Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
We have a 2006 Toyota rav 4. On dec.18, my wife, pulled out of a parking lot and the vehicle started accelerating faster than she wanted to go. She pushed on the foot brake but could not slow or stop the vehicle. When she let up on the brake, it sped up more, and even applying the brake as hard as she could, it did not stop. She bumped into the back of another SUV and then a little further on jumped the curb and smashed into a concrete filled steel pole which did major damage to the right front. She then managed to turn into a parking lot and got it stopped using the hand brake. My insurance company opted to repair the vehicle. …
Had my 2006 Toyota rav 4 in the dealership for recall services. I also had recommended maintenance tuneup and brake fluid drain and refill. When I left the parking lot of the dealership, I crossed 2 lanes of traffic, braked, waited for alternate traffic to pass before turning onto the city street with my foot still on brake, the car accelerated, lurched then accelerated again without me pressing on the gas and continuing to brake when it accelerated. I called the dealership back the next morning and they towed it back in. After they performed several tests and test drive it they could not get it to duplicate the same thing. There were two previous occurrences that I did not report to this entity shortly after I purchased the car used. They happened close together and not again until the most recent event. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that the fuel in the vehicle was burning up. The contact had to refuel the vehicle very frequently. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic (cassady auto repair, 730 n cassady avenue, columbus, oh 43219) who stated that the vehicle was not under warranty. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.
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. The service advisor, ryan said "it couldn't have been from anything they had done. But there is an 'oil hose' that had been coming off alot of the RAV4's." I was already upset & that made me livid!! If it were a known problem the dealership should have checked during the scheduled maint. My car was towed to lithia Toyota of vacaville #47 at 500 orange drive, vacaville, ca. Work order 394212. …
While driving home after grocery shopping, about a 4-mile drive, the vvt-I oil hose "exploded" (the word used by the Toyota sunnyvale, ca), causing smokes to come out of the car's engine compartment. Immediately, the kids were pulled out the vehicle and placed in a safe location. We are very concerned about the safety of the 2006 Toyota RAV4's oil line. What would have happened if the family was traveling farther away from home?! There is a "limited service campaign" in 2010 that only covers certain VIN of 2006-2009 Toyota RAV4. Although, my vehicle does not fall under the lsc, my vehicle is experiencing the same design defect. March 01, 2010 Toyota announced phase three of a limited service campaign (lsc) on certain 2007 -? 2009 model year avalon and RAV4 vehicles with a 2gr-fe (v6) engine ... For phase three, there are approximately... …
Approximately one month ago the following warning signs appeared on my dash board: check engine vsc 4wd maint reqd I went to see a mechanic right away. He told me that a part known as an air sensor had stopped working. He gave me the following identification for the part: 02 sensor bank1 sensor1 he also told me that I needed to order the part through the dealer on the internet; I was not successful for there was no one responding with having the orinal toyata part. Next I called a local Toyota dealer who told me that the part in question was on back order nationwide for a wait of at least 3 months! Meanwhile, I am told thati should expect higher gas consumtions and other related problems until the part was replace. I, as I am sure many other car owner, am outraged to be told that I have to wait at least 3 months for a part and then be placed on a long waiting list. …
2/25/08 instance #1: I have had three instances of emissions components on my 2006 2wd RAV4 v6 being damaged in the 65000 miles I have driven it. The first instance manifested itself when the vehicle stability control, traction control and cruise control systems shut-off and lights in the instrument cluster came on. A damaged "charcoal canister" was replaced at the dealer under my extended warranty on 2/25/08. (this occurred a second time on 3/19/09 after an evaporation filter was damaged on 3/3/09 after driving a mile in less than an inch of wet snow. Each event shut off the vehicle stability control, traction control and cruise control systems and the associated system lights in the instrument cluster came on. The dealer felt the damage was due to my operation of the vehicle and at first denied submitting it to my extended warranty. …
This is the second complaint I have had on my 2006 RAV4 v6 2wd emission system causing my vehicle stability, traction control, and speed control systems to fail. The first event is odi number 10268422. The second event was due to a mile of driving slowly in light snow causing a fuel evaporation filter to break a tube fitting off. Water entered the broken tube and failed the fuel EVAP charcoal canister which in turn failed the vehicle stability, traction control, and speed control systems (odi number 10268424). I see no reason to tie emissions into safety systems such as these unless it is to "encourage" owners to bring their vehicles in for emissions service. After some wrangling, the dealer agreed to submit it to my extended warranty and it was covered in full. I was told the charcoal cannister would have cost me $700.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that there had been extensive smoke coming from the muffler, strong fumes and a loud noise progressed. A police officer cautioned the contact to get the vehicle repaired or that he May be potentially ticketed with this being a safety hazard. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the muffler. The contact later received a special service coverage campaign letter in which the manufacturer stated that the dealer was to replace the muffler. The dealer refused to service the voluntary campaign from the manufacturer. The contact was uncertain as to why the manufacturer and the dealer had not complied to replace the part with a newly designed OEM muffler. The failure mileage was not available.
My car was displaying error warnings and required me to go to Toyota to get a better understanding of the problem. After the diagnostic of the car, they stated I need a new charcoal cannister. This occurred just outside my 3 year/36000 miles warranty. The tech explained to me that this is a common issue and I wasn't the first he seen of this. He stated that this would have been covered if it occurred in the warranty period. The original piece should have been protected by a shield which 2007 and later are. It was only a matter time before other 2006 models would have this problem. Cost of repair was $2,000. I find this outrages that Toyota knows of this problem, but will not be proactive on this issue.
Fuel System complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2006 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2006 Toyota RAV4, 4% of the model year's 705 complaints. The component named most often is fuel injection system (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Toyota RAV4 fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2006 Toyota RAV4, though it has 11 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Toyota RAV4 fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 65,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 2 fires and 2 injuries to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.