repaired · 2025 Q3
Propulsion system: dc/dc converter
Risk. A short circuit can cause the DC-DC converter to overheat, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
2021 Toyota RAV4 PrimeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 99 owner complaints about the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-478 the manufacturer reports only 93% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 10, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime has problems
99 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
37Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
18Fuel/propulsion system2 crash/fire/injury
16Service brakes7 crash/fire/injury
10Forward collision avoidance9 crash/fire/injury
5Power train
5Air bags
4Vehicle speed control
3Visibility/wiper
3Engine
109 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 37 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 18 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 16 | 7 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 10 | 9 |
| Power train | 5 | 1 |
| Air bags | 5 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 1 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 |
| 9 other systems | 10 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2024 Q4
Hybrid management: power control unit/module (hpcu)
Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Control module: software
Risk. Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Exterior lighting: headlights
Risk. Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing the visibility of an oncoming driver or the vehicle operator, increasing the risk of a…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Toyota.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other RAV4 Prime year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RAV4 Prime median. How we score
'21'22'23'24
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime safety ratings
2021 Toyota RAV4 PRIME SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
In owners' words
What RAV4 Prime owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Observed arcing noises and strong electrical fire smell upon plugging in L2 EVSE charging cable. MIL lit, Hybrid Vehicle Charging System codes active; vehicle refused to charge afterwards. Self-diagnosed and repaired defective 6.6 kW onboard charger. See pics of clear arcing damage withing charging…
The vehicle generated an error message "Plug In Charging System Malfunction" warning on the dash. The remedy is a Toyota T-SB-0021-21 which requires a software upgrade to fix the air fan sensor reading to the charging unit. This is only considered part of the 60 month/60,000 mile power train…
I was driving along an expressway on a rainy night. The plug-in hybrid car was operating on battery power. Suddenly the motor went dead and it slowed to a stop. This was very dangerous because the expressway traffic had to swerve around me. I may have seen a hybrid system malfunction warning on the…
Own a 2021 RAV4 Prime?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.