I am filing this urgent complaint regarding a life-threatening defect in my 2022 Toyota RAV4 SUV that gravely endangers my family and the public. This is a desperate plea for intervention. For over a year, my vehicle has repeatedly displayed a terrifying, unreadable red alert and piercing buzzer, occurring 3-4 times without warning and not real collision threat. These incidents are terrifying precursors to catastrophic failure. The Toyota dealership dismissed my concerns, stating they "cannot do anything" without replicating the intermittent problem. This dangerous negligence compounds my frustration, especially after prior unaddressed issues like radio malfunctions and door water infiltration. Crucially, the dealer's own CAR DTC logs confirmed C14FE14: "steering angle sensor supply voltage circuit short to ground or open." This documented electrical failure directly impacts the steering system. Toyota's own webpage [XXX] ) also details similar warnings, confirming my fear of brake system activation. My paramount fear is a false Pre-Collision System activation. Imagine driving at high speed when the brakes violently engage or steering falters due to this electrical short. The unthinkable consequences could be a devastating collision, causing severe injury or death to my family and others. This is a documented defect, met with manufacturer and dealer refusal to act. I cannot feel secure driving this car, nor can I responsibly sell this ticking time bomb to another family. I implore the federal safety agency to launch an immediate, comprehensive investigation into this critical safety defect. This is a public safety matter demanding urgent attention. Force Toyota to rectify this profound flaw before lives are lost. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Toyota RAV4 knocking problems
98 of the 9,421 owner complaints about the Toyota RAV4 describe engine knocking or ticking, most of them for the 2007 model year.
- owner complaints
- 98
- worst model year
- 2007
- typical repair cost reported
- $900
- typical mileage
- 44,570
By model year
Often reported together
Steering noise 34Harsh shifting 18Power steering loss 7Stalling 2Ball joint 2Won't start 1Transmission failure 1Sudden acceleration 1
Trouble codes mentioned
C1223 1C0210 1
What owners say
The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that her husband checked the oil level and noticed that the oil level was low. The contact stated that two weeks prior to the failure, an oil change service was performed. The contact stated that her husband added oil; however, two weeks later he checked the oil level again and the oil level was low. The contact stated that the vehicle consumed one quart of oil every two weeks or approximately every 200 miles. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the service manager stated that it was a known issue with the vehicle. The contact was notified of a TSB however, the vehicle was over the mileage. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
After the car sits for 3 or 4 days I driven the battery dies and needs to be jumped to get it started again. No lights left on or anything. On cold start the engine makes a ticking noise that has been getting louder over that last few months.
Suspension knocking noises: occur at slow speeds over irregular pavement particularly during vehicle rolling, pitching and heaving. Emanate from the vicinity under and in front of the driver seat and are readily discernable by both driver and passengers. Brake clicking noises: occur whenever applying light brake pressure. Customer has replicated brake clicking while test driving identical rav4 hybrids.
When turning right the car has a knocking noise.
Knock in the steering wheel when turning and have paid over $2,500.00 with the problem never getting fixed because everyone thinks it is something else and they are always wrong.
The vehicle has an engine knock/rattle noise at cold start up.
I took my vehicle in for service due to an engine knock. After 90 minutes to troubleshoot I was told that there was a major problem and that my vehicle was not safe to drive. Engine mount was broken, needed rear differential replaced. Mechanic had never seen anything like this.
Vehicle did have an official recall(steering shaft assembly) vehicle was repaired 2x's. Vehicle is experiencing same problem. Steering gets tight and knocks. Sent letter to toyota in california created case #[xxx] dealer refuses to repair *tt consumer stated there are 2 odi numbers #352270 and #1182873. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *ln
The car started knocking, went straight to a shop and it turns out it had no oil in it. Was due for an oil change but not to the point it should have been out of oil and had not shown any signs of leaking.
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid and Lexus ES300h and 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with 2.5L 4-Cylinder engines. Porosity in the engine castings may result in cracks than can allow coolant to leak internally and/or externally.
- Risk
- A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall in conventional gasoline vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, for all involved vehicles, the engine may get damaged mechanically, possibly resulting in an engine oil leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine including the engine block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371 or Lexus at 1‑800‑255‑3987. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA04. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA02.
Recall number 20V064000 · Recall details
Questions about the Toyota RAV4 knocking
Which Toyota RAV4 years have engine knocking or ticking problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2007 (38 complaints), 2006 (36 complaints) and 2008 (8 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix engine knocking or ticking on the Toyota RAV4?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $900 (median of 21 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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