1997 Toyota RAV4 problems
Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota RAV4. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 21% of complaints. After that come cruise control (11%) and body & structure (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 61 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 21% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 10 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 7 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 110,000 miles 17 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 10 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 17 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 110,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 10 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 7 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 89% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 29th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Toyota RAV4 with enough data (24 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Upon being broadsided by another vehicle, the car spun into a traffic island on the passenger's side. Sea tbelt failed to retract and driver wa sthrown towards passenger's side. The driver's head struck the post/door frame or roof, resulting in injuries.
Vehicle was involved in two accidents in which there was no deployment of driver's or passenger's side airbags. The final accident was a direct frontal impact at 40 MPH in which driver was hurt. Cause of problem unknown.
Someone hit the driver from behind and veered into next lane where another car hit the driver and the vehicle flipped over, driver's air bag did not deploy,resulting in an injury.
We took our 1997 rav4 to the mechanic for a routine tire rotation and oil change. The mechanic informed us the subframe was severely rusted and dangerous to drive. I did some research on the problem and found out it is a common occurrence with all rav4's and that toyota refuses to accept responsibility for a major design flaw in these vehicles. I've never heard of this happening in other vehicles I've owned. My mechanic whom I trust implicitly said they've replaced many sub frames on these vehicles exclusively.
Rav 4 toyota 1997-was unable to drive more than 30 miles without the rpr increased without control, transmission and engine become extremely hot, fluids were drained . Car sent to darcars toyota thermostat was replaced, and now facing severe transmission issues, because lack of recall rpr 's issue very detrimental and risky .