IllustrationCONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50 MPH DURING HIGH WINDS, PROCEEDING AROUND A MOUNTAIN, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO ROLLOVER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
1996 Toyota RAV4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Toyota RAV4 are lower than the model-year median of 258.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAV4 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: 8 of 47 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
47 reportsTRANSMISSION FAILED.
DOOR LOCK FAILED.
LEFT CYLINDER HEAD FAILED.
TRANSMISSION SOLENOID FAILED.
THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SCISSOR JACK PROVIDED WITH VEHICLE DOES NOT LIFT THE VEHICLE HIGH ENOUGH TO REMOVE A TIRE. FIVE ADDITIONAL INCHES OF LIFT ARE REQUIRED TO LIFT THE TIRE 1/2 INCH OFF THE GROUND. *AK
ENGINE STALLS.
BRAKES SQUEAL/EXHIBIT EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES.
TRANSMISSION SOLENOID FAILED.
BRAKES DISC PADS WORN OUT.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.