repaired · 2026 Q3
Sensor: occupant classification
Risk. An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
2020 Toyota RAV4Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 642 owner complaints about the 2020 Toyota RAV4, most often about the engine. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-865 the manufacturer reports only 59% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 11, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2020 Toyota RAV4 has problems
642 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
181Engine2 crash/fire/injury
120Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
90Fuel/propulsion system
62Structure4 crash/fire/injury
55Air bags8 crash/fire/injury
39Power train
28Steering
18Service brakes
15Vehicle speed control
8614 other systems10 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 181 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 120 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 90 | 0 |
| Structure | 62 | 4 |
| Air bags | 55 | 8 |
| Power train | 39 | 1 |
| Steering | 28 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 18 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 15 | 4 |
| 14 other systems | 86 | 10 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2020 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 · 2022 Q3
Air bags: frontal
Risk. In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. A loss of power steering assist could increase steering effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2022 Q2
Control arm: lower arm
Risk. If a suspension control arm breaks, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q1
Engine and engine cooling
Risk. A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall in conventional gasoline vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
41 owners mentioned a cost$785median
Middle half: $650 – $950
Unknown or other
17 owners mentioned a cost$800median
Middle half: $700 – $1,300
Electrical system
12 owners mentioned a cost$950median
Middle half: $765 – $1,475
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2020 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
2020 Toyota RAV4 safety ratings
2020 Toyota RAV4 SUV FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Standard
In owners' words
What RAV4 owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
"Engine Coolant Bypass Valve failed suddenly on highway (Code P2681-15), risking engine overheat and stall. Toyota acknowledged this defect under CSP 24TE04 but refused assistance due to vehicle having 103,660 miles (just past 100k miles). Failure causes immediate safety and overheating hazard."
Coolant bypass valve leak. An known issue however dealership will not pay for repairs due to vehicle having 106000 mile. 6000 over what the bulletin 24TE04 states it will cover.
Toyota made a defective coolant valve in their 2019-2021 cars that leaked spontaneously in these vehicles. Over 950,000 cars have been affected to date, including my 2020 Rav4. They are aware of the issue and made a customer support program for this issue which led to engines overheating/electrical…
Own a 2020 RAV4?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.