2018 TOYOTA RAV4

3 recalls, 439 complaints - 192 TSBs - 5/5 safety rating

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Defect Description

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

Consequence

A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in ... Read more

1,853,568 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Defect Description

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement... Read more

Consequence

An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.

1,325 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Defect Description

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles... Read more

Consequence

An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.

649 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Complaint Statistics

439 total complaints 52 crashes 26 fires 22 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	58
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	56
POWER TRAIN	37
ENGINE	37
SERVICE BRAKES	29
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	24
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	22
STEERING	18
AIR BAGS	18
VISIBILITY/WIPER	17

Incident date: Jul 10, 2026

The hands free feature over the cars microphone/stereo is unusable; leaving vehicle owners frustrated, and more likely to operate cellphones outside of standard hands free practices. I have been on numerous phone calls where people have told me that they were unable to hardly hear a thing I was sa... Read more

Incident date: Jun 19, 2026

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 Bo... Read more

Incident date: Jun 19, 2026

Incident date: Jun 12, 2025

My lift tailgate is malfunctioning. Continued forced opening can cause the hinges to crack and messes with the alignment and closing of the tail gate making it a safety issue.

Incident date: Jun 21, 2026

We were part of a 4 car collision on the freeway. A Ford Expedition that was slammed into then slammed into our RAV. The airbags never deployed and an error code came up saying fail for airbags.

Crash

Incident date: May 1, 2025

The instrument cluster panel goes black and stays blacked out for driving from startup to shutdown. This does not occur consistently, but it occurs often and unpredictably and is occurring more and more often. Attempted to have dealership fix and they want to replace the instrument cluster panel. ... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2026

The vehicle started to have failing sensors all of a sudden. I tried a new battery but the codes returned. all ADAS systems tied to the camera module all went out. I had 5-7 warning lights for all driving functions. additionally the seat belt buckle is not always clicking in properly. the belt a... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2026

Incident date: Apr 16, 2026

Purchased this car straight out for 4000 from deans car lot in Winchester ky over a week ago. They didn't tell me I had missing fog lights. Keyfob to far was so beat up and bent I could barely get in my car or lock my car not to mention they sent me home in that car with all 4 different brand tires ... Read more

Incident date: Mar 4, 2026

The affected component appears to be the rear seat / seat track recall system. I took my Toyota vehicle to the dealership / repair center in approximately October 2025 for recall-related repair, and the vehicle was then kept there for months. During that time, I was deprived of the use of the vehicl... Read more

Incident date: Mar 4, 2026

See attached document for complaint.

Crash

Incident date: Oct 27, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Escape. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V123000 (Back Over Prevention) and 26V117000 (Visibility); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was blurry while in re... Read more

Incident date: Jan 18, 2026

The ICCU failed which was part of the recall. Kia is unwilling to honor repairs beyond the 100,000 mile warranty which is unacceptable because there is still no resolution and it is subject to potential future failure. I need an extended warranty.

Incident date: Mar 1, 2026

On Sunday, March 15,2026, I was driving from Houston, TX to Pharr, TX at the speed of 75mph on the left lane to pass an 18 wheeler, with another 18 wheeler behind me, and my truck started idling erratically. I lost speed and my service engine light came on. My truck slowed down and I almost got in a... Read more

Incident date: Mar 4, 2026

The instrument cluster became blank suddenly and no longer displays any speed, mileage, temperature or any essential information. It is currently available for inspection. This is a safety issue as I don’t have any speedometer reading or any important vehicle information. This issue occurred witho... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while using the key fob to unlock the vehicle, the vehicle failed to open unless the key fob was nearby the front driver's side exterior door lock button. The contact stated that while idling, the steering wheel locked up on one occasion,... Read more

Incident date: Jan 6, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Quest. The contact stated that while at a red light, once the light turned green, the contact had to depress the accelerator pedal several times, and 5 seconds afterward,s the vehicle accelerated. No warning lights were illuminated; however, the "Low Coolant" message w... Read more

Incident date: Nov 20, 2025

Normal driving to work. Airbag light came on. Notification on Ford app about front air bag system not working correctly. Contact Ford for service. Contacted Denooyer Ford for service that was recommended. Same dealership I purchased the truck from. Service was able to schedule me within a week bu... Read more

