My Daughter's 2024 Toyota Hybrid RAV4 She Bought New At The Beginning Of December, Has Serious Electrical Issues…She Says It's Now Been In The Shop More Than Her Possession. She's Already Made Two Payments!

A recent Reddit post from a concerned father on behalf of his daughter tells us that, surprisingly, a brand new 2024 Toyota Rav4 purchased last December has developed electrical problems that appear to befuddle the dealership service department.

Seeking Online Advice

Seeking help from fellow Rav4 owners on social media to find out if anyone has experienced this kind of problem with a Rav4, the father found that this is an uncommon occurrence for a model known for its excellent design and proven history of reliability. The Rav4 was recently rated as one of the best affordable vehicles with the least depreciation.

Despite the assurances that the Rav4 is a well-made vehicle, it is understandable that the new owner and her father would be upset.

Related article: We Came Close To Scrapping Our Daughter's Car When It Wouldn't Start and a Mechanic Said It Needed a New Engine ―What's Worth Fixing and What's Not, Advises This Toyota Mechanic

Especially when communication between the dealership service center and the daughter has been less than promising, with additional thread comments elaborating on the experience that includes:

1. Suggested repairs unrelated to the car repair problem.
2. Multiple visits with the techs telling her there is nothing wrong with the car when the owner repeatedly has problems with it.
3. The service center did not clearly discuss the repairs and did not have a clear plan for resolving her car problem.
4. Finding the door ajar overnight while in the service center risking battery drain and ruin.
5. Excuses from the dealer about the weather and illness delaying her car's repair.

Sensible Advice for Any New Car Owner Today

The forum thread responses and comments helpfully leaned toward the father and daughter needing to put pressure on the dealership to resolve the problem one way or the other by going to the dealership and confronting a manager, going up the dealership-manufacturer chain of command for some acceptable answers, and/or complaining online and with the Better Business Bureau.

In other words, “The squeaky wheel gets the oil” advice.

Some posts explained that this is part of the state of car repairs today, where the techs do not possess the skills or knowledge to diagnose a malfunctioning car correctly―especially when it involves electrical issues.

The Problem with Electrical Problems in Modern Cars

To be fair to the dealership service department, today's modern cars equipped with intricate electrical and electronic systems, including multiple computers (ECUs), sensors, and wiring, have created a whole new world of diagnostic difficulties.

Unlike mechanical issues, electrical problems are not always visible. Faults such as damaged wires, corroded connectors, or malfunctioning sensors often require specialized tools and expertise to detect. And on top of that, electrical problems are often intermittent and can mimic mechanical problems, leading a tech on the wrong diagnosis path of firing a parts cannon at the problem

It is not unusual for a garage to tell an owner a part that needs replacing is one that appears unrelated to the problem the owner is experiencing with the car.

Another problem with electrical issues is that it is not uncommon (and is equally frustrating) for a mechanic in a service department to not experience the problem(s) the owner is seeing during the visit. Many intermittent electrical issues only occur under specific conditions (e.g., temperature changes, vibrations, or engine load variations).

Last but not least, mechanics may not have sufficient training or experience with advanced automotive electronics, which can lead to incorrect diagnoses or longer repair times. And/or the garage or service department might not possess the required test equipment, which can be prohibitively expensive

The Best Advice for New Car Problems

Credit goes to two Reddit post comments that point to what new car owners should do with any new car that shows what appears to be prolonged unfixable problems: Apply your state's Lemon Laws.

The wisdom of these posts is two-fold:

1. Prolonged and difficult-to-diagnose electrical problems will likely reappear and haunt the car owner throughout their car ownership.
2. It is a legal right for new car owners to expect a new car replacement when a new car turns out to be a lemon.

However, the caveat to this advice is that each state carries its own interpretation and conditions of what constitutes a new car owner's legal rights for a new car replacement over multiple repair visits.

In other words, the useful comment and link provided by post owner TiggressZ are for Pennsylvania Lemon Laws. If you live in a different state, you will need to search for "Your State's Name" with the keywords "lemon Laws" to determine whether or not your new car and situation apply.

For an informative article that goes into more detail about lemon laws, here is a recommended one titled "Has Anyone Had Success With Lemon Law On Their CT (Cybertruck)?" ―Here is What It Takes" that will prove helpful to learn from with advice provided by a lawyer who deals with automotive-related lawsuits.

For additional articles about owners with car repair problems and solutions, here are two for your consideration:

1. I Just Had My Toyota 2024 Prime In For Its First Service (5K Mile), and "Mechanics Found Mouse Fur On The Cabin Air Filter. They Say It'll Cost $550." Can Owners DIY Fix and Prevent This Problem?
2. My daughter just got a quote from our local Midas to replace both rear brake calipers, rotors, and pads (all aftermarket) for $1500. Mechanic told me that most of it was going towards parts and $200 for labor –This father-daughter team paid only 20%

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

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