Steering Problems of Toyota RAV4 - part 1

November 20,2025 I was driving my 2015 Toyota rav-4…. Turning into my driveway and suddenly a light on the dashboard came on…an emblem with the steering ?? wheel and exclamation ?? point came on…I was glad that I was at a safe place and called Toyota dealership service department…I was told that it was something to do with the power steering electrical system…that I shouldn’t drive the vehicle but take it to the dealer…I asked if there was a recall and I was told that there wasn’t a recall…I checked several places on google and it showed several recalls for this particular vehicle and issue…the dealership advised me that there’s no recall for my vehicle…I’m not understanding…I have my rav-4 that I’m afraid to drive and don’t know what to do at this point….

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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.

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While picking up my son from school, my 2018 Toyota Rav4 hybrid suddenly experienced a complete steering failure. The steering wheel locked without warning and became impossible to move, making the vehicle inoperable and creating an immediate safety hazard. My son and I were stranded for over 7 hours in a public area. Aaa was dispatched twice, but they were unable to resolve the issue. The vehicle ultimately had to be towed to a Toyota dealership. Toyota dealership diagnosed the car with a failed steering lock ecu, a critical safety component that should not malfunction under normal conditions. I was quoted over $2,000 for the repair. This issue aligns with multiple known recalls and technical service bulletins related to steering and electronic control failures in Rav4 hybrid models, suggesting a potential manufacturer defect. This sudden steering failure placed me and my child at significant risk. There were no warning lights, no prior steering issues, and no indicators of malfunction before the event occurred. I am submitting this report because a steering lock ecu failure can lead to sudden loss of steering control, which poses a serious danger to vehicle occupants and others on the road.

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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.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

While waiting in a drive-thru with “hold” feature enabled, car vibrated abnormally and shut off by itself. When I attempted to restart the vehicle, I received an error message “engine stopped. Steering power low” and another screen also appeared that said, “not ready to drive. Press brake and push engine start switch. ” I followed those instructions several times and the car wouldn’t start. Eventually had to put in neutral to get out of drive-thru. Once out of drive-thru, I once again attempted to restart the car, but this time it worked. Should mention it was raining pretty heavily outside when this happened.

Unknown power steering issues.

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There is an intermittent loss of the electric power steering assist. The car can't be steered during this loss of power, leading to an extremely high risk of a crash. Toyota issued a recall for the 2015 Rav4 for this exact problem, but they did not include my car's VIN in the recall. The problem has not been confirmed, as Toyota informed me that this could only be done at my expense. The vehicle or component has not been inspected for this problem. There have not been any warning lamps, but it's very obvious while driving that the power steering has failed.

Rav 4 2024 mileage 44,780 got off work and started car and drove home no issues was driving in the rain for about 30 mins. I get home and park and my car is sitting for a minute. Then it started to idle strange/ shaking and I see the rpms are jumping between 1k-2k I try to give it gas and nothing happens. I end up turning the car off and back on and the car starts but sputters/shakes and turns right off this happens multiple times. I leave it alone and start it 30 mins later it starts but is shaking very badly. I turn it off and call for a tow to the dealership. I go back and start it an hr later it starts fine and runs fine. I get it towed to the dealership and they keep it for 1 1/2 days they find nothing wrong saying everything is running the way it is designed to run. I go and pick it up and they state they completely inspected and drove multiple times there is nothing going wrong. I take the car and drive it for 3 mins around the block then park the car engine shuts off on its own but everything is still on message states engine stopped power steering low. Took it back the dealership has no idea what’s going wrong. This is a concern because it can happen while driving and the car will stop on its own and cause an accident. This needs to be addressed due to the dealership not knowing what is going on and it being a safety concern.

Stopped for gas on 11/6/2025 immediately after getting gas the truck shook twice, the power steering light and engine shut down light came on and the truck turned off. Waited for a few minutes to turn the engine again it wouldn’t start. Got it towed to my nearest dealership who kept it for a day. Said there was nothing wrong with the truck, there was no code showing and they couldn’t determine the cause of the problem.

