THE PAINT ON THE HOOD IS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF.
2013 Toyota RAV4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAV4 years →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
161 reports with mileage · 96 unknown
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Structure complaints
28 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED AND OPENED. THE OWNER WAS ONLY ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE MASTER LOCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE DOORS HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AND THE DOOR ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED. ANDREW…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED AND OPENED. THE OWNER WAS ONLY ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE MASTER LOCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE DOORS HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AND THE DOOR ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED. ANDREW TOYOTA (1620 W. SILVER SPRING DR., MILWAUKEE, WI) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
CAR PAINTING IS DETACHING. A SMALL HOLE IS FORMED AND THEN BECOME BIGGER EVERY DAY.
WHILE OPENING THE TRUNK, WHICH IS ELECTRIC, THE RIGHT LIFT GATE PISTON BLEW AND SEPARATED FROM THE BALL MOUNT. AT THAT POINT THE TRUNK/HATCH WOULD NOT WORK ELECTRICALLY OR BY HAND. IN FACT THE MALFUNCTION OF THE PISTON WAS SO INTENSE IT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF MY CAR, BUCKLING THE BACK ROOF, SHIFTING THE DOOR A…
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WHILE OPENING THE TRUNK, WHICH IS ELECTRIC, THE RIGHT LIFT GATE PISTON BLEW AND SEPARATED FROM THE BALL MOUNT. AT THAT POINT THE TRUNK/HATCH WOULD NOT WORK ELECTRICALLY OR BY HAND. IN FACT THE MALFUNCTION OF THE PISTON WAS SO INTENSE IT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF MY CAR, BUCKLING THE BACK ROOF, SHIFTING THE DOOR AND BUCKLING THE HINGES. THE GRAND TOTAL OF DAMAGE IS WELL OVER $5000. TOYOTA WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. IN FACT I HAVE THEIR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM TOYOTA THAT DISCUSSES THE PROBLEM IN DETAIL (T-SB-0168-13 FOR WHICH I AM SENDING YOU A COPY). THE PISTON, KNOWN AS AN ACTUATOR HAS BEEN CHANGED AFTER A CERTAIN VIN # (SEE PAGE #2 OF ATTACHED BULLETIN). BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE UNAFFECTED PISTON ALSO. EACH PISTON COSTS $686.16 FOR THE PART ALONE. IF THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY THEY COVER REPAIR, AS I HAVE OWNED MY CAR FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS, IT IS NOT COVERED. TOYOTA NOT ONLY KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECT, THEY CHOSE NOT TO NOTIFY THE CAR OWNERS'. IF THE PISTONS HAD BEEN REPLACED, ALL OF THE OTHER DAMAGE WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. SEVERAL MECHANICS I SPOKE WITH COULD NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS NOT A RECALL. IF AN ANIMAL HAD BEEN IN THE BACK OR WORSE YET, IF IT OCCURRED AS IT WAS OPEN, IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INJURY OR WORSE. APPARENTLY TOYOTA DOES NOT HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO REPAIR THIS AS IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IF DEEMED A RECALL THEY WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS THIS AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA; THEY HAVE OFFERED US $2500 AS 'GOODWILL', WHICH IS LESS THAN 50%. AT THIS POINT I AM HAVING THEM DO THE ACTUAL MECHANICAL WORK, AND WILL ALSO HAVE TO PAY OVER $1100 OUT OF POCKET TO COVER THE FULL COST OF THE MECHANICAL REPAIR. THIS STILL WILL NOT ADDRESS THE BODY WORK. THEREFORE THIS WILL DEVALUE MY CAR, AND ALSO RUNS THE RISK OF RUSTING AS THE PAINT IS DAMAGED.
LA PINTURA DE LA GUAGUA SE ESTA SALIENDO. LAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS TIENEN PROBLEMAS CUANDO QUIERES ABRIR O CERRAR LAS MISMAS CON EL LLAVERO. SE LE DAO A AMBAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS EL MOTOR O LO QUE LE LLAMAN "ACTUATOR" A UNA SEMANA DE DIFERENCIA Y CUANDO INTENTO ABRIR LA PUERTA DESDE ADENTRO PARA BAJARME SE QUEDA CERRADA Y NO ME PE…
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LA PINTURA DE LA GUAGUA SE ESTA SALIENDO. LAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS TIENEN PROBLEMAS CUANDO QUIERES ABRIR O CERRAR LAS MISMAS CON EL LLAVERO. SE LE DAO A AMBAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS EL MOTOR O LO QUE LE LLAMAN "ACTUATOR" A UNA SEMANA DE DIFERENCIA Y CUANDO INTENTO ABRIR LA PUERTA DESDE ADENTRO PARA BAJARME SE QUEDA CERRADA Y NO ME PERMITE ABRIRLA TENGO QUE ESTAR DNDOLE LOCK/UNLOCK HASTA QUE ME DEJA QUITARLE EL SEGURO PARA PODER BAJARME DE LA GUAGUA; ESTO ASUNTO EN PARTICULAR ME PREOCUPA EN CASO DE ALGN ACCIDENTE NO PUEDA ABRIRLA. OTRO PROBLEMA QUE TIENE ES QUE CADA 3 MESES, ES QUE LAS BOMBILLAS DE "STOP" DEL LADO DERECHO SE DAA Y TENGO QUE ESTAR CAMBINDOLA. ESTO HA SUCEDIDO DESDE APROXIMADAMENTE DICIEMBRE 2015. THE PAINT IS COMING OUT. THE FRONT DOORS HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN YOU WANT TO OPEN OR CLOSE THEM WITH THE KEY RING. BOTH FRONT DOORS DAMAGED THE WHAT THEY CALL THE ACTUATOR A WEEK APART AND WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE TO GET OUT THE CAR IT IS CLOSED AND I CAN'T OPEN IT I HAVE TO BE HIT THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON UNTIL IT LETS ME REMOVE THE LOCK TO GET OFF THE CAR; THIS ISSUE IN PARTICULAR WORRIES ME BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT I WON'T BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FAST. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT HAS IS THAT EVERY 3 MONTHS, THE BULBS LIGHT FOR STOP ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS TO BE CHANGE BECAUSE IT DAMAGE AND I HAVE TO BE CHANGING IT. THIS HAS BEEN APPENING SING AROUND DECEMBER 2015.
DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED IN EVERY DOOR. THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER ACTUATORS FAILED COMPLETELY AND THE TWO BACK DOORS WILL WORK SOMETIMES AND WON'T OTHERS.
2/20/2017 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED PEAR WHITE. ONE WEEK AGE ON A SATURDAY I WAS WETTING MY SUV WITH A GARDEN HOSE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE OFF BEFORE WASHING AND WHEN I GOT TO THE PASSENGER DOOR ON DRIVERS SIDE PAINT STARTED FLAKING OFF. I STOPPED SPRAYING AT THAT TIME AND I WAS LEFT WITH A 3 INCH DIAMETER AREA THAT…
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2/20/2017 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED PEAR WHITE. ONE WEEK AGE ON A SATURDAY I WAS WETTING MY SUV WITH A GARDEN HOSE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND THE ENGINE OFF BEFORE WASHING AND WHEN I GOT TO THE PASSENGER DOOR ON DRIVERS SIDE PAINT STARTED FLAKING OFF. I STOPPED SPRAYING AT THAT TIME AND I WAS LEFT WITH A 3 INCH DIAMETER AREA THAT HAS NO PAINT LEFT, BUT A GRAY BASE. I DID REPORT THIS TO LAKE CHARLES TOYOTA IN LOUISIANA AND WAS TOLD SINCE THE FACTORY WARRANTY HAS ENDED AND I HAVE 60,000 MILES, THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER, TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I QUESTIONED THEM ABOUT MY 'BUMPER TO BUMPER' EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WAS LEFT UP TO THE MANAGER OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HE SAID THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THIS IS THE WORST TREATMENT I HAVE EVER RECEIVED FROM THEM. THE SERVICE STARTING GOING DOWNHILL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO AT LC TOYOTA. I HAVE REFERRED SEVERAL PEOPLE THERE FOR PURCHASE OF THEIR NEW VEHICLE. BUT WILL ONLY GIVE NEGATIVE REVIEWS ON THEM NOW. MELINDA D. IN LOUISIANA
THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. THE RAV4 LIMITED WAS TOTALED. IT WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD 17,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY TOYOTA. THE LAST SERVICE WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS NOT HONORED THEIR 3YR/36,00…
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THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. THE RAV4 LIMITED WAS TOTALED. IT WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD 17,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY TOYOTA. THE LAST SERVICE WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS NOT HONORED THEIR 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE CAR. TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED A REPLACEMENT CAR, RENTAL OR ANYTHING. EVERY TIME WE CALL OUR TOYOTA CASE MANAGER OR LEGAL DEPARTMENT MANAGERS, WE HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE AND THEY NEVER RETURN OUR CALLS.
"BLIZZARD PEARL BISQUE" PAINT PEELING BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SUNROOF. PAINT IS COMING OFF IN LARGE PIECES THE SIZE OF SILVER DOLLARS. PAINT "BLISTERS" FIRST THEN JUST FALLS OFF THE ROOF OF THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE YEAR AND SEEMS TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR BEING STATIONARY, I…
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"BLIZZARD PEARL BISQUE" PAINT PEELING BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SUNROOF. PAINT IS COMING OFF IN LARGE PIECES THE SIZE OF SILVER DOLLARS. PAINT "BLISTERS" FIRST THEN JUST FALLS OFF THE ROOF OF THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN THERE FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE YEAR AND SEEMS TO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR BEING STATIONARY, IN MOTION - OR THE ENVIRONMENT. IT HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE SAME PLACES THAT MY PRIOR TOYOTAS HAVE BEEN PARKED, AND THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. MY WIFE AND I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM, WITH THIS COLOR PAINT ON OTHER RAV4S, PRIUS, AND LEXUS MODELS.
