Diagsheet

Compact SUVs · model years 2014 to 2025

Toyota RAV4 vs Hyundai Tucson: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tucson looks better on 5 and the RAV4 on 1, with 1 too close to call.

Toyota RAV4

Toyota RAV4

3,827 complaints · 23 recalls

Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

5,050 complaints · 20 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2025RAV4Tucson
Complaints that report a crash8.0%3.0%
Complaints that report a fire3.9%1.8%
Complaints that report an injury4.7%1.7%
Median miles when problems are reported23,00037,000
Recall campaigns per model year1.91.7
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations13

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system RAV4 owners complain about most is electrical; for the Tucson it is engine. Complaints citing electrical make up 22% of all RAV4 complaints, against 12% on the Tucson. The Tucson leans the other way on engine: 39% of its complaints, against 18% for the RAV4.

Toyota RAV4Hyundai Tucson

Engine18%39%
Electrical22%12%
Transmission and drivetrain7.2%22%
Fuel and propulsion11%7.2%
Structure8.2%6.2%
Brakes7.1%6.0%
Airbags8.8%1.4%
Speed control4.0%6.0%
Collision avoidance2.9%5.5%
Steering6.7%1.3%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the RAV4 is stalling (9.0% of its complaints). On the Tucson it is engine failure (16% of its complaints), against 0.8% on the RAV4.

ProblemRAV4Tucson
Engine stalls or loses power while driving9.0% 344most in 2019 · 30k mi16% 798most in 2017 · 40k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early7.4% 282most in 2016 · 14k mi11% 541most in 2019 · 29k mi
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing0.8% 2940k mi16% 833most in 2017 · 74k mi
Check engine light or misfire2.1% 82most in 2019 · 52k mi12% 583most in 2017 · 70k mi
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard1.9% 73most in 2019 · 32k mi8.2% 415most in 2016 · 13k mi
Airbag warning light or recall8.8% 335most in 2021 · 23k mi1.1% 5424k mi
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails6.7% 258most in 2019 · 38k mi3.0% 150most in 2025 · 17k mi
Engine overheats or leaks coolant8.0% 308most in 2020 · 47k mi0.9% 4472k mi

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

RAV4 owners report problems earlier. Half the RAV4 complaints that give a mileage come before 23,000 miles; for the Tucson the halfway point is 37,000. 73% of RAV4 reports and 57% of Tucson reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Toyota RAV4Hyundai Tucson

Under 25k51%41%
25k to 50k22%16%
50k to 75k14%20%
75k to 100k5.5%12%
100k to 150k5.7%10%
Over 150k1.8%0.8%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,478 for the RAV4 and 2,251 for the Tucson.

Worst and best years

The 2019 RAV4 draws 3.0 times the complaints of a typical RAV4 year for its age. The 2016 Tucson draws 4.4 times the complaints of a typical Tucson year for its age.

Toyota RAV4

Every RAV4 model year

Hyundai Tucson

Every Tucson model year

Toyota RAV4Hyundai Tucson

Each model year against its own model's median. RAV4: 2014 0.4, 2015 0.7, 2016 0.6, 2017 0.8, 2018 1.0, 2019 3.0, 2020 2.5, 2021 1.7, 2022 0.8, 2023 1.1, 2024 1.6. Tucson: 2014 0.4, 2015 0.6, 2016 4.4, 2017 3.3, 2018 1.3, 2019 1.4, 2020 0.8, 2021 0.4, 2022 2.3, 2023 1.0, 2024 1.0.2014 RAV4: 0.4 times its median2014 Tucson: 0.4 times its median'142015 RAV4: 0.7 times its median2015 Tucson: 0.6 times its median'152016 RAV4: 0.6 times its median2016 Tucson: 4.4 times its median'162017 RAV4: 0.8 times its median2017 Tucson: 3.3 times its median'172018 RAV4: 1.0 times its median2018 Tucson: 1.3 times its median'182019 RAV4: 3.0 times its median2019 Tucson: 1.4 times its median'192020 RAV4: 2.5 times its median2020 Tucson: 0.8 times its median'202021 RAV4: 1.7 times its median2021 Tucson: 0.4 times its median'212022 RAV4: 0.8 times its median2022 Tucson: 2.3 times its median'222023 RAV4: 1.1 times its median2023 Tucson: 1.0 times its median'232024 RAV4: 1.6 times its median2024 Tucson: 1.0 times its median'241x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 1.9 campaigns per model year for the RAV4 and 1.7 for the Tucson. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Toyota RAV4

23 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (4), tires (3) and airbags (3).

  • 23V-734 (electrical) covers 5 model years
  • 19V-503 (equipment) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • PE21005: Battery hold down bracket thermal events (closed, led to a recall)

Hyundai Tucson

20 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (4), airbags (2) and service brakes, hydraulic (2).

  • 20V-543 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 6 model years
  • 25V-893 (trailer hitches) covers 3 model years

Investigations

  • DP22005: Pedestrian alert sounds (closed, led to a recall)
  • DP22003: Loss of motive power (closed)
  • EA21003: Engine fires (closed, led to a recall)

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of RAV4 complaints report a crash: 8.0%, against 3.0% for the Tucson. Fire reports: 148 for the RAV4 and 93 for the Tucson. Complaints on file report 5 deaths in the RAV4 and 1 in the Tucson for these model years.

Toyota RAV4Hyundai Tucson

Report a crash8.0%3.0%
Report a fire3.9%1.8%
Report someone hurt4.7%1.7%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Toyota RAV4 or the Hyundai Tucson more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tucson looks better on 5 and the RAV4 on 1, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the RAV4 has 3,827 complaints and the Tucson 5,050 for model years 2014 to 2025, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the RAV4 or the Tucson?

The RAV4 has 23 recall campaigns and the Tucson 20 across model years 2014 to 2025. The two draw recalls at about the same rate: 1.9 campaigns per model year for the RAV4 and 1.7 for the Tucson.

What are the most common problems on the RAV4 and the Tucson?

The most reported problem on the RAV4 is stalling (9.0% of its complaints). On the Tucson it is engine failure (16% of its complaints), against 0.8% on the RAV4.

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