4.4

definitely annoying
Typical Repair Cost:
$450
Average Mileage:
9,400 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. new brakes (2 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
  3. replaced pads, rotors fixed it for me (1 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2013 Toyota RAV4:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #5

Mar 012016

RAV4 Limited 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 29,826 miles

I put $300.00 into the brakes of my 2013 Rav4 Limited at 22000 km. Now at 48000 km they saw the front brakes are poor 3mm left or something and the rear brakes are completely shot...so every 48000km I now have to put $1000.00 into new brakes? My 07 Tacoma never had any brake work done until 160000 km. and then only $300.00 to fix up. The excuse was - it must be the climate. So - why did I buy a Toyota? Will I buy another one? The brakes have made a grinding sound since we bought it new. There's got to be something going on that's not right. Toyota dealer has treated us well overall so no complaints there, but wow, it never seems to end with brakes.

- Ken W., Parry Sound, ON, Canada

problem #4

Jan 062014

RAV4 LE 2.5L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,728 miles

On january the 15 I notice a increasing noise in the back brakes. I went to Toyota. They road test the car and said that they did'int ear any nose. So they me that the can look but if they find it would cost $100.00 plus tax.

I was very much upset by that. So any way I went ahead and they dismantle the brakes pad at rear right wheel. They sanded the pads and put it back. They charge me nothing.

Driving bach home I notice that the noise was still there. I read in car magazine that the best brakes parts are from Napa. So I change the pads and the discs. And guess what the noise was still there after changing. But their were a 50% decrease in noise level. At that stage I just dont know what to do. For now I wont move and let brakes ajust itself. It seems to me that there is a engeneering ploblem with Toyota. I had receive a very bad hospitality at the Toyota dealer. Toyota for me in on the black list for ever.

Andre

- andrebrunet, Montreal, Quebec, canada

problem #3

Jan 012014

RAV4 LTD 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,000 miles

Toyota RAV 4 was a 2013 purchased Jan 2014. At 1,500 miles we noticed a brake grinding noise in the rear. It went back to the dealer and they said it needs to be broken in and that RAV 4's are known to have brake noise. We have driven it and now at 4,000 miles and it is going back to the dealer. They said they will check it but that grinding we hear is normal. It is so loud first thing every morning, metal on metal and not right.

I will post my results in the next few days. I was also told that all Toyota's have brake noise. I have owned many Camry's and Highlanders and never have experienced this. I am afraid that we will be going through brakes. We need a fix from Toyota, not acceptable,

- Art C., Plymouth, MA, US

problem #2

Nov 222013

RAV4 Limited

  • Automatic transmission
  • 500 miles

Brand new Rav4 Limited addtion.. had the vehicle for one week and the brakes are grinding and sound as if I was driving with the emergency brake on.

I have take this in 4 times now and the service station tells me once that the brakes are new and it will take a while for the new brake dust to wear off. Next time that this is how the brakes just sound, regardless that I test drove a different vehicle and never heard or felt this terrible noise and rumble. Told me another time that it will take a while for the brakes to kick in and this will stop. Told me another time that they heard it but that is just the way the car sounds. In the end, Toyota will do absolutely nothing to fix the problem.

I hope that people reading this will think twice about getting a Toyota. I have had several vehicles in my life and several of them were a Toyota. I have been a loyal customer, and and seeing how they apply no effort to help a loyal customer out- I will no longer be committed to Toyota. There are many more options out there, and they continuously have issues and recalls with their brakes on many of vehicles. You would think they would go above and beyond in fixing any and all issues.

- Teara A., Pittsburgh, PA, US

problem #1

Dec 162013

RAV4 LE 2.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,900 miles

Heard the noise for the first time in Dec, figured it was because of wet weather. Then weather was nice, noise was still there. Hearing it when backing up and stopping, and going forward and stopping in traffic, for traffic signal or slowing down to turn. Brought it to the dealer they looked and said there was rust so they cleaned it up. I left the dealership and returned, the noise still there. Their answer was everything is all in order. It is going back in again on1-11-14 will fill in more after next checkup.

Update from Jan 13, 2014: Brought my car to the dealership, they test drove it heard the noise said it is normal braking sounds,they said there was some metal to metal contact which is normal. Never heard of metal to metal with brakes, yes brake pads can be hard and contact the rotors but that is what they said, which i strongly disagreed with. All working parts are doing what they are supposed to and are well lubricated. Stated to me as car was driven the noise became less. Drove it off the lot and noise was there slightly, next day was right back the same as when i took it to dealer. Frustrated at this point. But it is going back again.

Update from Sep 16, 2016: Hi i have been complaining about the noise in my rear brakes since 8,900 miles on my RAV4 dont know if anyone has ever figured out the issue but I believe that i did along with a friend of mine a certified mechanic like the ones Toyota supposedly has.

I got sick of it so after Toyota telling me i needed brakes all the way around my car at 45,000 miles I told them horse*t, we took the brakes apart my fronts were at 4 mil not 2 that they told me. The rears were supposedly 2 also. Front were changed out anyway new rotors and pads. The rears when we beat the rotors off literally we found that the E-Brakes were wearing a groove inside the rotor hub about 1/4 inch on both rotors and formed a burr all the way around. Also my pads were at 4.5 mil could have lasted longer but changed out new pads and rotors and imagine that the noise went away. I went to my dealer and spoke to service manager and one of their senior techs, they tried to tell me i was wrong so i pulled out the rotor i kept and the pads and had them measure them and look. Guess what they apologized I was like screw that, your techs need to take the wheels off and if needed caliper to get the right measurement on the pads. I love my car but not the horsest from the dealership. Hope this helps anyone else having the same issue. Yes the metallic pads are hard and can cause noise but not like what i have put up with for 30000 miles wet or drive, backing up or stopping or pulling forward totally unacceptable.

- Ralph M., Marlborough, MA, US