IllustrationTHE HATCH WILL NOT CLOSE FULLY UNLESS I PUSH ON IT. IT'S A SELF CLOSING DOOR. NOW IT STOPS 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN AND STAYS OPEN. THE VEHICLE IS BEING LOADED AND THEN CLOSED. IT IS STATIONARY.. I'VE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. I'VE QUERIED ON-LINE AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM
2014 Toyota RAV4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2014 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
360–25K
2025–50K
2050–75K
1075–100K
11100–150K
10150K+
107 reports with mileage · 90 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 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
20 crash reports25 fire reports16 injury reports
Structure complaints
18 reportsTHE PAINT ON THE TOP OF THE CAR IS PEELING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCK THE VEHICLE DOORS, BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS HAD TO BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ALSO FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN LOC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCK THE VEHICLE DOORS, BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOORS HAD TO BE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED MANUALLY. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ALSO FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DICK DYER TOYOTA, LOCATED ON 240 KILLIAN COMMONS PARKWAY COLUMBIA, SC 29203) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT DOOR ACTUATORS ON BOTH SIDES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,312.
RAV4 2014 BACK SEAT PASSENGER DOORS HAVE SHARP EDGES AND HAVE HIT MY 2.5 YRS OLD DAUGHTER MANY TIMES. IT IS A DANGEROUS EDGE AND IT COMES AT THE HEIGHT OF 2.5 TO 3 YEAR OLDS WHEN THEY TRY TO GET IN THE BACK SEAT. I HAVE TO BE ALWAYS LOOKING AFTER IT TO BE CAUTIOUS. IT COULD LEAD TO A DANGEROUS EVENT IF NOT PREVENTED. TOYOTA SHOU…
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RAV4 2014 BACK SEAT PASSENGER DOORS HAVE SHARP EDGES AND HAVE HIT MY 2.5 YRS OLD DAUGHTER MANY TIMES. IT IS A DANGEROUS EDGE AND IT COMES AT THE HEIGHT OF 2.5 TO 3 YEAR OLDS WHEN THEY TRY TO GET IN THE BACK SEAT. I HAVE TO BE ALWAYS LOOKING AFTER IT TO BE CAUTIOUS. IT COULD LEAD TO A DANGEROUS EVENT IF NOT PREVENTED. TOYOTA SHOULD PROVIDE GUARD TO COVER THOSE SHARP EDGES AS IT IS A FAMILY VEHICLE AND SAFETY SHOULD BE TOP PRIORITY. EVEN FOR ADULTS IT CAN CAUSE SHARP CUT WHICH WOULD BE A CASUALTY IF NOT PREVENTED. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK INTO THIS. APPRECIATE YOUR HELP ON THIS THANKS
CAR 1 CUT IN FRONT OF CAR 2, CAR 3 (OURS) STOPPED 1 CAR LENGTH AWAY, WHEN STARTED TO DRIVE PAST THE CRASH SUDDENLY CAR 4 SLAMMED INTO CAR 3 (OURS) AND PUSHED MY WIFE'S CAR INTO CAR 2 AND CAR 2 INTO CAR 1 AGAIN. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, SEAT BELT LOCKED AND EMS HAD TO GET MY WIFE OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I95…
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CAR 1 CUT IN FRONT OF CAR 2, CAR 3 (OURS) STOPPED 1 CAR LENGTH AWAY, WHEN STARTED TO DRIVE PAST THE CRASH SUDDENLY CAR 4 SLAMMED INTO CAR 3 (OURS) AND PUSHED MY WIFE'S CAR INTO CAR 2 AND CAR 2 INTO CAR 1 AGAIN. AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, SEAT BELT LOCKED AND EMS HAD TO GET MY WIFE OUT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON I95 HEADING SOUTH JUST PASSING EXIT 60 HYPOLUXO DR AT ABOUT 45MPH WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP. SHE WAS GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY CAR 4....UPDATED 11/05/15 *BF *JS
THE BOTTOM OF ALL FOUR DOOR WHERE THE DOOR AT THE BOTTOM MEETS THE HARDEN RUBBER OR PLASTIC. LOOKING AT THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE IT WOULD ALWAYS BE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNERS AT WHERE THE CURVED PART OF THE DOOR MEETS THE STRAIGHT PIECE RUNNING ALONG THE BOTTOM. EACH OF THESE CORNERS ARE EXTREMELY SHARP AND HAVE CAUSED UPON…
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THE BOTTOM OF ALL FOUR DOOR WHERE THE DOOR AT THE BOTTOM MEETS THE HARDEN RUBBER OR PLASTIC. LOOKING AT THE DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE IT WOULD ALWAYS BE IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNERS AT WHERE THE CURVED PART OF THE DOOR MEETS THE STRAIGHT PIECE RUNNING ALONG THE BOTTOM. EACH OF THESE CORNERS ARE EXTREMELY SHARP AND HAVE CAUSED UPON CLOSING BY WIND TO CUT THE CALF OF THE LED, WHICH LED TO OPENING TWO BLOOD VESSELS, REQUIRING EMERGENCY ATTENTION AND STITCHES. HAVE CHECKED AT LEAST 10 OTHER RAV4'S SAME MODELS SAME YEAR IN ADDITION TO FOUR ON TWO SEPARATE DEALER LOTS. ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
