2011 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems
- 26
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 26 stored complaint records:
- 5 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 2 indicate fire
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 8 |
| 60–100k mi | 7 |
| 100–150k mi | 6 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Engine
Just purchased 2011 rav4 with 104k miles and soon found out it has a bad cam gear! Apparently this is a known defect for this year! Of course it's not under warranty at this mileage! Shocked like everyone else to find out this wasn't recalled by toyota. They need to step up and take responsibility for this known faulty part! Not happy with my first toyota!
ODI 11306606
Engine
Several cars have had a camshaft timing gear assembly problem since day 1. So many people back 10 years ago had the problem and stories of engineers being called in to diagnose it fill the net. How do we now 11 years in know that while the camshaft gear was in need of r/r that engine damage of any kind didn't occur? T-sb-0041-13 has been revised so many times it is ridiculous that this has not become a full fledged…
ODI 11244998
Engine
FIRE UNDER THE HOOD
Fire reported
ODI 11183825
Body · Engine · Service Brakes · Vehicle Speed Control
Waiting at stop sign - car began accelerating, engine revving, racing (again, while at a complete stop). I braked and vehicle took full control seemingly pulling sideways first and then lurching out onto the roadway casing a devastating crash totaling my car and causing the other person's vehicle extensive damage. I could have been seriously injured or killed. It's the second time this happened. 1st time pulling…
Crash reported
ODI 11180213
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle started to experience high oil consumption, which eventually caused the spark plugs to burn out. The vehicle was taken to toyota carlsbad (6020 avenida encinas, carlsbad, ca 92011) where they tested the oil consumption. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included in any recalls and were unable to provide any further…
ODI 11173588
Engine · Unknown Or Other
I was stopped at a red light with the brake fully engaged when runaway acceleration tried to take over the vehicle and make it inch forward into oncoming traffic on hwy 90. Due to my quick actions of continuing to press brake, i put vehicle in neutral then park, then i shut off the engine and turned on flashers. A policeman immediately drove onto highway and stopped traffic in order to escort me to my church parking…
ODI 11173088
Engine · Service Brakes · Unknown Or Other
The complaint specified does not seem to happen frequently or consistently, has happened randomly 2 times in a 6 week period. Specifically, car was engaged in the drive gear on auto transmission and was stopped at the moment, once at the parking spot at local walmart, brought to complete halt with foot on the brake, and ready to shift lever to park, before i could do that, brake went soft and car moved/surged…
Crash reported
ODI 11187171
Engine
Car is 7 years old with 123,000 miles. Recently started burning oil excessively. My car is not covered under the toyota tsb related to this issue. Had it tested at toyota dealer & it failed. Literally ran out of oil & didn't know it; car just stopped in traffic. Toyota refuses to do anything for me.
ODI 11093422
Electronic Stability Control · Engine
Rav4 -cel, 4wd, trac off all three lights came on. I had them read 4 times by 3 different mechanics. Each time i was told rear oxygen sensor needs to be replaced. I had the sensor replaced twice in less than 2 weeks to confirm it wasn't a faulty sensor. The all 3 lights came back on in less than 24 hours. Fyi: the other sensor was replaced as well.
ODI 11064498
Engine
Excessive oil consumption. At least one quart of oil needs be added every 600 miles. Problem started at approximately 80,000 miles. Oil sludge built up in a valve which caused the vehicle to stall unexpectedly.
