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2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all RAV4 Hybrid years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Structure complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
3,950 miles · Nov 14, 2017
Service BrakesSteeringStructureCrashInjury

I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN MY CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AT ZERO MPH). AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT IT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED INTO THE HILLY WOODS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND I WASN'T ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. TH…

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I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN MY CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AT ZERO MPH). AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT IT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED INTO THE HILLY WOODS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND I WASN'T ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CAR CONTINUED GOING THROUGH THE HILL FULL OF LARGE TREES. FINALLY THE VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. I HAD A HARD TIME OPENING THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS WEDGED AGAINST SAID TREE. IF THE CAR DIDN'T CRASH INTO THE TREE, IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED DOWN THE EMBANKMENT TO CRASH INTO 5 CARS BELOW AND THE RESULTS WOULD'VE BEEN MORE DISASTROUS. THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE NOTED: 1)AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY 2)VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW ' I PURCHASED IT ON 9/1/17 FROM DEALERSHIP WITH ABOUT 17 MILES ON IT 3) UNABLE TO ASCERTAIN HOW FAST THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN THE WOODS (HUGE TREES); MY AIM WAS TO STOP THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY TO AVOID A POTENTIAL DISASTER

NHTSA ODI #11045914

150 miles · Apr 14, 2017
Structure

I PURCHASED A 2017 RAV4 FROM BIG2TOYOTA IN CHANDLER AZ ON THE 23RD OF MARCH 2017.THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH SALES PERSON PHIL HARMON CONCERNING THE PURCHASE.I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE AND SAW A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MOVEMENT OF THE HOOD WHEN DRIVING, SOME EVEN DESCRIBED AND FLOPPY HOOD. I ASKED, BY…

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I PURCHASED A 2017 RAV4 FROM BIG2TOYOTA IN CHANDLER AZ ON THE 23RD OF MARCH 2017.THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH SALES PERSON PHIL HARMON CONCERNING THE PURCHASE.I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE AND SAW A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MOVEMENT OF THE HOOD WHEN DRIVING, SOME EVEN DESCRIBED AND FLOPPY HOOD. I ASKED, BY EMAIL, MR. HARMON IF HE KNEW ANYTHING OF THIS PROBLEM. HE REPLIED THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT. I LIVE IN THE TUCSON AREA, ABOUT 100 MILES FROM WHERE I PURCHASED MY NEW CAR. WHILE DRIVING MY NEW CAR HOME I NOTICED THAT THE HOOD MOVED AROUND QUITE A BIT WHEN DRIVING THE 75MPH SPEED LIMIT ON THE WAY HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE HOOD MOVED AROUND WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS AT 30 MPH. I CALLED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER, PRECISION TOYOTA IN TUCSON AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF.THE FIRST APPOINTMENT WAS ONE WEEK LATER.I WAITED ABOUT 5 HOURS FOR THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THEY DROVE TWO BRAND NEW RAV4S AND THEY ALSO HAD HOOD MOVEMENT. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE WHERE THEY INSISTED THAT I GO BACK TO PRECISION TOYOTA AND DRIVE TWO BRAND NEW RAV4S. I DID AND INDEED THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL, THE SELLING DEALERSHIP SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF IT SO NOT SURE WHICH IT IS? PERHAPS A DISCLOSURE IS IN NEED IF THIS IS IN FACT A TRAIT OF THE VEHICLE. FOR ME THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE HOOD SHOULD FIT FIRMLY AND NOT MOVE AND JUMP AROUND WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I DON'T FIND ANY OF THIS ACCEPTABLE FOR A BRAND NEW CAR OR ANY CAR! I SPOKE WITH MELANIE AT TOYOTA CARE800-331-4331 CASE # 1704033640. MARK AND CONOR AT PRECISION TOYOTA SERVICE. ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED HAD NOTHING MORE TO OFFER ME.I ASKED "SO I AM STUCK WITH THIS PROBLEM?" I GOT NO REPLY.I AM FRUSTRATED AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A LEGAL BATTLE BUT MAY BE NO OTHER CHOICE

NHTSA ODI #10972364

Official recalls

1

17V295000 · Tires:temporary/emergency Spare Tire

May 2, 2017

Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.