Incident date: Nov 20, 2025

Incident date: Oct 1, 2024

On [XXX], I rented a Class C motorhome from Cruise America at their Duluth, Georgia branch (Reservation #[XXX]). When I picked up the vehicle, the Cruise America employee pointed to a handwritten note taped over the tire pressure warning light on the dashboard that said: “ignore tire sensor.” Th... Read more

Incident date: Nov 9, 2025

On [XXX], my 2022 Volkswagen I.D. 4 burst into flames and exploded while it was parked in my apartment complex parking structure ([XXX] ). My car was completely engulfed in flames, nearby cars as well as the parking structure experienced heat damage. My life and others were put in danger because eve... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Oct 21, 2025

The passenger airbag light in my 2018 Subaru Forester intermittently turns off and on, even when the seat is occupied. The vehicle has never been in a crash, and the airbags have not deployed. This issue raises serious safety concerns, especially since it may prevent the airbag from deploying in an ... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 2025

To preface: All of these issues only occur when the engine idle feature is on. I have not experienced any of these problems when the feature is off. Question #1: When I release the brake with the engine idle on, the vehicle will sometimes completely shut off. When this happens, the steering wheel a... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 2024

The auto stop/start idle function does not re-engage after stopping the engine. This has happened at least 4 times in the last 3weeks with my vehicle. When stopped in traffic or at a light and stop sign the engine idle engages and stops running the engine, when releasing the brake pedal the engine ... Read more

Incident date: Sep 1, 2025

I received notice of the recall for front passenger seat airbag sensors in Dec 2023, with assurances that it would be fixed by a certain quarter, which kept getting pushed out for almost 2 years now. I haven't received any further updates in the mail or email and had to call the dealer and Toyota di... Read more

Incident date: Jun 24, 2025

The contact owns a 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid. The contact stated that while parking in her residence parking lot, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to function as intended. An abnormal rev sound could be heard coming from the engine when the vehicle accelerated independently. The vehicle jumped ... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 3, 2025

when driving the steering gets stuck and have to abruptly jerk the steering wheel to get it unstuck, this is related to Recall Number23V-704 and Honda is refusing to replace the steering rack and pinnion as resomended by my local honda dealer.

Incident date: Sep 2, 2025

I was driving about 15 mph in my neighborhood when my passenger side mirror exploded and flew onto my passenger side door/window. It hit so hard that it left a scratch on the window and on the paint.

Incident date: Sep 2, 2025

I was driving about 15 mph in my neighborhood when my passenger side mirror exploded and flew onto my passenger side door/window. It hit so hard that it left a scratch on the window and on the paint.

Incident date: Aug 31, 2025

This stalling issue has occurred three times so far, most recently on [XXX], while exiting [XXX] . Each time, the stall happens when I attempt to accelerate after coming to a complete stop in traffic, at a light, or at a stop sign. When it occurs, the vehicle will not move forward, and multiple rapi... Read more

Incident date: Jul 20, 2025

On Dec. 17, 2023, shortly after 12:00 p.m.,I was driving my Toyota Venza on the highway under normal when the STEERING KNUCKLE suddenly fractured. This unexpected failure caused the vehicle to lose steering control, leading to a serious traffic accident. I inspected that part and found that the STE... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Aug 13, 2023

F150 had a sudden complete transmission failure on the highway, rendering it unable to move. I was lucky to make it off the road safely. 10r80 transmission has known defects. $11,000 to repair.

Incident date: Jul 29, 2025

All the dash light are on, warning signs flash, steering get heavy, Speedo not working, Signal indicator not working on dash. Not safe. Dealer drove the car and checked everything, could not get the car to do it again. I picked the car up and within 13 miles the dash was lit up like a Christmas tr... Read more

Incident date: Jul 10, 2025

The first incident started on 08/16/2024, 2 days after buying the vehicle used from Dealership. I started getting notifications stating "Service-Front Camera not available" and sure enough, I no longer had a front camera, which then means I no longer have front collision alerts. Then I started getti... Read more

