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2013 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

161 reports with mileage · 96 unknown

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 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports29 fire reports11 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

13 reports
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50,200 miles · Jan 8, 2025
Air BagsCrashInjury

The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH the vehicle crashed into the rear passenger side of a second vehicle that had abruptly stopped. During the crash, the vehicle sustained severe front-end damage but the air bags did not deploy. The contact indicated that the front dri…

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The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH the vehicle crashed into the rear passenger side of a second vehicle that had abruptly stopped. During the crash, the vehicle sustained severe front-end damage but the air bags did not deploy. The contact indicated that the front driver's side door had to be removed in order to be removed from the vehicle. The contact sustained multiple cervical fractures, a fractured sternum, and injuries to the rib and chest areas. An occupant of the second vehicle also sustained a minor undisclosed injury. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined however the black box was pending review. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 50,200.

NHTSA ODI #11634828

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2024
Air Bags

Roof leaking inside car left of driver

NHTSA ODI #11586967

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2022
Air BagsCrashInjury

On Jan 3, 2022 while my daughter and granddaughter were using my 2013 Rav4, traffic was stopped on Rt 11, and they stopped and the car behind them stopped. But the drunk driver in a Dodge pickup did not stop, pushing the car behind my car into on coming traffic and then slamming into the back of my Rav4, pushing it into the bump…

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On Jan 3, 2022 while my daughter and granddaughter were using my 2013 Rav4, traffic was stopped on Rt 11, and they stopped and the car behind them stopped. But the drunk driver in a Dodge pickup did not stop, pushing the car behind my car into on coming traffic and then slamming into the back of my Rav4, pushing it into the bumper of a dump truck. The pickup truck stopped in the back seat of the Rav4. The Rav4 stopped when it hit the bumper, just short of going through the windshield. It is unknown how fast the drunk driver was traveling, but my Rav4 was totaled. However, no airbags deployed. Fortunately, my daughter and granddaughter, although completely shaken, walked away from the collision.

NHTSA ODI #11447896

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2018
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON A ROAD WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, A BICYCLIST MADE A SUDDEN RIGHT TURN AND ENDED UP TOO FAR IN THE ROADWAY. THE BICYCLIST ALSO HAD A DOG ON A LEASH. TO AVOID HITTING THE PEDESTRIAN AND DOG, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY SPED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND STEERED TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON A ROAD WITHOUT SIDEWALKS, A BICYCLIST MADE A SUDDEN RIGHT TURN AND ENDED UP TOO FAR IN THE ROADWAY. THE BICYCLIST ALSO HAD A DOG ON A LEASH. TO AVOID HITTING THE PEDESTRIAN AND DOG, THE CONTACT SUDDENLY SPED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND STEERED TO THE RIGHT. DUE TO THE LAYOUT OF THE ROAD, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ENDED UP IN A CREEK OFF THE ROAD NEARBY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AS WELL AS INJURIES TO THE HEAD, ARMS, AND CHEST. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND INTERIOR DUE TO THE WATER THAT ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS WAITING FOR AN OFFICIAL DAMAGE REPORT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL IT WAS DETERMINED IF THE SENSORS WERE HIT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11071978

120,000 miles · Nov 16, 2017
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, SHE STRUCK AN ONCOMING VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR MEDICAL ATTENTION…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 20 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, SHE STRUCK AN ONCOMING VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. AN AMBULANCE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR MEDICAL ATTENTION REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS AWAITING INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #11046492

17,745 miles · Mar 26, 2015
Air BagsStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash

THE THROTTLE STUCK ON THE CAR. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND IT WENT OVER A 10 FOOT FALL AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. IT WAS A VERY SCARY RIDE. I TRIED EVERY WAY TO STOP THE CAR BUT COULD NOT . I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME OF THE UNINTENDED EVENT. I AM STILL VERY SORE THREE WEEKS LATER AND HAVE SOME SPINAL SPRAIN AND …

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THE THROTTLE STUCK ON THE CAR. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND IT WENT OVER A 10 FOOT FALL AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. IT WAS A VERY SCARY RIDE. I TRIED EVERY WAY TO STOP THE CAR BUT COULD NOT . I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME OF THE UNINTENDED EVENT. I AM STILL VERY SORE THREE WEEKS LATER AND HAVE SOME SPINAL SPRAIN AND WRIST SPRAIN, CERVICAL SPRAIN AND BOTH KNEES BRUISED BOTH KNEES. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS AFTER I CONSULTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY....UPDATED 06-16-15 *BF *TR UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10701827

26,268 miles · Feb 25, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury

THIS WAS A FRONT END COLLISION. THE OTHER PARTY SPUN INTO OUR LANE (LOCAL ROAD) AND DESTROYED OUR FRONT END. AIR BAGS DID NOT APPEAR TO CAUSE THE INJURY (FRONT PASSENGER HAD A BROKEN RIB ON THE LEFT SIDE AND A POSSIBLE SEPARATED STERNUM). THE AIR BAGS SEEM TO HAVE DEPLOYED PROPERLY BUT DID NOT DEFLATE AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT. T…

