Toyota
Toyota RAV4 years to avoid
Years to avoid: 2019, 2020 and 2021. Best years: 2016.
The 2019, 2020 and 2021 Toyota RAV4 draw the most owner complaints for their age: 2019 has 879 complaints (110 for each year on the road), 2020 has 635 complaints (91 for each year on the road) and 2021 has 387 complaints (64 for each year on the road), against a median of 37 a year across the 11 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2019 is overheating (141 reports).
- 3,832complaints
- 23recall campaigns
- 12model years with a page
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
Pick your model year
Owner complaints on file for each year.
Years to avoid
2019
Most reported: overheating (141 reports, median 49,000 miles) and stalling (97 reports, median 20,000 miles).
2020
Most reported: overheating (153 reports, median 42,000 miles) and dead battery (62 reports, median 3,200 miles).
2021
Most reported: airbag (125 reports, median 30,000 miles) and seat belt (26 reports, median 56,000 miles).
Best years
2016
Most reported: brake wear (46 reports, median 22,000 miles) and dead battery (22 reports, median 52,000 miles).
Complaints for each year on the road
Each model year's NHTSA complaints divided by the calendar years it has been on sale, counting this one (a 2018 model has had 9). Older cars have had longer to collect complaints, so raw totals flatter the new ones. Blue bars are the years to avoid. Too new to judge: 2025.
Within one model, sales change less from year to year than they do between models, so a jump here is mostly a jump in problems. The call: the years to avoid are the (up to three) highest at 1.5 times the model's median rate or more, and the best are the (up to three) lowest at two thirds of it or less, from 2016 on.
Guide How much should a years-to-avoid list decide? What these lists get wrong
At a glance
- Where the complaints sit
- The 2019 has the most complaints of any Toyota RAV4 year here: 879 of 3,832 (23%).
- Problem across the years
- The top problem moves around from year to year. Stalling leads in 2 of the 12 model years and has the most reports overall, 344. Pooled across the years, half of the 145 owners who gave a mileage for stalling were under about 30,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 12% of Toyota RAV4 complaints report a crash, a fire or an injury, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The highest share is on the 2015, 80 of its 303 complaints.
- Recalls on the top problem
- 2 of the 12 model years where owners report stalling have a recall on the same system: 2019 and 2020. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2024 at 671 (full calendar years only). In 2025 there were 620. So far in 2026, 386 more have come in. Filings on record start in 2015.
Photo: MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fourth generation (XA40)
| Year | Complaints | A year | Recalls | Most reported | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 187 | 14 | 4 | Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (30) | 51,000 |
| 2015 | 303 | 25 | 4 | Vehicle fire (40) | 40,000 |
| 2016 best | 240 | 22 | 3 | Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (46) | 25,000 |
| 2017 | 307 | 31 | 3 | Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (38) | 25,000 |
| 2018 | 331 | 37 | 3 | Engine stalls or loses power while driving (43) | 17,300 |
Photo: Bull-Doser, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Fifth generation (XA50)
| Year | Complaints | A year | Recalls | Most reported | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 avoid | 879 | 110 | 7 | Engine overheats or leaks coolant (141) | 10,000 |
| 2020 avoid | 635 | 91 | 6 | Engine overheats or leaks coolant (153) | 22,500 |
| 2021 avoid | 387 | 64 | 1 | Airbag warning light or recall (125) | 30,000 |
| 2022 | 145 | 29 | 1 | Engine stalls or loses power while driving (18) | 20,000 |
| 2023 | 157 | 39 | 3 | Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (26) | 21,000 |
| 2024 | 174 | 58 | 3 | Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (26) | 13,600 |
| 2025 | 87 | new | 3 | Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails (16) | 7,000 |
Year by year
2025 Toyota RAV4
87 owner complaints so far; too new to call. Most reported: infotainment (16 reports) and windshield (10 reports). 7 reports involved a crash and 7 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 25V-744 on the backup camera and 25V-595 on the electrical system.
2024 Toyota RAV4
174 owner complaints, 58 for each year on the road (1.6 times the model median). Most reported: infotainment (26 reports), stalling (21 reports) and brake wear (16 reports). 28 reports involved a crash and 21 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 25V-744 on the backup camera and 25V-595 on the electrical system.
2023 Toyota RAV4
157 owner complaints, 39 for each year on the road (1.1 times the model median). Most reported: infotainment (26 reports), stalling (20 reports) and brake wear (17 reports). 19 reports involved a crash and 15 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 25V-744 on the backup camera and 25V-595 on the electrical system.
2022 Toyota RAV4
145 owner complaints, 29 for each year on the road (0.8 times the model median). Most reported: stalling (18 reports), infotainment (13 reports) and dead battery (12 reports). 14 reports involved a crash and 12 people were hurt. 1 recall: 22V-519 on the airbags.
2021 Toyota RAV4 avoid
387 owner complaints, 64 for each year on the road (1.8 times the model median). Most reported: airbag (125 reports, median 30,000 miles), seat belt (26 reports, median 56,000 miles) and windshield (22 reports). 47 reports involved a crash and 49 people were hurt. 1 recall: 23V-865 on the airbags.
2020 Toyota RAV4 avoid
635 owner complaints, 91 for each year on the road (2.5 times the model median). Most reported: overheating (153 reports, median 42,000 miles), dead battery (62 reports, median 3,200 miles) and airbag (55 reports). 17 reports involved a crash and 14 people were hurt. 6 recalls, including 20V-064 on the engine and 23V-865 on the airbags.
2019 Toyota RAV4 avoid
879 owner complaints, 110 for each year on the road (3.0 times the model median). Most reported: overheating (141 reports, median 49,000 miles), stalling (97 reports, median 20,000 miles) and hybrid system (91 reports, median 4,200 miles). 25 reports involved a crash and 21 people were hurt. 7 recalls, including 20V-064 on the engine and 20V-682 on the fuel system.
2018 Toyota RAV4
331 owner complaints, 37 for each year on the road (1.0 times the model median). Most reported: stalling (43 reports, median 21,000 miles), dead battery (38 reports, median 49,291 miles) and brake wear (30 reports, median 18,000 miles). 31 reports involved a crash and 18 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 23V-734 on the electrical system and 19V-503 on the equipment.
2017 Toyota RAV4
307 owner complaints, 31 for each year on the road (0.8 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (38 reports, median 15,000 miles), dead battery (31 reports, median 57,000 miles) and headlights (24 reports, median 12,000 miles). 33 reports involved a crash and 28 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 23V-734 on the electrical system and 19V-503 on the equipment.
2016 Toyota RAV4 best
240 owner complaints, 22 for each year on the road (0.6 times the model median). Most reported: brake wear (46 reports, median 22,000 miles), dead battery (22 reports, median 52,000 miles) and stalling (20 reports, median 35,000 miles). 33 reports involved a crash and 27 people were hurt. 3 recalls, including 16V-198 on the brakes and 23V-734 on the electrical system.
2015 Toyota RAV4
303 owner complaints, 25 for each year on the road (0.7 times the model median). Most reported: fire (40 reports, median 60,000 miles), stalling (33 reports, median 55,000 miles) and brake wear (31 reports, median 24,000 miles). 37 reports involved a crash and 30 people were hurt. 4 recalls, including 23V-734 on the electrical system and 15V-144 on the steering system.
2014 Toyota RAV4
187 owner complaints, 14 for each year on the road (0.4 times the model median). Most reported: infotainment (30 reports, median 63,194 miles), fire (23 reports, median 88,000 miles) and dead battery (20 reports, median 87,000 miles). 17 reports involved a crash and 14 people were hurt. 4 recalls, including 23V-734 on the electrical system and 15V-144 on the steering system.
Recalls that cover several model years
Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.
Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse.
The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Compare the RAV4 with its rivals
Side by side over the model years both have on file: what owners complain about, the mileage problems start at, recalls, investigations and crash reports.
- RAV4 vs Honda CR-V2014 to 2025
- RAV4 vs Nissan Rogue2014 to 2025
- RAV4 vs Mazda CX-52014 to 2021
- RAV4 vs Subaru Forester2014 to 2025
- RAV4 vs Subaru Outback2014 to 2025
- RAV4 vs Hyundai Tucson2014 to 2025
- RAV4 vs Kia Sportage2014 to 2023
- RAV4 vs Ford Escape2014 to 2024
- RAV4 vs Volkswagen Tiguan2018 to 2022
Questions
What Toyota RAV4 years should you avoid?
The 2019, 2020 and 2021 Toyota RAV4 draw the most owner complaints for their age: 2019 has 879 complaints (110 for each year on the road), 2020 has 635 complaints (91 for each year on the road) and 2021 has 387 complaints (64 for each year on the road), against a median of 37 a year across the 11 model years old enough to judge. The most reported problem on the 2019 is overheating (141 reports).
What are the best years for the Toyota RAV4?
The 2016 draws the fewest complaints for its age: 240, or 22 for each year on the road. Model years before 2016 aren't called best, because complaints filed before 2015 aren't in the files this site reads and their counts run short.
What is the most common problem on the Toyota RAV4?
Stalling, with 344 reports across the 12 model years that have a page here. It's the single most reported problem on the 2018 and 2022.
How many recalls does the Toyota RAV4 have?
23 recall campaigns cover the Toyota RAV4 model years 2014 to 2025 on this site. The widest, 23V-734 on the electrical system, covers 5 model years.
How many Toyota RAV4 complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
12% of them, against 6% for the typical vehicle on this site. The 2015 has the highest share.
Is there a recall for stalling on the Toyota RAV4?
On 2 of the 12 model years where owners report it: 2019 and 2020.