2018 Toyota RAV4 Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 4%of 333 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 10,110miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the body and structure of the 2018 Toyota RAV4, 4% of the 333 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 10,110 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving to work around 740am on 287 south just past rt 24. Dashboard has 4wd warning and smoke coming out from hood. I quickly moved to the shoulder and fire broke out before car came to full stop, all within one minute. I barely escape the car and called police and fire dept. They came and put off the fire. There are two explosions before the fire was put off.”
NHTSA complaint #11183106, filed 2019-02, 10 miles“On 7/3/20 at about 3 pm edt I was preparing to turn left and exit my neighborhood. I was stopped. I pressed on the accelerator and the vehicle suddenly accelerated straight ahead at a high rate of speed. I was unable to stop the vehicle. I travelled about 100 to 150 feet, climbed an enbankment and landed in a small wooded ravine. I was attempting to exit my neighborhood onto a paved road.”
NHTSA complaint #11338142, filed 2020-07, 15,000 miles“The vehicle breaking system failed while trying to slow down to stop a couple hundred feet back from stopped vehicle sitting at redlight, this completely resulted in collision on august 26, 2018. There was only approximately 500 miles on the vehicle originally purchased on august 18, 2018”
NHTSA complaint #11123950, filed 2018-09, 500 miles“Driving my 2018 Toyota RAV4 on the highway when the sunroof glass exploded. No other vehicles were on the highway at the time and no rock or other object was involved in causing the explosion.”
NHTSA complaint #11164997, filed 2019-01, 2,650 miles“The automatic lift gate started failing and became misaligned causing the back lift gate to be unable to be closed and damaged my passenger rear tail light as well due to the malalignment issue resulting in having to drive without the back gate fully shut until I can afford the 2k cost quoted to fix it. My research shows this is a very common issue with the rav4's in this production cycle”
NHTSA complaint #11725079, filed 2026-03Related service bulletins
- 11012744Dec 6, 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic…
- 11012743Dec 6, 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film…
- 11012742Dec 6, 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an…
- 11012735Dec 5, 2024Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental…
- 11012727Dec 3, 2024Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding…
- 11007455Jul 29, 2024Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate…
- 11006161Jul 29, 2024Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate…
- 11007445Jul 12, 2024The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic…
- 11007444Jul 12, 2024To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film…
- 11007443Jul 12, 2024Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 9% |
| 2024 | 16 | 9% |
| 2023 | 10 | 6% |
| 2022 | 19 | 13% |
| 2021 | 21 | 5% |
| 2020 | 62 | 10% |
| 2019 | 90 | 10% |
| 2018 | 14 | 4% |
| 2017 | 19 | 6% |
| 2016 | 15 | 6% |
| 2015 | 31 | 10% |
| 2014 | 18 | 9% |
| 2013 | 28 | 11% |
| 2012 | 15 | 6% |
| 2011 | 16 | 6% |
| 2010 | 13 | 3% |
| 2009 | 17 | 5% |
| 2008 | 19 | 3% |
| 2007 | 24 | 2% |
| 2006 | 23 | 3% |
| 2005 | 4 | 3% |
| 2004 | 4 | 3% |
| 2003 | 6 | 2% |
| 2002 | 5 | 1% |
| 2001 | 7 | 2% |
| 2000 | 2 | 7% |
| 1999 | 6 | 10% |
| 1998 | 3 | 4% |
| 1997 | 6 | 11% |
| 1996 | 1 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2018 Toyota RAV4
130 complaintsOther or unknown
71 complaintsEngine
33 complaintsBrakes
30 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsExterior lighting
23 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaintsAir bags
16 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 28, 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