NHTSA complaint: 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PURCHASED 02/13/17. MAR VA TO FL, SEAT HEATER ON, NOTICED HOT SMELL SEAT GOT EXTREMELY HOT, TURNED IT OFF, TAKES 10-15 MINS TO COOL DOWN WHILE IN SEAT. DAY 2 OF TRIP, HAPPENED AGAIN. STOPPED AT REST AREA, JEANS STUCK TO LEG, EXAM SHOWED RED POPPED BLISTER ON UPPER RIGHT LEG, EXTREMELY PAINFUL. APPLIED BURN CREAM AND BANDAID. DROVE TO FRIENDS, SITTING ON LEFT CHEEK. TOOK PICS, WENT TO URGENT CARE. DIAGNOSIS 2ND DEGREE BURN. 3/23 DEALER INSPECTED SEAT HEATER, STATED IT'S DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF AT 107 BUT WOULD PUT IN SYSTEM INCASE IT HAPPENED AGAIN, DIAGNOSED OPERATING AS DESIGNED. IN MAR CORPORATE OPENED 1ST CASE. BURNED 5 MORE TIMES, LAST ON 3/19/18, VEHICLE TO DEALER EACH TIME, ALWAYS DIAGNOSED "OPERATING AS DESIGNED". ONE TECH CHECKED TEMP WITH 3 DIFFERENT GUNS, HIGHEST TEMP WAS 111 OTHER GUNS WITHIN 3 DEGREES. ONE DEALERS SERVICE WRITER SUGGESTED THEY DISCONNECT IT TO ENSURE NO MORE BURNS. HAVE MEDICAL ISSUES, THAT WHILE DRIVING ARE EASED WITH THE HEAT FROM THE SEAT. ON 6/15 AND 7/12 18, VEHICLE TO DEALER DUE TO DRIVER'S SEAT GETTING EXTREMELY HOT, SHUT DOWN AND NOT OPERABLE FOR 3 HOURS, THO THE PASSENGER SEAT WORKED. REPORTED ISSUES TO MANUFACTURER AND RECEIVED ANOTHER CASE NUMBER. JUST FOUND OUT BOTH HAVE BEEN CLOSED. 7 TIMES TO DEALER FOR NAV/RADIO PROBLEMS, 2 CASES, STOPPED WORKING BLACK SCREEN, SYSTEM FREEZING UP, TAKES 5-7 MINS CALCULATING DIRECTIONS, NOT RECOGNIZE ROADS DRVING ON, USE CELL PHONE AS GPS. SOME SERVICE WRITERS DON'T WRITE ALL CONCERNS ON REPAIR ORDER
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation