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2020 Toyota RAV4

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most RAV4 years

Owner complaints for the 2020 Toyota RAV4 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 258.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

195 reports with mileage · 439 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.

  • Engine. Review the 180 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 90 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports5 fire reports11 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

119 reports
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2,135 miles · Oct 23, 2020
Electrical System

CAR BATTERY DISCHARGES RANDOMLY.

NHTSA ODI #11365970

6,000 miles · Oct 17, 2020
Electrical System

SMART KEY MALFUNCTION-- 2020 RAV4, PURCHASED MAY OF 2020. FIRST INCIDENT: OCCURRED AFTER VEHICLE SITTING IN A PARKING GARAGE AT AN AIRPORT FOR 4 DAYS. CAME BACK AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND LIGHTS ON DISPLAY PANEL WERE FLICKERING. DOOR LOCKS WERE MALFUNCTIONING, AND UPON JUMP STARTING EVERYTHING WAS OK. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP …

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SMART KEY MALFUNCTION-- 2020 RAV4, PURCHASED MAY OF 2020. FIRST INCIDENT: OCCURRED AFTER VEHICLE SITTING IN A PARKING GARAGE AT AN AIRPORT FOR 4 DAYS. CAME BACK AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND LIGHTS ON DISPLAY PANEL WERE FLICKERING. DOOR LOCKS WERE MALFUNCTIONING, AND UPON JUMP STARTING EVERYTHING WAS OK. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD BATTERY WAS BAD, THEY REPLACED BATTERY. SECOND INCIDENT: OCCURRED AFTER CAR PARKED FOR 11 HOURS. VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND LIGHTS ON DISPLAY PANEL WERE FLICKERING AGAIN. DOOR LOCKS WERE MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN AS WELL.. HAVE ALSO SEEN THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME ISSUE.. BASED OFF OF A GOOGLE SEARCH AND RESEARCH, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE. ELECTRICAL ISSUE OR SOME SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DRAIN ITS OWN BATTERY AT RANDOM TIME INTERVALS.

NHTSA ODI #11364861

895 miles · Oct 10, 2020
Electrical System

BOUGHT A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 IN EARLY SEPTEMBER,BUT AFTER 1 MONTH IT BEGAN SHOWING, "BATTERY IS CHARGING" FREQUENTLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT COULD BE WRONG. THEY STATED THAT IT IS NORMAL. IT NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE MESSAGE WILL BE SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD, "BATTERY IS CHARGING". I PLA…

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BOUGHT A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 IN EARLY SEPTEMBER,BUT AFTER 1 MONTH IT BEGAN SHOWING, "BATTERY IS CHARGING" FREQUENTLY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT COULD BE WRONG. THEY STATED THAT IT IS NORMAL. IT NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE MESSAGE WILL BE SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD, "BATTERY IS CHARGING". I PLAN IN TAKING THE CAR AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS RESOLVED, SINCE I KNOW FOR A FACT IT IS THE BATTERY THAT IT'S MALFUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ODI #11363748

3,023 miles · Sep 30, 2020
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE CAR WASH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. A MONTH LATER AFTER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MODERN TOYOTA OF BOONE (225 MODERN DRIVE, BOONE NC, 28607, (828) 263-5437) T…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE CAR WASH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. A MONTH LATER AFTER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MODERN TOYOTA OF BOONE (225 MODERN DRIVE, BOONE NC, 28607, (828) 263-5437) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED AND THE FAILURE WAS FIXED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,023.

NHTSA ODI #11362039

1,900 miles · Sep 18, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

THIS IS A SPECIFIC CONCERN FOR THE BATTERY/ELECTRIC SYSTEM THAT APPEARS TO BE VERY PREVALENT.. IN THE 3 MONTHS SINCE BUYING MY 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED HYBRID (JUNE 20, 2020)-I'VE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR JUMPED TWICE DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING I WAS NOT DOING CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, AFTER READI…

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THIS IS A SPECIFIC CONCERN FOR THE BATTERY/ELECTRIC SYSTEM THAT APPEARS TO BE VERY PREVALENT.. IN THE 3 MONTHS SINCE BUYING MY 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED HYBRID (JUNE 20, 2020)-I'VE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR JUMPED TWICE DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING I WAS NOT DOING CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, AFTER READING THE COMMENTS ON SEVERAL SITES IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE EACH TIME AND WOULD NOT START THE NEXT MORNING. THE SERVICE PERSON WHO CAME OUT TO JUMP IT THE SECOND TIME SAID THAT HE GETS A LOT OF CALLS FOR THESE NEW CARS. THE SECOND TIME IT ALSO LOST MY PARKING ASSIST ON THE BACKUP CAMERA ALONG WITH THE LAST RADIO SETTING. UNFORTUNATELY- TAKING IT TO THE DEALER HAS NOT WORKED FOR MOST OF THE OWNERS. THE DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG OR EVEN LOCATE THE ISSUE. WHAT HAS TOYOTA DONE TO DETERMINE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING? IS IT SOFTWARE, BATTERY, ELECTRICAL OR A COMBINATION OF THESE? REFERENCES: HTTPS://WWW.MOTORBISCUIT.COM/ARE-2019-AND-2020-TOYOTA-RAV4-HYBRIDS-SUFFERING-BATTERY-ISSUES/ HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C29023_DS1091695 HTTPS://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/THREADS/2020-HYBRID-STARTING-ISSUE-DUE-TO-BATTERY-DRAIN.303771/ HTTPS://WWW.KBB.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2020/CONSUMER-REVIEWS/ HTTPS://WWW.REDDIT.COM/R/RAV4CLUB/COMMENTS/FUCB6M/2020_RAV4_BATTERY_DEAD/ PLUS MORE --- JUST GOOGLE '2020 RAV4 HYBRID BATTERY PROBLEMS'

