Question about water pump failures

[lzrj]

Just now after buying a 2009 Rav4 Sport V6 4wd bc I thought Toyota was the bomb with reliability do I find out that there are issues with the water pumps. It's not an easy change out like most other water pumps and can cost high dollar. Mine has 50,000 miles on it so I have 10,000 miles left before the powertrain warranty runs out.

My question is...Has anyone figured out exactly which years, which engine, which county of manufacturing the problem pumps are occurring in? Not seeing much of the 09 pumps going bad. Was it corrected by then? Mine was produced in Nov. 2008. Seems like most problems I have seen are in the 07-08 model years. Are the 09's using a different maker of the pumps? I saw where someone suggested that the RAv4's made in the US using US made pumps are the problems. I also read somewhere that in 09 the Rav4 started being produced in Canada. Would they use a different maker of pumps there? My VIN starts with a J which should mean it was produced in Japan ( 1 or 3 - US, 2- Canada, J- Japan.)

Anyone with knowledge about any of this please let me know.

[Billiam]

Funny how people assume that the "U.S. built RAVs" with "U.S. built parts" must be the ones that are "bad". But the RAV is not and never has been built in the USA.

[veliksam]

Izrj, your rav4 is built in Japan

[pepepeter]

Check for the thread that is focused on the poll about water pump failures... Will not have all the info you need or want but im sure it will give some good info

[Blogson]

Good luck in your quest. I've been trying to find out where the coolant pumps were made for the V6 2011s and the part number(s), and the part number apparently changed somewhere during the production runs. A problem is that various car parts can be sourced from different companies at different times in addition to being made by the vehicle's actual manufacturer. I have found information which indicates that V6 RAV4 coolant pumps reportedly have been made in countries such as China and Malaysia.

[lzrj]

What I think I will just do is go ahead and just change the coolant to a different kind and just hope for the best. Since other Toyota models have same problem, small chance it could be the coolant and it not having the right lubricants to keep the seal from failing. Cross my fingers that the 09's used a different supplier of the pumps if it is not the coolant.

[mikeinnj]

My 09 V6 Limited had the pump go at 47k miles.

[lzrj]

Well shoot, there is confirmation that the 09 pumps are still junk. Well, hopefully if mine starts to go, its in the next 10,000 miles before the warranty is out.

[Octane]

my 2007's pump was changed when the car hit 24,000miles, replacement lasted until 45,000miles, when I trade in the car, hopefully the pump will last longer on my 2012...

[mikeinnj]

My 2011 VW CC had the pump go at 30000 miles. Tons of Gti/CC with the 2.0T had faulty pumps as did many Rav4s up until 2011. It's a matter of suppliers. You'll find issues like this with any car. Also, I went through the same thing after I got this car and started reading on the Internet. You have to keep in mind that 99% of Rav4s are on the road with no severe issues. (And there are a TON ofem on the road). Just no one comes on a forum to talk about how their car runs just fine.

I've read before, if you want to enjoy your car, don't read about it on the Internet.