Shifterati

Toyota RAV4 · 3rd gen (2006–2012)

2007 Toyota RAV4

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

  • Four-cylinder burning oil 2006–2008

    What to check: Check the oil level and ask how often it is topped up. Ask for records of any engine work done under Toyota's program ZE7.

    Toyota's warranty enhancement program ZE7 covered excessive oil use in the 2006–2008 RAV4's 2AZ four. Its longer cover ran 10 years or 150,000 miles from first use, so it has ended. Excessive oil use is the top complaint for the 2007 and 2008 on CarComplaints.com, and Toyota bulletins on the 2AZ engine reach to 2013 model years without naming models.

    Sources 1,2,3,4,5

  • V6 water pump All years

    What to check: Look for coolant leaks and a low coolant level, and ask whether the water pump has been replaced.

    Four members across two BobIsTheOilGuy threads name the V6's water pump as a worry, and one says the job is costly. They disagree on whether the engine has to come out to change it.

    Sources 6,7

  • V6 VVT-i oil line All years

    What to check: Ask for proof that the VVT-i oil line repair was done.

    Three members across two BobIsTheOilGuy threads warn that a rubber VVT-i oil hose can burst, and one says that cuts oil to the top of the engine.

    Sources 6,7

Recalls

  • 09V223000 2006–2009

    The load capacity label was missing. A new label is supplied.8,9,10,11

  • 11V113000 2006–2010

    An unsecured or wrong floor mat can trap the accelerator pedal.8,9,10,11,12

  • 11V245000 2007–2008

    If both roll-angle sensors fail at nearly the same time, the curtain airbags and seat belt pretensioners can fire.9,10

  • 12V373000 2006–2011

    Rear alignment nuts tightened wrongly can let the rear tie rod rust and fail.8,9,10,11,12,13

  • 12V491000 2007–2009

    Uneven grease on the power window master switch can let it overheat and melt.9,10,11

  • 13V383000 2006–2011

    Rusted rear tie-rod threads are replaced and sealed. This replaces the remedy of recall 12V373000.8,9,10,11,12,13

  • 14V168000 2006–2008

    Turning the steering wheel can damage the driver airbag's flat cable, and the airbag may not work.8,9,10

  • 15V689000 2006–2011

    Uneven grease on the power window master switch can cause a short circuit, melting and fire.8,9,10,11,12,13

  • 16V096000 2006–2012

    In a frontal crash, the rear seat cushion frame can cut the outboard rear seat belts.8,9,10,11,12,13,14

  • 16V596000 2006–2011

    Rear tie-rod locknuts left loose can corrode and fail, and the driver can lose control. Both rear arms are replaced.8,9,10,11,12,13

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

Sources

  1. Toyota ZE7 guide (Rev. 4)
  2. Toyota ZE7 guide (Rev. 6)
  3. CarComplaints (RAV4)
  4. CarComplaints 2007
  5. TrueDelta (bulletins)
  6. BobIsTheOilGuy (2007 RAV4 V6)
  7. BobIsTheOilGuy (2009 RAV4 Sport V6)
  8. NHTSA recalls (2006 RAV4)
  9. NHTSA recalls (2007 RAV4)
  10. NHTSA recalls (2008 RAV4)
  11. NHTSA recalls (2009 RAV4)
  12. NHTSA recalls (2010 RAV4)
  13. NHTSA recalls (2011 RAV4)
  14. NHTSA recalls (2012 RAV4)