Chip Shortage Woes: Buyers Share their Wild Stories Trying to Buy 2021 Toyota RAV4 and Other Models

We know first-hand about this situation. We looked at all over Western Washington for a 2021 RAV4 Adventure model in Lunar Rock paint. My wife started to become more and more emotionally invested in this with the more time spent looking. It turned into weeks and her search started taking her further and further. Then she hit 3 matches. One in Tallahassee another in Chapel Hill and a third in Dry Ridge Kentucky at Marshall Toyota. Within 24 hrs of finally finding the one she wanted we were boarding a Seattle plane bound for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport and taking a Lyft the last 40 miles to Dry Ridge. I was nervous about being so vunerable to any sales tactics but it worked out great and had an epic road trip home.

I purchased a RAV 20 in Early, TX one month ago and got 2500 off and a 1250.00 cash back and financed w/Toyota. Ash to not put 3rd party vender warrentys on contract but when I got home it was added on the 3 ft contract I signed anyway. 4K dollars plus interest. When I went back to get it corrected they said sorry we already got our money from Toyota. Buyer Beware if Bruner Toyota of Early Texas!

Also heard Rav4 shortage was due to plant closings in Canada due to COVID.

I'm done with Toyota for a while and the difficulty with buying one now is the icing on the cake. I wanted the RAV4 Prime but gave up when they said limited quantities would be made, went to RAV4 Hybrid and the option packages changed for the worse in 2021 and all were $2k above sticker, and I am reminded how our 2007 Prius consumes oil thanks to substandard oil rings in that year, how the AC slow leak is unfixable, how the clear coat flaked off, how the touchscreen's solder joints cracked so the it "no worky", and how we had the thing religiously serviced by the trained dealer the entire time paying $$$$$. And here I was worried about the hybrid battery back in 2007. Sorry Toyota, you're rested on your laurels too long. I would happily buy something else that gets slightly less mileage, less warranty, and less buyers remorse.

Looking for a RAV4 Prime in XSE trim in greater Boston area. None to be found. Dealers have the odd SE white models but nobody will let me test drive! One dealer said I could test drive "after we agree on numbers". Why should I have to endure a car purchase negotiation which is about as fun as a root canal if I can't even take the car for a spin to see if I like it first? Insane.

Here's how our Rav4 XLE Hybrid buying experience has gone so far:

Want to buy: 2019-2021 Rav4 Hybrid XLE in Lunar Rock. Going to be our beloved Element replacement.

Quickly realized: Used units are going for higher than brand new MSRP

New plan: Order new for MSRP (~31,500) exactly as we want, either base or $1500 added option we prefer. Either way we'll take it.

Local Dealer #1 - "Toyota is not making XLE Hybrid trim anymore, we have to bump you up to Premium." Sends Premium Hybrid spec sheet with $3200 options we did not want. Told it would be tough to get without any add ons. Total before taxes/dealer fees ~37k.

Local Dealer #2 - Ask for XLE Hybrid, told they can build it for us no prob (although Toyota isn't making this trim anymore according to Dealer 1). Sends spec sheet with ~$3800 in options we did not want. Told car couldn't be ordered without it, no budging.

Dealer #3, about an hour away - Ask for XLE Hybrid, tries to sell us on non hybrid in different color. We tell them XLE Hybrid or nothing, back and forth with specing a build with options we do not want. Almost two hours later our patience runs out and we tell them we're leaving. At this point, they decide they can submit order how we want, as a matter of fact will do one completely base and one with options we want in case Toyota doesn't accept the optioned order we want. Didn't want/need to take a deposit. Told it would be a month before we hear if Toyota accepts the orders, so we are waiting now.

We're aware there is a 2-6 month wait currently, and don't mind that part. Just want it how we want it. Why else would Toyota offer options if you can't build it the way you want.

I just purchased a Toyota Venza hybrid which is a step up from a Rav 4. The dealership had them in stock and was ready to deal. The Venza also had a $1,750 rebate from Toyota. The car was equipped and rode like a Lexus. Very glad I expanded my options.

First off, love the videos Jeff (which is also my brother's name & he's a mechanic), especially the ones about the Tacomas which I am currently in the market for. Anyways, I have been wanting to buy a Toyota 4x4 Pickup (yes, Pickup for all you younger folks) since I was in high school back in 1989 (some of you probably weren't even born yet). Tan with brown stripes with the XtraCab. But life & family happened & this particular vehicle eluded me. I've had many Toyotas from Corollas, to supercharged MR2's to my current Prius. The closest I ever got to a Pickup was a 2000 4Runner which is still in the family but have sinced passed it on to my son & daughter-in-law. I am now over 50 & getting very close to retirement, so with the urging of my closes friends, family & wife (whom I drove nuts talking about it day in and day out), I decided to get myself my Toyota Pickup (now known as a Tacoma) so I started looking. I knew I had missed out on the Quicksand color (my favorite) so now I am trying to get one in Army Green. So I started my journey by emailing 3 dealerships in my area. They promptly responded by saying they could not offer me any incentives or get me one due to the chip shortage & high demand. It was very disappointing. But fortunately I had a back-up. I have a good friend who works as a fleet manager at another Toyota dealership & decided to see if he was still available & fortunately he still was. I have bought 4 Toyotas from him in the past (including the 4Runner) & he was always a straight shooter & even with the current chip crisis, he was. He told me "yes, it was going to be tough to get one....but it doesn't mean we can't try." He was the only one to give me any hope. So he told me to do a build & email him with it & he would do his best to get me one, which I am now waiting for....a 4x4 Tacoma Double Cab SR5 Trail Edition or TRD Sport/Off Road in Army Green. I didn't even need to give him a deposit. Which makes the wait even better. I am willing to wait 6 months, even a year if I have to. Like I told my friend, "I already waited 32 years, what's another 6 months or year?" Good things come to those who wait & I know that this will be totally worth the wait when I finally get it. Good luck to you all!

Wait..I read Toyota was smart and avoided the chip shortage.

Been trying to buy a 2021 sienna platinum or a 2021 LX570

Dealer here in SF bat area wants $4000 above MSRP on a $54K minivan

There are a total of 6 LX570 in entire California.

This is beyond bad.

I sell Toyotas in San Antonio, TX. As I've explained to a lot of my customers, they're estimating the chip shortage to end in late 2023. Also, when the inventory issues adjust, the extra value in trades are going to landslide back down, evening out any savings you will receive. Also, naturally vehicles go up in value quarterly. The Rav4 LE started off with a post delivery MSRP of $25,995 in 2019 when the new model came out, now you can't find an LE under $28,000. I've had nothing but no brainer MSRP deals for customers I used to sell vehicles to at net zero. It's easy to realize there's no discounts when you're getting what you paid for or close on your trade. Visit Calimike.com if you would like a no nonsense car deal.