1994 TOYOTA RAV4

0 recalls — 4 complaints — 23 TSBs

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

4 total complaints 1 crashes

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	1
AIR BAGS	1

Incident date: Jun 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V033000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUF... Read more

Incident date: Sep 10, 2013

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME (APPROX. 30 MILE DRIVE), I WAS HEARING SOMETHING THAT WAS THUMPING, THINKING IT WAS JUST MY SEAT BELT HANGING OUT THE DOOR. I TRIED THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND IT WAS TIGHT, SO I ASSUMED IT WAS JUST MY SEAT BELT HANGING OUT THE DOOR. AFTER ARRIVING HOME, I NOTICED THE SEAT BE... Read more

Incident date: Feb 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION WITH A DEER. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ALSO, NO AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Jan 2, 2003

THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS DEALER REPLACED VALVES AND CONSUMER DRIVES VEHICLE WITH THE OVERDRIVE ON. THIS SEEMED TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM STALLING. *TT

Technical Service Bulletins — 1994 TOYOTA RAV4

23 manufacturer communications from 14 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
350000 EQUIPMENT	10
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL	4
355100 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS	2
162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR	1
050000 PARKING BRAKE	1
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1
190000 TIRES	1
200000 WHEELS	1

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the re

180000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

140000 AIR BAGS

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any custom

200000 WHEELS

190000 TIRES

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the re

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The a

350000 EQUIPMENT

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

355100 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

350000 EQUIPMENT

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

355100 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. January 11, 2018 Rev1: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89

162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

TSB: Vehicle replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) may be available from Toyota, provided the request meets one of the criteria lis

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0101-11. Applicability has been updated to include 2016 ? 2017 model year vehicles. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0101-11 is Obsolete and any printed

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Update on Technician Certification Requirements.

350000 EQUIPMENT

Update on Technician Certification Requirements.

350000 EQUIPMENT

A new Special Service Tool (SST 09709-00002) has been introduced to aid in the inspection procedure for certain vehicles equipped with a floor pedal-type parking brake system. This bulletin references the correct method for installing the B

050000 PARKING BRAKE

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Replacement vin plates.

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Product general information.

NHTSA Safety Investigations — TOYOTA RAV4

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE — Closed — Model Year: 2014

Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles on 25 February 2021. At the time of ope... ning, ODI attributed eleven allegations and additional EWR events to this PE. PE21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in PE21005 involved the originally supplied 12V battery. The reported fires took place in vehicles known to contain aftermarket batteries or whose age exceeded the expected life of the original equipment battery. ODI identified battery dimensioning as it relates to the battery retention system (hold down bracket, radiator support bolt, J-hook, and battery tray) as the main factor set in the contact between the battery hold down bracket contacting the positive terminal of the 12V battery. The subject vehicles carried over the same battery tray and retention system from the prior generation (MY2006 â MY2012) of RAV4 vehicles. However, the subject vehicles were equipped with a dimensionally smaller battery (Group 35) than the prior generation (Group 24F). The smaller- length measurement in the Group 35 battery size in a battery tray originally designed to fit a Group 24F battery contributed to increased potential for battery movement which was exacerbated by the diversity in aftermarket battery configuration and irregularities intrinsic to battery replacement procedures. Battery movement coupled with the proximity of the B+ terminal on the battery and the grounded electrically conductive hold down bracket set the stage for a short to ground leading to an engine stall (if in operation) followed by a vehicle fire. This investigation was not able to classify the installation status, battery size, or cause of every allegation due to the fire event causing damage to the area, inaccessible vehicle, modification to the battery retention system after the event, and/or inconclusive photographic evidence. Toyota's investigation of the issue identified aftermarket battery catalogs that listed an improper battery replacement size (Group 26R) that would nevertheless fit into the subject vehicles whose battery retention system is incapable of reliably restraining a Group 26R battery. On 18 November 2021, Toyota initiated a consumer advisory campaign (21TG01) to the subject vehicle owners, notifying them of the correct size battery and offering a free inspection of the battery and retention hardware, a caution label to affix to the hold down bracket, and a discounted replacement 12V battery. This investigation with Toyota established three broad categories to characterize the battery retention system state of a given vehicle: "correct", "minor mis-installation", and "major mis-installation". - The "correct" terminology references the front bolt, bracket, and J-hook installed in a position not in contact with the positive battery terminal and the front bolt torqued to 17 Nm and the J-hook engaged with the tray hole and torqued to 4.9 Nm. - A "minor mis-installation" would describe the three retention components installed in the prescribed location, however not to the correct torque values. - The "major mis-installation" condition would constitute a retention component missing or disconnected from the system. Toyota's own testing used five exemplar batteries installed on a subject vehicle in each battery categorization resulted in: - Contact between the B+ terminal and hold down bracket in "major mis-installations" - Movement of the battery in "minor mis-installations" - No observable motion in "correct" installations. ODI conducted its own evaluation of the Toyota- specified replacement battery and 5 aftermarket Group 35 batteries. The six batteries tested conformed to the Group 35 Battery Council International (BCI) standard on overall dimensional tolerance and terminal location. That standard does not define the edge shape or material of battery casing. Physical interaction between the hold down bracket and the battery case and the friction between the casing material and the battery tray resulted in a large variability in movement forces required to incite movement when the battery was installed in the "correct" condition. Resulting in movement at an induced lateral load between 0.6 G and 1.91 G equivalent force across each battery. This force is higher than a typical vehicle could exert in a steady state turn and would only experience loads through brief shock or impulses. Multiple shock or impulse loads across time would contribute to a delay between the replacement battery installation and the fire event. Likelihood of a fire event increases as the installation method degraded from the "correct", to "minor mis-installation", and then to "major mis-installation". Protruding vent caps atop some of the batteries tested aided in restricting battery movement relative to the hold down. An absence of vent caps permitted additional movement. Following several discussions and vehicle inspections with ODI during this investigation, on 01 November 2023, Toyota filed a safety recall (NHTSA 23V-734) of 1,853,568 MY 2013 through MY 2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles to reduce the risk of a vehicle fire with redesigned battery retention components. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.Read more

