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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

YOUR FORM IS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY PROBLEM. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE SURGE OR STUCK ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPNED TWICE DURING OWNERSHIP. ONCE WHILE PARKING AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. SECOND TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL,AND HAD TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS. THE ACCELERATOR …

Read full complaint

YOUR FORM IS NOT APPLICABLE TO MY PROBLEM. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE SURGE OR STUCK ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPNED TWICE DURING OWNERSHIP. ONCE WHILE PARKING AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. SECOND TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO BRING VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL,AND HAD TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE TO AVOID HITTING PEDESTRIANS. THE ACCELERATOR EITHER STUCK AT FULL THROTTLE OR SOMETHING CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO OPEN TO FULL, MAKING THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTOL OR STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #702683

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 →