2021 Toyota RAV4 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 47about this part
- Share
- 12%of 389 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 30,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 47 complaints about the electrical system of the 2021 Toyota RAV4, 12% of the 389 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 30,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 5 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“There is a rattling sound coming from the driver's door when the car is stationary and the door is swung closed. The rearview mirror of the door has significant shaking while the car is in motion, so this is a safety hazard. The speaker in the driver's door makes a static or crackling sound when music is off.”
NHTSA complaint #11403428, filed 2021-03, 70 miles“Vehicle battery completely dead after only 3 days of not being driven. Vehicle would not start and could not be jump started. Vehicle is only 2 months old. Wireless charging does not charge consistently. Intermittent connection only and gets very hot. Usb phone connection randomly disconnects and reconnects. Occasionally the voice command prompt on center control is activated and stays connected when connecting a phone through usb and cannot exit to see information display. Remote start from fob will not work. …”
NHTSA complaint #11399292, filed 2021-03, 2,000 miles“Just a little over 33k miles, regular maintenance wit dealer, after the power steering light flashes on then goes off after auto stop of motor when stopping and stop at long intervals sometime see a battery charging at same time. Fluid is great no noise. I see a recall but not on this vin. However I’m reading on line several of these are having the same issue, the car is too new..”
NHTSA complaint #11628916, filed 2024-12“We were on a drive back from Nashville like normal. My mom had picked me up from work at around 07:15. The car started making strange sounds as we were driving down the highway. It started yelling at us to pull over to a safe spot and slowing down. All of the lights had come on flashing at this time. It didn’t even make it to the shoulder; We made a stop on the triangle area for when cars come in from the exit. …”
NHTSA complaint #11523298, filed 2023-05“I have a faulty coolant bypass valve on my 2021 Toyota RAV4. Every time I turn on the air conditioning the service engine required comes up on my notifications a known recall problem for Toyota RAV4’s of this year”
NHTSA complaint #11762309, filed 2026-09Related service bulletins
- 11028726Jan 30, 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
- 11028722Jan 28, 2026Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map…
- 11028713Jan 12, 2026Some RAV4 vehicles power seat where the automatic seat adjustment by the memory function does not work.
- 11024080Sep 17, 2025Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we…
- 11020670Jun 25, 2025Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model year Corolla Cross, and 2019 – 2025 model year RAV4 vehicles with…
- 11020657Jun 13, 2025The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service…
- 11019332Apr 2, 2025To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on…
- 11018329Apr 2, 2025To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on…
- 11016786Feb 11, 2025Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map…
- 11015500Feb 11, 2025Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | 18% |
| 2024 | 32 | 18% |
| 2023 | 43 | 26% |
| 2022 | 40 | 27% |
| 2021 | 47 | 12% |
| 2020 | 119 | 19% |
| 2019 | 103 | 12% |
| 2018 | 130 | 39% |
| 2017 | 108 | 35% |
| 2016 | 59 | 25% |
| 2015 | 85 | 28% |
| 2014 | 69 | 35% |
| 2013 | 75 | 29% |
| 2012 | 30 | 12% |
| 2011 | 19 | 7% |
| 2010 | 15 | 4% |
| 2009 | 19 | 6% |
| 2008 | 27 | 5% |
| 2007 | 76 | 8% |
| 2006 | 42 | 6% |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% |
| 2004 | 10 | 6% |
| 2003 | 42 | 13% |
| 2002 | 92 | 17% |
| 2001 | 60 | 19% |
| 2000 | 1 | 3% |
| 1999 | 6 | 10% |
| 1998 | 3 | 4% |
| 1997 | 3 | 6% |
| 1996 | 2 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2021 Toyota RAV4
125 complaintsOther or unknown
77 complaintsEngine
41 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
31 complaintsFuel system
24 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsSteering
21 complaintsBody and structure
21 complaintsForward collision avoidance
18 complaintsSeats
18 complaintsLane departure
10 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Toyota RAV4
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology