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1996 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Toyota RAV4 are lower than the model-year median of 258.5.

About this comparison →
47Owner complaints

Model-year median: 258.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
19941
199547
199654
199777
199862
1999
Compare all RAV4 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11Power Train
9Engine And Engine Cooling
5Air Bags
4Latches/locks/linkages
4
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Seat Belts
2Seats
2Steering
2Suspension
2Engine
1Equipment
1Structure
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 8 of 47 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Tires complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1998
TiresInjury

SINCE THE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE, IT WOULD OCCASSIONALLY HYDROPLANE ON SLIGHTY WET SURFACES AND GO TO THE LEFT. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY HYDROPLANED FROM THE RIGHT LANE OF THE FREEWAY TO THE LEFT WITH NO WARNING. THE LAST INCIDENT ENDED IN A CRASH. WHILE TRAVELING IN A LIGHT RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH,…

Read full complaint

SINCE THE VEHICLE'S PURCHASE, IT WOULD OCCASSIONALLY HYDROPLANE ON SLIGHTY WET SURFACES AND GO TO THE LEFT. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY HYDROPLANED FROM THE RIGHT LANE OF THE FREEWAY TO THE LEFT WITH NO WARNING. THE LAST INCIDENT ENDED IN A CRASH. WHILE TRAVELING IN A LIGHT RAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLEY TO THE RIGHT WITH NO WARNING. IT FELT AS IF TRAVELING ON ICE. THE VEHICLE SLAMMED HEAD ON INTO THE GUARD RAIL.

NHTSA ODI #538797

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Toyota RAV4 problems

Toyota RAV4 transmission problems →Toyota RAV4 electrical problems →