1999 Toyota RAV4 problems
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Toyota RAV4. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. After that come cruise control (19%) and electrical system (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 75 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 18 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 17 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 114,000 miles 27 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 | 1 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 4 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 6 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 27 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 114,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 18 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 17 injuries reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 96% 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 1999 ranks 28th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Toyota RAV4 with enough data (26 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
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.
I reported lack of air bag inflating to toyota via email and they never responded....toyota rav was impacted by a volvo from front, and both air bags did not inflate.
We were in a 1999 toyota rav4, and hit another truck in the rear. As a result of the accident the air bags did not operate deploy, and the restraint's did not work either. Resulting in my wife's broken left arm.
Consumer was driving at approximately 65- 70 MPH on highway and drove over either uneven pavement or small rock, causing vehicle to flip over 3 times or more which caused serious injuries.
1999 toyota rav4 caught on fire underneath the hood. The fire occurred while the consumer's son was driving. Smoke began to fill the cabin and the driver noticed flames coming from the engine. He was able to put the fire out with a towel. After the fire the taillights, dash lights, interior lights no longer worked. The passengers side front headlight and wiring were destroyed. The consumer contacted the manufacturer but they refused to provide any assistance because of the age and mileage of the vehicle.
Toyota 1999 rav4 when releasing gas pedal to slow down, pedal sticks and cannot be pushed down to feed gas without stomping on pedal 3 or 4 times. It does not stick all times. Usually when temperature is 30 degrees or lower. Have been stuck in middle of highway trying to make a turn. Vehicle is not on the recall list.