THE THROTTLE STUCK ON THE CAR. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND IT WENT OVER A 10 FOOT FALL AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. IT WAS A VERY SCARY RIDE. I TRIED EVERY WAY TO STOP THE CAR BUT COULD NOT . I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME OF THE UNINTENDED EVENT. I AM STILL VERY SORE THREE WEEKS LATER AND HAVE SOME SPINAL SPRAIN AND …
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THE THROTTLE STUCK ON THE CAR. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND IT WENT OVER A 10 FOOT FALL AND CRASHED TO THE GROUND. IT WAS A VERY SCARY RIDE. I TRIED EVERY WAY TO STOP THE CAR BUT COULD NOT . I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE TIME OF THE UNINTENDED EVENT. I AM STILL VERY SORE THREE WEEKS LATER AND HAVE SOME SPINAL SPRAIN AND WRIST SPRAIN, CERVICAL SPRAIN AND BOTH KNEES BRUISED BOTH KNEES. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS AFTER I CONSULTED MY INSURANCE COMPANY....UPDATED 06-16-15 *BF *TR UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN
Official recalls
223V734000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
Nov 1, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
15V011000 · Exterior Lighting; Trailer Hitches
Jan 16, 2015
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Trailer Hitches
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Exterior Lighting
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Consequence: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
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
1PE21005 · Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events
Opened Feb 25, 2021 · Closed Aug 12, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles on 25 February 2021. At the time of opening, ODI attributed eleven allegations and additional EWR events to this PE. PE21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in PE21005 involved the originally supplied 12V battery. The reported fires took place in vehicles known to contain aftermarket batteries or whose age exceeded the expected life of the original equipment battery. ODI identified battery dimensioning as it relates to the battery retention system (hold down bracket, radiator support bolt, J-hook, and battery tray) as the main factor set in the contact between the battery hold down bracket contacting the positive terminal of the 12V battery. The subject vehicles carried over the same battery tray and retention system from the prior generation (MY2006 – MY2012) of RAV4 vehicles. However, the subject vehicles were equipped with a dimensionally smaller battery (Group 35) than the prior generation (Group 24F). The smaller- length measurement in the Group 35 battery size in a battery tray originally designed to fit a Group 24F battery contributed to increased potential for battery movement which was exacerbated by the diversity in aftermarket battery configuration and irregularities intrinsic to battery replacement procedures. Battery movement coupled with the proximity of the B+ terminal on the battery and the grounded electrically conductive hold down bracket set the stage for a short to ground leading to an engine stall (if in operation) followed by a vehicle fire. This investigation was not able to classify the installation status, battery size, or cause of every allegation due to the fire event causing damage to the area, inaccessible vehicle, modification to the battery retention system after the event, and/or inconclusive photographic evidence. Toyota's investigation of the issue identified aftermarket battery catalogs that listed an improper battery replacement size (Group 26R) that would nevertheless fit into the subject vehicles whose battery retention system is incapable of reliably restraining a Group 26R battery. On 18 November 2021, Toyota initiated a consumer advisory campaign (21TG01) to the subject vehicle owners, notifying them of the correct size battery and offering a free inspection of the battery and retention hardware, a caution label to affix to the hold down bracket, and a discounted replacement 12V battery. This investigation with Toyota established three broad categories to characterize the battery retention system state of a given vehicle: "correct", "minor mis-installation", and "major mis-installation". - The "correct" terminology references the front bolt, bracket, and J-hook installed in a position not in contact with the positive battery terminal and the front bolt torqued to 17 Nm and the J-hook engaged with the tray hole and torqued to 4.9 Nm. - A "minor mis-installation" would describe the three retention components installed in the prescribed location, however not to the correct torque values. - The "major mis-installation" condition would constitute a retention component missing or disconnected from the system. Toyota's own testing used five exemplar batteries installed on a subject vehicle in each battery categorization resulted in: - Contact between the B+ terminal and hold down bracket in "major mis-installations" - Movement of the battery in "minor mis-installations" - No observable motion in "correct" installations. ODI conducted its own evaluation of the Toyota- specified replacement battery and 5 aftermarket Group 35 batteries. The six batteries tested conformed to the Group 35 Battery Council International (BCI) standard on overall dimensional tolerance and terminal location. That standard does not define the edge shape or material of battery casing. Physical interaction between the hold down bracket and the battery case and the friction between the casing material and the battery tray resulted in a large variability in movement forces required to incite movement when the battery was installed in the "correct" condition. Resulting in movement at an induced lateral load between 0.6 G and 1.91 G equivalent force across each battery. This force is higher than a typical vehicle could exert in a steady state turn and would only experience loads through brief shock or impulses. Multiple shock or impulse loads across time would contribute to a delay between the replacement battery installation and the fire event. Likelihood of a fire event increases as the installation method degraded from the "correct", to "minor mis-installation", and then to "major mis-installation". Protruding vent caps atop some of the batteries tested aided in restricting battery movement relative to the hold down. An absence of vent caps permitted additional movement. Following several discussions and vehicle inspections with ODI during this investigation, on 01 November 2023, Toyota filed a safety recall (NHTSA 23V-734) of 1,853,568 MY 2013 through MY 2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles to reduce the risk of a vehicle fire with redesigned battery retention components. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
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