ODI 11067207
Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Vvti gear..when the vehicle is first started the engine makes a loud rattling noise as if there is no oil getting to the pistons
ODI 11121613
Engine
I have a defective vvt-i gear on my 2011 rav4. Upon researching the diagnosis from my local toyota dealer (david maus toyota), i discovered that toyota has known about this engineering flaw since 2010 and had put out a technical service bulletin (t-sb-0146-10) so that dealerships would know how to replace the defective part. My vehicle's vin # is specifically listed on this tsb as an effected vehicle. Also, there…
ODI 10874501
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
When braking, sudden acceleration occurred- seems to reset by letting up on brake and reapplying. Has happened on various locations and types of roads. While out of state dealership replace purge valve- seemed ok, but then on 1/25/16 was backing out of driveway had foot on brake and felt engine racing, put into park with racing engine, turned key off restarted and seemed ok had garage check could not find anything…
ODI 10822500
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Four unintended acceleration incidents has occurred with my toyota rav4. Recent incidents on 9/1415 (college park, md when brake applied at a red light with vehicle ahead; passenger/witness in car). High rpm and engine rev occurred; both feet on brake in attempt to keep car from advancing; put car in neutral and then park and engine stopped revving. And on 10/5/15 (damascus, md when brake applied at stop sign with…
ODI 10781294
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota rav4. When the contact depressed the brake pedal, the engine roared and the vehicle accelerated without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who was unable to replicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall; therefore, they declined to help unless the dealer replicated the failure. The vehicle was not repaired.…
ODI 10861584
Electrical System · Engine
About a year ago, i packed my car to go on vacation. I put the dog in the car and returned to my house to get something. When i returned to the car, it was locked. I assumed i had inadvertently pushed the lock button on the remote so ignored it. Over the last 6 months, this has happened more frequently. On july 6, 2015, my mother and i went to walmart. I went in and she stayed in the car. When i returned the door…
ODI 10734399
Engine · Service Brakes
On 4/22/2015, i had been driving my 2011 toyota rav4 limited edition at highway speed for about 2 hours. After leaving the interstate i was braking and completing a counterclockwise u-turn going about 10 mph when the engine began to race uncontrollably. Based on my previous experience with this problem (this is the fourth time this has occurred) i threw the shifter into park while continuing to brake. This quickly…
ODI 10713699
Electrical System · Engine · Service Brakes
I was driving down suburban road at approx 20-25 mph before attempting to come to a complete stop at a red light. The brakes lost power and engine quickly redlined to 6000 rpm. It was only by immediately shifting into neutral that i avoided running a redlight and plowing through an intersection. I placed in park and shut off engine within 3-5 seconds to avoid engine damage. I waited about 10-15 seconds stuck at a…
ODI 10681838
Engine · Service Brakes
After driving my 2011 toyota rav4 limited edition for several minutes, i came to a complete stop waiting for an opportunity to turn left. I turned left and accelerated to about 15 mph. I then noticed pedestrians entering a crosswalk so i hit the brakes a bit harder than normal, but not in a panic mode. As the car decelerated, the engine began to race. I increased my pressure on the brake pedal and when the speed was…
ODI 10667543
Engine · Service Brakes · Vehicle Speed Control
While approaching an intersection on a busy thoroughfare, the light turned yellow and at the last minute i decided against running the yellow light and applied my brakes very hard. The vehicle started to slow down but as i approached the stop line my vehicle continued to slowly move forward no matter how hard i pressed on the brake pedal. At first i thought my brakes had failed, but then i heard the whine of the…
ODI 10614616
Engine · Vehicle Speed Control
Came to stop sign and put my foot on the brakes - the engine began to accelerate and move the car forward. Had to put my foot hard on the brakes and put the car into neutral - and the engine stopped accelerating. This is the second time in a two week period that this has happened. Afterwards, the vehicle operated as expected with no problems. However, it is a very scary situation. I checked the floor mat and it was…
ODI 10565197
Engine · Power Train
On 1/6/14 i was coming to an intersection and i was slowing down. I noticed that the engine was raving and was trying to pull me forward. Because i was pressing the brakes the car was able only to jerk forward. I had to switch to neutral to prevent car jerking forward. Then the engine returned to normal rpm. This actually happened the second time. The first time it happened in october 2013. On 1/9/14 i gave the car…
ODI 10561460
Engine
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota rav4. The contact stated that while attempting a left turn, he crashed into another vehicle at very low impact. The front of the vehicle immediately caught on fire. The police and fire department were on scene to assist and the fire was extinguished. The hood and the battery were melted and the vehicle was deemed as destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.…
Crash reported · Fire reported
ODI 10525389
Air Bags · Body · Engine
According to our insured, the insured had pulled into his driveway, and the vehicle had a sudden acceleration, causing the vehicle to run into the house, damaging the wall, the sliding door and the typhoon shutters. *tr
Crash reported
ODI 10465931
Body · Engine · Service Brakes
Problem 1 - i have brake noise and brake does not stop properly. Spoke to toyota dealer and then created a case number with toyota customer experience. Toyota verified and they say no problem in brake. What toyota says after inspection - *inspect brake linings and check parking brake adjustment ~|~*inspect brake linings and check parking brake adjustment ~|~ ~|~could not verify brake noise.front brakes have 5 mm…
Crash reported
ODI 10469013