Received a letter from Toyota today. For 2019-2021 RAV 4 Toyota has instituted a Customer Support Program. Not a recall, but if you have a roof rail leak, they will repair for up to 10 years
Having the same problems here, just left my RAV4 at the dealership to fix the passenger side and there is a leak on the driver side too. So unfortunate, it is a great car and TOYOTA is failing to deliver the brand promise " Lets go places"....as long as isn't raining lmao
There is no way this would be just one side... same holes, same push clips, same lack of a proper seal. This is a design, engineering, and materials decision they made.
Excellent video, explanation! Have taken mine once for repair and it’s still leaking on one side. Those gaskets that run the full length are loose in the front. What a terrible design and would not expect this from Toyota. Will contact Customer Engagement and the NHTSA as Daniel has recommended here in the comments. Fix this Toyota!
Thanks for this video. Very clear and informative. My parents’ car has this issue and Toyota dealership wanted $140 to diagnose, as though they didn’t know about this problem.
I am retired! last weekend Sept 27 to 30 we had a storm and my RAV4 2026 floor was wet and the side where the sun visor bracket was leaking water I took it to the dealer TOYOTA and they charged me $162 for diagnostics. toyota said to call my insurance to make a claim. INS also not helpful. NEED HELP what to do!
Having this issue on my 2019 but my car is out of warranty now. Looks like I’m screwed. I can’t believe Toyota isn’t addressing this. Hoping for a recall someday but I doubt it
This video is awesome! I just got back from the dealership. I started researching because I was not satisfied with the service. I had a leak aswell and they "fixed" it by " retainer, lowered headliner to isolate leak, found roof rack clip not sealing properly"
Then I go pick it up and the A pillar was not clipped back in correctly. You can clearly see the inside of the pillar from outside the windshield. So I was told to take it back tomorrow morning.
But now that I saw your video. I'm kind of worried about the curtain airbags being affected by all of the water. Any idea how the water would affect the airbags??
What Toyota told me - first trip they didn’t know what what was happening. Second trip - it was my fault for taking it through a car wash. Third time was again we don’t know but we are sure we fixed it. My head liner has been replaced twice only thanks to corporate. I’m really upset about the air bags I never even thought about it.
I’ve been having the same problem. The car has been at the dealership 3 days because the “parts truck didn’t arrive”. So far I’ve been through one recall, steering replacement, and roof leaking - all before hitting 20K miles. It seems like Toyota has been living off its reputation from 20 years ago. I think I’ll try Mazda next time.
Same bro! Problem after problem! Car is in the shop every couple months. Keep an eye on your coolant level, all the coolant bypass valves are failing. $1k repair if you're outta the 3yr/36k mile warranty
I called my dealer recently about this. They said they had never heard of it but went off to research. They called back and said there was no information they could find about this issue but I could leave the vehicle there for them to "investigate". I'm choosing another route but haven't finalized by plans yet
Thanks for the explanation.. I have 2017 Rav4. That has been leaking. I live in Florida so it rains a lot. Toyota Corp still says they don't have complaints on this. Dealer will gladly look into it into for $$$.
I thought my noon roof was leaking. But I cleaned and checked the drains. And all the water we go down the drain just fine. But with this video, I think I found the corporate. Thanks.
I have a 2019 Rav4 XSE with water leaking on the A pillar as of now my odometer reads 51K miles. I had my windshield replace once and when I brought my car to the dealer to report the leak was told that the sunroof drain was clogged, got charged for $100 for cleaning, still has the problem, brought it back to the same dealer and the service advisor said that it could be the problem with auto glass shop. I brought it back to the auto glass and they graciously gave me a new windshield under warranty. I waited for 5 days to make sure the glue is cured, took my car for a wash, still has the same area of water leak. I called Toyota customer care and was told that the repair cost will be out of my pocket, really not looking forward to pull the headliner to "fix" the issue.
I had this issue corrected 2 separate times with Toyota. Both times everything was under warranty. Both times Toyota replaced the headliner, roof rails and accompanying hardware.The 2nd time the Toyota technician tried to insinuate the reason could be from mounting too much weight on my Yakima basket. I quickly informed him that I've never hauled anything in the basket and that the Yakima was purely there for looks. He quickly pivoted and said no worries, everything is covered under warranty anyway. The main issue I had with Toyota was the technicians themselves, I found a deep scratch on the inside panel around the small rear passenger window. It had been two weeks since they had it in before I noticed, but I'm wondering if maybe I can find the little panel online and replace it? The second thing that pissed me off was they didn't' assemble the seatbelt attachment correctly to the inside panel. It's crooked inside the little slot...I'd rather do it myself as I saw your example on how to take it apart in your headliner removal video. It would pain me to have them in there doing everything half ass. Anyways, love your videos. Keep the content coming. Thanks Rav4gen5!!!
Thanks for the information and for the feedback. It's good that they covered it but I would hate to have my car in a shop for so long, let alone twice!
Having mine in for service a second time as well . After Toyota Motor Corp told me that there isn't any issues in the database about this , I filed a complaint with the NHTSA. The water coming inside the A pillar area can lead to potential safety problems with the SRS airbag system located there. All shareholders of Toyotas affected by this problem should do the same ...file complaints with both entities.
Christopher, tell me about it. They scratched my passenger A-pillar plastic so I get to look at it always when driving. I didn’t say anything because I don’t want to be super anal but sucks to take to a dealership to get fixed and they put scratches on your car. Plus, didn’t fix the leaking problem ugh
@@e.l.1374 You can Google NHTSA and call the number , they will take your information and then after 24/48 hours will upload it onto the server, which you'll be given a number to access it . The NHTSA followed up by requesting more information about this matter from me . Also call Toyota Headquarters (customer care ) and file a complaint.
I purchased a 2019 RAV4 LE just 2 weeks ago. I first noticed standing water in the spare tire compartment. Water is coming in the car from somewhere near the driver’s side tail light. Then I noticed during a hard rain that headliner was wet at the A and C pillars. Wish I had seen this video before buying the car. Taking it to dealership tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
I've had this problem, as well. I bought my RAV4 XLE Premium in Feb. 2019. By May 2019, the AWD sensors were failing. The local Toyota service center said one of the roof rack tabs was leaking and it had corroded the computer in the rear of the vehicle (they proved it by taking it through an automatic car wash). They fixed that problem and I didn't think about it again until this weekend, when we were out of town and the car was parked outside during a 48-hour period of rain. When we got in the car today, there was a puddle in the front passenger side floor mat and the headliner above it was wet. That brought me to this video. We'll see what the Toyota dealer has to say about it - my vehicle is well out of warranty.
@@Rav4Gen5 It's 5 years/unlimited K's in Australia. Looks like 3 years 36,000 miles in the U.S. www.toyota.com/rav4/features/warranty_information/4430/4522/4440
No, just 2023 models have been redesigned and there is no hole at roof. But 19-20-21-22 models have still these crappy seals and eventually they will broke. So diy is way to go.
My 2019 rave 4 adventure has 5,280 miles. My roof racks were leaking every time it rains. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the racks with cheap racks and not the ones that would belong to the adventure. I have a complaint in and will continue to complain. But, I must admit that the service department treated me well. For two days I did not have a car and this was a manufactures defect which was not my fault. They were not able to obtain the original racks that came with the car.
The issue isn't the rails/racks themselves, but the faulty holes underneath that aren't secured by pressure bolts. New racks/rails won't fix it. Complete design flaw that Toyota won't admit to (outside of Taiwan) or fix for out of warranty 2019-2020 owners, but the newer units coming off the production line don't have the extra, faulty holes under the roof rails.
Update on the RAV4 leaking roof rails. I was very persistent! I contacted the general manager at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle, I'm happy to say that it was repaired at ZERO COST to me. They honored the warranty.
I am very very tempted to park my car under a sprinkler for a few hours just to see if it has the same issues. It's lives in the garage and is only out in rain/snow while being used, so minimal standing water.
I'm actually dealing with this issue right now. 2nd time in 3 months that my vehicle suffered from a random no-start/crank issue. They didn't find anything the first time and this time found the leak from the rail, leading down into the A-frame, and getting into a junction box w/various connectors on the passenger side causing the issue. I've got a prinsu roof rack installed and since that isn't from factory, they're telling me it's gonna cost $900+ to fix. Seems like this issue would have happened without the prinsu to begin with.
Mine starting leaking at the beginning of this year and I brought it to the dealership to have it looked at. They eventually said they would do repairs under warranty and fast forward to now and four visits later it’s still not fixed. All they are saying is that we need new weather stripping around our door out of our pocket. We got a second opinion from another Toyota dealership and they said our roof rails where damaged and have to be replace but the original dealership denies these claims stating that they worked from the inside of the vehicle. I’m ready to just let them take this vehicle because we have noticed some electrical problems with our drivers seat and a fan that randomly turns on and blows air. I bought a Toyota because I thought I was buying a reliable vehicle but it turned out to be the opposite.
My passenger front door is collecting water. The window was repalced after a breakin a couple years ago. But the water retention started this year. A was going to remove a body plug, but I can't one low enough it the door. I pry the trim out at the front a little to let the water drain, but that requires me to check it (it does slosh). A bit of a pain.
Another new member of the leaking RAV4 club here. 2019 Adventure with 59k miles. Started switching to “mud/sand” randomly during a rainstorm 2 months ago then again this weekend happened 4 times in the rain. Also would faintly beep once when shifting out of park. The beeping went away after changing the battery but not sure if that was coincidental. Off to the dealer to see what they’ll not do for me!
They acted like they didn’t know anything about it and said they don’t know how it could affect anything electrical…I showed them a printed off TSB as well as links to forums with RAV4’s having the exact same issue. They ordered the new hardware and redid it. At that time they said the tech is a pro and has already fixed 3 for the same issue after saying they never heard of it. Didn’t even attempt the stain removal so I went back and they somehow made it worse. So now taking it back for a brand new headliner. They said the terminal block behind the kick panel on drivers side was free of any water damage but did have water running down to it. Imagine that. So I will be inspecting that to confirm there’s no damage. Can’t trust them to do anything right.
I had my 2019 RAV4 XLE (43,000 miles) in on 9/3/21 due to water leakage two days prior. Front seats were soaked, sun visors full of water, headliner soaked, inside of sunroof wet. I told the service manager about this video and comments and was dismissed by him saying "you can't believe everything you see on the internet". He retracted that the next day when he called to tell me it was the roof racks...duh!! I have the expensive extended warranty but was told it did not cover the problem because the roof rack is considered exterior trim. He advised me they got a "goodwill" authorization to repair at no cost (seriously?). It took them a week to get the parts (they provided a rental car). It is still leaking...I called the Service Director and complained at which time he explained the sunroof does not seal completely and it could be the drains from around the sunroof frame. I have an appointment 10/1/21 to have it reevaluated for where the water is entering. I have been very vocal about my concerns with corrosion and electrical issues but they don't seem to see it as a potential problem.
I've got a 2020 Rav4 XSE hybrid with a leaky roof in Colorado. First time was the diver's A pillar only, so bad it dripped on my leg in a standard carwash. Brought to the dealer, they said "we see the leak, come back in a month and leave it with us for 4 days". Did that, now the leak is worse after replacing the rails and clips. Both sides leak now, A and C pillar. Headliner hasn't been replaced (its black) but I'll insist it gets swapped next time. Lemon law in CO says they get 4 attempts to fix it, then I plan to lawyer up if necessary and force them to buy the car back. Its a nightmare and Toyota is totally blowing it.
Contact the NHTSA and file a complaint. There is a potential safety issue with the A pillar SRS airbag system if the electrical connections become exposed to water which may lead to corrosion.
I had this exact issue with my 2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure. Initially, I started having odd electrical issues with electric door and windows not working at random times. Then the vehicle failed to start and displayed a "Engine Stopping Steering Power Low" error. Dealer had the vehicle for three days and then called to state they discovered the roof rail was leaking and the water was damaging electrical modules in the kick panels and dash. Dealer opened a case with Toyota and after about a week, I was told Toyota will be replacing the roof rack, the head liner, carpet, carpet padding, and noise damping material. They will also have a company like Servpro to clean and disinfect the vehicle to prevent mold growth. However, it is going to take four to six weeks for parts to arrive. Once parts arrive, they will disassemble the vehicle and then determine what electrical components will need to be replaced, which means I could be waiting another four to six weeks for those parts. I'm guessing I won't get my vehicle back until June or July at this rate! A 2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure with three recalls and now this! Very disappointing to see Toyota put QUANTITY of vehicles sold ahead of vehicle QUALITY these days!
What's all the recalls? How did they fix the leak? If it's just by replacing the gaskets with new ones, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before it happens again.
My RAV4 2018 does have that same problem lhs, my seat is wet and it’s winter here Quebec, can’t figure out why it did not happen last summer, bought it July 2021 with only 30,000 klm on it. And also have issues with the cruise control, when on cruise and downshifting going uphill rpm goes to 3800 rpm and stays there for ever if I don’t hit the gas pedal with my foot. Dealer said they can’t do anything about it… you’d better get use to…
I am currently having the same water leak issue with my 2019 Toyota RAV4. After multiple times to the dealership with them just sending me away stating they cannot locate the problem they have identified this roof rail leak. Toyota needs to do something about this faulty design, yet they will not. I have had acceleration issues with this vehicle, corrosion within the vehicle due to this leak and malfunction issues with the systems. I have owned four new vehicles and three used vehicles and never had this many issues over the life of the vehicle, yet alone the less than two year span I have owned this 2019 Toyota RAV4. I have asked the dealership to provide me a good complaint contact at headquarters multiple times and they have yet to provide. I think it is safe to say I will never buy a Toyota again.
Have a 2021 trail got it new last year just did 10,000 km and last week had a water leak on the A piller on the driver side they said it was from my sun roof ...still not fixed ...need to go back in next week
I normally park in the garage, but was travelling and went through some significant rain. A week or 2 later my car smelled BAD. I looked for food, dead animals etc to find the issue. When I removed my spare tire, I found rancid water pooling on the bottom of the trunk under the tire. I dried it up and sprayed the bottom with a coat of flex seal spray and let it dry. When I go through the car wash, some water is getting through. Could this be from this particular leak or the seal against the back hatch? Anyone else have a similar experience?
These leaks can go down the D pillar and into the trunk. It's a catastrophic design flaw. Hope you're still in warranty. Otherwise, Toyota will abandon you for their mistake.
@@superduperstepdad the dealer wants to charge me all kinds of money for diagnostics. I'm wondering if I just get 2 new rails. I've gone through all this silicone, liquid gasket nonsense and it's still leaking. I spent time in the trunk and had a friend squirt the car. Definitely D rail drivers side entry into the trunk. Those original gaskets are garbage on the trim clips.
2019 Rav4 Low Profile, no racks When I move from a full stop, or take a turn in... water drips down onto the armrest. Just noticed this, as it does not rain much here.
Are you talking about the center arm rest? If so, sounds like more of a sunroof leak than a roof rail leak. There are a few reports of those, too, but doesn't seem to be as many.
@@superduperstepdad Recently, I drove in one of our rather rare downpours... water drips down at the crease of the plastic where is laps another piece of plastic marked "AIRBAG" ... There is a wet stain on BOTH driver and passenger side. I have an appointment with the localToyota dealer.
@@superduperstepdad Out of warranty. Dealership strung me along for 7 months to try and get a resolution. They really did nothing, and merely delayed. I just got off the phone with their consumer affairs or whatever dept...... they read the ole 36K or 3 year line, and explained how they are not responsible for dealerships and went on to explain how they are not responsible for this repair.... I disagreed, as they designed the attachment method, and had many levels at the mfr level to identify and correct this flaw before any vehicle were shipped. A little schmoo ( that does not attack paint or metal ) at each hole likely would resolve this. The same Schmoo used to attach vapor barriers on inner door panels. Fixing these would have cost Toyota the labor to the dealer, plus parts at OEM Net cost.... a hell of a small fraction of my cost to do 2 airbags and a headliner. I am pushing this issue up the food chain. We will see if there is any movement. This was my first an last Toyota. We did not even talk about their lack of Android Auto and their crappy Entune apps.
@@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936 I'm sorry your experience was similar to ours. We cut our losses and traded ours in for what we could get out of it. Enjoying our nice, dry smoother-riding CR-V!
Yes, I had a leak, no noticeable water stains however all my wiring was corroded; I couldn’t get the car to start twice, had to have it towed. The tire pressure warning kept coming on, brought it in several times, they kept trying to blame all issues on the remote starter which they took out but issues persisted, they finally determined it was all from the roof leak; they gutted and re-wired the whole thing.
Just had this issue come up rav4 adventure 2019. The dealer is currently replacing airbag and “whole roof” dropped off today but have not been able to see what they are actually doing. Had visible water damage on the a frame
Same issue, I noticed water was leaking in at the A-pillar after a rain storm. Big Two Toyota in Chandler, AZ wanted to charge around $175 I believe, to diagnose the issue. They also acted like the problem hadn't been brought up by anyone else.
Ahhh, yes. The fake look of surprise when you bring it in to have it looked at. There are some places in the world (Taiwan) where the laws are stronger than for-profit companies' lobbyists and Toyota has had to admit, correct, and extend warranties due to this issue. Sadly, the US is not such a place. Hope you are under warranty. If not, Toyota Corp will be of no help. Resale/trade-in prices for Gen5 RAV-4s are dropping quickly due to this known defect.
I wish I would have seen this video before the rapair! $2000.00 later, and they didn't replace the headliner. The dealer pretended they didn't have any idea about the problem. I applied for assistance from Toyota since my warranty was expired. They turned me down...of course. They also said this is not a problem they have seen. I should have stuck with Ford! Never had a problem with them!
We had the same issue on a 2019 Limited. Two months out of warranty we got the leak. Car had been garaged 100% and hand-washed 90% of the time. Toyota wouldn't admit to the defect (yet has now eliminated the faulty holes entirely on recent units). We traded ours in for a CR-V and haven't looked back. Won't ever consider a Toyota again!
We have a leak on our 2019 RAV4 LE. The dealer was looking to charge well over $4,000 for replacing the two rails entirely and the headliner. I contacted Toyota Corp customer service. They are “going to see” what they can do. We’ll see what they say. UPDATE: Toyota is covering replacement.
This will be my third time taking my 2021 Rav4 to Toyota for this issue on the driver side. First time Toyota supposedly fixed the issue but they lied. Second time my car was at service for 2 weeks and they said they replaced some parts in the front shield and that this will fix the issue. Well I guess it didn’t because here I am with my car getting water in. This is so frustrating to keep taking in for service. 😠
I took my 2021 rav 4 model in 4 the 2nd time. My rav had 3 different mold colors under floor panels and got fumigate. My rav was in shop for at least a month . When it was returned within 3 weeks. Same stupid leakage. Water gathers in spare tire area. Top of roof was fixed but under the lid at the bottom isn't sealed well
I went to Toyota service center because my 2021 Rav4 LE had a loose driver side roof rail but no sign of roof leaking so far. Car came back after 7 hours and the problem was not fixed. I complained to the general manager and a new roof rail was ordered. The important thing here is that this Toyota Service Center checked for a roof leak. I know this because the person that did the labor forgot to properly fit the airbag cover that goes on the A-pillar(passenger side) I complained why it was reviewed and nothing was mentioned in the work order. They told me there is a bulletin about roof leaks and they need to inspect for leak, but they didn't write anything on the work order.
Two lock down center bolts may cause two rack ends twisted， bigger gap cause leaking. I will say 4 bolts needed not just glue and reseal. Thanks for your video.
hey how are you doing. I am having the same issue and toyota tried to fix it for the 3rd time and the roof is still leaking. they keep giving me the run arround and now it rain a few days ago ad the car is again leavking. What do you recommend that I do?
I would take apart the whole interior ceiling cover and the roof rail and install rtv seal in the wholes. You can watch my prinsu install series. Not small work though. Or tell your dealer to watch this video.
@@Rav4Gen5 i had a feeling that I knew what it was but I am pretty sure that the mechanic had no idea what I was talking about.. so few questions for you? Did you airbag needed to be replaced? Did you need to change the headliners? How long did I take for you to do?
My 2018 Rav4 XLE just started leaking. It’s on the driver’s side and pours out the visor. I have overhead staining now and am concerned about the air bag on that side. It goes to the dealership on Monday, but it’s out of warranty so I don’t know what occur.
I have now had two roof leaks on the RAV4 2019. They fixed it once on the rear driver side and now my rear passenger side it doing it. They said they will not fix it and I need to take it to a body shop to spend money to get it fixed. They said they shouldn’t have done it the first time
I wonder if this is the cause of the issue we are having. One day the wipers just turned on, and input to the wiper stalk did not affect the speed or on/off. We had recently been side swiped and had repair work done, after talking to Toyota Dealer we bought from about the wiper issue, they claimed that it was due to the repairs of the shop that fixed the side swipe.... Convenient for them.... Meanwhile they had no information as to what was repaired when the side swipe work was done. We have not had our car for 2 months now, as the shop and Toyota have been going back and forth.
Terrible response by the dealership, said it was my fault that I had clogged sunroof ducts and that drove the water damage. Toyota denied the warranty. What should I do? Asked me to file an insurance claim. Ridiculous. 35k miles, 2019 Rav4 adventure trim
I took my 2019 RAV 4 to my toyota place and they told me “We don’t have the parts to fix your sunroof because we aren’t a body shop, you will have to go to a body shop mechanic to have them replace it”. Which makes absolutely no sense to me what so ever.
Yup sane issue just noticed a few days ago toward cargo area & definitely coming from the roof rack. Both sides. Went through the car wash just this past Friday and immediately saw the water seeping into the headliner. I’m so upset. Is this covered under warranty? My RAV4 is just about 3 years (in May) under 28,000 miles. I’m concerned that even if they replace the headliner and fix the roof racks will this happen again when it really is out of warranty? What can we do about that. I feel as we all were sold a lemon if they haven’t addressed the issue or sent out a recall. I’m concerned even after they fix it….time will pass and it will happen again and cost 💲 we don’t have. It’s a new car it shouldn’t be seeping in water from rain, snow or a car wash. Let’s face it…cats were build with the knowledge of them getting wet at some point (washing/weather). Toyota needs to take responsibility!!!!!
I have the same problem they don’t accept my platinum guarantee only 17000 m always in the garage but route 22 asks for $1000 plus labors and Sansone route 1 NJ seller dealer ask $500 plus labor just for clips both don’t honor guarantee.
I had this problem on my 2020 TRD rav and took it in today. They are fixing the issue but not replacing the head liner. They said they will get it detailed to removed the stains. I am worried about this.
It happened to mine a second time , I hope your repair holds up . If not, you can contact the NHTSA and file a complaint , like I did . Toyota Motor Corp didn't recognize that there can be a potential safety issue with the A pillar SRS airbag being exposed to water which can lead to corrosion.
2019/09 E4 from Taiwan. Water came in from A pillar, Toyota here said, they have no idea where the stain from, and said “there’s no leaking happened yet, let us do some preventing duty to your car.” More and more owner are having same problem and feel disappointed to what Toyota try to covered this news. (Since Toyota have high commercial budget to News and Reporter)
I have seen the Taiwan Rav4 leaking videos and also another weak point is the 1 foot ruler like black plastic going from the top of the rear door to the trunk has also shown leakage.
We have this problem with our 2019 rav4 le and Toyota is paying for it and make sure there is no mold and if they can't clean the headliner properly they will replace it. We had ours cleaned to unsatisfactory conditions and we could see mold and we were told there was none We are now waiting for a new one to come in. BTW we also had a wiring Harness replaced due to corrosion.
Just finished up my prinsu install. While going around spot cleaning the headliner I noticed very minor water spottage around the front top handles. I sealed the crap out of the remaining holes so hopefully this problem will be eliminated.
After having boats and all sorts of toys, nothing beats some marine silicone forget about those little gaskets. I'm going to fix my own myself with a little marine silicone. I guarantee it will be a permanent fix. I Use marine silicone below the waterline on my boat and never had a leak. Are use marine silicone on my shop where the flashing meets the concrete it's held up for eight years now in the weather and I live in rainy Oregon.
I have had mine looked at three times now! HEADLINER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE! Roofs been torn apart 3 times! I thought I was alone in my aggravations! They are about to get mine back and it’s sad because I love the car just not the leaks!
Mine is going in for a second time as well. I contacted Toyota Motor Corp and they stated that there wasn't any complaints about this problem in the database. This prompted me to contact and file a complaint with the NHTSA, as well as with Toyota. There can be a potential safety issue with the A pillar SRS airbag system if the electrical connections are exposed to water, thus creating possible corrosion. All owners of vehicles affected by this problem should contact both entities and file complaints.
Crazy! To think it seems like an easy fix and they can’t get it right! I’ll be going in for my second time I’m sure they will just be loading up on silicone sealer all around in there. Sucks. Not what I ever expected when purchasing this vehicle.
@@e.l.1374 They did change the design of the clips and gaskets that secure the plastic trim of the roof rails into the roof of the vehicle. The rails were changed on mine as well , perhaps they were redesigned as well. I don't think they would change them otherwise. As far as sealing, yes they did do that according to my service advisor . The roof rails also have a rubber gasket that sits on the roof , that gasket was installed with a sealant to the roof rail assembly, that rubber gasket previously was folding back and under the front A pillar area . Overall I totally understand how you're feeling, but keep on top of it , call Toyota Motor Corp. document everything , just in case . I believe that how Toyota has stood by their products in the past and remedied other engineering problems, we should be okay .
@@dgthill Thanks Daniel for the help and keeping this issue alive. Glad yours was fixed, I will be referencing this all when at the dealership the second time around.
My 2021 Rav4 Limited is at the dealership now. I have had it about 4 months. I took it through a car wash today for the first time. I noticed water coming down at the top center panel right side left of the controls for the panoramic roof. I went right from the car wash to the dealer. They used a high pressure washer and couldn't reproduce the problem. I told them I would take it back to the carwash to verify. They asked me to shoot a video so they could see exactly where the leak was. It happened again and I got the video. There was about 1/2 inch of water in the center cup holders. Under 6,000 miles on car.
