The issue is on the driver side. The dealer replaced the cowl assembly but the problem is still there. Every few day, we've to push the seal back in place. I saw a few vehicles at the dealer with the same issue.

 

The rubber gasket on the bottom of my windshield is falling off too. We just had several inches of wet sticky snow and I think that had something to do with it. I'm a little surprised. I don't expect that type of build quality from Toyota..

 

Me too

The rubber strip was coming off at the base of my driver's side windshield as well. It didn't have anything to do with weather in my case, as I live in San Diego, and we've had our usual boring spring temperatures and only one light rainstorm since I bought the car.

I took it in last Friday to have it replaced. Apparently, they can't do just the strip, but have to swap out the entire plastic assembly that it connects to. Five days later, lo and behold, the strip is rising up off the assembly again.

Looks like a design defect. The service manager said he'd already seen another 2013 with the same issue. Hope they come up with a solution that actually works soon. It's not a huge deal, but it is irritating, and makes me wonder about the quality of the workmanship on the rest of the vehicle.

 

Our vehicle suffered the same problem. It is on the driver side. They replaced the cowling but it didn't solve the problem. I will not bring it for repair until they've a TCB for it. However, I'll report the issue on my next oil change. Toyota needs to know the issue.

 

Me too.

 

Our Limited AWD has the same problem.

 

Update

Spoke to my dealership service manager today. He informed me, under hush, that Toyota is aware of the seal coming off and planning to make a fix.

The problem is the bottom part of the dash outside is missing a lip underneath to hold the upper seal on the driver side. Most likely a manufacturing defect for Toyota.

I was informed to replace this component would only take a few seconds to remove and re install.

He did inform me that he has in the past glued others vehicles when it has come off.. I informed him I'll wait for the component to be replaced. Not trusting a glue fix in case the exposer to weather loosens the glue.

When I do take it in for a replacement, I'll be sure to mark the outer dash in case they say they replaced it but didn't. (really not trusting any garages lately)

 

Update
I was informed to replace this component would only take a few seconds to remove and re install.

I would be surprised if this were true. It took over an hour for them to replace mine (to no avail).

 

I have this issue on my 2013 Rav LE mines not weather related either as I live in sunny VA. I pop it back in place almost every night and the next day it is popped back out even when I haven't driven the Rav. I have my 1K checkup on Saturday and I plan to mention it to the service manager.

 

I have my 1K checkup on Saturday

Checkup? What are they checking up for?
All the checking is supposed to be done with the allotted 1 hour of PDI.
You're driving a Toyota, not a Jaguar that has the worst customer satisfaction survey on reliability.

 

Don't know but my dealer always does a 1K vehicle checkout on new purchases they already did it on the 2012 last week. They did this on my 2006 Tundra, my 2004 Corolla, Our 2002 Rav4 LTD, and my 2000 Tundra TRD?

 

As long as it's free, it can't hurt, right?

 

When I first saw it it seemed to me that strip was too short/tight. I compared it to our 2012 and it looks exactly the same except the strip has never popped out on the 2012? The service manager at my dealership used to be my neighbor so I know him socially I will see what I can pry out of him Saturday if he is working. But my niece is married to one of their better service techs so I can possibly glean inside info as well.

It's not a life and death issue anyhow otherwise I haven't had any other issue's or complaints with the 2013.

 

Does any one have a picture of this flaw? I'm terrible at visualizing these things.

-d

 

It's hard to see but here you go

 

I've been lucky with mine so far, haven't noticed this issue at all.

 

It only happens on the drivers side about midway close to the wiper arm the end by the fender stays intact? I compared to our new 2012 and it doesn't have this issue at all so must be specific to the 2013. I have a service appointment tomorrow so I was planning to walk to the RAV section on the lot to check the other new ones that haven't been sold yet?

 

So on Saturday I took the 2013 in for it's dealer customary 1000 mile check and I showed the weather strip/cowling issue to the service manager. She said they had already replaced another one on a 2013 earlier in the week. She ordered a new cowl piece for mine and will install this Friday. I will inspect the new part before install to see if the groove goes the full length of the cowling if not I will not let them replace.

 

I noticed my weatherstrip was pulling up on the driver's left half of the cowling. A couple of dabs of silicone outdoor caulking solved that problem. I can't be bothered making an appointment, leaving the car, and coming back to have it happen all over again until engineering comes up with a permanent fix.

 

It's not about you and your time.. but defects from the MFG that should have been addressed before it left the lot.

I can seal it also.. but do not wish to concern myself with who should replace it if they need to get the part off for any reason.

It's purely aesthetics right now. If it gets worse, the ball is in their court to remedy it.

If I tamper with it.. I remove their obligation to fix it and any liability.

 

I'm with ya my Canadian brother but I had to go Toyota on Friday to pick up my Title & registration & tag transfer anyhow. If I see the new cowl doesn't have the channel all the way across they won't be changing mine either.

 

Just returned from the dealer service appointment new warranty supplied cowl looked better quailty than the factory one so service department installed (about 30min) works and looks like our 2012 weatherstrip/cowling problem solved!

 

We'll see how long my my home repair using Permatex black automotive silicone lasts. The colour matches the weatherstrip and cowling exactly, and my home fix is undetectable. I have 3 years to decide if I need the factory fix or not.

 

I haven't checked mine yet, but tomorrow morning i'll do just that.

 

just a quick question for all...is it for just the 4th gen Ravs built in Canada or does it also affect the Japan-built ones also?

Cause for some reason my rubber seal is/are in good condition...unless I overlooked something/someplace.

 

Good question mine is a Canada built 4th gen but from the other posts it's not all 2013's. if you have it you will notice it right away it's vary obvious. Dealer appears to have fixed mine with a warranty replacement cowling.

 

Mine is fom Japan also and looks perfect..... :thumbs_up:
Didn't even know what the issue was until someone posted pictures of it.

Wonder if it is a Canadian-built quality control issue?

 

Mine is XLE FWD from Japan and has no such problem either. I specifictly asked for a Japan made and my dealer got it for me from another dealer 50 miles away.

 

A quick update on this issue:

On 6/20, I went in to the dealer for my 5,000 mile tire rotation/inspection, at which time the service dude informed me that Toyota has indeed issued a bulletin on the dreaded rubber strip issue. (They had actually just fixed one the day before I went in.)

The fix -- surprise, surprise! -- is to take some of the epoxy that comes in their "noise kits" and use it to hold the strip in place. Their procedure instructs them to remove the cowling before applying the epoxy, so it still took the better part of an hour to get done.

It's been three weeks and the strip is still holding. So those of you who have been waiting patiently for Toyota to okay their service techs to apply a drop of glue are now good to go.

 

My dealer replaced the cowling. They also said that mine was the first one that they fixed.

Sent from AutoGuide.com Free App

 

Here you go Wilbert. This genuine rubber seal should permanently fix your windshield without having to go to the dealer.

http://img1.etsystatic.com/016/0/6364850/il_fullxfull.455515007_nd2y.jpg

 

Here you go Wilbert. This genuine rubber seal should permanently fix your windshield without having to go to the dealer.

http://img1.etsystatic.com/016/0/6364850/il_fullxfull.455515007_nd2y.jpg

No ideal what that link contains.. but if it works for you.. gratz :thumbs_up:

 

For what it is worth daughter has a Canadian model and rubber seal is as it should be.