Complaint volume
864 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2019 Toyota RAV4 Complaints
864 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Toyota RAV4, grouped by component category.
864 Total complaints
25 Crash reports
2 Fire reports
16 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are fuel/propulsion system, engine, unknown or other. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 25 crash reports, 2 fire reports, 16 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 307 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 12,567 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to fuel/propulsion system, engine, unknown or other?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2019 Toyota RAV4?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2019 Toyota RAV4
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2019 Toyota RAV4 complaints?
25 Crash
2 Fire
16 Injury
0 Fatality
22 Towed
11 Medical attention
What are the most common 2019 Toyota RAV4 complaint categories?
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 213
ENGINE 134
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 92
POWER TRAIN 46
STRUCTURE 45
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 26
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 15
SERVICE BRAKES 13
VISIBILITY/WIPER 12
AIR BAGS 10
864 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The infotainment system of my 2019 RAV4 hybrid will randomly turn off while driving. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES | Was in a front driver side T-bone @ 35 miles and hour accident and no Airbags deployed | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ENGINE | The Coolant Bypass Valve on my vehicle failed, leading to a risk of sudden engine overheating and potential coolant leaks into the electrical harness. This is a documented defect (CSP 23TE03) that Toyota has failed to address for vehicles over 100,000 miles, creating a safety hazard for high-mileage owners. This is a major concern on a known issue and those that don't have funds to pay for this known failure. They need to do a recall for ALL! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | The 8-speed automatic on my 2019 RAV4 (2.5L 4 Cyl) has been shifting super rough at lower speeds, to the point to where downshifts can send the revs into redline territory, but the car really doesn't move. No warning lights, passed state inspection, recently serviced. purchaced this car in Janurary with 50k miles on it and noticed it within a few weeks of driving. I am now at 57k and the issue is signifigantly worse than it was before. Will be taking it to Toyota soon. The safety issues arise when I do not know how the car is going to accelerate or respond to throttle input in traffic. I don't trust the car to handle any fast throttle input if I need to move out of the way quickly. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | STRUCTURE | The rear door (lift gate) hinges are failing and tearing away from the vehicle body, causing misalignment of the rear door, operational failure of the automated lift gate, and water leaking into the interior. This has occurred under normal use conditions. It appears that the hinge design is insufficient to handle the load and forces of normal operation of the door. The failure has been documented in pictures. The Toyota dealership where the vehicle was purchased stated that the vehicle is out of warranty and there is no recall for the hinges, therefore the owner is responsible for repair costs. Had the issue not been found and the hinges failed completely, it could have been extremely hazardous. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My 2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure suffered a sudden catastrophic transmission failure while driving on the highway on April 28, 2026, resulting in loss of forward gears and a dangerous situation. On April 28, 2026, while traveling in [XXX] , my 2019 Toyota RAV4 Adventure (159,173 miles) experienced a sudden transmission failure with no prior warning symptoms. The vehicle began slipping, made a whining noise, would not properly upshift or hold speed (became stuck in 3rd gear), and eventually lost all forward propulsion, creating a safety hazard on the road. I had the vehicle towed to Zanesville Toyota in [XXX] . Their diagnosis (copy of repair order attached) revealed severe internal damage including: Torque converter clutch actuator stuck off Multiple pressure control solenoids stuck Transmission slipping and complete loss of all forward gears Fluid full but contaminated with metal debris and clutch material Whining noise The dealer quoted approximately $15,000 for a full transmission + torque converter replacement and denied goodwill assistance. This appears to be part of a known issue with the 8-speed automatic transmission (UB80) in 2019+ Toyota RAV4 models. I am concerned this is a safety defect that can cause sudden loss of power while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. I have attached the Zanesville Toyota repair order dated 04/30/2026 documenting the failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | Carry Handle, Shell, Base,Insert, Padding | I am reporting a serious concern and safety issue regarding the SlimFit3 LX car seat. We purchased it for a [XXX] old [XXX] male. After adjusting the head rest to the proper height so that the harness straps were slightly below his