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2021 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2021 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 72 of 385 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 125 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

46 crash reports7 fire reports29 injury reports

What owners actually said

385 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2021
Visibility/wiper

Windshield Crack sitting in parking lot, nothing hit it( i.e. no rocks, no chips, no nothing). It broke randomly, radiating out from the bottom edge near wiper toward center of windshield. Yes, available for inspection upon request Could have happened when driving. It has not yet been confirmed by dealer (pending), insurance, or…

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Windshield Crack sitting in parking lot, nothing hit it( i.e. no rocks, no chips, no nothing). It broke randomly, radiating out from the bottom edge near wiper toward center of windshield. Yes, available for inspection upon request Could have happened when driving. It has not yet been confirmed by dealer (pending), insurance, or other third party The new vehicle was only 5 weeks old.

NHTSA ODI #11419505

1,000 miles · May 14, 2021
Engine

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CABE TOYOTA (2849 LONG BEACH BLVD, LONG BEACH, CA 90806, (562) 595-7411) WHERE IT WAS DI…

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THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CABE TOYOTA (2849 LONG BEACH BLVD, LONG BEACH, CA 90806, (562) 595-7411) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NOTHING NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT RELATED THE FAILURE TO AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

NHTSA ODI #11416598

1 miles · May 14, 2021
SteeringSuspension

MY 2021 TOYOTA RAV4 HAVE DESIGN PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION SYSTEM. WHERE IF THE FREEDOM OVER 55MPH THE CAR WILL BE UNSTABLE, BUMPY AND SHAKY. I AM REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR ON THE HWY. I HEARD MIST 2021 RAV4 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL TO FIX OR CHANGE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH A FIRM ONE ASAP. THANK YOU…

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MY 2021 TOYOTA RAV4 HAVE DESIGN PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION SYSTEM. WHERE IF THE FREEDOM OVER 55MPH THE CAR WILL BE UNSTABLE, BUMPY AND SHAKY. I AM REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR ON THE HWY. I HEARD MIST 2021 RAV4 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL TO FIX OR CHANGE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH A FIRM ONE ASAP. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #11416567

4,364 miles · May 10, 2021
Service Brakes

JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ON JANUARY AND WITH JUST OVER 4K MILES THIS WARNING CAME UP.. PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION.. TURNED OFF THEN ON THE CAR AND SAME WARNING...CALLED THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ASAP..

NHTSA ODI #11415942

8 miles · May 10, 2021
Lane Departure

NO AUDIO WARNING. BLIND SPOT MONITORING (BSM) FLASHING IS NOT VISIBLE WHEN SUNLIGHT DIRECTLY REFLECTS INTO MIRROR. AUDIO ALERT IS AVAILABLE, BUT LIMITED TO CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT WHICH USES SAME SENSORS.

NHTSA ODI #11415768

620 miles · Apr 30, 2021
SteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT FLIPPING OVER A CINDERBLOCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FALL DOWN A MOUNTAIN TOP. THE AIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA RAV 4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE RIGHT FLIPPING OVER A CINDERBLOCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FALL DOWN A MOUNTAIN TOP. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN RIGHT ANKLE AND A FRACTURED DISK IN HER BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO A JUNKYARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BLACK BOX READ THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS SELF INFLICTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 620.

NHTSA ODI #11414647

300 miles · Apr 30, 2021
Air BagsCrashInjury

IN A 4 CAR PILE UP. HIT IN REAR X2 BY A LARGE VAN WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC ON NJ PARKWAY FOOT ON BREAK AND PUSHED INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME X2. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #11414593

2,000 miles · Mar 25, 2021
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER DISENGAGED, PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM SHIFTING GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF DEERFIELD BEACH (1441 S FEDERAL HWY, DEERFIELD BEACH, FL 33441) WHERE IT WAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER DISENGAGED, PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM SHIFTING GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF DEERFIELD BEACH (1441 S FEDERAL HWY, DEERFIELD BEACH, FL 33441) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, NOTHING WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11404841

2,935 miles · Mar 18, 2021
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4 AS A LOANER VEHICLE FROM SERRA TOYOTA (1300 CENTER POINT PKWY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35215) AS HIS PERSONAL VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REMEDY REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V682000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE LOANER VEHICLE AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4 AS A LOANER VEHICLE FROM SERRA TOYOTA (1300 CENTER POINT PKWY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35215) AS HIS PERSONAL VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REMEDY REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V682000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE LOANER VEHICLE AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHILE ACCELERATING. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER LOANER VEHICLE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER AND A CASE FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,935. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11403677

70 miles · Mar 17, 2021
Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or Other

THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND THE DOOR IS SWUNG CLOSED. THE REARVIEW MIRROR OF THE DOOR HAS SIGNIFICANT SHAKING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, SO THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE SPEAKER IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR MAKES A STATIC OR CRACKLING SOUND WHEN MUSIC IS OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11403428

Official recalls

1

23V865000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Dec 20, 2023

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Toyota RAV4 problems