2018 Toyota RAV4 Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 30about this part
- Share
- 9%of 333 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 12,900miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the brakes of the 2018 Toyota RAV4, 9% of the 333 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 12,900 miles. 10 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When I'm driving at slow speeds the engine feels like it stalled or downshifted and the display gets dark but car is still 'on', however, it will no longer accelerate. The steering seems to be affected too. Unfortunately, it only resolved by turning the car off and back on, causing traffic to stop or swerve to avoid hitting me 3x the past 2 weeks.”
NHTSA complaint #11282038, filed 2019-11, 8,000 miles“Since I brought this RAV4 when I start driving the first 5 minutes in the morning and cold weather when I step on the brake it's make noise and when I took the car in for 5k,10k,15k and 20k service I told them about the brake and there answer was that's normal. For me this is a brand new car.”
NHTSA complaint #11321331, filed 2020-04, 4,000 miles“I was driving in a fast food drive through. It was a stop and go pace because there were around 5 cars before me and was traveling approx 3 MPH. I began to proceed but this time as I went to apply my brakes they went to the floor and I couldn't stop the car. In order to avoid the car in front of me I turned my wheel to the right and jumped the curb and hit a wall. The vehicle was 3 days old.”
NHTSA complaint #11056950, filed 2017-12, 134 miles“Traffic stopped on the highway and my car didn't. The automatic braking system started but it didn't stop. Almost every airbag deployed except the passenger, it was off. My dash read that ABS failed contact dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #11390787, filed 2021-01, 61,000 miles“Starting late aug2020 the dashboard starting to show warning lights randomly and inconsistently. All warning lights do not come at the same time but when turning the external lights on other warning lights turn on and so far the car have stalled more than 4 times while driving under 40 MPH. The last 3 times the car started right after being parked and but this last time it did not and while I was waiting for a tow almost had an accident from behind me as the car that was coming behind me stopped and was hit by another car behind him. …”
NHTSA complaint #11403717, filed 2021-03, 14,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10214323Mar 17, 2022TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
- 10190453Mar 12, 2021TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
- 10187241Dec 14, 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
- 10186195Dec 14, 2020TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
- 10166036Sep 26, 2019TSB: REVISION NOTICE September 26, 2019 Rev1: ? The Warranty Information, Parts Information, and Repair Procedure sections have been updated. Any previous printed versions of…
- 10158583Mar 12, 2019TSB: Some 2009 ? 2018 model year RAV4 and 2017 ? 2018 model year iM vehicles may exhibit a grind/groan noise from the front brake pads. An updated pad kit is now available as a…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 9% |
| 2024 | 16 | 9% |
| 2023 | 18 | 11% |
| 2022 | 8 | 5% |
| 2021 | 21 | 5% |
| 2020 | 20 | 3% |
| 2019 | 36 | 4% |
| 2018 | 30 | 9% |
| 2017 | 38 | 12% |
| 2016 | 46 | 19% |
| 2015 | 31 | 10% |
| 2014 | 16 | 8% |
| 2013 | 23 | 9% |
| 2012 | 39 | 15% |
| 2011 | 48 | 17% |
| 2010 | 34 | 9% |
| 2009 | 31 | 9% |
| 2008 | 34 | 6% |
| 2007 | 47 | 5% |
| 2006 | 32 | 5% |
| 2005 | 11 | 8% |
| 2004 | 8 | 5% |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% |
| 2002 | 5 | 1% |
| 2001 | 24 | 8% |
| 2000 | 1 | 3% |
| 1999 | 5 | 8% |
| 1998 | 16 | 21% |
| 1997 | 5 | 9% |
| 1996 | 11 | 23% |
Other parts of the 2018 Toyota RAV4
130 complaintsOther or unknown
71 complaintsEngine
33 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsExterior lighting
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaintsAir bags
16 complaintsBody and structure
14 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsForward collision avoidance
6 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Toyota RAV4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology