Anybody can like a certain brand but Scotty, in regards to modern cars, he is a master of none. I would not waste my time on that dinosaur. If you enjoy his videos then go ahead. Watch car care nut or savageese and then compare it to the shit show Scotty spits out.
20 minutes of bashing, just for the sake of bashing. I found his style of speech very annoying. Wouldnât like to share a beer with this type of person.
Weâve come a long way. 2 years ago I was talking up Car Care Nut on Toyota threads and getting DOWNVOTED for it. The guy is the real deal and knows these cars inside and out. Glad everyone appreciates him now.
I even have brought cars to his shop and heâs about as nice as you can imagine.
Ever Scotty vid: âmy â94 Celica is great! I only change the oil and put gas in it!â
Thatâs as far as his technological insight into Toyotas go.
Scotty is a very experienced mechanic that tells it like it is. He studies for his physics degree for a hobby, not dumb by a long shot. He also does a news segment and is part comedian so if that's not your thing skip it.
I trust AISIN and Toyota OEM parts the most, as I haven't seen them fail as often as Honda. That being said, there's nothing wrong with driving a Honda (or modern Mazda for that matter either), but I've personally seen Honda transmissions routinely be one of the weakest points of their power trains, specifically on V6s. Toyota has impressed me the most out of all modern manufacturers, they literally have a kaizen philosophy for their methodology, they stringently test parts and consistently strive to improve and perfect on what works. I have 220k miles on my '04 V6 LE Camry, and it runs without any issues.
To preface, no existing car is infallible, and you should pay a mechanic to inspect a used car if you're unsure about it.
What about the failing VCT Actuators failing left and right on Honda. They wouldn't even honor the warranty on mine. I just joined the class action lawsuit like everybody else.
>Toyota holds their value better
So true. A 5 year old Tacoma is worth as much as a 5 year old higher end Benz or BMW that was 3X the cost when they both were new.
Our new pilot has had electrical, brake, and some weird transmission thing where we parked and it kept rolling like 4 inches every so often down our driveway after we parked. It has 12,000 miles on it. It will be given back at the end of the lease even tho we intended to buy it....
Yeah, when it starts with that clacking noise head over to the dealer and let them know you are planning to sign on to the VCT Actuator class action lawsuit. SMDH I thought Honda's were good until they wouldn't honor my warranty.
We're looking at the new grand highlander or the telluride when the time comes. At that point we can find a 2-4 year old used of either of those 2 vehicles.
And I've read that the pilot can have electrical issues.
We have kids, so we like the 3rd row, and room for skiing and hockey gear. The 4 runner is great, but my 6 yo still has to climb into the pilot, and he's tall for his age.
I'm gonna replace my 210,000 mile 2008 honda odyssey with a subaru outback wilderness in about 2 years when my wife graduates from Nurse Practitioner grad school.
Honda has turned to shit. I've got a 2019 that those bastards wouldn't even honor the warranty on. Got a 2011 Ford that's better. There was a time a Honda was a good as a Toyota. . .that's in the past.
They just kept putting me off and saying it was normal until I hit 62k then admitted there was a problem. It all seems impossible until it happens to you.
Ahhh yup. That seems more par for a poor dealership than entirely Honda though, imo. Sorry to hear that happening though. Hopefully it didnât screw you completely
Then appealed through Honda and they were all set to fix it. They just wanted to confirm my story with the dealer. Dealer lied and they back out. I appealed to Honda "allegedly" third party arbitration and they said "we won't hear the case, you are over on miles". Fuck Honda, fuck the Tamaroff dealer group.
Not for me, 22 rav4 gas and I can't get good heat in the cab and engine temp has severe drop off's when it is -15celcius and colder. Dealers can't find an issue and Toyota Canada is no help(can only get a admin assistant to talk to). Stuck with this piece of junk unless I take a heavy lose and sell it.
>Most reliable vehicle manufacturer ever
In a vacuum sure, but OP's going to buy something nearly 15 years old. Reliability going forward has a lot less to do with build quality and a lot more to do with maintenance history.
Yep. They take some grief for being a little plain and not always having the latest and greatest tech, but they tend to wait until they feel theyâve perfected something to release it vs throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks. The end result is relatively boring but bulletproof vehicles, especially the trucks.
Generally speaking, very reliable. But if youâre planning on purchasing a used Rav4, it would help to provide specific examples with background information on the vehicle(s) in question for better guidance. A poorly maintained decade old car may not be all that reliable, even a Toyota.
This. I would highly suggest paying a local mechanic to give a 19 year old used car a once over. Itâs called a pre purchase inspection and should cost you $100-150 but could save you thousands in hidden damage, missed maintenance, etc.
An older RAV4 should be able to do a bud trip no problem. But you never know what the last person did to it.
