2015 Toyota RAV4 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 RAV4 report two broad themes: electrical trouble (battery drain, stalling, warning lights, and in a number of cases engine-compartment fires) and a sudden loss of power steering assist, sometimes at speed. Both show up across a wide mileage range, from very low-mileage cars to well past 100,000 miles, and complaints frequently describe failures that come and go, which makes them hard to reproduce at the dealer.

1. 1
   Steering

   Sudden loss of power steering assist

   • 35 complaints (11%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe the electric power steering cutting out without warning, leaving the wheel very hard to turn; several mention it happened mid-turn or on a curve and that a steering warning light came on. In many cases the assist returned after shutting the vehicle off and restarting, and it either never recurred or came back intermittently. Complaints say dealers sometimes replaced steering column or rack components and sometimes could not reproduce the failure; some owners note their vehicle was not covered by the power steering recall. Reported from roughly 15,000 to 123,000 miles, with many cases between 70,000 and 120,000 miles and often occurring during low-speed turns.

   Recall 15V144000

   What to check: Ask whether the vehicle had the electric power steering recall (15V144000) performed, and check whether the VIN is included. During a test drive, turn at low speed and watch for the steering warning light or any heaviness in the wheel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on city streets and making a turn at approximately 20-25 MPH, the vehicle's electric power steering cut out without any warning. The steering became extremely heavy with no assist. The red steering wheel icon lite up. This is the second time that this incident has occurred and luckily I did not have my family in the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #11322348, filed 2020-04, 14,733 miles

   “I was exiting a highway on a curve (est. 40mph) when my power steering failed instantly jerking the steering wheel to the right creating a safety hazard. At the same time all of my dashboard lights flashed on and off. I have a Toyota RAV4 2015. There have been a recall for this description but not on my VIN.”

   NHTSA complaint #11330901, filed 2020-06, 91,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Engine-compartment fire and smoke

   • 59 complaints (19%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 5.1 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 43 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe smoke or flames from under the hood or behind the dashboard, sometimes while driving and sometimes shortly after parking, with several vehicles declared a total loss. Some complaints say the fire began near the battery or a battery cable; in others the cause was never determined and no warning appeared beforehand. A few owners report stalling or a burning odor before the fire. Reported from about 5,000 to 130,000 miles, spread evenly, and in one case within minutes of parking.

   Recall 23V7340003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check that any replacement battery is the correct size for the tray and that the hold-down is secure with no corrosion; recall 23V734000 covers improper replacement batteries. Ask whether campaign 23TA13 has been completed with a Toyota dealer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the interstate entrance ramp when the battery died but then I was able to start it back and drove just a short distance when the hood started smoking. I pulled over and turned the motor off and raised the hood, and the battery was on fire. The battery and electrical system burned.”

   NHTSA complaint #11311546, filed 2020-02, 60,000 miles

   “The vehicle stalled while I was driving on a highway at approximately 55 MPH. I had been driving for 15 minutes. I lost power at the dashboard, lost power steering, and the engine stopped running. I coasted to a side street and stopped the car. I opened the hood, and discovered a fire in the engine compartment. The battery cable closest to the engine was on fire, and had melted one corner of the battery. A passerby helped extinguish the fire, and the fire department was called to inspect and make sure the fire was out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11403613, filed 2021-03, 77,600 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Battery drain, hard starting and stalling

   • 45 complaints (15%)
   • median 58,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 20 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle failing to start, needing repeated jump starts, and stalling at speed with multiple warning lights flashing. Owners report the instrument panel going blank, the radio or touchscreen dropping out, and fuses blowing; some mechanics traced the problem to the battery, battery cables or positive terminal, while others could not identify a cause. A number of owners had received the 23V734000 recall notice but were told the parts were not yet available. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 130,000 miles, with several owners noting the problem returned after a battery replacement.

   Recall 23V7340002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the battery tray, hold-down bracket and terminals for corrosion or looseness, confirm the battery is the correct group size, and ask for proof that recall 23V734000 and campaign 23TA13 were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1st occurrence 1/4/2016: driving down an interstate with several lanes going same direction and the horn started blowing intermittently 2nd occurrence 2/26/2019: had turned into a parking space and stopped with motor still running, then opened door to check if I was parked between the parking lines correctly and the horn started blowing 1st occurrence: poor connection to horn to theft deterrent in security alarm 2nd occurrence: intermittent open circuit in parking alarm harness”

   NHTSA complaint #11299603, filed 2020-01, 13,781 miles

   “The dom lights fuse keeps blowing. It appears to have a short but some times the fuse takes a little time to blow. Yesterday I tried to replace the fuse three times, and three fuses were blown immediately.”

   NHTSA complaint #11374069, filed 2020-11, 45,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shudder or hesitation traced to the torque converter

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe a shudder or vibration felt through the vehicle at low speeds, often while accelerating gently or in the 20-50 mph range, along with hesitation between first and second gear that feels like slipping into neutral. Complaints say dealers diagnosed a faulty torque converter, and in one case the dealer noted that a repeat failure would mean transmission replacement. Some owners report the dealer could not reproduce the symptom. Reported mainly between about 40,000 and 140,000 miles, with several cases in the 110,000 to 140,000 mile range.

   What to check: Test drive at steady 25-40 mph and feel for a repeating shudder or hesitation under light acceleration, and ask whether the torque converter or transmission fluid has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hesitates between first and second gear like going into nuetral for about 3 / 5 seconds before shifting back to first. The car can be at a stop upon starting it hesitates, or when in motion and going to pass it hesitates, on city streets, highways and turning. We have returned to the Toyota dealer 4 times and they drove the car and stated nothing wrong. The fourth time in I drove the car with a mechanic and he witness the hesitation, then they checked the car and said nothing wrong with it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11309940, filed 2020-02, 40,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 25-50 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue to drive the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure mainly occurred while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the torque converter needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11461625, filed 2022-04, 140,000 miles

Buying note. A 2015 RAV4 is generally a straightforward used buy, but given the complaints two checks matter most: confirm the battery-related recall and power steering recall were completed for that VIN, and drive it long enough to catch an intermittent steering or stalling symptom. Have a mechanic inspect the battery hold-down, battery cables and front brakes before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.