From 2008 to 2024, owners filed 6,216 complaints about the Toyota RAV4 with NHTSA, and the model was covered by 48 recall campaigns.
Toyota RAV4 problems by year
Measured as complaints per year on sale, the 2019 RAV4 stands out with 112 a year, ahead of the 2020 (92) and 2021 (84). The 2014 has the fewest, at 15 a year. Counting complaints per year on sale keeps older model years, which have had longer to collect complaints, comparable with newer ones; it does not adjust for how many of each were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Per year on sale | Top component | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 575 | 30 | Engine | 14 |
| 2009 | 327 | 18 | Vehicle speed control | 15 |
| 2010 | 400 | 23 | Suspension | 14 |
| 2011 | 287 | 18 | Vehicle speed control | 11 |
| 2012 | 260 | 17 | Visibility/wiper | 5 |
| 2013 | 257 | 18 | Electrical system | 2 |
| 2014 | 197 | 15 | Electrical system | 4 |
| 2015 | 305 | 25 | Electrical system | 4 |
| 2016 | 257 | 23 | Electrical system | 3 |
| 2017 | 321 | 32 | Electrical system | 3 |
| 2018 | 348 | 38 | Electrical system | 3 |
| 2019 | 905 | 112 | Fuel/propulsion system | 8 |
| 2020 | 649 | 92 | Engine | 6 |
| 2021 | 510 | 84 | Air bags | 5 |
| 2022 | 176 | 35 | Electrical system | 3 |
| 2023 | 236 | 58 | Electrical system | 3 |
| 2024 | 206 | 67 | Electrical system | 4 |
Most common RAV4 problems
Across all years, owners mention the electrical system, engine and vehicle speed control most often; electrical system complaints peak in the 2018 model year.
| Component | Mentions | Peak year |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1,137 | 2018 |
| Engine | 958 | 2019 |
| Vehicle speed control | 577 | 2009 |
| Air bags | 530 | 2021 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 526 | 2019 |
| Power train | 462 | 2019 |
| Service brakes | 446 | 2016 |
| Structure | 437 | 2019 |
Toyota RAV4 MPG by year
The best gasoline Toyota RAV4 is rated 30 mpg combined by the EPA, a figure first reached by the 2019 model and matched by 5 later years.
| Year | Best gasoline | Best any version |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 24 | 24 |
| 2009 | 24 | 24 |
| 2010 | 24 | 24 |
| 2011 | 24 | 24 |
| 2012 | 24 | 24 |
| 2013 | 26 | 26 |
| 2014 | 26 | 26 |
| 2015 | 26 | 26 |
| 2016 | 26 | 32 |
| 2017 | 26 | 32 |
| 2018 | 26 | 32 |
| 2019 | 30 | 40 |
| 2020 | 30 | 40 |
| 2021 | 30 | 40 |
| 2022 | 30 | 40 |
| 2023 | 30 | 40 |
| 2024 | 30 | 39 |
Toyota RAV4 recalls
The Toyota RAV4 has been covered by 48 recall campaigns for 2008–2024 models. The busiest model year is 2009, with 15 campaigns.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V179000 | March 24, 2026 | Equipment | 2024 |
| 25V744000 | October 30, 2025 | Back over prevention | 2023, 2024 |
| 25V595000 | September 11, 2025 | Electrical system | 2023, 2024 |
| 24V911000 | December 5, 2024 | Wheels, Hydraulic service brakes | 2024 |
| 23V865000 | December 20, 2023 | Air bags | 2020, 2021 |
| 23V734000 | November 1, 2023 | Electrical system | 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| 23V478000 | July 12, 2023 | Electrical system | 2021, 2022 |
| 23V485000 | July 11, 2023 | Tires | 2023 |
| 23V041000 | February 2, 2023 | Electrical system | 2021 |
| 22V519000 | July 21, 2022 | Air bags | 2022 |
RAV4 years with the most complaints
- 2019: 905 complaints (112 per year on sale), most about the fuel/propulsion system.
- 2020: 649 complaints (92 per year on sale), most about the engine.
- 2021: 510 complaints (84 per year on sale), most about the air bags.
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many of each model year were sold. More complaints per year on sale is a signal to look closer, not a verdict on a particular car.
FAQ
Which RAV4 years should I avoid?
We don't label model years good or bad. By NHTSA's figures, the 2019, 2020 and 2021 RAV4 have the most owner complaints per year on sale, and the 2014 the fewest. Whatever the year, check a specific car's recall status and history before buying.
What are the most common RAV4 problems?
Across 2008–2024, owners report the electrical system (1,137 mentions), engine (958 mentions) and vehicle speed control (577 mentions) most often to NHTSA.
How many recalls has the Toyota RAV4 had?
48 recall campaigns cover 2008–2024 RAV4 models, with 2009 the most-recalled year. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for open recalls.
What gas mileage does the RAV4 get by year?
The best gasoline version ranges from 24 to 30 mpg combined across 2008–2024, first reached in 2019. The table above lists every year.