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2014–2015 Toyota RAV4: Sudden loss of electric power steering assist (EPS ECU recall)

Likely causes, ranked

  1. Damaged EPS ECU from manufacturing$0–$0Shop

Real-owner fix counts will appear here as reports come in.

DIY or shop: See DIY or shop section

Parts to check

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Symptom: An EPS warning light and unexpectedly heavy steering.

Likely causes

  1. Damaged EPS ECU from manufacturing. Toyota inspects and replaces the EPS ECU when the serial number is in range.

DIY or shop?

Dealer. Recall repairs are free.

Useful steps

  1. Check your VIN for 15V144.
  2. Don't ignore an EPS warning — have the assist system checked before the next trip.

Vehicle focus: 2014–2015 Toyota RAV4.

Safety / mechanic note

Sudden loss of assist increases crash risk. Verify with a mechanic or dealer.

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Recalls & service bulletins

Recalls

  • 15V144000 2015-03-13 2014–2015 RAV4 (also certain 2015 Camry and Highlander): a damaged EPS electronic control unit can fail over time and cut electric power steering. Dealers inspect the EPS ECU or column serial number and replace the ECU if it is in the affected range. Details

NHTSA complaints: 105 keyword-matched complaints for Toyota RAV4 2014–2015 (of 501 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-16).

Always check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Sources

What actually fixed it?

Had this problem? Tell other owners what the real fix was. Reports are counted above; we never show made-up numbers.

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