2007 Toyota RAV4: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Sep 15, 2025 · Suspension · 182,342 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be aligned. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer to be repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V596000 (Suspension). The vehicle was taken to a tire shop, and the contact was informed that the rear tie rods were welded, and an alignment was impossible. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 182,342.

Filed Oct 14, 2021 · Airbags, Seat belts · 189,000 miles · NY · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for a rear brake replacement. After the mechanic replaced both of the rear brakes and front outer tie rod, the mechanic remained outside of the vehicle but leaned in and depressed on the brake pedal when both of the driver and passenger curtain air bags inadvertently deployed. The driver-side curtain air bag deployment caused bruising to the mechanic's back. However, no medical attention was received. The driver-side seat belt was inoperable after the air bags deployed but was replaced by the independent mechanic. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that they inspected the air bags on 10/27/2014. However, no repair was performed at the time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the dealer had already resolved the air bags recall prior to the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.

Filed Aug 17, 2019 · Suspension, Transmission · 76,500 miles · AL

77000 mile lower control arms with bushings went bad ,lower ball joints bad inner & outer tie rods bad , sway bar end links ball joints bad.alignment & re-balanced tires after replacement .began swaying in road fighting steering on every bump with dipping of front end & vibration badly of car especially steering wheel , worn new tires on outsides .complete records in toyota vehicle repair service site.total cost so far for the above is 158.00 plus 44.95 plus 1 week down time, due to all joints bad and vibrations and swaying around has caused the cv shafts to get loose good shake and not in to out sideways direction - up to down they have slight play and hear a clunk both ways (to be replaced when have money will be another 150 to 195 bucks and another day or 2 down time, not sure of front wheel bearings yet or the rear sway bar all them links , this is how bad the swaying got so needs checked any back parts will cost me approx 240.00 -- replaced parts lower control arms with ball joints and bushings along with inner plus outer tie rods along with sway bar links were bought through amazon from detroit axel seller so may be able to get receipt if needed-- the tire re-balanced was done at lynn layton ford of decatur alabama 256‑350‑2120 customer [xxx] invoice [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Dec 4, 2018 · Suspension · 136,000 miles · WA

After processing the safety recall on the rear tie rods which control the toe of the wheels, I drove 20k miles and then needed to do another alignment on the rear of the car. The toe of both wheels are out of adjustment to the left bringing the car's steering out of alignment and causing premature tire wear. According to toyota, as the safety recall process was to cap the toe adjuster bar on the rear tie rods and fill them with epoxy, the only way to fix this was to replace the tie rods and repeat the safty recall but this time they would charge me $720 dollars. So even though this part has had several safety recalls on it and that the final solution by toyota was to hold it together with glue. They are not willing to stand behind their product and figure out a long term solution that allows for the car to retain its original ability to do a proper alignment.

Filed Oct 30, 2018 · Suspension · AZ

We had recall gov on my toyota rav4 on 1/18/18 81000 miles. At this time I also had new front struts and rear shocks installed with a front and rear alignment. Then 8000 miles later after the fix in october I noticed excessive tire wear. I took the vehicle in for new rear brakes and an alignment. At that time we were told that they could no longer perform a rear alignment due to this recall "fix" that permanently sealed it into one place. We were told that in order to get the car back into alignment, we would have to replace the entire rear toe bar. My car was manufactured with an adjustable rear tie rod, and toyota's solution to an engineering flaw is to make the rear tie rod no longer adjustable, thus costing the consumer hundreds of dollars to fix a simple alignment issue. It is not feasible or fair to expect the consumer to pay hundreds of dollars for an alignment issue, when toyota created the issue with their "fix" instead of creating a replacement rear toe that is adjustable like the car was manufactured with when I purchased it. This fix has created a new safety issue with tire ware and handling issues. Before the fix I was experienced neither of these issues.

Filed Dec 29, 2017 · Suspension · 86,000 miles · GA

Toyota issued a recall for the rear suspension and subsequently repaired my vehicle; however, the fix is inadequate. After the rear suspension arm (tie rod) is epoxied into a fixed position, the rear tires can no longer be realigned without replacing the entire suspension arm. This fix is inadequate and places undue financial burdens on the rav4 owners.

Filed Sep 2, 2017 · Suspension · 92,000 miles · CO

This vehicle has had the rear control arm recall that seals the part in epoxy, making rear toe adjustment impossible. This vehicle is out of tolerance on rear toe and will cost $685 to repair. Toyota should be paying for this since they rendered the suspension part non adjustable.

Filed Sep 1, 2017 · Suspension · CA

Toyota refused to have the rear tires of my car be aligned. Since I submitted this car for that rear lower control arm recall, I always have issues with rear tire misalignment which toyota offered no remedy. I believe driving a misaligned wheels is a safety issue.

Filed Aug 15, 2017 · Suspension · 105,000 miles · WI

My 2007 toyota rav 4 was taken to northern lakes auto in hayward wi for an alignment, at which we were told that the rear toe was out of alignment and needed to be looked at by the dealer. The recall work done in 2014 at a toyota dealer in colorado springs co involved applying an epoxy that made this part no longer adjustable. On 7/28/17, the vehicle was taken the toyota dealer, which failed an alignment check at the rear toe. We were told that they could no longer perform a rear alignment due to this recall "fix" that permanently sealed it into one place. We were told that in order to get the car back into alignment, we would have to replace the entire rear toe bar for a cost of 600 dollars. We contacted the corporate office and were offered nothing to fix this issue. My car was manufactured with an adjustable rear tie rod, and toyota's solution to an engineering flaw is to make the rear tie rod no longer adjustable, thus costing the consumer hundreds of dollars to fix a simple alignment issue. It is not feasible or fair to expect the consumer to pay hundreds of dollars for an alignment issue, when toyota created the issue with their "fix" instead of creating a replacement rear toe that is adjustable like the car was manufactured with when I purchased it. The car is wearing out the tires in the rear cupping both of them on the outside and inside, and this is a safety issue to me and my wife and my 14 year old daughter. I was forced to pay kari toyota $500 to fix this issue and apply the epoxy again to parts that are to be adjustable and now are not....I would like to be rembersed for this a mount ....why should the I the owner pay for toyotas bandaid incorrect fix?

Filed Apr 20, 2017 · Suspension · 82,000 miles · WA

The federal safety agency #16v‑596: received notification sept. Or oct 2016 and have been checking w/ dealer since. Still waiting for parts. 4/18/17 called toyota and was told june 3017. Not holding my breath. Meantime rear alignment is incorrect following previous lower control arm encasement in epoxy and can't be corrected. Tires wearing improperly while waiting for toyota.

Filed Aug 20, 2016 · Suspension · 115,000 miles · OH · crash

Rear tie rod (suspension arm) disconnected while driving 60 MPH causing driver to lose control and spin off highway. Vehicle was serviced in february 2015 for the recall (13v383000) that addresses rear suspension arm adjustment.

Filed Aug 9, 2016 · Suspension, Wheels · 117,500 miles · CA

On july 31st, 2015, the toyota dealership performed a suspension recall work to replace both "rear #1 lower suspension arms". That work included a 4 wheel alignment and a permanent sealant that prevented future rear alignment of the rear wheels. On august 3rd, 2016, (approx. 13k miles later) the vehicle was taken to a les schwab tire center to have the brakes inspected. During the brake inspection, the technician noted severe abnormal tire tread wear on the inside shoulders of both rear tires. The inside shoulder of the right rear tire was so severe that it was showing steel belts and was near failure (immanent tire blowout condition). Les schwab noted that the front tires had normal even wear. Note: the 4 wheel alignment performed on 7/31/2015 was the only alignment performed prior to 8/3/2016, the alignment check on 8/3/2016 indicated the front wheel alignment was very close and within tolerant range of the 7/31/2015 alignment, and the vehicle has not involved in any accidents since before 7/31/2015. I believe the safety recall work performed by toyota on 7/31/2015 did not fix the stated problem in the safety recall (toyota recall 'operation 77toz-csj' ref: the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v383000). Either the recall work was not performed correctly or the parts or method of the recall failed to correct the issue leaving my car with an unsafe wheel alignment causing severe abnormal wear on the inside shoulders of the rear tires leaving my car at risk of rear tire blow out. The les schwab tire center replaced the tires and the rear #1 control arms with 'approved after-market parts' to allow for a safe rear alignment of the vehicle.