2007 Toyota RAV4: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Oct 28, 2025 · Electrical · NY · fire

My driver side door caught on fire and was completely destroyed to include all associated wiring. Toyota had my contact information but never contacted me about any of the recalls.

Filed May 20, 2024 · Electrical · MN · fire

I own a 2007 Toyota Rav-4 with 155k miles. I had bought the vehicle used from a licensed Toyota dealership about 3 years ago and have been diligent about conducting the routine scheduled maintenance. The vehicle had no known recalls. I was driving about 25mph when I started to smell smoke. The drivers side door caught on fire while the vehicle was in motion. There were literally flames coming out of area with the buttons used to control the windows. I immediately pulled the vehicle over and the car ended up having to be towed. On Google, Toyota has had several other incidents where this exact same recall issue happened and the vehicle caught on fire. I called the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and the Toyota Corporate as well. I smoke to a representative on a Wednesday and they let me know my case number and that someone would be in touch to follow-up within 48 hours. However, it has been 6 days and I haven’t received any update.

Filed Jan 22, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · MD · fire

I was driving and the engine caught on fire. Thank God for people telling me that my car was having flames coming from under my car. By the time I pull over flames were coming out of my hood

Filed May 31, 2022 · NY · fire

I noticed the steering wheel was becoming stiff and I resolved to immediately bring the car to the shop given that the mechanic was less than a mile away. The dashboard showed no sensors were off, but I figured it was best to double check. We were fortunately driving on local streets when we smelled smoke. I pulled over, checked the dashboard again to see that the battery light and the airbag light had turned on and off. No other sensor went off. I turned off the engine and turned on the hazards. Although the temperature gauge on the dashboard was normal, I figured that the car was overheating, which would be a first. I retrieved my son from the car, and thought it would be best to call a tow truck. When connecting with AAA, the smoke coming from the car started to grow and I hung up to call the fire department. As I held my son, a brave samaritan tried to help open the hood to extinguish the growing flame. The smoke was overwhelming, a crowd gathered to record the occurrence while I was fortunately able to shield my toddler in an apartment lobby. The fire could not be distinguished until the fire truck arrived. We had taken the car for a roadtrip in April, prior to which we got a check-up, we ensure that we pass our annual registration even though we're no longer paying for extended warranty, which we had til a few years ago. I'm writing because I'm concerned given how quickly these circumstances had escalated. The fact that we didn't even have time to make it to a local auto shop, nevertheless, the service center, or that no sensors or alerts went off prior to this, is truly shocking. Had we been on the highway, the situation would've been worse, where it would've taken longer for the fire department to arrive and the fire would've reached the gas tank, harming many other people.

Filed May 3, 2016 · Electrical · 90,000 miles · FL · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle suddenly stopped and smoke and flames were present behind the steering wheel. The contact used water to extinguish the flames. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Apr 18, 2016 · Body, Engine · 60,035 miles · KY · fire

On march 29, 2016, I was driving to work in the far left lane when a gentleman driving a green pickup truck come rushing up beside me. He was waving at me pointing down at the right front side of my toyota. I thought that maybe I was driving on a flat tire and didn't realize it so I rolled down the window. He yelled as he was still pointing down at the front of my toyota "your car is on fire". He got ahead of me and I pulled over to the right shoulder of the freeway. He got out of his truck and ran back to my 2007 toyota rav4 and said "ma'am, you better get your purse and things and get out, your car is on fire". At that time, smoke was pouring out somewhere up front on the passenger side by the tire. I got my things and we moved to the back of my toyota when at that time, it went up in flames. I took care of that vehicle because I can not afford another. My last oil change was in november 2015 with only 50035 miles on the vehicle. When it was last inspected, everything was fine. So I am not understanding how this happened. Tires were about a year old as well. Car just don't catch on fire driving down the freeway. On april 4, 2016 a friend and I took a drive to my burnt vehicle and she could not believe that was my toyota. And I could not believe I had walked away without any injuries. There is no engine, no dashboard, no steering wheel, no front seats, and no back seats. All burned! How could this happen?

