2015 Toyota RAV4 · symptom sheet

Vehicle fire

40owner reports
60,000median miles
1involved a crash

Newest report Mar 2, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

40 of the 303 complaints on this car describe fire, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 RAV4.

No recall on this systemas of Oct 2, 2026

1 crashin 40 reports

1 person hurtin these reports

40 firesin 40 reports

Tick what matches of 40 reports

while parked and off

while driving

it started under the hood

a recall existed for the cause

Fire on other RAV4 years

201540 reports 201828 reports

Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.

What this problem usually is

Fire reports are the most serious complaints on the site. Owners describe fires while driving, while parked and switched off, and for plug-in cars, while charging. Many say it started under the hood. Some already had a recall notice for the cause, and some got one afterward.

Read the full explainer · Which cars report it most

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (15 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on this problem covers the 2015 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 87,000 miles, from the 18 reports that gave a mileage.

What owners wrote

“On Friday February 27, 2026 as the vehicle was being driven it caught fire. Fire department and sheriffs office was called to the scene. Vehicle fire was put out but the whole front end burned.”
Filed Mar 2, 2026

“When we bought the SUV, it had a small top battery installed. The battery slid over and caused my alternator to go out completely. I must have caught fire, as there were burnt wires to the alternator. We replaced the alternator, and it was over $295 dollars and then had to get a new battery, and that was over $150 dollars. I installed it myself because I am a mechanic.”
Filed Dec 9, 2025

“My vehicle's electrical components short-circuited, steering became difficult to control and the vehicle caught on fire under the hood near the battery compartment.”
Filed Dec 21, 2023

“Front collision in 55 miles per hour freeway after slamming on the brakes and hitting car in front with minimum damage to them, RAV4 started immediately to smell like something but burning and black smoke started on front left, after few moments car was on flames. The car burnt in it's totality.”
Filed Oct 20, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 40 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.

Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found