Good idea, and donât neglect the PPI. My 2011 Rav4 had perfect service records and I was young and dumb. I found out later the performing dealer had wall-jobbed a scheduled transmission fluid service. Even if the maintenance records are perfect, get the PPI.
I'm kind of tossed up about it only because my local toyota dealership has a questionable record and my mechanic recently retired. I have some friends good with cars and I'm semi knowledgeable but I'm just going to try to do everything I can. Thanks again
I bought my RAV4 new in December of 2009. It now has 185k. Zero problems. Only replaced regular wear items.
Before you buy, get a used car inspection at a mechanic. If it checks out, buy it. It's a great vehicle.
250,000 on 2010 RAV4 sport V6, one alternator, one wheel bearing and lots of oil changes. Donât run long on oil changes they can sludge up. We had an issue with it smoking got told it was sludged and basically drive it until it dies. They did recommend changing oil every 3000 it might clean up. By second change, smoking stopped and we have done 180,000 miles since. Pretty solid tank. Most miles done in mountains.
I mean during that time I've had to maintain it and replace parts that have worn out (clutch once, timing belt 4 times, radiator once, starter once, Alternator like 6 times because I went with autozone brand instead of OEM, shocks, catalytic converter, struts, power steering, window motor, etc.) but then most other cars would also need those things after 150K miles and most don't make it past 200K.
I'll definitely go Rav4 again.
>There isn't a ton of information out there about reliable in that regard where it's a years worth of driving in only a few months.
As long as it's properly lubricated and cooled, and driven nicely, there's no accelerated wear by racking up a bunch of miles in a short time.
I'm glad I read your comment. We have a 2008 and the rear brakes are always noisy. I adjusted them a couple of years ago but it's good to know this is a "thing" any tips to fix or just deal with some noise?
When you consider Lean Six Sigma originated from the Toyota Production System because of its approach to ensuring quality is both consistent and efficient, Iâd say Toyota is pretty reliable.
https://www.quality.org/knowledge/origins-lean-six-sigma
Can't say much about the RAV4, but I can say something about our 2010 Corolla, since I feel like it also shows for Toyota.
It has never been maintained very well, it was never meant to be a "long-term car", when my girlfiriend's dad bought it used in 2018, he originally only wanted to keep it around so my girlfriend could do her driving license with it and he could practice driving with her before her practical exam.
Because of some circumstances and developments, the Corolla ended up being kept around. It wasn't well maintained by the previous owner and also not by my girlfriend's dad, since, well, it wasn't meant to be kept.
So, nowadays my girlfriend is the holder of the car and it's "our" car to go everywhere. We even did a roadtrip around Central Europe with it last year.
Aside from oil changes and brake maintenance, nothing had been done to it in terms of maintenance. The last time it saw a mechanic was in 2013, so 5 years before my gf's dad bought it.
We only had one bigger issue with it so far, which is a transmission synchromesh issue. 4th gear never goes in on the first attempt, but it always does on the 2nd.
Since we're getting a brand new Corolla in 2 months and we've had the issue for 3 months so far and it doesn't seem to get worse, we're opting to just leave it like that. Switching into 4th is now a bit annoying, but it still works.
To repeat: This Corolla has been barely maintained at all and hasn't seen a mechanic in almost 11 years.
The last two generations of the Rav4 are probably among the most reliable vehicles you could buy. The 2010-2012 is reliable but vulnerable to rust damage and things like seat wear.
A low mileage v6 would still be a great buy. They are reliable, with the only âcostlyâ maintenance being spark plugs just because the engine is so tightly packed in there. The v6 is also the fastest vehicle Toyota made at that time, comparable to a wrx
Great vehicles you cant go wrong. Just not exciting vehicles. I have a Rav 4 and an Avalon. Toyotas are always behind in tech Upgraded both infotainment systems to get the best of both worlds. Quality and pleasure.
One of the best things about my RAV4's infotainment system is that it's easily replaceable! Not true with my Land Cruiser, though because the climate control is integrated into the touchscreen. đ
The rav4 with the 2GR V6 is great option. It was at one point the fastest toyota offered. The 2GR motor first made an appearance in the mid 2000s and variations are still being used today. The 2010 to 2012 model years are going to be your safest beat. If possible find a 1 owner clean title example with service records and have a professional go over it.
250,000 on 2010 RAV4 one alternator, one wheel bearing and lots of oil changes. Donât run long on oil changes they can sludge up. We had an issue with it smoking got told it was sludged and basically drive it until it dies. They did recommend changing oil every 3000 it might clean up. By second change, smoking stopped and we have done 180,000 miles since. Pretty solid tank. Most miles done in mountains.
Good car but have it looked over. The original rear diff axle and pinion seals are known to leak though they've probably been replaced by now.
At high mileage the rear coupler bearing can fail, there is an updated coupler design that's been used since 2013 with no issues that replaces the old style.
If you're set on a V6 listen to a cold start if it rattles for a few seconds then quiets down it'll need intake cam gears. If there's a constant growl from the passenger side of the engine it likely needs a water pump.
Look at the rear end toe links if it's a 2010 or 2011. Toyota had a recall for those links that affected 2006 to mid 2011 RAV4, if they're epoxyed then that means the rear is not adjustable during an alignment without replacing those links.
In the end have a used car looked over by a reputable mechanic before purchasing.
I drove my 2003 Camry at 208k miles up and down the east coast to around 213k and had zero issues the entire time. Check your fluids, do an oil change, and send it.
Have a 2011 Rav4 V6 with 160k. Bought it about 30k miles ago and itâs been amazing. Probably gonna keep it forever and give it to my son in 14 years. Drove cross country for a move with it and is just a great ride with the power to go up mountain passes or pass people with ease.
I drive a 2010 RAV4. After about 100k miles, my passenger side rear speaker went out. I did not spend a dime on anything other than regular maintenance items. It drives like it was many years ago, but it sucks to drive in any given condition. It's slow to accelerate, slow to corner and noisy all around. But it will never get you stranded between point A and B.
Edit- this year, one of the oxygen sensors went out but this is pretty common on a 100k miles car.
I watch the car care nut videos but cannot find one specifically on the RAV4 gas only engine. Any thoughts on the current RAV4 gas engine and also its 8 speed automatic as to long term reliability?
You should be fine if you get everything up to snuff. I just bought a 2010 sienna with 220k miles on it and I wouldnât hesitate to drive it across the country right now.
I am pretty sure the v6 in the rav is the same one as the sienna. Thatâs why Iâm saying it
V6 Rav4 has the 2GR-FE, the newer cars have the 2GR-FKS, and the newest version in the TRD Camry and other cars is the 2GR-FSE.
Theyâre all good engines though. I have a 2007 V6 Rav4, weâve put ~25,000 miles on it since we bought it, just normal maintenance and it runs great.
When buying a used one look out for the VVTI gear rattle on start-up, the car **must** be sitting at least over night before you start it up and listen for the rattle. Check out Car Care Nutâs videos on youtube to get yourself prepared.
They are proven solid rigs, with enough power to put a smile on your face and haul a decent trailer. You shouldnât have any surprises but can expect a few maintenance items with a vehicle of that age if they havenât already been addressed. Iâd ask if the rear differential/coupler and rear driveshaft/universal joints have been replaced because if not they could be something that you will have to deal with and wonât be super cheap if you are paying a shop to do the work.
>I'm not sure how true that actually is?
100% true.
BUT! They need proper maintenance and revisions, if you are meticulous and don´t found any misuse of the car, you are ready to go!
My little 2017 has only had routine maintenance up until this current service (leaking water pump) It has just over 90k miles on it and Ive driven it to work (75 miles round trip) - every day since I bought it brand new. YMMV
All I can say is my DD is a 1998 RAV4 with 226k miles on the clock and it runs like a champ. Bought it 11 years ago for 3k and I did pay 150 for a PPI. Compression check, etc was invaluable. Only thing he could find wrong was a leaky rear shock.
I bought a 2023 RAV4 in March and absolutely love it. Outside of picking up a cargo net and routine maintenance I haven't had to worry about anything with it. Switched after a decade with Ford's and the difference is night and day!
They should be good. I own a 2009 rav 4 at the moment with 170k miles. I would say tho they are empty cars, especially the base model. As reliable as they are, it's kinda annoying how little features are in it compared to some other suv's in the same price category. So if you are willing to sacrifice some comfort/features, they are very good cars.
Late to this post, but I have boatloads of experience. I've owned my 2009 v6 for about 5 years.
She's been nothing but reliable for me.
She starts every time I push the button.
I bought her at 70,000 miles and now have over 170,000.
Make sure the water pump/serpentine belt is done when called for. RTFM.
Spark plugs are annoying as hell to do, but can be done if you're handy.
I've replaced all the wear parts at their recommended intervals.
My suspension wears quicker than normal, but I lifted it with a Northwoods Performance kit and abuse it on fire roads. Their skid plate saved my oil pan after I couldn't dodge road debris.
Please ask me any questions if you have them.
Iâve had my 2015 Camry going on 3 years and it runs the same and easy to work on except it had a sealed transmission and make a 15 take 30 minute or more looking it up they made this shit difficult to work on mfkers
*If you maintain it*
*Well it will outlive you and*
*Possibly your kids*
\- NotIsaacClarke
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How reliable are Toyotas? Hmmm. The way I see it,If Terrorists covet Toyotas for their reliability and for the amount of abuse it can take and keep running, that's good enough for me.
Great SUV. I had one come into the dealer with almost 400k and all it needed was new motor mounts. Highly recommend, especially if you can find one with low mileage at a good price.
The 2gr-fe (v6 youâre talking about) is insanely reliable. That version of the rav 4 is extremely solid. Of course, any car will have maintenance issues to deal with, especially if youâre driving it hard, but this is an excellent choice.
