Owners have filed 332 complaints
about the 2013 Toyota RAV4 with NHTSA between 2013 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 12 of 30 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 — 41
Against the median year of the Toyota RAV4. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
23.2% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
66% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
5525.7%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
3817.8%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
3014.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
3415.9%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
2210.3%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
136.1%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
167.5%
150,000+ miles
62.8%
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.
Apr 2013peak 17Jul 2026
NHTSA investigations into the 2013 Toyota RAV4
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.
PE21005Opened 25 Feb 2021Closed 12 Aug 2024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles on 25 February 2021. At the time of opening, ODI attributed eleven allegations and additional EWR events to this PE. PE21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in PE21005 involved the originally supplied 12V battery. The reported fires took place in vehicles known to cont...
Recalls on the 2013 Toyota RAV4
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 2023589249,416 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: On certain vehicles, the battery hold-down assembly may not properly secure certain 12 V aftermarket batteries. As a result, the battery could shift positions and cause the positive battery post to contact the hold down bracket. If this happens, there could be a short circuit. Safety Risk: A short circuit could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Toyota will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover.
Recall 202172355,683 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt. Note: This recall only affects the following block heater/cord part numbers: C014003034 PK5A408J09 PU14000904 C014003151 PK5A408J13 PU14000905 C014000885 PK5A489J11 PU14000907 C014000888 PK5A489J22 PU14000909 C014000907 PK5A410H00 PU14000911 C014100904 PU14000900 PU14000913 C014100907 PU14000901 PU14003571 C014100911 PU14000902 PK5A489J14 PK5A408J05 PU14000903 Safety Risk: Engine block heater wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Toyota recommends that you should stop using the engine block heater immediately. Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. For some vehicles, the corrective actions for this recall are under development. For others, a new engine block heater cannot be installed, and the owner will receive a refund of the purchase price of the engine block heater.
Recall 2019428327,373 units in Canada
Accessories
Issue: On certain vehicles, the hook and loop material used to attach the carpet to its underpadding may not be flame resistant. As a result, when it is tested alone, the loop fasteners do not meet the requirements of Canadian regulations. Safety Risk: As the carpet is always assembled, and the loop fasteners are very small, this problem does not create a safety risk. Corrective Action: This is not a recall. The company has made production changes to ensure that all new vehicles meet the requirements of Canadian regulations.
Recall 20194205,327 units in Canada
Other
Issue: This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempered. If the window breaks, the glass may separate into large pieces instead of very small ones. Note: This is a voluntary recall that is not being conducted under the requirements of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Safety Risk: Glass that breaks in to large pieces could create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: The company will notify consumers by mail and instruct them to inspect the designation code marked on the rear window glass. Products affected by this recall have the designation “DOT 287” along with the lettering “VMR” (Replacement Market) and a date code that is before July 2019. This information is printed on the bottom corner of the glass. Consumers should contact Vitro's customer service at 1-412-995-6457 or argbacklites@vitro.com to arrange for replacement of the glass.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cleveland, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car started cutting on and off then battery caught fire while driving. The battery is still in the vehicle. Car was inspected by Victory Toyota of Brook Park. There were no warning lamps or messages before the incident occurred.
NHTSA complaint #11647656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,200 milesLake Barrington, ILCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH the vehicle crashed into the rear passenger side of a second vehicle that had abruptly stopped. During the crash, the vehicle sustained severe front-end damage but the air bags did not deploy. The contact indicated that the front driver's side door had to be removed in order to be removed from the vehicle. The contact sustained multiple cervical fractures, a fractured sternum, and injuries to the rib and chest areas. An occupant of the second vehicle also sustained a minor undisclosed injury. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined however the black box was pending review. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 50,200.
NHTSA complaint #11634828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesSnellville, GAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact's husband owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while the husband was driving at approximately 35 MPH, smoke was coming from under the hood. The contact's husband managed to pull into a parking lot to inspect the vehicle where it was noticed that the battery compartment caught on fire. The contact's husband managed to extinguish the fire by hand. The contact's husband had sustained slight burns however, no medical attention was sought. No police report was filed. The vehicle was left at a Home Depot parking lot which was the initial destination. The local dealer was contacted and advised that the vehicle would have to be towed out of pocket for diagnoses to decide if it was recall-related however if it was determined to be recall-related the parts were not available. The contact was concerned that the vehicle could not be towed since it failed to shift into neutral. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11626625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Honolulu, GUFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav 4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) 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 contact stated while the vehicle was parked and turned on there was smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the 12-volt battery located in the engine compartment had caught on fire. The fire was extinguished by the contact. A fire report was not filed, and a police report was not filed. The 12-volt battery had been replaced by the contact. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11625345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Bergen, NJFire
ENGINE
I was traveling south on [XXX] when the vehicle stalled. I started the engine and proceeded. I noticed my Rav4 smoking from the engine so I turned off into a Extra Space Storage parking at 1415 Bergen Boulevard, Fort Lee N.J. 07024 were it stalled again. I then exited the vehicle and opened the hood and observed a burst flames coming from the engine/battery area. I ran to a Wendy's and asked for a fire extinguisher, but the fire escalated rapidly, burning the entire interior and exterior of the vehicle. It was towed to Sanos Towing Company 344 Bergen Blvd. Palisades Park. N.J. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11622497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Prichard, ALFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I had a 2013 Rav4, while i was driving the car the car started a fire under the hood and burn completely up. Im trying to file a complaint or talk to someone discussing this matter. Toyota says I need to file a bad faith complaint.
NHTSA complaint #11592405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Concord, NC
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Toyota issues a Customer Support Program Notification regarding paint peeling on vehicles with factory applied Blizzard Pearl or Super White paint. The original expiration date was December 11, 2022 with secondary expiration being 10 years after first use, in my case October 14, 2023. Within the period I had 3 different parts of my car repainted due to peeling paint. On July 19, 2026, paint began peeling again on the roof which is one of the panels that was repainted. I contacted Toyota Customer Care and their response was that the program was closed and no one could reopen the issue. I feel that the 10 year time was just an arbitrary deadline and since this issue had already been repaired once, the issue should be resolved again.
NHTSA complaint #11751458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that a mileage discrepancy was discovered after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 105,836; however, Carfax reported the mileage as 311,581.
NHTSA complaint #11742666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chula Vista, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have a Blizzard White RAV4 2013 that I just bought the paint is peeling from roof and side doors. I called a Toyota dealer and they told me that they wouldn’t be able to paint it beacause the warranty of repainting had expired. In some parts of the car the pint is starting to bubble up . .
NHTSA complaint #11740815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kansas City, MO
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The other night driving home i notice that my headlights gotten dimmed. I turned on my fog lights so that i could see the road. after turning on my fog lights i had limited vision on the road. I feel that it's a safety concern that needs to be address so that i won't get into an accident. How should i proceed with the issue?
NHTSA complaint #11734167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Madison, NC
STRUCTURE:BODY
The vehicle has experienced premature and widespread paint peeling and clear coat failure on multiple body panels. The paint began deteriorating without impact, collision, or environmental damage and has progressively worsened over time. This condition is consistent with a known manufacturing defect affecting certain Toyota vehicles, which Toyota acknowledged through a Customer Support Program. The defect results in exposed metal and body surfaces, increasing the risk of corrosion and long-term structural damage. The issue has been visually confirmed and documented and is reproducible across affected panels. No warning indicators were present prior to the failure. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request.
NHTSA complaint #11714064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Toyota Rav4. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 89,704. At the time of the vehicle registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 251,351.
NHTSA complaint #11713356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 120,000 milesVero Beach, FL
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that large pieces of paint had separated from the hood and contacted the front windshield while driving, creating a visibility hazard for the driver. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11703173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntsville, AR
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the contact heard an exploding sound and became aware that the sunroof had exploded. The contact stated that the shattered glass fell onto the shade cover that was closed during the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the sunroof was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11695897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Worth, TX
ENGINE
Over the course of the past two days, 2013 Toyota RAV4 has engine cut-off while moving on surface streets, tollroads, and Interstate Highways. Thus far, this has occurred 9 times without any warning whatsoever. Car is in otherwise fine mechanical condition, with all four new tires, new brake rotors & ceramic brake pads, new battery & cables inspection, professional throttle body cleaning, 5,000 mile full-synthetic oil change & oil filter, new engine air filter, and all features and functions in what was known as 100% condition with no Engine Fault indicator on or subsequent OBD II codes. Yet it stalls at all speeds, including street traffic speeds and cruise at 70mpg. No indication whatsoever.
NHTSA complaint #11693382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ranson, WV
STRUCTURE:BODY
The paint on the roof of my 2013 Toyota Rav4 has begun to peel (delaminate). I first noticed it in May 2025. More recently, in June, while driving I saw in my rearview mirror what was clearly a chunk of white paint fall off the blowing from the top of my vehicle behind me - which is poses a safety hazard on the road. There are two areas on the roof now peeling. One is about 8inches in diameter (which has grown since May) and the newest area peeling and flaking/flying off is 1 foot long and 4 to 5 inches wide. Areas of the roof where the paint has peeled are beginning to rust and compromise the integrity of the body. I contacted Toyota twice recently regarding my case (#250701000710) which is considered closed. Two representatives said they were sorry I was having this issue but advised that I would have to go to a dealer and take care of it myself. Please be aware that there was a prior/known paint peeling issue that affected cars in blizzard/pearl white (which my car is). They offered what was called a "goodwill service" at the time under which they only paid to repaint any areas of the car that were already peeling at the time. The body of my car had many large areas of peeled paint that were repainted. However, the "goodwill service" program has since expired but now the roof is peeling. So, even though aware that the painting was flawed and prone to significant peeling they did not repaint affected vehicles as a whole and so it appears this issue has resurfaced.
NHTSA complaint #11670993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Diego, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The dealer, Toyota of Chula Vista insists that i pay for the recall of the battery they had my car all day yesterday first they lied battery not available then they quoted me $337
NHTSA complaint #11667758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Orlando, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11654712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Asbury Park, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY
I am reporting a paint peeling issue on my 2013 Toyota RAV4 Limited that has the potential to be a safety hazard. Large sections of paint have peeled off, exposing bare metal on the hood, roof, and/or doors, and I am concerned about its impact on visibility, corrosion, and potential flying debris while driving. 1.Visibility Obstruction & Glare Risk: The paint on my hood is peeling off in patches, causing sun glare and reflection issues that impair my ability to see the road under certain lighting conditions. This is particularly dangerous during sunrise, sunset, or nighttime driving under streetlights. 2.Risk of Corrosion Leading to Structural Integrity Issues: With the bare metal exposed, the affected areas are at risk of rusting and corrosion, which could weaken the vehicle’s structure. If left untreated, corrosion could affect critical safety components such as the hood latch or airbag crash sensors located behind painted surfaces. 3.Potential for Peeling Paint to Become Road Debris: While driving at highway speeds, I have noticed paint flaking off and flying away. This could become a hazard to other vehicles, especially for motorcyclists or drivers behind me who could be hit by the debris. 4.Compromised Vehicle Visibility to Other Drivers: The exposed, uneven patches of primer and metal create an irregular surface, which could affect how my vehicle is seen by others, especially in low-light conditions. This may increase the risk of rear-end collisions due to diminished contrast. Toyota Response: Toyota previously acknowledged this issue with a Warranty Enhancement Program (WEP ZKG) for peeling paint, but I was informed that my vehicle is one year past the extended coverage period. Despite the defect being well-documented, Toyota has refused to assist. This is not just a cosmetic issue—it has clear safety implications. I urge NHTSA to investigate this problem further to determine if additional action is needed.
NHTSA complaint #11647732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Car started cutting on and off then battery caught fire while driving. The battery is still in the vehicle. Car was inspected by Victory Toyota of Brook Park. There were no warning lamps or messages before the incident occurred.
NHTSA complaint #11647656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, DE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
See attached document for complaint.
NHTSA complaint #11644710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Louisville, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); 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. The contact was not pleased with paying for the repair of the vehicle and then being reimbursed for the recall repair. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11644531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medford, MA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This recall has been an open, unresolved issue for more than 1 year. Finally Toyota has offered me a repair for this issue, but they are charging me an extra $250 to replace the car battery, which is perfectly functional. Without replacing the battery they would not complete the recall. So unfair as this was their issue to begin with!
NHTSA complaint #11640862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, IN
POWER TRAIN
The vehicle shudders significantly when accelerating/cruising between 35-45 mph. The shudder started slight and did not pose an issue for a while, but now its significant enough that is causes erratic steering. The vehicle waved back and forth from the vibration yesterday and went across the median line into oncoming traffic. I was able to regain control and accelerated through past 45 mph when the vibration receded. After calling Toyota I learned that Toyota knew about this issue and the a faulty torque converter was to blame. There was no recall or notification just (as the dealer explained, an extended warranty). Since I was not "notified" I did not know of this dangerous exposure and missed the time period to get the convertor replaced by Toyota.
NHTSA complaint #11638027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Elmwood Park, IL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There is a large amount of peeling paint on the roof and front side panels of the car that started on 1/9/25. Toyota says they had a recall but that it expired. I brought the car to the dealer where it was original purchased (by the previous owner) and they completed a paint inspection and found "excessive paint peeling" but they are not willing to do anything. I called Toyota customer care but they have denied and closed my case (case #250109001939). There is at least a 2 foot section on the roof where the paint just peeled off and blew away. Without the paint the car will rust and become unsafe.
NHTSA complaint #11636610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Syracuse, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The recall (no. 23v-734) repair performed by Toyota was not free of charge. They had to replace my relatively new battery with a different size that would fit the new battery tray. They charged me $300 for parts and labor, and they did not return my original battery to me! I need to be fully reimbursed.
NHTSA complaint #11636506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,200 milesLake Barrington, ILCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH the vehicle crashed into the rear passenger side of a second vehicle that had abruptly stopped. During the crash, the vehicle sustained severe front-end damage but the air bags did not deploy. The contact indicated that the front driver's side door had to be removed in order to be removed from the vehicle. The contact sustained multiple cervical fractures, a fractured sternum, and injuries to the rib and chest areas. An occupant of the second vehicle also sustained a minor undisclosed injury. The vehicle was destroyed and towed away. A police report was taken at the scene. The cause of the failure was not determined however the black box was pending review. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 50,200.
NHTSA complaint #11634828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vancouver, WA
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
MY brakes failed me and then bumped the car in front of me the warning system didn't alert me about hitting the car in front of me. and now that person is sueing me for alot of money. now the date is approximate day the dealerhip told me the brakes were fine how is that when they didn't stop the car and keep me from hitting the car in front of me they needed to be replaced.
NHTSA complaint #11632330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vancouver, WA
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
MY brakes failed me and then bumped the car in front of me the warning system didn't alert me about hitting the car in front of me. and now that person is sueing me for alot of money. now the date is approximate day the dealerhip told me the brakes were fine how is that when they didn't stop the car and keep me from hitting the car in front of me they needed to be replaced.
NHTSA complaint #11632330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vancouver, WA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
MY brakes failed me and then bumped the car in front of me the warning system didn't alert me about hitting the car in front of me. and now that person is sueing me for alot of money. now the date is approximate day the dealerhip told me the brakes were fine how is that when they didn't stop the car and keep me from hitting the car in front of me they needed to be replaced.
NHTSA complaint #11632330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesSnellville, GAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact's husband owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while the husband was driving at approximately 35 MPH, smoke was coming from under the hood. The contact's husband managed to pull into a parking lot to inspect the vehicle where it was noticed that the battery compartment caught on fire. The contact's husband managed to extinguish the fire by hand. The contact's husband had sustained slight burns however, no medical attention was sought. No police report was filed. The vehicle was left at a Home Depot parking lot which was the initial destination. The local dealer was contacted and advised that the vehicle would have to be towed out of pocket for diagnoses to decide if it was recall-related however if it was determined to be recall-related the parts were not available. The contact was concerned that the vehicle could not be towed since it failed to shift into neutral. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11626625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.