I just want a little clarification as I have a hold on a 2021 Rav4 Hybrid Limited and I want to make sure I understand this issue. Does this problem occur with the factory installed roof rails that come on the car....or is this only an issue if you put on one of Toyota's OEM roof racks (the beasty one as well as the lighter duty looking one)? So, like...if I don't put a roof rack on my new car...will that decrease the likelihood of seeing this leaking issue? I'm not going to have a garage to keep this vehicle in so I am becoming concerned. I planned to install a rack...but if that's going to lead to major issues...I may avoid the install. Thanks.
@@Kindness808 My issue turned out to be the windshield was not sealed properly. The dealership took off the original windshield and installed a new one and the problem was solved. My roof racks came installed by the factory. A word of caution, if you have a panoramic roof like I do, you can not put weight on the roof racks as the full length panoramic roof will not structurally support the weight.
Toyota must address this issue and I’m worried now, and I just bought a 2022 RAV4 with cross bars factory installed 3 weeks ago. I know that doesn’t have much rain here in Cali but what if I go for car wash. I’m afraid that water will go through my roof rails. Does anyone here have 2022 have water leak issue? Thanks Rav4Gen5 for sharing this video…
I've had mine replaced on my 2022 rav 4 trd after I noticed the front peeling up with only 3,000 miles. 2 weeks after nightmare replacement it's already peeling up. Nightmare as they damaged my interior during removal process. Supposedly the part was redesigned in spring of 2022 but I keep persisting. It's not a solid fix. I think people need to keep complaining until they design a better roof rail
Thanks for putting this together. I don't suppose you could post the thickness, inner diameter, and outer diameter of those gaskets around the plastic clips?
I just noticed water marks on the rear side of the headliner of my 2020 RAV4 and my first thought was exactly this - thank you for the video and for providing a forum ... Will be setting up an appointment with Toyota Dealership. I Wonder if the warranty will cover this issue, car has only 22K KMs on it
@@lijohnsjoy7377 Yes it was covered under warranty. The seals for roof rails allowed the water to seep through - common issue with RAV4's as per dealership...
Took to Toyota under warranty they add more gasket. The only way I know this a week later I removed the stock roof rack and installed victory roof rack.
I have the same issue it’s the passenger side, it end up rusting on the inside at the corner of the windshield. And now there are paint bubbles ready to rust on the outside corner of the windshield. The dealer never replaced the headliner. now the headliner is damaged that they’re going to do the job all over again. The mechanics destroyed the C pillar in the rear , denying that they ever took it out!
Hi I have a leak happening now on my 2020 Toyota RAV4 XLE Hybrid. Toyota is telling me they don’t know where the leak is and maybe I left my sun roof open even though the car notifies you if you leave any windows open 😒 so at this point their expectation is for me to pay for over 900 dollar diagnostics fee? Any advice?
Sell it. Toyota won't acknowledge the design flaw even though it's the worst-kept secret in the auto industry. Value of these RAV4's are dropping like a rock because of it.
I have the same problem with my toyota rav4 2019. The dealership wants to charge 2200 to replace my roof rails. Do you guys know where can i get fixed for a better price?
The problem is not with the roof rails. The problem is poor design. Five of the 9 holes under each roof rail do not have enough pressure holding the seal together (see 0:50 mark). There are five holes under each roof rail that are only sealed by flimsy plastic trim clips and thin rubber gaskets. Without an additional sealant or adhesive, the vibrations from the engine and the road will shake these seals open. There's also the issue that water/debris is getting under the roof rails in the first place. New OEM rails won't fix that, either.
Got a 2021 RAV4 XSE a month ago. Haven't seen anything yet. However, how will i know if it is leaking? I would like to sort it out before it get worse, even if it leaking!!
Our 2019 LE started leaking recently and it’s the roof rack seal issue. At 37,100 miles, Toyota doesn’t want to cover it. I contacted their corporate customer service today. They’re “going to see” what they can do. They claim they don’t know about the issue. I called bullshit since I’ve been researching it. As I stated in a comment earlier, I’ve been a Toyota customer since 1998 and have never been so disappointed. I might have to install the Prinsu roof rack since it is way less money than the $4,000 Toyota is quoting for replacing both roof rails entirely and the headliner. I’ll update on my comment.
I wonder if o-ring seals would work better than those flimsy flat seals? Can you not silicone around the holes - typically there would be no reason to remove the rails.
You can certainly silicone it and it would be the way I would go considering, like you said, no reason to remove them. It should be the way dealers goes about this to resolve the issue but we shall see. Hopefully Toyota will have a response.
I was just told by Toyota that my 2019 RAV4 needed to have the roof rails replaced and the headliner replaced and I’m looking at $5200 in cost. I do have the platinum warranty coverage that I pay for every month with my financing. Is this correct, or are they telling me something false?
If you don't have to pay for it, I would go ahead and have it serviced and let them do whatever they want to make it right. I think a lot of Rav4 will have this issue if they don't already. If you DO have to pay for it, keep arguing that this should be covered. Try other dealerships. I don't think the rail has to be replaced. Just the seals. So I would argue that to save some money.
@@Rav4Gen5 They are saying that it’s under my calls. Therefore they’re saying I have to pay for it. Which I am arguing it as we speak. This is unacceptable! I bought the car in October 2020
I have the expensive extended warranty but was told it did not cover the problem because the roof rack is considered exterior trim. He advised me they got a "goodwill" authorization to repair at no cost.
Update on the RAV4 leaking roof rails. I was very persistent! I contacted the general manager at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle, I'm happy to say that it was repaired at ZERO COST to me. They honored the warranty.@@tamaraparks4827
@@elizabethwingate3042 That is great to hear. Mine were also replaced, but my sunroof is now leaking and it will be checked out this Friday to see why.
I have the same problem it got leak inside the driver side and keep on dripping when it is raining i bring the car to the toyota dealership they told me they will fix it i have a protective plan of my car and this model is 2020 its ridicuolous.
Received a letter from Toyota today. For 2019-2021 RAV 4 Toyota has instituted a Customer Support Program. Not a recall, but if you have a roof rail leak, they will repair for up to 10 years
Having the same problems here, just left my RAV4 at the dealership to fix the passenger side and there is a leak on the driver side too. So unfortunate, it is a great car and TOYOTA is failing to deliver the brand promise " Lets go places"....as long as isn't raining lmao
😂
Thank you! A colleague of mine from Aromas CA had the same problem. I'm now hesitant to buy a RAV 4.
There is no way this would be just one side... same holes, same push clips, same lack of a proper seal. This is a design, engineering, and materials decision they made.
@@lavoiecourt Honda CRV. The locks suck, but the vehicles are built "better than minimal"...like Toyota used to be.
Excellent video, explanation! Have taken mine once for repair and it’s still leaking on one side. Those gaskets that run the full length are loose in the front. What a terrible design and would not expect this from Toyota. Will contact Customer Engagement and the NHTSA as Daniel has recommended here in the comments. Fix this Toyota!
Thanks for this video. Very clear and informative. My parents’ car has this issue and Toyota dealership wanted $140 to diagnose, as though they didn’t know about this problem.
I am retired! last weekend Sept 27 to 30 we had a storm and my RAV4 2026 floor was wet and the side where the sun visor bracket was leaking water I took it to the dealer TOYOTA and they charged me $162 for diagnostics. toyota said to call my insurance to make a claim. INS also not helpful. NEED HELP what to do!
Having this issue on my 2019 but my car is out of warranty now. Looks like I’m screwed. I can’t believe Toyota isn’t addressing this. Hoping for a recall someday but I doubt it
This video is awesome! I just got back from the dealership. I started researching because I was not satisfied with the service. I had a leak aswell and they "fixed" it by " retainer, lowered headliner to isolate leak, found roof rack clip not sealing properly"
Then I go pick it up and the A pillar was not clipped back in correctly. You can clearly see the inside of the pillar from outside the windshield. So I was told to take it back tomorrow morning.
But now that I saw your video. I'm kind of worried about the curtain airbags being affected by all of the water. Any idea how the water would affect the airbags??
Definitely get your rav checked. Mine leaked enough to cause need for a new wire harness. Month and a half in the garage.
What Toyota told me - first trip they didn’t know what what was happening. Second trip - it was my fault for taking it through a car wash. Third time was again we don’t know but we are sure we fixed it. My head liner has been replaced twice only thanks to corporate. I’m really upset about the air bags I never even thought about it.
I can proudly say this toyota will be my first and last toyota I ever own. It's problem after problem on the rav4.
Yeah go buy a Kia, Ford, Nissan or or Jeep. Good luck with those brands😂😂
2021 Rav 4 owners in Taiwan are preparing for the class action due to TOYATA negatively treat
the roof leaking problem.
That sounds great. I hope it will be successful for Rav4 owners.
It needs to be a recall
I’ve been having the same problem. The car has been at the dealership 3 days because the “parts truck didn’t arrive”. So far I’ve been through one recall, steering replacement, and roof leaking - all before hitting 20K miles. It seems like Toyota has been living off its reputation from 20 years ago. I think I’ll try Mazda next time.
