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Toyota RAV4Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 9,423 NHTSA owner complaints across 30 model years, the Toyota RAV4 years to avoid are 2007 and 2019, and the strongest years are 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000. The RAV4 has 50 safety recalls on record.

Toyota RAV4
Years to avoid'07 '19Use caution: 2002, 2006, 2008, 2020, 2021, 2024Best years'96 '97 '99 '00Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints9,423Top: Power trainSafety recalls501996–2025 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Best & worst years

Toyota RAV4 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RAV4 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2025Too new–/10098 complaints · 3 recalls2024Caution32/100177 complaints · 3 recalls2023Solid43/100166 complaints · 3 recalls2022Solid52/100150 complaints · 1 recall2021Caution31/100390 complaints · 1 recall2020Caution29/100641 complaints · 6 recalls2019Avoid26/100887 complaints · 7 recalls2018Solid44/100333 complaints · 3 recalls2017Solid47/100308 complaints · 3 recalls2016Solid53/100240 complaints · 3 recalls2015Solid45/100305 complaints · 4 recalls2014Solid57/100198 complaints · 4 recalls2013Solid52/100257 complaints · 2 recalls2012Solid53/100260 complaints · 5 recalls2011Solid50/100287 complaints · 11 recalls2010Solid43/100400 complaints · 14 recalls2009Solid47/100327 complaints · 15 recalls2008Caution36/100575 complaints · 14 recalls2007Avoid25/1001,004 complaints · 14 recalls2006Caution35/100705 complaints · 11 recalls2005Solid66/100141 complaints · 5 recalls2004Solid66/100154 complaints · 2 recalls2003Solid53/100315 complaints · 0 recalls2002Caution38/100527 complaints · 0 recalls2001Solid53/100309 complaints · 0 recalls2000Best90/10030 complaints · 3 recalls1999Best78/10061 complaints · 4 recalls1998Best76/10077 complaints · 4 recalls1997Best83/10054 complaints · 0 recalls1996Best86/10047 complaints · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Toyota RAV4 problems

All model years combined: 9,423 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train140164
Electrical system1385206
Engine1343128
Steering95161
Vehicle speed control905253
Air bags839317
Suspension55025
Structure52283
Fuel/propulsion system52018
35 other systems2690392
50 recalls

Toyota RAV4 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

100%Seats: critical fasteners26V-256 · 2025 · Apr 22, 2026 · 4 vehicles86%Back over prevention: display function25V-744 · 2023–2025 · Oct 30, 2025 · 1,024,407 vehicles66%Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel25V-595 · 2023–2025 · Sep 11, 2025 · 591,377 vehicles99%Disc: caliper24V-911 · 2024 · Dec 5, 2024 · 70 vehicles59%Sensor: occupant classification23V-865 · 2020–2021 · Dec 20, 2023 · 999,901 vehicles38%Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery23V-734 · 2013–2018 · Nov 1, 2023 · 1,853,568 vehicles91%Tires: valve23V-485 · 2023 · Jul 11, 2023 · 195 vehicles97%Occupant classification: front passenger22V-519 · 2022 · Jul 21, 2022 · 3,533 vehicles93%Air bags: frontal20V-734 · 2020 · Nov 25, 2020 · 161 vehicles85%Delivery: fuel pump20V-682 · 2019–2020 · Nov 4, 2020 · 1,525,742 vehicles93%Steering: electric power assist system20V-373 · 2019–2020 · Jun 24, 2020 · 46 vehicles94%Control arm: lower arm20V-286 · 2019–2020 · May 20, 2020 · 9,502 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 50 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

7 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the RAV4

  1. Pedestrian alert soundsDP22005 · 2003 · closed Aug 7, 2023
    Led to recall 22V-063
  2. Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal EventsPE21005 · 2013–2018 · closed Aug 12, 2024
    Led to recall 23V-734
  3. Power Window Master Switch FireEA12006 · 2007–2009 · closed Feb 12, 2013
    Led to recall 12V-491
  4. Rear Suspension Arm Assembly FailurePE12013 · 2006–2008 · closed Sep 13, 2012
    Led to recall 12V-373
  5. Autoliv Air Bag Propellant MixtureEQ12002 · 2011 · closed May 8, 2012
    No recall
  6. Power Window Master Switch FirePE12002 · 2007–2009 · closed Jun 14, 2012
    No recall
  7. Unintended and Uncontrolled AccelerationRQ10003 · 2006–2010 · closed Mar 1, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-112