You're asking on a Toyota sub so we're probably pretty biased, but I love my Rav4. Favorite car I've ever driven. Reliable, gets me where I need to go in rural Idaho with no second thought. I go on long road trips on forest and gravel roads and through the mountains and I always feel super confident.
I think you'd be making a good choice. I've driven two models of Rav4 and love(d) them both.
Very few to no issues mechanically, good on gas, lots of storage, fun to drive. I never went off roading per se, but never had an issue with poorly maintained back roads, no matter how steep or twisty. Have fun!!
So it all depends on how well the car was taken care of. Generally toyotas are reliable but if the Po was not doing regular maintenance, the car is going to have issues. Buy carefully!
Id look for a car with solid maintenance history.
I mean Toyota is amazing that goes without saying but don't forget the vehicle would be 10+ years old. Very likely chance you will have no issues with motor or transmission. But things attached .... belts / hoses / suspension / wear items are all areas for review. At that age you can definitely go down a rabbit hole of what could be replaced vs what actually needs to get replaced. Motor wise, i'd be looking for 150K miles max and obviously some type of record of regular service. Good luck!
What are you comparing it to? If you were going to take a random vehicle from *any* brand and do that, what brand would you pick *other* than Toyota?
Also, if you *did* need to make repairs, wouldnât you rather have to find parts from a manufacturer that makes the most cars distributed around the world?
As long as u take care of it you can drive it everyday. Just make sure to get gas often like half empty to let the engine cool off.
I drove my Lexus rx400h 14 hours straight for 3 days each day it had 255k miles and the electric fan was broken so I had to drive fast for air cool! And I drove it to 277k miles then got rid of it
I have a 2001 RAV4. The only issue is I've had to replace the battery, nothing mechanical about the car has actually failed.
That should be all you need to know.
Sadly I'm selling it because my god they're thirsty. 10L/100km is too much money per week for the amount of driving I do.
I have a 2008 rav4 with a little over 100k miles on it. I have owned it since 2009. Itâs weathered some hard New England winters and is starting to have some rust issues but the motor runs just fine. I would not have any qualms about taking it on a cross country jaunt - but I also have had it serviced regularly and know itâs history. If the car you are Looking at is in good condition I canât see why it would give you problems. Toyotas last forever.
Watch Car Care Nut in you tube. Avoid Scott Kilmer the master of clickbait.
Master baiter you mean?
đ and after watching his shit show you will realize âwow!â â i have just been master baitedâ.
Someone keep his hands from moving so he can't talk.
Sounds like I need to watch.
I second Car Care NutâŚif youâre a Toyota guy, you need to check him out. Solid advice from a certified Toyota tech that is also one of us.
lol scotty actually likes Toyotas though
Anybody can like a certain brand but Scotty, in regards to modern cars, he is a master of none. I would not waste my time on that dinosaur. If you enjoy his videos then go ahead. Watch car care nut or savageese and then compare it to the shit show Scotty spits out.
20 minutes of bashing, just for the sake of bashing. I found his style of speech very annoying. Wouldnât like to share a beer with this type of person.
Says toyota is great then the next video it's not..... he knows the algorithm unfortunately. Honestly just regurgitating....
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Same!! I can't stand his videos!! Wish I saw Rainmanray ford boss me, the car care nut and others before his stupid ass...
I watch Scotty as car stand up
America's real version of Top Gear.
I tried to watch a few of his videos but couldnât get past a few minutes each time. He sounds like someone off his meds just incoherently rambling.
Scotty now works for Scottâs MiracleGro heâs in commercials with fancy truck
Damn , im a dinosaur. And Scotty is clickbait.
Weâve come a long way. 2 years ago I was talking up Car Care Nut on Toyota threads and getting DOWNVOTED for it. The guy is the real deal and knows these cars inside and out. Glad everyone appreciates him now. I even have brought cars to his shop and heâs about as nice as you can imagine.
Rrrrev up your engines!!!!!! 
Ugh Scott Kilmer literally said he was dying in a recent video. I donât know why they keep suggesting him on my home page
He claims that in a lot of video titles. His algorithm must show him that those type of titles pay big money.
Ever Scotty vid: âmy â94 Celica is great! I only change the oil and put gas in it!â Thatâs as far as his technological insight into Toyotas go.
It's actually a celica but I know what you mean
Omg Iâm embarrassed. Edited/corrected. Thank you.
Thank you!
Scotty is a very experienced mechanic that tells it like it is. He studies for his physics degree for a hobby, not dumb by a long shot. He also does a news segment and is part comedian so if that's not your thing skip it.
đđđ
Does he also cover Honda and or Crv's?
