In 2020, the Toyota RAV4 was Toyota’s best-selling SUV, let’s find out why it’s so popular.
Although the first-generation RAV4 had rugged looks, it turned out to not have the safety to back it up.
All in all, the first-generation RAV4 is reliable, reporting about 60 or fewer complaints on NHTSA for each year. It's safe to say as long as the first-generation RAV4 is regularly maintained it will not give you any extraordinary problems.
As for reliability, the RAV4 could simply not achieve the greatness of its predecessor. It received over 500 complaints for each model year as opposed to the previous 60, according to the NHTSA.
All in all, it just didn't have the reliability of the old RAV nor the safety of its successor.
The third-generation RAV proved to be the safest RAV yet. It received top marks in both the moderate front overlap and side test.
As for the reliability of the new RAV, it was greatly improved from the last generation. However, it had a rocky start, from 2006-2008 it received about 600 complaints per model year, reminiscent of the previous generation.
The RAV4 earned IIHS Top Safety Picks for the 2013, 2015, and 2018 model years. For 2016 and 2017 it received even higher marks from the IIHS with a Top Safety Pick+.
It seems that the only complaint that showed up repeatedly for this RAV was that the radio would shut off and reset randomly or constantly.
The new RAV is by far the safest RAV thus far. It received an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ in 2019 and an IIHS Top Safety Pick in 2020.
The 2019 model had over 350 complaints.
If I were to buy a RAV4 I would opt for the first generation. I would choose the first-generation RAV for many reasons, the first being its reliability. As I said it had few complaints on the NHTSA.
A close second for me would be a 2009-2012 third-generation RAV4 because of the excellent safety score, V6 engine, and improved reliability.
The worst RAV4 would have to be the second generation. Although it had some of the excellent and rugged styling cues of the first-generation RAV4, its reliability and safety were enough to make it a poor choice.
Although the new RAV looks fantastic, I would also avoid it with seven recalls and near 400 complaints. This indicates that it may have some serious reliability issues in the long run.
The RAV4 has had an excellent history of both safety and reliability. So long as you chose the right one, I can say it will not disappoint.
However, I can say as time went on the RAV got more and more boring. I say this not only because it strayed from its roots, but because even with competitive technology on higher trims, it never seems more than a means of transportation.