Toyota RAV4 fire or smoke problems

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · GA · fire

On the morning of Thursday, XXX, I drove my RAV4 2024 XLE, bought from a Heyward Allen Toyota Dealership in [XXX], on XXX I left my parking lot at around 7:35 am to drop off my two kids at XXX Elementary School in [XXX]. After dropping my kids off, I left school at around 7:41 am and returned to my parking lot in the University of Georgia family housing. As I was at the roadside near my parking lot at around 7:45 am, I smelled a burning odor and saw light smoke in my car. I quickly rolled down the window to breathe and went directly into the parking lot. I turned off the vehicle, opened the hood, and noticed flames in a row at the end of the engine near the windscreen side. I was panicked to see the fire. The fire rapidly increased, along with smoke. There was no warning sign on the dashboard or any alarm for the fire in the vehicle. This raises serious questions about safety. There were several other cars parked in that space in a row. So, we immediately called [XXX], and a fire vehicle came to extinguish the fire. A police vehicle also arrived at the spot. It took around 8 to 10 minutes for the fire and smoke to be extinguished. Later, the vehicle was towed on XXX by Progressive Insurance for inspection. It is very alarming that a vehicle that catches fire does not give any warning alerts or other symptoms before the incident happens. Due to this fire incident, my family and I are shocked and do not want to use this vehicle in the future. We have serious concerns about the safety mechanism/ alarm system of Toyota RAV4 2024 XLE model. We request full compensation from Toyota as fire posed life threat to me and my kids. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 15, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · WA · fire

All warning lights came on and started flashing, steering wheel locked completely and total system failure. Car suddenly died and I had no control of it. Engine started smoking with black smoke. I got out of car and engine immediately caught fire starting at the bottom left driver side of engine and within a few minutes vehicle was completely engulfed with flames. It exploded and car was gone.

Filed Sep 3, 2026 · Body, Driver assistance · NC · fire

I was driving 9/3 and my left blinker light came on solid. I was not using my blinker. Within a few seconds my check engine light came on and another light. Then within 2 minutes the front left engine/tire caught fire.

Filed Aug 14, 2026 · Electrical · CO

The repair shop I was able to pull into as I was experiencing the issue with my vehicle reported: "Battery is unstable and is arcing off of the positive terminal. Battery tray, battery hold down tie, and battery j hook hold down were missing upon arrival." The issue was fixed by a Brakes Plus location, given I was able to pull in there - it was around the corner from where I was driving. The issue has been fixed, and I have no issue with inspection of the vehilce. The car died while I was driving on a main street. The recall note states that the vehicle could have caught on fire, though no fire or crash happened. I made a simple right-hand turn and almost every light imaginable illuminated on the dashbard. I was able to turn the vehicle off and on again and get the car to the Brakes Plus location. This location had to order the parts from Kansas. I called the Toyota Dealership informing them what had happened, that the car was unable to be moved and got the response that I needed to take it to them for repair. I called at least two times since I received the notice for the fix in the mail and I was told that I would be contacted when they were ready to fix my car specifically. I was informed they would call, but they did not take down my contact information. I reached out to Toyota and they opened a claim where I uploaded documents - the original recall notice, the letter informing of the fix, the invoice from Brakes Plus, proof of purchase On Friday,XXX, I received a letter notifying me that my claim was not eligible for reimbursement. Since I tried to reach out and get an appointment scheduled inspection and the fix (if needed), and I never received a call to schedule after being told the dealership would reach out to me when they were ready, I believe they should have paid me back for the repair. I can provide the Toyota Brand Engagement Case number as requested. I am hesitant to upload documents here as these documents contain name, address, etc.

Filed Aug 12, 2026 · Electrical · 71,800 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal odor outside the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that there was smoke coming from the battery, and there was battery fluid leaking from the battery. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with battery failure. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact stated that in May 2026, the vehicle was serviced for electrical issues with the Start/Stop feature, parking brake error message, and the AC display unit was replaced. The contact stated that other electrical issues occurred intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 71,800.

Filed May 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · NJ

Toyota made a defective coolant valve in their 2019-2021 cars that leaked spontaneously in these vehicles. Over 950,000 cars have been affected to date, including my 2020 Rav4. They are aware of the issue and made a customer support program for this issue which led to engines overheating/electrical code problems, which can cause a severe safety issue if left unrepaired. The program however has a limitation until November 2025 or 100,000 miles whichever comes first. When I was alerted of this, I brought my car to the dealer for service, but they wouldn't replace the part because it wasn't leaking too much at the time to need repair. However, just 4 months after the primary coverage expired, my engine code went off and when I brought my car, the coolant valve turned out to be defective and leaked into the electrical wire harness which then also had to be replaced in addition to the coolant valve. The repair cost was $1200 and both were required to keep the car driving safely and reliably on the road. Because my car had 120,000 miles and the known issue presented after Nov2025, Toyota refuses to cover the service, although it is a known manufacturing defect. Toyota is committing fraud to avoid covering this safety issue. The repair is expensive and if left unrepaired, the cars can spontaneously catch on fire on highways and in parks leading to wild fires and endanger others on the road. The toyota technician specifically informed me the issue was similar to other cars and known and the defect led to the destruction of the wire harness. To avoid a safety recall, Toyota reached a private settlement against class action lawsuit and created a limited CSP to avoid covering the defect in cars like mine to maintain their reliability status in consumer reports so cars like mine with little higher mileage won't be reported. It is fraud. I believe they are skipping on consumer repair bills that consumers on entitled to for their manufacturing defect.

Filed Apr 7, 2026 · Electrical · NH · fire

On October 27, 2025, I was housesitting and watching a friends' son and dropped him off at school. I returned to their house, shut off the car, went into the house, started cleaning home in preparation of returning to my home. I was in downstairs master suite on opposite end of home when I heard a car horn. I went to the door, looked out and saw fire emitting from under the driver’s side wheel well, front of engine, from under the engine hood and half way up the windshield of the RAV4. I called [XXX] and informed the dispatcher that my car was on fire. The [XXX] fire department responded and extinguished the vehicle. I called my insurance company and also reported the incident to Toyota BEC, they assigned the incident Liability Case# XXX. I had also received 2 recall notifications from Toyota (the federal safety agency# 23V734). The car had been serviced by Grappone Toyota (now known as McGovern Toytota) in [XXX] on August 14, 2025 and the recall was documented as fixed on that date. The vehicle was a total loss and towed to a Coparts Salvage Yard in Candia NH. An inspection was performed by an inspector assigned by Toyota. I later received a letter from Toyota stating that the cause of the fire could not be determined and Toyota assumes no reponsibility whatsoever. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Mar 26, 2026 · Body, Engine · CO · fire

Yesterday March 25th 2026 I went to work and parked my 2017 Toyota RAV4 and about 30minutes later it was on fire in the parking lot. The fire happened around the battery area

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 28, 2025 · Electrical, Fuel system · GA · fire

Toyota RAV4 LE gas pump burst and caught fire leading to total fire damage along with major water damage from the firefighters putting out the fire. The vehicle was idle for hours at the time of explosion of the fuel pump. This was a major safety hazard/risk especially being that myself and two others were minutes away from going out to the vehicle before it all happened as I was getting ready to take a friend home for the night. A claim representative will look into this matter in coming days.