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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | One week ago one section of the heated steering wheel was very hot. So much so that I could not touch that area. I took it to the Anderson Toyota dealership in Rockford today. On the way there, I turned on the heated steering wheel, and it started smoking. They said they couldn’t find what was wrong with it, and to replace it would be 1800 because it isn’t in warranty. They suggested I not use it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | AIR BAGS | It happened yesterday , November 3rd at 8:45 am Approx. speed was 35mph to 40 •Location: 934 York Road, Towson, MD •Description: Front-right impact at 40 mph, no airbag deployment, two children in back seat, vehicle had recent 50K service and roof-rail repair, CSP 22TE05, at Sheehy Toyota Cockeysville. Vehicle now at Caliber Collision Cockeysville. Claim #060381946 I am experiencing neck, shoulder and rib pain right now, my 5 year old complain about right ankle pain and apparently hit his head on the right side.My 3 year old complain about neck pain yesterday. There was no sign showing any kind of failure on my dashboard. I asked my vehicle to be investigated formally by Toyota engineer asap or forensic expert. I asked my vehicle to be freeze right until proper airbag inspection have been conducted. I have picture of the car showing clearly that none of the airbags worked. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 3 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | There is a known TSB out for 2019 toyota rav4 and some select other years. The issue is a slow speed transmission issue. It is due to a programming issue. At slow speeds, if you try to go from the brake pedal to the gas pedal too quickly, there is a serious lag before power is delivered to the wheels. Which is very dangerous when making specific turns. An example is what happened to my wife and myself the other day. We were in a median turning lane, cars were coming, as we were coming to almost a stop, my wife went to apply the gas. There was a serious lag before power was delivered and it almost resulted in a T bone collision. My wife went to apply gas, there was no power for several seconds, which caused her to panic and hit the brakes again. In that process, the power was finally delivered to the wheels and caused the car to pull about halfway into the oncoming traffic before it stopped from her applying the brakes. She then hard to quickly reverse to avoid the collision. The TSB calls for a flash of the TCM and a relearn procedure to be done. Which I am having done today due to the severity of the incident we had. This could have 100% caused a serious or fatal accident. The two dealerships I spoke with severely down played it as an issue. This deserves a investigation and a recall to be sent out. I was never advised of the TSB or anything. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | STEERING,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I stopped for gas; my car would not start. The power steering fluid light came on. I went inside to purchase some but when I returned to the car, there was no place to pour it. After a few minutes the car started. About a month later, my husband stopped for gas and the car killed right after he left the gas station, about 10 minutes later, it started. Took it to a mechanic, they couldn't find anything wrong with it because the check engine light wasn't on and the car wasn't giving any problem codes. About two weeks ago, I stopped for gas, the car wouldn't start. Finally got it started, and the check engine light came on. However, it's still not reading any codes. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My check engine light is on due to O2 sensor being dirty. While this light is on some features in the car are disabled like cruise control. It might also be that the ABS braking system is turned off! I am not sure but once when the car in front of me abruptly stopped I was surprised my emergency braking did not kick in. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | The car transmission hesitates to accelerate at slow speeds and jerks or lurches forwards in a uncontrollable way. Dangerous at stop signs or on slow or hilly roads. Dealership does not directly acknowledge this issue, despite mechanic mentioning very clearly it is related to T-SB-0107-19 which Toyota dealerships charge to repair. No warning messages. Issue has existed as long as I have owned the vehicle 1.5 years from 61,000 miles to 71,000 miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | STEERING,PARKING BRAKE | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the contact had to use force to maneuver the steering wheel. A yellow light was illuminated, followed by a red light. The message "Power Steering Malfunction" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the power steering unit sensor had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact retrieved DTCs: C05D604 (Electronic Power Steering (EPS) System Internal Failure); C151287 (Malfunction in the Electric Power Steering (EPS) System Torque Sensor); and C15D11C (Electric Parking Brake Failure). The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V373000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,500. | Crash: No Fire: No | 45,500 |
| Sep 2025 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while attempting to open the fuel door, the latch failed to unlock as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the spring in the latch was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,900. | Crash: No Fire: No | 54,900 |
| Sep 2025 | SUSPENSION | I was driving to Kansas on a road trip and we stopped for gas when we noticed the rear drivers side tire tilting inwards (top of tire angled towards the car). We then drove it to a mechanic in Kansas to see if it is safe to drive further. She noticed the bolt for the rear suspension loose and almost out entirely. She then told us we could not drive the car any further because a few more bumps and the bolt would fall out and create major safely concerns. She also noted that she could see where the bolt was rubbing on the rear suspension sub-plate and could see the old rusted damage along with the new damage from recent driving. She also noted the uneven wear on the tire with the tread worn significantly more on the inner side of the tire. We towed it to Denver to have it looked at and the said the bolt and nut need to be replaced along with a tire alignment. There were no warning signs other than my car felt more bouncy than normal. The car bolt has been replaced but you can inspect the surrounding damage if needed. Both the safety of the people in my vehicle and those around me would have been at risk if we didn't notice the tilt and continued the road trip. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Vehicle states engine maintenance required. Is a consistent reoccurring problem according to dealer. System failure due to manufacturer always puts the user at risk. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Engine stopped power steering low, notification. When in Reverse. Car shuts off and I coast backwards. Have to put it in park and then restart the car. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Cooling System over Temperature. Message kept displaying and check engine lit up again since the first service was done by Tech at the dealership on July 15, 2025. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Got a "Hybrid System Malfunction" notification on my dash and took it to the dealer. I was notified that my high voltage hybrid cable is corroded, and that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. I understand that customer support program 22TE09 exists for this problem, but because my vehicle has over 100,000 miles, it is not covered. If this is a safety issue that Toyota has acknowledged and admitted is an issue, there should be a complete recall. I was FORCED to get the work done at a dealer because Toyota has a hold on the part. I attempted to get an independent garage to do the work, but they were not authorized to even purchase the parts necessary. Ultimately I had no choice but to spend almost $5000 for a safety repair on a 2019 vehicle that Toyota themselves have admitted to the engineering mistake, while also making it impossible to fix outside of a dealer. This is completely unacceptable. Thank you. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ENGINE | Got brand new transmission put in then right after the Coolant leak started into cylinder number 2 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | I’m reporting a safety issue with my 2019 Toyota RAV4 that has recently started and is getting worse. The problem seems related to the start-stop system or something in the powertrain. When I come to a stop—at a stop sign, red light, or roundabout—the car doesn’t always respond normally when I try to start moving again. Sometimes there’s a hesitation, and other times it lurches forward unexpectedly when I lightly press the gas pedal, like you normally would. It feels like a jolt, almost like whiplash. It’s especially dangerous in roundabouts or tight traffic situations because I can’t predict how the car will respond. I’m worried I could accidentally hit another car, or get rear-ended myself because the car doesn’t move smoothly or reliably when restarting from a stop. Even when I turn off the start-stop system, the issue still happens. It feels like a hesitation followed by a sudden surge. The RPMs don’t change, but the car still lurches. Yesterday, for the first time, I noticed the car slightly accelerated on its own after stopping, which was very concerning. I found out through Toyota’s official website that there is a technical service bulletin about this issue that came out before we owned the vehicle. But because it’s not a full recall, the dealership said they wouldn’t fix it unless we paid the $80 diagnostic fee. We’re now just out of warranty. We’re making $580 monthly payments on a car that I don’t currently feel is safe to drive. There are no warning lights or messages on the dash. I’ll be taking it to Le Mieux Toyota in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, in two weeks to have it inspected, but I wanted to report this because I believe it’s a safety issue that should be looked into. I have two small kids and I’m genuinely worried about getting into an accident, especially when merging onto highways or driving in busy intersections. I’ve seen people say this system can be recalibrated, but the fact that this is happening without any dashboard warning and is worse. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 26Aug2025 I notified Maplewood Toyota MN I had not been notified of safety recalls when nhtsa site confirmed 7 safety recalls. I had absolutly no response. Now nhtsa site says there are no unrepaired recalls when Toyota of Maplewood has done No repairs. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | SEAT BELTS | At times it is difficult to connect seat belt into the lock I have to press release multiple times and try to lock in and click seat belt several times. It sometimes connect on first try and has taken 20 minutes to connect seat belt. As of 8/12/25 in for repairs at a cost $430 Driver and left set set belt lock replaced | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I am reaching out regarding a structural issue I’ve experienced with my 2019 Toyota RAV4, specifically with the rear power liftgate. Recently, I noticed that the liftgate hinges are beginning to crack and pull away from the body of the vehicle. The alignment of the trunk has shifted slightly, and there is visible damage around the hinge area. This appears to be worsening over time and is beginning to affect the liftgate’s ability to close properly and securely. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The DCM is nonfunctional, which renders the safety connect features of the car inoperable. Additionally, the Bluetooth microphone is powered by the DCM causing the driver to have to switch the call output on their phone manually taking their focus off the road. This seems to be a widespread issue with many reporting this on online threads and Toyota offering many internal service bulletins. To me this is a major safety concern that is extremely costly to repair. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fluid leaking from the driver’s side rear door. An unknown dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | 2019-2023 model year Toyota RAV4s and Toyota Corollas are equipped with defective coolant bypass valves prone to premature failure which can cause coolant to leak out of a vehicle’s closed-loop coolant system, harming its ability to properly regulate engine temperature. This can cause overheating, stalling, increased emissions, and total engine failure and also allows coolant to leak into and damage surrounding engine components, including a vehicle’s electrical system, the complaint relays. The warning message that common appears for this issue is "Engine maintenance required Visit your dealer " | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | The engine maintenance light came on and I took the car to my independent mechanic. The "soft code" indicates that the coolant system valve/hose (engine coolant bypass valve) is showing in the closed position when it should be open. My mechanic has tried to order a replacement part, but is having trouble finding one. After my personal research, I see that there is a Class Action Lawsuit regarding this part from 2024 indicating that it can cause the car to overheat, stall, and potentially severe engine damage. Toyota has no formal recalls on this, but it has been indicated that some owners have received support from Toyota on models built up to 2021. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE | The roof of my SUV is leaking and it’s leaking into my two airbags. There’s a sunroof and the roof rack | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | Insert, Padding | Was putting the cover back on after washing, putting the lower sitting piece on and the foam headrest just came right off | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ENGINE | The water pump failed at 49000 miles left me with a repair of $1500 at Kendall Toyota dealership | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |