Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Toyota RAV4 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made abnormal sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Nashville Toyota North (2400 Gallatin Pike N, Madison, TN 37115), and diagnosed that the rear differential coupling was leaking oil, the rear driver's side axle bearing was faulty, and the radiator was leaking. The rear differential coupling, rear driver's side axle bearing, and radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was past the nine-year extended warranty coverage. The failure mileage was 97,900.
NHTSa CAMPAIGN ID 16v596000 AUG 12, 2016 Recalls supercedes 13V-383 vehicles inspected but did not have both arms replaced. Vehicles need to have both arms replaced. Recall done on vehicle (RAV4 2010) were COJ - 1/9/2013 Stevens Creek Toyota CSJ - 9/21/2014 Capitola Toyota Control Arm were not replaced at these times. My car is currently being serviced at IQ Autoworks in Campbell CA. I've been told the control arm needs replacement. Quoted $1700 to replace one control arm.
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V383000 (Suspension) in 2015. The contact stated that in 2015 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a tire dealer, and it was determined that the rear tires were worn and needed to be replaced. The contact replaced all four tires. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that in 2020 the low tire pressure and the traction control warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to another tire dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rear tires were worn and needed to be replaced. The contact was advised that the rear tires could not be aligned because of the rear suspension arms, that was causing the quick wear of the tires. The vehicle was repaired. …
This car was bought for a new driver and we have had 2 separate occasions when she has gotten somewhere and the car wont start. All the warning lights come on, but will not do anything when you push the button. We can jump it and it will start. This is not safe for a young person that could get stranded at random somewhere, and is now afraid to take it somewhere. We have checked the connections and the battery has been checked and is fine. The other complaint is the rear suspension recall. The tires were rotated and now it has a vibration, I was told that because of the recall it cannot be aligned unless things are replaced because of the terrible fix job on the recall. If something is recalled it should be fixed correctly and not be a bandaid job. There should not be a cost associated with a cheap fix that caused more problems. …
Engine oil is burning with out discharging from the engine. Can find no leak anywhere in the engine compartment. Constantly adding oil to the car as the oil indicator isn't working either. The engine compression is spot on to manufacturers specifications. If the engine runs out of oil it could lead to a crash. Suspension: Loud popping in the rear drivers side when first moving. Don't know if it is tie rod or something else. Don't need whatever is causing the pop to break as that could lead to a crash.
I just purchased a used 2010 toyota rav 4 base fwd and when making left or right turn I hear loud clunking noises and when backing up I hear squeaking noises plus I see liquid under car near middle. I also noticed when I add washer fluid and check level couple days later without using it ,,it is not visible ...and can't find pink coolant in stores that is in resivoir which needs to be topped off according to mechanic
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Toyota rav-4. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH and approaching an exit ramp off the highway, the contact stated they were depressing on the brake pedal but the vehicle did not slow down and continued to accelerate which caused the vehicle to hit a fence. The vehicle came to a stop and the contact shifted to park, the contact was able to restart, and continued to drive the vehicle to their residence. The air bags did not deploy and no warning light illuminated. There were no injured reported. No police report was filed. The contact had the vehicle towed to local dealer automax car sales (9541 nw 27th ave, miami, fl 33147 phone: [phone]) who stated they repaired and replaced the brakes and control arms on the vehicle however the failure persisted with screeching noise coming from the brakes. The vehicle had not been repaired. …
Takata recall, my rear swerved as I moved right to avoid a head on collision, my chest hit the steering wheel so hard that I broke 6 ribs including my sternum because the airbags didn't deploy until after the impact , I also saw another recall that was announced 2 or 3 days after my accident which resulted in a total loss which was the rear suspension needed to be replaced because it could cause an accident I reported this to NHTSA and was given a reference number10937800, please keep me updated this is horrible that these people knowingly put faulty parts on a vehicle, I am still afraid to drive I felt my car shaking and blamed it on the roads, the wind, anything because I didn't want to believe someone would sell a vehicle knowing it was not safe
On a lovely Saturday afternoon, my husband and I were returning home from a family picnic. We had just exited the highway and were traveling on a two-lane road in dover, nj. Suddenly, the car was violently thrown into the left lane with on coming traffic. I thought we had a blow out but was proven wrong. My husband just missed a car by inches as he wrestled the car back into the right lane all the while more cars were coming at us. He was able to direct the car to a side street. When we got out of the car we found that the right rear suspension arm was detached and hanging loose off the car. This necessitated calling for a tow truck from the Toyota dealership. Our anguish and palpable terror was caused by the failure of numerous recalls to this Toyota rav 4 for rear lower suspension arm to be properly & safely repaired. …
To whom it May concern, last spring (March 2014) I received a recall notice for my 2010 rav 4 to come in for an inspection for my rear lower suspension arm. I immediately called and was put on a waiting list to be seen. Every month or so I would call to check the status of getting seen. They would seem confused each time I would call, but would verify that I was on that "list." but over the many months, I have still yet to be seen. A 2nd recall notice was issued this past December or early January. The last I heard, after over 9 months of being on a wait list was that I was still on the list and I was higher on the list to be seen. Upon receiving the 2nd notice, I called kendall Toyota and they told me that the list no longer exists and that they will be starting a new list to see people beginning in March. This will now have been around a year of waiting to be seen for the recall. …
Related recalls
Suspension › Rear
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts, free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016.
Suspension › Rear
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tie rods and replace any that have rust or corrosion on the alignment adjustment threads.
Suspension › Rear
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010. If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust,…
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear tie-rod nut for looseness and replace any suspect tie-rod found loose.
Suspension complaints in other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2010 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA has 101 complaints about the suspension of the 2010 Toyota RAV4, 25% of the model year's 400 complaints. The component named most often is front › wheel bearing (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2010 Toyota RAV4 suspension problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 16V-596 (rear, Aug 12, 2016); NHTSA recall 13V-383 (rear, Aug 28, 2013); NHTSA recall 12V-373 (rear, Aug 2, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Toyota RAV4 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to suspension 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.