My 2015 Limited and 2016 Hybrid both had the tie down bracket, it has to be removed to mount a hitch.

 

I'm pretty sure that's a tow hook... A place to tie a rope to in order to pull it out if it's stuck. Searching around the internet, that's what I find anyway. It gets removed if a towing hitch gets installed.

But I wouldn't trust the internet completely, and your insurance guy won't accept that anyway. Your best approach would be to show your pic at a dealership and ask them what it is, and if it should've been removed. Ask them to put it in writing, and show that to the insurance adjuster. I'm pretty sure they're BS'ing you; just trying to wiggle out of paying a claim.

 

But I wouldn't trust the internet completely, and your insurance guy won't accept that anyway. Your best approach would be to show your pic at a dealership and ask them what it is, and if it should've been removed. Ask them to put it in writing, and show that to the insurance adjuster. I'm pretty sure they're BS'ing you; just trying to wiggle out of paying a claim.

I agree it would be a good idea to show the dealership the picture and find out exactly what the hook is. I originally thought the adjuster was trying to avoid paying for the damages, but they already cut the check. I guess I'm going to have to go looking under random people's cars.

 

The "offending" part is a tie down bracket, not a tow hook, any attempt to use it as a tow point would result in damage to the rear fascia by the tow cable since the tie down bracket is well above the rear fascia. The only recovery point on a late model Rav4 is the factory supplied front tow eyelet that screws into the sub frame behind the front bumper, they're behind the two square covers on the bumper cover/fascia.


https://www.curtmfg.com/masterlibrary/13149/installsheet/CM_13149_INS.PDF

 

Is that supposed to be removed by the dealership after the vehicle is delivered by the auto transport?

 

I don't think so knowing that everyone that has installed a hitch on a 2013 and later Rav4 on Rav4World has had to remove it, I don't recollect anyone saying that theirs had already been removed. Best way to find out is check with your local Toyota service departments, they should know if it's supposed to be removed by them or the port, I do know that I had to remove it from both of mine, I think I had to remove it from my wife's Prius as well.

 

FWIW, my 2009 has one. I never paid any attention to it, thanks for pointing it out!

You couldn't tow without contacting the bumper as it doesn't hang low enough. Almost appears it would provide a bit of protection to the fuel tank if a vehicle struck from the rear and came under--but it looks like yours just broke, so that's not it's main purpose.

 

Contact your dealer and ask to see the check-off sheet for the prepping of new Toyota vehicles. If that item (removal of tie down hook) is on the check list then Toyota screwed up by not removing it, if not then your insurance adjuster is jerking your chain. :wink:

 

That's a really good idea. I will have to do that.

 

Just cruising through the Rav 4 forum, read your post and wanted to know the resolve for your issue. That is indeed a tow hook and it is on the driver side attached to the frame. I have one on my Rav and when a hitch is put on it is temp removed to attach the hitch then put back on. I believe it is there for the purpose of towing something and although it can be removed it isn't necessarily required to be removed by the dealer and I haven't seen one yet that it was removed on. Your insurance man was ineptly wrong and was wanting to get out of the claim. The claim adjuster was blowing smoke, hope you didn't fall for it, he was trying to screw you out of paying a claim. If they didn't cover the claim, you probably have a claim against them. Just wanting to know.....