2006 Toyota RAV4 problems

“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 [XXX] 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…”

“Two days ago my car was driving perfectly on the highway. The oil pressure light turned on I turned off the highway immediately and put more oil in the car. At this point my car is consuming over a quart every week and I don't drive more than a couple of hundred miles every week. I've taken several longer trips with this car. I started the car back up after checking the oil level, started driving and the light didn't come back on. About 10 more miles down the road on the highway the oil pressure light the check engine light vsc light the four-wheel drive light appear. I go to an AutoZone and I get a code p0012. I've done lots of research and I've learned that this is all related to Toyota's well-known defective design and manufacturing of their engines. I have a 2az Fe engine. I bought this car with 125,000 miles on it in 2020. It now has about 154,000 mi on it. I didn't know that the oil consumption was extreme until this point of research. Now my car is making a rattling sound most likely the engine needs to be replaced. Technically yes I can drive it but it will stall and probably light on fire if I do and this is dangerous. They had a TSB warranty extension…”

“HAD MY 2006 TOYOTA RAV 4 IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL SERVICES. I ALSO HAD RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE TUNEUP AND BRAKE FLUID DRAIN AND REFILL. WHEN I LEFT THE PARKING LOT OF THE DEALERSHIP, I CROSSED 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC, BRAKED, WAITED FOR ALTERNATE TRAFFIC TO PASS BEFORE TURNING ONTO THE CITY STREET WITH MY FOOT STILL ON BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED, LURCHED THEN ACCELERATED AGAIN WITHOUT ME PRESSING ON THE GAS AND CONTINUING TO BRAKE WHEN IT ACCELERATED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP BACK THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY TOWED IT BACK IN. AFTER THEY PERFORMED SEVERAL TESTS AND TEST DRIVE IT THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE SAME THING. THERE WERE TWO PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES THAT I DID NOT REPORT TO THIS ENTITY SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR USED. THEY HAPPENED CLOSE TOGETHER AND NOT AGAIN UNTIL THE MOST RECENT EVENT. I BELIEVE THE PROHIBITIVE COST OF THROTTLE BODY AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL MODULE ($1,519.40) WHICH ARE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOT THE FLOOR MATS, IS WHY THE PREVIOUS OWNER SOLD THE CAR TO ME. NO WARNING FORTHCOMING, EVEN THOUGH I DID ASK.”

“2016 Superseding Recall (Campaign 16V596000): Toyota issued a follow-up recall because some initial epoxy repairs were not enough. Dealers must replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts completely free of charge. These parts are severely rusted and corroded on my 2006 Toyota Rav4. It seems like my vehicle was not included in the recall when it should have been. I am not the original owner, but it seems like the issue was never addressed. The damage was discovered during routine maintenance. I purchased the vehicle on 8/1/2024. The damage must have existed before then based on the amount of damage. Is it possible for Toyota to still extend the recall to this vehicle?”

“MY RAV4--VIN: [XXX]--HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG CONNECTOR. WHEN THE WARNING LIGHT IS ON, IT DEACTIVATES ALL OF THE AIRBAGS. IT HAS BECOME PERMANENTLY ON IN RECENT DAYS. IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. WHEN I START MY VEHICLE AND THE AUTOMATIC CHECK UP, THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS LIGHTING UP. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WOULD BE ON WHEN STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. IT WILL KEEP ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. THE ERROR CODE FOUND BY MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC IS B1821. BUT MY MECHANIC CAN NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. EVEN REPLACING THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANICS. IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTOR. I HAVE ASKED TOYOTA TO FIX THIS FOR FREE. TOYOTA REFUSED. *TT”

“WE PURCHASED A 2006 RAV4 LIMITED THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH 2019. A REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING GROWL NOISE WAS NOTICEABLE A MONTH AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR END STARTED MAKING A GROWLING NOISE. IN EARLY JANUARY 2015 TOYOTA ISSUED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (ZF4) FOR YEARS 2006-2012 RAV4 TO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE BEARING REPLACED, BUT THEY PUT AN EXPIRATION DATE OF APRIL 30TH 2017 OR 9 YEARS FROM THE DATE OF FIRST USE REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN PUT AN EXPIRATION DATE ON A DEFECTIVE PART. THESE BEARINGS COULD GO BAD AND SEIZE AT ANY TIME POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH. WE HAPPEN TO OWN TWO OF THESE VEHICLES, SAME YEARS, ONE MAKING NO NOISE AND NOT GOING BAD YET, BUT THE OTHER DECIDED IT WAS TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS REAR DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING BEARING, NOT A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. TOYOTA HAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED A DEFECT WITH THE BEARING BY INITIATING A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM, YOU CAN'T JUST SAY AFTER APRIL 30TH 2017 NO OTHER BEARINGS WILL FAIL AND IF THEY DO WE PASS THE BUCK ON THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR HEARING MY CONCERNS, I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING BACK FROM…”