2007 Toyota RAV4 Suspension

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle could not be aligned. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was previously taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V596000 (Suspension). The vehicle was taken to a tire shop, and the contact was informed that the rear tie rods were welded, and an alignment was impossible. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 182,342.

The rear sub frame broke/ rusted, needing to be replaced unable to drive car safely

The contact owns a 2007 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while installing new tires on the vehicle, the mechanic stated that the wheel bearings fractured and that both front axles were rusted. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, and it was confirmed that the wheel bearings were fractured and that the front axles were rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted, and the contact left a message. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 179,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A WOBBLE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOB TYLER TOYOTA LOCATED AT (7201 PENSACOLA BLVD, PENSACOLA, FL 32505) WHERE AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TOWING ROD BAR WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE REAR TOW ROD BARS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. *BF*JB

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE THERE WAS A POP SOUND IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND I WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS LEAD TO THE RAV4 COMING TO A STOP AFTER IMPALING ON GUARDRAIL FROM FREEWAY SPEEDS. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARED THAT THE REAR LEFT WHEEL WAS THE CAUSE AND WAS AT AN ANGLE INSTEAD OF BEING PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND LIKE THE REST OF THE WHEELS.

WE HAD RECALL GOV ON MY TOYOTA RAV4 ON 1/18/18 81000 MILES. AT THIS TIME I ALSO HAD NEW FRONT STRUTS AND REAR SHOCKS INSTALLED WITH A FRONT AND REAR ALIGNMENT. THEN 8000 MILES LATER AFTER THE FIX IN OCTOBER I NOTICED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR NEW REAR BRAKES AND AN ALIGNMENT. AT THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER PERFORM A REAR ALIGNMENT DUE TO THIS RECALL "FIX" THAT PERMANENTLY SEALED IT INTO ONE PLACE. WE WERE TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR BACK INTO ALIGNMENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR TOE BAR. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE REAR TIE ROD, AND TOYOTA'S SOLUTION TO AN ENGINEERING FLAW IS TO MAKE THE REAR TIE ROD NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE, THUS COSTING THE CONSUMER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT ISSUE. IT IS NOT FEASIBLE OR FAIR TO EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WHEN TOYOTA CREATED THE ISSUE WITH THEIR "FIX" INSTEAD OF CREATING A REPLACEMENT REAR TOE THAT IS ADJUSTABLE LIKE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THIS FIX HAS CREATED A NEW SAFETY ISSUE WITH TIRE WARE AND HANDLING ISSUES. BEFORE THE FIX I WAS EXPERIENCED NEITHER OF THESE ISSUES.

MY VEHICLE WAS ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 750,000 VEHICLES INVOLVED IN TOYOTA'S 2013 CSJ SAFETY RECALL. HOWEVER, IT WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE AUGUST 2016 GOV SAFETY RECALL, AS WERE ABOUT 420,000 OTHER VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO TOYOTATALK.COM, SINCE SO MANY OF THESE RAV4S WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE G0V SAFETY RECALL WHICH CALLS FOR MANDATORY REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM MOUNTING HARDWARE, THIS MEANS THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AFFECTED RAV4 VEHICLES ON AMERICAN HIGHWAYS WITH EITHER: 1. POTENTIALLY RUSTING AND/OR CORRODING MOUNTING HARDWARE FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM THAT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED 2. THE INABILITY TO HAVE A REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WHICH COULD LEAD TO DANGEROUS TIRE WEAR THE TITLE OF THE ARTICLE ON TOYOTATALK.COM IS "THE DEFECTIVE TOYOTA RAV4 TUBE-STYLE REAR SUSPENSION ARM." IT WAS POSTED ON APRIL 28, 2018. HERE IS THE LINK: HTTPS://TOYOTATALK.COM/DEFECTIVE-RAV4-SUSPENSIONS/ ON NOVEMBER 5, 2018, THE OWNER OF DINSMORE TIRE IN MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, INFORMED ME THAT ONE OF THE TIRES ON THE REAR HAD UNEVEN REAR. HE CITED A MECHANICAL DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE AS THE REASON WHY. HE STATED THAT IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY TO SUBMIT A WARRANTY CLAIM ON MY VEHICLE'S TIRES PURCHASED THERE, THAT THE TIRE WITH UNEVEN WEAR WOULD BE EXCLUDED. A PHOTO OF THAT TIRE ACCOMPANIES THIS COMPLAINT. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY, ON NOVEMBER 9, 2018, AFTERMARKET REAR SUSPENSION ARMS WERE INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. THE INSTALLATION WAS PAID BY ME OUT OF POCKET. A REDACTED COPY OF THE RECEIPT ACCOMPANIES THIS COMPLAINT. SINCE RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC, TOYOTA HAS NOTHING OF SUBSTANCE TO SAY ABOUT THESE CONCERNS. BE THAT AS IT MAY, A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH TOYOTA ON NOVEMBER 5, 2018. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA AND ITS LACK OF ACTION. IT IS MY DEEPEST HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

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 CONTACT CALLED TOYOTA PASADENA AT (626) 795-9787 (3600 E FOOTHILL BLVD, PASADENA, CA 91107) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE WORN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE BEING NOTICED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY LITHIA TOYOTA OF KLAMATH FALLS (2675 WASHBURN WAY, KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON 97603) PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT PART UTILIZED BY THE DEALER HAD NO ADJUSTMENT ABILITY, WHICH WORE OUT THE REAR TIRES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME DUE TO NO ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION) BY KOONS TOYOTA (1107 WEST ST, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY PREVENTED THE REAR TIRES FROM REALIGNING WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION ARM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1802022112. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,698.

AFTER PROCESSING THE SAFETY RECALL ON THE REAR TIE RODS WHICH CONTROL THE TOE OF THE WHEELS, I DROVE 20K MILES AND THEN NEEDED TO DO ANOTHER ALIGNMENT ON THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE TOE OF BOTH WHEELS ARE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT TO THE LEFT BRINGING THE CAR'S STEERING OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, AS THE SAFETY RECALL PROCESS WAS TO CAP THE TOE ADJUSTER BAR ON THE REAR TIE RODS AND FILL THEM WITH EPOXY, THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS WAS TO REPLACE THE TIE RODS AND REPEAT THE SAFTY RECALL BUT THIS TIME THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $720 DOLLARS. SO EVEN THOUGH THIS PART HAS HAD SEVERAL SAFETY RECALLS ON IT AND THAT THE FINAL SOLUTION BY TOYOTA WAS TO HOLD IT TOGETHER WITH GLUE. THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND FIGURE OUT A LONG TERM SOLUTION THAT ALLOWS FOR THE CAR TO RETAIN ITS ORIGINAL ABILITY TO DO A PROPER ALIGNMENT.

WE CONTINUE TO ENCOUNTER RESISTANCE WITH CAPITOL TOYOTA, 783 AUTO GROUP AVE NE, SALEM, OR 97301 (503) 399-1011 SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE RECALL ON OUR VEHICLE. THEY TELL YOU THEY ARE REVIEWING YOUR FILE AND WILL GET BACK TO YOU AND REFUSE TO SCHEDULE. WE'VE ENCOUNTERED THIS SAME TACTIC WITH THIS DEALER ON PAST RECALL NOTICES.

TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION AND SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED MY VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FIX IS INADEQUATE. AFTER THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM (TIE ROD) IS EPOXIED INTO A FIXED POSITION, THE REAR TIRES CAN NO LONGER BE REALIGNED WITHOUT REPLACING THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION ARM. THIS FIX IS INADEQUATE AND PLACES UNDUE FINANCIAL BURDENS ON THE RAV4 OWNERS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN NOISE UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

THIS VEHICLE HAD THE REAR SUSPENSION ARM RECALL (NHTSA 16V596000) . WHEN THE DEALERSHIP DID THE RECALL THEY SEALED THE PARTS IN EPOXY, THE CAR IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AGAIN IN LESS THAN I YEAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS BEING TOLD THAT IT WILL COST $700 TO GET THE ALIGNMENT DONE. THE SUSPENSION HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE EPOXY. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE ONE YEAR WARRANTY OF THE RECALL. TOYOTA SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS SINCE THEY DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE PROPERLY DURING THE RECALL AND NOW THE CAR CAN NOT HAVE REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENTS. I CANNOT GET A ROUTINE ALIGNMENT BECAUSE OF THE EPOXY USED DURING THE RECALL. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS.

RECEIVED NOTICE LAST FALL (AUG 2016) ABOUT AN "URGENT SAFETY RECALL" ON MY RAV4 - THE RECALL # IS 16V-596. TOYOTA DEALERS STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE PARTS FOR THIS RECALL! THE RECALL NOTICE STATES THAT THE SUSPENSION ARMS COULD SEPARATE RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH! WHY DO THEY ISSUE A RECALL IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX IT 9 MONTHS LATER??

2007 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARM ASSEMBLY SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THE VEHICLE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIR. *JS

MY 2007 TOYOTA RAV 4 WAS TAKEN TO NORTHERN LAKES AUTO IN HAYWARD WI FOR AN ALIGNMENT, AT WHICH WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REAR TOE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER. THE RECALL WORK DONE IN 2014 AT A TOYOTA DEALER IN COLORADO SPRINGS CO INVOLVED APPLYING AN EPOXY THAT MADE THIS PART NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE. ON 7/28/17, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE TOYOTA DEALER, WHICH FAILED AN ALIGNMENT CHECK AT THE REAR TOE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER PERFORM A REAR ALIGNMENT DUE TO THIS RECALL "FIX" THAT PERMANENTLY SEALED IT INTO ONE PLACE. WE WERE TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR BACK INTO ALIGNMENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE REAR TOE BAR FOR A COST OF 600 DOLLARS. WE CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND WERE OFFERED NOTHING TO FIX THIS ISSUE. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE REAR TIE ROD, AND TOYOTA'S SOLUTION TO AN ENGINEERING FLAW IS TO MAKE THE REAR TIE ROD NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE, THUS COSTING THE CONSUMER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT ISSUE. IT IS NOT FEASIBLE OR FAIR TO EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, WHEN TOYOTA CREATED THE ISSUE WITH THEIR "FIX" INSTEAD OF CREATING A REPLACEMENT REAR TOE THAT IS ADJUSTABLE LIKE THE CAR WAS MANUFACTURED WITH WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE CAR IS WEARING OUT THE TIRES IN THE REAR CUPPING BOTH OF THEM ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, AND THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME AND MY WIFE AND MY 14 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. I WAS FORCED TO PAY KARI TOYOTA $500 TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND APPLY THE EPOXY AGAIN TO PARTS THAT ARE TO BE ADJUSTABLE AND NOW ARE NOT....I WOULD LIKE TO BE REMBERSED FOR THIS A MOUNT ....WHY SHOULD THE I THE OWNER PAY FOR TOYOTAS BANDAID INCORRECT FIX?

TL* TAKATA RECALL. 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 JIM NORTON DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000 (SUSPENSION). 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. ...UPDATED 05/03/17 *BF *AS

I FILED A COMPLAINT ON APRIL 18, 2017 (NO. 10979057). THIS A FOLLOW-UP. SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE WAS ISSUED, TOYOTA HAS DONE NOTHING TO HONOR IT. CAN TOYOTA EVADE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY INDEFINITELY?

THE REAR SUSPENSION SOUNDS LOOSE. TWO MONTHS AGO DESERT TOYOTA, IN TUCSON, SUPPOSEDLY ORDERED THE RECALLED REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THEIR PARTS. TODAY THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE ANOTHER TWO MONTHS. I THINK THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO EXPEDITE THE SOLUTION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. [XXX] [XXX] OR [XXX] *DL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB

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 CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (WONDRIES TOYOTA LOCATED AT 1543 WEST MAIN ST AHAMBRIA, CA 91801). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1704141065. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V596000(SUSPENSION) WAS RECEIVED IN AUGUST OF 2016. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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 CALLED A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RECALL PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN CASE NUMBER: 1703031571. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.