2015 Toyota RAV4: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 2, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · TX · fire

On Friday February 27, 2026 as the vehicle was being driven it caught fire. Fire department and sheriffs office was called to the scene. Vehicle fire was put out but the whole front end burned.

Filed Dec 9, 2025 · Electrical · GA · fire

When we bought the SUV, it had a small top battery installed. The battery slid over and caused my alternator to go out completely. I must have caught fire, as there were burnt wires to the alternator. We replaced the alternator, and it was over $295 dollars and then had to get a new battery, and that was over $150 dollars. I installed it myself because I am a mechanic.

Filed Apr 2, 2025 · WA

I received the "Interim Notice" recall notification (not the first one about the same problem - "Certain Potential Vehicle Fire related to 12-volt battery") 1/2/24 but no parts were available until received the next notice on 3/28/25 for the "Remedy". That is not in a reasonable time frame to me, over a year and almost 4 months. I received a recall prior to 1/2/24 about a similar battery issue that was supposedly taken care of in a more timely manner, then to receive another recall notice having to do with similar issues but the parts weren't available over a year and 4 months. Why wasn't the problem fixed with the first recall/fix? In the mean time my car could have caught on fire, but because I was warned, that's ok?! That is unacceptable.

Filed Apr 22, 2024 · Electrical · 34,000 miles · CA · fire

The contact owned a 2015 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in his driveway, he observed black smoke emanating from the engine compartment. Shortly afterward, the vehicle became engulfed in flames originating from the engine compartment. Local emergency services arrived and were able to extinguish the flames. No warning lights were illuminated. A fire report was filed. A police report was not filed, and no injuries were reported. The vehicle remained at the contact's residence but was deemed a total loss by his insurance provider. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number:Â 23V734000 (Electrical System), and the VIN was included, but parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was 34,000.

Filed Feb 26, 2024 · Electrical · PR · fire

My son was driving our RAV4 LE 2015 and took an exit. While driving, the car shut off, and the dashboard lights blinked. He turned the car on and moved about 40 feet in the exit when the car shut off again, and smoke came from the hood. A few minutes later, the car was on fire. The cause was a battery-induced short circuit. The burned RAV4 LE 2015 is available for inspection. This incident put my son and a friend at serious risk. At this moment, the problem hasn't been confirmed by a dealer or independent service. However, months later, the manufacturer issued a recall on Nov 01, 2023. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or any other party. There were no warning lamps or messages, except for the first time it shut off when the dashboard lights blinked.

Filed Feb 4, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · NJ · fire

When I try to start up my car after a full month of parking as usual I knew already it has a dead battery so I jump started then once it started I heard a very small explosion with smoke coming from underneath the glove compartment then I found a very small fire started from the same place so I left the car and I called 911 who came and extinguished the fire after the entire car was already engulfed and exploded in fire. The car closed the other two cars on both sides to melt partially as well. The picture attached has the incident number.

Filed Dec 21, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · MD · fire

My vehicle's electrical components short-circuited, steering became difficult to control and the vehicle caught on fire under the hood near the battery compartment.

Filed Dec 20, 2023 · Electrical · CA · fire · 1 injury

The recall for my RAV4 was for the battery, and it may cause a fire. The safety of my family members and other families was affected by this fire. We are all displaced. My mom parked our car under our apartment, and 15 minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The battery was replaced in 2019, and the rep told us of farmers that they can't confirm that the recall may be the root of the fire. I was told by the farmers rep that a certain battery is responsible for the fire. The car was parked and no lights were on.

Filed Nov 9, 2023 · Engine · 70,000 miles · TN · fire

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was inoperable and all the warning lights illuminated. The steering wheel was seized and the vehicle lost motive power in the middle of the street. The contact's daughter noticed the vehicle was smoking from under the hood. The contact's daughter exited the vehicle and the vehicle caught on fire. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. A fire or police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the tow yard. The insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact was informed of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System), however, the contact stated he did not receive the recall notification. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Filed Nov 2, 2023 · CA · fire

I had a 2015 rav4, I recently experience a horrific incident on 10/15/2023. I was driving on the freeway and the left lane was very bumpy. Then the dashboard started flickering so I pulled over. as I pulled over the car came to complete shutdown. So, my daughter and I got out of the car quickly. I called my insurance as the car didn't want start anymore, during this call I could see smoke. So, the agent had my call 911 and in seconds the car automatically went up in flames from bottom front to the top. Car was reported total loss. I saw the article on the rav4 recalls and believe this is related. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 20, 2023 · AZ · crash · fire

Front collision in 55 miles per hour freeway after slamming on the brakes and hitting car in front with minimum damage to them, RAV4 started immediately to smell like something but burning and black smoke started on front left, after few moments car was on flames. The car burnt in it's totality.

Filed Aug 10, 2023 · Electrical · GA · fire

I drove all day for work without issues and when I made a right into my neighborhood, I lost power and power steering. I pulled over and parked my car. I noticed smoke coming from it and popped the hood. The wired connecting to the battery caught fire. It seems the battery could have shifted and grounded itself.