Cracking windscreens, malfunctioning brakes, faulty fuel system issues, and defective airbags are among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 appears to be an appealing option to most drivers. The automaker claims it will help you “set your sights on new adventures.” However, current customers are complaining about all kinds of issues including windscreens that crack spontaneously, brakes that squeak and fail, malfunctioning fuel systems, and airbags that don’t deploy.
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A total of 16 complaints were filed with the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) between March, 2022 and September 2022. In addition to 3 complaints in the Unknown or Other category, 10 components and systems are affected.
The greatest volume of complaints relate to faulty windshields that crack for no apparent reason. Defective brakes are another issue, along with fuel system problems.
Airbags, the electrical system, forward collision avoidance, lane departure, the powertrain, and vehicle speed control are other areas of concern.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Power Train | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Air Bags | |
| Steering | |
| Structure:body | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings |
A 2022 RAV4 owner from Florida discovered a hairline windshield crack from the driver-side pillar towards the rear view mirror on the outside of the front windshield. The vehicle is always parked in a garage.
Complaining that there is a defect in RAV4 windshields, an owner from Illinois actually heard the windshield crack. “It was very faint, but I heard it.” Unsurprisingly perhaps, the dealership insisted a rock had hit the windshield, which the owner vehemently denies. “I am not the first person to complain about the faulty windshield on these models and truly believe that is very unsafe. This needs to be investigated as it can cause a car accident if cracked on the highway.”
Two other complaints about RAV4 windshields cracking also complain that there is a shortage of new windshields. Both complaints were filed during September 2022.
Driving home from the dealership after taking possession of a new Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE, an owner from Texas saw a crack developing on the driver’s side of the windshield. The SUV had been on the road for only 6.4 miles.
Apart from the fact that “the crack affects vision for both the driver and those outside the vehicle,” the owner quickly discovered that there are “supply issues” with the windshield. Neither Toyota nor Safelite have replacement windshields for the RAV4.
An owner from Tennessee has a similar problem. The complaint states that the windshield cracked without warning while his wife was driving. They presume “rock or road debris” caused the chip that resulted in the glass cracking from the passenger to the driver side of the car. They put in an insurance claim. But, after more than a month, they were still waiting for a new windshield. “Apparently there is a huge backlog.”
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Complaints to the NHTSA about faulty brakes are slightly different from one another. An owner from Virginia reports brake failure after the dealership resurfaced the brakes because of problems. The owner first noticed the problem when driving over rough roads.
The complaint states that the brakes don’t stop the car if there are “rough spots in the road. It feels like I’m pushing against air, the car jerks, the brake pedal will shudder. The car has no warning lights or sounds when this occurs.” Only 2 days after the 2022 RAV4 was repaired, the car’s brakes failed again after going over a rough spot in the road.
Another owner, this time from New York, complains that the front brakes make a “squeal/squeak noise when braking at low speeds.” The dealership examined the vehicle and said “there’s no issue!”
The fuel system works hand-in-hand with the engine to propel the SUV forward, yet this system is failing to perform.
One NHTSA review from an owner in South Carolina states, “The fuel tank warning light comes on when the car still has over 4 gallons of gas remaining in the tank. This was confirmed by checking fuel fill versus tank size and also running (the) vehicle well past (the) warning light. The warning light appears to mislead drivers and is inaccurate. The actual range of the vehicle is misleading with this warning light.”
Another complaint states that the total fuel dispensed is less than expected. The owner, who is from Maryland, says this is because “the fuel nozzle automatically clicks off when refueling.” According to the complaint, some customers report that the “distance to empty” shown on the multi-information display is also less than expected.
Not only are there fuel system issues, but Service Bulletin #T-SB-0104-21 also says that there are serious engine issues. The 2022 Toyota RAV4 can deal with milky oil, low oil pressure and the Check Engine Light. These problems could be caused by blow-by gasses that condense and accumulate in the engine oil after taking short trips. At this point, customers either need to drive their RAV4s for excessive amounts of time or they need to have an adventure with another vehicle. Looks like many drivers will be jumping ship in the near future.
There is no dispute from Toyota about airbag issues. In July 2022, they issued a recall of 3,533 RAV4 vehicles, including the Hybrid and Prime models due to improper airbag deployment. The problem is that the front passenger seat of some RAV4s have been incorrectly assembled. The result is that “incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper airbag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.”
There are 2 complaints on record to the NHTSA about airbags. One of these reports an injury after the driver side airbag didn’t deploy in a crash and the driver’s face hit the steering wheel.
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Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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My Rav 4 is currently in having it’s second windshield replacement. Do these windscreens have a design/manufacture fault. The smallest stone seems to leave a crater where it hit. My vehicle is 1.5 yrs old and getting second windshield fitted. My manager’s vehicle also Rav 4 not even a year old has had it’s windshield replaced. Asking the windshield repair shop, the mechanic said they get a lot of Rav’s in. Hence my question, is there perhaps a fault in these windshield? New Zealand.
I purchased a BRAND NEW TOYOTA on 2/28, on 4/4/23 my driver window shattered into my car, all over me face, eyes, ears and everywhere. I have a doctor bill for $4,500 and Rescue bill for $756 and now the dealership stated to me I need to pay for repairs. Please give me some legal advice.
unexpected acceleration that ended in low speed crash air bag did not inflate