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While driving at highway speeds (approx. 65 mph), the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic loss of motive power. The "hybrid system malfunction" warning illuminated, followed immediately by a "check engine" light. The vehicle entered a fail-safe mode, then completely shut down. The steering wheel locked, making it extremely difficult to maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder in a dark, remote area with freezing temperatures. This presented an immediate life-safety risk to all occupants. Following the incident, the vehicle was presented to two separate authorized Toyota dealerships in the us for emergency assistance. Both failed to provide the standard of care required for a high-voltage safety failure. The first dealer refused to perform even a basic safety inspection or intake the vehicle, stating they had no hybrid technicians on weekends. They turned the vehicle away without safety warnings, forcing the operation of a chemically failing vehicle on public roads. The second dealer attempted to charge a diagnostic fee. However, when questioned, they admitted they also did not have a hybrid-certified technician on site. They attempted to bill for a diagnostic service they knowingly could not perform. This fraudulent charge was only rescinded after it was challenged. They subsequently refused further assistance, leaving the occupants stranded. The vehicle was eventually towed to a third dealer (in canada) where it was diagnosed with severe corrosion of the high-voltage floor under wire harness (mgr cable), a known defect. The dealer confirmed the rear motor cable was corroded and required replacement. The repair involved replacing the cable and installing a "splash guard" cap. No prior warning signs occurred before the sudden highway shutdown. This failure is a result of the manufacturer's failure to adequately seal high-voltage components against corrosion and the dealer network's gross negligence in refusing emergency safety support.

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While driving a 2015 Toyota Rav4 (w/awd) the vehicle's steering wheel started to shake and the vehicle lost acceleration. The check engine, awd, and traction (trac) control lights illuminated. After pulling the vehicle over I tried calling aaa. After about 30 minutes, the warning lights went out. I decided to try to drive it home. After about 5 miles the same thing happened. However, after slowing down the problem went away. I called a Toyota dealer and requested a recall service (to fix the power steering assist). They scheduled the appointment and I dropped the vehicle off. When the vehicle was ready I discovered that they only performed the recall for the battery terminal. They informed me that there was no other recall for my VIN number. This problem should be on recall as I've researched and discovered many other complaints similar to mine. These situations like mine, and many others, are safety issues and could easily lead to injury and/or death.

Electric power steering low indicator displayed while driving. It re-appeared several times over the past days. Called dealer and awaiting their response.

The first time I was stopped at a red light and the car started acting like it was missing and then it shut off this was during rain the message on the dash said engine stopped steering power low. The next time this happened I was parking it a parking lot and the engine did the same it rpm started going up and down like it was missing then it shut off and showed the message engine stopped steering power low this was also during rain after I had been driving in the rain. After about 20 minutes both times the car would start and drive as normal. I have looked online and multiple people have had the same issue.

2025 Rav4 - while driving the car, changing from reverse to drive the steering wheel got stuck and would not go back to straight position. This causes an accident and hit another car. There was not indicator that there is a problem. Inspection was done by the dealership and ASAP and they identified and confirmed of faulty steering wheel angle. This car was bought end of June and accident happened first week of October. The car is since with the dealership with no resolution yet. Dealership have us call Toyota, but we were not provided with any help. One and half month in, we continue to pay insurance but we do not have the car.

I stopped for gas; my car would not start. The power steering fluid light came on. I went inside to purchase some but when I returned to the car, there was no place to pour it. After a few minutes the car started. About a month later, my husband stopped for gas and the car killed right after he left the gas station, about 10 minutes later, it started. Took it to a mechanic, they couldn't find anything wrong with it because the check engine light wasn't on and the car wasn't giving any problem codes. About two weeks ago, I stopped for gas, the car wouldn't start. Finally got it started, and the check engine light came on. However, it's still not reading any codes.

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the steering wheel seized, and the contact had to use force to maneuver the steering wheel. A yellow light was illuminated, followed by a red light. The message "power steering malfunction" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering unit sensor had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact retrieved dtcs: c05d604 (electronic power steering (eps) system internal failure); c151287 (malfunction in the electric power steering (eps) system torque sensor); and c15d11c (electric parking brake failure). The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 20v373000 (steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,500.

For the last 2 months, a code comes up it says loss of electric power steering assist. It came up 15 times in two months. What happens is a steering wheel ceases up for a second or two and then the code goes away. This is something that could happen anytime especially if I have my grandchildren with me and ex steering wheel could freeze up and I wouldn’t be able to steer around an accident at an intersection or something. This is very hazardous to me and my family. There was a recall on some of the 2020 Toyota Rav4’s in the past. I’m telling you I’m not a liar. I do get this coming up this way too many times.

