repaired · 2018 Q1
Suspension: rear
Risk. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
2011 Toyota RAV4Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 287 owner complaints about the 2011 Toyota RAV4, most often about the vehicle speed control. It is covered by 11 safety recalls, and for recall 16V-396 the manufacturer reports only 24% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 13, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Toyota RAV4 has problems
287 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
69Vehicle speed control23 crash/fire/injury
48Visibility/wiper
43Service brakes14 crash/fire/injury
33Engine8 crash/fire/injury
30Seat belts
25Power train5 crash/fire/injury
20Air bags
19Electrical system
16Suspension
8015 other systems9 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 69 | 23 |
| Visibility/wiper | 48 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 43 | 14 |
| Engine | 33 | 8 |
| Seat belts | 30 | 0 |
| Power train | 25 | 5 |
| Air bags | 20 | 11 |
| Electrical system | 19 | 2 |
| Suspension | 16 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 80 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
11 recalls
2011 Toyota RAV4 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 · 2017 Q4
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2017 Q3
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk. A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
repaired · 2017 Q1
Visibility: power window devices and controls
Risk. If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch…
Show 7 more recalls
repaired · 2018 Q1
Visibility/wiper
Risk. Over time, the dripping water may cause corrosion and wear at the joint, potentially resulting in the separation of the wiper linkage.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Front assembly: seat heater/cooler
Risk. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
no report yet
Suspension: rear
Risk. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Other: labels
Risk. An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires.
no report yet
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk. If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for…
no report yet
Suspension: rear
Risk. Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Air bags: side/window
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
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.
Mileage at failure
When do vehicle speed control problems start?
27kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 63 vehicle speed control complaints. 90% were reported before 100,000 miles.
33under 30k miles57under 100k miles6100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other RAV4 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 median. How we score
'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
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Toyota RAV4 safety ratings
2011 Toyota RAV4 SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Toyota RAV4, and the recalls they led to.
- Autoliv Air Bag Propellant MixtureNo recall
In owners' words
What RAV4 owners report
Recent vehicle speed control complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the vehicle continued to accelerate unintendedly. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal and shifted to neutral(N), and the vehicle responded as…
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while reversing to park the vehicle, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle and entering the residence, the vehicle…
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while stopped at a red light with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle accelerated and rolled forward. The contact quickly put the vehicle in park and was able to pull over down the road. The contact stated that while pulling over and then…
Own a 2011 RAV4?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.