Toyota RAV4 Complaints (2019)

906 consumer complaints on file.

#11689059September 23, 2025
POWER TRAIN
Engine stopped power steering low, notification. When in Reverse. Car shuts off and I coast backwards. Have to put it in park and then restart the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11688850September 22, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Cooling System over Temperature. Message kept displaying and check engine lit up again since the first service was done by Tech at the dealership on July 15, 2025.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11688687September 21, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Got a "Hybrid System Malfunction" notification on my dash and took it to the dealer. I was notified that my high voltage hybrid cable is corroded, and that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. I understand that customer support program 22TE09 exists for this problem, but because my vehicle has over 100,000 miles, it is not covered. If this is a safety issue that Toyota has acknowledged and admitted is an issue, there should be a complete recall. I was FORCED to get the work done at a dealer because Toyota has a hold on the part. I attempted to get an independent garage to do the work, but they were not authorized to even purchase the parts necessary. Ultimately I had no choice but to spend almost $5000 for a safety repair on a 2019 vehicle that Toyota themselves have admitted to the engineering mistake, while also making it impossible to fix outside of a dealer. This is completely unacceptable. Thank you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11688332September 19, 2025
ENGINE
Got brand new transmission put in then right after the Coolant leak started into cylinder number 2
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687628September 16, 2025
POWER TRAIN
I’m reporting a safety issue with my 2019 Toyota RAV4 that has recently started and is getting worse. The problem seems related to the start-stop system or something in the powertrain. When I come to a stop—at a stop sign, red light, or roundabout—the car doesn’t always respond normally when I try to start moving again. Sometimes there’s a hesitation, and other times it lurches forward unexpectedly when I lightly press the gas pedal, like you normally would. It feels like a jolt, almost like whiplash. It’s especially dangerous in roundabouts or tight traffic situations because I can’t predict how the car will respond. I’m worried I could accidentally hit another car, or get rear-ended myself because the car doesn’t move smoothly or reliably when restarting from a stop. Even when I turn off the start-stop system, the issue still happens. It feels like a hesitation followed by a sudden surge. The RPMs don’t change, but the car still lurches. Yesterday, for the first time, I noticed the car slightly accelerated on its own after stopping, which was very concerning. I found out through Toyota’s official website that there is a technical service bulletin about this issue that came out before we owned the vehicle. But because it’s not a full recall, the dealership said they wouldn’t fix it unless we paid the $80 diagnostic fee. We’re now just out of warranty. We’re making $580 monthly payments on a car that I don’t currently feel is safe to drive. There are no warning lights or messages on the dash. I’ll be taking it to Le Mieux Toyota in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, in two weeks to have it inspected, but I wanted to report this because I believe it’s a safety issue that should be looked into. I have two small kids and I’m genuinely worried about getting into an accident, especially when merging onto highways or driving in busy intersections. I’ve seen people say this system can be recalibrated, but the fact that this is happening without any dashboard warning and is worse.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685506September 6, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
26Aug2025 I notified Maplewood Toyota MN I had not been notified of safety recalls when nhtsa site confirmed 7 safety recalls. I had absolutly no response. Now nhtsa site says there are no unrepaired recalls when Toyota of Maplewood has done No repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680269August 12, 2025
SEAT BELTS
At times it is difficult to connect seat belt into the lock I have to press release multiple times and try to lock in and click seat belt several times. It sometimes connect on first try and has taken 20 minutes to connect seat belt. As of 8/12/25 in for repairs at a cost $430 Driver and left set set belt lock replaced
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11679398August 8, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am reaching out regarding a structural issue I’ve experienced with my 2019 Toyota RAV4, specifically with the rear power liftgate. Recently, I noticed that the liftgate hinges are beginning to crack and pull away from the body of the vehicle. The alignment of the trunk has shifted slightly, and there is visible damage around the hinge area. This appears to be worsening over time and is beginning to affect the liftgate’s ability to close properly and securely.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11678909August 6, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The DCM is nonfunctional, which renders the safety connect features of the car inoperable. Additionally, the Bluetooth microphone is powered by the DCM causing the driver to have to switch the call output on their phone manually taking their focus off the road. This seems to be a widespread issue with many reporting this on online threads and Toyota offering many internal service bulletins. To me this is a major safety concern that is extremely costly to repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677218July 30, 2025
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fluid leaking from the driver’s side rear door. An unknown dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676682July 28, 2025
ENGINE
2019-2023 model year Toyota RAV4s and Toyota Corollas are equipped with defective coolant bypass valves prone to premature failure which can cause coolant to leak out of a vehicle’s closed-loop coolant system, harming its ability to properly regulate engine temperature. This can cause overheating, stalling, increased emissions, and total engine failure and also allows coolant to leak into and damage surrounding engine components, including a vehicle’s electrical system, the complaint relays. The warning message that common appears for this issue is "Engine maintenance required Visit your dealer "
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675668July 23, 2025
ENGINE
The engine maintenance light came on and I took the car to my independent mechanic. The "soft code" indicates that the coolant system valve/hose (engine coolant bypass valve) is showing in the closed position when it should be open. My mechanic has tried to order a replacement part, but is having trouble finding one. After my personal research, I see that there is a Class Action Lawsuit regarding this part from 2024 indicating that it can cause the car to overheat, stall, and potentially severe engine damage. Toyota has no formal recalls on this, but it has been indicated that some owners have received support from Toyota on models built up to 2021.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675381July 22, 2025
POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE:BODY
The roof of my SUV is leaking and it’s leaking into my two airbags. There’s a sunroof and the roof rack
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674925July 21, 2025
Insert, Padding
Was putting the cover back on after washing, putting the lower sitting piece on and the foam headrest just came right off
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674646July 18, 2025
ENGINE
The water pump failed at 49000 miles left me with a repair of $1500 at Kendall Toyota dealership
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674417July 18, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
7/16/2025 Engine Maintenance Required Visit Dealer" message on a 2019 Toyota RAV4 LE came on and will not go off. Upon further research and inspection coolant bypass valve is faulty.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674519July 18, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I am submitting this complaint regarding a recurring issue in the coolant bypass valve of my 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium. Although there was no check engine light, the vehicle displayed a persistent warning: “Engine Maintenance Required – Visit Dealership.” This message repeatedly appears on the instrument cluster and blocks critical driving information, including the speedometer, fuel economy, and other key displays. Even when the driver manually cancels the message, it returns within minutes. This creates a constant distraction and obstructs visibility, which poses a safety risk during driving. I took the vehicle to the dealership, where they diagnosed the issue as an internal short circuit in the coolant bypass valve and retrieved diagnostic trouble code P268115. This code relates to a malfunction in the valve’s electrical control system, which affects the engine’s ability to regulate temperature effectively. Toyota currently offers a Customer Support Program (CSP) for the coolant bypass valve, but only if the valve is leaking coolant. However, my vehicle's failure was due to an electrical defect, and Toyota does not cover this under the same program. This creates an unfair burden on owners and fails to address the full scope of the issue, even though the results—loss of proper cooling function—are the same. Many RAV4 owners have reported similar problems online, but no recall or technical service bulletin has been issued for this kind of failure. I believe this defect raises genuine safety concerns, including: Driver distraction due to persistent warning messages Obstruction of critical dashboard information Potential for engine overheating or reduced performance I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this issue as a potential safety-related defect and determine whether Toyota should be required to expand support or issue a recall for this component, regardless of whether the failure is due to coolant leakage or internal electrical malfunction.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674321July 17, 2025
STEERING
My car steering wheel is not responding correctly when I drive". Last week a warning light of faulty steering angle sensor keeps showing on and off. I am afraid that I may crash. I called Toyota to let them know and after verifying my VIN # they want to charge me $185.00 because according to them my car is not on their recall all the information can also be found on the website.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674099July 16, 2025
ENGINE
Scan Report done ! odometer 25266.Engine coolant bypass valve "A" control circuit failed test. Engine Control Module Code P2681-15. Message: factory service require !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11673814July 15, 2025
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle began displaying intermittent warning messages and slipping into "Mud & Sand" mode without cause. Later, multiple dash lights illuminated, including 4WD malfunction, check engine, and coolant system warnings. The vehicle became undrivable due to overheating. Dealership diagnostics indicated a failure in the coolant bypass valve actuator the electronic water pump was receiving a signal but not responding, resulting in loss of coolant circulation and overheating. There may also be a shorted control panel causing related system failures. This problem has been confirmed by a Toyota dealer, and the vehicle remains at the service center pending resolution. The issue appears related to a known Customer Support Program (CSP 24TE04), which covers the coolant bypass valve actuator. There was no prior accident or abuse of the vehicle, and the vehicle only has 52,000 miles. Safety was compromised due to unexpected power loss and overheating while in motion. The issue has not yet been resolved. The vehicle has also experienced prior water intrusion through the roof rails, which may have contributed to electrical damage.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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