Year: 2014 make: Toyota model: Rav4 approx. Mileage: 60k 2. Incident details date of most recent incident: 9/18/2025 problem: vehicle stalls and loses power steering while turning. Engine shuts off suddenly, causing complete loss of steering control. Consequence: on 9/18/25, my son lost control of the Rav4, hit a curb, and went through bushes before stopping. Previous stalls also occurred while turning, with loss of steering assist. This is a severe safety hazard. Frequency: has occurred multiple times, even after dealership inspection and repairs. 3. Dealer/repair info dealer name: sarasota Toyota address: 7435 s tamiami trail, sarasota, FL 34231 repair attempts: dealer inspected in August 2025, charged nearly $900, but problem persists. Car is now back in the shop (not Toyota) for a second opinion at an additional cost of over $200. 4. Description my 2014 Toyota Rav4 repeatedly stalls and loses engine power and power steering without warning, especially while turning. On September 18, 2025, my son lost control of the vehicle, hit a curb, and went through bushes before managing to stop. This is extremely dangerous and could have resulted in a serious accident. Sarasota Toyota has inspected the vehicle and charged nearly $900 for repairs, but the defect was not fixed. The vehicle continues to stall and is unsafe to drive. I am pursuing a second opinion at additional expense. This issue places my family and others on the road in danger. I am filing this complaint so that Toyota and regulators address this defect.

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Electric power steering problem, steering wheel is very stiff and wont return to center ,car is very difficult to drive, I have read that NHTSA issued some safety recalls on 2011 Toyota Rav4 related to this mfg. Defect in the circut board -ecu -electronic control unit in the electric power steering , I purchased this used car on 9/17/2025 . I am taking it to Toyota dealer 10/9/2025.

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While getting gas the car was running and I got a warning that said engine stopped power steering low. I started the car and everything was fine and was able to drive with no issues and haven't seen the warning. I know sometimes dealerships have reminders for maintenance and not sure if this was just a glitch. After reviewing forums this seems like a known issue on Toyota but the vehicle hasn't been recalled some users have said car was fine while others say battery or alternator. This should be looked into. Thank you.

Brakes failed to respond wheels locked and steering shut down.

I cant use my cruise control its not going straight and everytime im turning I can hear a grinding noise its coming from power steering.

I was driving the car with no issues on July 13th- made two 30-minute trips with no issues the same day. During a 15-minute drive, the car was fine until I was at an intersection 12 minutes into the drive (frederick rd and centennial ln in ellicott city, MD). I was stopped at the intersection for maybe a minute, and when the traffic light turned green, I released my brake and went to accelerate when I got the following display message: "engine stopped steering power low. " the engine turned off, and I couldn't get the car to budge in drive or reverse. When I tried pressing on the gas pedal, it wouldn't budge and felt very stiff. I'm thankful this happened at a smaller intersection on a Sunday evening because my car wouldn't start back up and was stuck in the dead center of this intersection. Cars going east and south all had to drive around me. This put my safety at risk because I had to hop out of my car and redirect people around it until a kind passerby pulled over to help push my car to the right-side turning lane. I was standing in the middle of an intersection on a road with a 35-40 mph speed limit. After pushing the car to the curb and calling a few towing places (maybe 20 minutes later), I tried starting the car again, and it started with no issues whatsoever. I drove it the rest of the way back (for 3 minutes) with no problems, and I made another three 20-25 minute drives on it today. Nothing sounds wrong with the car; it's running with no issues. I would take my car to the dealership for a diagnostic, but I can't afford to right now. I will put my battery on a tender and use a multimeter to check the voltage within the next few days. Regular maintenance has been kept, and the car has never had this happen prior. I've never received the "engine stopped steering power low" message prior to this incident. The car is available for inspection upon request.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the power steering assist intermittently failed to operate as needed, with the maintenance warning light displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and a dealer however, there were no fault codes retrieved. The contact stated that while making a left turn onto a side road, the steering wheel seized, and excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the vehicle would reset itself. The failure intermittently persisted, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective steering column. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 15v144000 (steering); however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

My car steering wheel is not responding correctly when I drive". Last week a warning light of faulty steering angle sensor keeps showing on and off. I am afraid that I may crash. I called Toyota to let them know and after verifying my VIN # they want to charge me $185. 00 because according to them my car is not on their recall all the information can also be found on the website.

Started normally, but had a message on the screen saying “check fuel cap. ” I needed gas anyways, drove about 3 minutes to the gas station, turned engine off, put gas. Turned engine back on and within 3 seconds it shut off. The screen displayed “engine stopped- power steering low. ” I tried a handful of times to start, it did not. After 20 minutes and some rest, it started. With no more messages. Battery and alternator were tested, both were good.

