2007 Toyota RAV4 Suspension

NHTSA #16V-596: RECEIVED NOTIFICATION SEPT. OR OCT 2016 AND HAVE BEEN CHECKING W/ DEALER SINCE. STILL WAITING FOR PARTS. 4/18/17 CALLED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD JUNE 3017. NOT HOLDING MY BREATH. MEANTIME REAR ALIGNMENT IS INCORRECT FOLLOWING PREVIOUS LOWER CONTROL ARM ENCASEMENT IN EPOXY AND CAN'T BE CORRECTED. TIRES WEARING IMPROPERLY WHILE WAITING FOR TOYOTA.

SAFETY RECALL 16V-596 RLSA #1 WHY ARE PARTS NOT AVAILABLE AT PECHELES OF WASHINGTON NC. LAST ADVISEMENT FROM PECHELES OF WASHINGTON WAS ON 4/14/2017 NO INDICATIONS OF REAR END FAILURE AS OF 4/15/2017 LAST SERVICED JAN 10 2017 AT PECHELES OF WASHINGTON NC AT MILEAGE 52463. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 10/25/16 AT MILEAGE 51607.

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO SAFETY RECALLS ON THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS OF 2006 TO 2011 TOYOTA RAV 4S. I HAD BOTH RECALL REMEDY PROCEDURES PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE. THE SECOND RECALL REMEDY INVOLVED SEALING THE ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION ARMS WITH AN EPOXY WHICH MAKES THEM NON-ADJUSTABLE IN THE FUTURE. I HAD THIS PERFORMED 6/4/14. THIS REMEDY ALSO RENDERS THE REAR WHEELS UNABLE TO BE ALIGNED. THEREFORE, IF THE REAR WHEELS GO OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THE REAR SUSPENSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. SO INSTEAD OF A $60 ALIGNMENT CHARGE, THE CUSTOMER IS NOW SUBJECT TO A $480 REPLACEMENT CHARGE EVERY TIME THEIR CAR NEEDS REALIGNMENT. I PUT NEW TIRES ON MY CAR ON 12/19/2014. ON 1/1/17, MY MECHANIC NOTICED OUTER EDGE TIRE WEAR ON BOTH REAR TIRES SUGGESTING AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. ON 1/18/17, SEARS CONFIRMED ONLY REAR WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. ON 1/27/17, LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER CONFIRMED REAR WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND SAID $480 REPLACEMENT OF REAR SUSPENSION ARMS WAS ONLY SOLUTION. THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY NEW THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS WHEN THIS RECALL REMEDY WAS PUT INTO PLACE BY TOYOTA. MY REAR TIRES WERE RUINED AT 24,000 MILES. I ASKED TOYOTA TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT (CASE NO. 1701201908). THEY REFUSED AND SAID IT WAS A DECISION MADE AT THE US REGIONAL MANAGER LEVEL THAT WAS ACCEPTED BY TOYOTA NATIONAL. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND THE REAR SUSPENSION ARMS. I OPTED FOR AFTER MARKET ADJUSTABLE REAR ARMS AT A COST OF $222 PLUS ALIGNMENT. I ASSUME I AM NOW AT MORE RISK ON THE HIGHWAY. TOYOTA FORCED THIS DECISION BY PROVIDING A NON-ADJUSTABLE SOLUTION FOR A FAULTY ADJUSTABLE PART. THEIR DECISION NOW COSTS CUSTOMERS $480 EVERY TIME THEY NEED A $60 ALIGNMENT. MY CAR WAS DRIVEN ONLY ON NORMAL PAVED ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. THIS IS UNFAIR TO CUSTOMERS AND PLACES CUSTOMERS LIKE ME A HIGHER RISK IF THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PAY THE REPLACEMENT COST. I ALSO CALLED NHTSA AND STARTED COMPLAINT (REF. 1063186, BEAU).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS FISHTAILING. THE CONTACT MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO INSTALL REAR TOW ADJUSTMENTS ON BOTH REAR SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER A REAR SUSPENSION RECALL IN AUGUST OF 2014; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO NOT HAVE A REAR END ALIGNMENT AND CAUSED UNUSUAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THE REAR TIRES. SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2016, THE CONTACT HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRES THREE TIMES. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE REAR CONTROL ARM RECALL THAT SEALS THE PART IN EPOXY, MAKING REAR TOE ADJUSTMENT IMPOSSIBLE. THIS VEHICLE IS OUT OF TOLERANCE ON REAR TOE AND WILL COST $685 TO REPAIR. TOYOTA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS SINCE THEY RENDERED THE SUSPENSION PART NON ADJUSTABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A TIME FRAME OF WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TOYOTA REFUSED TO HAVE THE REAR TIRES OF MY CAR BE ALIGNED. SINCE I SUBMITTED THIS CAR FOR THAT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM RECALL, I ALWAYS HAVE ISSUES WITH REAR TIRE MISALIGNMENT WHICH TOYOTA OFFERED NO REMEDY. I BELIEVE DRIVING A MISALIGNED WHEELS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT....UPDATED 06/23/ 17 *BF *CN

NHTSA RECALL NO. 16V-596. WHAT IS THE PARTS STATUS? MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP STATES PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPLETION OF RECALL 16V-596. THIS FEELS ME WITH DREAD, IN THAT I DO NOT DARE DRIVE MORE THAN 5 TO 10 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE WHICH I DO WITH GREAT TREPIDATION AND I DO NOT DARE TAKE MY GRANDCHILDREN WITH ME. I NEED TO DRIVE FOR DAILY CONVENIENCES, IE FOOD AND MEDICAL APPTS. TO NAME A FEW. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THESE PARTS FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL. MY RAV-4 WAS LAST SERVICED AT PECHELES OF WASHINGTON NC ON 10 25 2016- INVOICE NO. TOCS233900-CUSTOMER 28903. CURIOUS? ARE WE WAITING ON SOME ONE TO SUFFER AN UNTIMELY DEMISE BEFORE WE GET AFTER TOYOTA INC. THIS LACK OF PROGRESS OR AN UPDATE AS TO THE STATUS OF THE PARTS IS TROUBLESOME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V598000 (SUSPENSION). THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

REAR TIE ROD (SUSPENSION ARM) DISCONNECTED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND SPIN OFF HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED IN FEBRUARY 2015 FOR THE RECALL (13V383000) THAT ADDRESSES REAR SUSPENSION ARM ADJUSTMENT.

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN WEST HAVEN CT (NEAR 195 W SPRING ST) WHEN I HEARD A METALIC NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, VEERING INTO THE INCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. I WAS DRIVING < 25 MPH AND THE PAVEMENT WAS DRY, AND MANAGED TO PARK THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO CARS IN THE INCOMING LANE, AND THERE WAS NO INJURY. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT NEXT TO ME. UPON INSPECTING THE CAR, I DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL WAS TILTED AT AN ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE BODY OF THE CAR. I CALLED AAA (TIME WAS AROUND 7:45 A.M.) AND A TOWING TRUCK ARRIVED , AND TOWED MY CAR TO A NEARBY GARAGE (ROBERT'S SERVICE CENTER, INC., 216 BUCKINGHAM AVE, MILFORD, CT). I DID NOT CALL POLICE OR TAKE A PICTURE. THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR INFORMED ME THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE CAR, THEY FOUD THAT THE REAR FORWARD CONTROL ARM HAD FAILED (COME APART AT THE MIDDLE). THIS CONTROL ARM WAS THE SUBJECT OF A SAFETY RECALL BY TOYOTA IN 2013, AND MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT GIRARD TOYOTA IN NEW LONDON, CT, AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL. THE FAILED ARM STILL HAD THE REPAIR STICKER ON IT. THE SHOP REMOVED AND REPLACED THE FAILED CONTROL ARM AND THE ONE THAT WAS STILL INTACT ON THE LEFT REAR WHEEL. THE CAR IS NOW DRIVABLE. I BELIEVE THAT THE OUTCOME IS LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA AND WAS GIVEN THE CASE NUMBER 1604300620. I SPOKE TO A CASE MANAGER, MR. THORN. MY INTENTIONS WERE TO; 1) ALERT TOYOTA THAT A RECALL FIX HAS FAILED ON MY CAR; 2) I WANTED A TOYOTA DEALER TO INSPECT MY CAR FOR AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATION AND TO ASSURE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE; 3) REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS. HE ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIVING THE INFORMATION, BUT INDICATED THAT A TOYOTA DEALER CANNOT GUARANTEE A THIRD PARTY WORK. HE ASKED ME TO FILE MY EXPENSES, BUT WITH NO ASSURANCE THAT IT WILL BE HONORED.

AFTER HEARING A CLUNK TYPE SOUND BACK IN 2012 I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE RIGHT REAR SAY BAR LINKAGE HAD RUSTED OUT. THE SWAY BAR WAS NOT SECURE ANYMORE. FAST FORWARD TO THE FALL OF 2015 AND NOW I HAVE THE SAME SOUND...NOT REMEMBERING ABOUT PRIOR INCIDENT I FINALLY DISCOVER THAT THE LEFT SWAY BAR LINKAGE IS NOT RUSTED OFF TOO. WHY WOULDNT THE DEALER DO BOH REPLACEMENTS BACK THEN. AND BY PUTTING ONLY ONE NEW ONE DID THAT PUT PRESSURE ONTO THE OTHER ONE. ISNT IT ODD TO HAVE BOTH SIDE OF A SWAY BAR LINK RUST OUT. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS A BIT TOO WIDESPREAD TO IGNORE.

THE CAR WAS RECALLED IN 2014 FOR THE REAR CONTROL ARMS. THEY WERE REPLACED IN 2014. 2 YEARS LATER AND THE PART BROKE AGAIN. HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A SIDE STREET WHEN IT BROKE, SO WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. COST $560 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE.

REAR SWAY BAR LINKS RUSTED AND BROKEN. COLONIAL TOYOTA WANTS TO CHARGE $398 FOR REPLACEMENT WHILE IT ONLY COSTS AROUND $50 FOR THE PART. THUS, TWO COMPLAINS. 1. MANUFACTURER TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THE DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACEMENT VIA RECALL AS THIS COMPLAIN IS WIDESPREAD. 2. TOYOTA SHOULD REQUIRE DEALER TO NOT CHARGE OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT FOR THIS AND COVER THE COST.

SWAY BAR

OUR 2007 RAV4 WAS SERVICED AT A TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER ON 8/11/2015. THE REAR ALIGNMENT WAS FOUND TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE SPECIFIED RANGE. THE REAR SUSPENSION ARMS (TIE RODS) WERE INSPECTED AND THE ALIGNMENT WAS ADJUSTED LAST YEAR AS PART OF RECALL 13V-383. AN EPOXY WAS APPLIED TO MAKE THESE PARTS NON-ADJUSTABLE AND SEAL THEM TO PREVENT CORROSION THAT HAS LED TO PART FAILURES. BOTH REAR TIE RODS ON OUR VEHICLE HAD ACTUALLY BEEN REPLACED IN JANUARY 2012 AFTER SUCH A FAILURE CAUSED US TO CRASH. CORRECTING THE REAR ALIGNMENT NOW REQUIRES REPLACING THESE PARTS AGAIN AND RE-APPLYING THE EPOXY FROM RECALL 13V-383, AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. I WAS QUOTED $750 + TAX ($660 ON TOP OF THE USUAL $90 ALIGNMENT CHARGE). WE HAVE NOT YET HAD THIS FIXED. I WROTE TO DANIEL C. SMITH OF NHTSA IN JUNE TO POINT OUT THIS PROBLEM BASED ON OTHER REPORTS, BEFORE REALIZING OUR VEHICLE WOULD HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. IF THE EPOXY DOES NOT PREVENT THE PART FROM ADJUSTING OUTSIDE OF SPECS, HOW WELL IS IT SEALING TO PREVENT CORROSION? NHTSA INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA KNOWS OF 19 CONTINUED FAILURES IN VEHICLES THAT HAD REMEDY 13V-383 APPLIED (THE SECOND REMEDY FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT). 12 REPORTS WERE FOR COMPLETE TIE ROD SEPARATION. TOYOTA SHOULD ALSO TRACK THESE ALIGNMENT CHANGES AS A POTENTIAL PRECURSOR TO FAILURES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING DOWN AND THE REAR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V383000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

STABILIZER LINK ON REAR OF CAR SNAPPED.. HEARD LOAD NOISE.. SOME RATTLE ALSO.. DEALER REPLACED BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT STABILIZER LINKS.. WAS CHARGED 275.00 FOR EACH..

SUN VISOR IS CAUSING HEAD INJURIES, THIS DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR KEEP DROPPING AT EYE LEVEL AND HIT ON THE HEAD WHILE WE ARE DRIVING DUE TO DEFECTIVE MECHANISM AND LOCKING PARTS WITHIN THE SUN VISOR THIS IS HAPPENING FOR LAST 4 YEARS. KINDLY HAVE MANUFACTURE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND HAVE THEM REPLACE THIS SUN VISOR.

MARCH 27, 2015 AT 2:40 PM. SUNNY, 38, CLEAR ROAD CONDITIONS. EXITING OFF US 43 AND SOUTH ONTO US 41 AT APPROX. 40 TO 45 MPH. THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED TO LEFT, THEN SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS BUT DID NOT BRAKE. STEERING WAS DIFFICULT BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. THE CAR FELT(ALTHOUGHI AM NOT SURE) AS THOUGH IT WENT UP ON TWO WHEELS EACH TIME IT SWERVED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. I LOOKED BENEATH THE CAR AND SAW AN APPROXIMATELY 10 INCH ROD WITH THE STICKER THAT SAID "RECALL SAFETY". I TOOK A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE BROKEN PART, CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE IF I HAD BEEN GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR I WOULD HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HAVE ANY CONTROL AND MAY HAVE ROLLED OVER INJURING, OR WORSE MYSELF AND OTHERS. *TR

HEARD "POP" SOUNDS FROM REAR WHILE DRIVING CAR. STOPPED TO EXAMINE CAR BUT DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. RESUMED DRIVING AND SHORTLY AFTERWARDS THERE WAS A LOUD POP AND IMMEDIATELY THE CAR BEGAN SWERVING AS IF IT WERE ON A SKATING RINK - VERY SCARY. MANAGED TO GET CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CAME TO A STOP. REAR RIGHT WHEEL WAS INCLINED TOWARDS THE SIDEWALL OF THE CAR, NO IDEA WHAT HAD CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN. DROVE VERY SLOWLY TO AUTO MECHANIC JUST 1 BLOCK AWAY, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE AFFECTED AREA. CAR WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A BROKEN RIGHT REAR TIRE ROD AND THE AFFECTED TIRE HAD BEEN STRIPPED SINCE IT HAD BEEN LEANING AGAINST THE SIDEWALL. THIS OCCURRED DESPITE HAVING MADE MULTIPLE VISITS TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN FEBRUARY, 2014 FOR RELATED RECALLS AND ACTION TAKEN TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. OBVIOUSLY, ACTION TAKEN BY DEALERSHIP WAS INSUFFICIENT TO PREVENT THIS POSSIBLE DEADLY SITUATION FROM OCCURRING. *TR

WHILE LOOKING INTO A REAR SUSPENSION PROBLEM, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE REMEDY FOR RECALL 13V-383 WAS NOT PERFORMED PROPERLY ON ONE SIDE OF THE CAR. NOT ENOUGH EPOXY WAS USED ON ONE END OF THE SUSPENSION ARM, SO THERE IS A GAP IN THE EPOXY THAT EXTENDS TO THE ADJUSTING TUBE NUT. THAT SIDE IS ALSO OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER DID NOT REDO THE FIX AS REQUESTED. THE SERVICE MANAGER FORWARDED A PHOTO TO A DISTRICT REP TO MAKE A DECISION. OVER TWO WEEKS NOW WITHOUT A RESPONSE.