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
864 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2019 Toyota RAV4, grouped by component category.
Buyer interpretation
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
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.
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.
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 is available on 307 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 12,567 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
864 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE | An error code titled “Engine Maintenance Required. Visited your dealer” appeared on my dash screen. The error code was unable to be removed. I attempted have the car diagnosed by a private auto shop, however no faulty codes pop up. After research online, the problem was determined to be the engine coolant valve, which are faulty on many Rav4s. I eventually get a letter from Toyota for a Customer Support Program regarding the Engine Coolant Valve. When brought in for maintenance, Toyota pulled the error code “P268115” which is for an internal failure of the engine coolant valve. However, Toyota will not replace the part due to their Customer Support Program (24TE04) only covering the part for “small engine coolant leak[s]”. Essentially, Toyota will replace the part for being faulty if it had small leaks, but not if the part itself is faulty. When I asked the service member I was working with stated that this is a known problem and “[Toyota] should have just replaced the whole part, but they only do it for small leaks.” Currently, litigation is proceeding regarding the engine coolant valve, alleging Toyota knowingly put faulty parts in their Rav4s. I urge you to investigate this claim. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the vehicle was shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the overheating, parking brake, cruise control, maintenance required, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that there was a misfire in cylinder #2, and that coolant was leaking into the engine. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V064000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was unknown. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | Door lock actuator has failed prematurely on all four doors, this prevents me from entering my vehicle in a quick and timely manner if there were to be an emergency | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE | Engine Maintenance Required warning came on. Took car to dealership, diagnostic informed the issue was the coolant bypass valve. Repair cost is $781.28 + diagnostic $160. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE | The engine coolant bypass valve has malfunctioned. this is caused a faulty part that toyota knows malfunctions often in their toyota rav4 for multiple years including the 2019. It can cause problems for the engine cooling component, meaning the vehicle overheats, as well as affects the cars internal A/C. It can only be diagnosed at the dealership, not through a normal diagnostic. There is currently a class action lawsuit, and many others owners of multiple years of the toyota rav4 have the same issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the liftgate hinge had fractured into two pieces, causing the liftgate to fail to operate as designed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the repair was not covered under recall or warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 60,000 |
| Apr 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The trunk door has been having major issues, where the hatch hinges and power liftgate strut are not operating correctly. The door is unable to close without manual assistance. Ghettel Toyota of Bradenton's service center has inspected and confirmed the malfunction. There were no warning messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure; it first appeared in December 2024, and this car is a 2019 model with 37,000 miles on it. A second opinion was provided by a local body shop, prompting me to report this issue, as they informed me that this has been happening to multiple RAV4 vehicles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Engine coolant bypass valve not working vehicle has 53000 miles was charged 783.00 dollars to replace at the dealership I understand there is pending lawsuit against toyota for not doing a recall in regards to this problem with all 2019 to 2023 rav4 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | STRUCTURE | The rear hatch hinges cracked almost all the way through and had to be replaced. We were afraid to drive the vehicle because we didn’t want the hatch back to fall off while driving and create an accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | ENGINE | The Engine Maintenance Required message is constantly on. The Engine Coolant Bypass Valve needs to be replaced. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 118,000 |
| Mar 2025 | AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS | After driving for 5-10 minutes, the center console screen stated: “A malfunction in the SRS Airbag System has been detected. Contact your dealer in order to have your vehicle inspected immediately” This continues to happen on subsequent trips. It only happens when somebody is actually sitting in the front passenger seat. There were no warning signs or symptoms prior to this message appearing. It makes me very concerned about passenger and driver safety and that the airbags may not deploy when needed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Vehicle is displaying Engine Maintenance Required. Dealership stated that it’s a Coolant Bypass Malfunction. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | My 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 ADVENTURE is groaning, especially when accelerating or decelerating, particularly with the AWD system engaged. Plus, there no or slow forward collision warning. Toyota seems to ignore these issues related to the Adventure RAv4 of 2019 and 2020. Thanks | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The rear differential stopped working in January, 2025 and went into two wheel drive only. The message lit up on the dash board saying the vehicle was driving in two wheel drive only. We were driving home and the roads were slippery. We brought it to Mountain States Toyota and they confirmed there was a technical service bulletin (0086-19) issued in 2019, due to a Toyota manufacturing problem. It was issued three months after we bought the new vehicle. We were never notified and a recall was never issued in 2019 when Toyota knew about it. I contacted Toyota Brand Engagement and they agreed to pay for half of the $4,800 cost to replace the entire rear differential even though they acknowledged it was a Toyota manufacturing problem and possible safety issue. We don't understand why we were not notified about the known manufacturing problem that affected the drive train of an all wheel drive vehicle. We also don't understand why they won't cover the entire cost of the required repair to make the all wheel drive operational when they acknowledge it is a known Toyota manufacturing problem. We believe it is also a safety issue. Thank you! Toyota repair Invoices #1178424, #1169684 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | SEATS | The seat warmer/heater burned a hole through my driver's side seat and my coat. Luckily, I was not injured but I have severe concerns about this problem also occurring in the passenger seat where my children sit. This problem causes me worry about my own safety and that of my children. I am disappointed to be unable to use a feature that I specifically purchased this vehicle to use and enjoy. I currently have my vehicle at a Toyota dealership for diagnosis and evaluation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the messages "Parking Brake Malfunction", "Secondary Brake system Malfunction”, “4WD Malfunction", "Lane Assist Malfunction", "Pre-collision Malfunction" and messages indicating malfunctions of the electrical system, the engine throttle, and the transmission were displayed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a spark plug and ignition coil were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that all the spark plugs and ignition coils needed to be replaced prior to the final diagnostic test. The vehicle was not completely diagnosed and was taken back to the mechanic, where a specialist used a camera to diagnose that there was coolant intrusion in cylinder #4, due to a fractured cylinder head. The mechanic related to the failure of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V064000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided because the vehicle was not covered under warranty and the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 87,230. | Crash: No Fire: No | 87,230 |
| Mar 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEATS | I have been experiencing water intrusion with my vehicle, I first noticed it by a mildew smell. Acknowledged under Toyota’s Customer Support Program 22TE05. This water leak has led to multiple secondary issues, including: Interior water damage Clogged A/C drainage system Sunroof drainage issues I reported this issue to a Toyota, but they denied repairs under 22TE05, claiming the issue was only due to a sunroof leak and clogged drains. [2/14] – Took my car to AutoNation Toyota due to a persistent water leak. The dealership diagnosed the issue as a clogged sunroof leak and clogged drains but did not provide clear documentation that they properly inspected the roof rail gasket. [2/18] – Dealership denied repair under 22TE05 but then stated they could replace the roof rail gaskets if my insurance paid for it—which contradicts their claim. [2/18] – I escalated my case to Toyota Corporate for review, but I am still waiting for a response. My car was left outside in the rain, potentially worsening the water damage. The dealership never provided me with a written repair estimate. Safety Concerns & Impact on Vehicle Use: I am worried about driving my car due to potential electrical system failure and airbag malfunctions caused by water damage. According to industry knowledge and Toyota customer experiences, a roof rail leak can directly contribute to all of the issues the dealership claims my car has: Clogged A/C Drainage System – Water leaking from the roof rails can enter the A/C system, causing drainage backup, mold, and excessive moisture buildup. Sunroof Leaks & Drainage Problems – If excess water enters through roof rail failure, it can overwhelm the sunroof drainage system, making it appear clogged when the root cause is actually the failing roof seal. Interior Water Damage – If the roof rail clips fail, water leaks into the headliner, side pillars, dashboard, and footwells, leading to electrical issues, carpet damage, and excessive moisture inside | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | UNKNOWN | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | STEERING | The electronic power steering light intermittently illuminates, particularly when the start-stop system is engaged. I recently brought my vehicle to the Toyota dealership where a diagnostic test was performed. However, no fault codes or issues were identified at that time. Despite this, the warning light continues to appear. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | On 01/29/2025 at around 5:30pm I was driving home from work when suddenly the car stalled. I was going about 45 mph on a secondary to Lane Highway that was completely black because there are no street lights in that area. There were all kinds of warning lights flashing on the dash. I let my car drift to the shoulder was able to break and put it in park. I tried turning the vehicle back on but it would not start. My cell phone showed no Wi-Fi connection but I know the area very well and I knew I could walk several feet to a connection. Therefore spite concerns for my safety I had to leave my vehicle in order to call for help. I walked about 30 ft in the pitch black on this highway dressed in dark clothing on a shoulder that was very narrow. There was a pickup truck coming my way who flashed his high beams in my face but did not stop to see if he could help. Actually I was grateful for this because it's a pretty secluded area and I was very frightened for my safety. I was able to get a connection about 30 ft away from the vehicle and called my husband who said he would be on his way. I walked back to the vehicle got in and tried to start it. It would not start but all the warning lights were flashing on the dash. I decided I should take pictures of the warning lights in case we needed that for the dealer. After a couple of minutes I decided to try to start the car again and it did start. I was able to drive down the road to a Wi-Fi connection called my husband to let him know I was on my way. Once I got home the car seemed to be in order but there was one warning light telling us to take it to the dealer because there was something wrong with the hybrid system. We made an appointment to go in on January 31st. They inspected the vehicle to the tune of almost $200 and diagnosed the problem as follows: hybrid EV battery voltage system isolation internal internal electronic failure rear motor corrosion on both hybrid harnesses. Cost to repair $5,500.00 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | A warning message "Engine Maintenance Require Visit Your Dealer" appeared on my vehicle dashboard screen on approximately May 22, 2024. I googled and looked up on Facebook group and many other owners shared their experiences who encountered the exact issue with the Engine coolant bypass valve, and it requires a replacement, or else it could overheat and cause damages to the engine. Those owners who got it replaced and shared it costs about $1,000 or more at the dealership. I went to a local mechanic shop, and they diagnosed the exact issue as expected, and they were able to replace the part at a much lower cost than the dealership. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Toyota RAV4 5th Gen Power Lift Gate Hinge Issues Unpredictable Failure: If the lift gate or its components fail unexpectedly, it could cause injury to someone loading or unloading items, especially if they are unable to react in time. Obstructed Visibility: If the lift gate detaches while in motion, it could obstruct the driver’s rear visibility, increasing the risk of an accident. Risk to Other Road Users: A detached lift gate or related debris could pose significant danger to pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles on the road. Vehicle Stability and Control: A sudden failure or detachment of the lift gate components could destabilize the vehicle, especially at high speeds. Damage to Emergency Equipment: If the lift gate collapses or detaches, it could damage essential safety or emergency equipment stored in the trunk, leaving occupants unprepared in an actual emergency. Child and Pet Safety Concerns: Families frequently use RAV4s as family vehicles. A collapsing or failing lift gate could pose a serious risk to children or pets while loading or unloading. Potential for Escalating Damage: The failure of hinges or struts could result in cascading damage to other parts of the vehicle, such as electrical systems or the rear windshield, creating additional safety hazards. Delayed Emergency Response: If the lift gate malfunctions or becomes stuck in a partially open or closed position, it could impede access to the cargo area in emergencies, such as retrieving a first aid kit. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The vehicle suddenly started to smoke and burn by itself when driving on the super crowded highway. I immediately stopped the vehicle and found that the burning site was the bottom of the front-left head of the vehicle (please see the images attached). The mechanician I visited after judged that the fire may due to failed electrical parts or system. He suggested to visit a Toyota dealer for recall. However, the Toyota dealer (Crown Toyota, 1201 Kettering Dr, Ontario, CA91761) declined my request with the reason that my vehicle has passed warranty time. The vehicle was just inspected in the Toyota dealer a few days ago. The dealer's inspection report shows that the vehicle does not have any problems besides suggesting to replace tires and front brakes. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle suddenly accelerated to approximately 45 MPH unintendedly. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to respond upon depressing the brake pedal, and the accelerator pedal felt stuck, causing the front of the vehicle to crash into a building. There was no property damage. There was no warning light illuminated. The air bags deployed. The contact was able to exit the vehicle. The contact sustained bruising and a fractured rim on the right hand. The emergency units transported the contact to the hospital, where the contact underwent surgery. A police report was filed but the contact did not have the police report information available. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled by the insurance company. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would have the vehicle inspected. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 70,000 |