IllustrationCAR RANDOMLY STOPPED ACCELERATING WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK EV SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WITH A TURTLE IN A CIRCLE AS WELL. THANKFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH TO SIDE OF ROAD.
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
7 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BODY REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BODY REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $4,700. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE ACCELERATION MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS
WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP THE SUDDENLY STOPS ACCELERATION CAUSING A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, BACK TO DEALER TWICE WITH NO RESOLUTION, WILL BE TAKING IT BACK TO DEALER AGAIN , AFTER 6 TOYOTAS IF THIS CAN'T BE RESOLVED IT WILL BE TRADED FOR ANOTHER MFG. VERY DISAPPOINTED …
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WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP THE SUDDENLY STOPS ACCELERATION CAUSING A VERY HAZARDOUS CONDITION, HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, BACK TO DEALER TWICE WITH NO RESOLUTION, WILL BE TAKING IT BACK TO DEALER AGAIN , AFTER 6 TOYOTAS IF THIS CAN'T BE RESOLVED IT WILL BE TRADED FOR ANOTHER MFG. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH TOYOTA.
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. BEFORE STARTING WORK, MY WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOWLY PARK OUR 2014 RAV4 AT LESS THAN 2 MPH IN AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE IN THE PUBLIC PARKING LOT WHERE SHE WORKS WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN REACHING A FINAL SPEED OF 21 MPH IN THE SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 SECONDS. DURING THESE 2 TO…
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UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. BEFORE STARTING WORK, MY WIFE WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOWLY PARK OUR 2014 RAV4 AT LESS THAN 2 MPH IN AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE IN THE PUBLIC PARKING LOT WHERE SHE WORKS WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN REACHING A FINAL SPEED OF 21 MPH IN THE SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 SECONDS. DURING THESE 2 TO 3 SECONDS THE VEHICLE TRAVELED A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 27 FEET FROM THE EMPTY PARKING SPACE, RUNNING OVER THE PARKING SPACE CONCRETE CURBS AND HIT A PARKED VEHICLE ON THE RAV4 RIGHT AND THEN RAN INTO A TREE, WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE APPLIED THE SERVICE BRAKE TO TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT THIS EFFORT DID NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. AFTER HITTING THE TREE MY WIFE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND PUSHED A BUTTON TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER HITTING THE TREE AT 21 MPH. WE NOTIFIED TOYOTA OF THE PROBLEMS REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, SERVICE BRAKE AND THE NON-DEPLOYED AIR BAGS. TOYOTA OPENED A CASE AND SENT AN INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE RAV4. WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THEY FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF ANY TYPE OF MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. WE ARE NOT DRIVING THE 2014 RAV4 DUE TO THIS SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT OF SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. VEHICLE SAFETY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,577 MILES.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE SLOW MOVING IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT. WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN AND ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER CAR HAD COLLIDED WITH OTHER (PARKED) CARS, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES. IT COLLIDED IN QUICK SUCCESSION WITH FOUR CARS UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED (CAR WAS TURNED OF…
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VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE SLOW MOVING IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT. WHEELS CONTINUED TO SPIN AND ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER CAR HAD COLLIDED WITH OTHER (PARKED) CARS, AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES. IT COLLIDED IN QUICK SUCCESSION WITH FOUR CARS UNTIL IT FINALLY STOPPED (CAR WAS TURNED OFF). LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED, THERE WERE DOZENS OF PEDESTRIANS RETURNING TO THEIR VEHICLES AFTER A CLASSIC CONCERT. I ASKED FOR AN INVESTIGATION BY THE CAR MAKER. INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED ON 6 JULY (CDR/EDR RECORD RECOVERED FROM SRS MODULE). IN SEPTEMBER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA SAYING NO MECHANICAL DEFECT WAS FOUND. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL DEFECT BUT A SOFTWARE DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATION. I'VE OWNED TOYOTAS FOR OVER 15 YEARS - WHICH I HAD ALWAYS CONSIDERED A VERY RELIABLE COMPANY - HAVE BEEN A DRIVER FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND NEVER HAD A SINGLE ACCIDENT. THE EXPERIENCE WAS SO TERRIFYING IN SPITE OF TOYOTA REASSURANCE I FELT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE AND TRANSFERRED THE LEASE TO A DEALER (BEARING SOME MONETARY LOSS, UNFORTUNATELY). I FILE THIS COMPLAINT SO THAT FUTURE OWNERS CAN BE MADE AWARE, AND IN ORDER TO ASSIST ACCURACY OF STATISTICS AND STUDIES ON SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
THERE IS A LAG IN THE ACCELERATOR WHEN MOVING FROM VERY SLOW OR FROM A STOP. WHEN MOVING INTO CROSS TRAFFIC IT IS HAZARDOUS AS YOU LOSE SIGNIFICANT SPEED OR ACCELERATION CREATING AN UNREASONABLE RISK THAT THE CROSS TRAFFIC WILL COLLIDE WITH YOUR VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE AS IT HAPPENS ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. …
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THERE IS A LAG IN THE ACCELERATOR WHEN MOVING FROM VERY SLOW OR FROM A STOP. WHEN MOVING INTO CROSS TRAFFIC IT IS HAZARDOUS AS YOU LOSE SIGNIFICANT SPEED OR ACCELERATION CREATING AN UNREASONABLE RISK THAT THE CROSS TRAFFIC WILL COLLIDE WITH YOUR VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE AS IT HAPPENS ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THE DEALER TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY AND IS DUCKING THE ISSUE. I AM AFRAID IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY MAY BE SERIOUS INCIDENTS AS OTHER OWNERS HAVE SAID THE SAME THING TO ME. *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.