NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
331 reports10,000 miles · Jan 16, 2020
Power Train
I PURCHASED MY RAV4 BRAND NEW MID/LATE YEAR 2018. IN DECEMBER AT APP. 10000 MILES I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE GEARS. SHIFTING FROM PARK TO ANY GEAR I WOULD HEAR A LOUD BANGING TYPE NOISE AND THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD JERK. ALONG WITH THAT ISSUES I HAVE NOTICED A DELAYED ACCELERATION AT GREEN LIGHTS SOMETIMES TO THE POINT WHERE I…
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I PURCHASED MY RAV4 BRAND NEW MID/LATE YEAR 2018. IN DECEMBER AT APP. 10000 MILES I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE GEARS. SHIFTING FROM PARK TO ANY GEAR I WOULD HEAR A LOUD BANGING TYPE NOISE AND THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD JERK. ALONG WITH THAT ISSUES I HAVE NOTICED A DELAYED ACCELERATION AT GREEN LIGHTS SOMETIMES TO THE POINT WHERE I GET A TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ONCE IT HAS KICKED IN OR EVEN JERKING WHILE FINDING THE CORRECT GEAR TO BE IN. ONCE I HAVE ACCELERATED AND LET OFF THE GAS, AND THEN RETURNED TO THE ACCELERATION PEDAL AFTER BRAKING OR JUST MOMENTARILY RESTING MY ANKLE WITH THE CAR AT SPEED, THE CAR WILL "FISH FOR GEARS" LIKE IT CANNOT DECIDE WHICH GEAR THE CAR SHOULD BE IN. WHEN GOING DOWNHILL AND LETTING OFF THE GAS IT WILL DOWNSHIFT, CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK. ALL THESE ISSUES HAPPEN OFTEN BUT COMPLETELY AT RANDOM. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND BROUGHT IT UP MULTIPLE TIMES DURING OIL CHANGES AND TIRE ROTATION, BUT THEY SAY THAT CANNOT DUPLICATE IT OR THAT IT IS JUST HOW THE CAR WORKS.
NHTSA ODI #11299733
31,064 miles · Jan 14, 2020
Unknown Or Other
I WAS DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE FROM FT. LAUDERDALE, FL TO OCALA, FL, WHEN I REACH THE KISSIMMEE AREA, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF. I HELD THE DOOR WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE TO A SAVE AREA. THIS WAS A CONSTRUCTION AREA, SO I DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE OR 1-1/2 MILE AND ENTER BETWEEN THE CONSTRUCTION DRUMS TO PARK…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE FROM FT. LAUDERDALE, FL TO OCALA, FL, WHEN I REACH THE KISSIMMEE AREA, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF. I HELD THE DOOR WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE TO A SAVE AREA. THIS WAS A CONSTRUCTION AREA, SO I DROVE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE OR 1-1/2 MILE AND ENTER BETWEEN THE CONSTRUCTION DRUMS TO PARK AND PROPERLY CLOSE AND LOCK THE DOOR. IT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING AND TENSE MOMENT.
NHTSA ODI #11299245
29,400 miles · Dec 19, 2019
Unknown Or Other
I WAS ALONE AROUND 630PM DRIVING STRAIGHT EAST ON I10 TWIN SPANS IN THE LEFT LANE GOING 70ISH MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND. OVERHEAD I COULD HEAR A LITTLE WHISTLING AND RATTLING COMING FROM THE SUNROOF SHADE THAT WAS CLOSED. I QUICKLY GOT INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND SLOWED TO ABOUT 50 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AT THE TOYOTA DE…
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I WAS ALONE AROUND 630PM DRIVING STRAIGHT EAST ON I10 TWIN SPANS IN THE LEFT LANE GOING 70ISH MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND. OVERHEAD I COULD HEAR A LITTLE WHISTLING AND RATTLING COMING FROM THE SUNROOF SHADE THAT WAS CLOSED. I QUICKLY GOT INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND SLOWED TO ABOUT 50 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO REVIEW THE VEHICLE. THEY CLAIM A ROCK HIT THE GLASS, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME TO THROW UP A ROCK. IT WAS NOT RAINING. IT WAS SLIGHTLY WINDY. THIS OCCURRED ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2019.
NHTSA ODI #11290102
7,250 miles · Dec 13, 2019
Visibility/wiper
SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH & NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND.THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT CLAIMS A ROCK CAUSED THE ISSUE AND WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR.
NHTSA ODI #11288964
20,000 miles · Dec 12, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control
IN THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASE JANUARY 16TH, 2018, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL HAS LOST TRACK OF AN SUV IN FRONT OF ME AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER HAD TO INTERVENE. FIRST INSTANCE WAS A BROWN PONTIAC AZTEC IN CLEAR WEATHER DAYTIME. SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS A BLUE CHEVY ENCORE IN CLEAR WEATHER DAYTIME. THIRD OCCU…
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IN THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASE JANUARY 16TH, 2018, THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL HAS LOST TRACK OF AN SUV IN FRONT OF ME AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DRIVER HAD TO INTERVENE. FIRST INSTANCE WAS A BROWN PONTIAC AZTEC IN CLEAR WEATHER DAYTIME. SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS A BLUE CHEVY ENCORE IN CLEAR WEATHER DAYTIME. THIRD OCCURRENCE WAS A BLACK ESCALADE IN CLEAR WEATHER AT NIGHT. VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET TO 70-80 MPH WITH THE CLOSEST DISTANCE SETTING.
NHTSA ODI #11288606
6,900 miles · Dec 6, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT # 11279255 FILED ON 11/10/2019. CAR STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING WITH "CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" APPEARING ON THE DASH NEXT TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER TAKING CAR TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN CONSHOHOCKEN PA, THEY KEPT THE CAR ASKED QUESTIONS AND FINALLY FOUND A FAULTY VALVE IN THE GAS LINE…
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THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT # 11279255 FILED ON 11/10/2019. CAR STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING WITH "CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" APPEARING ON THE DASH NEXT TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER TAKING CAR TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN CONSHOHOCKEN PA, THEY KEPT THE CAR ASKED QUESTIONS AND FINALLY FOUND A FAULTY VALVE IN THE GAS LINE THAT WAS FLOODING THE VAPOR CANISTER WITH GAS. TOYOTA STEPPED UP AND ALONG WITH THE PERSISTENCE OF THIS DEALERSHIP IN DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM, IT WAS RESOLVED. THIS ISSUE WAS A THREAT TO LIFE AS IF IT HAD HAPPENED 10 MINUTES LATER WHEN THE CAR WAS ON AN INTERSTATE, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.
NHTSA ODI #11287441
16,000 miles · Dec 2, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other
THE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AT NIGHT ON A WET ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FOUR LANE ROAD WITH TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION. SPEED WAS AROUND 45MPH. LANE DEPARTURE WARNING WORKS ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 32MPH. THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE WHITE SHOULDER LINE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE OR TH…
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THE LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AT NIGHT ON A WET ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FOUR LANE ROAD WITH TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION. SPEED WAS AROUND 45MPH. LANE DEPARTURE WARNING WORKS ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 32MPH. THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE WHITE SHOULDER LINE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE OR THE DOTTED WHITE LINE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE LANE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME. THE OTHER TIME WAS APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AGO.
NHTSA ODI #11286289
8,000 miles · Nov 24, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemService Brakes
WHEN I'M DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT STALLED OR DOWNSHIFTED AND THE DISPLAY GETS DARK BUT CAR IS STILL 'ON', HOWEVER, IT WILL NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED TOO. UNFORTUNATELY, IT ONLY RESOLVED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, CAUSING TRAFFIC TO STOP OR SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING ME…
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WHEN I'M DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT STALLED OR DOWNSHIFTED AND THE DISPLAY GETS DARK BUT CAR IS STILL 'ON', HOWEVER, IT WILL NO LONGER ACCELERATE. THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE AFFECTED TOO. UNFORTUNATELY, IT ONLY RESOLVED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, CAUSING TRAFFIC TO STOP OR SWERVE TO AVOID HITTING ME 3X THE PAST 2 WEEKS.
NHTSA ODI #11282038
18,253 miles · Nov 12, 2019
Power Train
THE VEHICLE JERKS AND MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN THE EV MODE TURNS ON MOMENTARILY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN GOING DOWN HILL AND PRESSING ACCELERATOR AFTER RELEASED FOR A FEW MINUTES. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN BUT WHEN IT DOES, FEELS LIKE THE REAR TIRE HAS BUSTED AND THE CAR IS BEING FORCED TO MOVE. IT HAS HAPP…
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THE VEHICLE JERKS AND MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN THE EV MODE TURNS ON MOMENTARILY AT 60 MILES PER HOUR. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN GOING DOWN HILL AND PRESSING ACCELERATOR AFTER RELEASED FOR A FEW MINUTES. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN BUT WHEN IT DOES, FEELS LIKE THE REAR TIRE HAS BUSTED AND THE CAR IS BEING FORCED TO MOVE. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES NOW AND I HAVE REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA BUT THE DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 8 TIMES SO FAR SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2018.
NHTSA ODI #11279675
6,750 miles · Nov 10, 2019
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SHUTTERED THEN STOPPED WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED. I COASTED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. RESTARTED CAR TO GET HOME AND THIS SAME THING HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES UNTIL I GOT HOME AND PARKED IT. WE RAN THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENE…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SHUTTERED THEN STOPPED WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CHARGING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED. I COASTED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. RESTARTED CAR TO GET HOME AND THIS SAME THING HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES UNTIL I GOT HOME AND PARKED IT. WE RAN THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED 3 MORE TIMES. SINCE IT IS SUNDAY AFTERNOON WILL HAVE TO CALL TOYOTA ON MONDAY. AFTER READING ONLINE ABOUT SIMILAR ISSUES...I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. IT SEEMS TOYOTA HAS NO FIX OR HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IT AS A PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11279255
Official recalls
3Nov 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.
Jun 28, 2019
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Dec 20, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
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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