2009 Toyota RAV4: fire, smoke or burning smell

5 of the 327 complaints about the 2009 Toyota RAV4 describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 2%
typical mileage: 7,000
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 27 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

2024
1
2023
4
2022
2
2021
7
2020
5
2019
2
2018
27
2017
27
2016
10
2015
36
2014
22
2013
25
2012
4
2011
5
2010
4
2009
5
2008
12
2007
34
2006
8
2004
3
2003
2
2002
8
2001
3
2000
2
1999
3
1996
2

What owners say

Filed Jul 1, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 65,400 miles · NY · fire

While my wife was driving on the highway at 60 MPH the engine lost power. Moving to the right lane to pull over, flames began coming out of the top of the hood, hitting the windshield. She tried stopping but brake pedal went to the floor, requiring her to put the car in park and slide on grass. She jumped out of the vehicle and within 8 minutes the car was completely destroyed.

Filed Jul 23, 2010 · Engine · 20,000 miles · MO · fire

10 month old toyota rav-4 caught fire under the hood while sitting in parking garage and burned.

Filed Apr 5, 2010 · Acceleration · 5,000 miles · MN

Drove up to use the atm at bank. Placed car in park and used atm. When I finished, I put my foot on the brake and shifted into drive. Car engine accelerated and car lurched forward. A large cloud of smoke came out of the exhaust pipe. I was able to put the car in neutral and turn off the engine. Putting the car in neutral did not stop the engine from racing. I pushed the car away from the atm and called the toyota dealer, who came and drove the car to their garage. The dealer found no record of the event on the cars computer and has twice tried to return the vehicle to me. Only after I threatened to go on a local radio talk show, did the agree to continue to investigate. I was able to obtain video of the incident from the bank's security cameras and have shared them with the toyota dealer and would be happy to share them with the federal safety agency. *tr updated 07/26/10*jb updated ivoq 08/04/10

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Engine · 7,000 miles · MN

Sporadic burning smell when the heat is turned on. Event has happened at least 6 times now and it only happens when the heat is turned on (vehicle was purchased dec 2008 and current mileage is 12,200). It has happened when running at low and high speeds - very sporadic. And it's not the air coming from the outside or from other vehicles because we've immediately stopped to check when it occurs and it's not a smell from the outside or from other vehicles.

Filed May 28, 2009 · Electrical · 3,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota rav4. After placing the vehicle into park, the contact noticed smoke under the hood of the vehicle. The smoke mostly appeared on the passenger side underneath the dashboard and windshield wipers. By the time the fire department arrived, there were very strong flames coming from the vehicle. The heat from the fire melted the garage door. The fire was extinguished and the fire marshall stated that the cause of the fire was due to a mechanical or electrical defect in the vehicle. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed and is still at the parking garage. The contact believes that a recall should be issued. The current and failure mileages were 3,000.