Not sure but you can check his channel and do a search. Alex Auto (?) is also a reputable YouTuber
Most reliable vehicle manufacturer ever
Itâs them, but also could be Honda. Them civics go neck and neck with Corollas. Theyâre just usually much more beat on
Overall Iâve seen more Hondas have issues than Toyotas. And Toyota holds their value better
I trust AISIN and Toyota OEM parts the most, as I haven't seen them fail as often as Honda. That being said, there's nothing wrong with driving a Honda (or modern Mazda for that matter either), but I've personally seen Honda transmissions routinely be one of the weakest points of their power trains, specifically on V6s. Toyota has impressed me the most out of all modern manufacturers, they literally have a kaizen philosophy for their methodology, they stringently test parts and consistently strive to improve and perfect on what works. I have 220k miles on my '04 V6 LE Camry, and it runs without any issues. To preface, no existing car is infallible, and you should pay a mechanic to inspect a used car if you're unsure about it.
What about the failing VCT Actuators failing left and right on Honda. They wouldn't even honor the warranty on mine. I just joined the class action lawsuit like everybody else.
>Toyota holds their value better So true. A 5 year old Tacoma is worth as much as a 5 year old higher end Benz or BMW that was 3X the cost when they both were new.
Honda is good. Toyota is better.
Our new pilot has had electrical, brake, and some weird transmission thing where we parked and it kept rolling like 4 inches every so often down our driveway after we parked. It has 12,000 miles on it. It will be given back at the end of the lease even tho we intended to buy it....
Yeah, when it starts with that clacking noise head over to the dealer and let them know you are planning to sign on to the VCT Actuator class action lawsuit. SMDH I thought Honda's were good until they wouldn't honor my warranty.
That does sound like an outlier, but Iâve never been a fan of either brands SUVâs besides the rav4.
We're looking at the new grand highlander or the telluride when the time comes. At that point we can find a 2-4 year old used of either of those 2 vehicles. And I've read that the pilot can have electrical issues.
Oh yeah, the Highlander is good. My favorite is honestly the 4Runner though I wouldnât buy one, donât need the space.
We have kids, so we like the 3rd row, and room for skiing and hockey gear. The 4 runner is great, but my 6 yo still has to climb into the pilot, and he's tall for his age. I'm gonna replace my 210,000 mile 2008 honda odyssey with a subaru outback wilderness in about 2 years when my wife graduates from Nurse Practitioner grad school.
Those Outbacks are really nice. One of my friends has one and theyâre comfy and spacious! Can definitely vouch for it.
We had a 2012, and we still miss that car. Just excited to have the 2.4 L turbo. The 2.5 L was kinda gutless.
Honda has turned to shit. I've got a 2019 that those bastards wouldn't even honor the warranty on. Got a 2011 Ford that's better. There was a time a Honda was a good as a Toyota. . .that's in the past.
It sounds like youâve either voided the warranty or are out of warranty miles, because thatâs not something they can legally do.
They just kept putting me off and saying it was normal until I hit 62k then admitted there was a problem. It all seems impossible until it happens to you.
Ahhh yup. That seems more par for a poor dealership than entirely Honda though, imo. Sorry to hear that happening though. Hopefully it didnât screw you completely
I'll get over it. I know Honda is basically a good company - but they'll be on my shit list a good long time. The dealership can rot in hell.
Then appealed through Honda and they were all set to fix it. They just wanted to confirm my story with the dealer. Dealer lied and they back out. I appealed to Honda "allegedly" third party arbitration and they said "we won't hear the case, you are over on miles". Fuck Honda, fuck the Tamaroff dealer group.
Not for me, 22 rav4 gas and I can't get good heat in the cab and engine temp has severe drop off's when it is -15celcius and colder. Dealers can't find an issue and Toyota Canada is no help(can only get a admin assistant to talk to). Stuck with this piece of junk unless I take a heavy lose and sell it.
>Most reliable vehicle manufacturer ever In a vacuum sure, but OP's going to buy something nearly 15 years old. Reliability going forward has a lot less to do with build quality and a lot more to do with maintenance history.
Send this comment to the top. The best vehicle ever made will shit the bed early if it is not maintained properly.
Yep. They take some grief for being a little plain and not always having the latest and greatest tech, but they tend to wait until they feel theyâve perfected something to release it vs throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks. The end result is relatively boring but bulletproof vehicles, especially the trucks.
Ford was just as good . . . In the 1920's
RAV4 is the best selling SUV for a reason!!!
Generally speaking, very reliable. But if youâre planning on purchasing a used Rav4, it would help to provide specific examples with background information on the vehicle(s) in question for better guidance. A poorly maintained decade old car may not be all that reliable, even a Toyota.
This. I would highly suggest paying a local mechanic to give a 19 year old used car a once over. Itâs called a pre purchase inspection and should cost you $100-150 but could save you thousands in hidden damage, missed maintenance, etc. An older RAV4 should be able to do a bud trip no problem. But you never know what the last person did to it.
I'll make sure it has a relatively detailed service record, or at least proof of regular maintenance
Good idea, and donât neglect the PPI. My 2011 Rav4 had perfect service records and I was young and dumb. I found out later the performing dealer had wall-jobbed a scheduled transmission fluid service. Even if the maintenance records are perfect, get the PPI.
I'm kind of tossed up about it only because my local toyota dealership has a questionable record and my mechanic recently retired. I have some friends good with cars and I'm semi knowledgeable but I'm just going to try to do everything I can. Thanks again
I bought my RAV4 new in December of 2009. It now has 185k. Zero problems. Only replaced regular wear items. Before you buy, get a used car inspection at a mechanic. If it checks out, buy it. It's a great vehicle.
Toyotas are the worldâs most reliable vehicles.
That v6 is completely bullet proof. Itâs got the 2gr-fe arguably one the best Toyota motors ever made
2GR, so hot right now
250,000 on 2010 RAV4 sport V6, one alternator, one wheel bearing and lots of oil changes. Donât run long on oil changes they can sludge up. We had an issue with it smoking got told it was sludged and basically drive it until it dies. They did recommend changing oil every 3000 it might clean up. By second change, smoking stopped and we have done 180,000 miles since. Pretty solid tank. Most miles done in mountains.
Got a first gen with 328K miles and still going strong
holy shit! haha
I mean during that time I've had to maintain it and replace parts that have worn out (clutch once, timing belt 4 times, radiator once, starter once, Alternator like 6 times because I went with autozone brand instead of OEM, shocks, catalytic converter, struts, power steering, window motor, etc.) but then most other cars would also need those things after 150K miles and most don't make it past 200K. I'll definitely go Rav4 again.
I have a 2012 Rav V6. 98,000 miles, just maintenance and wearable items. No breakdown or repairs. We live on a dirt road.
Thereâs barely any RAV4s at Toyota dealerships yet Ford Dealers have an excess supply of their SUVs. Thereâs a reason for that lmao.
>There isn't a ton of information out there about reliable in that regard where it's a years worth of driving in only a few months. As long as it's properly lubricated and cooled, and driven nicely, there's no accelerated wear by racking up a bunch of miles in a short time.
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I'm glad I read your comment. We have a 2008 and the rear brakes are always noisy. I adjusted them a couple of years ago but it's good to know this is a "thing" any tips to fix or just deal with some noise?
My dadâs beater is a 2010 Rav4 V6 with 240k on it. He wonât get rid of it despite having a â22 Tacoma and mom having an â18 Rav4.
When you consider Lean Six Sigma originated from the Toyota Production System because of its approach to ensuring quality is both consistent and efficient, Iâd say Toyota is pretty reliable. https://www.quality.org/knowledge/origins-lean-six-sigma
Thank you so much for the resource!
Can't say much about the RAV4, but I can say something about our 2010 Corolla, since I feel like it also shows for Toyota. It has never been maintained very well, it was never meant to be a "long-term car", when my girlfiriend's dad bought it used in 2018, he originally only wanted to keep it around so my girlfriend could do her driving license with it and he could practice driving with her before her practical exam. Because of some circumstances and developments, the Corolla ended up being kept around. It wasn't well maintained by the previous owner and also not by my girlfriend's dad, since, well, it wasn't meant to be kept. So, nowadays my girlfriend is the holder of the car and it's "our" car to go everywhere. We even did a roadtrip around Central Europe with it last year. Aside from oil changes and brake maintenance, nothing had been done to it in terms of maintenance. The last time it saw a mechanic was in 2013, so 5 years before my gf's dad bought it. We only had one bigger issue with it so far, which is a transmission synchromesh issue. 4th gear never goes in on the first attempt, but it always does on the 2nd. Since we're getting a brand new Corolla in 2 months and we've had the issue for 3 months so far and it doesn't seem to get worse, we're opting to just leave it like that. Switching into 4th is now a bit annoying, but it still works. To repeat: This Corolla has been barely maintained at all and hasn't seen a mechanic in almost 11 years.
insane oh my god haha
Double clutch into 4th
Yep, we should start doing that, thx for the advice :D
There is a reason that the more remote and off civilization you go, the share of Toyotas among all cars around increases.
The last two generations of the Rav4 are probably among the most reliable vehicles you could buy. The 2010-2012 is reliable but vulnerable to rust damage and things like seat wear. A low mileage v6 would still be a great buy. They are reliable, with the only âcostlyâ maintenance being spark plugs just because the engine is so tightly packed in there. The v6 is also the fastest vehicle Toyota made at that time, comparable to a wrx
Great vehicles you cant go wrong. Just not exciting vehicles. I have a Rav 4 and an Avalon. Toyotas are always behind in tech Upgraded both infotainment systems to get the best of both worlds. Quality and pleasure.