Filed Nov 16, 2015 · Engine · MA

My vehicle has been burning excessive amounts of oil. It has been checked and there has been a repair @ a toyota dealer I also was told there is a recall on the engine but I need to get a gasket fixed again. I was told there needs to be a test done of how much oil was burning which I think is a bunch of crap because they know a problem does exists and toyota neglects to fix it. In the past few years I have been getting oil added at least once a month and my vehicle also shakes very badly while waiting at lights of just sitting still. Also, a few years ago my door caught on fire and I was accused of doing it which I tried to tell the staff at toyota of braintree where I purchased the vehicle that I would not burn up my car but they kept insisting I did horrible things to make the door catch fire, like pouring water in the door riding with the window down in pouring rain putting lit matches in it. That was horrible I had to pay out of pocket over $600.00 then fight to get my money back after 2 years. When I confronted the dealership, they told me to come in and they would accommodate me; they wanted me to give back my vehicle get another one and have a payment, which I didn't do because that is not right to sell a defective product. My vehicle was paid off in 2 years and this is the service I get from toyota? Another payment? No! Then the drive shaft/seal needed replacing, and then the window fell out $300 + which was another out of pocket cost. Now, I am totally disgusted with this vehicle after all of these problems and I brought it new. In light of that, I have decided that I will now go to the media to see if there is any help I can get because this is not fair that toyota does not stand up to its products again, this is a problem that needs to be fixed at no cost to myself asap because I have put too much money in a vehicle that should not have these problems

Filed Nov 19, 2014 · Electrical · 106,000 miles · CT

All dash lights turned on and steering wheel was hard to turn. Drove home. Restart the vehicle, no issues, left it running, it happened again and smelled a burning smell. Had it towed to toyota dealership. They replaced battery. Yesterday 11-18-14, same issue going about 40 MPH. Had it towed to same dealership. Alternator needs to be replaced. Toyota also informed that water pump is failing. Through internet research, these are extremely common issues that should be resolved by toyota and people should be reimbursed for such an extensive problem.

Filed Dec 4, 2013 · Engine · 98,800 miles · PA

My 2007 toyota rav 4 experienced some heavy knocking on friday nov. 29th. I took it into kost tire and muffler in clark summit, pa to have then take a quick look at it. They said the engine was full of oil at the time. I drove it approximately 8.5 miles after leaving kost before deciding to have it towed to the toyota dealership in scranton on sunday. On monday morning toyota said the car arrived with no oil. How could this be? There was no oil in the kost parking lot, in my driveway or on the tow truck bed ( can be verified by all sources). If the car were to have spilt a full engine of oil there would have been some kind of evidence(burning smell, sight of lost oil, car smoking -but there was nothing). Toyota has denied the warranty claim due to what they say is lack of engine lubrication. This is absolutely bogus. After reading some online blog I have seen a number of other customers who own 2007 rav4's who have had the same exact problem.

Filed Nov 29, 2013 · Engine · 78,000 miles · PA

I have noticed multiple occasions since 01/20/13 that my rav4 has been low on oil. I have had it checked, and have checked it myself, and have found it to be so low it doesn't even register on the dipstick, and only after driving less than 1000 miles. Each time this has happened I have had to add anywhere from 1-3 quarts of oil to get it to where it should be on the dipstick. There are no leaks under the vehicle, and there's no noticeable smoke coming from the exhaust. I have been advised by my mechanic that this is an ongoing problem with multiple years of rav4 vehicles. I am scared to continue driving, with having to constantly check the oil, but I have no choice as I don't have a second vehicle. I feel toyota has left me holding the bag for a defect they won't admit is their faulty equipment/engineering.

Filed Sep 24, 2012 · Electrical · 86,600 miles · GA · fire

My wife left home to drive to the store - a 3-mile trip, all in-town driving. After traveling about 1/2 mile, smoke started coming into the car from behind the panel on the inside of the driver's door. She stopped the car. The volume of smoke accumulating in the car increased. A passer-by stopped, called 911, reported the fire, and assisted my wife, who climbed into the front passenger seat and exited the car out the front, right passenger door. By the time the firemen and police arrived, approximately 3-5 minutes later, smoke was dense and flames were surrounding the edges of the door panel. Firemen sprayed water on the panel, pulled the panel off the door, and continued to apply water until the fire was extinguished. Thankfully, my wife was able to stop and exit the car quickly. Had she been in heavy, fast-moving traffic, it could have been a life-threatening situation. Also, the non-availability of firemen would have resulted in much more fire- damage to the car and possibly an explosion.

Filed Sep 18, 2012 · Visibility · 42,000 miles · NY · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. The contact stated that the passenger side window exhibited an abnormal noise for and the power switch ailed intermittently. The contact stated that there was a burning smell throughout the vehicle whenever contact used the power switch for the windows. The vehicle was taken to dealer who inspected vehicle and determined that the motor for the power switch passenger window needed to be replaced. The motor was not replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure and current mileage was 42,000.