[443573]

The first owner in The Netherlands has reported something similar. He described it as "carsickness"...
I haven't noticed it in both of my test drives.

 

[Doug Walton]

No, on my vehicle it has pretty much subsided. Every once in a while I'll notice a faint smell similar to the original odor (nasty burning plastic) around the front driver's side of the vehicle.

Two LE AWD Rav4s I just drove the other day in a trouble shooting comparison with mine had the same nasty burning plastic odor as mine did. The Toyota specialist tried to come up w/ reasons for it (hot EGR plumbing) that really didn't make any sense. The odor seemed to be coming from behind the engine, maybe off towards the drivers side, but no visual indication of what it might be.

The exhaust system is pretty easy to inspect - it should be easy to tell if plastic got stuck on it and is burning up. Other than that good luck, because the odor should be getting less and less over time.

When I've noticed the odor more recently, it seems to be coming from the area under the fuse box on the driver's side of the compartment.

just FYI, found this study via Google: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2005.00411.x

"We set out to determine the possibility of a widespread exposure of automobile occupants to methanol through inhalation of vapors of windshield washing fluid. After application, some of the windshield washing fluid could drain through the front air intake duct(s) of a car, as this geometry is very common in modern car design."

 

[CFike]

Mystery solved! Turns out the smell was coming from pink Walmart Supertech De-icer windshield washer fluid (-25 F) I had been using. Evidently the vapor was being pulled in through my ventilation system. I don’t know if the same chemical solution is available everywhere. I live in northern Virginia. I just had my 10,000 mile warranty service performed and I’m guessing the dealer topped my washer fluid off because my latest use flushed the old out. No more smell!

Glad you found your problem. It's pretty typical to smell washer fluid if the vent recirculate is off (you're drawing in outside air). In my other vehicles, I would typically turn the recirculate air "on" when using the washers - at least when it wasn't raining out.

The smell that I'm experiencing has nothing to do with washer fluid use, etc. and it will appear in any situation - outside temp, time driven, locale, etc. It does not seem to be noticeable unless the heat setting is at least at the medium setting or warmer. Fan can be on or off. I will sometimes notice it appear or become stronger with significant changes in vehicle speed (like highway speed to a stop and restart) when I have the fan "off" and recirculate "off". This suggests that it might be coming in through the fresh air intake below the windshield, but I haven't been able to definitively track it down to that.

It very well could be sourced from the burning plastic smell in the engine compartment that was horrible when I first bought the vehicle. It was really bad on the drive home from the dealer, and showed up fairly strong half a dozen or so times since then, and I've noticed it at lower levels on and off since then. The other night it smelled up my garage...

The dealer and Toyota have done NOTHING to try diagnose the issue. I have around 2700 miles on it now.

 

[CFike]

The first owner in The Netherlands has reported something similar. He described it as "carsickness"...
I haven't noticed it in both of my test drives.

I've driven several other 2019 Ravs from the dealer.

One a Canadian built Adventure rental that I drove for about 120 miles. Had 8 miles on the odometer when I drove it off of the lot. I noticed no unusual smells (yes it did have new car odor), nor did I experience any of the transmission issues that I've experienced in my vehicle.

The first 2019 Rav4 test drive I had was in an LE FWD model (presumably Japanese built). I noticed NO hint of the smell I have in my vehicle, no trace of burning plastic from the engine compartment, and NO shifting issues (of course I don't remember shifting issues on my vehicles test drive either).

I drove two other similarly spec'd 2019s as "comp" vehicles when I first took my Rav back to the dealer to have them check out the hard shift on stop. They did not exhibit the smell - maybe we weren't in them long enough though.

When I recently went back to the dealer to have the Toyota specialist check the vehicle, BOTH of the comp vehicles (Japanese built) we drove had the interior cabin odor. The first was low to moderate in strength, and the second was barely noticeable. BOTH of those vehicles had a strong burning plastic smell that was noticeable when the hood was opened.

 

[Doug Walton]

FYI,I spoke too soon. Turns out the noxious smell returned. I have since positively identified what I will call a chemical reaction. It happens when I enter the odorless air stream of a specific industrial complex which I frequent. I will leave the facility unnamed. I have found that I can recreate the smell events simply by entering the airstream based on current wind direction, even up to a quarter mile away. I believe a chemical reaction is occuring because the industrial air stream is odorless. I was able to place my Rav4 in the air stream to start the reaction. Meanwhile I had two Emergency Response Technicians sample the "fumes" inside the Rav4 with an Eagle 6 gas portable analyzer. They did not detect anything, but then again it only samples certain gases. They nonetheless were baffled by the strong odor and could not describe what it was or specifically where it was coming from on the vehicle. When these events happen the whole vehicle seems to emit the obnoxious odor. I have been able to smell it across a parking lot when it is "active." Nevertheless, I have found all I have to do is move out of the air stream and the odor will immediately disappear without a trace. Stay posted.