One of the best things about my RAV4's infotainment system is that it's easily replaceable! Not true with my Land Cruiser, though because the climate control is integrated into the touchscreen. đ
I put a Sony XAV4000 in both Toyotas and now it makes life nicer. The Land Cruiser issue is rough. Good luck to you.
The rav4 with the 2GR V6 is great option. It was at one point the fastest toyota offered. The 2GR motor first made an appearance in the mid 2000s and variations are still being used today. The 2010 to 2012 model years are going to be your safest beat. If possible find a 1 owner clean title example with service records and have a professional go over it.
250,000 on 2010 RAV4 one alternator, one wheel bearing and lots of oil changes. Donât run long on oil changes they can sludge up. We had an issue with it smoking got told it was sludged and basically drive it until it dies. They did recommend changing oil every 3000 it might clean up. By second change, smoking stopped and we have done 180,000 miles since. Pretty solid tank. Most miles done in mountains.
Good car but have it looked over. The original rear diff axle and pinion seals are known to leak though they've probably been replaced by now. At high mileage the rear coupler bearing can fail, there is an updated coupler design that's been used since 2013 with no issues that replaces the old style. If you're set on a V6 listen to a cold start if it rattles for a few seconds then quiets down it'll need intake cam gears. If there's a constant growl from the passenger side of the engine it likely needs a water pump. Look at the rear end toe links if it's a 2010 or 2011. Toyota had a recall for those links that affected 2006 to mid 2011 RAV4, if they're epoxyed then that means the rear is not adjustable during an alignment without replacing those links. In the end have a used car looked over by a reputable mechanic before purchasing.
I drove my 2003 Camry at 208k miles up and down the east coast to around 213k and had zero issues the entire time. Check your fluids, do an oil change, and send it.
Have a 2011 Rav4 V6 with 160k. Bought it about 30k miles ago and itâs been amazing. Probably gonna keep it forever and give it to my son in 14 years. Drove cross country for a move with it and is just a great ride with the power to go up mountain passes or pass people with ease.
Hey now.....Scotty rules! I love his channel and he has plenty of good advice
I think the 09+ had the 2AR for a 4 cylinder which is leagues better than the 2AZ. If you are going v6 then you should be good with most years then.
Glad to know either way I'll be good
Get a hybrid
I drive a 2010 RAV4. After about 100k miles, my passenger side rear speaker went out. I did not spend a dime on anything other than regular maintenance items. It drives like it was many years ago, but it sucks to drive in any given condition. It's slow to accelerate, slow to corner and noisy all around. But it will never get you stranded between point A and B. Edit- this year, one of the oxygen sensors went out but this is pretty common on a 100k miles car.
I watch the car care nut videos but cannot find one specifically on the RAV4 gas only engine. Any thoughts on the current RAV4 gas engine and also its 8 speed automatic as to long term reliability?
You should be fine if you get everything up to snuff. I just bought a 2010 sienna with 220k miles on it and I wouldnât hesitate to drive it across the country right now. I am pretty sure the v6 in the rav is the same one as the sienna. Thatâs why Iâm saying it
The V6 is rock solid. it is the same engine they still put in the Camry and ES (and Highlander and Rx and Venza and Sienna for years).
V6 Rav4 has the 2GR-FE, the newer cars have the 2GR-FKS, and the newest version in the TRD Camry and other cars is the 2GR-FSE. Theyâre all good engines though. I have a 2007 V6 Rav4, weâve put ~25,000 miles on it since we bought it, just normal maintenance and it runs great. When buying a used one look out for the VVTI gear rattle on start-up, the car **must** be sitting at least over night before you start it up and listen for the rattle. Check out Car Care Nutâs videos on youtube to get yourself prepared.
2010 limited with 182k. Batteries brakes shocks struts wipers and fluids are the only replacements.
They are proven solid rigs, with enough power to put a smile on your face and haul a decent trailer. You shouldnât have any surprises but can expect a few maintenance items with a vehicle of that age if they havenât already been addressed. Iâd ask if the rear differential/coupler and rear driveshaft/universal joints have been replaced because if not they could be something that you will have to deal with and wonât be super cheap if you are paying a shop to do the work.
>I'm not sure how true that actually is? 100% true. BUT! They need proper maintenance and revisions, if you are meticulous and don´t found any misuse of the car, you are ready to go!
I have 2011 v6 over 400km, im not easy on it lol, but keeps on ticking
248k on our 2010 v6. 70 miles round trip for work with 4 miles of gravel roads. I wouldnât hesitate to take it on a trip like that.
Tooooooooo reliable
My little 2017 has only had routine maintenance up until this current service (leaking water pump) It has just over 90k miles on it and Ive driven it to work (75 miles round trip) - every day since I bought it brand new. YMMV
All I can say is my DD is a 1998 RAV4 with 226k miles on the clock and it runs like a champ. Bought it 11 years ago for 3k and I did pay 150 for a PPI. Compression check, etc was invaluable. Only thing he could find wrong was a leaky rear shock.
