FaultScore

2018 Toyota RAV4 driver assist problems

15 of the 443 complaints about the 2018 Toyota RAV4 are about the driver-assist systems — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 40,000 miles.

F

15

Complaints

3

Crashes

1

Fires

2

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Warnings 4 26.7%
Adaptive Cruise Control 3 20.0%
Blind Spot Detection 2 13.3%
Automatic Emergency Braking 2 13.3%
Back Over Prevention 1 6.7%
Assist 1 6.7%
Camera 1 6.7%
Warning 1 6.7%

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance across every Toyota RAV4 year

2018 15 7.5%
2019 34 16.9%
2020 20 10.0%
2021 34 16.9%
2022 22 10.9%
2023 37 18.4%
2024 25 12.4%
2025 14 7.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Santa Maria, CA

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Before o had taken my RAV4 into Toyota for the recall a AAA tech. had replaced the battery after jump starting it. There was nothing wrong with the sensors or anything else but after the battery was replaced all the electric sensors that are for lane change warnings and cruise control etc. stopped working. I took vehicle into Toyota of Santa Maria and was told that I needed to pay for the sensors that had failed. They told me that I was responsible and I do not believe I am when AAA had just replaced my battery and only after that did the sensors have an issue. I do not feel safe driving my car now because all the sensors aren’t working anymore.

NHTSA complaint #11754574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Las Vegas, NV

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear-view camera was black and failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the camera was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #11753295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anaheim, CA Crash Fire 1 injured

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

I was on the freeway driving home and a vehicle cut me on the freeway which resulted in me breaking a little heavier than usual but wasn't abnormal and resulted in the vehicle shutting down due to the battery jumping around in the engine compartment and then instantaneously catching on fire with no way of steering or guiding myself to safety the highway did arrive on scene as well as ambulance and they only asked for registration and vehicle ownership which I hadn't presented but since a tow truck was on its way already they really had no reason to be there other than to make sure I was okay I do have case number and any other information needed for my vehicles abrupt explosion. This incident has been reported to Toyota of Anaheim as well as brand engagement been calling but haven't received helpful information on my loss

NHTSA complaint #11643058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Villa, IL

LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? When driving the Rav4 the dashboard started to alert that different systems where failing. For example, it was flashing Blind Spot Failure, Land Departure Failure, Front Collision Failure. It the warnings where non-stop while driving the car flashing through the different messages. Yes the car is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? With all the systems altering failure the car no longer became safe to drive and had the potential to stall while driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the Toyota service center determined that the car was unsafe to drive due to the failure of the internal wire harness shorting out. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, but a Toyota service center. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No symptoms, the dashboard just started lighting up like a Christmas tree on 7/15.

NHTSA complaint #11536123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Villa, IL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? When driving the Rav4 the dashboard started to alert that different systems where failing. For example, it was flashing Blind Spot Failure, Land Departure Failure, Front Collision Failure. It the warnings where non-stop while driving the car flashing through the different messages. Yes the car is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? With all the systems altering failure the car no longer became safe to drive and had the potential to stall while driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the Toyota service center determined that the car was unsafe to drive due to the failure of the internal wire harness shorting out. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, but a Toyota service center. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No symptoms, the dashboard just started lighting up like a Christmas tree on 7/15.

NHTSA complaint #11536123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

Front miliwave sensor malfunction (Radar senor) required replacement immediately due to safety concerns by dealer. Because it could cause unintentional braking. Also because this system is connected to other safety features. I only purchased this car recently from a third party car dealer less than a year ago and this problem only went on for less than a week before service. And the only warning was that the adaptive cruise control stopped working.

NHTSA complaint #11522433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

Front miliwave sensor malfunction (Radar senor) required replacement immediately due to safety concerns by dealer. Because it could cause unintentional braking. Also because this system is connected to other safety features. I only purchased this car recently from a third party car dealer less than a year ago and this problem only went on for less than a week before service. And the only warning was that the adaptive cruise control stopped working.

NHTSA complaint #11522433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tampa, FL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

Front miliwave sensor malfunction (Radar senor) required replacement immediately due to safety concerns by dealer. Because it could cause unintentional braking. Also because this system is connected to other safety features. I only purchased this car recently from a third party car dealer less than a year ago and this problem only went on for less than a week before service. And the only warning was that the adaptive cruise control stopped working.

NHTSA complaint #11522433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakeland, FL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

While driving on a 50 mph Highway with the cruise control on and no vehicles or anything in front of the car for more than a half a mile the vehicle braked suddenly as if the system sensed it was going to hit something. I pulled off the road shut the car off and restarted the car and it operated normally after that. I would be concerned of a rear Collision due to this occurring for no reason

NHTSA complaint #11452976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakeland, FL

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

While driving on a 50 mph Highway with the cruise control on and no vehicles or anything in front of the car for more than a half a mile the vehicle braked suddenly as if the system sensed it was going to hit something. I pulled off the road shut the car off and restarted the car and it operated normally after that. I would be concerned of a rear Collision due to this occurring for no reason

NHTSA complaint #11452976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moore, OK Crash 2 injured

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

I was turning into a parking spot at my doctor's office when my car engine revved up and sped through the doctor's office nearly hitting my doctor and another patient. My airbags did not deploy. I had my foot on the brake but it did not stop the car. The automatic emergency braking system and forward collision warning did not work. My car had to be towed and is now waiting to see if it can be fixed but with the safety features that I paid extra for, I'm not sure that I would even buy a new one of this particular model. I came very close to killing my doctor and that patient!

NHTSA complaint #11430371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Roseville, CA

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2018 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated when shifting gears to reverse, the back over prevention camera failed to function as designed. The contact stated he shifted the gear to park and back to reverse and the camera operated as designed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA complaint #11425473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 25,000 miles Plymouth, MN

LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST

CAR WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL, DUE TO A CAR IN FRONT, IT WAS DRIVING 10 MILE BELOW THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEED. A NEW CAR CAME IN BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE PREVIOUS CAR IN FRONT, MY CAR STARTED SPEEDING UP SUDDENLY. I HIT THE BREAK AND CANCELED CRUISE CONTROL IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT CRASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 6 TIMES DO FAR. ONLY SEEM TO HAPPEN RARELY WHEN SOME NEW OBJECT COMES IN BETWEEN.

NHTSA complaint #11415226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 61,000 miles Castle Rock, CO Crash

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

TRAFFIC STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR DIDN'T. THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM STARTED BUT IT DIDN'T STOP. ALMOST EVERY AIRBAG DEPLOYED EXCEPT THE PASSENGER, IT WAS OFF. MY DASH READ THAT ABS FAILED CONTACT DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #11390787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75 miles LOS Angeles, CA

LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING

THE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING BUZZER'S WARNING CANNOT BE HEARD ON THE ROAD WITH THE RADIO ON LOW VOLUME OR WITH A RADIO OFF BUT DRIVING ABOVE 75MPH DUE TO THE ROAD NOISE. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS TO DIFFERENT DEALERS RESULTED IN COMMENTS THAT THE BUZZER WORKS AS DESIGNED. CALLS TO TOYOTA'S "BRAND ENGAGEMENT ADVOCATE" RESULTED IN ADVICE TO GO TO A DEALER. THEY HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO INSTRUCT THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE BUZZER. I UNDERSTAND THAT LDW IS MANDATORY FOR 5 STARS SAFETY RATING, BUT I CANNOT FIND THE SPECIFICATION FOR THIS SAFETY FEATURE.

NHTSA complaint #11384098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2018 Toyota RAV4 problems

← Full 2018 Toyota RAV4 report