I lost control of the vehicle and I overcorrected causing the car to go airborne. I hit head on into an embankment then continued to roll 3or 4 times before stopping. There were no indications or warnings to make me think these parts were going to malfunction. My airbags never deployed and the seatbelt did not lockup.
The worst 1999 Toyota RAV4 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Acceleration14
- Airbags14
- Body6
- Electrical6
- Brakes4
- Engine4
- Fuel system4
- Seat belts4
- Suspension4
- Transmission4
- Seats2
- Visibility2
- Steering1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Toyota RAV4
Recalls 4
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based on the inspection, dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate one, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.
Recall number 20V033000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility electric vehicles. If the subject vehicles are repeatedly parked by placing the shift lever into the "p" position without applying the parking brake, the parking lock rod, a component of the transmission parking lock system, could break.
- Risk
- This condition can render the system inoperative, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the parking lock rod.
Recall number 00V211000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: disc: rotor
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility electric vehicles. The front disc brake rotor, when equipped with steel wheels, can develop stress fractures if the lug nuts are tightened with excessive torque.
- Risk
- The disc rotor could break (where it mounts to the wheel), resulting in a loss of braking action on that wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the disc brake rotors. If the vehicle is equipped with steel wheels, toyota will replace the front disc brake rotors and steel wheels with new disc brake rotors and new aluminum wheels. In addition a caution label that reads, "use new genuine toyota aluminum wheels." will be affixed. Vehicles already equipped with aluminum wheels will only require caution label installation.
Recall number 00V212000 · Recall details
Electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles, mini vans and passenger vehicles equipped with a theft deterrent systems (tds) supplied by audiovox corporation and distributed by southeast toyota distributors, inc. In the states of alabama, florida, georgia, north and south carolina. The alarm wiring harness plugs into the vehicle's ignition switch and the vehicle's ignition switch wiring harness plugs into the alarm harness to complete the circuit. A percentage of the female terminals used in the alarm connector were found to be defective, causing an 'open circuit' condition when mated to the male ignition switch terminals.
- Risk
- This condition can cause intermittent performance of the vehicle's electrical components such as the dash warning lights and/or HVAC fan speed controls. Also, the vehicle may not run smoothly and could stall.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the date code label on the security system harness and any displaying the manufacturing/final date code will be replaced with newly produced harnesses. The date codes are: rav4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; sienna - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; and avalon - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, and 9/3/98.
Recall number 98V278000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Toyota RAV4 58
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Obsolete notice
- Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN...
- TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a...
- POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground...
- Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign
- TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a...
- Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN...
- Obsolete notice
- Supersession notice
- Obsolete notice
1999 Toyota RAV4 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | FWD | 21 | 26-27 | 23 |
| 2.0L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 19-20 | 23-24 | 21-22 |
What 1999 Toyota RAV4 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 1999 toyota rav4. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v033000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called toyota of wallingford (859 n colony rd, wallingford, ct 06492, (888) 927-7559) where it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 toyota rav4. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v033000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. An unnamed dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 1999 toyota rav4. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v03300 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact called stevinson toyota east located at 444 s. Havana st, aurora, co 80012, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. 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 had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 1999 toyota rav4. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v033000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact contacted berglund toyota located at 3000 wards rd, lynchburg, va 24502, (434) 509-0770, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available. *js *bf
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 toyota rav4. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v033000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer 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. *bf
We took the rav4 into the mechanic for a brake job & he called us to say it wasn't road worthy because the k-frame was almost entirely rusted through and we shouldn't put our children in it. He said we shouldn't even drive it off his lot that it could hit a pothole and break in two. We came & took pictures of all the rust. He said the k-frame would need to be replaced along with the rocker arms. We came home & researched to find this is a common problem with these vehicles. I don't understand why a company like toyota wouldn't take responsibility for a defect like this. It's clearly a design flaw. Imagine the catastrophic damage and injury that would occur if I had my children in this vehicle driving 65mph down the highway (that I have to take everyday to get anywhere) and the frame on this vehicle breaking! I hate to think what would happen to me or my children. All because toyota didn't make sure to make a functional part of the support structure of their vehicles.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 toyota rav. When the ignition was turned to the off position in the evening, the radio was activated the next morning. Also, the fan in the engine was running and caused the battery to drain. The ignition was turned to the on position, but the vehicle failed to start. While driving at an unknown speed, the engine stalled and the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle restarted on some occasions, but the failures recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the theft deterrent system failed and needed to be removed. The vehicle was repaired, but the failures recurred and rendered the vehicle inoperable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 98v278000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 toyota rav 4. The contact was notified by an independent mechanic that the front cradle was completely rusted and the only thing keeping it from fracturing was the steering linkage. The vehicle was not able to be repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 220,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 toyota rav4. The contact noticed that the front sub frame and control arms were completely rusted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the engine cradle and control arms needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 120,000. Updated 10/8/14*cn the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired at the owners expense. Updated 3/23/2015
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Other model years
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Questions about the 1999 Toyota RAV4
Is the 1999 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
Owners have filed 61 complaints about the 1999 Toyota RAV4, fewer than a typical RAV4 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Toyota RAV4?
Acceleration and speed control, with 14 complaints. Next is airbags (14).
How many recalls does the 1999 Toyota RAV4 have?
4 recalls, covering air bags, power train and service brakes, air.
What year does the Toyota RAV4 have the most acceleration problems?
The Toyota RAV4 model years with the most acceleration complaints are 2007 (101 complaints), 2009 (99 complaints) and 2008 (92 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1999 Toyota RAV4 get?
Official estimates for the 1999 Toyota RAV4 range from 21 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.0L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21 city and 26-27 highway.
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