 

[Ott.]

FYI,I spoke too soon. Turns out the noxious smell returned. I have since positively identified what I will call a chemical reaction. It happens when I enter the odorless air stream of a specific industrial complex which I frequent. I will leave the facility unnamed. I have found that I can recreate the smell events simply by entering the airstream based on current wind direction, even up to a quarter mile away. I believe a chemical reaction is occuring because the industrial air stream is odorless. I was able to place my Rav4 in the air stream to start the reaction. Meanwhile I had two Emergency Response Technicians sample the "fumes" inside the Rav4 with an Eagle 6 gas portable analyzer. They did not detect anything, but then again it only samples certain gases. They nonetheless were baffled by the strong odor and could not describe what it was or specifically where it was coming from on the vehicle. When these events happen the whole vehicle seems to emit the obnoxious odor. I have been able to smell it across a parking lot when it is "active." Nevertheless, I have found all I have to do is move out of the air stream and the odor will immediately disappear without a trace. Stay posted.

Wow, that's very weird, and makes me think of a couple of Toyota's that caught fire for seemingly no good reason, one on the Road and the Other was at home IIRC.
That might also be some chemical reaction to something in the environment around them, wow.
Ott.

 

[Lyneii]

So I just bought a new LE AWD Rav4 and am suffering from the smell inside. I think I may have made big mistake in buying this vehicle. The smell was very overpowering to me when I first got in for a test drive. It did not smell like your typical new car smell - there was something different and decidedly more noxious about it. I'm not even sure how to describe it, except maybe sort of acrid. It sort of produced a sensation of itchiness inside my nose.

My wife along with the salesman just said it smelled like a new car to them so I ended up ignoring it, expecting it to diminish sufficiently fairly quickly. So we bought the car and started driving home. The odor did diminish somewhat, but I had the windows down slightly and the fan on with the heat set to medium. In spite of that, by the time we had driven about 35 to 40 minutes, both my wife and I were experiencing a slight headache. When I stopped after driving for about an hour, I popped the hood and was greeted by a smell similar to burning plastic on the driver's side of the engine compartment.

I drove to work this morning with all of the windows a few inches down, and still noticed a slight smell. This was after letting the car idle for about 15 minutes the night before with the heat on full blast. I also let it idle this morning with the heat on full blast before leaving for work.

At this point I regret buying this specific vehicle. I should have told them to give me a call when they get another LE AWD Mag Grey in stock. I test drove a different LE, FWD a few nights earlier and I did not notice a noxious smell. As it is, I've been experiencing brain fog all day after driving the vehicle to and from work. Just tonight, I did a 15 minute drive around the neighborhood and had the really noxious odor reappear in the cabin. I also noticed a brief burning plastic smell when I opened the engine compartment.

I did call the dealership right after I got home from the purchase and spoke to the salesman. He said that the '19 Ravs that he has been in have had a stronger smell than the previous generations and said he thought it would go away soon, but that I could bring it in to have it inspected if I wanted. I told him I would see what the next day or two was like, but I decided to also call Toyota Care today. They opened a case, but said that the way things work, I need to have the dealership try to remedy the issue first.

I am not looking forward to having to deal with this - this is one of those things that the service department is likely to say "we don't notice anything unusual" and I'll end up with a vehicle that is making me sick.

Any thoughts? Anybody else experience something similar?

I have much the same description. There is a smell similar to burning plastic in the 2024 RAV4. I’ve taken it to the dealer. They denied any smell. I had a headache after driving in the vehicle. The vehicle already had the brakes fixed since they loudly squeeked.

 

[DownhillToyoda]

I have much the same description. There is a smell similar to burning plastic in the 2024 RAV4. I’ve taken it to the dealer. They denied any smell. I had a headache after driving in the vehicle. The vehicle already had the brakes fixed since they loudly squeeked.

My RAV is a year old. Still has an offgassing smell when the cabin is warmed by the sun.

What was the brake fix exactly; do you know? New shims or just grease application on back of pads? Mine have always squeaked at very low speed. I dont care too much but if its just grease Ill maybe get around to doing it.

 

[FKHeath]

What was the brake fix exactly; do you know? New shims or just grease application on back of pads? Mine have always squeaked at very low speed. I dont care too much but if its just grease Ill maybe get around to doing it.

See T-SB-0001-22.

 

[Lyneii]

My RAV is a year old. Still has an offgassing smell when the cabin is warmed by the sun.

What was the brake fix exactly; do you know? New shims or just grease application on back of pads? Mine have always squeaked at very low speed. I dont care too much but if its just grease Ill maybe get around to doing it.

Yes, new shims. There was a loud squeak at very low speed.
The offgassing smell (?) occurs as soon as I start the car. Passengers in the vehicle are vocal about the smell. The car was delivered in November 2024. This is March 31, 2024 and its concerning because there is still a smell.

 

[crisps]

only time my 2022 rav4 stank beyond new car smell was a plastic bag blew onto the exhaust pipe and
stuck...that took some time to melt away. it really stank like plastic/hot clutch/hot brakes and I was initially
worried 'why am I smelling clutch...' but it was trash... and now burnt off

 

[FKHeath]

Yes, new shims. There was a loud squeak at very low speed.
The offgassing smell (?) occurs as soon as I start the car. Passengers in the vehicle are vocal about the smell. The car was delivered in November 2024. This is March 31, 2024 and its concerning because there is still a smell.

Do you have a heated steering wheel? There are other reports on the forum that the heated steering wheel has a stench unlike anything else. Since you got the car as winter started, perhaps it is the heated steering wheel.

 

[DownhillToyoda]

Do you have a heated steering wheel? There are other reports on the forum that the heated steering wheel has a stench unlike anything else. Since you got the car as winter started, perhaps it is the heated steering wheel.

No heated seats. Hybrid LE trim. The smell is really only when I first get in the car if its parked in the sun. Its not a huge concern for me.

 

[FKHeath]

Do you have a heated steering wheel?

No heated seats.

I asked about heated steering wheel, not heat seats. The heated steering wheel is part of the weather package; I don't know if you can get the weather package on an LE or not.

 

[DownhillToyoda]

I asked about heated steering wheel, not heat seats. The heated steering wheel is part of the weather package; I don't know if you can get the weather package on an LE or not.

a mis spell no heated steering wheel. i do have heated seats though. the weather packages are quite different between countries.

 

[Lisamak43]

I know this is a few years later (I have a 2022 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid Limited) but when I increase speed (as if to pass someone) I get a noxious sweet smell (almost anti-freeze type of smell) that gets sickening after a few minutes and then it goes away. This happens if I'm driving about 67mph and increase to like 85mph quickly but doesn't happen when I'm just driving regularly. I've mentioned it to Toyota twice now and an employee drove with me the first time and smelled it as well. He determined it was a dirty interior cabin filter so they changed it. I thought maybe that cleared it up but the smell happened again on high speeds later. Someone had posted a TSB on "Foul odor from the high-pressure fuel pump" so I printed it off and I'm going to ask Toyota to follow the procedure they have for this issue and hopefully that solves it. Hoping this helps anyone else that has the issue I have

 

[FKHeath]

He determined it was a dirty interior cabin filter so they changed it. I thought maybe that cleared it up but the smell happened again on high speeds later.

Did they use the right cabin filter? The hybrids tend to come with a charcoal cabin filter that will absorb odors. Foul odors can also be caused by mold in the duct work. Toyota has been fighting that for over a decade now and has released several service bulletins on the issue.

Someone had posted a TSB on "Foul odor from the high-pressure fuel pump" so I printed it off and I'm going to ask Toyota to follow the procedure they have for this issue and hopefully that solves it.

The high pressure fuel pump issue is a seep of gasoline, so it should smell like gas, not a random foul odor.

 

[Rav4-lim]

I know this is a few years later (I have a 2022 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid Limited) but when I increase speed (as if to pass someone) I get a noxious sweet smell (almost anti-freeze type of smell) that gets sickening after a few minutes and then it goes away. This happens if I'm driving about 67mph and increase to like 85mph quickly

Do you have the vent circulator on recycle or fresh air when the odor comes?

 

[Lisamak43]

Do you have the vent circulator on recycle or fresh air when the odor comes?

I think it happens when I’m either recirculating air or not. I’ve had AC on the last few times it’s happened and so I roll my window down to get rid of the sweet stinky smell. I’m sure it was the right filter that they replaced but that shouldn’t be the issue…the question at hand is why is this smell happening when I am increasing speed rapidly? My car was rear ended 3 weeks after I bought it so I wondered if it was something possibly leaking from the batteries since there is a slight sulfur type smell. A co-worker thought it could be the catalytic converter not sealing properly and the smell is getting into the car ?!

 

[FKHeath]

My car was rear ended 3 weeks after I bought it so I wondered if it was something possibly leaking from the batteries since there is a slight sulfur type smell. A co-worker thought it could be the catalytic converter not sealing properly and the smell is getting into the car ?!

A sulfur smell (rotten egg smell) is caused by using cheap gas. Buy Top Tier Gas, as Toyota recommends in your owners manual, and you will not have a sulfur smell: Fuel Stations - TOP TIER™

Edit: Since the car was in an accident, it could be a leak in the exhaust system and you are smelling the exhaust gasses. Have your car inspected ASAP, for CO2 is deadly!