2009 Toyota RAV4: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Apr 20, 2026 · Engine · 230,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2009 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the engine at startup. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil caused by a gasket failure inside a piston in the engine. Due to the failure, the contact was frequently adding oil to the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and an estimate was provided for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

Filed Jan 18, 2014 · Acceleration · 74,000 miles · DE

We have a loud, intermittent grinding or rattling noise that occurs usually during acceleration but often when cruising as well. We checked online and others have had a similar problem but dealer claims they do not know what it is.

Filed Oct 1, 2010 · Acceleration · 11,350 miles · NJ · crash

On july 17, 2010 husband and I were driving our "leased" 2009 toyota rav4 on busy highway leading to and from the beach. We were in weekend traffic, moving a car length every 10 minutes. This should take us 5 minutes to drive on this road but this day it took us over 30 minutes! Sitting in traffic, my husband's foot on brake, car makes grinding noise (like we had car in neutral revving the engine). Car lunged forward hitting car in front of us, bounced back, lunged forward a 2nd time hitting car. Realizing damage we turned car off. 911 called. Took car immediately to dealership, informed them of mishap, showed them our slight damage to the car, got loaner car till 9/8/10 when investigating company took out black box. Investigator ruled it "driver error". We were made to remove car from their lot. Husband nor I will drive car - it is a death trap (even though we took it to dealership when recalled in the spring). Will not let anyone drive as passenger in this dangerous car. We continue to pay our $280 monthly payment. Wrote to toyota president and toyota investigator. We would take a replacement (this is a leased car). We are "deathly" afraid of this car. We were not even moving and this car accelerated. Now we are charged for this accident. I would not be able to go on if my husband should one day decide to drive this car and it accelerated while he was driving. He may be killed and take other peoples' lives with him! This was definitely "sticky gas pedal" problem with a toyota vehicle!!! Updated ivoq 10/15/10

Filed Aug 6, 2010 · Acceleration · NJ

When I lift my foot off the gas pedal of my rav4 toyota, there is a noise and grinding that occurs. It has progressively gotten worse, after 3 levels of service dept. Looking at it, the determination was that this is a characteristic of the rav4. No explanation as to what it is, but that the car if safe and to continue driving it. Why then, if it is characteristic of a rav4, do they not have an actual explanation as to what is happening when the noise occurs, why did it take 3 months and a special technician to determine this, you would think that with all the rav4s they have sold, that they would be seeing numerous cars doing this. My car was purchased brand new and this little characteristic had never been discussed, where has it been for the 9 months prior? What happens to make it appear, and why can't they fix it, whether they think its dangerous or not? They have informed me that my only recourse at this time, as if I should be my problem at all, is to take it to another dealer, and have them drive it, another dealer who more than likely, since they travel from one toyota dealer to the next, will give me the same result. I am outraged that they are not taking responsibility and dealing with this. It is not okay to sell someone a brand new car, have something go wrong within a year, and have a legal document, which they keep throwing in my face, saying because their very own technician determined that it is a characteristic, I should just have to live with this noise and vibration. My 7 year old is afraid to get in the car. How dare they treat their customers like that? It make noise, it vibrates, we can't give you an actual explanation, we can't fix it, so just go back, get into your brand new car, and deal with it.

Filed Mar 8, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 4,500 miles · NJ

To begin, my car has already had the toyota recall "fix" and should have been fine. I was driving my toyota rav4 (2009) and approaching a four way stop. When I went to hit the brakes, there was a slight grinding noise. The car slowed a bit but did not stop and kept on moving through the stop sign. I ended up going through the intersection (luckily no one was coming) and coming to a stop almost 50 feet past. My husband drove the car home and we later took it to the dealer (no other incidents then). The dealer inspected the brakes and acceleration but could not find a cause. They kept the car for several days but ended up returning it to us and saying it is fine, as they could not find a specific cause to this incident. I am 8 months pregnant, and currently will not drive the car until I can be reassured this will not happen again.

Filed Mar 2, 2010 · Brakes · 1,500 miles · PA

I bought a 2009 rav 4 with 12 miles on it. I took it back to dealership with 1500 miles because of grinding in rotors, they told me that there was rust on it. I asked for paperwork stating this and they told me that they did not do any. I then took it back with 3200 miles on it and the same answer to rust and no paperwork again because they grounded it off. It now has 8000 miles on it and the rotors are grinding so bad that metal shavings are coming out and I am afraid to let me wife drive it. I called preston motors the dealership I bought it at and they told me they would put me on the waiting list because they have so many recalls they are handling now. What is it going to take a severe wreck to get this fixed?