Incident date: Jul 17, 2025

Drivers rear shock rusted off the wheel well causing wheel to snap and metal frame to hit the ground while I was traveling 40 mph. At this time the other wheels locked up and started squealing causing loss of control of vehicle shooting me across lanes and hitting curbs on both sides. This was hear... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Jul 9, 2025

Driving down interstate going 78mph in hybrid mode and the car shuts off and I was able to get over to the side of the road since traffic wasn't bad at the time. Restarted the car and went on my way with no other issues until last week. Driving down the interstate again in hybrid mode and the "ser... Read more

Incident date: Mar 24, 2025

The turn signal does not reset. Which there is a recall for already. I have complained about this issue before the recall to Ram and now there is a recall. But on may 8, 2025 the dealership stated they could not recreate the issue so they closed the recall. Now on June 17, 2025, I brought my car in... Read more

Incident date: Jun 13, 2025

We recently bought the dodge truck from a dealer in Puyallup Washington and noticed it was hard to steer and pulling to the left and right when Turning. It was a hard pull ! Now we can't even drive the truck at all its hard to steer and there's a red light at the bottom of the cluster with a red cir... Read more

Incident date: Mar 15, 2025

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the front passenger's side and driver's side windshield exterior A-Pillar trims had detac... Read more

Incident date: May 25, 2025

Head lights very dem and I have replaced with new and still can not see far with lights on

Incident date: May 25, 2025

Service Bulletin SI B11 09 17 Same issue with my car, 2017 BMW 750i xDrive. Drivetrain malfunction issues identical to SB noted. My car has a manufactured date 07/2016, one month after SB dates covered, yet same part numbers are used in this month as well. Not fair that other vehicle owners with sa... Read more

Incident date: Jun 7, 2023

hola buenas tardes escribo estas lineas por aqui por que me siento indignado realize una compra de esta camioneta cash en 90 mil dolares 0KM y aun no tengo un año usandola y la he tenido que llevar al talle unas 10 oacaciones por problemas diferentes y el consercionario santo domingo motors no me d... Read more

Incident date: May 17, 2025

Forward collision warning and adaption cruise fail on every drive over 20 to 50 miles. This has been occurring since new. Three trips back to dealer have failed to correct. A visit to a second dealer who stated it is a common problem without a current fix.

Incident date: May 15, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving 35-45 MPH, the vehicle shut off unexpectedly. There was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate while driving. There were no warning lights... Read more

Incident date: Jan 12, 2025

Transmission or engine has a lag, or dead spot from a complete stop to acceleration, such as leaving a stop light. At times barely noticable, other times it seems the engine is going to die. Dangerous when pulling onto a busy street from a side street. Dealership says "unable to replicate" which is ... Read more

Incident date: May 10, 2025

Sticky steering when on center. Cannot make minor steering adjustments without overcorrecting left or right. This is an ongoing issue for the past few years.

Incident date: May 10, 2025

After completing a 200-mile highway drive with my family in the vehicle, I performed a routine visual inspection of the undercarriage. During this inspection, I immediately noticed that one of the front coil springs appeared to be off-center in relation to the shock assembly. Upon closer examination... Read more

Incident date: May 10, 2025

Car has had multiple issues with brakes where it shudders on brick roads. There have been two incidents on brick roads where the car won’t brake and has slid into oncoming traffic. Hyundai is aware of the issue but, has no fix for it. They say it is safe however, definitely not safe when sliding i... Read more

Incident date: Apr 7, 2025

Truck was fine and then went to pull out in traffic and it would not shift past 3rd gear, was dangerous because traffic was moving quickly and no lights appeared on the dash but the transmission just stopped shifting past 3rd. Had to limp it back off the road which was scary because people were trav... Read more

Showing 50 of 439 complaints.

