A New York man, @tapforme_mtg1, had a terrifying experience with his Toyota RAV4, which suddenly caught fire while he was driving, forcing him to scramble for his life. The incident occurred despite him taking the car to the dealership four times, with the dealership dismissing his concerns and telling him the car was “safe to drive.” The man had been experiencing electrical issues with the car, including stalling on the highway, and later discovered that there was a recall for the same problem.
The recall, which affects certain RAV4 models from 2013 to 2018, is due to a battery issue that can cause fires, loss of electrical power, or engine stalling. According to @tapforme_mtg1, the battery cases in his car were not holding the battery correctly, causing corrosion and eventually leading to the explosion. The day before the incident, he had taken the car in for inspection and was given the all-clear to drive.
Despite the severity of the incident, @tapforme_mtg1 received no compensation from Toyota, with the company offering him “zero dollars” for a rental or tow. Class action lawyers, on the other hand, received $13,000. The man’s experience has sparked outrage on social media, with many commenting that Toyota owes him a new car and that he should have received more compensation.
Toyota has recalled approximately 1.9 million RAV4 sport utility vehicles in the US due to the battery issue. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received multiple reports of fires, loss of electrical power, or engine stalling related to the recall. Toyota has advised RAV4 owners to take their cars in for inspection and not to park them outdoors.
The incident has also raised questions about the dealership’s handling of the situation, with some commenting that they should have provided @tapforme_mtg1 with a rental car until the issue was resolved. Others have suggested that he should contact a lawyer to explore his legal options. The case highlights the importance of taking recall notices seriously and the need for car manufacturers to prioritize customer safety.