Before restyling, the European Toyota RAV4 was equipped with a 2.0-liter (1AZ-FE) gasoline engine with 152 hp. and 2.4 l (2AZ-FE) – 170 hp. The American version came with gasoline engines: 2.4 L and V6 3.5 L (2GR-FE) – 269 hp. After restyling in European modifications, 1AZ-FE gave way to the updated 2.0 l (3ZR-FE) with 158 hp, and in the American 2AZ-FE it gave way to 2AR-FE (2.5 l / 170 hp). RAV4 are also found with diesel engines with a working volume of 2.2 liters (2AD-FHV / 136 hp and 2AD-FTV / 177 hp).
All gasoline engines are generally reliable and hassle-free. In exceptional cases, it becomes necessary to replace leaking oil seals. The owners of the restyled Toyota RAV4 with a 2.0 liter petrol engine note the noisier operation of the engine: diesel, clatter. This feature is caused by the Valvematic system, designed to smoothly change the valve lift.
Engines of 2.4 liters often begin to “take oil” when the mileage is more than 70-100 thousand km – about 2-3 liters from replacement to replacement.
The idyll is spoiled by the pump of the liquid cooling system (pump), which often begins to leak after 40-60 thousand km. In some cases, it reaches up to 80-100 thousand km. The cost of the pump is not very expensive but unpleasant.
The “squirrel tail” can grow out of the exhaust pipe after 40-60 thousand kilometers. This is a poorly fixed internal thermal sound insulation of the muffler. With a mileage of more than 50-80 thousand km, the tension or guide roller of the drive belt of ancillary units often begins to make noise.
Diesel engines are slightly less reliable than their gasoline counterparts. Fuel injectors confidently go up to 200-300 thousand km. But there is one major flaw. After 150,000 km, microcracks appear around the liners. As a result, the gasket under the block head burns out, and the coolant disappears without a trace. Repairs can only be done once.
On RAV4, there was a once widely known problem of Toyota cars – sticking of the gas pedal in the pressed position. Real cases are rare. Officially, Toyota has announced that the reason is the rugs that fall under the pedal. But few people know that it was prescribed to install an additional metal plate on the CTS pedals, which contributes to the guaranteed return of the pedal to its original position. DENSO pedals do not have this modification.