NHTSA Safety Ratings, 2018 TOYOTA RAV4

2018 Toyota Rav4 SUV FWD

Category	Rating
Overall Rating	5 / 5 ★★★★★
Frontal Crash	4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Frontal Crash, Driver	4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Frontal Crash, Passenger	4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Side Crash	5 / 5 ★★★★★
Side Crash, Driver	5 / 5 ★★★★★
Side Crash, Passenger	5 / 5 ★★★★★
Rollover	4 / 5 ★★★★☆
Rollover Risk	17.4%

Safety Technology

Feature	Status
Electronic Stability Control	Standard
Forward Collision Warning	Standard
Lane Departure Warning	Standard

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings Program. Ratings are based on crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

EPA Fuel Economy, 2018 TOYOTA RAV4

Trim / Engine	City MPG	Highway MPG	Combined MPG	Fuel Type	Annual Fuel Cost
2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6) (Front-Wheel Drive)	23.0	29.0	25.0	Regular	$2,500

CO2 Emissions: 349.0 g/mile (Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins, 2018 TOYOTA RAV4

192 manufacturer communications from 108 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
350000 EQUIPMENT	41
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL	28
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	23
353000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL	7
111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY	7
060000 ENGINE (PWS)	6
356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY	6
140000 AIR BAGS	4

060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024. These products are ordered through the Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) website.

061500 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

138500 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REFRIGERANT HOSES AND FITTINGS

TSB: The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. Follow the procedures outlined in this service bulletin to aid in locating, inspecting, and repair

140000 AIR BAGS

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the re

180000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

350000 EQUIPMENT

980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TT: A very small percentage of customers experience operational difficulties with some telematics features which they cannot resolve on their own. These resources, in conjunction with the Repair Manual, are for dealership personnel to assis

346000 COMMUNICATION:MANUFACTURER TELEMATICS

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to

350000 EQUIPMENT

140000 AIR BAGS

TSB: Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The pur

060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TT: Some Model Year 2018-2021 vehicles equipped with A25A-FKS/FXS or M20A-FKS/FXS engines may display the following message ?Engine Maintenance Required Visit Your Dealer? on the combination meter.

061610 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM):SOFTWARE

TT: Some Model Year 2018-2021 vehicles equipped with A25A-FKS/FXS or M20A-FKS/FXS engines may display the following message ?Engine Maintenance Required Visit Your Dealer? on the combination meter.

160000 STRUCTURE

TSB: Some 2010 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard?. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard?. The wrinkles may trap water and

160000 STRUCTURE

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue c

119100 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

030000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions

280000 BACK OVER PREVENTION

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions

111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TT: When customers have a concern about a discharged battery, no start, or general battery concern, the DCA-8000 is the only appropriate tool to use for diagnosis

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DL: During a recent investigation of reported battery fires in 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles with gasoline engines (excluding hybrid models), Toyota discovered that many non-Toyota retailers and others who sell or install replacement batteries we

220000 SEATS

114000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

TSB This Service Bulletin includes guidelines meant to help determine whether to repair or replace a wire harness assembly based on damage type. This Service Bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year El

190000 TIRES

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any custom

200000 WHEELS

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TI: TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY 21TG01 12-VOLT BATTERY SIZE AND INSTALLATION INSPECTION CERTAIN 2013 ? 2018 RAV4

160000 STRUCTURE

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

DD: 21TG01_Dealer_Daily_Message

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RL: During a recent investigation of reported battery fires in 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles with gasoline engines (excluding hybrid models), Toyota discovered that many non-Toyota retailers and others who sell or install replacement batteries we

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TI: TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY 21TG01 12-VOLT BATTERY SIZE AND INSTALLATION INSPECTION CERTAIN 2013 ? 2018 RAV4

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CONSUMER ADVISORY 21TG01 12-VOLT BATTERY SIZE/INSTALLATION CONDITION DISCLOSURE FORM

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

OBSOLETE NOTICE October 15, 2021: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.

353000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth? connectivity concerns such as: ?Difficulty to pair the phone. ?Intermittent Bluetooth? failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ?Various Bluetooth? Audio function

130000 VISIBILITY

TT: When used in conjunction with the Repair Manual, these Blind Spot Monitor, Forward Recognition Camera, and Front Millimeter Wave Radar tips leverage SSTs and readily available tools to support target placement in varying shop environmen

270000 LANE DEPARTURE

357100 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TSB: Some 2006 ? 2022 model year Toyota vehicles in particular geographic areas may exhibit a condition where the HVAC evaporator drain hose has become obstructed with an insect nest. An insect repellent drain hose tip (ARINIX? Tip) is avai

100000 POWER TRAIN

TT: Some 2014-2021 model year vehicles equipped with Dynamic Torque Control AWD system may experience a ?Noise? or ?Abnormal Operation? condition from the rear differential front coupling. In some cases, even an ?AWD System Message? with

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

UPDATES TO THE 2014-2021 TOYOTA UNIVERSAL FLAT RATE MANUAL

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

OBSOLETE NOTICE March 08, 2021: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0012-21.

