2013 Toyota Rav4 Wipers & Visibility Problems

While driving at 50 mph, your sunroof suddenly exploded with a loud sound, sending shattered glass onto the closed sunroof shade. The dealer replaced the sunroof and repaired the vehicle. The cause of the spontaneous failure wasn't determined. Fixing this will require replacing the entire sunroof assembly and potentially the shade mechanism.

The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the front driver’s side windshield wiper was not functioning properly when activated. The front driver’s side windshield wiper would get stuck in the upright position. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V577000 (Visibility/Wiper). The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF SHADE PREVENTED SHATTERED GLASS FROM ENTERING THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. SLOANE TOYOTA OF MALVERN LOCATED AT 593 LANCASTER AVE., MALVERN, PA 19355, WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

MY FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS A CRACK FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE GLASS SINCE THERE WAS NO IMPACT. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WAS COVERED WITH ICE AND THE DEFOGGER WAS WORKING TO MELT IT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING AS IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN SIX MONTHS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR WINDSHIELD ON MY RAV4. BOTH TIMES IT HAD BEEN PARKED IN A PARKING SPOT OUTSIDE WHEN THE WINDOWS SHATTERED. BOTH TIMES THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE A VISIBLE REASON TO HAVE CAUSED THE SHATTERING OF THE WINDOW .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARIETTA TOYOTA (750 COBB PKWY S, MARIETTA, GA 30060), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,700. UPDATED 01/07/16*LJ *JS

WE HAD A WINTER BLIZZARD WITH ICE, SHOW WIND ETC. WHERE THE WIPER BLADES REST ON THE WINDSHIELD THEY RECEIVE MINIMAL IF ANY DIRECT HEAT. (I CAN NOT GET A THIN PIECE OF PAPER BETWEEN THE DASHBOARD AND INSIDE THE WINDSHIELD. THE PAPER IS 2 1/2" ABOVE THE WIPER BLADE.) I WARMED THE RAV 4 FOR AN EXTREMELY LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND THE ICE THAT HAD FORMED ON THE WIPERS BEFORE I STARTED IT WOULD NOT MELT OFF. I THEN SCRAPED AS MUCH OF THE ICE OFF THE WIPER AS YOU CAN REASONABLY DO WITHOUT DAMAGING THE WIPER AND ICE AND SNOW OFF THAT PART OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE THE BLADES REST. I STARTED TO DRIVE BUT ICE AND SNOW IMMEDIATELY STARTED ACCUMULATING ON THE LOWER PART WHERE DEFROST DOES NOT HEAT AND THE BLADES STARTED TO ICE UP AND THEY SCRAP ACROSS THE UNHEATED AREA. HAD TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE VISION. WOULD STOP EVERY SO OFTEN AND SCRAP EVERYTHING BEST AS I COULD. START DRIVING AND A TOTAL UNACCEPTABLE VISION WINDOW ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE DRIVEN IN THIS AREA FOR 47 YEARS IN A LOT OF BLIZZARDS AND WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT VEHICLES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A SITUATION WHERE I COULD NOT KEEP MY WINDOWS SO I COULD REASONABLY SEE TO SAFELY NAVIGATE. THIS RAV 4 WOULD NOT LET ME DO THAT AND I HAVE BEEN IN A LOT WORSE BLIZZARD CONDITIONS THAN THIS ONE. SOME TOYOTAS HAVE WIPER DE-ICERS WITH LINES THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD TO HEAT THIS PART OF THE WINDSHIELD WHERE TOYOTA DECIDED TO PLACE THE WIPERS. WHILE WE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WHEN PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW, SAFETY SHOULD NOT BE AN ADD ON YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR. TOYOTA PLACED THE BLADES WHERE THEY ARE SO THEY SHOULD DE-ICE. I UNDERSTAND HEATED SIDE MIRRORS AND THE LIKE BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SAFELY REMEDIED BY A DRIVER WHO DOES NOT HAVE THEM. THIS WIPER PROBLEM CAN NOT BE. THANK YOU. *TR

WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT SPEEDS OVER 35MPH AND A REAR WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN, WITH OTHER WINDOWS UP, THERE IS A BUFFETING AND FEELING OF PRESSURE TO YOUR EARS INSIDE THE VEHICLE.THIS CAN BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO THE OCCUPANTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE.I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD VIA EMAIL THAT THIS IS NORMAL IN MODERN VEHICLES. *TR

SUN ROOF EXPLODED INTO MANY PIECES FLEW OFF AND DAMAGED PAINT JOB OF CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND PIECES WERE FOUND IN MY CAR CAR TRAVELING AT 55 MPG JUST PASSED BURLINGTON VERMONT ON JULY 3, 2014 AT AROUND 11:30 AM NO ONE INJURED IF SOMEONE SITTING BEHIND DRIVER SEAT NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED STOPPED AT TOYOTA DEALER IN SCRANTON VT HE REMOVED REMAINING BROKEN CLASS PART WOULD TAKE 5 DAYS ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE ON. *JS

I HAVE STATED MY COMPLAINT FOR THE THIRD TIME. TWICE WITH CLEARWATER TOYOTA AND ONCE WITH SUN TOYOTA IN HOLIDAY FL. BUT NOTHING COMES OF IT. IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER. EVERY MORNING ,THE SIDE WINDOWS ON OUR VEHICLE ARE WET WITH WATER DROPLETS FROM NATURAL MORNING DEW. WHEN I LOWER THE WINDOW TO CLEAR THEM ,IT DOESN'T DO IT. UNLIKE ALL OTHER CARS I HAVE OWNED OR SEEN, THE SQUEAKY IS IN CONTACT WITH THE WINDOW WHICH IN TURN "CLEARS THE WINDOWS". IT IS A DEFINITE DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS I REACH THE POINT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN OR A RIGHT TURN I AM CONFRONTED WITH A COMPLETELY BLIND SPOT .I DON'T KNOW IF I CLEARLY EXPLAINED... IT REQUIRES THE DRIVER TO GO OUT AND CLEAR THE SIDE WINDOWS BEFORE ONE CAN SAFELY DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE MEASURED THE SPACE BETWEEN THE GLASS AND THE RUBBER SQUEAKY AND IT IS AS THICK HAS A PIECE OF PAPER FOLDED IN EIGHT. A LARGE SPACE! WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED , AT THE LAST FRACTION OF AN INCH ,BEFORE CLOSING, IT MAKES A QUICK JERK TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE SQUEAKY. THE SALES PERSON AGREED THE IT WAS A FAULT BUT REPLIED "THAT'S HOW IT IS..." WHEN I'M DROPPING OFF MY DAUGHTER AT SCHOOL ,IN THE MORNINGS IT'S STILL DARK OUT, AND WHEN I REACH THE POINT TO TURN I MUST LOWER MY WINDOWS TO GET A VISUAL. THE DEALERS DON'T GIVE A [XXX]! CAN YOU CHECK INTO IT? OR DO YOU JUST FILE INFORMATION.... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR