Owners have filed 15 complaints
about the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid with NHTSA between 2020 and 2025.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 7 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 35
Against the median year of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 64
38% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2020 compares with every other Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
426.7%
Fuel & Propulsion
213.3%
Median failure at 53,000 miles
Electrical System
213.3%
Median failure at 28,423 miles
Engine & Cooling
213.3%
Median failure at 76,500 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.7%
Median failure at 53,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
16.7%
Median failure at 53,000 miles
Suspension
16.7%
Median failure at 120,000 miles
Body & Structure
16.7%
Steering
16.7%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
225.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
112.5%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
337.5%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
225.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 2020peak 2Nov 2025
NHTSA investigations into the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP22005Opened 27 Jan 2023Closed 7 Aug 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc...
Recalls on the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202368499,965 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, a sensor for the occupant classification system (OCS) may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the sensor could short circuit and cause the airbag system to turn off the passenger-front airbag even when a passenger is seated. Note: This problem would cause a warning message to display on the instrument panel and the airbag indicator light would display "passenger airbag off". Safety Risk: An airbag that is turned off could increase the risk of injury to a passenger in a crash. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the OCS sensor.
Recall 202057352 units in Canada
Airbag
Issue: On certain vehicles, the steering column may have been damaged during assembly. As a result, the steering column could move when the driver-front airbag inflates. This could cause reduced protection for the driver in a crash. Safety Risk: Reduced occupant protection could lead to increased injuries in a crash. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the steering column.
Recall 20200398,214 units in Canada
Engine
Issue: On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.5-L 4-cylinder engine, the engine block may be porous. As a result, the engine block could crack and cause internal or external coolant leaks. This could cause engine overheating or internal engine damage and result in an engine failure. For non-hybrid vehicles, this could also result in a sudden loss of engine power while driving. Note: This problem may lead to engine noise, smoke, cause warning lights to turn on and/or cause an audible chime to sound before an engine failure. Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, an engine failure could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the engine block casting serial number. If the serial number is within the identified range, the dealer will replace the engine with a new one.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 120,000 milesPatterson, CA
SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the suspension. The traction control warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the sound was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was determined that the front lower suspension arms were damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that while coming to a stop on another occasion, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the brake area. The vehicle was not repaired after the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The contact researched and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V286000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11698263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesRoachdale, IN
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated to maintain automotive power. The messages "PKSB Malfunction - Visit your dealer" and "Pre-Collision System Malfunction - Visit your dealer" were displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired at a local dealer for a coolant fault and parts were ordered to repair the wiring harness. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. Several warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to a local dealer however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact related that failure to the Customer Support Program: 22TE09, however the warranty was not valid. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11679078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11667724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Hills, CA
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11665902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Hills, CA
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 23V86500 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and Northridge Toyota (9550 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91324) were contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11652826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 33,846 milesMarine on Saint Croix, MN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was jumpstarted; however, two days later the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer twice where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred after 18 months. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where the vehicle remained. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,846.
NHTSA complaint #11641795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plainsboro, NJ
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11629208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rio Rancho, NM
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off on several occasions, the liftgate button was depressed and the liftgate was partially raised before freezing. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver’s side liftgate hinge had cracked and snapped, causing the liftgate to become inoperable. The vehicle was repaired. On another occasion, the liftgate failed to close fully and failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger’s side liftgate hinge had cracked and snapped. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11609794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesElk Grove, CA
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the driver's side sideview mirror was vibrating excessively, distorting the image seen. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 53,000. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11590020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,000 milesWheeling, WV
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated while using the A/C, there was an abnormally foul odor coming from the vents. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a mechanic discovered mice had entered the vehicle through an opening in the engine and that droppings were found in the air filter housing. The air filter was replaced, and the contact was advised to use Lysol spray to spray the air cabin. Upon investigation, the contact's husband discovered that the wiring was made of soy-based materials which attracted rodents to the engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.
NHTSA complaint #11528079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,000 milesWheeling, WV
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated while using the A/C, there was an abnormally foul odor coming from the vents. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a mechanic discovered mice had entered the vehicle through an opening in the engine and that droppings were found in the air filter housing. The air filter was replaced, and the contact was advised to use Lysol spray to spray the air cabin. Upon investigation, the contact's husband discovered that the wiring was made of soy-based materials which attracted rodents to the engine. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.
NHTSA complaint #11528079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesRockford, WA
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated while his mother was driving 45 MPH, the electronic throttle control system warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the MGR (Motor Generator Rear) system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.
NHTSA complaint #11472632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 53,000 milesRockford, WA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated while his mother was driving 45 MPH, the electronic throttle control system warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the MGR (Motor Generator Rear) system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The contact was also informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.
NHTSA complaint #11472632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hopewell Junction, NY
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL TANK WILL FILL UP COMPLETELY
NHTSA complaint #11366542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW York, NY
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WAS FIRM AT VEHICLE START-UP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CENTRAL CITY TOYOTA LOCATED 4800 CHESTNUT ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19139, (215) 476-1200, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY VOLTAGE WAS LOW AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR RECHARGED. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11343550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.