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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 30, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

IT WAS RAINING, NOT HEAVY, THOUGH. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO BRAKE BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE CAR STARTED LOSING CONTROL AND I COULDN'T BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR AT ALL. THEN THE CAR STARTED MOVING TOWARDS THE LEFT QUICKLY AND SPINNED FOR ABOUT 2 OR 3 TIMES. THE REAR …

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IT WAS RAINING, NOT HEAVY, THOUGH. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO BRAKE BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE CAR STARTED LOSING CONTROL AND I COULDN'T BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR AT ALL. THEN THE CAR STARTED MOVING TOWARDS THE LEFT QUICKLY AND SPINNED FOR ABOUT 2 OR 3 TIMES. THE REAR END ON THE RIGHT SIDE FINALLY HIT THE MIDDLE BARRIER ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR TURNED OUT TO BE FACING THE INCOMING TRAFFIC. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WASN'T HURT TOO BADLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HIT ANY OTHER CARS (LUCKILY) AND IT WAS THE REAR END THAT GOT HIT. I GOT A BIG BRUISE ON MY THIGH AND MY WHOLE BODY WAS SORE FOR 3 DAYS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A DEFECT WITH THE BRAKE OR THE WHEELS OR NOT, BUT I THOUGHT I'D REPORT THIS FOR OTHER OWNERS TO BE AWARE OF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746108

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, AND THE BRAKES WENT TO METAL TO METAL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849111

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PADS WORE PREMATURELY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #607794

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE SYSTEM MAKES GRINDING NOISE. YH

NHTSA ODI #607242

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.

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