1999 Toyota Rav4 Electrical Problems
8 owner-reported electrical complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Electrical Recalls (2)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS USED ON 1998-1998 TOYOTA RAV4, AVALON, AND SIENNA MODEL VEHICLES DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN "OPEN CIRCUIT" CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
Owner Complaints (8)
Your car's electrical system is staying active even when the ignition is turned off, causing the radio to turn on and the engine fan to run overnight, which drains your battery completely. When you try to start the vehicle, it fails to turn on, and while driving it may stall unexpectedly with the airbag warning light coming on. A mechanic found that your theft deterrent system failed and needs to be replaced or removed to restore proper electrical function.
Parts you may need:
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MY LATE 1999 TOYOTA ECHO WAS PARKED AFTER A SHORT DRIVE. TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND A LARGE AREA OF MY HOME WAS BURNED. I AND MY NIECE WERE ASLEEP UPSTAIRS. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE SMELL OF SMOKE WOKE US. WHEN WE FIRST SAW THE CAR, A COLUMN OF WHITE FIRE WAS SHOOTING UP THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN TO THE CEILING 11 FEET ABOVE. THE FIRE CAME FROM THE CENTER OF THE CONSOLE/DASH AREA. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO FLAMES AROUND OR UNDER THE CAR. JUST THE COLUMN OF FLAME FROM THE CENTER. THE HORN WAS SOUNDING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE ARRIVED WITHIN 10 MINUTES AND CONFIRMED THAT THE FIRE WAS SEATED IN THE CENTRAL DASH AREA. THE KEYS WERE BESIDE BY BED. THE CAR HAD ONLY BEEN SERVICED BY TOYOTA SERVICE CENTERS AND THERE WERE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAR. WHEN TOYOTA WERE NOTIFIED, THEY SENT INVESTIGATORS TO LOOK FOR A RELAY NEAR THE ALTERNATOR. THE RESULTS OF MY INSURANCE', TOYOTA'S AND AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR'S INVESTIGATIONS WERE (AS RELAYED TO ME BY PHONE) UNSPECIFIED FIRE STARTING IN THE DASH. *JB
1999 TOYOTA RAV4 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.*MR 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. *NM
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I CONTACTED TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE, AND THEY HAD ME TAKE THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER. SO I TOOK IT TO MIDTOWN TOYOTA, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST OF 1999. I SPOKE WITH A JIM CHRISTENSEN ,773-622-6300 X 4911. HE IS IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER A WEEK I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY CAR WAS 6 YEARS OLD AND HAD 64,000 MILES ON IT THAT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. BUT THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW, AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY AFTER MARKET INSTALLATIONS OF ANY KIND. I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE THAT CAN MAILED UPON REQUEST. DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO FRONT RIGHT SIDE, HEAD LIGHTS, WIRING BURNED AND WASHER RESERVOIR. THE BACK TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DON'T WORK ANY MORE. ALSO A FAN IN THE ENGINEER KEEPS RUNNING WHICH CAUSES MY BATTERY TO RUN DOWN. MY CAR WAS IN PREFECT RUNNING CONDITION UP UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. THE PERSON I SPOKE WITH @ TOYOTA REGARDING THIS INCIDENT IS TROY H. HIGA, 310-468-5638. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GO ABOUT TROY, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE I COULD SPEAK TO REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED. *AK
THE CONNECTION TO THE ALTERNATOR WAS HEAVILY BURNT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE FOR 1/2 HOUR PRIOR TO THE POLICE DEPT. ARRIVING TO HELP THE CONSUMER OUT OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW THAT DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE CONSUMER TO EXIT VEHICLE UNDER POWER LOSS. *MJS
THE CONNECTION TO THE ALTERNATOR WAS HEAVILY BURNT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE FOR 1/2 HOUR PRIOR TO THE POLICE DEPT. ARRIVING TO HELP THE CONSUMER OUT OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW THAT DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE CONSUMER TO EXIT VEHICLE UNDER POWER LOSS. *MJS
ENGINE FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORT. MJS
VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 12 HOURS, FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO THE INSULATION BY THE FUSE BOX CATCHING ON FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.*AK