1,369 of the
12,161 complaints filed about the Toyota RAV4
are about the electrical system —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
2021 Toyota RAV4 (gas model) has experienced a sudden, unexpected engine stall/shutdown on a public road. The incident occurred while shifting into Drive after backing up in reverse. The engine immediately died without any prior dashboard warning lights or mechanical symptoms. The information screen displayed a message stating "Put Car in Park" or "Shift into Park." The vehicle safely restarted immediately after shifting back into Park and pressing the ignition button. This intermittent stall has happened three times under the exact same directional shifting conditions over the last 1.5 years, creating a high-risk scenario for a rear-end collision in active traffic. After previous incident (one year ago) when the engine stopped when shifting from reverse to drive, I took it to Toyota service. Dealership diagnostics could not previously replicate the issue due to its intermittent nature and the absence of a permanent check engine code. checked battery and performed health check.
NHTSA complaint #11757462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The repair shop I was able to pull into as I was experiencing the issue with my vehicle reported: "Battery is unstable and is arcing off of the positive terminal. Battery tray, battery hold down tie, and battery j hook hold down were missing upon arrival." The issue was fixed by a Brakes Plus location, given I was able to pull in there - it was around the corner from where I was driving. The issue has been fixed, and I have no issue with inspection of the vehilce. The car died while I was driving on a main street. The recall note states that the vehicle could have caught on fire, though no fire or crash happened. I made a simple right-hand turn and almost every light imaginable illuminated on the dashbard. I was able to turn the vehicle off and on again and get the car to the Brakes Plus location. This location had to order the parts from Kansas. I called the Toyota Dealership informing them what had happened, that the car was unable to be moved and got the response that I needed to take it to them for repair. I called at least two times since I received the notice for the fix in the mail and I was told that I would be contacted when they were ready to fix my car specifically. I was informed they would call, but they did not take down my contact information. I reached out to Toyota and they opened a claim where I uploaded documents - the original recall notice, the letter informing of the fix, the invoice from Brakes Plus, proof of purchase On Friday,XXX, I received a letter notifying me that my claim was not eligible for reimbursement. Since I tried to reach out and get an appointment scheduled inspection and the fix (if needed), and I never received a call to schedule after being told the dealership would reach out to me when they were ready, I believe they should have paid me back for the repair. I can provide the Toyota Brand Engagement Case number as requested. I am hesitant to upload documents here as these documents contain name, address, etc.
NHTSA complaint #11757059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Description of the Defect:I am reporting a premature and dangerous failure of the electronic door lock actuators on my 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SE. The issue began with the driver’s door lock intermittently failing to respond to the key fob and the internal master switch. Shortly after, the rear passenger door developed the exact same failure. Both doors can now only be operated strictly by manual intervention. The vehicle currently has over 36,000 miles, meaning this safety-critical component failed immediately after the expiration of the manufacturer's bumper-to-bumper warranty.Safety Risk:This component defect poses a severe safety hazard. In the event of a severe crash, electrical failure, or fire, passengers (especially children or occupants in the rear seats) face a high risk of entrapment, as the doors cannot be unlocked electronically for a quick evacuation. Furthermore, because the doors fail to lock automatically while driving, the occupants are left vulnerable to carjacking or external intrusion at intersections, and the doors could potentially be forced open by a child pulling the lever while the vehicle is in motion. This is a well-documented systemic issue across Toyota's 5th generation RAV4 platform, and a safety recall is urgently needed
NHTSA complaint #11757071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal odor outside the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that there was smoke coming from the battery, and there was battery fluid leaking from the battery. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with battery failure. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact stated that in May 2026, the vehicle was serviced for electrical issues with the Start/Stop feature, parking brake error message, and the AC display unit was replaced. The contact stated that other electrical issues occurred intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 71,800.
NHTSA complaint #11756571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the Headlight System Malfunction, Pre-collision System Malfunction, Road Sign Assist (RSA), and Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The contact stated that the remedy for Special Service Campaign: 26TC03, which addressed an incorrect MAF Sensor reading failure, had been performed two days prior to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The manufacturer was informed of the issues. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle has twice had the same issue where the sunroof drain lines become clogged or dislocated and the water fills the liner in the front driver and passenger seats resulting in flooding in the compartment and mold damage throughout the interior. the mole spore are transmitted throughout the interior. The water damaged the airbags and the electrical harness in the dash of the car resulting in the dashboard electrical system shutting off and restarting spontaneously while driving. The leaks were repairs and the interior replaces in october 2023 and the same incident has recurred in august 2026. The claims adjuster recommends that the entire wiring harness, airbags, and carpets, seats and liners be replaced for health and safety of passengers.
NHTSA complaint #11755337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
2024 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited : issues with vehicle detection but not limited to the Blind Spot Monitoring System (BSM) . Complaint includes problems with the vehicle's sensors and electronic control units (ECUs), which is leading to difficulties in detecting other vehicles on the road and posses ongoing safety concerns about the reliability of my vehicle's safety features, particularly when driving my car on freeways and surface streets. Sensor Malfunctions: I continue to have malfunctions with the sensors that are supposed to detect nearby vehicles. I have taken my vehicle into Wilsonville Toyota’s Service Center in [XXX] twice, once in XXX and again in XXX after having at least two near collisions due to the fact that my car did not detect an approaching vehicle. On one occasion my friend ([XXX]) was in my car with me when we almost hit another car when changing lanes on the freeway because my car DID NOT DETECT a vehicle in the lane I was attempting to change. I feel unsafe due to the inconsistent performance of my BSM System Malfunction. I have visited my Toyota dealer for diagnostics and potential software updates but have been told repeatedly that if they, Wilsonville Toyota Service Center (WTSS) cannot reproduce the issue then it does NOT exisit. However, after having and picking up my vehicle from the repair shop at WVTS on XXX I spoke with the acting Assistant Service Manager, Kevin, who stated to me me that if it happens again to return and he will go for a test drive with me to see if I could reproduce the situation so that he could see it and make documentation of it so that it will then be “a thing”. Well I did just that on XXX when my husband , [XXX] , and I returned to WVTS and took Kevin for a test drive where Kevin experienced my exact concerns with the BSM’s Malfunction on more than 4 times on our short test drive. Upon our return from the test drive Kevin immediately offered me a free loaner. BSM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B
NHTSA complaint #11754306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2017 Toyota Rav4. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 110,000 and at the time of a Carfax check, it was discovered that the mileage was 300,000.
NHTSA complaint #11754062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Display of RAV4 Hybrid is malfunctioning as it randomly turns on and off at frequent intervals, the screen turns on an off in a similar manner, the display controls are not operative even if displayed. This occurred right after the Dealer (355 Toyota of Rockville, [XXX] ) conducted a recall procedure on a wire harness. Immediately after these repairs, it was noticed that the display started to malfunction. It has never malfunctioned before. I went back to the Dealership and the manager said that the display problem was unrelated to the recall maintenance. So I am reporting it here. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11753863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Drove home vehicle under 20,000 miles 2025, got to drove way parked and car stalled shaking amd stated steering power low, and shut off. Tried to re start it and did the same thing stalled shook amd shut off with the same warning. No previous issues
NHTSA complaint #11753616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toyota addresses a front transfer case issue (groan/buzzing noise) on certain 2019–2020 RAV4 AWD vehicles (specifically Adventure and Limited grades) through a Voluntary Emissions Recall / Customer Support Program (No. 20TE03) o
NHTSA complaint #11750703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM / TELEMATICS (DCM)The vehicle suffers from a documented manufacturing defect involving the Data Communication Module (DCM/Telematics system, Calibration N01D14B4644). The module enters an infinite transmission loop when the vehicle is turned off, causing a severe parasitic battery drain that repeatedly drops the 12V auxiliary battery below operational voltage.This creates a severe safety hazard, causing total electrical failure and leaving the driver unexpectedly stranded without warning, presenting an immediate safety risk in extreme weather or unsafe locations.An official Toyota Techstream diagnostic scan on 07/08/2026 confirmed 7 active DTC faults in the telematics system. Authorized dealerships are refusing to perform the mandatory firmware updates outlined in manufacturer service bulletins (T-SB-0089-21), opting instead to clear error logs temporarily without repairing the underlying defect. The manufacturer has failed to issue a safety recall despite widespread knowledge of this safety defect.
NHTSA complaint #11749469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at 46 MPH in heavy rain, a warning message indicating that the pre-collision sensor was blocked and needed to be cleared, was displayed temporarily, and the contact continued driving. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly lost motive power shortly after, and the message "Steering power is low; please contact dealer" was displayed. The vehicle stalled and failed to restart.The following day, the contact's husband successfully restarted the vehicle, but the vehicle immediately stalled again, displaying a "Pre-collision malfunction; please call dealer" message. A local dealer was contacted, and the contact spoke with a receptionist regarding the battery, but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,829.
NHTSA complaint #11748756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While I am driving my Toyota RAV4, the car will suddenly shut off and I can restart it and keep driving as the month is going on. The incidents are happening more often and now the dashboard is going black. I’ve had a couple of warning signs on the dashboard. I brought the car to Toyota and Pep Boys. Both of them checked the electrical systems and everything looks good according to their testing.
NHTSA complaint #11748370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle was traveling straight approximately 70–80 mph in very light drizzle. No warning lights or messages before the event. Vehicle suddenly entered an uncontrolled spin multiple times. During the spin, I heard a grinding noise. After stopping, brake/parking brake system warnings appeared on the dash, video after the event recorded.
NHTSA complaint #11748288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The front camera is known to overheat in weather that exceeds 70°F. Which disables the AEB, Cruise Control, Lane Keep, Automatic Headlights, and Automatic Wipers.
NHTSA complaint #11747538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the radio was inoperable. The contact stated that the gauges failed to properly operate. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. Additionally, the rearview camera image was reversed before becoming inoperable. The ABS, AWD, and engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and an undisclosed fuse was replaced. The mechanic made the contact aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V144000 (Steering). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and scheduled an appointment with the dealer for the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.
NHTSA complaint #11746428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.