TSB: TOYOTA RAV4 (2006–2012)

Bulletin ZF4-Dealer Lette — December 3, 2015

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDZF4-Dealer Lette
ManufacturerTOYOTA
ModelsRAV4
Model Years2006–2012
Date IssuedDecember 3, 2015
Date Added to NHTSADecember 17, 2018
ComponentPOWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
Vehicles Affected7 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

DL: In our continuing efforts to help ensure the best in customer satisfaction, Toyota is announcing a Warranty Enhancement Program to extend the warranty coverage for Rear Differential Coupling Growl Noise on 2006-2012 model year RAV4 4WD

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
TOYOTA RAV4 2012 105500 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TOYOTA RAV4 2011 105500 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TOYOTA RAV4 2010 105500 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TOYOTA RAV4 2009 105500 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TOYOTA RAV4 2008 105500 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TOYOTA RAV4 2007 105500 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TOYOTA RAV4 2006 105500 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

Related TOYOTA Recalls

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What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized TOYOTA dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (ZF4-Dealer Lette) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.