shoulder, we placed him in the seat and his head was unnaturally pushed forward and down so that his chin was pushed into his chest. This was caused by the headrest sitting too far forward of the back padding so there was no way for him to keep his head in natural alignment with his back. The contributing factor is the minimal back padding and its inset into the car seat. There should be more padding to move the back forward or the headrest should be retracted into the seat more. We immediately returned the two car seats we purchased because of this and went with a different manufacturer. Not only is this an ergonomic/comfort issue, but it could introduce airway obstructing breathing issues if the child fell asleep. It is an extremely unnatural position. Also, I would be concerned about long term damage to a child's posture after repeated use. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | The rear hatch hinges are undersized causing them to fail and undue stress on the motor. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | A coolant leak from the flow shut‑off valve caused the engine maintenance warning light to remain on for an extended period. This issue is covered under Toyota Customer Support Program 24TE04. The warning light is a safety concern because it indicates an active engine‑related malfunction and can mask other warnings. The defect was first diagnosed by a Toyota dealership at approximately 97,000 miles, well within the CSP coverage window. The dealership stated the vehicle “did not meet criteria” and refused to perform the repair, even though the symptoms matched those described in the CSP. The issue continued until a second Toyota dealership later confirmed the same defect and replaced the coolant bypass valve. Because the vehicle had since exceeded 100,000 miles, Toyota refused to cover the repair under the CSP, despite the defect being documented earlier within the coverage period. Multiple attempts to resolve the issue with Toyota corporate have resulted in no returned calls or meaningful response. The defect caused prolonged operation with an illuminated engine warning light, which presents a safety risk and indicates a failure to properly address a known issue covered under Toyota’s Customer Support Program | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | Braking while pulling into a parking space. Instead of slowing down the car accelerated and went over the curb. Maintained pressure on the break but it did not slow the car. Instead the car kept accelerating down an embankment, across an empty street and towards a telephone pole. Turning the steering wheel to the left to avoid the telephone pole the car further descended into a ditch. The car had to be towed and is now deemed to be totaled. The brake- pads had been inspected during a routine maintenance check the day before this accident occurred and they were good. No other vehicle was involved. My personal injury was an abrasion and bruise where my seat belt did it's job. My muscles are sore. The side airbags did deploy after the car stopped. The floor mats were locked in place. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Safety Defect: Data Communication Module (DCM) Failure Affecting Hands-Free Microphone and Safety Connect / SOS Emergency System Vehicle: 2019 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid LE The DCM (which controls both the CarPlay/Bluetooth hands-free microphone and the Safety Connect SOS emergency button) suddenly failed without any warning or accident. Symptoms: - No one can hear me during CarPlay or Bluetooth calls (microphone inoperative). - Safety Connect / SOS light became intermittent or inoperative (directly impacts emergency calling, crash notification, and roadside assistance). This is a known recurring issue documented in Toyota TSBs T-SB-0112-20 and T-SB-0089-21. Toyota of Hackensack diagnosed it and quoted $1,300 for DCM replacement/update while charging me $200 for diagnosis. They did not disclose during the multipoint inspection that this is a documented safety-related DCM fault. I performed the manufacturer-recommended 12V battery disconnect reset (standard TSB procedure), which fully restored the microphone and returned the SOS light to solid green. However, this is only a temporary fix for a known defect. This failure compromises hands-free calling while driving and the emergency SOS system — both critical safety features. I request NHTSA investigation and urge Toyota to issue a recall or service campaign for all affected 2019–2025 RAV4 Hybrids. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | STRUCTURE | Tailgate problem since Purchase. Tailgate won't close. Gets stuck open. Dangerous. Known issue. Fixed 3 times at Toyota dealer. Faulty hinge and other real parts problems. Dealer says there is a class action lawsuit about the problem. 1st occurred only during Winters starting 2022. Gas door broken 2023. Water leaking into passenger front door 2022. Also door actuator . Have had to replace front 2, now rear broken. Can report separately. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | While driving, the moonroof on my 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE AWD suddenly exploded with a loud bang and the glass blew outward. There was no impact, debris, or external cause. The sound was similar to a gunshot. The remaining glass appeared to be pushed upward/outward, not inward. This created a safety hazard due to potential driver distraction and risk of injury from falling glass. This appears consistent with other reported incidents involving spontaneous sunroof shattering. No warning light. Moonroof was shut.Sunny day about 40 degrees outside. Traveling at 68 mph. Dog in crate in back | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | POWER TRAIN | At 92,000 miles my transmission went out and Toyota told me I need a brand new one. It goes in for routine services. It’s available for inspection. For the last few years I addressed the issues of jerky shift motion and it was blown off every time. It is only 7 years old. It stalled out in a busy intersection and wouldn’t move forward or backwards. There were no warning lamps before it went out. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Engine Maintenance Required - Visit the Dealer" was displayed on the screen. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the coolant flow control valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired out-of-pocket. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Customer Support Program: 24TE04. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 116,000 |
| Mar 2026 | STRUCTURE | I have a 2019 Toyota Rav4 and my liftgate hinges are breaking . The welds are breaking and its causing my truck to no close all the way. Also is truck itself had misaligning itself to the driver side and its also breaking my tail light from the truck hitting it. This is a known problem with this model of car. Toyota has refuse to fix this problem. Leaving people to pay for this repair out of their pocket. The price i have quote for is $2,288.27 that's alot of money. This problem needs to be fix without us coming out of our pocket to fix something that Toyota has known about for some time now. I have been back and forward with my local deal ship snice 3/20/2026. Today i s 3/24/2026 and nothing has changed. I have called Toyota corporate to see if i can some help with is repair. All they keep saying is my car" doesn't meet the reequipments. There should be a recall cause this isnt one two RAV4s its hundreds maybe even tens of thousands. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | STRUCTURE | I have noticed visible rust forming on the roof, specifically the front drivers side adjacent to the inside edge of the roof rail that runs forward to aft on the vehicle. The same stated rust spot is near where the roof meets the windshield. It is available for inspection upon request. My 2019 Toyota Rav4 along with several other 5th generation Rav4 owners online are experiencing rust in the same exact spot. This rust may be a result of the Toyota Customer Service Program (CSP) #22TE05 and T-SB-0016-23 that came of a result of the Fishkind v. Toyota Motor Sales, USA et al. No. Case 2:23-cv-02279 Class Action Lawsuit. This rust may have been formed by the leaking roof rail gaskets that have a slow enough leak rate to penetrate the roof rail clip holes and create moisture and rust over an extended period of time but not high enough of a leak rate to cause excess leakage into the vehicle that would immediately alarm the driver to have the vehicle taken into the dealership for immediate repair before the corrosion and rust can have a chance to spread. After several conversations with Toyota Corporate and my Toyota dealership they have denied me CSP inspection and any coverage or good will assistance through the CSP# 22TE05 & T-SB-0016-23 despite evidence of water residue buildup on the headliner visible through a UV blacklight. Even if the rust is not caused from the roof rail gasket leakage, there are still multiple other instances online of other 5th gen rav4 owners experiencing roof rust in the same exact spot adjacent to the drivers side roof rail near the windshield, which points to a manufacturing defect. My safety will be put at risk when the corrosion worsens and leaks through into the electrical components of the vehicle. My dealership witnessed the rust but denied performing an inspection of the roof rail clips since there is currently visible rust, likely due to the roof rail clips leakage. No manufacturer inspection. No noticeable warning symptoms. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | STRUCTURE,SEATS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | A recall was issued for a roof leak defect that allowed water intrusion into my vehicle. The recall repair was performed at Autonation Toyota of Weston dealership, where the roof was replaced due to water staining. However, water intrusion which led to black mold growth into the interior carpeting and floor board remained after the repair. The dealership stated that the remaining water intrusion affecting the carpeting was caused by another source. Documentation showing that the recall repair procedure was completed according to the manufacturer’s requirements was requested but has not been provided. The defect involving water entering the vehicle interior remains unresolved. I was last told by the General Manager that my requests and concerns were forwarded to legal, but I have not heard back from October of 2025. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2026 | STRUCTURE | The rear liftgate began malfunctioning and would intermittently fail to open or close properly. The issue had previously been reported to a Toyota dealership, but the problem could not be reproduced at the time. I noticed recently that the liftgate was not fully closing on the passenger side. While inspecting the liftgate more closely, I discovered that the passenger side liftgate hinge is cracked and the metal at the hinge base is separating. The crack appears to run through the hinge bracket where it attaches to the body. The driver side hinge also shows signs of stress. Because the hinge is cracked and separating, there is concern that the liftgate could eventually detach or fall unexpectedly. The liftgate is heavy, and a hinge failure could allow it to drop suddenly, posing a risk of injury to someone standing near or underneath it. If both hinges fail at the same time, the liftgate could become detached from the vehicle while driving resulting in an accident and potential injury to myself, my family, and others that are hit by or hit the liftgate. The dealership suggested the damage may have occurred from forcing the liftgate closed when the liftgate struts failed to function. However, the cracking appears consistent with progressive metal fatigue rather than a single impact event. This appears to be a structural hinge failure that could affect the safe operation of the liftgate. The dealership has documented my concerns on numerous occasions and today they visually saw the hinges in their current shape. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while seated in the vehicle, while the vehicle was parked, there was an abnormally strong plastic burning odor inside the vehicle. The contact stated that a top light was plugged in the trunk, but the light was turned off. After opening the trunk, the contact became aware that the wiring in the trunk had overheated and burned the laundry that was inside the vehicle and the rear passenger's side seat. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 129,000 |
| Feb 2026 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | On February 2, 2026, while driving approximately 65 mph on the freeway in Wisconsin, the panoramic sunroof glass on my 2019 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium (VIN: [XXX] ) spontaneously exploded. The ambient temperature was approximately 20°F. Crucially, the glass buckled outward, indicating the failure was caused by internal pressure or a structural defect, rather than an external impact (such as a rock). There were no other vehicles immediately ahead of me that could have kicked up debris. Safety Risk: The explosion created a loud, gunshot-like noise that caused severe driver distraction at highway speeds. While no crash occurred and no injuries were sustained this time, the sudden structural failure posed a significant risk of loss of vehicle control. Status: No warning lights or messages appeared prior to the failure. The vehicle had no prior damage to the roof area. Photos of outward buckling available upon request INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STRUCTURE | The hinge has broken from the body, causing the liftgate to fail to close the back trunk area of the vehicle. The defective hinge has caused misalignment of the door and an unsecure compartment which is a violation of NC State Law according to NC GS 20-116. This puts the passenger's and driver of the vehicle and other surrounding vehicles at risk by failing to stay aligned or seal properly. I fear that glass may crack due to the currently misalignment. I have sought out further information from a Vehicle Repair Center, who confirmed there is a current Lawsuit on the Case No.: 5:24-cv-00912ZACH HUGHES, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC., TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, and TOYOTA MOTOR. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ENGINE | I was driving down a road and my engine just stopped working lights came on saying there were several issues including the engine. I researched online and found there were recalls due to this same problem for the same make, model and year as my Vehicle, but there is no recall on my vehicle. The dealer confirmed the engine was seized up or whatever wording they used. No one has inspected it other than Rodland Toyota. There were no warning lights or messages or symptoms before the issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | STRUCTURE | The rear trunk door would occasionally fail to open or shut for the last several years. It was inconsistent with this behavior and I was never able to get it to fail when at the dealership servicing department. This weekend when at the store, it failed shutting and I had to force it to shut. While driving home it rattled itself open. I had to pull over to inspect it and could not get it to close. When I looked closer, the hinge of the door had been ripped from the body on the passenger side of the vehicle. I have never been in an accident nor have I ever had any impact on this door. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | Infotainment Center turns on and off, and will not work. Because the screen turns on and off, the camera for back up intermittently works. May 2025 i took it to Karl Malone Toyota in Sandy Utah. They said to buy a 3rd party, after investigation I confirmed that no display has the options to reset maintenance, change clock on the dashboard, and communicate with the car. Yes radio, navigation, carplay, etc work with a 3rd party system, but the functions that talk with the car do not work on any 3rd party system. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |