Roomy 2014 Toyota RAV4 may not have scored a perfect five-star rating with the NHTSA or a Top Safety Pick with the IIHS, but with an annual repair bill of just over $400, it’s a smart buy for compact-SUV drivers.
Key Points
- The 2014 Toyota RAV4‘s most severe problem is a potential battery fire, generating several complaints and an NHTSA investigation into the matter.
- Thus far, the car’s biggest recall was for potential failure of the power steering system, owing to components that may have been damaged during the manufacturing process.
- Although incidence rate has been very low, drivers will want to listen out for screechy brakes, as some units have reportedly seen premature brake pad wear.
- Issues with the 2014 Toyota RAV4 can be severe, but are remarkably uncommon, with just 125 complaints and three recalls on file.
Consumer Complaints and an NHTSA Investigation Reveal 2014 RAV4’s Potential Problem with a 12-volt Battery that May Catch Fire for no Apparent Reason
The 2014 RAV4’s most severe problem by far is a potential 12-volt battery fire, an issue that makes up a hefty chunk of the car’s 37 electrical system complaints, as well as the majority of 21 engine complaints, which resulted in a still-ongoing NHTSA investigation.
The investigation was launched by the NHTSA after the government watchdog organization received an early warning report and 11 complaints. This is classified as a “non-crash thermal event,” meaning that it could be occurring without an accident taking place. Investigators are looking into whether the battery fires have to do with improper battery installation, or if certain front-end repairs play a role.
While most of these incidents take place “in driving conditions,” meaning while the car is in motion with a driver behind the wheel, at least four fires started while the car was parked and switched off.
At this point, it’s unclear what’s causing these fires. We can’t even speculate as to whether there is a shared cause, or if this is a series of isolated, unrelated incidents that just so happen to form a pattern. All anyone can do for the time being is wait and see what the NHTSA investigation turns up.
Power Steering on the 2014 Toyota RAV4 may Fail as a Result of Damaged Components
The NHTSA has issued three recalls for the 2014 RAV4 thus far. The first two were fairly minor. in late 2014, just under 4,000 Toyotas were recalled for incorrectly installed running boards and other accessories. In early 2015, just over one thousand 2014 RAV4s were recalled for trailer lights that wouldn’t always turn on, owing to a software error.
The big recall came in March of 2015, when 110,085 Toyotas were recalled for potential power steering failure.
If you’ve never been behind the wheel when the power steering goes out, it can be frightening. You can still make turns, but it feels like pushing a boulder uphill, requiring tremendous effort on the driver’s part to pull the car off the road. The real danger here is that you might need to make a quick turn all of the sudden, and the wheel doesn’t respond as you expect it to.
In affected units, the concern was that a component in the car’s electric power steering system may have been damaged during manufacturing, potentially resulting in critical failure of the power steering.
This isn’t a recall you’ll want to brush off. If you drive a 2014 RAV4 or you’ve got one you’re thinking of buying, run the VIN and ensure that you can count on your steering wheel to do what it’s supposed to do.
Brake Pads May Wear out Prematurely
There are 11 complaints on file with the NHTSA for the 2014 RAV4’s brake system, with a recurring common issue being a screeching noise when pressing the pedal. This isn’t just a matter of drivers forgetting to change the brake pads, as the sounds were occurring in the first year of the car’s release with under 30,000 miles on the odometer when the pads should have been in nearly mint condition.
According to at least one complaint, the problem has to do with the brakes failing to release the wheel completely, meaning that the pads continue to be worn down while the car is in motion, leading to premature wear and, soon enough, that annoying scratching sound.
If you’re hearing a scratching noise when braking, make sure to get it taken care of as soon as possible. If you allow the issue to persist, you might need to replace not just the pads, but the rotors, as well.
Low Incidence Rate of Major Problems Make 2014 Toyota RAV4 Easy to Recommend
Problems found in the 2014 Toyota RAV4 sound scary, but the car has just three recalls, one investigation, and 125 complaints on record with the NHTSA. For a car that’s over six years old now, those are very, very low numbers.
Keep an eye out for smoke coming from under the hood, and keep your ears open for scratching noises when braking, but don’t let these concerns scare you away from one of the more reliable SUVs in the compact class.
Photos: Toyota
