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1997 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Toyota RAV4 are lower than the model-year median of 258.5.

About this comparison →
54Owner complaints

Model-year median: 258.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
19941
199547
199654
199777
199862
199930
2000
Compare all RAV4 years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
10Vehicle Speed Control
7Structure
6Air Bags
5Power Train
5
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Electrical System
3Seat Belts
3Engine
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Seats
2Tires
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Service Brakes, Electric
1Steering
1Suspension
1Wheels
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: 14 of 54 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports

Seats complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
113,000 miles · Dec 27, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSeats

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SHIFTED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE). *AK

NHTSA ODI #10146145

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2000
Seats

THE SEAT DESIGN IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND NOT SUPPORTIVE TO THE CONSUMER, THE SEAT BACK ANGLES BACK AND THE HEADREST ANGLES FORWARD, THIS OFFERS THE CONSUMER NO HEAD SUPPORT. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #557563

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 →