For several months the 2006 Rav4 with only 118k miles had been experiencing intermittent failure of power steering while driving at speeds between 5-20mph. These failures resulted in the steering wheel to become extremely difficult if not impossible to turn while the car is driving. In each incident, this resulted in stopping the car and putting on emergency lights until we can safely turn off the car and hopefully the issue goes away several minutes later. This issue has proven to be very dangerous when in traffic with no place to pull over and with the steering tightening up, it is not even possible to pull over in most cases. Four different mechanical shops tried to replicate the issue and none were able to determine the root cause nor replicate it consistently. This issue has been happening more frequently now and the car cannot be taken out safely. As elderly drivers, this is not safe by any means and Toyota should consider this a critical safety recall and cover towing costs to move this. There are no signs of instrument lights or any leaks coming from the car. This seems to be entirely a malfunction of steering components. With regard to incidents resulting from this, my mother is the primary driver, she is 71 years old and injured her wrist trying to move the steering wheel to a safe location. Her wrist is still in pain several days later.

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The electric power steering has malfunctioned. The malfunction of the eps may cause the car to jerk or swerve. The dealership has said they have seen countless problems with the eps. There is a recall on the eps in the 2014 Rav4, however this vehicle did not fall under the previous recall. No warning lamps or messages appear for this particular issue with the vehicle. The vehicle is available for inspection. The dealership has quoted $3014. 00 for the repair. Steering column assembly replacement and eps motor replacement.

After driving for approximately 30-minutes in the rain I pulled over and the automatic engine shutoff feature activated while I was waiting to pick somebody up. When attempting to restart the car, the engine would not turn over and I got a low power steering warning message on my dash. The problem persisted for approximately 15-20 minutes. Eventually after about 15 attempts to restart the engine, the car started back up and drove fine the rest of the way home. The dealership was unable to find anything wrong with my car, but I have heard of this happening to many other Rav4s and it causes me concerning, especially when I need to drive my car in the rain.

Engine shuts off with exposure to rain.

While driving on or around 6/5/25, an active recall on my vehicle caused damage to my battery connections causing my vehicle to completely shut off while driving on an highway exit ramp. I almost lost complete control of the vehicle. Thankfully, the vehicle turned back on and I was able to get the vehicle to safety. I had to get the car towed and repaired. The repair was directly related to the damage from an active recall issue being open without remedy for over 3 years on my vehicle. When I asked Toyota for reimbursement of under $200 they refused. This is a safety issue beyond the recall and I am concerned this is going to happen to someone else and there are going to be deaths. Toyota needs to stand by their recall too and may the financial aspect correct with me. Other members of the public need to be aware of the issues beyond their recall that can affect their cars and that Toyota is requiring them to be responsible for the damage that was caused while waiting on a remedy to the recall.

See all problems of the 2017 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Driving down the highway in the pouring rain. Pulled over because the engine felt like it was about to stall. Whole engine cut off and check engine light came on with “engine stopped - power steering low”. Would act like it wanted to start again but shut back off every time. After about 30 minutes it started back up without any check engine lights or messages. This is the 3rd time its happened. Always in the rain.

I was sitting in my driveway 5 minutes after getting home from work and the car engine turned over and message on the screen said “engine stopped, power steering low”. I tried turning it back on and it turned over again with the same messsge.

When idling with intermittent wipers on, the vehicle began smoking under the hood, engine light came on dash as well as “steering power low” warning, then engine shut off. The vehicle was unable to be started again after waiting a few minutes. The gear shift could not move from parked. The vehicle was purchased new and had only 20,000 miles on it. I ended up having it towed to a Toyota dealership but by that time the battery was drained from leaving the hazards on too long. They could not identify any other problems and sent me on my way with a working vehicle. After talking to a manager at another Toyota dealership, they identified that this is an occasional problem with this vehicle. The manager was able to contact Toyota who suggested they replace the air intake tube and bezel. Hopefully after these new parts are replaced I will not experience a random shutdown again. It’s such a specific set of conditions to cause the problem but a quick search online showed that other people have encountered similar situations with the wipers on intermittent while idling. Someone mentioned pressing the switch to turn off the automatic engine shut off as a temporary fix. I was blocking traffic and police had to direct traffic around me while I waited for the tow. Thankfully the traffic was not moving fast.

Was driving in heavy rain after about a 35 mile commute and put the car in park. After about 5 minutes of sitting in park the car turned completely off by itself for a couple of seconds and restarted. Warning message “engine stopped steering power low” popped up on dash and was visible smoke coming from under the hood with a slight burning smell. This is a first incident for the car as it has been driven for about 2 years with a little over 35,100 miles on it.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota RAV4 🔎.