Toyota RAV4 Complaints

921 consumer complaints on file.

#11680638August 14, 2025
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
The outer rear-view mirrors on my 2021 Toyota RAV4 vibrate all times, and excessively at highway speeds (approximately 50–70 mph), creating a shaky and distorted image of surrounding vehicles. This failure of the mirror mounting system makes it difficult to accurately judge the position and speed of other cars when changing lanes, merging, or reacting to traffic. The mirrors remain installed on my vehicle and are available for inspection. This issue poses a serious safety hazard. Because the mirrors do not provide a stable, undistorted view, my ability to monitor blind spots and adjacent lanes is compromised, putting myself, my passengers, and others on the road at increased risk of collision. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by Toyota through Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0079-20, which instructs dealers to install longer mounting studs, reinforcement brackets, and bonding adhesive to correct the defect. Toyota currently limits the repair to vehicles under the 3-year/36,000-mile warranty, leaving many unsafe vehicles unrepaired. I recently purchased the vehicle outside the warranty coverage. There were no dashboard warning lights or system messages to indicate the defect. The only symptom is the visible vibration of the mirrors, which first appeared shortly after purchase and persists across normal driving conditions. Because the defect directly impacts driver visibility and compliance with FMVSS 111, I believe this should be escalated from a Technical Service Bulletin to a mandatory safety recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680407August 13, 2025
SEATS
The seat stops moving forward and back on one side. This issue is caused by a gear that is prone to breaking in models 2019-2024 on the RAV4. As a result, you can't move your seat forward or backward, and it could get stuck. This is a risk because people need to be able to adjust the car seat to fit inside the car properly. If the seat becomes stuck or wedged in the wrong position, it could cause the airbags to deploy incorrectly for the person sitting in the seat. This issue can affect drivers. There is an entire Reddit thread dedicated to it, and even a third-party seller of replacement gears, because Toyota's repair cost exceeds $2000, as you have to buy an entire new rail system instead of a single gear. I took it to the dealership and got a quote for the repair. There was no error message, and it just stopped one day after my wife moved the seat up; it would no longer go back. I'm not sure what caused this, but it seems like a significant issue that the driver's side seat can't be adjusted.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679709August 10, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Broken Accelerator Pedal – 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Vehicle Information: •Year/Make/Model: 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid •Mileage at Incident: [53000] Incident Date: [August 10, 2025] Description of the Problem: While driving my 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the physical accelerator pedal broke under normal driving conditions. The pedal construction is extremely flimsy and failed suddenly, rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate. If this failure had occurred during a high-speed maneuver, while merging into traffic, or while avoiding an obstacle, it could have caused a serious collision. I was fortunate that traffic conditions allowed me to safely pull over. There are no recalls or technical service bulletins publicly listed for this issue, yet this is a critical safety defect. A broken gas pedal can result in complete loss of acceleration control, which could cause injury or death. Steps Taken: •Stopped driving the vehicle immediately. •Documented the defect with photos. •Contacted Toyota and my local dealership for inspection. •Reporting this defect to NHTSA so it can be investigated and tracked. Safety Risk: Loss of accelerator function can cause sudden loss of power in traffic, preventing safe maneuvering and significantly increasing the risk of an accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11678808August 6, 2025
TIRES
Tire size 225/65R17 On [XXX] the front tire on the passenger side blew out on [XXX] just west of the exit to [XXX] as I was driving from Warren MI to Horseheads NY. I was able to safely steer off the highway to the shoulder. A man stopped to help, he put the donut on the car and put the blown out tire in the cargo space. I have the tire in my garage. I drove off the highway a few miles to the exit for Hornell NY and called Williams Toyota in Elmira NY, they had a replacement tire in stock but couldn’t fit me into their service schedule until July 15, 2025. I had to extend my stay in Horseheads by 2 nights so in addition to the cost of mounting and balancing the new tire I had to pay for 2 extra nights at the hotel where I was staying. I bought my RAV4 from Golling Toyota in Warren MI in February of 2024, it had 9843 miles on it, the tire was original equipment, and I have had the tires rotated as required by the maintenance schedule. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677533July 31, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, SEAT BELTS, STEERING
Brakes failed to respond wheels locked and steering shut down
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11677289July 30, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
The hood of the vehicle vibrates excessively, especially at high speeds. I have reported this issue since the day of purchase and have taken the vehicle to the dealership four times without a resolution. This situation poses a significant safety risk to me and my family, as I believe the hood could open and cause a serious accident. I request an official inspection and resolution regarding this matter. Please advise on how to proceed with a possible warranty claim or further investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677065July 29, 2025
ENGINE
Vehicle has stopped in the middle of the road 3 times so far each time I’m getting a message: Engine stopped Steering Power low
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676733July 28, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676482July 27, 2025
TIRES
I was driving on the Highway at 70 mph and the rear passenger tire blew out. Thank God I was able to stopped the car safely and no one was injured. It was a scary moment and it is still is.My safety and other was at risk It is a brand new car with only 4397 miles. I took the car to the dealership and they replaced the tire. They found NO indications of a puncture or road hazard. Tire split at the shoulder and sidewall. Tire description Dunlop Grantrek 225/60 R 18
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675500July 22, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle's radio/ GPS navigation system shuts off and on and it is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because while in the middle of driving on a one-way street the radio/ GPS navigation system shut off in the middle of my trip and I was unaware of if I was going down the correct street because the navigation system completely shut off. I had almost crashed into another vehicle because the radio/GPS navigation system cut off in the middle of my turn so I was unaware of where I was supposed to be driving at the moment. The vehicle has been inspected by Toyota but has not fixed yet. There were no warning lamps but the radio/GPS navigation system did shut off a few times prior to this incident but it never occurred in a situation where I was in a time where I needed the GPS and feared for my life and the lives of others.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675480July 22, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Rear passenger door drain is not clearing water and is building up in door frame. Have to pull back bottom of door trim to get the water to clear
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675440July 22, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674778July 19, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I purchased a brand-new 2024 Toyota RAV4 on November 18, 2023. Since early ownership, the Apple CarPlay/Bluetooth system has been defective. The system repeatedly disconnects, powercycles, and will not reconnect unless I pull over and restart the car, creating a serious safety hazard when I rely on navigation and hands-free features. I have taken my car to the dealership six times under warranty, leaving it for full days, providing photos, videos, and documentation (dates, times, temperatures) as requested. Toyota’s technical representative confirmed in 2023 that this is a known wiring issue affecting the radio WiFi/bluetooth system and said I “just have to wait for an update.” Toyota has admitted the defect but refuses to replace the radio, rewire the vehicle, or provide a 2025 model (which has the updated system). I was told multiple times the delay is due to “FCC approval for the software update,” which is misleading — only hardware needs FCC approval. Toyota’s Bend representative assured me my warranty will apply once the update arrives, but with 10,000 miles left, there is still no fix. This issue is widespread and a clear safety concern because drivers cannot reliably use navigation or hands-free features, forcing unsafe phone use or emergency stops. Toyota is not taking ownership, and this should fall under Lemon Law protections. I request NHTSA investigate this defect in 2024 RAV4s, as the 2025 models already have the corrected hardware/software, leaving earlier owners with unresolved, unsafe systems.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674342July 17, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The issue is with the moonroof, which is part of the panoramic roof on the 2023 RAV4 hybrid driving down the freeway at highway speeds. The moon roof shattered. It sounded like a shotgun and it seemed to have broken and upward direction versus downward. There were no rocks from cars noticed in any vehicles in front of me to which could have caused this issue. If you’re looking at the photos all around the edge, there seems to be a seam on all four sides of the Glass giving away along with the hole protruding up.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674249July 17, 2025
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
The side mirrors shake heavily especially on highways. It puts my safety at risk and others as I am unable to properly focus on the road ahead of me when I am trying to clearly see if there are cars behind me while I am changing lanes. It causes me to take extra time looking at the mirror that I shouldn't have to in order to change lanes safely. This is a known issue and a Technical Service Bulletin has been created for it, but it requires a payment of over $1,000 to fix when this is an issue caused by the maker of the vehicle. It has been inspected by the maker at a dealership and was agreed that the issue I am facing aligns with the TSB. There were no warnings, as it has been noticed to have gotten worse in the last couple of months.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674020July 16, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
1.) The component/system that failed/malfunctioned is the brakes and/or anti-lock braking system. 2.) My safety and that of the people in front of the vehicle is placed at risk because the vehicle's braking system fails, allowing the vehicle to surge forward for a split second, temporarily out of control. 3.) While the problem has occurred many times with various drivers, the Toyota service technician said they were unable to reproduce the issue. However, with the information (date/time) I have provided, they confirmed the computer indicates the ABS system was triggered each time. 4.) The vehicle has been inspected by the Toyota service center representatives. 5.) There were no warnings, messages or other symptoms prior to the brakes failing. The problem is the braking ability is failing for a split second, when the car hits a bump. The size of the bump can be as small as the crack in the asphalt where two roads meet. The problem occurs when I am driving at slow speeds and riding the brake because I am in a situation like being in slow-moving bumper-to-bumper traffic, approaching an intersection requiring a stop, or coasting down hill. On numerous occasions, the brakes release, allowing the car to surge forward for a split second, before re-engaging. Toyota has told me it is the ABS working as intended. To be clear, the braking failure is happening at slow speeds and on dry pavement. This is not how ABS normally works. I have driven numerous makes and models of cars for 40 years and I have never experienced this type of situation triggering an ABS system. I report this to Toyota each time I bring my car in for regular maintenance. During the last visit, my regular service technician told me that they have now seen at least 5 or 6 other cars doing what I have described above. I don't have a specific date of the incidence because it happens frequently and has done so since I bought the car (10/01/23), so below, I am just listing the last time I reported it to Toyota.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673203July 13, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Small stone hit front windshield exactly in middle where window wiper sensor attaches and windshield split down the middle in two. Something is defective with these windshields. This is NOT normal to completely split like this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672851July 11, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Car is one year old, 13k miles and is having transmission issues, most likely related to e-CVT system. When braking you can hear grinding sounds from under the middle of the car. Acceleration is sluggish going up hills and engine seems to slip or race going down hills. Car is being taken to dealer Tuesday July 15 for diagnostics. No warning lights appeared on dash and no alerts on my mobile app. Internet search shows other RAV4 AWD Hybrids are experiencing the same issues.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672523July 10, 2025
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000(Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. An unknown dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the recall parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11672368July 9, 2025
ENGINE, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Coolant bypass valve problem with several rav4s. My car is unusable and I need it to work.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Toyota RAV4