I bought my 2021 RAV4 Hybrid used and it came with the roof racks installed.

You should educate yourself about the roof rail leak issue. See service bulletin T-SB-0016-23 and Customer Support Program 22TE05.

The early 5th gen RAV4 came from the factory with ridiculously thin sealing washers on the mounting clips that may let water get inside. Once water gets in, it will ruin the side curtain airbags and other electronics, stain the headliner, and cause all kinds of issues in the electrical system. Although the customer support program provides a 10 year warranty for that problem, Toyota won't do anything until there is proof that the car is leaking; by that time, there may be substantial damage. Some people with the issue have waited many months, perhaps a year, just for the parts to come in for the fix (dealers won't let you take your car home to drive while awaiting the parts!).

Thus, it behooves you to be proactive and fix the problem before it occurs, and it will occur eventually.

There are two solutions you can do yourself:
1. The T-SB lists mounting clips that have thicker sealing washers that are exchanged for the original clips.
2. Many people have gone beyond that and added additional sealing, usually butyl rubber around the holes for the clips to preclude water ever getting in.

 

You should educate yourself about the roof rail leak issue. See service bulletin T-SB-0016-23 and Customer Support Program 22TE05.

The early 5th gen RAV4 came from the factory with ridiculously thin sealing washers on the mounting clips that may let water get inside. Once water gets in, it will ruin the side curtain airbags and other electronics, stain the headliner, and cause all kinds of issues in the electrical system. Although the customer support program provides a 10 year warranty for that problem, Toyota won't do anything until there is proof that the car is leaking; by that time, there may be substantial damage. Some people with the issue have waited many months, perhaps a year, just for the parts to come in for the fix (dealers won't let you take your car home to drive while awaiting the parts!).

Thus, it behooves you to be proactive and fix the problem before it occurs, and it will occur eventually.

There are two solutions you can do yourself:
1. The T-SB lists mounting clips that have thicker sealing washers that are exchanged for the original clips.
2. Many people have gone beyond that and added additional sealing, usually butyl rubber around the holes for the clips to preclude water ever getting in.

Thank you so much for the part numbers and all the good info. I am aware of the leak issue and have actually bought the butyl rubber to rectify it, which I will do shortly when I take off the racks. Luckily I am in SoCal so there's no risk of rain any time soon.

Seems like the dealership near me have those covers but they are kinda expensive, almost $50 for 4 pieces of plastic.

Hopefully someone else on here don't need them and can sell them to me for cheaper, if not I'll probably have to bite the bullet and buy from the dealership in the next few weeks.

 

Did you check your glove box? It might be in there.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. There was nothing in the glove box, did not even get the manual. Also checked the spare tire area and unfortunately nothing there either.

 

You can buy the covers from your Toyota dealer or on line, but you have to know that each one is different. Let me look up the part numbers for you --- give me a second. You can still take the cross bars off while you await the covers; the covers are only cosmetic and are not used to keep water out of the car.

 

Let me look up the part numbers for you --- give me a second

Part numbers for the roof rail covers:
75631-42010 RH-F (right hand front)
75632-42010 LH-F
75633-42010 RH-R
75634-42010 LH-R

The part numbers may have a "-C2" or "-C3" added to them. That is just the color code. As far as I know, they are only available in black. (C2 simply is the color code for black).

Additionally, the last four digits, 42010 may be replaced by 0R010. Toyota was revamping their part numbers and the "R" in that part number simply means it was originally designed for the RAV4. It is the same part, just two different numbers.

 

Seems like the dealership near me have those covers but they are kinda expensive, almost $50 for 4 pieces of plastic.

Yes, Toyota is very proud of those.

A couple ways to get them for a bit less cost:
-Do a Google search for the part numbers. Many Toyota dealers sell online at a price lower than MSRP. By online I mean the dealers own web site, Amazon, or Ebay. Bam Wholesale is one of the Toyota dealers that is known for lower prices.
-Your local dealer may sell them for less than MSRP through the Toyota Parts web site (www.autoparts.toyota.com). If so, shipping to the dealer is free.

which I will do shortly when I take off the racks.

The cross bars can be removed (and the covers installed) without touching the rails.

BTW, the cross bars come with a mini-torque wrench for installation/removal of the bolts (Installation Tool - Roof Rack Cross Bar, Black | Part #PT27848140TT | Toyota Auto Parts), and a very special tool for removing the end caps on the cross bar (Toyota Rav4 Roof Rack Cross Bar Key Clip Genuine OEM Toyota New 2013-2021 Set 2 | eBay). You can use a 13mm socket instead of the mini-torque wrench, but you will need the special tool for removing the end caps. I know of no way too remove them without that. When the cross bars are installed, the installer is suppose to put that mini-torque wrench and the end cap tool into the glove box. Thus, you may have to beg, borrow, or steal the end cap tool to get the end caps off.

Cross bars are never installed at the factory. Rather, they are installed at the port of entry (if your RAV was made in Japan), the distributor, or the dealer.

 

Yes, Toyota is very proud of those.

A couple ways to get them for a bit less cost:
-Do a Google search for the part numbers. Many Toyota dealers sell online at a price lower than MSRP. By online I mean the dealers own web site, Amazon, or Ebay. Bam Wholesale is one of the Toyota dealers that is known for lower prices.
-Your local dealer may sell them for less than MSRP through the Toyota Parts web site (www.autoparts.toyota.com). If so, shipping to the dealer is free.


The cross bars can be removed (and the covers installed) without touching the rails.

BTW, the cross bars come with a mini-torque wrench for installation/removal of the bolts (Installation Tool - Roof Rack Cross Bar, Black | Part #PT27848140TT | Toyota Auto Parts), and a very special tool for removing the end caps on the cross bar (Toyota Rav4 Roof Rack Cross Bar Key Clip Genuine OEM Toyota New 2013-2021 Set 2 | eBay). You can use a 13mm socket instead of the mini-torque wrench, but you will need the special tool for removing the end caps. I know of no way too remove them without that. When the cross bars are installed, the installer is suppose to put that mini-torque wrench and the end cap tool into the glove box. Thus, you may have to beg, borrow, or steal the end cap tool to get the end caps off.

Cross bars are never installed at the factory. Rather, they are installed at the port of entry (if your RAV was made in Japan), the distributor, or the dealer.

Thanks again for all the information. You just have such a vast knowledge about this car it's amazing.

 

Are you still looking for these? I might have my old ones, if i do i'll shoot you a pm

 

Yes I am. Please do. Thanks a lot.