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2014 Toyota Rav4 Engine Problems

12 owner-reported engine complaints from NHTSA data

12
Complaints
4
Fires
Jan 2021Dec 2023
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (12)

criticalENGINE
Filed: Nov 2025

Your car has been burning oil excessively for the last 2 years, requiring you to add a quart almost every week. Recently, your car has started shaking violently, all warning lights come on, and you have to pull over immediately—you no longer feel safe driving on highways. You've been told you need a new or rebuilt engine. Fixing this will likely require a complete engine replacement or rebuild.

NHTSA #: 11699167
criticalENGINE
Filed: Nov 2025

Your car failed to start and lost all power without any warning lights appearing on the dashboard. A mechanic diagnosed that your engine had failed completely and would need to be replaced. This happened at 200,000 miles on the odometer.

NHTSA #: 11699219
criticalENGINE
FireFiled: Sep 2025

Your car suddenly stopped while driving at 30-40 MPH without any warning lights. You noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine, followed by smoke entering the cabin along with a fuel smell. The fire department had to extinguish the fire, and your vehicle was destroyed. This issue may require a complete engine inspection and potential replacement, as well as investigation of the fuel system for leaks or ignition sources.

NHTSA #: 11684519
mediumENGINE
FireFiled: Dec 2023

The contact owned a 2014 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving up a slight grade, the vehicle stalled on the roadway. The contact stated that he saw smoke issuing from under the hood. The contact stated that he exited the vehicle and observed that flames were issuing from under the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the fire department was called, however by the time the fire truck arrived the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. The contact stated that the fire department extinguished the flames with water. The police department was also on scene and wrote a report. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown and the VIN was not available.

NHTSA #: 11559532
mediumENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: May 2021

I was driving down the road. I slowed up for a light and it turned green and started to go and my car turned off. Electrical still worked but engine was off.

NHTSA #: 11418136
mediumENGINE
FireFiled: Mar 2021

WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK ON A WELL GRADED AND FULLY MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD, ALL THE LIGHTS IN MY DASH STARTED FLICKERING, AND THEN MY CARS ENGINE SHUT DOWN. IT FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING / COASTING IN NEUTRAL. I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM BENEATH THE HOOD. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. IT WAS A LITTLE SMOKE, THEN MORE, AND THEN SUBSIDED TO BEING BARLEY NOTICEABLE AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES. AFTER IT SUBSIDED, I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO TRY TO START IT, HOPING IT WAS AN OVERHEATED ENGINE AND I MIGHT GET THE CAR TO TURN OVER. IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, I NOTICED A HISSING NOISE COMING FROM BENEATH THE HOOD, SAW A LIQUID DRIPPING BENEATH THE THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVERS SIDE) PART OF THE CAR. I ALSO SAW A SMALL FLAME. I CALLED 911 TO REPORT THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. WITHIN 10-15 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE PARK RANGER, SHERIFF, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP SHORTLY AFTER THAT. A CHARRED CAR FRAME IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT'S LEFT.

NHTSA #: 11404722
mediumENGINE
FireFiled: Feb 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE COMING IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V011000 (TRAILER HITCHES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000. THE CONTACT CASE HAS BEEN CLOSED OUT WITH CASE MGMT AND WILL BE NOTIFIED BY THE TOYOTA CLAIMS DEPT IN REGARDS TO THE STATUS case and as of today my case 4/29/21.

NHTSA #: 11394683
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jan 2021

THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS HIGH, OVER 188,000 MILES BUT I THINK THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO MAKE NOTE OF IT. THE PLASTIC COUPLER AT THE UPPER END OF THE RADIATOR HOSE STARTED LEAKING COOLING FLUID AND I FOUND THAT IT HAD DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT THE END OF THE PLASTIC COUPLER INSIDE OF THE RUBBER HOSE WAS BROKEN AND WHEN REMOVED I FOUND THAT IT WAS BRITTLE TO THE TOUCH. I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE PART IN QUESTION. I THINK IF TOYOTA COULD MAKE THIS PARTICULAR PART OUT OF METAL IT WOULD NOT COST MUCH AND COULD SAVE THE CONSUMER FROM A SERIOUS ISSUE.

NHTSA #: 11387812
mediumENGINE
Filed: Jun 2020

I BOUGHT THIS RAV4 IN FEBRUARY 2017, AFTER DRIVING FEW I REALIZED MY CAR IS BURNING TOO MUCH OIL. I HAD PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT BY THE TIME I WENT FOR MY ISSUE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I CALLED TOYOTA COMPANY AND EXPLAINED MY OIL BURNING ISSUE, THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL ME LATER. I RECEIVED A CALL FEW DAYS LATER AND THEY OFFERED ME $1000.00 TOWARDS PAYMENT FOR REPAIRS, WHICH WASN'T ENOUGH. BECAUSE TOYOTA DEALERS TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE WHOLE ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP OIL BURNING PROBLEM, WHICH WOULD COST ALMOST $5000.00. SO I DIDN'T ACCEPT $1000.00 OFFER FROM TOYOTA MOTORS, EVER SINCE I AM PUTTING ONE QUARTER OIL EVERY 500 MILES. SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP ME OUT. THANKS

NHTSA #: 11331641
mediumENGINE
Filed: Feb 2018

VEHICLE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. 1 QUART PER 500 MILES CONSUMED WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE, IN TOWN AND HIGHWAY DRIVING.

NHTSA #: 11075521
mediumENGINE
Filed: Oct 2017

RAV4 W/15,500MI... ENGINE PAUSE. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY WITH NO WARNING. THE ENGINE DEFINITELY SLOWS DOWN AND YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO STOP BUT WHEN YOU HIT THE ACCELERATOR IT RESUMES SPEED. IT IS FRIGHTENING AS THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL RESUME SPEED. IT PAUSES FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE 3 OR 4 SECONDS. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES,TRYING TO GET ON A HIGHWAY..AROUND TOWN, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN.

NHTSA #: 11040020
mediumENGINE
Filed: Sep 2017

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, AS I WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, I INEXPLICABLY HEARD MY ENGINE RACE AT AN ALARMING PITCH AND ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY MY CAR ACCELERATED AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD AND MY VEHICLE CAME TO A SCREECHING STOP AFTER TRAVELING A FEW FEET.

NHTSA #: 11025455

Other 2014 Toyota Rav4 Issues