Toyota RAV4 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 9,401 consumer complaints across the 30 model years of the Toyota RAV4 (1996–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2007 has the most, with 1,004. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (1,398 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All RAV4 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 91 | 5,500 | 3 | 42 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 176 | 13,600 | 3 | 67 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 163 | 57,079 | 3 | 122 | 34 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 149 | 26,000 | 1 | 182 | 11 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 389 | 16,000 | 1 | 229 | 55 · Typical | Rising |
| 2020 | 637 | 2,800 | 6 | 304 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 883 | 3,000 | 7 | 303 | 100 · More | Stable |
| 2018 | 333 | 12,000 | 3 | 183 | 52 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 307 | 22,910 | 3 | 206 | 46 · Typical | Rising |
| 2016 | 240 | 20,000 | 3 | 292 | 43 · Typical | Stable |
| 2015 | 305 | 35,000 | 4 | 313 | 48 · Typical | Stable |
| 2014 | 197 | 48,000 | 4 | 373 | 14 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2013 | 257 | 20,000 | 2 | 398 | 32 · Fewer | Stable |
| 2012 | 260 | 25,000 | 5 | 332 | 52 · Typical | Stable |
| 2011 | 287 | 45,468 | 11 | 283 | 48 · Typical | Rising |
| 2010 | 400 | 34,162 | 14 | 313 | 75 · More | Stable |
| 2009 | 327 | 26,000 | 15 | 287 | 83 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 575 | 65,631 | 14 | 340 | 62 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 1,004 | 63,000 | 14 | 308 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 705 | 55,000 | 11 | 308 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 141 | 79,650 | 5 | 137 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 154 | 80,000 | 2 | 125 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2003 | 315 | 95,112 | 0 | 99 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 527 | 94,000 | 0 | 99 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 309 | 101,500 | 0 | 96 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2000 | 30 | 102,000 | 3 | 72 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 62 | 110,000 | 4 | 46 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 77 | 113,250 | 4 | 46 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 54 | 111,500 | 0 | 31 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 47 | 84,500 | 0 | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain1,398 16%
- Electrical system1,379 16%
- Engine1,340 16%
- Other or unknown1,118 13%
- Steering949 11%
- Vehicle speed control901 10%
- Air bags837 9.7%
- Brakes664 7.7%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2016: “While driving on a local road I started to lose electrical power. At first I lost power steering and shortly after the heat stopped working and all the lights on the dashboard lit up. When I brought the car to be diagnosed the fuse box had been burned and wires melted and there was smoke indicating there had been a fire around the fuse/electrical area”
NHTSA complaint #11399953, filed 2021-03, 85,000 miles2006: “For some time there has been an intermittent problem with the dashboard lights coming on and loss of power steering. The car has been checked by mechanics, including one at a Toyota dealership, but the problem was not found. I have experienced the problem with the car stationary, but I believe my son said it has happened to him while in motion.”
NHTSA complaint #11406269, filed 2021-04, 180,000 miles2017: “Please see attached sheet for all that has happened since I purchased the car. I've had to replace the battery 2 times in 3 years as well. I have new battery and it became corroded fast. My car kept telling me there was an electrical issue and the check engine light would come on and all of the fails LED to the transmission issues.”
NHTSA complaint #11398650, filed 2021-03, 90,000 milesOther Toyota models
18,207 complaintsToyota Prius
12,519 complaintsToyota Corolla
11,738 complaintsToyota Sienna
8,831 complaintsToyota Tacoma
8,476 complaintsToyota Tundra
6,944 complaintsToyota 4RUNNER
5,900 complaintsToyota Highlander
5,780 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology