2014 TOYOTA RAV4 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

I was in a car accident and the side and steering airbags deployed. While the main steering airbag deflated successfully following the accident, the driver's side door side airbag never deflated. Once I was trying to get out of the car and had the door open, this meant it was much harder and took longer to get out as I had to slide out from underneath it. Because I wasn't able to get out quickly, I remained in a car in direct line of traffic with my driver's side door where it would have been hit first putting me in more danger.

Crash 1 injured

All four of my door lock actuators are not working properly. All four usually don’t work, however once in a great while they will actually lock or unlock. This is a big safety issue because when I think they lock, they don’t. When I drive at night with my daughter in the backseat I do not feel safe. I always have to check all 4 doors a couple times, because sometimes they will unlock but not lock. Also note that they do not work all at the same time. It always varies by the day. I was going to pay for them to be fixed myself, but it was too costly.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH and turning right at an intersection, the steering wheel seized with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact completed the turn, and the steering wheel started functioning normally, and the warning lights were no longer illuminated. The failure reoccurred while making a right turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had stopped driving the vehicle. After researching online, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V373000 (Steering): however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

BATTERY DIED MID-DRIVE NOW THE RADIO HEAD UNIT IS IN A BOOT LOOP RENDERING ALL FUNCTIONS UNAVAILABLE.

1) Vehicle had a recall for something concerning the transmission. Service was done and just after the warranty expired on that issue the transmission went out while driving and I had to put a new one in the vehicle, Toyota did help with $1500 of the cost but it cost me out of pocket over $4000. 2) For the last 2 years the car has been burning oil excessively, I have to put a quart of oil in almost every week. Now the vehicle out of the blue will start shaking and all the warning lights come on and I have to be able to pull over. I no longer can drive on the highway in fear this could happen. I am now being told I need a new or rebuild engine. I seen online that others have had this problem and there was a Class Action Law suit several years ago. What are the chances a Toyota Rav4 would need a transmission and now a engine.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact’s son stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start and became inoperable, and lost power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.

Headlight Brightness - it's been degrading for the last 10 yrs to the point that I don't feel safe driving in the dark anymore. I've already had the lenses buffed out, but that only helped about 20%. The brightness looks like I have a dead battery (it's brand new). Not sure if this is a bulb or lens issue but it's not safe.

Lift gate struts quit working.The lift gate is no longer is accessible or responsive to the proximity key commands to open or close, even after changing proximity key batteries. You cannot open the lift gate by hand because of the resistance of the hydrolics of the struts. I have complained to Toyota, and the dealership where it was purchased. Both said they would contact me if there was a recall and suggested I file a complaint, which I am doing now. The is a huge inconvenience when grocery shopping, or traveling to spot events, or trying to get the dog to the vet. Luckily I don't use a wheelchair yet. I'm very late in filing this complaint, as the liftgate failure took place in April of 2021. I cannot afford to get them replaced on my limited income. I'm just looking for a little help.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that during a rainstorm, rainwater leaked into the cabin of the vehicle from the A, B, C, and D pillars and the ceiling control center. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced several times due to the failure, but the failure reoccurred. Additionally, the rear passenger side carpet was previously replaced due to excessive water entering the vehicle. The contact was concerned that the leaks were near the curtain air bag housing and might cause the air bags to malfunction. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Year: 2014 Make: Toyota Model: RAV4 Approx. mileage: 60K 2. Incident Details Date of most recent incident: [XXX] Problem: Vehicle stalls and loses power steering while turning. Engine shuts off suddenly, causing complete loss of steering control. Consequence: On [XXX], 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 [XXX], 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. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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.

The contact owned a 2014 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at 30-40 MPH, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle stopped independently. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned she noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine, and smoke started coming inside the vehicle. There was a fuel odor. present. The contact exited the vehicle and stood on the side of the road, and called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact mentioned days prior to the battery warning light illuminating, and the battery was determined to be functioning as normal; therefore, the vehicle was resumed to be driven as normal. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown

Fire

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The dealer was contacted; however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, and making a right turn, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

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.

“The factory paint on my 2014 Toyota RAV4 (Blue ) is peeling in large sections on the roof and hood. The metal underneath is exposed. This appears to be a widespread issue affecting this paint color, and Toyota has acknowledged it in other models. I’m concerned about corrosion and long-term durability.”

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

My 2014 Toyota RAV4 (Blizzard Pearl, paint code 070) began experiencing hood paint peeling in early 2023. I first assumed it was simply a disappointing paint quality issue. However, this past weekend, the problem significantly worsened when large sections of paint on the roof suddenly flaked off completely, leaving exposed metal vulnerable to rust and corrosion. After this severe flaking occurred, I researched the issue online and discovered this problem is widespread among Toyota's with paint code 070. Toyota acknowledged this known manufacturing defect through their Customer Support Program (ZKG), but I was never notified of this program, despite receiving other recall notices. Additionally, my local Toyota dealership did not inform me about ZKG during a service visit before the program expired in 2024. On March 28th, 2025, I called Toyota’s customer service line to request goodwill assistance and was informed that they are not willing to offer any support or extend the program. I was told that the only thing they could do was “document” my case, and that if enough complaints were received, Toyota might reconsider extending the program in the future. I believe this response is quite unreasonable, especially given that this is a clear manufacturing defect now manifesting in catastrophic failure for many customers shortly after the 10-year ZKG window closed. The cost of a full repaint is commonly quoted around $4,000 to $5,000. For many RAV 4's currently valued at approximately $10,000, that repair cost represents nearly 50% of the car’s value—essentially totaling the vehicle due to a known paint defect. It’s an extreme hardship for customers that a widely acknowledged exterior manufacturing issue can result in such significant devaluation and repair costs. For this to happen to so many people just outside the expiration window (which only ended recently in 2024), and for Toyota to decline any extension or support, does not seem fair. Thank you for your time.

I received a recall letter from Toyota to replace me battery in my 2014 RAV4. I made an appointment with Toyota on 31 in Clinton, NJ for 1/28/2025 at 9:30am. Upon bringing in my car for the recall I was told it will cost me $189.00+tax to replace my battery. The reason was because there is another battery in my car. I advised them that I bought the car second hand and had no reason to check my car's battery at that time. (who knew). In the letter of recall it states that the battery change is "the hold down clamps and short circuit, increasing the risk of fire." With that stated, changing my battery is the benefit to securing safety to me and my passengers. Isn't that the main reason for the recall! Safety by Toyota without Charge!

In reference to Toyota Motor North America - Customer Support Program ZKG. My Toyota vehicle has experienced paint peeling on the exterior metal body panels. I have applied to receive coverage from Toyota for the paint peeling as part of the ZKG Program. Toyota has denied my request for coverage and did not provide me with notice of the ZKG Program. The paint color of my vehicle is the original factory applied Blizzard Pearl (070) paint color. The vehicle experienced noticeable paint peeling around 9.5-10 years from the Date of First Use of the vehicle. I reported the paint peeling to my local Toyota dealer service center around 5 months after the car was ten years past the Date of First Use. Because the ZKG program coverage had expired by the time I had reported the paint peeling, the Toyota dealer service center referred me to the Toyota Brand Engagement Center. The Toyota Brand Engagement Center denied my request for coverage because the vehicle was reported shortly after the Duration of Coverage. I did not receive notice of the Customer Support Program ZKG from Toyota. I became the owner of this vehicle three years before that the program notification was sent out, but the Toyota Brand Engagement Center representative and a Resolution Specialist both indicated that notices were sent to the previous owner. I purchased the vehicle directly from a Toyota dealership using Toyota financing. The paint peeling did not start until very close to time of coverage expiration for my vehicle. I was unaware that I would be required to report the paint peeling issue to Toyota by a certain date as I was never made aware of the Customer Support Program ZKG from Toyota.

The contact owned a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 45-50 MPH during night hours, a fellow motorist alerted the contact that her vehicle had caught fire from underneath the engine without warning. Upon opening the front, driver-side door, the fire entered the vehicle and the contact quickly shut the door. While in a panic, the contact re-opened the door and jumped out of the vehicle. The vehicle quickly became engulfed in flames and was consumed by the fire. Police arrived at the scene and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent tow yard and was deemed a total loss. The road was scorched as a result of the fire which led to the road being repaved. The contact injured both knees and left baby finger after jumping out of the vehicle; the contact also suffered emotional distress due to the fire. The contact did not seek medical attention for her injuries. The dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. Recently, the contact received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) which she linked to the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Fire 1 injured

Manufacture failed to provide remedy for recall 23TB13 (NHSTA recall 23V734) in a timely manner. The recall was issued on November 1, 2023; however, a remedy has not been provided as of December 9, 2024.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the paint on the hood, the front driver-side door, and the rear passenger-side door was peeling. No warning light was illuminated. The VIN was included in an unknown manufacturer's customer program related to the paint issue. The vehicle was taken to an auto body shop where it was diagnosed that certain areas of the vehicle needed to be repainted. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure still occurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

The entire computer screen is stuck on the downloading picture. Then it will restart itself and do it all over again. Nothing works. No radio or anything. I’ve been looking online and seeing there is a lot of people with the same issues a but no solutions. How has Toyota not fixed this issue yet.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact advised that while she driving at approximately 45 MPH she observed three unknown warning lights on the instrument cluster. The contact stated that the vehicle steering wheel was hard to turn and she observed that white smoke was issuing from the dashboard vents. The contact stopped turned the vehicle off and waited for the smoke to clear. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the 12V battery had shifted and that one of the terminals on the battery had become loose and touched the metal battery clamp causing a short circuit. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later drove the vehicle to a dealer but was advised that the battery clamp was not available to complete the recall. The failure was approximately 258,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while the daughter was driving at 35 MPH, smoke was coming from under the hood and the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving downhill, however, the vehicle was coasted to the local fire department, which was on the same street. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact stated that a fire report was filed. The contact stated that there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was confirmed that the failure was due to the unrepaired recall repair. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Fire

Transmission fluid was serviced at Bill page Toyota, Falls Church, VA 22042 (102,468 miles on 11/2/2023) Transmission failed to operate at 104,771 miles. Car failed to go reverse, noise from transmission gear. Car was inspected at Toyota Ourishman, Fairfax, VA and concluded transmission problem failed.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the instrument cluster and the radio blinked off and on. In addition, the contact noticed that some wires were burnt. The vehicle was started and taken to Auto Zone. The contact stated that the battery and the alternator were both tested and operated as designed. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact stated while driving the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was turned off and the contact attempted to restart however, the vehicle failed to start up. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that battery cables were loose, and the positive battery terminal was incorrectly installed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to incorrect installation of the new battery which the previous owner had installed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Battery shifted in engine compartment and severed battery cable

Car on fire

Fire

Car on fire

Fire

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the battery positive (+) terminal was corroded. The contact cleaned the terminal. An unknown local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Re: Manufacturer Recall Number23TB13 NHTSA Recall Number23V734 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available It has been over 6-months and manufacturer has not provided remedy for this recall. Dealer reports they have the parts but are not allowed to fix.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with power steering failure; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed the failure. The contact related the failure to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V144000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 109,003.

Per the current recall my vehicle can have a risk of fire. No remedy has been given since the recall information was released.

The contact owns a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to maneuver while turning. There were unknown warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,258. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

In reference to Toyota Motor North America - Customer Support Program ZKG. My Toyota vehicle has experienced paint peeling on the exterior metal body panels. I have applied to receive coverage from Toyota for the paint peeling as part of the ZKG Program. Toyota has denied my request for coverage and did not provide me with notice of the ZKG Program. The paint color of my vehicle is the original factory applied Blizzard Pearl (070) paint color. The vehicle experienced noticeable paint peeling around 9.5-10 years past the Date of First Use of the vehicle. I reported the paint peeling to my local Toyota dealer service center around two (2) weeks after the car was ten (10) years past the Date of First Use. Because the ZKG program coverage had expired by the time I had reported the paint peeling, the Toyota dealer service center referred me to the Toyota Brand Engagement Center. The Toyota Brand Engagement Center denied my request for coverage because the vehicle was reported shortly after the Duration of Coverage. I did not receive notice of the Customer Support Program ZKG from Toyota. I became the owner of this vehicle in the same year that the program notification was sent out. The paint peeling did not start until very close to time of coverage expiration for my vehicle. I was unaware that I would be required to report the paint peeling issue to Toyota by a certain date as I was never made aware of the Customer Support Program ZKG from Toyota.

This car was purchased in March 2024 at Peak Motors in Hickory, NC and on [XXX] 2024, while driving the Check engine light, power steering, oil lamp, A&T temp oil, battery, tire and seatbelt light came on, the RPM went to 0 and we could no accelerate so we coasted down a hill and pull off to restart the car. After restarting it, all the lights disappeared and proceeded home and it happened 2 more times on the way home. The next day our mechanic and tested the battery and alternator, the alternator was good, but battery was weak so we got a new battery. A couple weeks later, the same thing happened and took it back in the mechanic but they could not get any codes nor could get it to reproduce what was happening so nothing could be done. They cleaned the mass air filter, but the same thing happened a few weeks later. The car has been in the shop for a total of 5 times and kept at the shop for 3 weeks. On [XXX] 2024, the car engine died again while in a drive thru and immediately took it to the mechanic 10 minutes away and they were able to get the code P1604 Startability Malfunction but the code is too generic they couldn't pinpoint specifically exactly what is the problem. Because of this being a HUGH safety issue, I contacted the dealer and they said they inspected it but could not provide proof when I asked for paperwork. I contacted Toyota in Asheville, NC where it serviced and they haven' returned my call. I contacted Mike Johnson Toyota in Hickory, NC where it was bought and they had no service records regarding this vehicle. It has passed inspection in Buncombe, NC but nobody can figure out what's going on. I am scared to drive the car because it happens at random times and it puts us at risk of being hit since we suddenly loss power but also puts others at risk as could hit us harming themselves and damaging their car. We drove the car for only a month before all of this began to happen and we just want to feel safe driving and riding in this car again. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORM

While driving, front of car ignited. Seems related to unresolved recall: Nov 01,2023 Manufacturer Recall Number23TB13 NHTSA Recall Number23V734 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available Summary Some replacement 12-volt batteries of the size specified for the subject vehicles have smaller top dimensions than others. If a small-top battery is used for replacement and the hold-down clamp is not tightened correctly, the battery could move when the vehicle is driven with forceful turns. Safety Risk The movement could cause the positive battery terminal to contact the hold-down clamp and short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. Remedy Toyota is currently preparing the remedy. When the remedy is available, Toyota dealers will replace the battery hold down clamp, battery tray, and positive terminal cover with improved ones FREE OF CHARGE. At this time, Toyota estimates the remedy will be available in the middle of 2024 but this is subject to change. Until the remedy is available, owners who have not had the free inspection performed under Consumer Advisory 21TG01 should be encouraged to do so.

Fire

I made my report more than 8 months ago and they did not give me an answer about the fuel pump toyota rav4 2013-2018 that all the vehicles are having a problem with a small arie escaping from that part at the top of the tank I was at the dealer and they can't do nothing because they say that this is normal and that who pays for that work and I told him that if that problem occurs, the entire vehicle has to do a recall for that problem

2014 Toyota Rav 4 EV with 30,898 miles, the vehicle has full power but no start. towed vehicle to Toyota Dealership for dianostic it was checked with a scan tool and found code U0293, this set the code for lost communication with the EV control system. A special cable was bought to communicate with the vehicle root cause of problem is Traction Motor bad need replaced and service plug at top of battery has blown fuse need replaced. Solution is engine replacement.

This matter is not related to a accident. This matter is related to a bad transmission on our Rava4. This started at a little over 100.000 miles. Toyota did replace transmission filter and torque converter at 102.000 miles and now we have 152.000 miles at this time, and now our 2nd gear is going out and the transmission needs to be replaced but can't found a rebuilt transmission. Due to back ordered parts. So what are we to do? The Rava4 is worthless without good transmission .Has there been any other related problems like this ? Toyota's are suppose to be good reliable cars.

2014 Toyota RAV4 perfectly good headlight bulb stops working on low beam selection, severely limiting visibility for night-time driving. Looks like everyone on the internet is having the same problem.