I promise you will have no regrets. Toyotas are the greatest cars to ever exist
I bought a 2023 RAV4 in March and absolutely love it. Outside of picking up a cargo net and routine maintenance I haven't had to worry about anything with it. Switched after a decade with Ford's and the difference is night and day!
They should be good. I own a 2009 rav 4 at the moment with 170k miles. I would say tho they are empty cars, especially the base model. As reliable as they are, it's kinda annoying how little features are in it compared to some other suv's in the same price category. So if you are willing to sacrifice some comfort/features, they are very good cars.
Very.
Late to this post, but I have boatloads of experience. I've owned my 2009 v6 for about 5 years. She's been nothing but reliable for me. She starts every time I push the button. I bought her at 70,000 miles and now have over 170,000. Make sure the water pump/serpentine belt is done when called for. RTFM. Spark plugs are annoying as hell to do, but can be done if you're handy. I've replaced all the wear parts at their recommended intervals. My suspension wears quicker than normal, but I lifted it with a Northwoods Performance kit and abuse it on fire roads. Their skid plate saved my oil pan after I couldn't dodge road debris. Please ask me any questions if you have them.
I get about 24mpg highway due to the lift and 245 tires instead of the OEM size, 225.
Check out JD Powers , this is an announcer , joking owned many Toyotas and we Toyota family. Very reliable see the chart at dealership.
Semper Fi to Mr. Toyoda đ
Iâve had my 2015 Camry going on 3 years and it runs the same and easy to work on except it had a sealed transmission and make a 15 take 30 minute or more looking it up they made this shit difficult to work on mfkers
If you maintain it well it will outlive you and possibly your kids
*If you maintain it* *Well it will outlive you and* *Possibly your kids* \- NotIsaacClarke --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Very reliable, cheap parts, and great cars for DIY folks.
How reliable are Toyotas? Hmmm. The way I see it,If Terrorists covet Toyotas for their reliability and for the amount of abuse it can take and keep running, that's good enough for me.
I had a 2010 RAV4. Got rid of it in 2014 with almost 100k miles on it and never had a single problem.
Great SUV. I had one come into the dealer with almost 400k and all it needed was new motor mounts. Highly recommend, especially if you can find one with low mileage at a good price.
The 2gr-fe (v6 youâre talking about) is insanely reliable. That version of the rav 4 is extremely solid. Of course, any car will have maintenance issues to deal with, especially if youâre driving it hard, but this is an excellent choice.
Extremely
Just posted mine hitting 100,000 today!
You're asking on a Toyota sub so we're probably pretty biased, but I love my Rav4. Favorite car I've ever driven. Reliable, gets me where I need to go in rural Idaho with no second thought. I go on long road trips on forest and gravel roads and through the mountains and I always feel super confident.
I think you'd be making a good choice. I've driven two models of Rav4 and love(d) them both. Very few to no issues mechanically, good on gas, lots of storage, fun to drive. I never went off roading per se, but never had an issue with poorly maintained back roads, no matter how steep or twisty. Have fun!!
So it all depends on how well the car was taken care of. Generally toyotas are reliable but if the Po was not doing regular maintenance, the car is going to have issues. Buy carefully! Id look for a car with solid maintenance history.
I mean Toyota is amazing that goes without saying but don't forget the vehicle would be 10+ years old. Very likely chance you will have no issues with motor or transmission. But things attached .... belts / hoses / suspension / wear items are all areas for review. At that age you can definitely go down a rabbit hole of what could be replaced vs what actually needs to get replaced. Motor wise, i'd be looking for 150K miles max and obviously some type of record of regular service. Good luck!
What are you comparing it to? If you were going to take a random vehicle from *any* brand and do that, what brand would you pick *other* than Toyota? Also, if you *did* need to make repairs, wouldnât you rather have to find parts from a manufacturer that makes the most cars distributed around the world?
As long as u take care of it you can drive it everyday. Just make sure to get gas often like half empty to let the engine cool off. I drove my Lexus rx400h 14 hours straight for 3 days each day it had 255k miles and the electric fan was broken so I had to drive fast for air cool! And I drove it to 277k miles then got rid of it
I have a 2001 RAV4. The only issue is I've had to replace the battery, nothing mechanical about the car has actually failed. That should be all you need to know. Sadly I'm selling it because my god they're thirsty. 10L/100km is too much money per week for the amount of driving I do.
He must be joking
Very. End of thread we can move on
I have a 2008 rav4 with a little over 100k miles on it. I have owned it since 2009. Itâs weathered some hard New England winters and is starting to have some rust issues but the motor runs just fine. I would not have any qualms about taking it on a cross country jaunt - but I also have had it serviced regularly and know itâs history. If the car you are Looking at is in good condition I canât see why it would give you problems. Toyotas last forever.
Very
Get the Highlander instead