KNOWN FAULTS · Toyota

Toyota RAV4 (III) 2.0 / 2.4 VVT-i common problems.

2006–2012 · Petrol

Sources are not verified in real time and no entry confirms that your car is affected.

3 known faults with sources

Applies if: Only the 4WD versions (US bulletin).

Rear growl from the rear differential coupling on the RAV4 4WDTransmission

Engine / equipment: RAV4 (III) with four-wheel drive
Period mentioned: 2006–2012
Symptoms: A low growl from under the rear of the car that increases with speed and does not change when turning the steering wheel.
Possible cause described: The rear differential coupling becomes noisy because its front bearing gets contaminated. In the US, Toyota extended the warranty on that coupling for 2006–2012 RAV4 4WD models (programme ZF4, December 2015).
Check for the garage: Note whether the noise rises with speed rather than with steering. At the garage, have them check the rear differential coupling before replacing wheel bearings.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.

Oil consumption, D-CAT injectors and handbrake on the RAV4 IIIKnown weak points

Engine / equipment: Toyota RAV4 III (petrol and diesel)
Period mentioned: 2006–2013
Symptoms: On petrol, high oil consumption (especially the 2.0 Valvematic from 2009), leaks from the filter and chain cover, lambda sensors, the charcoal canister (petrol smell) and water pump; on the 2.2 D-CAT, the fifth injector, particulate filter, EGR and head gaskets (up to 2007); a handbrake that fails from the eighth year.
Possible cause described: Recalls: rear track rods with loose lock nuts, a stiff accelerator pedal, window modules (short circuit), the steering-column spiral cable (airbag) and a seat belt that could fail against the seat frame.
Check for the garage: Measure oil consumption; check the campaigns by VIN; check the handbrake and, on diesels, injectors and EGR.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.

Applies if: Only the 2.4 (2AZ-FE); confirm the engine code in the documents.

Oil consumption on the 2.4 VVT-i (2AZ-FE)Engine

Engine / equipment: 2.4 VVT-i port-injected (2AZ-FE): Previa / Estima, RAV4 and Avensis Verso, among others
Period mentioned: Approx. 2000–2012
Symptoms: Oil must be topped up between changes (in the US the warranty-extension threshold was more than 1 quart, almost a litre, per 1,200 miles); it usually starts at around 60,000–75,000 miles; bluish smoke and fouled spark plugs.
Possible cause described: Piston ring design was identified as a likely cause. Toyota issued TSB 0094-11 (2011) and, after a lawsuit, extended the warranty in the US (about 1.7 million cars, until October 2016); a similar campaign ran in Japan in 2014. There was no campaign in Europe.
Check for the garage: Measure consumption between two changes with the level set correctly and check the spark plugs and catalytic converter. If consumption is high, the lasting fix is new pistons and rings.
Cost cited in the source: No verified estimate; ask the garage for a quote.A rough figure from the original database, not an up-to-date quote.