed and only commands a small amount of fuel to remain running. Now, when combined with the water, that lower fuel flow is practically cut off, leading to the stall. This happened to me before when driving in the rain, but in more dangerous conditions in stop-and-go traffic. Toyota must follow up on t-tt-0763-24 because it has been well over a year since their initial investigation.

I was driving down a road and my engine just stopped working lights came on saying there were several issues including the engine. I researched online and found there were recalls due to this same problem for the same make, model and year as my vehicle, but there is no recall on my vehicle. The dealer confirmed the engine was seized up or whatever wording they used. No one has inspected it other than rodland Toyota. There were no warning lights or messages or symptoms before the issue.

We were traveling across country from michigan to arizona. We were 50 miles outside tucson, az on [xxx]. Traveling 80 mph in a 75 mph zone, in passing lane and felt like car exploded and all airbags deployed and we came to a quick stop. No major injuries to either of us. One vehicle incident, did not collide with anything or hit any debris. It was a clear day, road conditions good, no noises, lights etc. My husband was able to keep from rolling and we came to a stop with many semi's etc flying by, very scary. When we were able to safely get out and call 911, there was significant drivers side front end damage around tire area and inside near axle. Looked like something broke inside car, sheered off bottom of tire. Police arrived and had to push vehicle on to shoulder of road. He assessed scene and thought it had to be a mechanicla failure as there was no other vehicle or debris on site. We did contact our insurance company and subsequently it was totaled. We also have Toyota investigating what the cause was if it was a faulty part or mechanical failure. We have not heard back but did receive the "recording of time of crash". I have a short video of damage but I'm unable to attach it. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I have had multiple instances where the vehicle has failed to accelerate when making a left hand turn. Each time this has occurred, my car has rolled into the intersection from a stop at a small decline, but the gas seems to do nothing. My car silently rolls forward and then I have no power or gas and am trapped with no acceleration. I’m worried this is going to get me into an accident and seriously injured. It does not happen super often, but enough that I know there is a problem. Dealer has not been able to see any codes, and we have not been able to recreate the issue in front of the service advisors.

On [xxx], at approximately [xxx], in greenwich CT, while I was very slowly driving into a parking space, the engine suddenly and unexpectedly surged,. The vehicle overcame the brakes and raced forward and collided with a stone wall, about 3 ft away. This was a new (since may 2025) vehicle with only approx 3,500 miles on it. I had not had any previous problems with it and there were no warning lights on the instrument panel. At the time, I was proceeding at a very low rate of speed, 1 - 3 mph. I drive only with my right foot which was on the brake, not on the gas. The vehicle accelerated with no action on my part and collided with a stone wall approx 3 ft away and bounced back several feet. Fortunately I was close to the wall so the vehicle did not have a long distance to accelerate and I was wearing my seat belt which probably protected me from injury. No other vehicle was involved. I was the sole occupant of the vehicle. I was wearing my seat-belt, the oem rubber mats were securely in place. The airbags did not deploy and I was not injured. I had the car towed to the Toyota dealership by aaa because I was afraid it might accelerate into traffic at a red light or stop sign if I drove it before the problem was repaired. I have reported this incident to Toyota motor corporation USA, through their brand engagement center (as instructed by the dealership) and they are sending out an engineer to the dealership to inspect the vehicle. I do not know which part malfunctioned or failed. The vehicle is at a Toyota dealership and presumably could be inspected (unless they replace some parts). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The oil filter housing is made of plastic and can crack when removing and installing and if not alert after an oil change, the engine can blow if oil drains out under pressure.

The contact owned a 2024 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at slower speeds at a gas station, attempting to drive into the car wash, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into a fence and a nearby tree, where the vehicle came to a stop. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact attempted to depress the brake pedals to stop the vehicle; however, the vehicle continued accelerating and lost control, resulting in the crash. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss by the insurance provider. The diagnosis was not available. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,480.

This is another complaint with the same issue. Got gas on January 1, 2026, the truck did not how any indication that it was going to have any problems. Engine shut down and wouldn’t turn back on. This has happened twice after getting gas, no dealership knows the problem. This is casing me stress and putting myself and family in danger. Considering it stops out of no where.

My 2019 Toyota Rav4 experienced a dangerous electrical and transmission failure that ultimately caused the vehicle to stall while driving and made me lose control. For several weeks before the incident, the vehicle showed subtle hesitation when accelerating but no warning lights. After the car stalled and spun out coming off the ben franklin bridge onto I-76 near downtown camden, police responded, confirmed the vehicle had unexpectedly shut off, and verified there was no crash damage. I later brought the car to the Toyota dealership, where they discovered corrosion on the battery cable, failed abs sensors, and a weak battery. I paid $668 for a new battery, new cable, and abs sensor repairs. At that time, the dealership did not inform me of any transmission issues and released the vehicle back to me. I made it only a short distance up the road before realizing the vehicle could not accelerate past 40 mph and was still malfunctioning, so I immediately returned it. The next day, the dealership initially claimed there was nothing wrong with the vehicle, but after I insisted they re-evaluate the car, they then informed me that the transmission was failing and needed replacement. This sequence of electrical instability, combined with the transmission malfunction, ultimately led to the earlier stall where I lost all power steering and braking assist and spun out into the median. The vehicle, diagnostic records, and replaced components are available for inspection. The sudden loss of power and control created a major safety risk to me and other drivers in a high-traffic area.

