Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE - BODY | ||||||
| EA12006 | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | 06/14/2012 | 02/12/2013 | Power Window Master Switch Fire | 12V491000 | |
| On october 10, 2012, toyota initiated a safety recall of approximately 2.5 million u.s. vehicles involving the following models and model years:2007-2009 camry and camry hybrid, 2009 corolla and corolla matrix, 2008 highlander and highlander hybrid, 2007-2009 rav4, 2008-2009 scion xb and xd, 2008-2009 sequoia, 2007-2008 tundra, 2007-2008 yaris, and 2009 pontiac vibe.see nhtsa recall number 12v-491 for more details, including the affected vehicle manufacture dates for each vehicle model.note that only early-production 2009 model year vehicles are included in the recall.toyota and gm dealers will inspect the power window master switch (pwms) assemblies and apply a specialized grease that inhibits heat build-up.the circuit board in the pwms may be replaced with a new one if notchy or sticking feeling is observed during the inspection.the failure report summary above shows counts for the vehicles identified at the start of this engineering analysis, specifically the approximately 1.4 million vehicles that share an identical pwms assembly design including, model year 2007-2009 camry, camry hybrid, rav4, and yaris built from september 2006 through august 2008, as well as all 2008 highlander hybrid.toyota subsequently identified approximately one million additional vehicles that have a slightly different pwms design but contain the same defect condition.note that the totals for complaints and fires shown above may include duplicative reports (between odi and manufacturer reports).this engineering analysis is closed.see attached report for additional information.the odi reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints under the following identification numbers: 10323848, 10360414, 10392622, 10394453, 10411328, 10429983, 10436663, 10446699, 10447416, 10447417, 10447419, 10447444, 10447515, 10447845, 10447947, 10449270, 10450133, 10450568, 10450606, 10450641, 10451821, 10455540, 10455614, 10456353, 10456438, 10457854, 10457955, 10459730, 10460166, 10460691, 10461220, 10462140, 10462200, 10462247, 10462404, 10462705, 10462761, 10464451, 10464769, 10465421, 10466279, 10466667, 10468126, 10468265, 10475230, 10470313, 10470684, 10471551, 10471824, 10472336, 10472910, 10473753, 10473967, 10473969, 10476921, 10477469, 10478563 and 10478657. | ||||||
| EA12006 | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | 06/14/2012 | Power Window Master Switch Fire | |||
| Odi has identified certain toyota vehicles experiencing a higher rate of fire and thermal event incidents among all toyota vehicles that use the same power window master switch design.they include a total of approximately 1.4 million model year (my) 2007 through 2009 camry, camry hybrid, rav4 and yaris vehicles built from approximately september 2006 through august 2008, as well as all my 2008 highlander hybrid vehicles.this engineering analysis is being opened to further study the alleged defect and its consequences.the odi reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints under the following identification numbers:10461220, 10460691, 10460166, 10459730, 10457955, 10457854, 10456438, 10456353, 10455614, 10455540, 10451821, 10450641, 10450606, 10450568, 10450133, 10449270, 10447947, 10447845, 10447515, 10447444, 10447419, 10447417, 10447416, 10446699, 10436663, 10429983, 10411328, 10407290, 10394453, 10392622, 10360414, 10323848. | ||||||
| PE12002 | TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION | 02/06/2012 | 06/14/2012 | Power Window Master Switch Fire | ||
| Odi has identified certain toyota vehicles experiencing a higher rate of fire and thermal event incidents among all toyota vehicles that use the same power window master switch design.they include a total of approximately 1.4 million model year (my) 2007 through 2009 camry, camry hybrid, rav4 and yaris vehicles built from approximately september 2006 through august 2008, as well as all my 2008 highlander hybrid vehicles.this preliminary evaluation has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea12-006) to further study the alleged defect and its consequences.the odi reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints under the following identification numbers: 10461220, 10460691, 10460166, 10459730, 10457955, 10457854, 10456438, 10456353, 10455614, 10455540, 10451821, 10450641, 10450606, 10450568, 10450133, 10449270, 10447947, 10447845, 10447515, 10447444, 10447419, 10447417, 10447416, 10446699, 10436663, 10429983, 10411328, 10407290, 10394453, 10392622, 10360414, 10323848. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 02/10/2007 | 1 | ||
| The brake and gas pedals in the 2007 toyota rav4 are to close together. it is not uncommon when applying the brake to all be applying pressure on the gas pedal at the same time. this was reported to the dealer. the salesman measured the distance between the brake and gas pedals in a toyota highlander (i also own a highlander) and claimed they were the same distance apart. when asked to fix the problem i was told there was nothing that could be done. this is an ongoing problem. i have almost hit a house, office building, vehicles and most recently my wife. i have never had this problem with any other vehicle i've driven. initial incident was in feb 07. *tr | |||
| 03/28/2008 | 6000 | 1 | |
