2009 Toyota RAV4 Suspension Problems

Which parts fail

• Front
  1

Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  629%
• 25k–50k
  314%
• 50k–75k
  524%
• 75k–100k
  419%
• 100k–150k
  210%
• 150k+
  15%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

My son was looking to get his new tires aligned, and was informed by the mechanic that he would need to replace both side rear lower control arms, as Toyota had performed a safety recall GOV, resulting in the arms being epoxied, and therefore cannot be adjusted/ aligned. I contacted Toyota customer experience center [phone] - 1/16/2024) and she could not even call up the original recall. My question is: How can Toyota permanently remove a vehicle feature (adjustability of the suspension arms), and then require car owners to bear the brunt of re-installing the arms when you need to align your tires? This "solution" is totally unfair. I just purchased a new set of tires, and based on Toyota's "solution" I need to pay out of pocket to replace the control bars and/or damage my tires and have to replace them early. …

Repairs of the control arms indicated on recall NHTSA 16V-596 were never done on my vehicle after the recall was issued in 2016. Smart motors Toyota in Madison confirmed that the replacement of the control arms was never done on my vehicle, but they are showing no open recalls on my vehicle in their system due to this being a re-recall. From what I've read many vehicles were incorrectly marked "complete" after the 2012 inspection, but the 2016 update (G0V) was issued specifically because those earlier inspections were found to be insufficient. I am entitled to this repair through Toyota due to this recall as Toyota has confirmed my vehicle was recalled and this repair was never completed. My rear control arms are showing signs of failure consistent with the re-recall.

The rear lower suspension arms recall notice solution was replacement of arms if needed and than sealed with epoxy. Labels were applied stating the arm is no longer adjustable. The vehicle no longer can routinely get a wheel alignment at a market expense. The Toyota company suggests for further alignments go to a Toyota dealership and have a alignment done for 900.00 dollars every time you need a alignment. This is not a safe solution. This only makes owners go to their dealerships and give them thousands of more dollars for taking away a routine adjustable maintenance capability with this permanent one time fix.

We were informed of safety recalls for our Toyota Rav 4 2009 . We called the local Toyaota dealership for the recalls and was told on the phone after we dropped it off that they did the inspection to make sure the recalls could be completed and informed us that they could ,but they needed to keep overnight because they had to order the parts. Prior to dropping the vehicle off the car was able to be driven and no known issues were visible. Received call following told to come pick it up and that they officially refused to perform the recalls repairs. They stated that excessive structural damage and unsafe to drive to this degradation. Because the structural rust is directly in the exact suspension components targeted by this safety recalls. The vehicle cannot be remedied under standard recall procedures. …

In 2013, Toyota issued a recall on the rear lower suspension arms. This vehicle was taken and had the recall work done on 7/19/14. One arm was replaced, and one was coated with an epoxy coating. The car began pulling to the left while driving and was taken to Firestone for an alignment, at which we were told that the rear toe was out of alignment and needed to be looked at by the dealer. The recall work done in July 2014 involved applying an epoxy that made this part no longer adjustable. On 2/25/17, the vehicle was taken the Toyota dealer, which failed an alignment check at the rear toe. We were told that they could no longer perform a rear alignment due to this recall "fix" that permanently sealed it into one place. We were told that in order to get the car back into alignment, we would have to replace the entire rear toe bar for a cost of 600 dollars. …

Driving in to work in the morning, speed was 25 MPH on a suburban road, south street in tewksbury ma, as I went over rough area in the road, I heard a thump from under the car. I pulled over and found the right rear suspension struts let go. I pulled in to a parking lot to examine what happened. Part of the strut was hanging down scraping on the ground. The right rear tire was skewed in the wheel well rubbing on the inside of the wheel well. The strut has an eye with a bushing in it, where a bolt is used to bolt it to the car's main frame, the bolt was missing allowing the suspension to fall apart. If this had occurred at highway speeds, loss of control of the vehicle would have occurred. There was a recall on this vehicle, I have had it in twice at the dealership, once to have it repaired, a second time to ensure it was OK. …

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota RAV4. While the contact's daughter was driving 35 MPH, a loud wobbling noise was heard coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle also shook. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The driver was able to pull the vehicle over to the side of the roadway and stop. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as included in a recall. The contact was advised to call a Toyota dealer. The vehicle was not repaired by the independent mechanic. The vehicle was towed to tejas Toyota (19011 us-59, humble, tx 77338, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the failure was not related to a recall; however, the suspension arm was loose along with the bolts. The rear suspension arms were replaced, an alignment was completed, and the arms were locked with epoxy. …

Rear suspension arms were replaced due to a recall. It was found a year later, that the rear tires were out of alignment. During this time, the handling of the car on turns and in wet weather were impaired. Also, the tires wore unevenly and were bald on the inside. I found out, that the recall fix replaced the original adjustable arms with non-adjustable arms and the car could not be aligned. Toyota wanted $830 to replace the arms again in order to align it. This would mean every time the car needed an alignment of the rear wheels, new rear arms would have to be purchased. That car has been altered from the original design to the advantage of Toyota. ..updated 03/10/16

I have had several issue with the rv4, all related to the rear suspension. The recal for toyoa with part of the suspension leaksunbolted from the car while traveling at about 30 MPH. The right rear tire went up in to the wheel well. Only because of the slow speed did I not get in to an accident. Vehicle had to be towed to the dealer. At 65K miles, I took the car in again to the shop. Both rear linkages to the anti-sway bar were broken and had to be replaced. Again another issue with the rear suspension.

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V596000 (suspension). The contact stated that the recall repair was incomplete. The dealer was contacted (Toyota of manhattan in new york, ny) where it was diagnosed that the alignment was not performed due to a failure with the suspension. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 71,700.

Related recalls

Suspension complaints in other RAV4 years