Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
890–25K
3225–50K
1450–75K
1575–100K
9100–150K
3150K+
162 reports with mileage · 145 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 108 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
33 crash reports24 fire reports22 injury reports
What owners actually said
307 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2017
Visibility/wiper
THIS IS A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT THE SEALS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE DOOR WINDOW GUIDES ARE NOT EFFECTIVE. WHEN THE OUTSIDE WINDOWS ARE FOGGY OR WET, THE BUILT-IN SQUEEGEE DOES NOT WIPE OFF THE WINDOW AS THEY HAVE IN EVERY OTHER CAR. THIS CREATES A HAZARD AS YOU CANNOT SEE TO CHANGE LANES OR BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I REPORTED T…
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THIS IS A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT THE SEALS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE DOOR WINDOW GUIDES ARE NOT EFFECTIVE. WHEN THE OUTSIDE WINDOWS ARE FOGGY OR WET, THE BUILT-IN SQUEEGEE DOES NOT WIPE OFF THE WINDOW AS THEY HAVE IN EVERY OTHER CAR. THIS CREATES A HAZARD AS YOU CANNOT SEE TO CHANGE LANES OR BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I REPORTED THIS TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THE REFUSED TO CORRECT THIS THANK YOU
NHTSA ODI #11053387
9,000 miles · Dec 6, 2017
Service BrakesStructureTraction Control System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PRIME TOYOTA RT 2, 700 OLD UNION TURNPIKE, LANCASTER, MA 01523), BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PRIME TOYOTA RT 2, 700 OLD UNION TURNPIKE, LANCASTER, MA 01523), BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLIMATE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT KNOBS JAMMED.*JS UPDATED 9/18/18*JB *JS *TR *JS *TR *JS
NHTSA ODI #11052764
35 miles · Nov 29, 2017
Service Brakes
CRACKING DISC AFTER DRIVING ON HEAVY TRAFFIC TERRIBLE NOISE ON DISC. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T MAKE ANY CHANGES BECAUSE THE DISC IS OKAY AND THE DISC IS CRYSTALLIZED AND THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
NHTSA ODI #11051368
10 miles · Nov 25, 2017
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, FORM A LINE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD UNLESS HIGH BEAMS ARE ACTIVATED. YOU CANNOT SEE STOP OR STREET SIGNS. UNLESS YOU KNOW THERE IS A STOP SIGN OR ROAD ENTRANCE YOU CANNOT SEE THEM WHEN USING THE LOW BEAMS. 2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT BEING …
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HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, FORM A LINE ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD UNLESS HIGH BEAMS ARE ACTIVATED. YOU CANNOT SEE STOP OR STREET SIGNS. UNLESS YOU KNOW THERE IS A STOP SIGN OR ROAD ENTRANCE YOU CANNOT SEE THEM WHEN USING THE LOW BEAMS. 2 OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DRIVEN MY VEHICLE AND COMPLAINED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. VERY DANGEROUS. I AM NOW LEERY OF DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #11048415
4,897 miles · Nov 15, 2017
Unknown Or Other
2017 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, AUDIBLE SOUND. IT IS TO MUTED TO HEAR, EVEN IF THE RADIO IS OFF. SECOND RAV 4. MY 2015 RAV4 LANE DEPARTURE WAS LOUD. TOYOTA STATES THAT THEY CAN'T INCREASE THE VOLUME. THIS TO ME, IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. NO RECOURSE WAS OFFERED BY TOYOTA ON MY LEASED VEHIC…
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2017 TOYOTA RAV 4 HAS LANE DEPARTURE WARNING, AUDIBLE SOUND. IT IS TO MUTED TO HEAR, EVEN IF THE RADIO IS OFF. SECOND RAV 4. MY 2015 RAV4 LANE DEPARTURE WAS LOUD. TOYOTA STATES THAT THEY CAN'T INCREASE THE VOLUME. THIS TO ME, IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. NO RECOURSE WAS OFFERED BY TOYOTA ON MY LEASED VEHICLE. BOTTOM LINE, IF I ACCIDENTALLY CROSS OVER A WHITE LINE I GET A LOW ALMOST MUTED SOUND, WHICH IF I HAVE THE RADIO ON I CAN NOT HEAR. TOYOTA NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY USED FOR THIS ON THE 2015 MODEL, TO MAKE IT ACTUALLY WORK!
