2011 Toyota RAV4 MPG
The 2011 Toyota RAV4 gets 19–21 mpg in the city and 25–28 on the highway (21–24 combined), across the 4 versions the EPA rated.
The most efficient pairs the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, at 24 mpg combined. At the other end, the 3.5-liter 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive manages 21 mpg combined, 3 mpg less. That matches the best gasoline version of the 2010 model.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 2WD | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | Regular · 370 g CO₂/mi |
| RAV4 4WD | 2.5 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 21 | 27 | 23 | Regular · 386 g CO₂/mi |
| RAV4 2WD | 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 26 | 22 | Regular · 404 g CO₂/mi |
| RAV4 4WD | 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 19 | 25 | 21 | Regular · 423 g CO₂/mi |
2011 Toyota RAV4 fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on regular gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.36 a gallon, the 2011 Toyota RAV4 costs about $2,720 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (24 mpg combined), or roughly 18 cents a mile.
The thirstiest priced version (21 mpg combined) comes to about $3,110 a year, $390 more.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2011 Toyota RAV4 specs
The EPA lists 2 engine choices for the 2011 Toyota RAV4: 2.5 L 4-cyl and 3.5 L 6-cyl. It came with an automatic transmission, in all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive versions. For fuel-economy purposes it sits in the EPA's "Sport Utility Vehicle" class.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L | 4 | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 3.5 L | 6 | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive; All-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2011 Toyota RAV4 problems
As of October 2026, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) holds 287 owner complaints about the 2011 Toyota RAV4.
Vehicle speed control is the most-reported area (17% of component mentions), followed by visibility/wiper (12%) and service brakes (11%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 18 complaints a year: fewer than the 2010 (23 a year) and about as many as the 2012 (17 a year).
That ranks 15th of 17 Toyota RAV4 model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 287, 44 mention a crash, 8 a fire and 14 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 70 | 17% |
| Visibility/wiper | 48 | 12% |
| Service brakes | 43 | 11% |
| Engine | 33 | 8% |
| Seat belts | 30 | 7% |
| Power train | 25 | 6% |
| Air bags | 23 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 5% |
| Structure | 16 | 4% |
| Suspension | 16 | 4% |
| Steering | 15 | 4% |
| Unknown or other | 14 | 3% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 9 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 2% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 6 | 1% |
| Tires | 5 | 1% |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 4 | <1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | <1% |
| Seats | 3 | <1% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | <1% |
| Visibility | 2 | <1% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | <1% |
| Air service brakes | 1 | <1% |
| Traction control system | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the vehicle continued to accelerate unintendedly. …
ALL WINDOWS BESIDES THE WINDSHIELD HAVE WATER SPOT BUILDUP. WE HAD THEM PROFESSIONALLY REMOVED IN JUNE OF 2014. 5 YEARS LATER THE SPOTS ARE BUILDING UP AGAIN. THAT WOULD BE AT 36,000 MILES AND NOW AGAIN AT 90,000 MILES.
I have replaced the front suspension and the back suspension. I have replaced the driveshaft and the muffler and tail pipes. Now they say the entire undercarriage and the brake lines are all rusting out. …
2011 Toyota RAV4 recalls
The 2011 Toyota RAV4 has been the subject of 11 recall campaigns.
The most recent, campaign 16V596000 from August 2016, concerns suspension.
Seats account for 3 of the 11 campaigns, more than any other area.
12V029000 · February 1, 2012 · Air bags
Problem: IN THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAGS, PROPELLANT WITH THE INCORRECT SPECIFICATION WAS USED FOR THE INITIATOR ASSEMBLED IN THE AIRBAG INFLATOR. IN THIS CONDITION, THE INFLATOR MAY NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, CAUSING ONE OR BOTH CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAGS TO NOT DEPLOY.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT AN OCCUPANT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL CHECK THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TO IDENTIFY THE CURTAIN SHIELD ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE THE ASSEMBLIES AS NECESSARY WITH NEW ONES FREE OF CHARGE.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | RAV4 years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V596000 | August 12, 2016 | Suspension | 2008–2011 |
| 16V396000 | June 2, 2016 | Seats | 2008–2011 |
| 16V096000 | February 19, 2016 | Seat belts | 2008–2012 |
| 15V689000 | October 22, 2015 | Visibility | 2008–2011 |
| 15V577000 | September 18, 2015 | Visibility/wiper | 2009–2012 |
| 14V743000 | November 19, 2014 | Seats | 2008–2011 |
| 13V383000 | August 28, 2013 | Suspension | 2008–2011 |
| 13V123000 | April 9, 2013 | Equipment | 2010–2012 |
| 13V014000 | January 16, 2013 | Seats, Air bags | 2009–2012 |
| 12V373000 | August 2, 2012 | Suspension | 2008–2011 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 2 versions of the 2011 Toyota RAV4; the best overall score is 3 out of 5 stars.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| SUV AWD | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Toyota RAV4s can be compared fairly. Among other 2011 models in the EPA's sport utility vehicle class, the 2011 Honda CR-V (24 mpg), 2011 Nissan Rogue (24 mpg) and 2011 Subaru Outback (24 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 24 | 575 | 30 | 14 |
| 2009 | 24 | 327 | 18 | 15 |
| 2010 | 24 | 400 | 23 | 14 |
| 2011 | 24 | 287 | 18 | 11 |
| 2012 | 24 | 260 | 17 | 5 |
| 2013 | 26 | 257 | 18 | 2 |
| 2014 | 26 | 197 | 15 | 4 |
Every Toyota RAV4 model year compared →
Similar 2011 models
FAQ
Is the 2011 RAV4 a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2011 Toyota RAV4 has 18 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (15th most of 17 model years), 11 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 3 stars and up to 24 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2011 RAV4 problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are vehicle speed control (70), visibility/wiper (48) and service brakes (43). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2011 RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 RAV4 get?
The EPA rates the versions at 21–24 mpg combined (19–21 city, 25–28 highway).
How much does it cost to fuel a 2011 RAV4 per year?
About $2,720 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, up to about $3,110 for the thirstiest version, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average regular gasoline price of $4.36 a gallon (EIA).