2005 Toyota Rav4 Steering Problems

When you drive between 30-50 mph and the road curves, your VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) warning light comes on and you lose steering control until you ease off the gas pedal. This happens more frequently when accelerating uphill or around curves, and your headlights dim at the same time the warning appears. The problem started occasionally in April 2018 but now happens nearly every time you drive, forcing you to slow down significantly to regain control. The issue likely involves the VSC system, steering components, or an electrical problem affecting both the stability control and lighting system.

Your car's traction control system activates unexpectedly during normal driving on dry roads, even at low speeds during turns. When this happens, you hear beeping and feel the brakes engage on their own, causing the car to jerk. This has occurred both on regular roads under 30 mph and on the freeway. The issue likely involves checking the traction control system, wheel speed sensors, and brake components to identify why the system is triggering without a genuine loss of traction.

"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON 12/01/18 AND I SUFFERED SEVERAL SEVERE INJURIES. I SUSPECT THE AIRBAG WENT OFF AND CAUSED ME TO CRASH. PERFECT STORM ON PAPERWORK AND MY CAR SAT WINDOWS UP IN HEAT FOR 2 WEEKS ACCIDENT HAPPENED 1ST DAY BACK IN MY CAR, PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR INFO [XXX] IN MOTION I FOUND VEHICLE ITS NOT WHERE CARFAX SAYS IT IS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHEN DRIVING 25-30 MPH AND GOING AROUND CURVES AT LOW SPEED THE CAR BREAKS HARD AND FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING OUT OF CONTROL. IT IS VERY SCARY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION DOING 25-30 MPH. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN AT LEAST THREE TIMES THIS WEEK. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON FREEWAY AND ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHILE GOING AROUND CURVES AND NOT GOING FAST AT ALL..

I'VE BEEN HAVING AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE WITH MY 2005 RAV 4. WHEN EXITING A HIGHWAY ON A SWEEPING RIGHT CURVE EXIT RAMP, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WILL START TO FLASH AND AN AUDIBLE BEEP CAN BE HEARD IN THE CABIN. THIS USUALLY INDICATES THE CAR IS IN A SKID BUT I ASSURE YOU I AM IN FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IN ITS LANE. AFTER 2 TO 3 SECONDS OF CONSTANT BEEPING THE ENGINE CUTS POWER AND APPLIES BRAKING TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHEEL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LURCH SLIGHTLY TO ONE SIDE. JUST AS QUICKLY AS THIS HAPPENS, THE CAR RESUMES NORMAL OPERATION AND THE ISSUE CEASES TO EXIST. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS VERY ISSUE IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. MOST HAPPEN AT SLOW SPEEDS (UNDER 35MPH) AND ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION AND ALIGNMENT ARE WITHIN OPERATING SPECIFICATION. I HAVE NOTICED HOWEVER, THAT THE STEERING RACK BUSHINGS ARE WORN. THIS CAUSES THE ENTIRE RACK TO MOVE ABOUT SLIGHTLY WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF ITS MOUNT. TO MY DISMAY, TOYOTA DOES NOT SELL REPLACEMENT BUSHINGS FOR THE STEERING RACK ON 2004-2005 MODEL RAV-4'S, FORCING OWNERS TO PAY FOR A COMPLETELY NEW STEERING RACK. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A BRAND THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON RELIABILITY AND REASONABLY PRICED MAINTENANCE. THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE IS COMPROMISED BY AN SUBSTANDARD ENGINEERED COMPONENTS. IE: STEERING BUSHINGS; CAUSING TOO MUCH PLAY AND ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATE, CAUSING A DANGEROUS UNSETTLING OF THE VEHICLE.

OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRING ON 2/14/2014, MY CAR WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER AS I AM DRIVING, FOR ABOUT ONE TO THREE SECONDS, THEN JUST AS SUDDEN KICK BACK ON AGAIN. WHEN IT LOSES POWER FOR THAT SECOND OR TWO, I LOSE MY POWER STEERING CAPABILITIES AND THE BATTERY LIGHT COME ON. ONCE THE POWER COMES BACK ON, IT CONTINUES TO RIDE FINE AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL PEP BOYS FACILITY. THEY TESTED THE BATTERY AND IT WAS FINE. THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHERE THE ISSUE WAS ORIGINATING. *TR

STEERING APPEARS DEFECTIVE- DIFFICULT TO TURN-MAKES CLICKING SOUND. TOLD BY DEALER THAT 'BOTH STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFTS NEED REPLACEMENT'. DEALER CLAIMS THEY TOLD US THIS BEFORE. THEY HAVE NEVER TOLD US THIS BEFORE. CAR WAS PURCHASED FROM- AND HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE- AT THIS DEALER. SOMEONE FROM DEALER CALLED US OUT OF THE BLUE PRIOR TO BRINGING CAR IN FOR REPAIR; OFFERING TO BUY THIS CAR. WE THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD AS WE HAD NEVER EXPRESSED INTEREST IN SELLING. *TR

INTERMITTENT "LOOSE" STEERING FEELING IN 2005 TOYOTA RAV-4. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM OR RECALL. MY CONCERNS WERE DISMISSED AND NOW I SEE THAT IT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER MODELS RECENTLY. MY BOYFRIEND FELT IT HAPPEN 2X.WHEN HE WAS DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED PROBABLY 15-20 TIMES TOTAL. WHEN DRIVING IN A 45 OR 55 MPH ZONE IT IS TOO UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE AT THOSE SPEEDS. SLOWING DOWN TO AROUND 20 OR 30 MPH WAS NECESSARY TO FEEL SAFE. MOST OF THE TIME THE WEATHER WAS EXTREMELY COLD BUT IT DID HAPPENED ON 2-3 OCCASIONS IN SUMMER WEATHER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED ON A FLATBED TO A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE SHOCK ABSORBER AND THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE OR ASSURE HIM THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR. THE CONTACT FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,919. UPDATED 01/31/08 *BF