2021 Toyota RAV4 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2021 RAV4 most often report air bag and occupant-classification warning lights, many tied to the 23V865000 recall where parts were not available for an extended period. Web searches also turn up: incomplete fuel fills and fuel-level gauge problems (often under 1,000 miles), water pooling inside doors, and occasional reports of brake or steering symptoms.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Air bag or OCS warning light and recall parts unavailable

   • 106 complaints (27%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 25 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the air bag or occupant classification system warning light staying on while driving, sometimes with the passenger seat-belt reminder lit even when the seat is empty. Many reference recall 23V865000 and say the dealer confirmed the remedy parts were not yet available, so they were told not to use the front passenger seat. Complaints also describe the air bags not deploying in collisions. Spread from low mileage up to about 85,000 miles; many reported in the first few years of ownership.

   Recall 23V865000

   What to check: Check whether recall 23V865000 has been completed and ask for documentation. Confirm the air bag and passenger-seat warning lights go out after start-up and that the passenger seat sensor behaves normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In a 4 car pile up. Hit in rear x2 by a large van while sitting in traffic on nj parkway foot on break and pushed into car in front of me x2. Airbags did not deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #11414593, filed 2021-04, 300 miles

   “The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11619361, filed 2024-10, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank will not fill to full / gauge reads wrong

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report the pump shutting off well before the tank is full, and some note the low-fuel light comes on with several gallons still showing on the dash. A few describe the fuel gauge giving inaccurate readings or stopping altogether, leaving them unsure of remaining range. According to complaints, dealers often described the fill behavior as within specification. Mostly reported at very low mileage, often under 10,000 miles, and sometimes on the first tanks of fuel.

   What to check: During a test drive, fill the tank and note how many gallons go in versus the rated capacity, and watch whether the fuel gauge and low-fuel warning behave sensibly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When the low fuel light comes on it only takes 10 gallons to refill. This gives me a range of 400 miles on a tank of fuel. I was expecting a reserve amount of fuel after the low fuel light comes on to drive to a fuel station but only using 10 gallons out of a 14 gallon tank seems wrong.”

   NHTSA complaint #11387955, filed 2021-01, 400 miles

   “With 4 miles left on hv range/dte, I filled my first full tank at costco. Pump read 10.82 gallons. Now hv range is showing 544 miles. I got about 39.9 mpg on first tank (without EV) which is in line with epa. But my real hv range from full to empty was only 10.9 x 39.5 = 430 miles. If you add EV miles of 42, then you get around 472 miles. Not 600. Their mpg claims are valid. But their gas tank/ range claims are clearly overstated. Real range is only 472. Not 600. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11353782, filed 2020-09, 502 miles
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Water collecting inside doors

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a sloshing or swishing sound from a door after rain, with water found inside the door cavity. Owners say they released the rubber plug under the door to drain it and worried about corrosion and electrical problems. Some report the dealer or manufacturer acknowledged it as a known condition without a related recall. Reported between roughly 23,000 and 70,000 miles, after rain or car washes.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: After a wash or rain, listen for sloshing when opening and closing the doors and check the drain plugs at the bottom of each door.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a swishing sound coming from the front passenger’s side door. There was water inside the door's body cavity. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11728913, filed 2026-04, 70,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle after a rainstorm, there was an abnormal water swishing sound inside the vehicle. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact discovered water leakage coming from the bottom of both the rear driver’s and passenger’s side doors. The contact stated that the windows and doors were closed during the rainstorm. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11607281, filed 2024-08, 23,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal to the floor or braking warning messages

   • 15 complaints (4%)
   • median 24,473 mi at 2.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and finding the vehicle did not slow as expected, in a few cases requiring the parking brake to stop. Others report a parking brake malfunction warning shortly after purchase. Complaints note that dealers were contacted but the vehicle was often not diagnosed or repaired. Reported from around 4,000 to 40,000 miles, in ordinary traffic and at intersections.

   What to check: Test the brake pedal feel at low speed and confirm no brake or parking-brake warning messages appear on the dash at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Just bought this vehicle on january and with just over 4k miles this warning came up.. Parking brake malfunction.. Turned off then on the car and same warning...called the dealer for inspection asap..”

   NHTSA complaint #11415942, filed 2021-05, 4,364 miles

   “The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while his wife was approaching a traffic light and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the parking brake was activated to slow and stop the vehicle. The driver was then able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and made the dealer aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11474885, filed 2022-07, 15,900 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Steering and lane-assist warnings or loss of assist

   • 19 complaints (5%)
   • median 2,000 mi at 0.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Some owners describe a steering warning symbol appearing, with diagnosis pointing to a steering angle sensor. A few report the lane-tracing assist steering in the wrong direction or the wheel becoming hard to turn at low speed. Dealers in these complaints either could not reproduce the concern or did not complete repairs. Reported from very low mileage up to about 100,000 miles, at both city and highway speeds.

   What to check: During a test drive, engage and disengage the lane assist on a clear road and check that no steering warning lights appear at start-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2021 Toyota RAV4 have design problems with suspension system. Where if the freedom over 55mph the car will be unstable, bumpy and shaky. I am really scared to drive my car on the hwy. I heard mist 2021 RAV4 have the same problem. Toyota needs to have a recall to fix or change suspension system with a firm one asap. Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #11416567, filed 2021-05, 1 miles

   “This vehicle has intermittent operation of its lane keep assistance. One activated, it regularly will do the opposite of keeping your lane. It has run me off the road and also into the lane of oncoming traffic. I have reported to the dealer but they couldn't replicate it. I have escalated to the dealer as this happens very frequently and is in safe. Upon activation of the lta, it turns the steering wheel approx 15- 20 degrees and immediately takes you out of the lane. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11398108, filed 2021-02, 1,000 miles

Buying note. Ask for proof that recall 23V865000 has been completed, and check the fuel fill and door drains during a test drive. Most reported items appear at low mileage, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on warning lights and the fuel gauge is worthwhile.

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.