This might not be good news for Toyota RAV4 Hybrid owners. Many have faced a $5,000 defect due to corrosion. Toyota told drivers that it corrected the issue to ease anxiety. However, new information suggests that the problem only received a temporary fix. 

The $5,000 corrosion Toyota RAV4 Hybrid problem strikes again 

A majority of Toyota RAV4 Hybrid owners have suffered anxiety due to a problem related to corrosion that results in a $5,000 repair bill. 

The problem was first discovered on 2019 – 2022 models and is referred to as ‘Cablegate’. According to APA, the high-voltage cable connector in these SUVSs is susceptible to corrosion. 

There is a documented problem where water road salt gets into the connector for the rear motor, causing it to corrode and fail. 

As a result, the hybrid system shuts down. It could prevent the vehicle from starting, and it costs over $5,000 to replace the wiring harness out of warranty. Toyota assured drivers that it solved the Cablegate problem by redesigning the connector in 2022. 

However, the automaker quietly extended warranty coverage on 2023 – 2024 RAV4 Hybrid models. This is after Toyota insisted it solved the issue and didn’t need to provide extended coverage. 

Customers claim this move proves that the automaker knows that redesigning the cable fails to protect it from corrosion. Therefore, the problem hasn’t been solved. Also, Toyota hasn’t implemented a preventive maintenance recall. 

Owners are working to file a class action lawsuit. While the RAV4 Hybrid accounts for a majority of complaints, the Venza, Highlander, and Lexus NX models have similar complaints.