ON BUSINESS AND VACATION, COMING FROM LA TO ATLANTA...I WAS DRIVING SPEED LIMIT IN FAR LEFT LANE, ON INTERSTATE, IN LAGRANGE ,GA, A TRUCK COMING ONTO THE INTERSTATE MERGING FROM FAR RIGHT LOSS CONTROL BECAUSE SHE WAS SPEEDING AND THE ROADS WERE SLICK FROM A LIGHT RAIN, SHE FISHTAILED FROM THE FAR RIGHT , CROSSING THE RIGHT LANE…
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ON BUSINESS AND VACATION, COMING FROM LA TO ATLANTA...I WAS DRIVING SPEED LIMIT IN FAR LEFT LANE, ON INTERSTATE, IN LAGRANGE ,GA, A TRUCK COMING ONTO THE INTERSTATE MERGING FROM FAR RIGHT LOSS CONTROL BECAUSE SHE WAS SPEEDING AND THE ROADS WERE SLICK FROM A LIGHT RAIN, SHE FISHTAILED FROM THE FAR RIGHT , CROSSING THE RIGHT LANE AND COMING HEAD ON IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF TRAFFIC , HITTING MY RENTAL VEHICLE..RAV 4. HIT US HEAD ON...THE AIRBAGS POPPED OUT EVERYWHERE, BLOCKING ESCAPE EXITS, WE THOUGHT THE TRUCK WOULD CATCH AFIRE, BECAUSE OF SMOKE SMELL, WE TRIED TO GET OUT, ALL DOORS ON THE LEFT OF THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPEN, ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T HIT IN ANY WAY, HAD TO CRAWL OVER SEATS AND UNDER AIRBAGS TO ESCAPE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. EVEN THE HATCH BACK DOOR AT REAR OF VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPEN AT ALL. WE JUST BARELY ESCAPED WITH OUR LIVES,AND INJURIES, BECAUSE IF WE DIDN'T PUSH THE RIGHT SIDE DOORS WE WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED. *TR
I JUST GOT A LEASED A BRAND NEW RAV4-2014 ON JULY 1, 2014. I REPORTED TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: ON 7/6/14, I CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORTED. I WAS TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY, WHILE THEY ORDERED THE PART. HOWEVER, ANOTHER ISSUES I REPORTED: A( ON 7/1/14 WHILE DRIVING TOWARDS MY HOME THE LEFT FRONT HUBCAP, CAME OFF. …
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I JUST GOT A LEASED A BRAND NEW RAV4-2014 ON JULY 1, 2014. I REPORTED TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING ISSUES: ON 7/6/14, I CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORTED. I WAS TOLD TO WAIT UNTIL FRIDAY, WHILE THEY ORDERED THE PART. HOWEVER, ANOTHER ISSUES I REPORTED: A( ON 7/1/14 WHILE DRIVING TOWARDS MY HOME THE LEFT FRONT HUBCAP, CAME OFF. IS DEFECTIVE. B) REAR HUBCAP, PASSENGER SIDE, WITH DAMAGE, ANYTIME IS GOING TO COME OFF WHILE DRIVING, MAY HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER CAR. C) REAR BACK BODY OF THE CAR, A PLASTIC PIECE IS PEELING BACK, MAY COME OFF WHILE DRIVING AND HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. D) FRONT DOOR PASSENGER SIDE. BENEATH THE HANDLE THERE 2 LARGE WITHE, DEEP SCRATCHES. E) INTERIOR DOOR PANEL, PASSENGER SIDE, IT LOOKS DIRTY AND WITH SPOTS. F) TWO TIRES HAVE BEEN MARKED WITH BIG RED DOTS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY, IS THE FIRST TIME NEVER ON MY OTHER PREVIOUS CARS. I AM AFRAID THAT THE DEALER GAVE ME A LEMON CAR. HOWEVER IS FULL THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE CAR, AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER FUTURE ISSUES. FINALLY, NOBODY AT THE DEALER IS SHOWING ANY INTEREST TO TAKE CARE OF MY COMPLAINT. I'VE LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES TO CALL ME BACK. UP TODAY NOBODY HAS TRIED TO CALL ME BACK, EITHER TO ANSWER THE PHONE WHEN I CALL ANY OF THE MANAGERS. LAST FRIDAY, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER BUT ONLY TO PICK IT THE PLATES AND THE NEW REGISTRATION. I BROUGHT COPIES OF THE DAMAGES, NOBODY EVEN TRY TO TALK TO ME, WAS LIKE SAY, THEY JUST LOOK AT ME, AS IF SAYING "WHATEVER". I NEED YOUR HELP. THANK YOU. *TR
Official recalls
423V734000 · 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.
15V144000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Mar 13, 2015
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
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.
14V828000 · Equipment
Dec 30, 2014
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
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.