2019 Toyota RAV4 · symptom sheet
Water leaks into the cabin
- 36owner reports
- 45,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 13, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
196 of the 879 complaints on this car are about the structure. 36 of those describe water leak.
Tick what matches of 36 reports
Water leak on other RAV4 years
No other RAV4 model year has enough reports of water leak for a sheet of its own. See every RAV4 year.
What this problem usually is
These owners find water where it shouldn't be: a soaked carpet, a wet footwell, water pooling in the cargo area, and often a musty smell before they find the source. The smell is the most common thread, mentioned in more than four in ten of these complaints.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the seal or weatherstrip (8 reports), the drain tubes (4 reports) and the carpet (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the structure covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the structure on the RAV4
Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.
Battery hold down bracket thermal events. Closed aug 12, 2024, led to recall 23V-734.
Power window master switch fire. Closed feb 12, 2013, led to recall 12V-491.
Power window master switch fire. Closed jun 14, 2012.
Unintended and uncontrolled acceleration. Closed mar 1, 2011, led to recall 11V-112.
None of these investigations covers the 2019 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 28,000 and 50,000 miles, from the 9 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Toyota RAV4 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
DL: Although the roof rails are covered by Toyota?s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers? ownership experience.
RL: The specific condition covered by this program is roof rail water leaks from the roof rail mounting clips due to deterioration of the seal of the roof rail clips.
What owners wrote
“Roof Rails are leaking and is a known issue. Water stains in the headliner and close to the side air bags. Smell of mildew causing health issues with my Asthma. Love the vehicle, but I do not trust that the air bags could or might not deploy or other electrical issues due to this.”
Filed May 8, 2023
“Car randomly switches into different driving modes, BSM and anti collision goes off while driving. Seat warmers randomly come on high and canât be turned off. Dealership identified water damage from leaking roof rack resulting in mold and electrical damage. Possible damage to airbags as water leaking into the pillar at front window. Many instances documented online.”
Filed Feb 11, 2023
“This as well as many many other 2019, 2020, & 2021 Rav4s develop water leaks in the roof (due to inadequate gaskets in the rood rails) which result in water entering in vehicle very close to the side curtain airbags. Toyota updated the parts on the current model year but refuses to issue a recall. This is dangerous due to the strong possibility of water contacting the airbags and or the electrical connections.”
Filed Oct 11, 2022
“This Rav4 developed a leak in the roof by the front and back windows. Found many references to this on the internet. It is a known problem for this vehicle that is not being addressed by Toyota. This problem can cause mold and damage to the side air bags. This is clearly a safety issue.”
Filed Jun 22, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 36 reports involved a crash. 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
Other problems on this car
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 141 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 97 reports
- Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 91 reports
- Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong 54 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 45 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 39 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 35 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 31 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 30 reports
- Fuel pump failure 27 reports
- Tailgate or liftgate will not open or close 25 reports