2011 Toyota Rav4 Suspension Problems
13 owner-reported suspension complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Suspension Recalls (3)
SUSPENSION:REAR
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010. The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts, free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0V for Toyota vehicles and GLK for Lexus vehicles. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-383, in which some vehicles were only inspected, sealed, and did not have both arms replaced. The affected vehicles were previously recalled under 13V-383, but did not have both rear suspension arms replaced at that time. Those vehicles need to have both arms replaced as part of this recall remedy.
SUSPENSION:REAR
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear tie-rod nut for looseness and replace any suspect tie-rod found loose. Dealers will also affix instructions in multiple places to prevent improper servicing in the future. The recall began on November 30, 2012. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
SUSPENSION:REAR
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure. Failure of the rear tie rod will cause an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tie rods and replace any that have rust or corrosion on the alignment adjustment threads. All of the rear tie rods will then be encased in an epoxy to prevent future environmental damage. Due to limitations in parts, the recall remedy will be launched in phases from September 2013 through mid-April 2014. All owners will receive notification of the recall, with most receiving second notifications when parts are available in their area. IMPORTANT: This recall supersedes Toyota and Lexus recall 12V-373. All vehicles that have been inspected and remedied under the previous recall need to be re-inspected and have the appropriate remedy applied.
Owner Complaints (13)
I have replaced the front suspension and the back suspension. I have replaced the driveshaft and the muffler and tail pipes. Now they say the entire undercarriage and the brake lines are all rusting out. This car is 2011 and has just 34,607 miles on it and has been keep in a garage its entire time. Now it is unsafe to drive. Drive Shaft fell off in December.2022.
REPLACED BOTH REAR CONTROL ARMS AND ADJUSTMENT BOLTS. TECHNICIAN SAID I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN DRIVING. SUPPOSEDLY WHEN ALIGNING MY TIRES - THE SCREWS SHOWED RUSTY AND BROKE OFF. PAID $900 TO HAVE REPLACED. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN A CAR LIKE TOYOTA. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF MY VEHICLE.
I HAVE FIXED MY REAR SUSPENSION MORE THAN 4X AND IT CONTINUES TO GO BAD, IT WORKS FINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT STILL NOT RUNNING WELL THEN IT SHOCKS AND GOES BACK TO BOUNCING WHENEVER IT HITS A BUMP OR ANYTHING NOT SMOOTH ON THE ROADS. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AND YOU FEEL IT A LOT MORE WHEN IT'S RUNNING ON LOCAL ROADS. THE VISIBILITY IS BAD, THE DEFOGGER DOES NOT WORK AND I HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 15-20 MINS OR OPEN THE WINDOW. WHEN I PUT MY HANDS ON THE VENT FOR THE DEFOGGER THERE IS NO AIR COMING FROM IT.
WHILE TURNING RIGHT TO GO DOWN THE NEXT AISLE IN A PARKING LOT MY PASSENGER REAR TIE ROD AKA CONTROL ARM BROKE AT THE FACTORY WELD! I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT AND HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NUMEROUS MECHANICS THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND IT'S A DEFECT. HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I DRIVE A 2011 RAV4 WITH 104,000 MILES AND THESE HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER MY VIN# IS NOT ONE OF THE RECALLED ONES. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO CHARGE ME $600 TO REPLACE IT. I'M ASKING FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE OTHER ONE AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY.
SUSPENSION: WHILE DRIVING IN THE INTERSTATE, I HEARD A "POP" AND THE SOUND OF SOMETHING SLIDING FROM THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE TOO THE BACK DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I THEN FELT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE "WOBBLING" AND I HEARD A "CLUCKING AND RUBBING" SOUND. I MANAGED TO GET TO A REPAIR STATION, AND OBSERVED THE BACK DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE LEANING INWARD AT THE TOP, AND IT HAD BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL AND A CORD. THE REPAIRMAN LOOKED IT OVER AND FOUND NO REASON FOR A BOLT THAT RANGED ABOUT 5-7 INCHES TO SHOOT OUT, RESULTING IN THE BACK WHEEL TO ALMOST FALL COMPLETELY OFF THAT WAY, AS THE UNDERCARRIAGE "LOOKED PRETTY GOOD." I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE JUST OVER 3 MONTHS AGO FROM A CERTIFIED DEALER. THE CARFAX REPORTED NO PREVIOUS ACCIDENTS AND THE CAR WAS REPORTEDLY MAINTENANCE AS RECOMMENDED, (EVERY 3000 MILES). I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT NOW. WHAT'S TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING TO THE OTHER THREE TIRES???
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE LEFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHOCKS WERE LEAKING OIL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SHOCKS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V096000 (SEAT BELTS) AND 15V577000 (VISIBILITY/WIPER). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
I BROUGHT MY CAR IN A FOR FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT BECUASE I REPLACED FOUR TIRES. THE REAR TIRES COULD NOT BE ALIGNED BECAUSE THE THE NUTS FOR ADJUSTING THE REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WERE FROZEN AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED. IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO BE ALIGNED, THE REAR TIRE ROD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED PER TOYOTA CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BACK IN AUGUST 2013 ( FOR 2006-2011 RAV4), HOWEVER, MY PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL THUS I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET IN ORDER TO FOR MY CAR TO BE ALIGNED CORRECTLY (REPLACED THE REAR ROD). I FEEL THAT THIS VIN AND OTHERS SHOULD HAVE QUALIFIED FOR THE RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
THE 2011 TOYOTA RAV 4 WAS IN A TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WE REQUESTED A LOOK AT BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE REAR END NOISE AND VIBRATION ON BRAKING. THE SHOP CALL TO SAY OUR TIRES HAD WORN ON THE INNER EDGE TO SUCH A DANGEROUS DEGREE THAT THEY WOULD NOT ADVISE TRAVEL. WE CAREFULLY DROVE A FEW MILES TO OUR TIRE STORE BECAUSE OF THE SERVICE AND WARRANTY. THEY AGREED TO PRORATE THE TIRES. A MECHANIC SUGGESTED THEY SAW THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SAME MODEL THE WEEK PRIOR. THEY SAID IT WAS A REAR SUSPENSION ISSUE. I CHECKED FOR OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT TOYOTA HAD KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WE'RE FORCED INTO A RECALL BY THE U S GOVERNMENT. THEY ARE KEEPING THE INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC. WE COULD HAVE DIED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE TIRES. THE FRONT TIRES ARE IN PERFECT SHAPE AND PAST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS BRAND DID NOT INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. THE REAL ISSUE IS WHY DID TOYOTA NOT TELL US ABOUT THE RECALL WHILE WE WERE IN THE SHOP AND DO SOMETHING TO INSURE OUR SAFETY?? WE COULD HAVE DIED.
2011 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE REAR LOWER SUSPENSION ARMS RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, WAS UNREASONABLE. *JB
LOUD BANG WHICH SOUNDS LIKE A HAMMER HITTING THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. PROBLEM FIRST NOTICED AROUND 1000 MILES AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IT HAPPENS TYPICALLY WHEN PASSENGERS ARE IN THE MIDDLE AND OR 3RD ROW SEATS AT SPEEDS USUALLY ABOVE 25 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE, 3RD ROW SEAT RAV4 NOW AT 73K MILES. IT CAN HAPPEN WITHIN A FEW MILES OF EACH INCIDENT OR GO HUNDREDS OF MILES BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. VERY ALARMING. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES YET EVERY TIME THEIR TECHNICIANS TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR TEST DRIVE, THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR
2011 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SUSPENSION SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE SUSPENSION, WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
WHILE DRIVING NORTH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON DAN RYAN EXPRESSWAY I WAS ACCELERATING FROM ABOUT 20 MPH TO ABOUT 35 MPH, WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO VIBRATE VERY BAD, AS IF ALL FOUR WHEELS HAD HIT THE RUMBLE STRIP ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS BEEN RIDING A LOT ROUGHER SINCE ABOUT JAN 30TH. *TR