Despite being one of the best-selling vehicles in its segment, Toyota’s RAV4 has some notable common problems. Fuel tank issues with the 2019 RAV4 and sticky accelerators in 2010 are among the worst issues, which triggered recalls by Toyota.
Key Points
- The 2010 RAV4 was part of two massive safety recalls issued by Toyota related to unintended acceleration caused by stuck gas pedals.
- The 2010 and 2011 RAV4 model years had problems with rear suspension arm corrosion, causing noises and tire misalignment issues for owners.
- 2010 through 2012 RAV4s were recalled for problems with seat belts being cut by the seat frame.
- The redesigned 2019 RAV4 ended up having a lot of problems, with over 400 complaints and seven recalls reported by owners, mostly involving problems with the fuel pump and fuel tank.
- The 2020 Toyota RAV4 had fewer complaints but was recalled for similar issues to the 2019 RAV4.
- Since 2019, at least 20% of RAV4 sales are for hybrid models, and so far, the hybrids have had minimal problems and recalls. But owners have reported the most issues with the 2017 model year.
Third-generation Toyota RAV4 (2006-2012) Had More Problems in Later Model Years, Including an Issue With Unintended Acceleration
Toyota’s best-selling RAV4 has overall maintained a good reliability history, on top of being notoriously efficient and affordable. Unfortunately, the third-generation RAV4 (2006–2012) was among the worst in terms of problems, with over 30 recalls issued by Toyota between 2010-2012.
Of the 2010 RAV4’s nearly 400 complaints reported by owners to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly a quarter of them involve issues with unintended acceleration. Toyota recalled the 2010 RAV4 twice for this issue.
Toyota initially recalled the 2010 RAV4 over a sticky accelerator pedal that could get stuck in a depressed position, creating safety risks. Toyota’s remedy was to install a reinforcement bar in the pedal.
The second recall, released in 2011, involves an issue with the RAV4’s floor mats. Unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mats may cause the accelerator pedal to be stuck in a wide-open position, increasing the risk of a crash. Toyota offers free repair or replacement of the accelerator and floor mats.
Rear Suspension Components Tend to Corrode on Some 2010 and 2011 RAV4 Models
Both the 2010 and 2011 Toyota RAV4 model years were impacted by other significant issues that triggered recalls by the automaker. Of them, corrosion of the rear suspension arm (tie rod) affected nearly one million vehicles.
Owners reported numerous complaints to the NHTSA about noises being heard from the chassis of their RAV4s under certain conditions, and issues with alignment of the rear tires. As a result, Toyota issued safety recalls for RAV4s related to tie rod failure.
Caused by improper tightening of alignment adjustment nuts during service, the rear suspension arm (tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust that could cause damage and misalignment of the rear wheels. Toyota says it will inspect RAV4 tie rods and replace any that have rust.
2019 and 2020 RAV4s are Problematic, With Issues Ranging from Faulty Fuel Pumps to Engine Stalls
Introduced in 2019, the fifth-generation Toyota RAV4 was a leap forward in terms of design and technology. Unfortunately, this generation quickly became problematic for Toyota, being plagued by fuel pump issues, plummeting reliability ratings.
Drivers began reporting issues with their 2019 RAV4s stalling. With over half of complaints reported to the NHTSA about the 2019 RAV4 alone related to fuel issues, this problem was found to be widespread and rolled into the 2020 model year. As a result, Toyota recalled over 1.5 million vehicles, including the 2019 and 2020 RAV4s.
Toyota says that a defective low-pressure fuel pump found in certain RAV4s may fail, causing the engine to stall while driving. Toyota will have dealers replace the fuel pump assembly.
Owners Report Electrical Issues and Brake Problems With 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Upon review of NHTSA information, the 2017 RAV4 Hybrid had almost 200 complaints reported by owners, the most in the RAV4 Hybrid’s history. Of these complaints, problems with the vehicle’s electrical systems and brakes have caused the most issues for owners.
Owners report various issues with their RAV4 Hybrid vehicles, including faulty proximity sensors, hybrid system failure resulting in vehicle stalling, and other annoying hiccups with door locks and infotainment system. The majority of these electrical problems appear minor and mostly inconvenient.
In addition to electrical system problems, issues with the 2017 RAV4 Hybrid’s brakes were also prevalent. Owners report difficulties braking, with multiple complaints related to the brake pedal going all the way to the floor. Premature wear and tear of the RAV4’s brakes was found to be the cause of these issues.
2019-2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Gas Tanks Struggle to Fill Completely
RAV4 Hybrids have had ongoing issues with gas tanks. Numerous complaints reported to the NHTSA reveal owners of 2019-2020 RAV4s not being able to fill the gas tanks up on their vehicles to full, limiting the vehicle’s driving range.
Technically no recall has been issued by Toyota, but discovery of the problem by the automaker triggered action to fix it. Toyota found that variation of fuel tank shape and potential for the fuel sender gauge to become inclined could cause the fuel level to read incorrectly in certain 2019-2021 RAV4 Hybrids, therefore prompting a low fuel light to illuminate.
Toyota will replace the fuel tank and fuel sender gauge for owners if this condition is present.
Toyota’s RAV4 Remains a Best-seller for Many Reasons, but Certain Model Years Should be Avoided
Selling over 400,000 units since 2017, the Toyota RAV4 is a best-seller for many reasons. Despite leading the industry in efficiency, reliability, and safety, certain models have been more problematic than others.
Problems with unintended acceleration, tie rod corrosion, and seat belt separations were the most prevalent issues with 2010-2012 RAV4s, while fuel pump failure and fuel tank defects have dominated RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid’s recent history, ultimately affecting its reliability rating.
Despite these problems, the RAV4 is overall a great vehicle, earning awards from J.D. Power and Kelley Blue Book, and top safety ratings by the NHTSA and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Photos: Toyota