140000 AIR BAGS

Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

030000 BRAKES (PWS)

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.

280000 BACK OVER PREVENTION

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.

220000 SEATS

TSB: Some 2010 ? 2021 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard?. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard?. The wrinkles may trap water an

111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

DD: On 2/25/2021, NHTSA opened an investigation into certain RAV4 vehicles related to the 12V battery.

111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

DD: On 2/25/2021, NHTSA opened an investigation into certain RAV4 vehicles related to the 12V battery.

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the re

030000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.

030000 BRAKES (PWS)

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.

280000 BACK OVER PREVENTION

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.

062300 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

TT: HVAC drain tube is found to be blocked/clogged.

353000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

TSB: Some 2004 ? 2020 model year Hybrid vehicles may exhibit an excessive buildup of dust, lint, or debris in the HV battery intake filter or cooling fan. The condition could reduce the efficiency of the HV battery cooling system. Perform t

010000 STEERING

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

350000 EQUIPMENT

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

350000 EQUIPMENT

TT: The Toyota Quality group is looking to better understand our customers expectation regarding vehicle drivability. Specifically, we are looking at vehicle surge/hesitation condition (inconsistent acceleration) and would like to recover

060000 ENGINE (PWS)

062200 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

TSB: Some 2003 ? 2020 model year Prius, Prius C, Prius V; 2006 ? 2019 model year Highlander Hybrid Vehicle; 2007 ? 2020 Camry Hybrid Vehicle; 2013 ? 2020 model year Avalon Hybrid Vehicle; 2016 ? 2020 model year Mirai and RAV4 Hybrid Vehic

111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

062200 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

350000 EQUIPMENT

062000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

TT: HVAC drain tube is found to be blocked/clogged.

111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TT: The new DCA-8000 Diagnostic Charger may cause your facility?s Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) breaker to trip. A GFCI breaker can be tripped for various reasons, one of the reasons may be related to the DCA-8000. We are investig

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

060000 ENGINE (PWS)

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TT: This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue ch

130000 VISIBILITY

TT: The blind spot monitor (BSM) sensor angle inspection is used to confirm that the BSM sensor is within the specified angle before performing axis beam adjustment. When used in conjunction with the repair manual, these BSM tips leverage

270000 LANE DEPARTURE

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The a

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0003-19. ?The Introduction and Software Update Information sections have been updated. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0003-19 is obsolete

350000 EQUIPMENT

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE March 10, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0024-20.

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should b

350000 EQUIPMENT

TT: In certain cases of leaking air conditioning systems, the root cause of the leak is inadvertently overlooked, causing a repeat repair. To improve customer satisfaction and repair A/C system leaks in one dealer visit, Toyota has develope

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: REVISION NOTICE November 25, 2019 Rev2: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2019 model year Corolla and Prius C vehicles. ? The faceplate ID applicability table has been updated. October 23, 2019 Rev1: ? The entire bulletin ha

353000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB:REVISION NOTICE October 23, 2019 Rev1: ? The entire bulletin has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulleti

010000 STEERING

TT: Some customers may encounter Bluetooth? connectivity concerns such as: ? Difficulty to pair the phone. ? Intermittent Bluetooth? failure to connect to the vehicle when first turning on the vehicle. ? Various Bluetooth? Audio functions a

030000 BRAKES (PWS)

TSB: REVISION NOTICE September 26, 2019 Rev1: ? The Warranty Information, Parts Information, and Repair Procedure sections have been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Some 2009 ? 2018 model year RA

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TT: Some customers may experience poor outgoing Bluetooth sound quality, this can occur for various reasons. Current multimedia systems are designed with the ability to adjust Bluetooth sound quality to compensate for echo or excessive back