PE — Closed — Model Year: 2007

Rear Suspension Arm Assembly Failure

In a letter dated August 1, 2012 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (Toyota) submitted a Defect Information Report (NHTSA Recall No. 12V-373) to the NHTSA identifying a safety defect regarding possible separation of the Rear Suspension Arm No. 1 Assembly (arm) at the thread... ed portion (shaft and turn buckle) of the component in MY 2006 through MY 2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles built from October 2005 through September 2010 and in MY 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured from July 2009 through August 2010.According to Toyota, if the adjustment nuts for the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened when alignment is performed in service, backlash may develop at the threaded portion of the arm, followed by rust formation.The threads may then wear causing the arm to separate, which may result in a loss of vehicle control.In analysis of both Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) data submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and consumer complaint data submitted to Toyota, ODI identified 131 non-duplicative reports alleging failure of the subject rear suspension arm (Note:some of the complaints and related service records refer to the arm as a rear tie rod).Six of the complainants allege the failure resulted in some loss of vehicle control.For purposes of this analysis, loss of control events involve alleged complete or partial departure from the intended lane of travel.An additional four complaints reported difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle when the arm failed.Recalled vehicles will be inspected for proper torque of the adjustment nuts and replaced as necessary.In addition, Toyota will take several actions to reduce the potential for improper torque in future alignment procedures.This includes:(1) providing proper tightening sequence and torque specification information to two major wheel alignment equipment manufacturers, who would disseminate the information to alignment shops using their equipment; (2) installation of a clip on each arm with an instructional label showing proper tightening sequence and torque specification (the clip must be removed to perform a wheel alignment); (3) installation of additional labels on the front and back vertical surfaces of the Rear Suspension Arm No. 2 assemblies; and (4) providing an instruction booklet to owners to place in the glove box.This investigation is closed.Read more

TOYOTA RAV4 — All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the TOYOTA RAV4 across all model years (1996–2025).

669 Total Recalls

11,842 Total Complaints

2 Investigations

1,170 Reported Crashes

437 Reported Fires

15 Reported Deaths

TOYOTA RAV4 — Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2025	157	71	View
2024	167	223	View
2023	158	219	View
2022	1	184	View
2021	2	475	View
2020	13	778	View
2019	11	1,144	View
2018	6	426	View
2017	6	405	View
2016	8	289	View
2015	8	394	View
2014	8	267	View
2013	6	328	View
2012	7	355	View
2011	12	400	View
2010	15	494	View
2009	16	391	View
2008	15	707	View
2007	15	1,240	View
2006	11	880	View
2005	6	168	View
2004	3	180	View
2003	0	392	View
2002	0	682	View
2001	0	418	View
2000	4	34	View
1999	6	75	View
1998	6	92	View
1997	1	61	View
1996	1	54	View
1995	0	1	View
1994 (current)	0	4

Other TOYOTA Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
TUNDRA	787	9,074	View
HIGHLANDER	677	6,756	View
CROWN	548	141	View
TACOMA	406	10,562	View
VENZA	404	969	View
GRAND HIGHLANDER	388	332	View
PRIUS	365	15,456	View
HIGHLANDER HYBRID	355	1,103	View