RECALL: going into neutral / Speed Sensor failure

[eschatfische]

Tony and Diane have both experienced failures on the most recent software revisions, and Toyota has not revealed the specifics of what the recall fix will be (it may involve both software and hardware yet), so yes, it is very likely that you will still have to visit a dealer as part of the recall.

Why did you have to have the front passenger seat replaced? We're all familiar with the problems people have had with the EV system, but that's a new one, and pretty surprising since it's one of the basic old-school ICE RAV parts, which are usually rock solid.

 

[cardano]

Why did you have to have the front passenger seat replaced? We're all familiar with the problems people have had with the EV system, but that's a new one, and pretty surprising since it's one of the basic old-school ICE RAV parts, which are usually rock solid.

Our service light came on and the dealer told me a sensor had gone bad in the passenger seat (I assume it was the one that detected passenger presence, but I am not sure). I was told the sensor was built into the seat, so the entire seat would have to be replaced. I was also told that these seats are different than traditional Rav4 seats (different cover?, lighter?, he could not elaborate further). The dealer kept our vehicle for almost two weeks while awaiting arrival of the new seat. No problems since.

 

[fromport]

Our service light came on and the dealer told me a sensor had gone bad in the passenger seat (I assume it was the one that detected passenger presence, but I am not sure). I was told the sensor was built into the seat, so the entire seat would have to be replaced. I was also told that these seats are different than traditional Rav4 seats (different cover?, lighter?, he could not elaborate further). The dealer kept our vehicle for almost two weeks while awaiting arrival of the new seat. No problems since.

It's actually a complete weight meter that is built in.
With the diagnostic software , it shows the actual weight of the person in the passenger seat.

[conspiracy theory] :twisted:

 

[eschatfische]

I was told the sensor was built into the seat, so the entire seat would have to be replaced. I was also told that these seats are different than traditional Rav4 seats (different cover?, lighter?, he could not elaborate further).

The RAV4 EV has custom seat heaters and the awful custom upholstery. The majority of the other seat or SRS parts are standard XA30 RAV4 components.

The occupant detection computer, the seat position sensor, passenger seat cushion and seat wiring harness in the RAV4 EV are sold separately from the full seat assembly and are Toyota components used in the ICE RAV. Maybe the EV has a different passenger discrimination sensor, but I can't find a parts reference for that. I wonder what happened there.

 

[cwerdna]

Finally, safercar.gov has some info.

Here are links to the 5 docs that are up so far:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM475397/RCAK-15V143-9223.pdf
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM475420/RCLRPT-15V143-5995.PDF
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM474864/RCLRPT-15V143-9620.PDF
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM474876/RCMN-15V143-7512.pdf
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM474877/RCORRD-15V143-3968.pdf

You can search for NHTSA campaign number 15V143000 at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues under ID Number.

 

[ekcanzano]

Thanks so much for your great list of documents on the recall! I read them all and I appreciate you aggregating all the documents in one place.

I love my RAV4 EV and would never consider giving it up! When the fix is available, I will have the repairs made. I have never experienced the problem described.

My "Eco-Rocket" has about 16, 700 miles on the odometer.

 

[jlhodges]

Has anyone received in the mail a notice of the recall from Toyota? As of today's mail (May 1, 2015) I have not.
Today I called my dealer, Folsom Lake Toyota, to arrange to bring my RAV4EV to deal with the recall issues. They told me Toyota does not yet have a fix for the problem and would notify me when they do.
I told them this is our only car and we don't want to drive a car with this problem. I am awaiting a call from the service manager.
What has been the experience of others on this issue?
Thanks. BTW, I've had the car for almost 2 years, 16,350 miles, no problems.

 

[jlhodges]

Got a call from the service manager at Folsom Lake Toyota: Yes, we have no remedy for the problems listed in the recall notice. His understanding is Toyota is waiting for Tesla to provide the fix and, therefore, Toyota has no ETA for a fix. You have no other car? I feel for ya. Give Toyota a call.

 

[HD172]

There is a letter from Toyota to dealers that says there will not be a fix until summer time. If you have any questions you're supposed to call Toyota customer experience.

 

[cwerdna]

I posted some links at http://www.myrav4ev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=20032#p20032 as to the associated documents. You can search for NHTSA campaign number 15V143000 at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues under ID Number. That's probably the best way as I now see 6 documents, instead of 5.

 

[Outlier]

Thanks for posting those docs. Those all said by the end of April a letter would be going out. So much for that. What I thought most interesting according to one of those five documents is that there are 6 unsold Rav4s - four at one dealer. They can't be sold - they have to be fixed first. The VINs are listed - all 3000 range 2014s. If you can crack the dealer code number system, you'll know where they are waiting.

 

[Outlier]

7512 is the document that has the 6 new ones not yet sold

 

[eschatfische]

It's easy enough to Google the dealer code numbers (hint - they're all here):

04308: Wondries Toyota
04389: Hanlees Toyota
09107: Toyota of Hollywood

That last one makes less sense than it might seem, since that's Toyota of Hollywood, FL. I suspect it's actually at Toyota of North Hollywood (04154).

 

[fromport]

Got an official letter today from Toyota regarding the recall


http://www2.dth.net/rav4ev/recall/20150504safetyrecall.pdf

 

[jspearman]

Got my recall notice today.

 

[jlhodges]

Me, too, in today's mail. Will notify us "when the remedy is available."

 

[smkettner]

Unless mine has an actual issue I will take it in at the two year mark next February.

 

[Airton]

My recall letter has just arrived here in New Jersey.

 

[longrangeview]

I got the Toyota Rav4 EV recall notice on May 5, 2015. On May 7, 2015, I called the dealer for service to replace the electric vehicle traction motor assembly. The service representative said "This is F-12, right, and it is still in process. Are you having any problems? Do you hear any noises from the motor? You may hear noises from the engine first..." We discussed that the defective components were made by Tesla not Toyota. I told the rep that there are no advance warnings prior to the existence of the condition. (This is stated in the Safety Recall F01(F11) 2012-2014 Model year Toyota Rav4 EV Customer Frequently Asked Questions flyer published mid March 2014.) Re: EV Traction Motor Assembly The service rep said they can not fix the EV yet. He agreed to call me when a fix is available.

The recall letter I received states that these problems were documented by Toyota in 2014 and 2015. In our rav4ev forum these problems were reported before that. This is an example that shows the importance of formal and fully documented complaints. Toyota is not admitting that these problems occurred before 2014.

Has anyone complained to NHTSA that Toyota is taking too long to repair/replace the potentially fatal defects in the electric vehicle traction motor assembly? Do we need to complain to NHTSA about Tesla (since they made the ECU, the software and the hardware involved.)?

 

[longrangeview]

Finally, safercar.gov has some info.

Here are links to the 5 docs that are up so far:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM475397/RCAK-15V143-9223.pdf
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM475420/RCLRPT-15V143-5995.PDF
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM474864/RCLRPT-15V143-9620.PDF
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM474876/RCMN-15V143-7512.pdf
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM474877/RCORRD-15V143-3968.pdf

You can search for NHTSA campaign number 15V143000 at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues under ID Number.

These posts are very helpful! I second the "Thank you!" for gathering the information for us.