2012 Toyota RAV4 electrical system problems

“Over the last 4 years I have had 2 prior occurrence where I've lost power turning or stopping, causing the engine to stall. Both times the vehicle was taken to our mechanic and he replaced the connectors to the battery. On January 18th, 2024, while turning off of a rural highway onto the street we live on I again lost power and the engine stalled and smelled a faint electrical smell. I called my mechanic and he said he could get it in on January 22nd. We checked all connections to the battery, made sure the battery terminals were clean. The morning of January 22nd, while on my way to the mechanic the vehicle in front of me stopped quickly. I started to stop a little quicker than normal, causing the front of the vehicle to tip down. I immediately lost power and the engine died, causing me to rear end the vehicle in front of me. The collisions was at slow speed, but it also caused disproportionate damage to my vehicle. Over the weekend of January 20th, we became aware if a recall for 2013 to 2018 Rav4s regarding the tops of newer batteries being smaller and causing problems with the battery shifting causing loss of power and potential fires. We strongly believe…”

“Check EV System - Have your vehicle checked by a dealership immediately Warning has come on several times in the past few days. RAV4 EV forum indicates this is a problem that can make the vehicle stop while driving - very dangerous. There was a recall issued for this problem in 2015, and your site indicates there are no outstanding recalls on this vehicle. Please help resolve this potentially severe problem. Thanks.”

“Inaudible turn signal prompt: Older drivers who drive for miles with their turn signal on is the subject of many a cartoon and common source of highway frustration. It is also a safety issue when a vehicle does not perform the turn that it is apparently signaling to make. I find myself being one of those older drivers who leaves their turn signal on. I have moderate hearing loss and do wear hearing aids, but not all the time. Perhaps my RAV4's audible prompt is quieter than others, but with road noise and the radio on I often do not hear it. A simple solution to this problem would be the ability to control the volume of the audible turn signal prompt so it could be "cranked up" to be easily heard. If dashboard lights have a dimmer control, why don't turn signal prompts have a volume control? It seems like a simple solution and with today's touch control panels one that could be added for very little cost. Thanks for considering my recommendation. It is a common safety problem that has a simple and low-cost solution.”

“I HAVE JUST BEGUN HAVING THE ISSUE THAT MANY OTHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT - THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT + 4WD + TRAC LIGHTS ALL CAME ON (2012 TOYOTA RAV4, 100,000 MILES). WE TRIED SOME SIMPLE FIXES AT HOME, BASED ON THE MANY ONLINE POSTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE (CHECKED/REFASTENED HOSES, BATTERY CONNECTIONS, ETC.), AND THE LIGHTS CAME RIGHT BACK ON. TOOK TO OUR USUAL MECHANIC, AND THEY DIAGNOSED O2 SENSOR PROBLEMS, BOTH BANK 1 & BANK 2. PAID $750 FOR THEM TO REPLACE BOTH SENSORS. THE 3 DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AS I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER PICKING UP MY CAR FROM THE SERVICE. THE SENSORS WERE REPLACED WITH GENUINE TOYOTA PARTS. THE CAR IS NOW BACK AT THE MECHANIC - THEY SAID THE SAME O2 SENSOR CODES ARE COMING UP WHEN THEY CHECK THE DIAGNOSTICS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM FOR TOYOTA, AND REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND DEALT WITH. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH AN EARLIER TOYOTA SIENNA, AND SPENT MUCH TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO FIX THE ISSUE, WHICH WAS NEVER RESOLVED. THERE ARE MORE THAN 15 YEARS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE - PLEASE HELP US, THE CONSUMERS!”

“MY 4WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT TRACTION LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CONE ON. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BUT I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND IT'S A SENSOR PROBLEM . THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2007”

“2012 RAV4 - FOR NO APPARENT REASON MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRAC OFF LIGHT AND 4X4 LIGHT HAVE BEEN COMING ON FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN OFF, THEN ON, ETC. WE GOT A CODE OF P0607, BUT THE CAR IS SHOWING NO SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT CODE ERROR. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING FINE. I HAVE CHECKED THE BATTERY CONNECTION AND THE GAS CAP. BASED ON A LARGE NUMBER OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS, I WOULD ASK THAT NHTSA SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND STRONGLY CONSIDER A RECALL THAT WILL ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM FOR OWNERS. THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER WHO HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR, ONLY TO HAVE THE LIGHTS BACK ON A FEW DAYS LATER. PLEASE HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS.”