I am submitting this complaint to document an unresolved vehicle safety concern and loss of confidence in safe operation. My vehicle experienced serious safety-related malfunctions and warnings, and despite service visits, I was not provided written confirmation that the vehicle was safe to operate. After repairs were reportedly completed, I repeatedly requested written safety verification, which was not provided. Due to the unresolved safety concerns and lack of written safety assurance, I did not feel it was safe to resume driving the vehicle. A loaner vehicle was provided while the safety issues were being addressed. The loaner was later recovered before my safety concerns were resolved and without advance notice, leaving me without a vehicle that I could confirm was safe to operate. I am reporting this because I continue to lack confidence in the safety of the vehicle and want this documented as a safety concern. This complaint is not about customer service, but about unresolved safety issues and the absence of written confirmation that the vehicle is safe to drive.

Formal complaint to Toyota motor corporation (manufacturing) regarding: serious manufacturing defect and failure of new vehicle safety customer: [xxx] customer contact: phone – [xxx] | email – [xxx] vehicle purchased: (new/recently purchased Toyota model) date of purchase: [xxx] selling dealership: round rock Toyota vehicle identification number (VIN) (last 4 digits): [xxx] ________________________________________ I. Overview of complaint: critical safety defect I am filing this formal complaint directly with Toyota motor corporation regarding a vehicle that, due to an apparent critical manufacturing defect, failed dangerously and repeatedly within days of purchase. This failure represents a lapse in Toyota's quality control and a serious threat to consumer safety. The vehicle, purchased new or recently, on [xxx], exhibited critical operational defects less than three days after leaving the dealership. This vehicle is demonstrably defective and unsafe, having compromised my life during a near-fatal failure on a major interstate. As the manufacturer, Toyota is ultimately responsible for the quality and safety of the product delivered to consumers. Ii. Factual timeline of critical defects and safety incidents the vehicle exhibited multiple critical failures less than 77 miles and three days after purchase, severely compromising my safety and confidence in the quality of the Toyota product: •immediate operational failures: the vehicle began experiencing multiple mechanical failures shortly after purchase. •near-fatal highway stall: the most severe incident involved the vehicle suddenly failing and stalling while traveling on a major interstate. This catastrophic failure is indicative of a serious underlying manufacturing or component defect and severely endangered my life and the lives of others. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The small pipe that's part of the upper radiator coolant hose connector adapter broke off and drained coolant from the vehicle. This small pipe had deteriorated and become brittle leading to the failure.

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I was driving home, about a 30 min drive, in heavy rain. Once I got home, I left my car running to run inside. When I came back out the car was shaking and idling funny. A "low steering power" diagnostic came up and then also a parking malfunction. I turned the car off. It would barely turn over and still multiple diagnostic lights on. I pulled in into the garage and after sitting off for about 10 minutes, it started fine. I've seen multiple posts about this same issue. It's definitely a safety concern.

My 2019 Toyota Rav4 hybrid (VIN: [xxx] ) suffered sudden engine failure due to coolant intrusion. On Nov 20, 2025, johnstons Toyota in harriman, NY (ro#xxx) diagnosed the issue and recorded dtcs p26ca31 and p26cb, which indicate failure of the coolant flow control/bypass valve. The dealer confirmed heavy white smoke from the exhaust with a strong coolant smell and advised the engine had failed, recommending a replacement. This vehicle is part of the early 2019 japan-built batch widely known for premature electric water pump and coolant-flow system failures. Internal impeller swelling, seal leakage, and bearing seizure can cause coolant pressure spikes and ultimately head-gasket failure with coolant entering the cylinders. This defect has been reported by thousands of Rav4 hybrid owners (2019–2021). Toyota has addressed it quietly through internal tsbs such as xxx and xxx but no public recall has been issued. The safety risk is severe: the engine began emitting thick white smoke and ran roughly, risking sudden power loss, overheating, or engine seizure while driving. A stall at highway speed could easily cause a collision. Toyota USA opened case #xxx but declined assistance despite the defect being well documented. This failure was sudden, with no warning lights prior to the incident. Given the widespread nature of this defect and its clear safety implications, I request that NHTSA open a formal investigation into the electric water pump/coolant system failures in 2019–2021 Toyota Rav4 hybrids and consider requiring a safety recall. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The contact managed to push the vehicle over to the shoulder of the road, and the vehicle was towed to the residence. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

It was a rainy day and I had come home to pick up someone, didn’t turn my car off but had it in park. I went to reverse and pressed on gas, all of a sudden my engine started to aggressively shake/vibrate while showing on the dash that power steering was off, I couldn’t move my car anymore. I turned it off and same thing. Finally after 15 minutes, it started back up like normal. Scary to think others have been experiencing this with or without rain involved, and also while driving. Toyota is suppose to be reliable. Taking it in to Toyota service department tomorrow, but scared to drive it and just be told nothing is wrong like others have been told.