IllustrationTHE GPS IS UNUSABLE IN DAYLIGHT DUE TO THE GLARE...MY OTHER CAR, A SUBARU, WORKS PERFECTLY. TOYOTA COMPLAIN DIVISION IS VERY POLITE BUT SAYS THE VEHICLE IS OK? SILLY BUT I GAVE UP CONTACTING THEM. *TR
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.
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
870–25K
2325–50K
2150–75K
1275–100K
12100–150K
6150K+
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
Equipment complaints
13 reportsIT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN FROM THE NORMAL DRIVING POSITION IN THE SUNLIGHT DUE TO GLARE. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO TAKE HIS EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. THIS IS UNSAFE AND COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT. TOYOTA SERVICE CLAIMS THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *TR
THERE IS HUGE SUN REFLECTION ON NAVIGATION SYSTEM & YOU HAVE VERY POOR VISION ON NAVIGATION. TIME TO TIME YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR HEAD POSITION TO FIND RIGHT ANGLE TO READ NAVIGATION DISPLAY. THIS WILL DANGER THE LIFE OF DRIVER TREMENDOUSLY. *TR
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, UNDER ANY CONDITION, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOK, RATHER THAN GLANCE, AT THE SCREEN TO DETERMINE DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS, ROAD HAZARDS, WARNINGS, ETC. THE GLARE IS ALMOST BLINDING AT TIMES. *TR
AT ANY SPEED IN ANY WEATHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE...THIS NEEDS ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS IS A PAID FOR UPGRADE AND DUE TO PEOPLE WORKING TO SEE THE SYSTEM ACCIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. *TR
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, UNDER ANY CONDITION, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SCREEN, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOK, RATHER THAN GLANCE, AT THE SCREEN TO DETERMINE DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS, ROAD HAZARDS, WARNINGS, ETC. THE GLARE IS ALMOST BLINDING AT TIMES. *TR
THE INSTALLED NAVIGATION SCREEN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE DRIVER'S NORMAL DRIVING POSITION AND IN ALMOST ANY DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITION. GLARE FROM THE SCREEN AND DASHBOARD BORDERS ON UNSAFE. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY USE THAT ITEM AND THE 12 OR SO FUNCTIONS LOCATED THERE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION. BECAUSE OF THE POTENT…
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THE INSTALLED NAVIGATION SCREEN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE DRIVER'S NORMAL DRIVING POSITION AND IN ALMOST ANY DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITION. GLARE FROM THE SCREEN AND DASHBOARD BORDERS ON UNSAFE. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY USE THAT ITEM AND THE 12 OR SO FUNCTIONS LOCATED THERE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION. BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL DISTRACTION THIS WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND SOME WILL BE FATAL. *TR
THE INSTALLED NAVIGATION SCREEN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE DRIVER'S NORMAL DRIVING POSITION AND IN ALMOST ANY DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITION. GLARE FROM THE SCREEN AND DASHBOARD BORDERS ON UNSAFE. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY USE THAT ITEM AND THE 12 OR SO FUNCTIONS LOCATED THERE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION. NOTIFIED THE SERVIC…
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THE INSTALLED NAVIGATION SCREEN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE DRIVER'S NORMAL DRIVING POSITION AND IN ALMOST ANY DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITION. GLARE FROM THE SCREEN AND DASHBOARD BORDERS ON UNSAFE. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY USE THAT ITEM AND THE 12 OR SO FUNCTIONS LOCATED THERE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION. NOTIFIED THE SERVICE MANAGER 2 TIMES AND BOTH TIMES WAS TOLD THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL DISTRACTION THIS WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND SOME WILL BE FATAL. *TR
I OWN A 2013 RAV 4 LIMITED WITH ENTUNE NAVIGATION. DURING THE DAY IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO VIEW THE SCREEN. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE. *JS
I HAVE A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED. IN ANY SIGNIFICANT AMBIENT LIGHT LEVEL, THE NAVIGATION SCREEN IS NOT VISIBLE. THE GLARE ON THE SCREEN IS HORRIFIC. NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND CONFIRMED THAT I DID, INDEED, HAVE A PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME TO MEET WITH A FACTORY REP. I MET WI…
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I HAVE A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED. IN ANY SIGNIFICANT AMBIENT LIGHT LEVEL, THE NAVIGATION SCREEN IS NOT VISIBLE. THE GLARE ON THE SCREEN IS HORRIFIC. NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND CONFIRMED THAT I DID, INDEED, HAVE A PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ME TO MEET WITH A FACTORY REP. I MET WITH THE REP, AND HE AGREED THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER HE HAD NO IMMEDIATE SOLUTION. I CONTACTED THE TOYOTA "HOTLINE" AND THEY REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, TRYING TO POSITION MY HEAD SO THAT I CAN TRY TO GET A CLEAR VIEW OF THE SCREEN. (WHICH IS STILL NOT POSSIBLE) I FEEL LIKE I HAVE SPENT IN EXCESS OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR AN OPTION THAT IS UNUSABLE. PLEASE HELP! TOYOTA DOES NOT SEEM TO BE LISTENING TO ME. *TR
Official recalls
223V734000 · 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
1PE21005 · 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.