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

Unknown Or Other complaints

40 reports

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Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2017

Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

SQUIRRELS CRAWLED INTO THE HOOD AND CHEWED THE BATTERY CABLE WIRE AND TURN SIGNAL WIRE, THIS HAPPENED 2 DAYS IN A ROW AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE THE FIRST TIME. THE SOY BASED COATING OF THE WIRES IS ATTRACTING A SWARM OF SQUIRRELS.

NHTSA ODI #10966663

20,000 miles · May 12, 2016

Unknown Or Other

THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. IT SOUNDED LIKE A LOUD THUD OF SOMETHING HITTING THE ROOF OF OUR CAR, BUT WE WERE DRIVING IN AN OPEN PARK AREA WITH NOTHING OVERHEAD AND NO OTHER CARS WITHIN CLOSE DISTANCE. WE OPENED THE SUNROOF COVER AND SAW THAT IT HAD COMPLETELY CRACKED. BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME, MUCH OF THE GLASS WAS MISS…

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NHTSA ODI #10864700

15,234 miles · Apr 2, 2016

Unknown Or Other

ON RARE OCCASIONS,THE PUSH BUTTON START WILL NOT TURN OFF ENGINE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED. I ALSO HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE VEHICLE EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

NHTSA ODI #10853073

7,500 miles · Mar 31, 2016

Unknown Or Other

TRIED TO PLACE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE OUT OF GARAGE AFTER STARTUP. THERE WAS UNUSUAL NOISE, GRINDING, FROM AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. PUT LEVER BACK INTO PARK AND TRIED AGAIN TO PLACE TRANSMISSJON INTO REVERSE. AND HEARD SAME NOISE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND MADE RESTART. ALL NORMAL. THIS SAME TYPE OF EVENT HAPPENED AGAIN APPROX…

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NHTSA ODI #10852789

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2015

Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

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MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): XXXXXXX. BOUGHT A TOYOTA CERTIFIED AT DEALERSHIP, (PUSH BUTTON) HOWEVER IN SIX OCCASIONS, CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN ON. INDICATOR LIGHT FOR STEERING WAS ON. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, AND ONCE I PULLED THE STEERING HARD THEN CAR STARTED FINE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER TO CHECK IT, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. THE LAST TIME, THE CAR DID NOT START EVEN WITH THE TOYOTA ROAD ASSISTANCE STAFF/TOWING, WAS UNABLE TO GET IT OUT OF GARAGE, AREA WAS TOO LOW. ENDED UP LEAVING CAR AT GARAGE OVERNIGHT. NEXT DAY, I RETURNED THE CAR, DID A TRADE IN FOR NEW TOYOTA. HOWEVER, DEALER OR TOYOTA CO. DID NOT ADMIT PROBLEMS WITH CAR. BATTERY WAS FUNCTIONING FINE AS EVERYTHING ELSE WOULD TURN ON, IE, RADIO, AC ..FAN, LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #10807676

32,721 miles · Sep 17, 2015

Unknown Or Other

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BEFORE MY 2013 RAV4 LIMITED WAS EVEN 2 YEARS OLD, I DISCOVERED AN INDOOR SWIMMING POOL ON MY PASSENGER FLOOR. MY DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT MY RAV4 HAD A CLOGGED SUNROOF DRAINAGE TUBE, BUT WHEN I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WE FOUND ALL EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY. THE SERVICE MANAGER REMOVED TWO PIECES OF TRIM: ONE THAT SITS DIRECTLY BENEATH THE A-PILLAR (WHERE THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE WATER TRAVELLED) AND ANOTHER THAT SITS BACK UNDERNEATH MY DASH AND GLOVE BOX. BOTH TRIM PIECES HAD PADDING (JUST LIKE THE CARPET PADDING) ON THE BACK SIDE. THE PADDING BENEATH THE A-PILLAR WAS BONE DRY. THE PADDING UNDERNEATH THE DASH WAS DAMP. PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW WATER TRAVELING DOWN THE A-PILLAR MANAGED TO MAKE A 90 TURN??? THE DEALERSHIP DID NOTHING BUT CLEAR THE "SUPPOSED" CLOG AND ASK IF I WANTED TO HAVE THE CARPETS AIR-DRIED FOR 24 HOURS. THEY MADE IT SOUND LIKE THEY DID ME SUCH A GREAT FAVOR ON THE INVOICE AND ALSO LIKE I WAS LEAVING THE HOSPITAL AGAINST DOCTORS ORDERS. WHAT THEY FAIL TO MENTION IS THAT A) I HAD ALREADY HAD THE CARPET PADDING AIR-DRIED THE DAY BEFORE AND B) I REQUESTED THAT THEY REPLACE MY CARPET PADDING AND REAPPLY THE BLACK RUBBER SOUNDPROOFING MATERIAL ATTACHED TO MY FLOORBOARD (THEY DECLINED). IN HINDSIGHT, NEITHER WOULD HAVE FIXED THE DAMAGE ALREADY INFLICTED UPON MY VEHICLE. BOTH TOYOTA OF NORTH AMERICA AND NCDS DECLINED MY CASE CLAIMING THAT MY "VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED." I HAVE A NEW CAR THAT IS DRY ROTTING, MOLDING, AN ELECTRICAL FIRE RISK (PAGE 409 OF THE 2013 RAV4 OWNER'S MANUAL) AND IF IT THE WATER ACTUALLY DID RUN DOWN THE A-PILLAR MY TAKATA SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS ARE NOW PRIMED TO THROW SHRAPNEL -- BUT MY VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED!!! IF YOU OWN A 2013 OR 2014 RAV4, PLEASE CHECK UNDER YOUR CARPETS FOR SIGNS OF A WATER LEAK. IF YOU FIND A WATER LEAK IN YOUR RAV4, PLEASE POST IT HERE.

NHTSA ODI #10764521

4,300 miles · Jun 12, 2015

Unknown Or Other

CROSSWIND CAUSED HOOD TO SHAKE VIOLETLY IN THE CENTER AS IF THE METAL WAS TOO THIN OR NEEDS SOME KIND OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT .

NHTSA ODI #10725049

32,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014

Unknown Or OtherVisibility

SUN ROOF EXPLODED INTO MANY PIECES FLEW OFF AND DAMAGED PAINT JOB OF CAR DIRECTLY BEHIND PIECES WERE FOUND IN MY CAR CAR TRAVELING AT 55 MPG JUST PASSED BURLINGTON VERMONT ON JULY 3, 2014 AT AROUND 11:30 AM NO ONE INJURED IF SOMEONE SITTING BEHIND DRIVER SEAT NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED STOPPED AT TOYOTA D…

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NHTSA ODI #10609005

10,000 miles · May 19, 2014

Unknown Or OtherCrashFire

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DEAR SIRS, I DON'T HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, WE HERE ON THE ISLAND OF CURACAO HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MANY VEHICLES WHICH ARE CHINESE AND THEIR VIN NO, ARE ALSO CLONED, I BELIEVE THIS IS A WORLD PROBLEM, AND ALSO US MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WORLD PROBLEM, AND THEY CAN ALSO HELP TO EXPOSE THIS SITUATION. I HAVE POSTED MANY ON BLOGS, WHICH HAS TO DO WITH THE CLONING OF CARS. THERE WAS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH SOME ONE BOUGHT A VEHICLE AT THE TOYOTA DEALER A RAV4 2013 AND WE CAME TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS A 2010 MEXICAN CLONE CAR. AND I HAVE REPORTED THESE ALSO TO OTHER AGENCIES IN USA , ONE OF THEM IS THE SEC SECURITIES EXCHANGE COMMISSION WHISTLE BLOWER DEPARTMENT. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592365

10,000 miles · May 2, 2014

Unknown Or Other

THE VEHICLE IS A CLONE RAV4, I HAVE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM A TOYOTA DEALER SHIP, AND I PAID FOR A RAV4 2013, WHEN I WENT TO INVESTIGATE I FOUND OUT IT WAS CLONED TOYOTA RAV4 OF THE YEAR 2010, AND IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY IN MEXICO, SO THESE IS AGAINST THE LAWS. SO WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE ME TO DO? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586265

Official recalls

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

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

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.

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

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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