2006 Toyota RAV4 problems
Owners have filed 882 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Toyota RAV4. Steering is the most reported problem area, at 26% of complaints. After that come engine (17%) and cruise control (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 882 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 26% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 37 and 10
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 56,000 miles 664 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 | 116 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 104 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 131 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 105 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 83 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 53 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 36 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 12 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 6 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 11 |
| 200k+ miles | 7 |
What the data shows
Among the 664 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 56,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 40,000 miles (193 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 37 complaints mention a crash; 10 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2006 ranks 5th most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Toyota RAV4 with enough data (445 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 11 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.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota rav4. While driving 45 MPH, the driver struck a concrete post and none of the air bags deployed. The weather was rainy, windy, and very cold. The driver suffered congestive heart failure and died. The vehicle has been repaired, but the contact does not want to drive the vehicle and does not believe that it is safe to drive. The dealer stated that the vehicle has major failures and should not be driven. A police report was filed. The contact has pictures.
2006 rav 4 caught on fire while passengers were still inside. The vehicle was involved in a crash then caught on fire. The two occupant were killed.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 toyota rav4. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle crashed into the front end of another vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact was injured and a police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was invalid. No other vehicle information was available.
"takata recall", I had an accident in which my vehicle front end collided with a tree. My air bag did not deploy, and upper seat belt did not lock causing injury to my face. I was on a city street in motion. I was taken to hospital via ambulance.
On freeway, other motorist notified me my car was "on fire!" I saw excessive smoke in rearview mirror. I took the next exit which was dixon, ca off interstate 80 west in california. The side of the freeway there is grassy, did not think it was safe to stop...I stopped the car and smoke was everywhere, coming up through the hood & under the car. This was tues, 2/3/09. I has the car serviced the fri before, 1/30/09 at toyota vallejo in vallejo, ca. I called the dealership after calling aaa for a tow.