NHTSA ODI #11046344
225 miles · Nov 5, 2017
Exterior Lighting
OUTPUT FROM THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS TERRIBLE. LOW BEAMS ARE SO DIM THAT IT'S OFTEN TIMES HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE PEDESTRIANS AND ANIMALS. THIS IS UNSAFE I BELIEVE. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE BULBS JUST LIKE GMC DID HTTP://WWW.GMCPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/TERRIBLE-HEADLIGHTS/ IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE LATERALLY…
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OUTPUT FROM THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS TERRIBLE. LOW BEAMS ARE SO DIM THAT IT'S OFTEN TIMES HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE PEDESTRIANS AND ANIMALS. THIS IS UNSAFE I BELIEVE. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE BULBS JUST LIKE GMC DID HTTP://WWW.GMCPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/TERRIBLE-HEADLIGHTS/ IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE LATERALLY AT NIGHT WITH JUST THE LOW BEAMS ON.
NHTSA ODI #11043357
1,400 miles · Oct 21, 2017
Exterior LightingVisibility/wiper
ROAD VISIBILITY AT NIGHT USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. WHEN LOW BEAMS ARE USED AT NIGHT THERE IS A DEFINE DARK PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT CENTER (HORIZONALLY) THE AREA BELOW THE LINE IS LIT BUT THE AREA ABOVE IS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE IS LESS THAN 300 FT AND REDUCES DOWN TO 50 75 FT WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. EV…
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ROAD VISIBILITY AT NIGHT USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. WHEN LOW BEAMS ARE USED AT NIGHT THERE IS A DEFINE DARK PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT CENTER (HORIZONALLY) THE AREA BELOW THE LINE IS LIT BUT THE AREA ABOVE IS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE IS LESS THAN 300 FT AND REDUCES DOWN TO 50 75 FT WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. EVERY THING ABOVE THE LIT LINE IS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IS HALOGEN AND IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT USING THE HIGH BEAMS..DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS.
NHTSA ODI #11035351
3,615 miles · Oct 7, 2017
Air BagsSeat Belts
THE CAR SUDDENLY SHOWED A YELLOW WARNING ALERT THAT THE VEHICLE AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND LOOK FOR THE NEAREST DEALER. WE WENT TO THE DEALER AND ON THE CUTOMER STATEMENT OF PROBLEM TOYOTA PUT MALFUNCTION ILLUMINATED PASSENGER SEATBUCKLE SWITH CORRECTION TAKEN WAS ORDER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FRONT SEAT
NHTSA ODI #11032207
2,000 miles · Sep 25, 2017
Wheels
NEW VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 2,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MILES PER HOUR, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT. CONTINENTAL CROSSCONTACT LX 225/65R17 I NEITHER SAW OR FELT ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.
NHTSA ODI #11025474
500 miles · Sep 25, 2017
Exterior Lighting
THIS WINDSHIELD IS CALLED THE WINDSHIELD OF DEATH ONLINE!THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE ARC ONLY LIGHT UP PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE REFLECTION, THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD IS BLACK. IT IS ALARNMING. THE NIGHTS WERE RAISED A SLIGHT AMOUNT BY THE DEALER BUT VISIBILITY IS STILL NOT UP TO PAR-- GOING AROUND CORNERS I…
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THIS WINDSHIELD IS CALLED THE WINDSHIELD OF DEATH ONLINE!THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE ARC ONLY LIGHT UP PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE REFLECTION, THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD IS BLACK. IT IS ALARNMING. THE NIGHTS WERE RAISED A SLIGHT AMOUNT BY THE DEALER BUT VISIBILITY IS STILL NOT UP TO PAR-- GOING AROUND CORNERS IS DANGEROUS. IT SEEMS TAT THE HALOGEN BULBS DO NOT GIVE ENOUGH LIGHT.
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.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
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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