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THIS WAS A FRONT END COLLISION. THE OTHER PARTY SPUN INTO OUR LANE (LOCAL ROAD) AND DESTROYED OUR FRONT END. AIR BAGS DID NOT APPEAR TO CAUSE THE INJURY (FRONT PASSENGER HAD A BROKEN RIB ON THE LEFT SIDE AND A POSSIBLE SEPARATED STERNUM). THE AIR BAGS SEEM TO HAVE DEPLOYED PROPERLY BUT DID NOT DEFLATE AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE INJURED PERSON (FRONT PASSENGER). ALSO, ONE OF THE AIR BAGS RELEASED ITS CHEMICAL INTO THE FACE OF THE INJURED PERSON CAUSING THEM A LOT OF DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NO INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #10690555

25,309 miles · Jan 13, 2015
Air BagsSeat BeltsService BrakesCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BRIDGE AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 36 AND BEFORE THE RED LIGHT I LEFT MY RIGHT LEG FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET READY TO STOP BY THE RED LIGHT . AT THAT MOMENT THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND TO MY LEG PRESSING AND THE TOTAL BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND HAVING CARS STOPPED INFRONT O…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BRIDGE AT APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 36 AND BEFORE THE RED LIGHT I LEFT MY RIGHT LEG FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET READY TO STOP BY THE RED LIGHT . AT THAT MOMENT THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT RESPOND TO MY LEG PRESSING AND THE TOTAL BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND HAVING CARS STOPPED INFRONT OF ME BY THE RED LIGHT I HAD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A BIG TREE. THE DAMAGE REACHED ALMOST TO THE MIDDLE OF THE FRONT HOOD; HOWEVER, NO ANY AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED OR ACTIVATED DUE TO THE CRASH AND I WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE HOSPITAL BY THE AMBULANCE AND BEEN HOSPITALIZED FOR SEVEN DAYS AND FOR THE FIRST FOUR DAYS I LOST ANY SENSATION IN MY BOTH LEGS WITH A SEVER SPINE PAIN AND UNTIL NOW MY BOTH LEGS HURT ME AND SO DOES MY BACK ( SPINE ). PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE CAR STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND ALL THE SERVICES WERE CONNECTED BY THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SERVICE. THE LAST WAS CONDUCTED AT THE DEALERSHIP ON SEP 15, 2014 AT 13:25 - 14:39. I HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE EXACTLY AS THE DEALER RECOMMENDED.....UPDATED 01/23/15 *BF..........UPDATED 12/15/15 *BF *TR UPDATED 9/15/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI #10672339

14,561 miles · Oct 27, 2014
Air BagsCrash

MY WIFE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH HER 2013 RAV4 WITH ONLY 14K MILES IN WHICH SHE WAS T-BONED. BOTH THE PASSENGER DOORS AND QUARTER PANELS WAS EFFECTED BY THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE ALMOST FLIP TO ONE SIDE BUT DIDN'T AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION FAIL APART. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR DEPLOYED, THE VEHICLE WILL MOST …

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MY WIFE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH HER 2013 RAV4 WITH ONLY 14K MILES IN WHICH SHE WAS T-BONED. BOTH THE PASSENGER DOORS AND QUARTER PANELS WAS EFFECTED BY THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE ALMOST FLIP TO ONE SIDE BUT DIDN'T AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION FAIL APART. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS IN THE CAR DEPLOYED, THE VEHICLE WILL MOST LIKELY BE TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO FRAME DAMAGE ON THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE AND ABSOLUTELY NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I BELIEVE THE THEIR IS A BIGGER PROBLEM THAT CAUSE THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS NOT TO BE DEPLOYED. I'M SO HAPPY MY NEW BORN AND 18 MONTH OLD WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE DURING THAT TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650213

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2014
Air BagsEngineSteering

AFTER READING SEVERAL NEWS STORIES TODAY (04/09/14) ABOUT THE RECALL OF 27 TOYOTA MODELS (INCLUDING 2013 RAV 4), FOR: ?CABLES FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE THAT CAN BE DAMAGED, DISABLING THE BAG, THOUGH A WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON (3.5 MILLION VEHICLES, 1.67 MILLION IN THE U.S.). ?SEATS THAT DON'T LOCK IN PLACE (2.32 MILLION…

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AFTER READING SEVERAL NEWS STORIES TODAY (04/09/14) ABOUT THE RECALL OF 27 TOYOTA MODELS (INCLUDING 2013 RAV 4), FOR: ?CABLES FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE THAT CAN BE DAMAGED, DISABLING THE BAG, THOUGH A WARNING LIGHT WILL COME ON (3.5 MILLION VEHICLES, 1.67 MILLION IN THE U.S.). ?SEATS THAT DON'T LOCK IN PLACE (2.32 MILLION, 670,000 IN NORTH AMERICA) ?STEERING COLUMN BRACKETS THAT MAY BECOME LOOSE OR FAIL (760,000, EUROPE AND ASIA ONLY) ?WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR (160,000, ASIA ONLY) ?STARTER MOTOR FIRE HAZARD (20,000, ASIA ONLY) I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR - TOYOTA OF ROCK HILL. I WAS INFORMED THAT RECALLS ARE "COMING," BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION FROM TOYOTA YET. I SHOULD BE GETTING A LETTER IN THE MAIL AND THEN I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. FRUSTRATING TO SEE THAT THE MEDIA HAS MORE INFORMATION ON THE ACTUAL RECALLS THAN THE TOYOTA DEALER. SO, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS BETWEEN NOW AND THE TIME I GET "MY LETTER," (MY AIR BAGS FAIL OR THE SEATS BECOME DISLODGED DURING AN ACCIDENT), I'M PRETTY MUCH SCREWED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578458

Official recalls

2

23V734000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Nov 1, 2023

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.

15V011000 · Exterior Lighting; Trailer Hitches

Jan 16, 2015

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Trailer Hitches

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.

Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.

Exterior Lighting

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.

Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.

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

PE21005 · Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events

Opened Feb 25, 2021 · Closed Aug 12, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles on 25 February 2021. At the time of opening, ODI attributed eleven allegations and additional EWR events to this PE. PE21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in PE21005 involved the originally supplied 12V battery. The reported fires took place in vehicles known to contain aftermarket batteries or whose age exceeded the expected life of the original equipment battery. ODI identified battery dimensioning as it relates to the battery retention system (hold down bracket, radiator support bolt, J-hook, and battery tray) as the main factor set in the contact between the battery hold down bracket contacting the positive terminal of the 12V battery. The subject vehicles carried over the same battery tray and retention system from the prior generation (MY2006 – MY2012) of RAV4 vehicles. However, the subject vehicles were equipped with a dimensionally smaller battery (Group 35) than the prior generation (Group 24F). The smaller- length measurement in the Group 35 battery size in a battery tray originally designed to fit a Group 24F battery contributed to increased potential for battery movement which was exacerbated by the diversity in aftermarket battery configuration and irregularities intrinsic to battery replacement procedures. Battery movement coupled with the proximity of the B+ terminal on the battery and the grounded electrically conductive hold down bracket set the stage for a short to ground leading to an engine stall (if in operation) followed by a vehicle fire. This investigation was not able to classify the installation status, battery size, or cause of every allegation due to the fire event causing damage to the area, inaccessible vehicle, modification to the battery retention system after the event, and/or inconclusive photographic evidence. Toyota's investigation of the issue identified aftermarket battery catalogs that listed an improper battery replacement size (Group 26R) that would nevertheless fit into the subject vehicles whose battery retention system is incapable of reliably restraining a Group 26R battery. On 18 November 2021, Toyota initiated a consumer advisory campaign (21TG01) to the subject vehicle owners, notifying them of the correct size battery and offering a free inspection of the battery and retention hardware, a caution label to affix to the hold down bracket, and a discounted replacement 12V battery. This investigation with Toyota established three broad categories to characterize the battery retention system state of a given vehicle: "correct", "minor mis-installation", and "major mis-installation". - The "correct" terminology references the front bolt, bracket, and J-hook installed in a position not in contact with the positive battery terminal and the front bolt torqued to 17 Nm and the J-hook engaged with the tray hole and torqued to 4.9 Nm. - A "minor mis-installation" would describe the three retention components installed in the prescribed location, however not to the correct torque values. - The "major mis-installation" condition would constitute a retention component missing or disconnected from the system. Toyota's own testing used five exemplar batteries installed on a subject vehicle in each battery categorization resulted in: - Contact between the B+ terminal and hold down bracket in "major mis-installations" - Movement of the battery in "minor mis-installations" - No observable motion in "correct" installations. ODI conducted its own evaluation of the Toyota- specified replacement battery and 5 aftermarket Group 35 batteries. The six batteries tested conformed to the Group 35 Battery Council International (BCI) standard on overall dimensional tolerance and terminal location. That standard does not define the edge shape or material of battery casing. Physical interaction between the hold down bracket and the battery case and the friction between the casing material and the battery tray resulted in a large variability in movement forces required to incite movement when the battery was installed in the "correct" condition. Resulting in movement at an induced lateral load between 0.6 G and 1.91 G equivalent force across each battery. This force is higher than a typical vehicle could exert in a steady state turn and would only experience loads through brief shock or impulses. Multiple shock or impulse loads across time would contribute to a delay between the replacement battery installation and the fire event. Likelihood of a fire event increases as the installation method degraded from the "correct", to "minor mis-installation", and then to "major mis-installation". Protruding vent caps atop some of the batteries tested aided in restricting battery movement relative to the hold down. An absence of vent caps permitted additional movement. Following several discussions and vehicle inspections with ODI during this investigation, on 01 November 2023, Toyota filed a safety recall (NHTSA 23V-734) of 1,853,568 MY 2013 through MY 2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles to reduce the risk of a vehicle fire with redesigned battery retention components. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

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