Mazda owner here...currently trying to fix my leaking trunk lid. No brand is a safe bet anymore.
Mazda is owned, at least in part by Toyota.
Same bro! Problem after problem! Car is in the shop every couple months. Keep an eye on your coolant level, all the coolant bypass valves are failing. $1k repair if you're outta the 3yr/36k mile warranty
You’re the best for this!! I have the same problem ! Thanks for this
Thanks for the feedback.
Hey are you selling your old roof rack?
Hi. I have not decided. Sorry
@@Rav4Gen5 ok I’m interested if you decide to sell them! Happy new year’s!!!
Also happened in Asia.. check it out
th-cam.com/video/9jWDTtesfT8/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/uYGcmWgq3J0/w-d-xo.html
I called my dealer recently about this. They said they had never heard of it but went off to research. They called back and said there was no information they could find about this issue but I could leave the vehicle there for them to "investigate". I'm choosing another route but haven't finalized by plans yet
Thanks for the explanation.. I have 2017 Rav4. That has been leaking. I live in Florida so it rains a lot. Toyota Corp still says they don't have complaints on this. Dealer will gladly look into it into for $$$.
I thought my noon roof was leaking. But I cleaned and checked the drains. And all the water we go down the drain just fine. But with this video, I think I found the corporate. Thanks.
Aargh... just ordered a Toyota RAV4 because i was dissapointed by the build quality of my VW Tiguan.. And now i read this..
Thanks for this! I got really worried that it was the window or something. Time to take it to the dealer!
It’s good reference for Taiwan rav4
I have a 2019 Rav4 XSE with water leaking on the A pillar as of now my odometer reads 51K miles. I had my windshield replace once and when I brought my car to the dealer to report the leak was told that the sunroof drain was clogged, got charged for $100 for cleaning, still has the problem, brought it back to the same dealer and the service advisor said that it could be the problem with auto glass shop. I brought it back to the auto glass and they graciously gave me a new windshield under warranty. I waited for 5 days to make sure the glue is cured, took my car for a wash, still has the same area of water leak. I called Toyota customer care and was told that the repair cost will be out of my pocket, really not looking forward to pull the headliner to "fix" the issue.
I had this issue corrected 2 separate times with Toyota. Both times everything was under warranty. Both times Toyota replaced the headliner, roof rails and accompanying hardware.The 2nd time the Toyota technician tried to insinuate the reason could be from mounting too much weight on my Yakima basket. I quickly informed him that I've never hauled anything in the basket and that the Yakima was purely there for looks. He quickly pivoted and said no worries, everything is covered under warranty anyway. The main issue I had with Toyota was the technicians themselves, I found a deep scratch on the inside panel around the small rear passenger window. It had been two weeks since they had it in before I noticed, but I'm wondering if maybe I can find the little panel online and replace it? The second thing that pissed me off was they didn't' assemble the seatbelt attachment correctly to the inside panel. It's crooked inside the little slot...I'd rather do it myself as I saw your example on how to take it apart in your headliner removal video. It would pain me to have them in there doing everything half ass.
Anyways, love your videos. Keep the content coming. Thanks Rav4gen5!!!
Thanks for the information and for the feedback. It's good that they covered it but I would hate to have my car in a shop for so long, let alone twice!
Having mine in for service a second time as well . After Toyota Motor Corp told me that there isn't any issues in the database about this , I filed a complaint with the NHTSA. The water coming inside the A pillar area can lead to potential safety problems with the SRS airbag system located there. All shareholders of Toyotas affected by this problem should do the same ...file complaints with both entities.
Daniel, where would we file with the NHTSA. I’ll do it! Such a safety issue and Toyota turning a blind eye.
Christopher, tell me about it. They scratched my passenger A-pillar plastic so I get to look at it always when driving. I didn’t say anything because I don’t want to be super anal but sucks to take to a dealership to get fixed and they put scratches on your car. Plus, didn’t fix the leaking problem ugh
@@e.l.1374
You can Google NHTSA and call the number , they will take your information and then after 24/48 hours will upload it onto the server, which you'll be given a number to access it . The NHTSA followed up by requesting more information about this matter from me . Also call Toyota Headquarters (customer care ) and file a complaint.
I purchased a 2019 RAV4 LE just 2 weeks ago. I first noticed standing water in the spare tire compartment. Water is coming in the car from somewhere near the driver’s side tail light. Then I noticed during a hard rain that headliner was wet at the A and C pillars. Wish I had seen this video before buying the car. Taking it to dealership tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
Any update?
Any update?
Did they fix.
I have just now same problem
I've had this problem, as well. I bought my RAV4 XLE Premium in Feb. 2019. By May 2019, the AWD sensors were failing. The local Toyota service center said one of the roof rack tabs was leaking and it had corroded the computer in the rear of the vehicle (they proved it by taking it through an automatic car wash). They fixed that problem and I didn't think about it again until this weekend, when we were out of town and the car was parked outside during a 48-hour period of rain. When we got in the car today, there was a puddle in the front passenger side floor mat and the headliner above it was wet. That brought me to this video. We'll see what the Toyota dealer has to say about it - my vehicle is well out of warranty.
How can your RAV4 be out of warranty if you only bought it in 2019?
Warranty is only 2 years I think.
@@Rav4Gen5 It's 5 years/unlimited K's in Australia. Looks like 3 years 36,000 miles in the U.S. www.toyota.com/rav4/features/warranty_information/4430/4522/4440
You are correct. Not sure what I confused my thought with.
@@Rav4Gen5 NO worries. And thanks for the video, I have a RAV4 arriving next month so hopefully no problems will occur.
Hmmm, I'm wondering if Toyota has fixed that before the 2023 models?
No, just 2023 models have been redesigned and there is no hole at roof. But 19-20-21-22 models have still these crappy seals and eventually they will broke. So diy is way to go.
@@removebe4flight th-cam.com/video/2SaKzZqcSwY/w-d-xo.html
Why not do a fix for the airbag wiring that is often affected by this water leak?
My 2019 rave 4 adventure has 5,280 miles. My roof racks were leaking every time it rains. I took it to the dealer and they replaced the racks with cheap racks and not the ones that would belong to the adventure. I have a complaint in and will continue to complain. But, I must admit that the service department treated me well. For two days I did not have a car and this was a manufactures defect which was not my fault. They were not able to obtain the original racks that came with the car.
The issue isn't the rails/racks themselves, but the faulty holes underneath that aren't secured by pressure bolts. New racks/rails won't fix it. Complete design flaw that Toyota won't admit to (outside of Taiwan) or fix for out of warranty 2019-2020 owners, but the newer units coming off the production line don't have the extra, faulty holes under the roof rails.
Love all your videos !! Keep up the good job. Thanks
Thank you! Will do!
Thanks for the video. Just noticed this today for the first time. Going to contact Toyota this week.
Update on the RAV4 leaking roof rails. I was very persistent! I contacted the general manager at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle, I'm happy to say that it was repaired at ZERO COST to me. They honored the warranty.
What warranty? What year/model is your car and how much mileage do you have on it?
I drive a 2021 rav4 and it's started leaking this year. Only 20 months into it
Love your video. Thanks for the details.
I am very very tempted to park my car under a sprinkler for a few hours just to see if it has the same issues. It's lives in the garage and is only out in rain/snow while being used, so minimal standing water.
Im with the same situation. Mine haven't leaked yet. It's lives in the garage and in parking with roof.
I'm actually dealing with this issue right now. 2nd time in 3 months that my vehicle suffered from a random no-start/crank issue. They didn't find anything the first time and this time found the leak from the rail, leading down into the A-frame, and getting into a junction box w/various connectors on the passenger side causing the issue. I've got a prinsu roof rack installed and since that isn't from factory, they're telling me it's gonna cost $900+ to fix. Seems like this issue would have happened without the prinsu to begin with.
You’ll have to eat the cost due to aftermarket install not done too well :(
Mine starting leaking at the beginning of this year and I brought it to the dealership to have it looked at. They eventually said they would do repairs under warranty and fast forward to now and four visits later it’s still not fixed. All they are saying is that we need new weather stripping around our door out of our pocket. We got a second opinion from another Toyota dealership and they said our roof rails where damaged and have to be replace but the original dealership denies these claims stating that they worked from the inside of the vehicle. I’m ready to just let them take this vehicle because we have noticed some electrical problems with our drivers seat and a fan that randomly turns on and blows air. I bought a Toyota because I thought I was buying a reliable vehicle but it turned out to be the opposite.
Sorry to hear that sadly Toyota quality ain't there no more.
Great explanation. By the way it’s applicable for Lexus Rx350.
My leaks on the back of the headliner . Hope it helps me to fix it
My passenger front door is collecting water. The window was repalced after a breakin a couple years ago. But the water retention started this year. A was going to remove a body plug, but I can't one low enough it the door. I pry the trim out at the front a little to let the water drain, but that requires me to check it (it does slosh). A bit of a pain.
Another new member of the leaking RAV4 club here. 2019 Adventure with 59k miles. Started switching to “mud/sand” randomly during a rainstorm 2 months ago then again this weekend happened 4 times in the rain. Also would faintly beep once when shifting out of park. The beeping went away after changing the battery but not sure if that was coincidental. Off to the dealer to see what they’ll not do for me!
What did dealer say?
They acted like they didn’t know anything about it and said they don’t know how it could affect anything electrical…I showed them a printed off TSB as well as links to forums with RAV4’s having the exact same issue. They ordered the new hardware and redid it. At that time they said the tech is a pro and has already fixed 3 for the same issue after saying they never heard of it. Didn’t even attempt the stain removal so I went back and they somehow made it worse. So now taking it back for a brand new headliner. They said the terminal block behind the kick panel on drivers side was free of any water damage but did have water running down to it. Imagine that. So I will be inspecting that to confirm there’s no damage. Can’t trust them to do anything right.
Good to know I will take a look at it
I had my 2019 RAV4 XLE (43,000 miles) in on 9/3/21 due to water leakage two days prior. Front seats were soaked, sun visors full of water, headliner soaked, inside of sunroof wet. I told the service manager about this video and comments and was dismissed by him saying "you can't believe everything you see on the internet". He retracted that the next day when he called to tell me it was the roof racks...duh!! I have the expensive extended warranty but was told it did not cover the problem because the roof rack is considered exterior trim. He advised me they got a "goodwill" authorization to repair at no cost (seriously?). It took them a week to get the parts (they provided a rental car). It is still leaking...I called the Service Director and complained at which time he explained the sunroof does not seal completely and it could be the drains from around the sunroof frame. I have an appointment 10/1/21 to have it reevaluated for where the water is entering. I have been very vocal about my concerns with corrosion and electrical issues but they don't seem to see it as a potential problem.
Any update on this, I am really curious because I am having same issue with being past the 36000 warranty
Yes the sunroof drain is a known issue as well
I've got a 2020 Rav4 XSE hybrid with a leaky roof in Colorado. First time was the diver's A pillar only, so bad it dripped on my leg in a standard carwash. Brought to the dealer, they said "we see the leak, come back in a month and leave it with us for 4 days". Did that, now the leak is worse after replacing the rails and clips. Both sides leak now, A and C pillar. Headliner hasn't been replaced (its black) but I'll insist it gets swapped next time. Lemon law in CO says they get 4 attempts to fix it, then I plan to lawyer up if necessary and force them to buy the car back. Its a nightmare and Toyota is totally blowing it.
Contact the NHTSA and file a complaint. There is a potential safety issue with the A pillar SRS airbag system if the electrical connections become exposed to water which may lead to corrosion.
is there any way resealing it without removing the headliner? thanks
I had this exact issue with my 2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure. Initially, I started having odd electrical issues with electric door and windows not working at random times. Then the vehicle failed to start and displayed a "Engine Stopping Steering Power Low" error. Dealer had the vehicle for three days and then called to state they discovered the roof rail was leaking and the water was damaging electrical modules in the kick panels and dash.
Dealer opened a case with Toyota and after about a week, I was told Toyota will be replacing the roof rack, the head liner, carpet, carpet padding, and noise damping material. They will also have a company like Servpro to clean and disinfect the vehicle to prevent mold growth. However, it is going to take four to six weeks for parts to arrive. Once parts arrive, they will disassemble the vehicle and then determine what electrical components will need to be replaced, which means I could be waiting another four to six weeks for those parts. I'm guessing I won't get my vehicle back until June or July at this rate!
A 2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure with three recalls and now this! Very disappointing to see Toyota put QUANTITY of vehicles sold ahead of vehicle QUALITY these days!
What's all the recalls? How did they fix the leak? If it's just by replacing the gaskets with new ones, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before it happens again.
My RAV4 2018 does have that same problem lhs, my seat is wet and it’s winter here Quebec, can’t figure out why it did not happen last summer, bought it July 2021 with only 30,000 klm on it. And also have issues with the cruise control, when on cruise and downshifting going uphill rpm goes to 3800 rpm and stays there for ever if I don’t hit the gas pedal with my foot. Dealer said they can’t do anything about it… you’d better get use to…
I am currently having the same water leak issue with my 2019 Toyota RAV4. After multiple times to the dealership with them just sending me away stating they cannot locate the problem they have identified this roof rail leak. Toyota needs to do something about this faulty design, yet they will not. I have had acceleration issues with this vehicle, corrosion within the vehicle due to this leak and malfunction issues with the systems. I have owned four new vehicles and three used vehicles and never had this many issues over the life of the vehicle, yet alone the less than two year span I have owned this 2019 Toyota RAV4. I have asked the dealership to provide me a good complaint contact at headquarters multiple times and they have yet to provide. I think it is safe to say I will never buy a Toyota again.
Do you have a video on how you took the rails off
Yup. Check my channel.
Im out of warranty. Will be trying to fix this myself. He said was $130 to look at and in the thousands if they needed to remove the headliner
Have a 2021 trail got it new last year just did 10,000 km and last week had a water leak on the A piller on the driver side they said it was from my sun roof ...still not fixed ...need to go back in next week
I normally park in the garage, but was travelling and went through some significant rain. A week or 2 later my car smelled BAD. I looked for food, dead animals etc to find the issue. When I removed my spare tire, I found rancid water pooling on the bottom of the trunk under the tire. I dried it up and sprayed the bottom with a coat of flex seal spray and let it dry. When I go through the car wash, some water is getting through. Could this be from this particular leak or the seal against the back hatch? Anyone else have a similar experience?
Check your headliner toward the back, it’s possible it’s going from behind the headliner coming from the roof rack rails.
These leaks can go down the D pillar and into the trunk. It's a catastrophic design flaw. Hope you're still in warranty. Otherwise, Toyota will abandon you for their mistake.
@@superduperstepdad the dealer wants to charge me all kinds of money for diagnostics. I'm wondering if I just get 2 new rails. I've gone through all this silicone, liquid gasket nonsense and it's still leaking. I spent time in the trunk and had a friend squirt the car. Definitely D rail drivers side entry into the trunk. Those original gaskets are garbage on the trim clips.
2019 Rav4 Low Profile, no racks When I move from a full stop, or take a turn in... water drips down onto the armrest. Just noticed this, as it does not rain much here.
Are you talking about the center arm rest? If so, sounds like more of a sunroof leak than a roof rail leak. There are a few reports of those, too, but doesn't seem to be as many.
@@superduperstepdad Recently, I drove in one of our rather rare downpours... water drips down at the crease of the plastic where is laps another piece of plastic marked "AIRBAG" ... There is a wet stain on BOTH driver and passenger side. I have an appointment with the localToyota dealer.
@@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936 Sounds like the roof rail leak. Good luck with Toyota--hope you're still in warranty!
@@superduperstepdad Out of warranty. Dealership strung me along for 7 months to try and get a resolution. They really did nothing, and merely delayed. I just got off the phone with their consumer affairs or whatever dept...... they read the ole 36K or 3 year line, and explained how they are not responsible for dealerships and went on to explain how they are not responsible for this repair.... I disagreed, as they designed the attachment method, and had many levels at the mfr level to identify and correct this flaw before any vehicle were shipped. A little schmoo ( that does not attack paint or metal ) at each hole likely would resolve this. The same Schmoo used to attach vapor barriers on inner door panels. Fixing these would have cost Toyota the labor to the dealer, plus parts at OEM Net cost.... a hell of a small fraction of my cost to do 2 airbags and a headliner. I am pushing this issue up the food chain. We will see if there is any movement. This was my first an last Toyota. We did not even talk about their lack of Android Auto and their crappy Entune apps.
@@citylockapolytechnikeyllcc7936 I'm sorry your experience was similar to ours. We cut our losses and traded ours in for what we could get out of it. Enjoying our nice, dry smoother-riding CR-V!
Yes, I had a leak, no noticeable water stains however all my wiring was corroded; I couldn’t get the car to start twice, had to have it towed. The tire pressure warning kept coming on, brought it in several times, they kept trying to blame all issues on the remote starter which they took out but issues persisted, they finally determined it was all from the roof leak; they gutted and re-wired the whole thing.
what year do you have?
Just had this issue come up rav4 adventure 2019. The dealer is currently replacing airbag and “whole roof” dropped off today but have not been able to see what they are actually doing. Had visible water damage on the a frame
Same issue, I noticed water was leaking in at the A-pillar after a rain storm. Big Two Toyota in Chandler, AZ wanted to charge around $175 I believe, to diagnose the issue. They also acted like the problem hadn't been brought up by anyone else.
Ahhh, yes. The fake look of surprise when you bring it in to have it looked at. There are some places in the world (Taiwan) where the laws are stronger than for-profit companies' lobbyists and Toyota has had to admit, correct, and extend warranties due to this issue. Sadly, the US is not such a place.
Hope you are under warranty. If not, Toyota Corp will be of no help. Resale/trade-in prices for Gen5 RAV-4s are dropping quickly due to this known defect.
I wish I would have seen this video before the rapair! $2000.00 later, and they didn't replace the headliner. The dealer pretended they didn't have any idea about the problem. I applied for assistance from Toyota since my warranty was expired. They turned me down...of course. They also said this is not a problem they have seen. I should have stuck with Ford! Never had a problem with them!
We had the same issue on a 2019 Limited. Two months out of warranty we got the leak. Car had been garaged 100% and hand-washed 90% of the time. Toyota wouldn't admit to the defect (yet has now eliminated the faulty holes entirely on recent units). We traded ours in for a CR-V and haven't looked back. Won't ever consider a Toyota again!
Any suggestions as to how to remove the high profile roof rack on a 2019 rav4? Dealer wants 2k for the removal
We have a leak on our 2019 RAV4 LE. The dealer was looking to charge well over $4,000 for replacing the two rails entirely and the headliner. I contacted Toyota Corp customer service. They are “going to see” what they can do. We’ll see what they say.
UPDATE: Toyota is covering replacement.
Ferdinand do you still have the info for the customer service? If so please post would be very helpful.
This will be my third time taking my 2021 Rav4 to Toyota for this issue on the driver side. First time Toyota supposedly fixed the issue but they lied. Second time my car was at service for 2 weeks and they said they replaced some parts in the front shield and that this will fix the issue. Well I guess it didn’t because here I am with my car getting water in. This is so frustrating to keep taking in for service. 😠
I took my 2021 rav 4 model in 4 the 2nd time. My rav had 3 different mold colors under floor panels and got fumigate.
My rav was in shop for at least a month . When it was returned within 3 weeks.
Same stupid leakage.
Water gathers in spare tire area. Top of roof was fixed but under the lid at the bottom isn't sealed well
Do I need 2 check Maryland lemon law? Recall 4 passenger airbag not done yet either
I went to Toyota service center because my 2021 Rav4 LE had a loose driver side roof rail but no sign of roof leaking so far. Car came back after 7 hours and the problem was not fixed. I complained to the general manager and a new roof rail was ordered. The important thing here is that this Toyota Service Center checked for a roof leak. I know this because the person that did the labor forgot to properly fit the airbag cover that goes on the A-pillar(passenger side) I complained why it was reviewed and nothing was mentioned in the work order. They told me there is a bulletin about roof leaks and they need to inspect for leak, but they didn't write anything on the work order.
Can you make video how to remove a side bar step by step?
Two lock down center bolts may cause two rack ends twisted， bigger gap cause leaking. I will say 4 bolts needed not just glue and reseal. Thanks for your video.
You are the best. Toyota should call back.
I agree.
hey how are you doing. I am having the same issue and toyota tried to fix it for the 3rd time and the roof is still leaking. they keep giving me the run arround and now it rain a few days ago ad the car is again leavking. What do you recommend that I do?
I would take apart the whole interior ceiling cover and the roof rail and install rtv seal in the wholes. You can watch my prinsu install series. Not small work though. Or tell your dealer to watch this video.
@@Rav4Gen5 i had a feeling that I knew what it was but I am pretty sure that the mechanic had no idea what I was talking about.. so few questions for you? Did you airbag needed to be replaced? Did you need to change the headliners? How long did I take for you to do?
Their fix is still a temporary measure. The new orange seals I believe just as bad. Will it hold up after the warranty runs out?
thats what its designed to do,,, fail after there responsibility ends,,,
My 2018 Rav4 XLE just started leaking. It’s on the driver’s side and pours out the visor. I have overhead staining now and am concerned about the air bag on that side. It goes to the dealership on Monday, but it’s out of warranty so I don’t know what occur.
What type of and brand of roof basket you have there? Mine is leaking as well and it has leaked three times so far.
I have now had two roof leaks on the RAV4 2019. They fixed it once on the rear driver side and now my rear passenger side it doing it. They said they will not fix it and I need to take it to a body shop to spend money to get it fixed. They said they shouldn’t have done it the first time
I wonder if this is the cause of the issue we are having. One day the wipers just turned on, and input to the wiper stalk did not affect the speed or on/off. We had recently been side swiped and had repair work done, after talking to Toyota Dealer we bought from about the wiper issue, they claimed that it was due to the repairs of the shop that fixed the side swipe.... Convenient for them.... Meanwhile they had no information as to what was repaired when the side swipe work was done. We have not had our car for 2 months now, as the shop and Toyota have been going back and forth.
Terrible response by the dealership, said it was my fault that I had clogged sunroof ducts and that drove the water damage. Toyota denied the warranty. What should I do?
Asked me to file an insurance claim. Ridiculous. 35k miles, 2019 Rav4 adventure trim
Have you tried another dealer. Might have better response:/
I took my 2019 RAV 4 to my toyota place and they told me “We don’t have the parts to fix your sunroof because we aren’t a body shop, you will have to go to a body shop mechanic to have them replace it”. Which makes absolutely no sense to me what so ever.
Has this issue been solved in the 2023 model
Yes, just 2023 models have been redesigned with no hole at roof.
Just started to fix mine, drop it off at dealer five days ago. Got a rental car. Leak at both rear side.
Yup sane issue just noticed a few days ago toward cargo area & definitely coming from the roof rack. Both sides. Went through the car wash just this past Friday and immediately saw the water seeping into the headliner. I’m so upset. Is this covered under warranty? My RAV4 is just about 3 years (in May) under 28,000 miles. I’m concerned that even if they replace the headliner and fix the roof racks will this happen again when it really is out of warranty? What can we do about that. I feel as we all were sold a lemon if they haven’t addressed the issue or sent out a recall. I’m concerned even after they fix it….time will pass and it will happen again and cost 💲 we don’t have. It’s a new car it shouldn’t be seeping in water from rain, snow or a car wash. Let’s face it…cats were build with the knowledge of them getting wet at some point (washing/weather). Toyota needs to take responsibility!!!!!
I have the same problem they don’t accept my platinum guarantee only 17000 m always in the garage but route 22 asks for $1000 plus labors and Sansone route 1 NJ seller dealer ask $500 plus labor just for clips both don’t honor guarantee.
I had this problem on my 2020 TRD rav and took it in today. They are fixing the issue but not replacing the head liner. They said they will get it detailed to removed the stains. I am worried about this.
Let me know. Be sure to look closely. Hope it works out well!
@@Rav4Gen5 they went ahead and replaced the liner. So all is well for now. Hopefully it doesn’t happen again!
It happened to mine a second time , I hope your repair holds up . If not, you can contact the NHTSA and file a complaint , like I did . Toyota Motor Corp didn't recognize that there can be a potential safety issue with the A pillar SRS airbag being exposed to water which can lead to corrosion.
Any reoccurrence with yours Amanda?
2019/09 E4 from Taiwan.
Water came in from A pillar, Toyota here said, they have no idea where the stain from, and said “there’s no leaking happened yet, let us do some preventing duty to your car.” More and more owner are having same problem and feel disappointed to what Toyota try to covered this news. (Since Toyota have high commercial budget to News and Reporter)
I have seen the Taiwan Rav4 leaking videos and also another weak point is the 1 foot ruler like black plastic going from the top of the rear door to the trunk has also shown leakage.
Interesting. I'll have to investigate that and look for preventative measures. thanks!
We have this problem with our 2019 rav4 le and Toyota is paying for it and make sure there is no mold and if they can't clean the headliner properly they will replace it. We had ours cleaned to unsatisfactory conditions and we could see mold and we were told there was none
We are now waiting for a new one to come in. BTW we also had a wiring Harness replaced due to corrosion.
Just finished up my prinsu install. While going around spot cleaning the headliner I noticed very minor water spottage around the front top handles. I sealed the crap out of the remaining holes so hopefully this problem will be eliminated.
Good eye. Should hold up better than Toyota's work.
Do you have to take the headliner out to seal these up?
It makes it much easier when you remove it. Only way to access the bolt to remove and apply a seal.
@@Rav4Gen5 thanks. I figured so. I have a 2019 and I’m praying it doesn’t leak. I wanted to be proactive
After having boats and all sorts of toys, nothing beats some marine silicone forget about those little gaskets. I'm going to fix my own myself with a little marine silicone. I guarantee it will be a permanent fix. I Use marine silicone below the waterline on my boat and never had a leak. Are use marine silicone on my shop where the flashing meets the concrete it's held up for eight years now in the weather and I live in rainy Oregon.
We have it on a 2019 RAV4-LE. Just discovered why. I’ll contact Toyota to learn more.
I have had mine looked at three times now! HEADLINER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE! Roofs been torn apart 3 times! I thought I was alone in my aggravations! They are about to get mine back and it’s sad because I love the car just not the leaks!
Mine is going in for a second time as well. I contacted Toyota Motor Corp and they stated that there wasn't any complaints about this problem in the database. This prompted me to contact and file a complaint with the NHTSA, as well as with Toyota. There can be a potential safety issue with the A pillar SRS airbag system if the electrical connections are exposed to water, thus creating possible corrosion. All owners of vehicles affected by this problem should contact both entities and file complaints.
Crazy! To think it seems like an easy fix and they can’t get it right! I’ll be going in for my second time I’m sure they will just be loading up on silicone sealer all around in there. Sucks. Not what I ever expected when purchasing this vehicle.
@@e.l.1374
They did change the design of the clips and gaskets that secure the plastic trim of the roof rails into the roof of the vehicle. The rails were changed on mine as well , perhaps they were redesigned as well. I don't think they would change them otherwise. As far as sealing, yes they did do that according to my service advisor . The roof rails also have a rubber gasket that sits on the roof , that gasket was installed with a sealant to the roof rail assembly, that rubber gasket previously was folding back and under the front A pillar area . Overall I totally understand how you're feeling, but keep on top of it , call Toyota Motor Corp. document everything , just in case . I believe that how Toyota has stood by their products in the past and remedied other engineering problems, we should be okay .
@@dgthill Thanks Daniel for the help and keeping this issue alive. Glad yours was fixed, I will be referencing this all when at the dealership the second time around.
I just got my 2021 trd 3 months ago from Maryland. it was made in Canada and I keep it outside. let's see what happens
My 2021 Rav4 Limited is at the dealership now. I have had it about 4 months. I took it through a car wash today for the first time. I noticed water coming down at the top center panel right side left of the controls for the panoramic roof. I went right from the car wash to the dealer. They used a high pressure washer and couldn't reproduce the problem. I told them I would take it back to the carwash to verify. They asked me to shoot a video so they could see exactly where the leak was. It happened again and I got the video. There was about 1/2 inch of water in the center cup holders. Under 6,000 miles on car.
I just want a little clarification as I have a hold on a 2021 Rav4 Hybrid Limited and I want to make sure I understand this issue. Does this problem occur with the factory installed roof rails that come on the car....or is this only an issue if you put on one of Toyota's OEM roof racks (the beasty one as well as the lighter duty looking one)? So, like...if I don't put a roof rack on my new car...will that decrease the likelihood of seeing this leaking issue? I'm not going to have a garage to keep this vehicle in so I am becoming concerned. I planned to install a rack...but if that's going to lead to major issues...I may avoid the install. Thanks.
@@Kindness808 My issue turned out to be the windshield was not sealed properly. The dealership took off the original windshield and installed a new one and the problem was solved. My roof racks came installed by the factory. A word of caution, if you have a panoramic roof like I do, you can not put weight on the roof racks as the full length panoramic roof will not structurally support the weight.
It is a problem with all RAV4. With or without accessories.
@@donbjortomt6235 Thanks
Toyota must address this issue and I’m worried now, and I just bought a 2022 RAV4 with cross bars factory installed 3 weeks ago. I know that doesn’t have much rain here in Cali but what if I go for car wash. I’m afraid that water will go through my roof rails. Does anyone here have 2022 have water leak issue? Thanks Rav4Gen5 for sharing this video…
I've had mine replaced on my 2022 rav 4 trd after I noticed the front peeling up with only 3,000 miles. 2 weeks after nightmare replacement it's already peeling up. Nightmare as they damaged my interior during removal process. Supposedly the part was redesigned in spring of 2022 but I keep persisting. It's not a solid fix. I think people need to keep complaining until they design a better roof rail
Thanks for putting this together. I don't suppose you could post the thickness, inner diameter, and outer diameter of those gaskets around the plastic clips?
I just noticed water marks on the rear side of the headliner of my 2020 RAV4 and my first thought was exactly this - thank you for the video and for providing a forum ... Will be setting up an appointment with Toyota Dealership. I Wonder if the warranty will cover this issue, car has only 22K KMs on it
I have a leak now. Did you get warranty on this?
@@lijohnsjoy7377 Yes it was covered under warranty. The seals for roof rails allowed the water to seep through - common issue with RAV4's as per dealership...
Well me too! Now what am I going to do? No telling how much this is going to cost.
Toyota in East Tennessee tried to charge $1500 without replacing the headliner.
Took to Toyota under warranty they add more gasket. The only way I know this a week later I removed the stock roof rack and installed victory roof rack.
Did they fix this on the 2022 model?
No, just 2023
@@removebe4flight sold mine and got a mazda cx5
I have the same issue it’s the passenger side, it end up rusting on the inside at the corner of the windshield. And now there are paint bubbles ready to rust on the outside corner of the windshield. The dealer never replaced the headliner. now the headliner is damaged that they’re going to do the job all over again. The mechanics destroyed the C pillar in the rear , denying that they ever took it out!
Hi I have a leak happening now on my 2020 Toyota RAV4 XLE Hybrid. Toyota is telling me they don’t know where the leak is and maybe I left my sun roof open even though the car notifies you if you leave any windows open 😒 so at this point their expectation is for me to pay for over 900 dollar diagnostics fee? Any advice?
Sell it. Toyota won't acknowledge the design flaw even though it's the worst-kept secret in the auto industry. Value of these RAV4's are dropping like a rock because of it.
Is this a known issue for the 4 generation? 2013-2018 Rav4?
Not to my knowledge.
I have the same problem with my toyota rav4 2019. The dealership wants to charge 2200 to replace my roof rails. Do you guys know where can i get fixed for a better price?
The problem is not with the roof rails. The problem is poor design. Five of the 9 holes under each roof rail do not have enough pressure holding the seal together (see 0:50 mark). There are five holes under each roof rail that are only sealed by flimsy plastic trim clips and thin rubber gaskets. Without an additional sealant or adhesive, the vibrations from the engine and the road will shake these seals open. There's also the issue that water/debris is getting under the roof rails in the first place. New OEM rails won't fix that, either.
Selling the old rack?
Got a 2021 RAV4 XSE a month ago. Haven't seen anything yet. However, how will i know if it is leaking? I would like to sort it out before it get worse, even if it leaking!!
You will know it is leaking when you see your headliner wet. Toyota won't do anything until it happens. =/
Very good video. Nobody will show this issue. Thank you!!!
You're welcome! Hopefully it get attention.
Awesome. Thank you. Wish Toyota fixes this soon.
Thanks for the feedback. Hope they do something too.
Do you know if Toyota would replace it after 36,000 miles? I’m at ~30,300 miles, and no leaks thankfully - but just curious.
I do not know but I know even people with less than 10k miles are struggling to get support from Toyota and are having to pay out of pocket. It’s dumb
Our 2019 LE started leaking recently and it’s the roof rack seal issue. At 37,100 miles, Toyota doesn’t want to cover it. I contacted their corporate customer service today. They’re “going to see” what they can do. They claim they don’t know about the issue. I called bullshit since I’ve been researching it. As I stated in a comment earlier, I’ve been a Toyota customer since 1998 and have never been so disappointed. I might have to install the Prinsu roof rack since it is way less money than the $4,000 Toyota is quoting for replacing both roof rails entirely and the headliner. I’ll update on my comment.
I wonder if o-ring seals would work better than those flimsy flat seals? Can you not silicone around the holes - typically there would be no reason to remove the rails.
You can certainly silicone it and it would be the way I would go considering, like you said, no reason to remove them. It should be the way dealers goes about this to resolve the issue but we shall see. Hopefully Toyota will have a response.
I was just told by Toyota that my 2019 RAV4 needed to have the roof rails replaced and the headliner replaced and I’m looking at $5200 in cost. I do have the platinum warranty coverage that I pay for every month with my financing. Is this correct, or are they telling me something false?
If you don't have to pay for it, I would go ahead and have it serviced and let them do whatever they want to make it right. I think a lot of Rav4 will have this issue if they don't already.
If you DO have to pay for it, keep arguing that this should be covered. Try other dealerships. I don't think the rail has to be replaced. Just the seals. So I would argue that to save some money.
@@Rav4Gen5 They are saying that it’s under my calls. Therefore they’re saying I have to pay for it. Which I am arguing it as we speak. This is unacceptable! I bought the car in October 2020
I have the expensive extended warranty but was told it did not cover the problem because the roof rack is considered exterior trim. He advised me they got a "goodwill" authorization to repair at no cost.
Update on the RAV4 leaking roof rails. I was very persistent! I contacted the general manager at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle, I'm happy to say that it was repaired at ZERO COST to me. They honored the warranty.@@tamaraparks4827
@@elizabethwingate3042 That is great to hear. Mine were also replaced, but my sunroof is now leaking and it will be checked out this Friday to see why.
I have the same problem it got leak inside the driver side and keep on dripping when it is raining i bring the car to the toyota dealership they told me they will fix it i have a protective plan of my car and this model is 2020 its ridicuolous.