| The memory drive feature on this vehicle is a hazard and skews gas mileage. i own a 2007 toyota rav4. i shopped and compared vehicles, prices and consumer guides for more than 2 years. i was not informed of the driving memory feature in the computer on the vehicle when considering buying. vehicle has lag time between the ability to acceleration or take evasive capability to avoid accident or get out of the way to avoid being hit. the memory feature, electronics/computer system develops a memory as to a person's driving habit. it then becomes confused because every time i drive conditions change, minute to minute, day to day, causing the system to become confused when i ask the car to respond to an exception in driving conditions. my gas mileage epa is listed as 19 to 28 mpg, and i am yet to get 18 mpg once in city driving. i can't even get close to an average of 19 i get 17.5. one highway trip i got 24.9 mpg, and i am an average driver, not a lead foot. i took it to a toyota dealer here in tucson and they erased the memory in the drive computer. it drove well for 2 days then has returned back to the previous erased memory. my gas mileage is worse. i talked with another owner and he told me to take it out of overdrive for in-town driving. if i do that the engine will rpms will not drop if over 40 mph thereby ,skewing gas mileage and will damage the engine. so, here i am, paid $26,000 for a car and am so unhappy with the rip off. i would be happier if it was available in a stick shift so i could take the control, but americans are lazy, so toyota doesn't offer this model in a stick shift.(my preference) the fact that toyota is not fourth coming with this feature is grounds for fraud. but the new american way is lie by omission. i did call the toyota complaint line, national number and they took a report and will get back with me. i do not think i should have to spend my time off going to the dealer only to be told the same story. *tr | |||
| 05/18/2007 | 4000 | 2 | 11/30/2006 |
| I have a toyota rav-4. if i apply the brakes and my foot is placed partially too far to the right, it comes in contact with the accelerator pedal, causing the engine to race and the car to lunge forward. the brake pedal travels below the accelerator pedal. i notice an increased level of accidents where a vehicle crashes into a building. i believe this might be a cause of this type of accident. i discussed the problem with the toyota service representative and he said that this condition is typical with the new type of braking system. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 09/16/2012 | 42000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that the passenger side window exhibited an abnormal noise for and the power switch ailed intermittently. the contact stated that there was a burning smell throughout the vehicle whenever contact used the power switch for the windows. the vehicle was taken to dealer who inspected vehicle and determined that the motor for the power switch passenger window needed to be replaced. the motor was not replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure and current mileage was 42,000. kmj | |||
| 09/16/2012 | 42000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that the passenger window made a noise for some time and the power switch worked intermittently. the contact stated there was a burnt smell when contact used power switch for window. there was no smell if not in use. the vehicle was taken to dealer, who inspected vehicle and determined motor for power switch passenger window needed to be replaced. the motor was not replaced. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure and current mileage was 42,000. yn | |||
| 06/01/2012 | 250000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that the vehicle passenger front window failed. as a result, the window could not be opened and caused smoke to release from the driver air vent. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the drivers door master switch was defective and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 250,000 and the current mileage was 307,643. pmb | |||
| 06/01/2012 | 250000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact stated that the vehicle passenger front window failed. the passenger front window could not be opened and caused smoke to release from the driver air vent. the vehicle was taken to the dealer inspected the vehicle and located the failure at the drivers door master switch. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 250,000 and the current mileage was 307,643. li | |||
| 08/01/2011 | 27000 | 1 | |
| Water appears in the front of the passenger compartment when driving through a rainstorm, seems worse on the right side. water appears to persist and drip for days after the rainstorm from below the dashboard. concern is that the structural integrity may be compromised, especially after repeated occurrences. *tr | |||
| 08/01/2011 | 27000 | ||
| Water appears in the front of the passenger compartment when driving through a rainstorm, seems worse on the right side. water appears to persist and drip for days after the rainstorm from below the dashboard. concern is that the structural integrity may be compromised, especially after repeated occurrences. | |||
| 08/30/2008 | 26000 | 1 | |
| Jest bought a 2007 rav4, the front bumper at the headlight seam clips are broken on both sides of vehicle. looked at three same models with about 20,000 to 26,000 miles with the same problem. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 09/18/2012 | 85000 | 1 | |
| I was driving down forest ave in brockton, ma, the driver side door stated smoking, i quickly turned the engine off, got me and my son out of the car and called the fire department who disconnected the battery and suggested that i got it towed to a repair shop. so i did, to copland toyoyta where it was troubleshoot to a master switch ass. it was repaired and i had to pay $580.70 because they said its not covered by warranty. *tr | |||
| 07/26/2012 | 85000 | 1 | |
| This just happend to me on the morning of 07/26/2012. i was on a business trip and leaving the airport. as i was about to pay my parking fee the driver side door started smoking and i saw a small fire starting to flare up on the driver's seat door by the window switch. i turned off the car and within 3 minutes the whole door was up in flames. *js | |||
| 06/15/2009 | 35000 | 1 | |
| Tl*-the contact owns a 2007 toyota rav4. the contact observed when the vehicle was parked the rear door rubber seal does not remain secured after a period of six months. the failure mileage was 35,000. the current mileage was 64,000. updated 6/3/10 *cn updated 06/10/10 | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 06/26/2009 | 40634 | 1 | |
| An intense squeak initiated the visit to the auto dealer. we were informed that the windshield was rubbing on the vehicle frame and to fix the problem they would have to replace the entire windshield. the windshield was replaced which solved the problem for now. *tr | |||