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2010 Toyota Rav4 Electrical Problems

13 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data

13
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
Feb 2023Nov 2009
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (13)

criticalELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2021

While driving at 35 mph, your steering wheel suddenly locked up and the vehicle lost electrical power, causing the steering warning light to come on. You were able to safely pull over to the side of the road. The dealer diagnosed that your alternator had failed and needed replacement. The manufacturer declined to help since your vehicle was out of warranty.

NHTSA #: 11427588
highELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Feb 2023

Your car sometimes refuses to start even though all the dashboard lights come on normally. You've already replaced the battery, starter, and starter safety switch, but the intermittent starting problem continues. This suggests an issue with the electrical connections or ignition system that's preventing the engine from turning over when you turn the key.

NHTSA #: 11507320
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Filed: May 2020

ODOMETER METER HAS BEEN TAMPERD WITH. *TR

NHTSA #: 11326074
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2019

THE SENSOR WITHIN THE COMPRESSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED, EVERYTHING WORKS. WILL NEED A TOOL EVERY TIME I WANT TO USE DEFROSTERS OR AIR CONDITION. WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE COMPRESSOR BECAUSE OF THIS INTERNAL SENSOR MUST HAVE WENT BAD/NOT WORKING RIGHT. YOU NEED THE DEFROSTERS IN ORDER TO SEE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, NO DEFROSTER/AIR CONDITION EITHER.

NHTSA #: 11210259
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Sep 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V577000 (VISIBILITY/WIPER). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GALAXY TOYOTA DEALER, LOCATED ON 750 NJ-36, EATONTOWN, NJ 07724 (732) 544-1000, WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE HAD PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO GALAXY TOYOTA DEALER, WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA #: 11021470
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Mar 2016

LEFT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING SERVICE . IT WAS RAINING OUTSIDE I HAD JUST JUMPED ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A THIRD LIGHT ALL CAME ON. I THEN DROVE TO AUTOZONE I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A 02 SENSOR. BUT I HAD JUST LEFT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE. I READ A POST ON YOUR WEBSITE AND WITH THE SAME CONCERN AND DECIDED TO ADD MY COMPLAINT. I WILL BE TAKING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY.

NHTSA #: 10851154
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jun 2015

RADIO DISPLAY SHOWS ODD SYMBOLS AND OFTEN SHUTS DOWN. NO AUDIO PROBLEMS.

NHTSA #: 10730760
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: May 2015

USUALLY AFTER A RAIN STORM OR IF I GO THROUGH A DEEP PUDDLE THE IDIOT LIGHTS FOR "CHECK ENGINE, SLIP INDICATOR AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE" LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON FOR ABOUT 30 MILES. WEDNESDAY THEY CAME ON AND STAYED ON EVEN THOUGH IT HASN'T RAINED IN WEEKS. I'VE TALKED WITH SEVERAL DEALERS AND THEY TELL ME EITHER THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT OR TOYOTA IS INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO TALKED TO OTHERS WITH OLDER RAV4'S AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME SITUATION GOING ON. DOES TOYOTA NEED A LITTLE NUDGE FROM THE GOV'T?

NHTSA #: 10722239
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FireFiled: May 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED WITHIN TWO MINUTES. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE DUE TO DAMAGES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500.

NHTSA #: 10721970
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
Filed: Oct 2014

THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SWITCHES ARE AND HAVE BEEN STICKY. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO THE PASSENGER WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP AND WOULD NOT ROLL UP WITH FORCE. I SAW THE RECALLS TO THE YEAR PRIOR TO MY CAR MAKE YEAR AND IT'S VERY SIMILAR. I THINK THE SAME ISSUE EXISTS IN THE 2010 RAV 4S. *TR

NHTSA #: 10643990
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CrashFiled: Mar 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A HANDICAP SIGN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO FAILURES HAD OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS: 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL) OR 11V113000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,600. UPDATED 05/11/12 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A CHIP IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT FAILED, NOT THE ACCELERATOR. UPDATED 06/04/12

NHTSA #: 10452198
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Apr 2010

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT INDICATED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER MENTIONED, "EVIDENCE OF RODENT/SMALL ANIMAL HAS CHEWED WIRING HARNESS AT CONNECTOR COMPLETELY THROUGH." THE CAR WILL NEED WIRING HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10326153
mediumELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Nov 2009

TL* WHILE TEST DRIVING A 2010 TOYOTA RAV 4, IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING AT A RAPID PACE. HE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, IN WHICH HE NOTIFIED THE SALES MANAGER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 12/15/09. *NJ UPDATED 12/18/09 THE CONSUMER AND THE SALESPERSON WERE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV VERY FAST. UPDATED 12/22/09

NHTSA #: 10293407

Other 2010 Toyota Rav4 Issues