AFTER CAR HAS WARMED UP, ACCELERATING AROUND 20-30MPH IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE AWD SWITCHES TO 2WD.
2019 Toyota RAV4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most RAV4 years
Owner complaints for the 2019 Toyota RAV4 are substantially higher than 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
309 reports with mileage · 568 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.
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 255 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 205 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
877 reportsWHILE DRIVING MY 2019 RAV4 ADVENTURE IN SLOW SPEEDS, SPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING, I HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISIN. IT HAS AN 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WHEN SHIFTING IN THE LOWER GEARS IT MAKES A SOUND NOT USUAL IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN. ONLY HAD IT FOR THREE MONTHS AND TOOK IT TO SER…
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WHILE DRIVING MY 2019 RAV4 ADVENTURE IN SLOW SPEEDS, SPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING, I HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISIN. IT HAS AN 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND WHEN SHIFTING IN THE LOWER GEARS IT MAKES A SOUND NOT USUAL IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE PREVIOUSLY DRIVEN. ONLY HAD IT FOR THREE MONTHS AND TOOK IT TO SERVICE TO BE NOTIFIED IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION. FIRST TIME I GET THAT AN UNUSUAL SOUND, A SOUND I CAN FEEL IN MY FEET WHILE DRIVING, IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. IT WASN'T MENTIONED IN THE FEATURES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT IT IN THE DEALERSHIP. TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, IT IS VERY ANNOYING FOR A BRAND NEW CAR.
GRINDING FROM TRANSFER CASE AT 2000 MILES AT 20 - 25 MPH
VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PUSHING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS CAN OCCUR WHEN LEAVING A PARKING PLACE OR. FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE ENGINE DOES NOT STOP RUNNING. IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED THREE TIMES, BUT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TOYOTA DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS AT THE 5000 MILE INSPECTION AND THERE ARE NO CODES …
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VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PUSHING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS CAN OCCUR WHEN LEAVING A PARKING PLACE OR. FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE ENGINE DOES NOT STOP RUNNING. IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED THREE TIMES, BUT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE TOYOTA DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS AT THE 5000 MILE INSPECTION AND THERE ARE NO CODES SET NOR DOES IT SET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHEN IT HAPPENS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRRORS SHOOK AND RATTLED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, IT LOOKED AS IF TWO VEHICLES WERE SHOWN IN THE MIRRORS EVERY TIME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR WAS ESPECIALLY AFFECTED. THE CONTACT'S VISION REMAINED BLURRED WHILE USING THE MIRROR. THE VEH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRRORS SHOOK AND RATTLED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, IT LOOKED AS IF TWO VEHICLES WERE SHOWN IN THE MIRRORS EVERY TIME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR WAS ESPECIALLY AFFECTED. THE CONTACT'S VISION REMAINED BLURRED WHILE USING THE MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF NORTH SCRANTON (3400 N MAIN AVE, SCRANTON, PA 18508, (570) 489-7584), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY STATED THE FAILURE WAS A "MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT". THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,921.
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION BOX. THE CONTACT QUICKLY PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER BACK IN THE TRANSMISSION BOX AND NOTIFIED THE RENTAL FACILITY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT WAS STILL…
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TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2019 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE GEAR SHIFTER CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION BOX. THE CONTACT QUICKLY PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER BACK IN THE TRANSMISSION BOX AND NOTIFIED THE RENTAL FACILITY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT WAS STILL WAITING TO SWITCH OUT THE VEHICLE WITH THE RENTAL COMPANY. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE RENTAL COMPANY NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,218. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL NEAR MISSES RELATED TO TWO ADAS FEATURES AS I RENTED THIS NEW RAV4 IN ATLANTA. FIRSTLY, THE LANE-CENTERING FEATURE ACTIVELY TRIED TO GUIDE MY VEHICLE OUT OF ITS LANE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING ACROSS OVERPASSES WHERE THE PAVEMENT TYPE TRANSITIONED. THE LEFT AND RIGHT …
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I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL NEAR MISSES RELATED TO TWO ADAS FEATURES AS I RENTED THIS NEW RAV4 IN ATLANTA. FIRSTLY, THE LANE-CENTERING FEATURE ACTIVELY TRIED TO GUIDE MY VEHICLE OUT OF ITS LANE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS TYPICALLY OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING ACROSS OVERPASSES WHERE THE PAVEMENT TYPE TRANSITIONED. THE LEFT AND RIGHT LANE MARKINGS WERE PRESENT ON THE PAVEMENT THROUGHOUT THESE EVENTS. THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED WITH FORCE AND SPEED--HAD MY REACTION TIME BEEN HALF A SECOND LONGER, I WOULD HAVE STRUCK VEHICLES NEXT TO ME. SECONDLY, THE VEHICLE'S FULL-RANGE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL BRAKED ABRUPTLY, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS, ON NEARLY EVERY OCCASION WHERE HIGHWAY/CITY TRAFFIC SLOWED OR STOPPED. I WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED DUE TO THE JERKY ACTIONS OF THE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLES IN FRONT BRAKED SMOOTHLY DURING THESE EVENTS--ONLY MY VEHICLE SLAMMED ON ITS BRAKES WHEN IT COULD HAVE LIGHTLY APPLIED THEM TO SLOW DOWN SAFELY. IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA MIGHT HAVE MY DATA FROM 3/13/2019, SINCE A STICKER ON THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE STATES: "VEHICLE DATA TRANSMISSION IS ON! YOUR VEHICLE WIRELESSLY TRANSMITS LOCATION, DRIVING AND VEHICLE HEALTH DATA TO DELIVER YOUR SERVICES AND FOR INTERNAL RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS..." I HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN WORK WITH TOYOTA TO EXAMINE THESE RECORDS AND IMPROVE THESE SYSTEMS.
Official recalls
720V682000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Nov 4, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
20V373000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System
Jun 24, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and 2020 RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of power steering assist could increase steering effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear box, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB11 / 20TA11.
20V286000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm
May 20, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. The front lower suspension arms may have cracks, which may result in the suspension arm separating from the front wheel assembly.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If a suspension control arm breaks, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower suspension arms, free of charge. This recall began August 10, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's interim numbers for this recall are 20TB08 / 20TA08.
20V064000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Feb 6, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid and Lexus ES300h and 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with 2.5L 4-Cylinder engines. Porosity in the engine castings may result in cracks than can allow coolant to leak internally and/or externally.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall in conventional gasoline vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, for all involved vehicles, the engine may get damaged mechanically, possibly resulting in an engine oil leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine including the engine block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA04. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA02.
19V576000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Aug 6, 2019
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Due to a damaged electrical connector, the back-up camera may not activate when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply to Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the backup camera system does not activate and the driver does not check his/her surroundings while reversing, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the back-up camera system and replace the audio display unit, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began September 27, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is K0N.
19V503000 · Equipment:other:labels
Jun 28, 2019
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.
19V244000 · Equipment:other:labels
Mar 27, 2019
Gulf States Toyota (GST) is recalling certain 2019 C-HR, 4Runner, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Tacoma, Sienna, Tundra and Yaris vehicles. The text on the load capacity label may become illegible. 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: If the driver cannot read the label, they may unknowingly overload the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GST will notify owners, and dealers will provide corrected load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. The recall began May 24, 2019. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 19R1.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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