350000 EQUIPMENT

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TT: Some customers may experience a call failure when attempting to call a conference call number that has been saved in their phonebook (ex: ?8005550122,,,1.,2;;;2#?). This issue is caused by changes to the Bluetooth in the iOS 13 update a

022000 SUSPENSION:REAR

TSB: Some AWD 2014 - 2017 model year Sienna and 2016 - 2018 model year RAV4 customers may experience an abnormal noise from rear coupling unit while driving. This condition can be caused by utilizing an improper towing method when transport

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

350000 EQUIPMENT

357100 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0033-14. ? Applicability has been updated to include 2019 model year Toyota vehicles. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0033-14 is obsolete and

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

200000 WHEELS

TSB: Some 2009 ? 2019 model year Toyota vehicles with super chrome wheel finishes may become discolored and/or damaged when aftermarket cleaners, polishes, or brake dust removal products are used on wheels with super chrome finishes. Wheel

350000 EQUIPMENT

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NHTSA Safety Investigations, TOYOTA RAV4

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2013

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 ope... ning, 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 contain aftermarket batteries or whose age exceeded the expected life of the original equipment battery. ODI identified battery dimensioning as it relates to the battery retention system (hold down bracket, radiator support bolt, J-hook, and battery tray) as the main factor set in the contact between the battery hold down bracket contacting the positive terminal of the 12V battery. The subject vehicles carried over the same battery tray and retention system from the prior generation (MY2006 – MY2012) of RAV4 vehicles. However, the subject vehicles were equipped with a dimensionally smaller battery (Group 35) than the prior generation (Group 24F). The smaller- length measurement in the Group 35 battery size in a battery tray originally designed to fit a Group 24F battery contributed to increased potential for battery movement which was exacerbated by the diversity in aftermarket battery configuration and irregularities intrinsic to battery replacement procedures. Battery movement coupled with the proximity of the B+ terminal on the battery and the grounded electrically conductive hold down bracket set the stage for a short to ground leading to an engine stall (if in operation) followed by a vehicle fire. This investigation was not able to classify the installation status, battery size, or cause of every allegation due to the fire event causing damage to the area, inaccessible vehicle, modification to the battery retention system after the event, and/or inconclusive photographic evidence. Toyota's investigation of the issue identified aftermarket battery catalogs that listed an improper battery replacement size (Group 26R) that would nevertheless fit into the subject vehicles whose battery retention system is incapable of reliably restraining a Group 26R battery. On 18 November 2021, Toyota initiated a consumer advisory campaign (21TG01) to the subject vehicle owners, notifying them of the correct size battery and offering a free inspection of the battery and retention hardware, a caution label to affix to the hold down bracket, and a discounted replacement 12V battery. This investigation with Toyota established three broad categories to characterize the battery retention system state of a given vehicle: "correct", "minor mis-installation", and "major mis-installation". - The "correct" terminology references the front bolt, bracket, and J-hook installed in a position not in contact with the positive battery terminal and the front bolt torqued to 17 Nm and the J-hook engaged with the tray hole and torqued to 4.9 Nm. - A "minor mis-installation" would describe the three retention components installed in the prescribed location, however not to the correct torque values. - The "major mis-installation" condition would constitute a retention component missing or disconnected from the system. Toyota's own testing used five exemplar batteries installed on a subject vehicle in each battery categorization resulted in: - Contact between the B+ terminal and hold down bracket in "major mis-installations" - Movement of the battery in "minor mis-installations" - No observable motion in "correct" installations. ODI conducted its own evaluation of the Toyota- specified replacement battery and 5 aftermarket Group 35 batteries. The six batteries tested conformed to the Group 35 Battery Council International (BCI) standard on overall dimensional tolerance and terminal location. That standard does not define the edge shape or material of battery casing. Physical interaction between the hold down bracket and the battery case and the friction between the casing material and the battery tray resulted in a large variability in movement forces required to incite movement when the battery was installed in the "correct" condition. Resulting in movement at an induced lateral load between 0.6 G and 1.91 G equivalent force across each battery. This force is higher than a typical vehicle could exert in a steady state turn and would only experience loads through brief shock or impulses. Multiple shock or impulse loads across time would contribute to a delay between the replacement battery installation and the fire event. Likelihood of a fire event increases as the installation method degraded from the "correct", to "minor mis-installation", and then to "major mis-installation". Protruding vent caps atop some of the batteries tested aided in restricting battery movement relative to the hold down. An absence of vent caps permitted additional movement. Following several discussions and vehicle inspections with ODI during this investigation, on 01 November 2023, Toyota filed a safety recall (NHTSA 23V-734) of 1,853,568 MY 2013 through MY 2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles to reduce the risk of a vehicle fire with redesigned battery retention components. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2006

Rear Suspension Arm Assembly Failure

In a letter dated August 1, 2012 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (Toyota) submitted a Defect Information Report (NHTSA Recall No. 12V-373) to the NHTSA identifying a safety defect regarding possible separation of the Rear Suspension Arm No. 1 Assembly (arm) at the thread... ed portion (shaft and turn buckle) of the component in MY 2006 through MY 2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles built from October 2005 through September 2010 and in MY 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured from July 2009 through August 2010.According to Toyota, if the adjustment nuts for the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened when alignment is performed in service, backlash may develop at the threaded portion of the arm, followed by rust formation.The threads may then wear causing the arm to separate, which may result in a loss of vehicle control.In analysis of both Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) data submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and consumer complaint data submitted to Toyota, ODI identified 131 non-duplicative reports alleging failure of the subject rear suspension arm (Note:some of the complaints and related service records refer to the arm as a rear tie rod).Six of the complainants allege the failure resulted in some loss of vehicle control.For purposes of this analysis, loss of control events involve alleged complete or partial departure from the intended lane of travel.An additional four complaints reported difficulty maintaining control of the vehicle when the arm failed.Recalled vehicles will be inspected for proper torque of the adjustment nuts and replaced as necessary.In addition, Toyota will take several actions to reduce the potential for improper torque in future alignment procedures.This includes:(1) providing proper tightening sequence and torque specification information to two major wheel alignment equipment manufacturers, who would disseminate the information to alignment shops using their equipment; (2) installation of a clip on each arm with an instructional label showing proper tightening sequence and torque specification (the clip must be removed to perform a wheel alignment); (3) installation of additional labels on the front and back vertical surfaces of the Rear Suspension Arm No. 2 assemblies; and (4) providing an instruction booklet to owners to place in the glove box.This investigation is closed.Read more

TOYOTA RAV4 - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the TOYOTA RAV4 across all model years (1996, 2025).

149 Total Recalls

12,082 Total Complaints

2 Investigations

1,060 Reported Crashes

359 Reported Fires

11 Reported Deaths

TOYOTA RAV4 - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2025	3	104	View
2024	3	251	View
2023	3	247	View
2022	1	209	View
2021	1	506	View
2020	6	795	View
2019	7	1,172	View
2018 (current)	3	439
2017	3	408	View
2016	3	291	View
2015	4	399	View
2014	4	275	View
2013	2	330	View
2012	5	357	View
2011	11	402	View
2010	14	498	View
2009	15	397	View
2008	14	708	View
2007	14	1,240	View
2006	11	880	View
2005	5	168	View
2004	2	182	View
2003	0	392	View
2002	0	682	View
2001	0	418	View
2000	3	34	View
1999	5	75	View
1998	5	92	View
1997	1	61	View
1996	1	54	View
1995	0	1	View
1994	0	4	View

Other TOYOTA Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
TUNDRA	787	9,074	View
HIGHLANDER	677	6,756	View
CROWN	548	141	View
TACOMA	406	10,562	View
VENZA	404	969	View
GRAND HIGHLANDER	388	332	View
PRIUS	365	15,456	View
HIGHLANDER HYBRID	355	1,103	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

2018 TOYOTA RAV4

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

NHTSA Safety Ratings, 2018 TOYOTA RAV4

Safety Technology

EPA Fuel Economy, 2018 TOYOTA RAV4

Technical Service Bulletins, 2018 TOYOTA RAV4

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, TOYOTA RAV4

TOYOTA RAV4 - All Years Overview

TOYOTA RAV4 - Year by Year

Other TOYOTA Models