NHTSA ODI #11359832

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2020
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2020 RAV4 XLE WITH ABOUT 3,000 MILEAGE. THE CAR BATTERY HAS DIED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I JUMP STARTED THE CAR. THE SECOND TIME, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A NEW CAR WOULD BE HAVING THESE BATTERY PROBLEMS. HAS ANYONE HAD ANY SIM…

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I HAVE A 2020 RAV4 XLE WITH ABOUT 3,000 MILEAGE. THE CAR BATTERY HAS DIED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I JUMP STARTED THE CAR. THE SECOND TIME, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A NEW CAR WOULD BE HAVING THESE BATTERY PROBLEMS. HAS ANYONE HAD ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI #11352652

3,200 miles · Aug 23, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

BATTERY "DIED" THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST - JUMP STARTED AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THAT "SHORT DISTANCE" DRIVING CAN DRAIN THE BATTERY - SINCE I DRIVE 45 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK, THAT IS NOT A VALID "EXCUSE". NOW, 3 WEEKS LATER, MY CAR WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE FOR …

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BATTERY "DIED" THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST - JUMP STARTED AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THAT "SHORT DISTANCE" DRIVING CAN DRAIN THE BATTERY - SINCE I DRIVE 45 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK, THAT IS NOT A VALID "EXCUSE". NOW, 3 WEEKS LATER, MY CAR WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE FOR 36 HOURS WITH NOTHING LEFT ON - AND THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD. TESTED THE BATTERY MYSELF BEFORE JUMPSTARTING IT - AND IT FULL. ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY MY CAR SHOULD NOT START.

NHTSA ODI #11350829

2,900 miles · Aug 12, 2020
Electrical System

CAR BATTERY DIED AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS, LESS THAN 3,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING, I WOULD GET A MESSAGE THAT READ, "BATTERY CHARGING." DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY AND 1 WEEK LATER, THE NEW BATTERY DIED. AFTER DOING A PARASITIC DRAIN TEST, THE PROBLEM WAS SOURCED TO THE DATA CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALERSHIP UPLOADED NEW…

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CAR BATTERY DIED AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS, LESS THAN 3,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING, I WOULD GET A MESSAGE THAT READ, "BATTERY CHARGING." DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY AND 1 WEEK LATER, THE NEW BATTERY DIED. AFTER DOING A PARASITIC DRAIN TEST, THE PROBLEM WAS SOURCED TO THE DATA CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALERSHIP UPLOADED NEW SOFTWARE AND SO FAR I'VE HAD NO FURTHER ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI #11348928

500 miles · Aug 5, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine

SERIOUS D-CELL BATTERY DISCHARGE ISSUE. TWICE OUR NEW RAV4 HYBRID HAS HAD TO BE JUMPED AND TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A DEAD BATTERY. DEALER FOUND NOTHING FIXABLE BUT REPLACED THE BATTERY. 1ST TIME WE WERE STRANDED IN HOTEL PARKING LOT AFTER TRIP ABROAD. 2ND TIME WAS AT HOME. CARGURUS SENDS ME 5 COMPLAINTS A DAY FOR OTHERS WITH THE SAM…

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SERIOUS D-CELL BATTERY DISCHARGE ISSUE. TWICE OUR NEW RAV4 HYBRID HAS HAD TO BE JUMPED AND TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A DEAD BATTERY. DEALER FOUND NOTHING FIXABLE BUT REPLACED THE BATTERY. 1ST TIME WE WERE STRANDED IN HOTEL PARKING LOT AFTER TRIP ABROAD. 2ND TIME WAS AT HOME. CARGURUS SENDS ME 5 COMPLAINTS A DAY FOR OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. VEHICLE IS NOT RELIABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11343488

500 miles · Aug 2, 2020
Electrical System

TWO DAYS OF NOT DRIVING AND NO POWER TO CAR BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID I WAS DREAMING OF THINGS AND BOUGHT IT HOME THEN TWO DAYS LATER IT HAPPEN AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #11342854

Official recalls

6

23V865000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Dec 20, 2023

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.

20V734000 · Air Bags:frontal; Steering:column

Nov 25, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.

Steering:column

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.

20V682000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Nov 4, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.

20V373000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Jun 24, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and 2020 RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of electric power steering assist.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loss of power steering assist could increase steering effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear box, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB11 / 20TA11.

20V286000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

May 20, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. The front lower suspension arms may have cracks, which may result in the suspension arm separating from the front wheel assembly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If a suspension control arm breaks, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower suspension arms, free of charge. This recall began August 10, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's interim numbers for this recall are 20TB08 / 20TA08.

20V064000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Feb 6, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid and Lexus ES300h and 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with 2.5L 4-Cylinder engines. Porosity in the engine castings may result in cracks than can allow coolant to leak internally and/or externally.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall in conventional gasoline vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, for all involved vehicles, the engine may get damaged mechanically, possibly resulting in an engine oil leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine including the engine block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA04. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA02.

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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