2007 Toyota RAV4: engine stalls while driving

Filed Jul 2, 2020 · Engine · 120,000 miles · CA

Toyota uses a soy food based product in the insulation of the engine wiring. Apparently it attracts mice that chew on the wiring. This caused the engine to start misfiring from the damage and eventually stopped running. This was an extreme safety hazard to the occupants. The damage cost me $1,000 to repair. These crucial wires should never have been made from a product that is food for mice. I understand from the toyota service manager that this is now a common problem. My car was on a city street when it stalled out. However, most miles are on freeways.

Filed Dec 9, 2018 · Electrical, Steering · 110,000 miles · CA

I was traveling down arrow hwy in the rain when my electrical system failed. I lost power from both my alternator and battery intermittently. I was coasting down to an approaching intersection when I made the descision to turn right at the intersection. The steering was so hard that I nearing hit the center divide. My windshield wipers were barely working and many of my dash icons were coming on randomly. Through it all, my engine continued to run and I made to the next street that turned into condos that had parking spaces. I shut my engine off and tried a restart. The engine,of course,did not start. After being hauled to the nearest toyota dealer they diagnosed the problem as an alternator that shorted the battery. Having a little experience in this electrical area, I understand how this can happen but with proper design it could have been avoided. The battery was saved after recharging. Here is my point; I don't want any one that I know and love to go through what I had to. Those that drive this car should be made aware that this could happen with a car equipped with electrical steering. This problem could have been more severe if the engine would have stalled; which, by the way would have happened in a short time.

Filed Jul 30, 2018 · Engine · 135,000 miles · AE

We were driving on the autobahn in germany (mil family) when the engine stalled without any warning. Our oil level was fine the day before we stalled. We check our oil every weekend since our rav4 has a very high oil consumption rate. Our eggine seized while we were going about 90 MPH with other cars around us going even faster. We are lucky to have not caused an fatal accident. We would like something done about this.

Filed Oct 5, 2017 · Engine · 134,000 miles · NJ

Excessive oil consumption leading to the engine problem, nearly stalling on highway (my two young boys in the car), very dangerous. I was able to pull into a gas station - almost no oil in the engine. I change oil every 3k-4k miles. As I read up more on the issue, toyota has a design flaw in its pistons, leasing to oil consumption (2006-08 rav4) with the 2az-fe engine. Toyota performed the oil consumption test (2 step on 10/05/2017), my car failed (too much oil consumption), but toyota will not fix, as my rav4 pass the warranty date. Bought the rav4 at toyota of morristown, nj in may 2007. Other toyota models also use the same engine. They sold me (and many others too) the rav4 even with the known design flaws. It will cost over $3.5k to rebuild the engine at toyota. I never received any notifications, they only issued a fix in 2011 within toyota dealerships. Models impacted: camry 2007-11, camry hybrid 2007-11, corolla & matrix 2009, rav4 2006-08, solara 2007-08, scion xb 2008-09 and tc 2007-09

Filed Nov 18, 2016 · Electrical · 92,000 miles · CA

Drove for over an hour in dry, stable weather conditions. Upon slowing to make a left turn into a parking garage on surface streets the steering completely stalled with multiple alarm lights flashing, including battery. Vehicle was still on and able to drive but with very poor acceleration. This caused me to block traffic oncoming traffic for over 10 minutes as I labored (with a lot of strength) with the stalled power steering back and forth until inline with the garage. Called triple a immediately and had battery changed. Despite the car working again with stable steering, still concerned about stalling again, particularly in city streets (including the sf hills) and freeways. There needs to be some fix for power-steering being the first thing to fail with the battery/alternators.

Filed Jul 26, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 109,000 miles · VA

I was driving to fredericksburg on I-95 around midnight last monday. All of a sudden all my warning lights came on. My engine made a loud noise, stalled and then died while I was driving. I was able to get my car to the right shoulder luckily or I would have been dead probably. Got the car towed to the nearest shop. They said I only had 1 quart of oil, and I told them I that is impossible because I change my oil on a regular basis. My oil sticker is in the right side of my windshield. They said due to the lack of oil, I blew a piston and a bearing and they had to take my engine apart. So now my warranty apparently won't cover this so I'm stuck with a car with no engine.

Filed Jan 12, 2016 · Acceleration · 60,000 miles · TX

April, 2015 took rav4 in for recalls. After receiving the vehicle back periodically it would fail to accelerate. I thought the computer would maybe adjust itself. It didn't. It periodically stalls or fails to accelerate. I have almost been run over several times. Called toyota of denton today. They denied that anything they did would have anything to do with that, even though we drove the vehicle 60k miles and never had a problem. I have two toyotas and denial of a problem is first on the list it seems. This drive by wire should be outlawed.

Filed Nov 27, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 111,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while making a left turn at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. In addition, the contact mentioned that on several other occasions, the failure recurred when the radio or turn signal was activated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 111,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed May 5, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 123,000 miles · SD

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that it had oil consumption. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.

Filed Feb 9, 2015 · Engine · 87,829 miles · CA

Oil changed at toyota dealership at 83036 miles. At 87750 miles, oil light started to flicker and engine started smoking due to low oil soon after. Added 3 quarts of oil and had oil changed at toyota dealership on 6/30/14 at 87829. Continued to check and add oil-next routine oil change: 11/19/14 at 93035 miles at toyota dealership. Within a few months, car was struggling up hills and sounding like it would stall. Emergency oil check-low oil at 94709 miles. Local mechanic had to assist to prevent further damage to vehicle. Received an "excessive oil consumption" notice from toyota on 2/6/15. Protocol to address malfunctioning engines is to have toyota verify "excessive oil consumption". Customer must pay for oil change in order to begin process, regardless of past evidence to support claims of excessive oil consumption. Dangerous, faulty issues with engines should not be the drivers' responsibility to prove. Especially when the owner has maintained all records to demonstrate proper care of the vehicle.

Filed Sep 8, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 70,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. While driving 65 MPH, the battery warning indicator illuminated, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 70,000.

Filed Apr 16, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 67,800 miles · CA

Well-maintained 2007 rav4 (67k miles, no issues in the past) stalled completely while driving 50 MPH. Nearly got rear ended as hazard flasher lights did not work at all. All power cuts off to inside of car. Once fan in engine turns off (about 6 minutes) car can start again. Dealership said "dirty throttle body part" so they cleaned it. Happened 2nd time the next week! Then dealership replaced entire throttle body assembly. Happened 3rd time the following week! It's at dealership again now. Each time it happens, car is driving and once about 6 minutes passes, I can drive again. Barely have time to get near the shoulder of road.